Middletown Township High School - Odranoel Yearbook (Middletown, NJ)

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Autngraphz

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Zlinrmnnril ,gg Fifi E are now in the twilight of our rapidly passing school .X V ij years, and so, while we are musing over the past, as fl, IV Q -. :' classes are wont to do at this period, we write our Odranoel--a book of memories of those care-free days spent in the companionship of loving friends and classmates. We realize that we have omitted some things which others would place within our book, but we aim to make our Odranoel a record of the activities of our school in pictures and writing. At the same time, we hope that you may find it more than a record -that you may spend many hours scanning its pages, renewing old friendships and reviving happy days spent among merry class- mates. If, at some future date, oblivious of present and future with all their troubles, you can lose yourself among these pages, and if they bring back memories of the past with all its joys and sorrows, we shall consider that our labor has not been in vain.

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THE 1930 ODRANOEL illllihhlntnnm Eumnahip iiigh Srhnnl C In 1927 the various grammar schools in Middletown Township consolidated. Before that time and during that time grammar school graduates were forced to go outside the township to attend high school. There was no need for a township high school then, because up until 1907 there were but four grammar graduates. This consolidation of the grammar schools was the change from the little red school house. In 1911 it became economical to have a high school for the graduates of the grammar schools as their number steadily increased. In that year the first classes were conducted in the Middletown Township High School in Andrew's Hotel, an old hotel at Navesink. In that same year, 1911,, land was given by M. A. Rice at Leonardo fthe present site of the schooll on which to build a high school. He also gave one thousand dollars toward the building of it. The playground a11d athletic field across the road from the school was donated by Lewis S. Thompson, a member of the Board of Education at that time. John H. Cook donated playground equipment. The very attractive frieze which decoratesi the walls of the auditorium was donated by Robert Hartshorne, a former member of the Board of Education. It is a replicat of an original Greek frieze. The chestnut trim for the auditorium was also given by him. The lirst class to graduate was the Class of 1914, numbering ten. In 1916 the original greenhouse was given by Robert Hartshorne and completed by M. A. Rice. When brought to Leonardo it was practically rebuilt. The expense of the greenhouse as it stands to-day was borne by several residents of the township. In 1922, due to the rapid progress and large classes, the school felt the need of expand- ing. At this time an addition was constructed which provided two full-sized and three half- sized classrooms, proper toilet facilities, and a more nearly adequate cafeteria. At the time this last addition was made, there were two hundred and twenty-five students in the high school alone. To-day there are four hundred a11d sixty-over twice as many. There are 108 pupils using 3 home-room intended for 30, 40 pupils and more in some classes, and overflowclasses in the halls and basement. The school lacks a gymnasium that can be used for physical training, showers for girls' basketball, and adequate laboratory facilities for chemistry and physics. Under conditions such as these, maintenance of our acknowledged high standard requires unusually expert teachers and an exceedingly co-operative student body. Purchase of the ten acre field next to the school in 1928 provided playground and athletic field, eliminated the dangerous crossing of the highway, and paved a way for necessary expan- sion. Plans for this expansion are already under way, a11d it is hoped that by January 1931 construction of new elementary schools will permit the entire present Leonardo plant to be used for high school. The addition of gymnasium with playing space 60' by 35' has also been authorized. Class 1914 10 Class 1920 ........... ...... C lass of 1926 ......... .... 6 1 Class 1915 18 Class 1921 Class of 1927 ......... .... 5 9 Class 1916 22 Class 1922 ........... . ..... Class of 1928 ......... .... 8 0 Class 1917 22 Class 1923 Class of 1929 ............. .... 7 O Class 1918 11 Class 1924 ........... ...... C lass of 1930 ................ . ....... 65 Class 1919 14 Class 1925 - 1914-30 Inclusive .......... 650