Salamanca High School - Seneca Yearbook (Salamanca, NY)

Page 9 text:

In the fall of 1914, when the schools were in a most happy and prosperous con- dition, Superintendent Bell, who had been here twenty-two years, died very sudden- ly. He was at his office the day before his death. His demise was a great shock to all connected with the schools and for a time it seemed that the schools could not go on without the guiding hand that had directed them so long. But with Principal Fortune promoted to Superintendent and E. S. Sheppard, who taught English, advanced rto Principal, the schools went on just as Superintendent Bell would have hoped they would. Mr. Sheppard took a great interest in athletics and now We Won our first championship in basketball. Whe'n Mr. Sheppard left to go into the Insurance business in 1917, George A. Place, who had been Principal at Ellicott- ville, came to be Principal of Salamanca High School. Mr. Place enlisted at the time of the World War and during his two years' ab- sence, R. O. Stephens was in charge. Mr. Place returned to his position at the close of the war. In 1921 Vocational courses were start- ed by Mr. John. These included cabinet making and sheet metal Work. In the spring of 1922 Mr. Fortune re- signed to go into business, and Mr. Place became Superintendent. Frederick J. Mof- fitt, Physical Training Director, was made Principal. Mr. Moffittt is now Superinten- dent of Schools of Hamburg, N. Y., and when he left here H. M. Eaton of Allfred, N. Y. took his place. He was the one who brought about the formation of fthe Stud- ents' Association which has no WN. H helped to take care of the fin- I 9 ances more systematically. At Mr. Eaton's departure, Victor H. Boyd of Ccnesus, N. Y., became Principal. Mi. Boyd by his improved system of handling the machinery of the school has helped the five hundred students to take care of their work easily and smoothly and has taught them how to get the mosrt out of each hour of the day. The High School has made great strides since Supt. Place came. He has ever been ready to aid or advise the boys and girls and often it has been due to his influence that they have completed their courses here and, in some instances, have gone on to higher institutions of learning. He has seen the increase in the number -of High School students from less than three hun- dred to five hundred fifty, the increase in the number of High School teachers from ten to twenty-five, the organization of the two School Bands, the coming of a Physical Director for boys, a great improvement in the campus, many alterations in the High School building, the arrangement of High School work on a purely departmental basis and many additions in every depart- ment, especially in Music and English. The only handicap the school has is lack of room. If the High School could have all the rooms in the Jefferson Street building, then each department would have just what it really needs. The school has had a paper for many years. The first one was issued at Maple street. The paper has borne different names, having appeared as The High School Star, The Senecan and The War- rior. The Year B-ook was published first in 1925 at the suggestion of Mr. Eaton and this latest edition is another I testimonial to the high stand- ards of Work attained by able students in an u-to-date school in the hands of competent lead- ers With efficient instructors under them. Laura K. Champlin.

Page 8 text:

SALAMANCA HIGH SCHOOL Emerson said that history may be re- solved into the biographies of a few great men. The real hist-ory of Salamanca High School is the story of the work of the three Superintendents of Schools that Salamanca has had. Thomas Stone Bell came to Salamanca in the fall of 1892. He was from Jordan, N. Y., and had had his preparation in Syra- cuse Ulniversity. He came here to teach science and Latin. Then he served as Prin- cipal and later as Superintendent. From the very beginning of his work here, T. S. Bell was untiring in his efforts for the im- provement of his school. Often he publish- ed rnawterial of interest to the residents of Salamanca and it is from a small book which he issued that I am taking the sta- tistics that are to follow. The Salamanca Union Free School was organized Oct. 12, 1875 and has since con- tinued under the system then adopted. In 1881 the Board of Education made appli- cation to the Regents to have the Academic Department received into the University. Admission was granted by the Regents on July 18, 1881. The Academic Department was raised to the grade of High School on December 7, 1897. The first class graduated in 1887 and consisted of three members. Tfhe last class mentioned in this little book was that of 1903, and in thfis there were twenty. In the fall of 1903, a Teachers' Training Class was organized. The High School and training class occupied nearly all of the second floor of the Maple Street building, while the physics and chemistry laborator- ies were in the lbasement. Mr. Bell realized that soon these quarters would be inade- quate and so he advocated the purchase of the Fitts property on Jefferson Street. The Fitts residence was of brick and well adapted for use as a school. Though most people trusted the judgment of the super- intendent, some argued that the building was larger than ever would be needed for a High School and that the grounds were far too extensive. However, the property was bought and in 1904 the High School opened in the new building which consisted of the residence and in addition contained two study halls. With Mr. Bell's promotion to the super- intendency, the principalship was filled by Miss Riley, Miss Drake and Miss Ruther- ford successively. When the move was made to Jefferson Street, Miss Rutherford was succeeded by A. P. Burroughs. It was while he was here that the boys formed the High School Con- gress and the girls had Lata Phi. When Mr. Burroughs went to Suffern, New York, A. W. Fortune became principal. He came from the northern part of the state and was a graduate of St. Lsawrence University. In a short time, Mr. Fortune and Mr. Bell came to be devoted friends and their team work did Wonders for the High School. Mr. Bell's -office was 'at Maple Street. It was very plain to everyone now that the large High School building was much too small. It did not take long for the taxpayers to see that they must build a larger structure. The state authorities stepped in and no- tified Salamanca that it must provide the needed school room. The result was the present beautiful High School building constructed during 1909 and 1910. Many changes came now. The Manual Training Department was established at Maple Street. In -the new Ibuilding, Domes- tic Science and Home-Making courses were offered, Physical Training was intro- duced under the direction of Miss Ruth Cox and the Commercial Department was organized. Offices for the Superintendent were provided in the new building and Superintendent Bell came to make his headquarters at Jefferson Street. Much new equipment was purchased and many new books were added to the School Li- brary. The school continued to improve in every way.

Page 10 text:

X....,,.. Superintendent George A. Place