Robert Clark Memorial High School - Annual Yearbook (Pleasantville, PA)

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HISTORY OF PLEASANTVILLE SCHOOLS From early days l'leasantvi11e citizens were schi ol minded. ,lust by way of background to our present school system the earliest school was built about 54 of a mile west of town, known as the Methodist Schoolhouse. In 1823, Aaron Benedict, who was perhaps most interested in the found- ing of our town, built a log schoolhouse. east of town, presenting it to the settlers, reserving the right for a liaptist Meeting house. In 18-1-1 it was moved to the corner of School and State Streets, and in use until 18-17. Austin Merrick was the first teacher and taught 20 years. Classes also were held for many years in the old Methodist Church, built in 18-16, near the location of the present church. ln that year M. C. Beebe came from Fabius, N. Y. and taught until 185-1, when he was elected first County Superintendent. lle was the first principal with two teachers when the new Union School was built in 1853. This school, near where our present grade school building stands, was a two-room, frame building, and in 1861 a second story was added. at a cost of flS2,500. The enrollment at this time was 180. In 1869 the school had 150 pupils, The two upper rooms, the high school, were taught by Professor Davis and Miss Mary Haslett, The two lower rooms, by llliss lf. liyles and Miss bl. hlclienzie. During the Uil Excitement, 1865 to about 1870 twith the peak of the ex- citement in 18631, the schools were rather neglected, but in 1872 the German born citizens, by subscriptions. financed the building of the German School House, at a cost of 32,300 built on School St., and used only 18 months. In 1877 it was sold to the borough for the price of the transfer, and moved to Main Street, where it served as the Town llall, until the construction of the new Municipal Building on State Street, in 1935-36. Then the Main Street build- ing was presented by the borough council to the young people of the town. In 1872 also. on .lune 8, the Board of Directors of the Union School met, and decided it would be necessary to erect a new building, and on August 29, a contract was awarded for blS23,500. The total cost, was 333,000 A fine new brick building was erected in 1873, consisting of five rooms and a large hall, Newton's History of Yenango Co, 118795 says of the curriculum,-- in addition to careful teaching of the common branches, natural sciences. drawing, bookkeeping, higher mathematics, Latin, and Greek, special attention is given to Normal Classes for those intending to teach, pupils preparing for college, and those who desire a good business education. The first principal in the new building was Professor A. T. Stewart, and On the faculty at this time was Professor Francis Newton Thorpe, Ph. D. who later became highly distinguished in the field of American Political history and government. For several years after Prof. Stewart, according to older citizens, classes did not graduate, They just finished and had a celebration. Most students received diplomas, but a few did not. Subjects taught were English. history, algebra, plane geometry, trigonometry, natural philosophy, or physics, physical geography, Latin, and some bookkeeping. Members of the first class of which we have record finished on Dec. 22, 1876, and received diplomas. Their names will be given later in the Alumni History. Approximate dates of the terms of the principals were A. T. Stewart, 1873-761 ll. F. Morton, 1876-78: NN. C. Gorman, 1878-805 C. G. Kingman, 1880-811 George 13. Lord, 1881-83: john L. lllattax, 188-1-883 j. W. Lackey, 1889-921 hl. L. Hadley, 1892-9-1. Under llrof. Hadley, in 1893 the second year was added to the high school. Following Prof. Hadley was Prof. -lohn D. llumphrey, 189-1-96. Prof. I . Fl. Hovis was here from 1896-1900 and Floyd Atwell, 1901-05. The class of 1901 under Prof. Atwell was the first to be honored by a Baccalaureate sermon, delivered in the Methodist Church. This class was also first to have honor students chosen by high marksg heretofore they were chosen by popularity vote of the class members. n

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lN'1'RODL'C'1'ION XYe, the class of nineteen hundred and fifty, proudly present this our publication of the high school annual. XVe have chosen for our title Spirit of '76. to commemorate the building of the first school in 1873. This would mean that the class of 1873-7-l was the first class and thus make us the seventy- sixth. lYe are happy to make available the alunmi news of fifty-seven classes. These class enrollments have been obtained from diplomas, class pictures. alumni association records, and the county super- intendents office. XYe apologize for any errors there may be. We have done our best, within the time allowed, even to the extent of burning midnight oil, at homes of parents who were patient enough to welcome us a second time. NYe are sincerely grateful to all who have aided in any way in the production of our book. which without their help would have been impos- sible. If, while scanning our many pages and pictures. you feel a thrill of fond memories returning, we will feel that our job has been well done. Editor

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From 1905 to 1909 the prm- ,L cipal was Louis li. Cross, and , 'D ,,...L,, under him in 1907, the third ' year was added, financed by if ff f , subscriptions solicited by the -1- i Q School Board, from public spir- ited citizens. There were no ' 1' N graduates in 1908 as they went back for post graduate work after the third year was added. First class to graduate from the three year course was the class of 1909. Because the class of 1910 consisted of only two members, Ella 1Yeekley and Charles Mclntyre, the class of 1911 was graduated with them, with the understanding they must return the following year to make up their third year credits. The class of 1910 was the first to entertain the seniors at the -lunior-Senior Banquet. Mr. Cross, a man of vision. made many permanent im- , Q - , . ' ' .f -- .- W provements in the school svs- , ,,. 1 ek., I 'Q-ex ii' ' tem. From old desks he made 'Q'-1 ' 'L fine cases to hold the Geological display given free by the state. Much in- terested in music. he fostered and directed a Choral Society. to raise money for books for the school libraries, and as a result many fine books were added. He was also founder of the .Xlumni Association. Mr. Cross was followed by Mr. T. li. Kingsley, a young man just out of college. and full of enthusiasm for his work. Under him, in 191-1 the Fourth Year was added to the high school, making it equal to any of the best. The first basketball team was organized in the school year, 1909-1910, with the following as members: .Xrthur Dutton, F. O, Rooker. Clarence Murling, Harold Folwell. La Yern XYhite, and Stanley Shelmadine. Other fine principals followed in order, 1919, Miss Margerite Shelmadineg 1919, Y. Blaine Leffler: 1920-21, ll. M. XYoodwardg 1922-23. XY. L. 1Yest: 192-1-33, A. L. jeffrey: Neil Kunselman 193-1. Graduating Exercises were held in the Opera House, located on the upper floor of the Holeman Block, tnow Citizen's Bank Building. The class paid for the orchestra, tusually Coleman's from Titusvillel and the School Board for the rental of Opera House. The last class to graduate in the Opera House was the class of 1913. .Xfter that it was condemned as unsafe, and exercises were held in the Presbyterian Lecture Room. and other churches. ln 1923, the new gymnasium was built. attached to the grade school building, at a cost of about ZQ550,000. Total contributions were over b521,000, .-X. L. .leffrey was principal at this time. Miss jesse Stoddard taught music which was first financed by generous citizens and later through the efforts of the first l'lcasantville XYoman's Club. This was done from 1911 to 1918. From 1918-20, the music was taught by home room teachers. ln the fall of 1920. Miss lfclna li. Binner was the per- manent music teacher. Arthur Matteson was Supervising l'rincipal from 1935--17. ln 19-12 Home Economics and lndustrial .Xrts were added to the curriculum. Latin was dropped in 19-17. ln the fall of 19-17, under Mr. Matteson, and sponsored by the P. T. A., a fine cafeteria was established in the grade school building. On May ZS, 19-10, the gym was totally destroyed by fire of undetermined origin, but the grade school building was not badly damaged. lt was decided to construct a new high school building. The School Boards of l'leasantville Borough, Oil Creek, Allegheny and Southwest Townships. met and discussed possibilities of building a consoli- dated school. As it would be necessary to finance it by issuing bonds, a special election was held August 15. 19-10, and all districts except Southwest voted favorably, Pleasantyille was bonded for 518000, Oil Creek for 330,000 and Allegheny for 316,000 Contracts totalled 1589.939 Q C07Zff7l1lCfl on Page 831