Kirkwood High School - K Log Yearbook (Kirkwood, IL)

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FIFTY YEARS OF PROGRESS 'The sites of the present school buildings in, Kirkwood were donated for school purposes to Young America, as Kirk- wood was known until 1872, by David Irvine, and A. G. Kirk- patrick. We have been unable to determine the exact date, but it was presumably not long after the C. B. Q Q. Rail- road was built through here in 1855, and not long after the prairie was surveyed for a village site, that the gift of land was made. The first school in the village was taught by David Abbey, and according to old residents was conducted in a room over the elevator. . The first school building was built on the site where the present high school building stands. At present it is being used as a farm.mechanics building and is an old land mark, for we are told it is one of the oldest buildings now standing in Kirkwood. In a few years this building was much too small, so on August 28, 1866--the school directors met and agreed upon a tax levy of two and two-thirds per cent with which to erect another school building on the north side of town, This building was completed and occupied by October 1867, with a total enrollment in both houses of two hundred and twenty- five. The north building was built at an approximate cost of three thousand dollars. It was a four-room, two-story wooden frame building with two narrow stairways which years later were torn out and replaced with one wide stairway. Both, north and south buildings, continued in use but no part of the school was spoken of as a high school until 1889.Thc school principal, G.C.Claybaugh, and school direc- tors decided to add subjects which would permit a formal graduation. The following subjects constituted the senior course,for the first graduation, viz: arithmetic, geometry, composition, physiology, and philosophy. , On the evening of June 24,1890 the first graduation ex ereises were held. The class consisted of just one member. Miss Sade L. Green Cwhitmanj who now resides in Cameron, Illinois. About eight o' clock on the morning of December 18, 1898, the north school building caught fire, from an over- heated stove, and was totally destroyed. The students finished their ycarls work in rooms fitted up in the opera house, which later was remodellcd and is now the present Presbyterian Church. Erection of a new north school Ctan brick? was begun early in the spring of 1899, and when completed cost be- tween S6,000 and S7,000. It was ready for occupancy in the fall of 1899, and was occupied by both elementary and high school grades. A petition,carrying over thirty signatures, was filled with the board of school directors on May 29, 1912-- petitioning them to call for an election of the voters of

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school district 367, to decide on the question of a new high school building. Such an election was held and the proposition favoring the building carried. The contract for its erection was let on June 18, 1912, at a cost of S15,000. School opened in September 1915 with three 'high school teachers in charge. The old south building had been moved back on the premises and later was converted into a gymnasium. Although very small, it served for a number of years. In 1927, the patrons of the school felt an adequate gymnasium was a necessity if Kirkwood High School was to continue basketball competition with the near-by schools, Therefore in July 1927, a petition was again filed with the school board, this time with over two hundred signatures. This petition asked for a special election to see whether or not a gymnasium should be built. This election was held July 14, 1927 and the proposal ,to build such a building carried by a large majority.This structure was built of red brick at a total cost of Sl8,000. It was formally dedicated December 15, 1927. The record of the athletic activities of Kirkwood High School is one of which the patrons, teachers, and the stu- dents are proud.All realize,of eourse,that athletics is not the most important thing in high school life.Howcver,it has its place in building high standards of good sportsmanship, and clean fair play with each other and neighboring teams. Our teams in both basketball and track have hung up some records which will be hard to beat. In 1950, two courses, Agriculture, and Home Economics were placed under Smith Hughes state supervision. Being no longer needed as a gymnasium, the little old south school house was again remodelled and this time equipped as a farm mechanics building to be used by the classes in agricu1ture.It is still serving in that capacity at the present time, The year 1957 brought another much needed course to the high school curriculum. This commercial course has proved very popular with the students. With the addition of this course, the faculty was increased to six members. After a thorough canvas of financial conditions and other phases of high school affairs it was deemed advisable by the board of directors to bring before the voters of Tompkins Township the need of a high school district in the township. This was decided upon, favorably, in an election April 6, 1957. Thcrefore,when school opened in September i957 it opened as Kirkwood Township High School in district 150. Through the interest and cooperation of patrons,teach- ers, studcnts,and board of education this school strives to maintain a high standard and enjoys a reputation as one of the outstanding high schools in Western Illinois.