Penn High School - Pennerian Yearbook (Greenville, PA)

Page 8 text:

ln appreciation ot the traditions which have been handed dovvn to us to enrich our school days, We dedicate our PENNERMN to the Alumni ot Penn High. We are proud ot the successes ot the Alurnni vvhich have indirectly brought glory to our school, and We are gratetul tor their unceasing interest in our vveltare, Through the organization ot the Penn l-ligh Alurnni, vve have the opportunity to keep in closer contact with our Alma Mater.

Page 7 text:

ED I A N The twenty-second cinnuol puhliccition ot the Senior Closs ot Penn High School, Greenville, Pennsylvonio, presents o picture ot school lite. Penn High to us is not lust o build- ing tilled with desks ond books, but it is the ploce Where We enjoy the opportunity ot getting on educotion, Where we rnoke our triends, ond where we leorn to live together, All ot us tind in our school's progrorn rnony courses thot interest us ond thot tit us tor our tuture, Through our ossociotion with eoch other in closses ond in octivities, we try to uphold high stondords ot scholorship ond sportsmonship, School tor us is lite cis well os o preporotion tor lite.

Page 9 text:

I2 Tjfiis weary - 542236057507 ln the days when school meant readin', 'ritin', and 'rithmeticfl the lot where Penn High now stands was only swamp land which included a little pond. School, at that time, was conducted in a small frame building situated on a knoll where Central Park is located. It is said that in the winter time, the children who attended the little school house would slide down the hill and cross the road to skate on the pond. The land where the school house stood and the land where Penn High now stands was donated to Greenville in 1862 by Ioseph Keck, one of the earliest settlers in this community. The little school house met the educational needs of the town for many years, but as the community grew, there came a need for a larger building. When Maiii Street was graded, the knoll was removed, and the pond and surrounding depression were filled in. By 1867, the Union School stood near where the little pond had once been. This building was three stories high and was large enough to accommodate three classes of high school and nine grades. The school term varied from six to eight months depending on weather conditions and enrollment. ln 1880, under Superintendent Bullock, the curriculum was revised and, in the fall, regular grades were established. It was decided that on the completion of the course, the board would give a diploma. Thus it was that in 1883, diplomas were granted to the members of the first graduating class. On August 25, 1892, after the construction of both the Columbia and West Side Schools, the Union School became known as the Central School. For almost Hfty years the Central School served the commun- ity as a high school and as a grade school. During the half century that it stood, many changes took place in Greenvillels educational system. By 1900, the set-up included four high school grades and eight grammar grades. On Mercer Street a new high school was built in 1903. In the fall of 1908, Mr. G. B. Gerberich became the superintendent of the Greenville public schools. The school enrollment increased and a variety of courses were added to the curriculum. In 1915, the Hrst domestic science classes were taught, and in 1916, the first boys' and girls' basketball teams were organized. When the Central School was razed in 1916, in order to build a larger high school, one stone, bearing the legend, A, D. 1866 The Union School,', was saved and built into the foundation of the new building. Doctor M. H. Fetzer, then a member of the Board of Education, suggested the name for the new building, Penn High School. On August 22, IQI7, the corner stone of Penn High was laid with due ceremony. In the corner stone were placed: a copy of the Holy Bible, some coins, lists of the Borough Council, Borough and County Officials, and School Directors for 1916-17, a Greenville Church Directoryg copies of the town newspapers, the Greenville Progress, the Advance Argus, and the Evening Record, and also photographs of the old building. ln the spring of 1919, the first commencement exercises were held in the auditorium. It was an ex- tremel hot evenin ,and Su t. Gerberich, in welcoming the audience, assured ever one a warm rece tion Y I 8 H P l , , D U , Y l P to Penn H1 h School. On this occasion, Dr. . Linnwood Eisenber , then resident of Sli er Rock, de- g g P PP Y fl . K2 Lats- . - 2-, as t . 1 21, 5 ,N,,,,,-f-' if . ,. 9 ' Q' . 1 1 as v' J '-4 I 7 . H The Little School House with the pond QA- 'V 415' i i' ,if where children skated, as we picture it .. , 1 P ' from available descriptions. I 'E Artist: Eve Schmidl. - , R ' 5' l V410 'H 2, Q53 ,. 1 342- A A mh- , ' ij? V V 0 .. , ,si V , K S: , 1 9 V, ,H-- ' Exif ' QV -.f,,..,,.' W ' f r ,jf W 'Q 1 , ...S f T. - c c'- f , D . . YH, . , -- -- s ,aft ' 2 ' 41 ' 4 f M f -4 Q. 1...,,k T , 'f' 4:3 p- fmt if, 47 . 1- Q- I f' ' -:- G A gb f i' 1-Q' Cv. 15-9- Win: ' 5 - ' Y