Murphy High School - Mohian Yearbook (Mobile, AL)

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Builders Starting a new century of school activity, it is the desire of the Board of School Commission- ers of Mobile County to raise its standards of achievement. The Board elected by the people is composed of five members. Those serving on the present Board are: Mr. Paul Danner, President of the Board, Chairman of School Lands, President of the Danner-Veneer Company; Mr. A. F. Norquist, Vice-President of the Board, Chairman of City Schools, Vice- President of the Leftwich Com- pany; Mr. M. S’. Adams, Chair- man of County Schools, a partner of the Mobile Glass Company; Mr. J. L. Abbot, Chairman of Fi- nance, Local Representative of the Sun Life Insurance; and Mr. II. R. Luscher, Chairman of Wel- fare and Health, Chief Clerk in State-County Tax Collectors Of- fice. A most willing ex-officio mem- ber is Mr. W. C. Griggs, Super- intendent of Mobile County Pub- lic Schools. Serving without fi- nancial reward, these Commis- sioners solve problems arising from the school system. They use an annual budget of one mil- lion dollars normally in training Mobile County public school pu- pils. Sui»’t W. C. GriitKs Left to riirht: School Commis- sioners Luachcr, Atlams. Norquist, Danner. Abbot 6

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To Mrs. S. S. Murphy who is a staunch friend, a constant source of inspiration, a sincere and trustworthy guide, and who is most worthy of our apprecia- tion and gratitude, the 1937 MOHIAN is respectfully and lovingly dedicated. 5

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Ole Barton Alabama’s public education was cradled and matured in Barton Academy, the century-old struc- ture of such historical importance to the South. This building, Ala- bama’s monument to education, was founded in 1836, and has since expanded into “the million dollar high school of the South. This remarkable institution was opened in 1837 under the capable leadership of A. S. Vigus. In 1852 the session opened with four hun- dred pupils enrolled, but by the middle of the year the enroll- ment numbered 854. Miss Annie Quigley was first principal of the high school and Mary Horton was the first pupil. The main obsta- cle which served to intervene the companionship of the students was the high board fence which served the purpose of separating the boys and girls. Tradition says that in 1870 the academy was painted pink with the name in large black letters across the front. Facts tell us that during the Civil War the high school was closed and the building was used as a hospital for the soldiers. Memories of school days in this stately building will ever be cher- ished by students of bygone days and history will continue to tell of lhe learned men and women it has produced. 7