Marion County High School - Vistan Yearbook (Buena Vista, GA)

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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL The title Marion County High School is the new NAME GIVEN TO BuENA VlSTA HIGH SCHOOL THIS YEAR, 1948. When the high school in Buena Vista was first begun IN 1900, IT WAS NAMED HOKE SMITH INSTITUTE IN honor of Senator Hoke Smith. By 1930, although no OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN AS TO CHANGING THE NAME , THE SCHOOL WAS GENERALLY CALLED BuENA VlSTA HIGH School. The school was an independent-system unoer A CITY BOARO OF EDUCATION FROM ITS BEGINNING TO 1947 WHEN A LEGAL MERGER WAS MADE WITH «THE MARION County Sohool System. The city board ceased to function, and the Marion County Board of Education CONTROLLED THE ENTIRE SCHOOL SYSTEM. IN APRIL, 1948, the high school in Buena Vista was officially CHANGED FROM BuENA VlSTA HIGH SCHOOL TO MARION County High School. The first graduating class in Buena Vista on the HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL WAS IN 1901. HOKE SMITH INSTITUTE WAS THEN SITUATED IN THE FRAME BUILDING WHICH IS USED FOR THE COLORED HIGH SCHOOL AT THE PRESENT time. There were five in the class of 1901. In 1902, THE FIRST GRADUATES WENT OUT FROM THE NEW BRICK BUILDING OF HOKE SMITH INSTITUTE. THERE WERE NINE IN THAT CLASS. AFTER THAT TIME, THE SCHOOL GREW RAPIOLY IN SIZE AND IMPORTANCE, AND IN 1923 BONDS WERE FLOATED IN ORDER TO ENLARGE AND REMOOEL THE BUILDING. WlNGS WERE ADDED ON EA OH SIDE OF THE OLO 8UIL0ING, AND THE STRUCTURE WAS COVERED WITH stucco. Since that time, no further additions4 have BEEN MADE TO THE BUILDING ITSELF, BUT A GYMNASIUM, a Home Economics and Vocational Agriculture builoing, A CANNING PLANT, AND A LUNCH ROOM HAVE BEEN BUILT ON The school campus. This year, 1947-48, the need for a new building TO HOUSE THE LARGE 350 ENROLLMENT AN0 TO MEET THE SAFETY AND CREDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE GEORGIA Accrediting Commission, led the Board of Eduoation TO HOLD A BOND ELECTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF FLOATING BONDS TO BUILD A NEW BUILDING AND EQUIP IT TO MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF AN ACOREOI TED HIGH SOHOOL. The bond election was carried, and the new builoing WILL BE PLACED UNDER CONSTRUCTION AS SOON AS PLANS