Nitro High School - Nitronian Yearbook (Nitro, WV)

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HISTORY OF NITRO SCHOOL Perhaps no other high school in the state of West Virginia has such an interesting origin, and such a varied history as Nir.ro High School. Erected hurriedly by the United States gov- ernment in 1917-18. during the exciting day s of the First World War. its architectural design shows the handiwork of characteristics typical of the town of Nitro. The school, built as a model, is unique in that it is all located on one floor. Every room has two exits, one into the central hall and one to the outside. T he building is separated by fire walls and doors to prevent a possible fire from spreading. There are three large central halls which were originally used as recreation and assembly halls. When these became too small, a large gymnasium and auditorium combined, one of the best in the state, was completed by the citizens of Nitro. There are 27 class rooms in the building. 1 4 of which are used for high school classes. Two new buildings have been erected for use in the lower grades. During the course of twenty-four years, three separate governmental and one private cor- poration have owned and controlled the Nitro school. After being built by the federal gov- ernment and operated by it until 1920. the school was taken over by the Charleston Industrial Corporation, a private enterprise, which operated the school, free of taxes, until 1923. It was during that year that the Nitro Independent District was formed, which purchased the en- tire school plant from the Charleston Industrial Corporation for about $10.000. Now. un- der the county unit, ownership has passed to its fourth owner. Kanawha County. Under the ownership of the federal government and the Charleston Industrial Corpora- tion only two years of high school were offered. In 1932. under the independent district, there was organized a six year high school which operates today. In April 1940. Nitro High School was accepted for membership in the North Central As- sociation. Two attempts were made previous to that year but membership was refused. Original courses at Nitro were: American and European history, arithmetic, algebra, ge- ometry. English. Spanish, and Latin. In addition to these, with the exception of Spanish, the following subjects are now taught: public speaking, chemistry, solid geometry, advanced al- gebra. physics, biology, general science, mechanical drawing, music, typing, shorthand, book- keeping. physical education, economics, sociology, civics, occupations, manual training, busi- ness training, and domestic science. The public speaking course was installed this year. In addition to the regular classrooms and equipment, the school has a biology, chemis- try. and physics laboratory, a kitchen and sewing room for manual training, a library, a Red Cross room, and a principal's office. (Continued on page 42)

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DEDICATION WE. THE SENIORS OF 1942. DEDICATE THIS ISSUE OF THE POWDER KEG TO OUR PARENTS. WHO HAVE SO NOBLY HELPED US ALONG THE RUGGED PATHWAY IN ORDER THAT WE MAY BE BETTER ABLE TO SERVE THE WORLD WHICH WE ARE ABOUT TO ENTER.

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FACULTY BRUCE REPPERT Science: A.B.. West Vir- ginia Wesleyan: M.A.. West Virginia University: came to N. H. S. in 1928. PRINCIPAL WALTER F. SNYDER A.B. and M.A.: West Virginia Uni- versity: Graduate work University of Illinois: came to N. H. S. in 1937. PAULINE PRATT English: A.B.. West Virginia University: M.A.. Columbia: came to N. H. S. in 1931. IRENE MAYENSCHEIN Commerce: A.B.. Mar- shall: came to N. H. S. in 1942. Louise Hart Latin: Social Studies; A.B.. Georgia Wesleyan: M.A.. Emory University; came to N. H. S. in 1924. 4 The Powder Keg