Langley High School - Aeronaut Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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THE WEST WING INNER COURT AND CONSERVATORY Page Thirteen

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The HISTORY OF lLANGlLEY HIGH SCHOOL IN September, 19 10, four rooms on the upper floor of the old Riverside School on West Carson Street were equipped for high school work. Mr. Fickinger, aided by four teachers, was placed in charge of one hundred twenty-five pupils. Two years later the building was remodeled and turned completely over to high school work, with Mr. Fickinger still as principal. At that time there were nine teachers in charge of one hundred seventy-live pupils of the freshman and soph- omore years. Some of the teachers at Langley were among the earliest teachers: Miss Houston, who came in 1912: Miss Park and Mr. Cobaugh, who joined the group in 1913: Mr. Cole inl9 l 6, and Mr. Cheeseman in 1919. The program at Riverside consisted almost entirely of curricular affairs. There were no clubs, and athletics was merely beginning to take hold. The school work reached only through the tenth grade. Those who were desirous of com- pleting their four years were compelled to attend some other high school. As the number of pupils increased, a third year was added, and pupils came half a day. Finally, the Board of Education decided to build a new high school for the West End. After considerable delay, a site was selected and purchased in Shera- den, in the middle of the West End. In 1917 the work on the building was about to be begun, when the war began. The Board decided to postpone the construc- tion. The postponement was continued until January, 1922, when ground was broken for the new high school. On April 9, 1923, the building was taken posses- sion of by twenty-five teachers and six hundred pupils, with Mr. Pickinger as principal, and Mr. Cobaugh as vice-principal. There was now left the task of finding a name applicable to the new building. Finally the school was named for Samuel P. Langley, who was for many years a prominent resident of Pittsburgh, and the inventor of the aeroplane. In June, 1923, the first class was graduated, when tWentY-One pupils re- ceived their diplomas. The number of pupils increased until in 1926 there was an enrollment of about thirteen hundred fifty pupils, with fifty-three teachers, and with all the features of a modern city high school. The enrollment steadily increased as from time to time Langley was enriched by pupils from the surrounding elementary schools. Finally, in 1926, work was started on an addition of about twenty-five rooms with all modern equipment. In 1927 the new athletic field was started. and it is now near completion. Langley High is at present a school having an enrollment of about fifteen hundred fifty- eight pupils with approximately sixty-five teachers. Page Twelve

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47 Page Fourteen AERONAUT STAFF