Rushville High School - Re Echo Yearbook (Rushville, IL)

Page 15 text:

DnHDHEHH J 5 4 I .2 W, Board of Education il. C. Glmlflf. .. ...... f,l'C5idCllf C. H. LHRING ....... ..... If 'in'-Pl'vsidf1zt Mus. Colm XN'A1.KI2I: ..... ...... , Svrrctary TRUSTEES J. 111. MfCL-M: MRS. VAVI. TGRGNES . YE? crm? imefhn mmm ELEVEN

Page 14 text:

Is 'I ' I I -13 mm ,-WQWEW '99 ,?'1'9' 4 any up-team 'Evolution of R. H. S. Some scientists tell us that the high type of humanity that exists today is the result of gradual evolution of the lower orders of life. lie that as it may, the history of the Rushville Public School reveals that our splendid High School of today is the steady development from small beginnings. The first school taught in the country was at the private home of one of the carly pioneers, Calvin Hobart, in the winter of 1823-1824, just a century ago. XVIII. H. Taylor was the teacher, and the school numbered less than ten pupils. In the twenty-five: years little progress had been made. At that time teachers were paid by the parents, school held in one room log cabins, the only furniture the teacher's desk, rude seats fashioned from slabs of logs, gourds for drinking cups, and a rod. Text books were few, one Reader or Arithmetic did duty through a family of eight or ten children. Children went to school in jeans and linsey, the boys wearing buck-skin pantaloons and coon-skin caps. The first school building in Rushville was erected in the early thirties, on the present site of the Christian Church, and was a small, one-story brick house. In the winter of 1837-1838 a school was taught in the attic of the old Methodist Church now the A. J. Lashmett building, and it was used continuously for school purposes for some years. ln 1845 the present site of the NVebster School was purchased by a number of citizens and a two-story brick building, called The Seminary was erected and operated as a private school. That was a long stride in the evolution. Interesting though it be, nor time nor space permits details of this develop- ment. In 1869-Hfty-live years ago-the Rushville Union School District was formed, and granted a special charter by the Illinois Legislature. A Board of Education was elected, consisting of live members, who in 1870 erected a three- story brick building on the site of the old Seminary which building was des- troyed by iire in 1893 and succeeded by the present Webster building. The Rushville Union School was graded by J. F. Gowdy in 1869 and the Rushville High School came into being, graduating its iirst class in 1876. So rapid was the expansion, so increased the demand for more room and better equipment that in 1916 our present High School building was erecied. and the school brought to its present standard of excellence. Under our efficient and loyal Supt, Smith, and his able coadjutors the grand work of developing a loyal student body into earnest, aggressive citizenry moves on. 1924 4, 5 TEN

Page 16 text:

ROBERT G. SMITH SUPERI NTENDENT I. S. University University of Cicago Uh , ,i . , -,......,Y- . G J1i .w' '5,fi:. Q 2 IRQ-iiirhn CHARLES D. HOWK PRINCIPAL Uniyersi'y of Illinois Gmzvral Scienrc TWELVE