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

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 «SMS ARE COMPLETED. Up to the time that the Buena with the Marion County System, SCHOOL WERE ENTITLED SUPERINTENDENTS0; AFTER THE MERGER, THE HEADS OF' THE SCHOOL WERE ENTITLEO Principals to distinguish them from the County School Superintendent. There have been seventeen DIFFERENT HEADS OF THE SCHOOL IN 3uENA VlSTA SINOE 1901, as follows: J. H. Melson, 1901-1907; A. »V. 1907-1912; W. £. Crane, 1912-1916; Miss Dempsey, 1916-1918; E. 8. Flanagan ano Colbert, 1918-1919; C. R. Brown, 1919- L. Lawson, 1920-1921; J. A. Penoergrast, F. E. Hankinson, I923-I925» Charles Strozier, Ernestine J. Groves 1920; H. 1921-1923; ■■ E. Lawrence, 1923-1931; Herman Usher, 1931-1936 , Dennis D. Still, 1936-1939; Roy M. Hall, 1939— 1942; J. D. Tweedy, 1942-1944; Mrs. Pearl S. Short , 1944-1947; J 8. Jenkins, 1947 to the present. Mr. E. H. McMichael is the County School Superintendent UNDER WHOM THE MERGER OF BuENA VlSTA WITH THE WAS OUR MADE AND UNOER PROPOSED NEW HIGH WHOM SCHOOL GRADUATING CLASS THERE HAVE BEEN Senior Class of 1 N 631 1948 Marion County Schools BONDS WERE FLOATED FOR 8UILDING. From the first high school 1901 THROUGH THE CLASS OF 1947» GRADUATES OF THIS SCHOOL. THE NUMBERS TWENTY-THREE MEMBERS. The high school in Buena Vista, which is the only HIGH SOHOOL IN MARION COUNTY, HAS BEEN FULLY ACCRED- ITED by the Georgia Accrediting Commission for more THAN 20 YEARS. ITS GRADUATES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR EN- TRANCE INTO ANY INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING- AFFILIATED with the University System of Georgia. In the Georgia High School Association, Buena Vista BfcSSS; I