John Graham High School - Warrentonian Yearbook (Warrenton, NC)

Page 16 text:

The John Graham Lady Jackets of 1963-64, coached by Miss Janice Allen and assisted by Mr. Jon Burwell, had an outstanding seasonal record of 18-1. They were Halifax-Warren Conference Champions as well as Tournament winners. The boy’s basketball team of 1961-62, coached by Mr. Charles Parker, was a very outstanding team. They had a seasonal record of 23-5, winning the Halifax-Warren Conference Championship and ranking second in the state finals. The baseball team of 1967-68, coached by Mr. Wayne Plaster, had an outstanding record of 17-1. They were District Three Champions and also played in the State Quarter Finals.

Page 15 text:

In 1857, students attended the school from ages six to eighteen in a one room small frame house. The students were taught by only one teacher. The school, now a free school, contained benches for the students with small boards upon which they studied. When the war broke out in 1861, the school year was shortened to twelve weeks. There was not enough money to pay the teachers’ salaries which was about twenty dollars. After the war, the students resumed their studies. The teachers’ salaries still continued to drop. In 1895, teachers received $19.94 monthly for a 2% month school p eriod. Soon the school year increased to seventeen weeks. In 1904, Mr. Nat Allen became County Superintendent of Schools. In 1905, the people of Warren County were startled with the news that the school term would begin on January 2 and end on June 30, six whole months. In 1906, a new public school building was erected on Fifth Avenue (now Church Street) and from that time the public school progressed rapidly. A number of local people taught at this school including Miss Mariam Boyd, Miss Nan Jones, and Miss Kate White Williams. The public school occupied this building until 1918. At this time the school was moved to the Academy, which was under the principalship of Mr. John Graham and was operated by him until his failing health made it necessary to close it in 1920. It remained here until the spring of 1921, however, more plans were ready to begin a new Warrenton School on this site which had been used for educational purposes since 1786. The students and teachers returned to the location of Fifth Avenue in the fall of 1921 and remained there until 1923 when they occupied the new modem high school building. At this time the building on Fifth Avenue was sold to Mr. H.P. Reid, who remodeled it, and is now occupied by Mrs. Reid. In 1924, the name of the new school was changed to John Graham. In 1928, an Agricultural Course was organized with Mr. Bob Bright as instructor. This, with the Home Economics Department, made up the vocational school at this time. Two years later, in 1930, a building was erected to house the Agricultural Department with showers and locker rooms for the newly organized football team. The Athletic Department with Mr. Jimmie Mayfield as first director, was started in 1930. Since then there have been many outstanding teams at John Graham. The football team of 1947, one of the most outstanding in our school’s history, was coached by Mr. Simon Terrell.

Page 17 text:

In 1934, a business course with Miss Mary Frances Rodwell as the teacher came into existence. Shorthand, Bookkeeping, and Typing were the only business courses taught at this time. Since then, Business Law, Business Math, Office Practice, and Basic Business have been added to the business curriculum. In the school year 1935-36, a National Beta Club was organized in our school, with Miss Mariam Boyd and Miss Elba McGowan as sponsors. Miss Luna Jackson joined the faculty as teacher of public music in 1937-38. For several years there was a Dramatic Club under the direction of Miss Elba McGowan. For one year only, 1938-39, John Graham had an art course with Miss Elizabeth Wagner as instructor. It was discovered that our school possessed a great many talented young people, as it does today. Industrial Arts was added to the vocational courses with Mr. Horace Parker as instructor. The boys were taught how to build many useful things for the home and farm. There have been bands at John Graham since before 1938. Mr. Robert Macon Davis was one of the students in the band of 1938 that was directed by Mr. W.T. Heame. Mr. Davis was later to become the director of the bands here at John Graham.