Strasburg High School - Senoracle Yearbook (Strasburg, OH)

Page 6 text:

Brief History of Strasburg Schools . Six school buildings have been the stage for the scenes of the history of Strasburg Schools which covers the century and a quarter from 1816 down to the present time. Early histories of this county record the fact that the first building was a one room log cabin school which stood near Where the Hartline School now is north of the village. This crude little structure represented our pioneer fathers' struggle to give their children some training in the fundamentals and their sincere belief in education at a time when existence was beset with danger and hardship. But from this meager beginning the need of public schools was established and so other and better schools followed. 1828 marks the year when our village of Strasburg was laid out by John Fulk. Soon after that time the residents decided that the town needed a school of its own and it was erected in the south end of the village at a site near what is now the corner of Wooster Avenue and Third Street SW. It, too, was of log construction and of small dimensions. It served its purpose for more than forty years and was then moved back to another lot where it became the framework for a residence. In one of its logs had been hewn the year of its erection, but plaster has covered it and no records are available to establish the exact date. With the 'growth of the village and the increasing need of larger quarters another school building was erected in 1869. This building is likewise standing today and is included in what is now known as the Town Hall on South Wooster Avenue. Frank Hartline, Strasburg's oldest teacher, was one of the first teachers in that building. The school term was of six monlhs duration and seventy pupils were on the roll. In 1881 the Village and township schools were divided when the village com- pleted its brick structure now known as Castle Hall on South Wooster Avenue. At the time it was one of the finest school buildings in this section and gave Strasburg's schools a decided place in the county. Originally it was only of three rooms to which several additions were made in later years. It was adequate for many years and marked much progress in education. Here High School branches of study were introduced and for a number of years summer school was held for students who wished to take advantage of special courses of study. Although for a number of years classes had completed the work of the school it was not until 1905 that the firstxcommencement was held and the first high school diplomas were given to a class of three. From this beginning the high school made rapid strides and in 1912 was accredited as a first grade high school by the State of Ohio. In 1914 the old building which had served so well for more than thirty years was declared inadequate and a more modern structure completed on Bodmer Avenue. Fourteen recitation rooms and a laboratory were included and the enrollment of the school passed the 300 mark with 80 in high school. The passing of twenLy-two more years again brought the need of a larger school and in 1936 excavations were made for a modern high school plant. May 17 of that year the Masonic Lodge laid the corner stone for the building. It was not until March, 1937, that we moved into it and on March 17 it was formally dedicated. The new structure cost Sl50,000. It includes a modern high school plant and a com- bination auditorium and gynmasium. Twenty rooms give ample room for high school work. The former building is now used for grade purposes only. Thirty-one classes have graduated from Strasburg High with an Alumni enrollment of 458. With one of the finest school plants in this part of Ohio we go forward to greater achievements and successes. There is now ample room for both grade and high school work of the best kind. It is proposed to make our school a centralized one for this section and we look forward to welcoming the pupils of our neighboring country schools in both the grades and high school. .

Page 5 text:

3 STAGE IN OUR NEW AUDITORIUM OUR MANUAL TRAINING DEPARTMENT -Courtesy Dover Reporter

Page 7 text:

STRASBURG'S FIRST SCHOOL BUILDING Used from 1830 to 1869 - Now Residence on Third Street, S. W STRASBURG'S SECOND SCHOOL BUILDING Used from 1869 to 1881 - Now Town Hall