Kirkman Vocational School - Spirit Yearbook (Chattanooga, TN)

Page 11 text:

The National Defense Training, later known as War Production Training Program, was started in 19440 to train men and women for war-time jobs in industry. For 5 years the training was offered at the Vocational School, 24 hours per day, seven days per week for most of the time. A total of 8,399 men and women were trained under the plan before it closed in May, 1945. ln 194-5 returning war veterans increased Kirkrna.n's enrollment so that additional space for high school and veteran shops was necessary. The 4100 Chestnut Street building, vacated by the junior high division, was utilized and became the center of the Veteran Training Program.. From November 1, 1945, until February 28,1953, the school trained 3,340 veterans of World War ll. SHOP BUILDING During the school year 1949-1950, the Board of Education acquired property belonging to the Stein Construction Company and located north of the main build- ing. An unfinished warehouse located on this property was remodeled and finished to house a part of tihe vocationl shops. lt was occupied in the falliof 1950. STEIN BUILDING The Stein Building, located on the corner of Second and Chestnut Streets has been used since it was acquired for office space and classrooms. Today the school occupies the 400 Chestnut Street Building for Adult Training classes and high school shops gthe main building for offices, classrooms and shopsg the Stein Buildingfor offices and classroomsg and the Shop Building, Throughout its history the Kirkman Vocational School has had as its purpose the establishment of an educational program to serve the youth and adults of this com- munity with a type of training designed to fit their individual needs. In 25 years the school has grown from a beginning class of 70 to the point of training several thousand adults and over 700 high school students per year. -7-

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192 to 1953 400 CHESTNUT STREET BUILDING In this building, located at 400 Chestnut Street, the Chattanooga Vocational School opened in October, 1928. Theq late O. C. Kirkman, then a teacher ali Chattanooga was relieved of one-half of his teaching duties so that he mighty serve as the school's principal. It was largely due to Mr. Kirkman's persistent and untiring efforts that Superintendent W. T. Robinson and Commissioner H. D. Huffaker reacted favor- ably toward the opening of a vocational school in Chattanooga. During the first year the school enrolled 70 students and a staff of 3 teachers, a secretary and Mr. Kirk- man. By the end of the third year the enrollment had grown to the fpoint that the space in this 12 room building was inadequate. A 3-story garage building in the rear of the school and facing on Broad Street was leased to provide extra shop and classroom space. In 1937 the garage was vacated when shops were moved into a newly con- structed building at 215 Chestnut Street, now the site of Kirkman's main building lshown on the end sheets of this bookl. The need for additional classroom space became so great that the present ma-in building was erected at 215 Chestnut Street and was occupied in 1939. The 4100 Chestnut Street building continued to be used as a pre-vocational school for seventh and eighth grade students until 1945 when the junior high, division was moved into lhe Pa-rk Place School on East Ninth Street. It remained there until its closing. Following the death of Mr. Kirkman, July 13, 1943, the name of the school was changed to Kirkman Vocational High School in honor of its founder. Mr. Frank Huf- linker was appointed to succeed Nlr. Kirkman as principal of tha high school and to serve as Director of Vocational Education in the Chattanooga Public Schools. In 194-9 lVlr. Robert A. Taylor was appointed as principal of the high school. Mr. Huffaker became full-time director and continued in that capacity until his death, March 3, 1954. 6 .-

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1 t Kirkman Celebrates Mr. Robert Taylor, Principal of Kirkman, welcomes guests to Open House and the 25th Anniversary Celebration for Kirkman. Mayor P. R. Olgiati addressing audience Al 25th Anniversary Celebration as he promises ncw vocational school buildings Mr. Frank Huflaker. Director ol' Vocational Education in Chattanooga Public Schools, presides at the anniversary program. To his left may be seen Mrs. W. .L Springer, reportedly the first graduate of Kirkmrm to rem-ive employment because of vocational training, Mrs. Springer graduated from the school in 1929. To Mr. Huffakr-r's right may be seen four persons connected with thc school who have been with tlze vocational school for a number of years. They are Mr. Alvin J. Pfitzer, Mrs. Cathleen Mullenix ta graduate of the vocational sehoolj- Xlr. George Barton. and Xlr. C. P. Parsons. ...8-