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

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H. LAWRENCE SCOTT President Belford, N. I. GEORGE RUPPEL JAMES c. DeLONG Vice-President Highland Ave., Leonardo, N. I. East Keansburg, N. 1. frm GEORGE B. MILLER DAVID F, SCHNQOR Middletown, N. l. Belfgrdy N, ji MlDoLETowN TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION DR. WYLIE C. PATE Supervising Principal WILLIAM K. MEGILL Acting Principal WILLIAM DENNIS W. GILBERT MANSON Port Monmouth, N. 1. Lincroft, N. I. SCHUYLER SICKLES FRANK S. WADSWORTH Navesink, N. 1. Leonardo, N. I.

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PUBLISHED BY THE SENIOR CLASS OF MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP H I G H S C H O O L LEONARDO - - - NEW IERSEY

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MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL ORGANIZATION OF THE HIGH SCHOOL. Up to l9lI, those desiring high school education had to walk to Atlantic Highlands, Red Bank or Keyport. In that year the begin- nings of a township high school were made when a few classes were held in Andrew's Hotel, oldest hotel in the region, which stood on the highest point in Hillside until it burned down in I920. THE HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING. In I9II, M.A. Rice, President of the Board of Educa- tion at that time, really founded the present school when he gave the Township the site of the building and one thousand dollars toward its construction. Lewis S. Thompson, also a member of the Board, donated the land down the road from the school formerly used as a playground and athletic field, and john H. Cook, until his death, editor of the Red Bank Register, gave playground equipment. Another member of the Board, Robert Hartshorne, gave the frieze representing soldiers of Alexander the Great, replica of the one now in the British Museum, and had the chestnut trim for the auditorium cut from his woods. GREENHOUSE. In l9I6, realizing the need in this agricultural community for a truly practical agricultural course, Robert Hartshorne gave the school its original greenhouse, and M. A. Rice completed it. This was probably the first school greenhouse in the State. When brought to Leonardo it was practically rebuilt. The expense of the greenhouse as it stands today was borne by several residents of the Township. In March, I93I, a second greenhouse was built, giving us the best plant equipment in agriculture in the State. MANUAL ARTS DEPARTMENT. For many years the basement rooms, originally designed as a small gymnasium, has housed a manual art department. By a full summer of work in I927, the instructor doubled the floor space for these activities. This, along with new equip- ment, provided by the Board of Education, paved the way for the introduction of diversified shop work and for still further improvement in work recognized, as among the best in the State. In I93l, the two basement rooms were added, the east room for courses in moulding and foundry, metal work, jewelry, electrical work, and the west wing for mechanical drawing and eventually machine shop training. NEW ATHLETIC FIELD. Purchase of the ten-acre field next to the school in I928 provided a playground and athletic field, eliminating the dangerous crossing of the highway for physical education and paved the way for necessary expansion. OTHER BUILDING CHANGES. September, I93I, the present gymnasium was com- pleted. In january, l932, the physics and chemistry rooms were fitted up with tables and equipment and a full-sized room was used for the library. The door from the present library giving access direct to the tables in the back of the auditorium gives us sufficient accommoda- tions so that practically every pupil in study hall can do his studying under library conditions. The school's record during these years presents adequate proof that it is the quality of the teaching and not the quantity of space or equipment that really makes the school.