Reynolds Community High School - Yearbook (Reynolds, IL)

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The History of Reynolds High School Many, many years ago the Reynolds High School was organ- ized. The first directors, Thomas McEntire, Charles Walker, and B. R. Olmstoad, were elected October 15, 1877. The large maple trees which are found to the south of the little red schoolhouse were planted in 1877 by Thomas J. McEntire and sons, William, Celland, and Samuel. The little red schoolhouse when completed in the fall of 1878, was ready for occupancy and cost 35400. In March of 1879 an exhibition was held to defray the expense for a bell whieh was bought to swing in the schoolhouse belfry. S. W. Mhmey was the first principal of Reynolds High School. It was a two year high school. This is the old- est record that we have. The first graduating class was the Class of 1890. This was composed of four members, three boys and one girl. The smallest graduating class ever known in the history of Reynolds High School was in 1892. There was one graduate. The largest class to be graduated is the Class of 1941 with its forty members. In 1905-O4 another year was added to the Reynolds High ' School making it a three year school. There were two students, Mrs. Jennie MeConnel Wait and Mrs. Clara MeConnel McEntire. They paid for their own diplomas. In l92O an election was held and it was voted to make Reynolds a community high school. The third year was added in the fall of 1921. This curriculum was replaced by a full four

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year course in 1931. New as a four year high school, it was growing and would soon need more room, The first four year graduating class which greiweted in 1952 consisted of twelve members. The faculty consisted of two members until 1930 when an- other teacher was added, and the rooms were remodeled. The faculty has incredsed irem time tc time, and it is now com- posed of ten member: Now the school had been growin, and the little red school- house was becoming crowded. So in 1954 a new gymnasium was erected to the north of the old schoolhouse. But this was not all that happened. The sale Darn was purchased in 1954 and turned into the present HA5 Ldrnn. The school was new more comfortable, but it was growing rapidly. In 1958 a Q50,000 addition was added to the gymna- sium to take care of the overflow of students. Several new courses were also offered. Early in 1940 the neighboring non-high districts petitionm into the high school district. The new district supporting the present high school has an assessed valuation of over Q4,700,00 making this a very well established school. When the fall of 1940 came around, there were many, many new faces. The enrollment of 222 is the largest in the history of Reynolds. Twenty-five courses are now offered to the studen and plans are being made to offer more next year. We hope the school continues to grow and prosper in the years to come. --The Editors