Southwest High School - Sachem Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

Page 19 text:

www Y 7 4 P wmmnmnlmimwllum E 55,36 3

Page 18 text:

tr W History HE HISTORY of any institution offers the truest explanation for its growth and achievements. By linking the past with the present, we canlln measure foretell the future. Therefore it is our wish to record lJI'16T.Yv the salient facts in the development of Southwest High School. Historically, the site of our present school holds great value. The vanguard of the prairie schooners wended their way westward over the Santa Fe TT-2111, past what is now the very doors of Southwest. -lndian bands, cattle droves, wild buffalo roamed over the very ground on which we tread. The plains to the west of the school harbored many a weary caravan of hardy pioneers, halted for the moment in their eager rush to the west. lin eighteen forty-three, six years prior to the first concerted movement to California and the west coast, the United States government granted john C. McCoy a large tract of land, including our present plot. From him it was purchased in 1.848 by Richard Wornall. in whose hands it remained until 1914, when it was procured by Charles VV. Armour. In June, 1922, the Board of Education, anticipating the present need of a high school in the southwest part of Kansas City, purchased a plot of ground from Mr. Armour, a square block located at 65th and Woriiall Road. Construction of the unit now complete was begun in November, 1925, and though not finished, was ready for school last fall. The first five weeks in the new school were marred by many disturbing situations, short sessions, inter- rupted by the steady drone of workmen placing the finishing touches to the interior of the building, no electricity, heat or water until the latter part of Qctober. Yet we have prospered greatly in this our first year's existence. This, however, is but the history of Southwest of the past and today-not of tomorrow. We have recorded the first milestone in our history, let us take a glance at the future of our school. To the present structure are to be added two wings, one to the north and one to the south. Ground has been broken for the addition on the north and the new wing will be ready for occupancy the coming fall. One of the provisions of this new building will be a much needed branch library, of ten thousand volumes. Sixteen new classrooms will be ready for the larger enrollment. School publications will be well cared for in the new wing. Un the second floor is a room devoted exclusively to their use, while in the machine shop a splendid new type printing press is to be installed. Cn the fourth floor will be a completely equipped cafeteria. There will be separate gymnasiums and locker rooms for boys and girls. Between the two gymnasiums will be a large swim- ming pool for the use of both. The auditorium, comprising a large main floor, two balconies, and a stage comparable to that of any school in the city, will seat twenty- two hundred persons. When the southern wing is added in the course of several years, Southwest will then proudly take her place among the finest high schools in the country. b This, then, is the story of Southwest-a record of the past and a vision of the future. The location is symbolic of that section of our country which represents the western advancement, the building typifies the development of the educational system in the southwest section of our city. It is a wonderful parallel. Though future chronicles may record later progress, none will be able to surpass the romance and splendor of this first chapter in our history. , Pa go 12 yr Q .N

Page 20 text:

1 1 1 11 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 . 11 1 11 11 11 1 11 1 1 11 1 1 ' 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 - 1 1 1 1 , 1 1 1 1 , 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 - 1