Lewiston High School - Bengal Yearbook (Lewiston, ID)

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' .31 A. fl LUUUUU noun U ll HUDUUDUHH MN happened, had an important bearing on the school question. A certain man had squatted on a large tract of land on Main street and as the townsite still belonged to the government, his right to the property when the land became patented was as generally acknowledged as would have been a deed on record. Unfortunately for this property holder, however, cards possessed a fatal fascination for him, and on the night in question he was reduced to the extremity of placing his title to the lot against its value in money, wagered by his opponents. Fortune failed him and the result was that right to the land became vested in three persons james W. Hays, Albert Ripson, and L. VV. Bacon. Later C. P. Coburn, as president of the school board, approached these men for the purpose of securing the land for a school site. Mr. Coburnis efforts were not in vain. Albert Ripson. who claimed the major share of the land, finally agreed to donate his interest to the city, which-he did, quit-claiming, also, by consent, the interests of his partners. Subsequently, title was perfected through the courtsf, On the grounds thus acquired a frame building was begun and completed in the fall of 1872. The first school to occupy this building was taught by Miss Nancy Simmons. Two lyears later the school had grown to such propor- tions that an annex was added to the building. This building was used for school purposes until 1882. lt now stands just east of the present Wfhitman School building. The territorial legislature of 1880 passed an act To Provide for the Estab- li.hment and Maintenance o-f Grade Schools in the City of Lewistonf' This was one of three charters establishing independent school districts granted by the state, the two others being Boise and Emmett. In 1882 a three-story frame school building was erected. The lower story of this building is still standing and in use. The upper two stories were removed about two years ago and the materials in them used in the construction of the present Manual Training Building. The principal occurrence of interest in connection with the school in this building was the strike that took place in the spring of 1888. It appears that the principal, a man named johnson, was disliked by some of the lower grade teach- ers and he was removed by the board. Although three months of school re- mained, about forty ofthe pupils in the higher grades seceded and opened a school under johnson in Grostein Hall, in the main business part of town. The present Vlfhitman building was completed in 1898 and occupied as a high school and grade building in the fall of that year. In the fall of 1899, Mr. R. N. 'Wright who had been principal of the high school at Astoria, Oregon. became superintendent of the Lewiston City Schools and reorganized the high school on a more permanent basis. The high school course had previously been two years in length, but Mr. 'Wright extended it to .. 8.

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F 0090 UU -.-V v p n DU n: lp 1-A uw oornnrno I A '- -1 Hvflfiwli w - History of the Lewiston Highschool CBY SUPT. JOEL JENIFERD The following account of. the first school in Lewiston is given by the late Mr. C. P. Coburn, one of the early pioneers of the town, in An Illustrated History of North Idaho, published by the VVestern Historical Publishing Co.: Late in the fall of 1863, a middle aged man of professional appearance and quiet demeanor appeared in Lewiston and proceeded to organize a small school. He wore a tall silk hat, a suit of the blackest broadcloth, and Aa white tie, all bearing unmistakable signs of long usage and giving the impression that their proprietor was a broken down sport. They did not belie him, as later events proved, but for the time being the ability of the man was all that was inquired into. After diligent canvassing he secured a few pupils and opened his school. Everything progressed satisfactorily until the teacher drew his first montlfs pay, whereupon the sporting proclivities of the pedagogue manifested themselves. He set out to double his money at the gambling table, but, un- fortunately for him, the fickle dame played him false at this most critical juncture, and his wages passed into other hands. Not desiring to remain longer in Lewiston in the face of his ignominious downfall, he quietly departed whence he came and the school was left teacherlessf' The next school was in the fall of 1864. This was a private school and was kept by P. H. Howe in a small building on Fourth Street. - This Howe was a very strong Union man and would often have his pupils quit their. regular schooi work and sing John Brown's Body Lies A-Moldering-in the Grave. . ' In the winter of 1865-66 the school was taught by William Ferrell, who was followed the next year by a Mr. Eckels, an Irishman. It is said that Eckles gave Lewiston its first really good school, and for the first time seats were placed in the school room and books pro-cured for the children. Lewiston was now incorporated and given the privilege of maintaining an independent school, with power to levy a tax for the support of schools. The next important! step in the history of the growth of the schools of the city was the acquiring of the Vifhitman School grounds o-n Main Street. Quoting again from f'An Illustrated History of North Idaho: By l87l the increased de- mands made upon the school showed the urgent necessity for additional room, and an agitation was commenced in favor of erecting a new school house instead of renting a larger building. The times, however, were stringent, and the prob- lem of securing the money wherewith to buy land and put up this new building was not an easy one to solveg nevertheless, at a meeting called to consider the matter it was definitely decided to proceed with the work. Some time previously 2 game of poker had been played in Lewiston, the outcome of which, as it 7

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me- -4 S -5 'ry Q U L UDE DODD Dunn ' ' DDM V UMUDEDU I I '. I fi - r r I -.i - I ll ll' url ll, I. ,lHTF'. three years. Two of the pupils who had graduated the year before returned this year and took the advanced work offered. Mr. XVright remained as supers intendent eleven years. He was a man of forceful character, decided opinions, and strong organizing ability. To him is largely due the credit for the growth of the high school during its formative period. 'When he became superintendent, there were about twenty pupils in the high school. By the fall of 1903 the enrollment had increased to eighty, and at the termination of his services here the enrollment had increased to about one hundred and eighty-five. He establish- ed the practice of promotion by subjects in the high school rather than by grades, and he reorganized the seventh and eighth grades on the departmental basis. The Commercial Department was added in 1903, and was one of the first Commercial Departments in any high school of like size in the Northwest. Tn the fall of 1903 the length of the course was increased from' three to four years, and no class was graduated in May of the next year: The YVebster building was built in 1904 and the high school mo-ved into it in the fall of that year. This year the high school paper, Purple and Gold, was established and the first number issued September 23rd. The paper was continued several years thereafter. first as a bi-monthly and later as a monthly. She Stoops to Conquerf' the first play ever given by the high school, was given in 1905 bv the Senior Class of that year, under the direction of Miss Evelyn Butler, the head of the English Department. Three other plays were afterwards given by the high school under the direction of Miss Butler, who was a remarkable play coach. Q Tn 1905, the German Department was added to the high school. That same year of full uniformed band of thirty pieces was organized in connection with the school, nearly all of its members being high school boys. lt presented a fine appearance and attracted much favorable comment. The Manual Training Department was added in the fall of 1908. In the fall of 1909, the Domestic Science Department was opened in a small cottage near the Webster Building, in charge of Miss Edna Dewey. This was the first year the school ever served hot lunches to the pupils. The next year the Manual Arts and Gymnasium Building was built and the Domestic Science and Manual Training Departments removed to it. Mr. VV right was succeeded as superintendent by Mr. F. H. Huntworth, now of Seattle, Washington, who held the position for three years. Under Mr. Huntworth, the Music and Physical Training Departments were added to the- high school. In the fall of 1913, Mr. F. W. Simmonds became superintendent of the Lew.. iston schools and remained in that position until the spring of 1920. He was a man of wide experience, broad vision, and great earnestness. 9