Harrisburg Township High School - Keystone Yearbook (Harrisburg, IL)

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I lHl MHN Ill lHl HHUH Our principal, who has been in the Educational field since 1890, started his career in the little school house on Ingram Hill, a small school that taught readin', writin' and arithmetic. In 1896, Mr. Taylor came to Harrisburg to teach in a school located on the present site of Logan School. Perhaps he, least of all men in the com- munity, dreamed that for the next forty-four years he would shape the policy of secondary education in this community. In spite of opposition, war, floods, and financial depressions, he was to maintain a policy that kept the school independent of outside changes, political, social, industrial, and financial. In 1900, the first milestone was passed when the people voted for a township high school. Until 1903 the building of the Old City High was rented. In that year, the first unit of the present building was completed. The years that followed showed the rapid growth of the enrollment, making it necessary for an addition to the first unit. This step was completed in 1916. In 1917, the United States entered the World War, and nine of the first seventeen recruits to leave Harrisburg were graduates of this schoolg one of these was the principal's son, Inglis Taylor. Even a war could not stop the growth of the school, for in 1922, it was necessary to add the second unit. Another improvement that has contributed to the efficiency of the ath- letics of the school is the purchasing and equipping of Taylor Field, appro- priately named for the principal who made it possible. In 1930, the depression fell upon the country but in Harrisburg Township High things went on as before. The teachers were paid in full every month, an astounding record, for many teachers of this and other states were paid in scrip. Still pupils came. Mr. Taylor sooner than anyone else saw the need for another building to accommodate the teachers and students. His work was stopped only temporarily by the 1937 flood, during which time the school building was used as a homefor the refugees under the supervision of the principal and his staff. Again he began to plan and in 1939 after a year's work, the latest unit was completed. An enrollment of 52 students has grown to almost 1200. The curriculum has increased from twelve required subjects to the wide field of subjects now open to a student of this school. Some of the subjects that were not taught in the early days are biology, chemistry, sociology, home economics, agriculture, French, physical education, manual training, shorthand and typewriting, bookkeeping, and music. One ideal yet remains to be completed and may some future record be made of its fulfillment-that dream of a Iunior College on the East Campus. Mr. Taylor has shown himself to be a man with the ability to bring things to pass. This in itself is a prophecy for the future.

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