Ridgway High School - Elker Yearbook (Ridgway, PA)

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OL 'I SCHO CEXTEXXIAL HIGI

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3 F 'J I 'ff 1 ff. ff. N ' f A TATTLEP' VOIUIIIB 23 FDI 1930 Complimenfs gf the Sembr Class gf Me Centennial High Ichool lQid9WilY, l38I1lISYlVirllliil OFFICICRS Prcsiflcnt ,, ...., , Riclmrfl Mercer X'YiCC-Pl'CSiflCllt ..., .... A A , . , Carl Fitch Secretary-Treasurer .. ., Mary Amlcrsmm :Xrlvisor , , , .. ,, Miss Helen Shzmlcy Colors. Blue and XYl1itc

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PN-if l950 History of Centennial I-iiuh lchool On September 4, 1922. a special meeting of the School Board was held to consider the question of erecting a new high school building. A committee was appointed to secure prices on a site for such a building. On October 6, 1922, at another special meeting of the Board, it was reported that a price of 330.000 had been placed on the Cartwright property, on which the Centennial High School now stands. At this meeting Superintendent Pierce was author- ized to procure plans from the State Department for the building to cost ap- proximately S125.000. On January S, 1923, it was decided to hold a sepcial election to ask the voters of the school district to give their consent to increase the indebtedness of the district by issuing bonds for 3126.700 for the purpose of erecting and furnishing a new high school building. On February 3, 1923, at a special meeting the Board ordered to be printed in pamphlet form a statement submitted by Superintendent Peirce as to the needs for a new building. A campaign was planned and carried out by which the pamphlets were distributed, meetings were held, the homes of the elect- ors were visited, and a parade of high school pupils was given. ln this parade were various floats. one representing the old red school. another the proposed new building, and another a single seat taken from the old high school study hall, in which were seated the two heaviest girls in the high school carrying a banner saying Please give us each a seat. The election was held on Febru- ary 20. and notwithstanding general prediction of the defeat of the bond issue, it was carried by a vote of 1353 to 296. Maurice E. Kessly K Company of Harrisburg were chosen as the archi- tects, and plans submitted by them were adopted in July. But when the bids on these plans were opened it was found that they were so far in excess of the funds at the disposal of the Board that the plans had to be revised. and it was not until fall that the building could be commenced. The general contract was given to the Hyde Murphy Company of Ridg- way, the heating, Ventilating, and plumbing to F. J. Eagen, and the electric wiring to the St. Mary's Electric Supply Company. The School Board, during the preparation for the construction of the building, had the following members: Mr. A. I.. Bell, president: Mr. C. li. Lockhart, vice-president: Mr. M. Schram, secretary: Honorable lf. H. Baird: Mr. M. P. Shanley and Mr. Milton VVood. The cornerstone was laid July 4, 1924, with appropriate ceremonies. in- cluding an address made by Honorable John S. Fisher, now governor of the state. About two months after the opening of the school term in the fall of 1924. the building was completed, and the high school was moved from its old quar- ters into the new. The total cost of the land, building and equipment was S212.000. Since the money was raised by the bond issue was but S126,500, the balance had to be paid out of current funds raised by taxation. This balance as well as 821.000 of the bonds, has already been paid off so that the school district now owes only 3105.500 on a property that is estimated to be worth a quarter of a mil- lion dollars. Ruth Klawuhn, '30. -..sit 3 lk..-