McClure High School - McClurean Yearbook (McClure, OH)

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iv.: XRS'-K lxxixxl ,X....,. - -A ...... ., lxxxlk - 'lg .J A Brief History of The Damascus Township High School During the summer of 1902, the question of establishing a High School in our community was being considerably agitated. At the time we had nine district schools in Damascus Township and our School Board was composed of nine members, one from each sub-district. When the question was brought up before the Board for a decision, one member was absent. The members present voted four yeas and four nays. It being a tie, the Township Clerk had a casting ballot. Mr. William Nelson was holding that office and voted yea. The upper story of the building now occupied by the Gem Theater, was rented, fitted up with seats, desks and blackboards, and Mr. Jacob Love was hired to teach. Our school had not been graded, so there were no pupils ready to enter High School. Mr. Love conducted an entrance examination for the pupils who felt themselves qualified to enter High School. More than thirty boys and girls passed the entrance examination and a Third Grade High School was established. A few of the pupils were entered as Sophomores and the remaining as Freshmen. The next Fall Mr. Raymond Meade came on the scene as teacher. Those who had taken second year work passed the Teachers' Examination and Went out as teachers. It was not until Mr. Meade's second year as instructor, the year 1904-1905, that we had a Graduating Class. The members of this first class were Bessie Mildred Crawford, Aura Lazenby, John B. Love and Lester Allen McClure. John Love's death occurred in March, leaving but three to graduate in May. The south wing of the old frame structure at the south edge of town had been completed during the summer of 1904 and the High School moved to the upper story of the addition. Thru the efforts of a student organization known as The Crescent Literary Society, an organ was purchased and a few books for a library were added to the equip- ment of the High School. During the school year of 1904-05 our first Lyceum Lecture Course was given. In the Fall of 1905, J. A. Feik took the helm as Superintendent and thru his efforts the township schools were graded and entrance examinations were no longer necessary. We also began to speak of our second and third year classes as Juniors and Seniors. Mr. Feik was Superintend- ent for two years. O. C. Ault and John A. Wright were Superin- tendents one year each. W. T. Hatcher was the next Superintendent and during his supervision another teacher was employed and our High School was classed as Second Grade, and two years later in 1914 and while Mr. Hatcher was still with us another teacher was added to the faculty and the School was made First Grade. Our graduates were now able to enter College , from our High School upon taking the usual Col- lege entrance examinations. Our library had outgrown its soap-box bookcase and laboratory equipment had been purchased. In 1915 our present brick building was erected at a cost of 9535,000, and the School was moved to this location in the same year. Since the completion of the new building, Home Economics, Manual Training and Music have been added, making our school equal in efficiency to any in the county for its size. Our township one-room schools are all closed and the pupils are being transported to McClure by five busses and the school district is known as The Consolidated Damascus Township School District. Basket-ball has been a prominent feature in our school during the last few years .and our teams have stood close to the head of the list in games played with other teams in the county. Superintendents of our schools not mentioned heretofore are M. M. Culver, G. L. Stackhouse, and Mary Philpott. The corps of teachers have been changed many times and the teachers employed have made many lasting friendships among the pupils. J. O. Hage- dorn, Glenn Potter and Cinda Hatcher taught in the High School this year. Many things in our school would seem very unfamiliar to those who were pupils in other days, yet all changes seem to have been made for the betterment of our school system. -JOHN GASTER, '07.

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x. F' - fy, J .J Foreword High School daysyare drawing to a close once again, this time for the class of '29. We have memories, both happy and sad, of these days spent togethe1'. To keep these memories, now so dear to us, We are recording them on the pages of the Dynamo so they may never pass into oblivion. We can feel justly proud of our efforts as We believe it is the only Annual issued this year in the county outside of the one at Napoleon. We hope this Annual will be a treasured souvenir to all who are inter- ested in lVIcClure High and that, as the years glide by, it will bring to you memories of happy school days. THE ANNUAL STAFF. Dedication We gratefully dedicate this publication to our Mothers and Fathers as a token of our thanks for their many sacrifices which enabled us to enjoy a High School education. And as our last lessons are recited to the Master, may the accomplish- ments of our lives prove these sacrifices were not made in vain. CLASS OF '29.

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