Lansdowne High School - Lahian Yearbook (Lansdowne, PA)

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A HISTORY OF LANSDOWNE- ALDAN In a small town like Lansdowne, a high school plays an important role. To understand Lansdowne, one must observe its students. The local school has proven to be the main gathering spot for youngsters to meet and mold their future. Many of Lansdowne and Lansdowne-Aldan High School graduates have helped to transform this small borough into a bustling community. It is appropriate for us, at this time, to reflect on the heritage left us by previous graduates, because this is the last June that students will graduate from our school, Lansdowne-Aldan. During the summer of 1889, the Upper Darby School Board, feeling that the population of Lansdowne had reached sufficient numbers to warrant the building of a school house, constructed one at what now is East Baltimore and Highland Avenues. The three rooms on the first floor were to be used for school purposes, but the second floor was leased and managed by an association known as the Lansdowne Hall Association. School opened on February 3,1890 with twenty-one pupils, and Miss Hattie B. Irvin as the only teacher. During the first week, attendance increased to such an extent that Miss Edna Hall was transferred from Fernwood to assist Miss Irwin. The first term closed on June 26, 1890 with 90 pupils. In September 1891, school opened with an enrollment of one hundred ten pupils. That year, the Upper Darby School Board conceived the idea of making this the high school for the entire district. In June of 1892, Miss Irwin resigned and the Board transferred Miss H. Emilie Groce from Keystone School to Lansdowne which was the newly graded school. In 1892, the school opened with a total enrollment of one hundred seven pupils, but steadily increased in numbers. In November 1892, the crowded condition of the rooms necessitated additional space, so the upper floor was rented from the Hall Association and converted into classroom space. In June 1893, Lansdowne was made a borough. A Mr. Griffin owned a strip of land on the southern side of the railroad tracks and during his moving from Philadelphia, there was considerable difficulty in the shipment of his furniture. At the time, the station was known as Darby Road for the borough was not yet incorporated. Because of the similiarity between the name and Darby , Mr. Griffin's furniture was shipped to the latter. Being aggravated by this inconvenience, which he realized might easily reoccur, Mr. Griffin petitioned Mr. Scott, President of the Pennsylvania Railroad, for a change of name. Since Mr. Griffin greatly admired Lord Lansdowne, then a prominent member of the British Parliament, he suggested the adoption of the name Lansdowne . Many other names were submitted for consideration. Scott, however, did not concede to any of these petitions. Finally, in desperation, Mr. Griffin had a huge sign painted, which read Lansdowne . One night Griffin replaced the Darby Road sign with the Lansdowne sign. No action was ever taken by Scott. Soon the name Lansdowne appeared in train time tables and the small borough, one mile square, adopted the name Lansdowne. Since the school year began on June 1,1894 and Lansdowne had not at that time received its charter as a borough, the Upper Darby Township Board retained its management of the school until June 1, 1894. In the previous year there had been a school board election in Lansdowne. Mr. Isaac Garrett, Mr. William P. Freeborn, Mr. Joseph Fleming, Mr. C. B. Lewis and Mr. E. Fackler were chosen for the Board and assisted the Upper Darby Board in Lansdowne matters.