Hart High School - Hartian Yearbook (Hart, MI)

Page 9 text:

Dedication In gratitude for his understanding and leadership as our Principal in our first two years of high school, and in appreciation for his helpfulness and guidance as our Counselor in our last two years, we. The Senior Class, dedicate this HARTLAN of '62 to Mr. Ivan Robinson. 5

Page 8 text:

Foreword To us who have spent so many hours of our school life in the old high school building, it seems an old friend. We fitted into it as we would fit into a pair of comfortable, well-worn shoes. Although we knew its every fault, we overlooked those weaknesses, because of the building's familiarity and comfort. Now, we view our departure from our old school with mixed emotions—sad to be leaving such a good friend, but eager to become acquainted with the new building. At first, new shoes may creak and pinch; so might our new building. But our new building offers more opportunities and a more pleasant atmosphere for the eager student than the old building could. Truly, it is dedicated to the education of our town's young people. In a short while we will accustom ourselves to the beautiful but strange new building, and soon we can again say with pride and understanding that this is OUR SCHOOL. 4

Page 10 text:

 ME -A SOLILOQUY I was full of excitement and thrills and heard mysterious words of being through, leaving, and moving. Even much of my furniture seemed to be going somewhere. 1 could not understand their meaning, for as I looked around me there was lots of snow on the ground, so I knew it wasn't summer vacation yet. What could it be? Then amid cheers and laughter the pupils carrying books rushed out the front door. Good-by. We are not coming back. I was filled with dismay and a desolate, deserted feeling swept over me. Then words, You are too old; no longer safe; too inadequate; new building, came to my consciousness. I realized that I was being cast aside—no longer useful—my work to be carried on by a new building. Left alone I began to reminisce and a few items of possible present-day interest came to my mind. All at once I realized that long ago I, too, had pushed an older building into discard. On Sunday evening January 13, 1889, the Wigton building located about where the Hansen Clothing Store is today burned. The school records were kept in an office in this building and were destroyed, so no school records previous to this date are in existence. The school buildings (two wooden ones) were located on my site. The three teachers each received thirty-five dollars a month and the principal seven hundred dollars a year. By October 1889, the school became so crowded that the Board fixed up the janitor's room for a classroom and hired another teacher. In January 1890, fifty cords of beech and maple wood were purchased at sixty-nine cents a cord delivered. At the annual meeting July 1890, the total yearly school expenses were reported as $2,138.43. That November the school was closed two weeks for a measles epidemic. At the Board meeting July 7, 1891, the Board went on record as it being it’s sentiment that a new building (that's me) should be constructed at an approximate cost of $8,000. After publicity of the subject the following is quoted from the Board records: The polls were open from ten minutes after 2:00 pm of said 25th day of August 1891 until forty minutes after 4:00 of said date. Whole number of votes cast were 95, with 64 marked yes and 31 marked no. Contacts were made with a Detroit architect who drew up plans and specifications including steam heat and sewerage. Bonds for $8,000 were printed to be sold and to be repaid in ten installments of $800 plus interest. The Board received $8,162.40 from the sale. A few prices are interesting: heating system $1420, 85,000 brick at $5.75 per M, flooring $32 per M, 113 loads of fill dirt for west end of yard at 50 per load. The contract for my construction was signed September 9, 1892. That summer the two wooden buildings were moved to the southwest (opposite the Raymond Newton home). Scarlet fever closed the school for two weeks in January 1893. I grew fast and was ready for school in September 1893. How proud I was, as well as were the people of Hart. One of the old school buildings was sold to H. Crowner (the father of Mrs. Mark Hunkins) who moved it to the northwest corner of Johnson and Water Streets and remodeled it into a house. Fred Corbin purchased the larger building for $175 and it was moved to the present location of the Hart Builders Supplies. Here it was used as a garage and warehouse and later torn down. Alas, what will become of me? At first all my rooms were not used, but as Hart grew I was soon filled up and more teachers added to my faculty. In January 1896 the contract for ninety cords of wood at $1.50 per cord was let. Notice the doubling of price in six years. Too much I heard people say. The school year of 1896-1897 saw eight teachers on the faculty. Hart was growing rapidly and on July 15, 1902, a vote was taken to raise $5,000 to build a four room addition to me. At the election 42 votes were cast with 25 no and 18 yes. Another year for my walls to be pushed out with youngsters packed inside. After school actually started in September 1902, I just couldn’t take the jam, so the school board rented the old Baptist Church and one grade moved over there. What a relief! Can you imagine the cry of extravagance in January 1903, when a telephone was installed in the superintendent's office? What next will they think of to spend the taxpayers' money for? 6