Stuttgart High School - Ricebird Yearbook (Stuttgart, AR)

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today. Within about two years the school was moved to a small frame building between 4th and 5th streets at Main with J. H. Mead as the first teacher. But this little school house has f long since disappeared and is even forgotten by most old-timers. ' In 1889 the citizens ofstuttgart, believing in the future of their little city, collected funds largely by donation, to build what was then a modern school building. Constructed on the corner of 4th and Leslie streets, it was two stories high with two rooms and a hall on each floor. There were four teachers employed who earned salaries which totaled S150 for aterm of four months. The structure served as the only school building until 1895, when two more rooms were added. With the addition of two more teachers the average salary was raised to 540, repre- senting a salary increase for each teacher of SZ. 50 each month. In 1906 two more rooms were added to the building, and in 1907 two-thirds of a block of ground was added to the school campus at a cost of SZ500. The city was growing and its prosperity was promising. In 1910 the board bought a block and a half of ground between 9th and 10th streets on Lowe--the highest and most beautiful part of the city--and within the next two years planned and constructed the high school build- ing as it stands today. The year 19lZ found the school housed in its splendid, new, and well equipped building which cost approximately S65, 000. The school was listed on the roll of the State -Aided institutions, and at the time it was one of the nine schools in this state on the list of schools accredited by the Commission on Accredited Schools of the Southern States and by the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges. These credentials made it possible for graduates to enter most leading colleges and universities without the necessity of entrance examinations. There were eight members in the first graduating class: Mr. John D. Rossman was super- intendent at that time. This building accommodated grades one through twelve and there was space left unused. The subjects which were taught were the traditional ones of today, and sixteen credits were required for graduation. The school quit the old house at 4th and Leslie when the beautiful new structure was com- pleted and from that time on, the oldbuilding with its echoes and its clinging memories grew more and more dilapidated. The shutters hung loose or fellawaygthe doors swung open from 1-ustedjiingesl the glass was broken in the windowsg the stairways creaked in sad complaint under the feet ofanyone who dared to ascend. So in 1927 it was torn down and in its place was built a red brick elementary school--the Julia Shannon School--so named in honor of Miss Julia Shannon who taught in Stuttgart Schools 47 years, from 1892 until 1939. This action was taken despite the dissent of some citizens in 1912 who claimed Stuttgart could not fill the high school building in fifty years. Through the years the enrollment of Julia Shannon School grew until it was necessary to have more grade schools. In 1949 Stuttgart Elementary School was built at 18th and Buerkle streets at an approximate cost of 5130, 0009 in 1954 NorthSide Elementary School at 119 E. Superior was completed at an approximate cost of 5100, 000. The high school continued to accommodate the junior high school grades as wellas the senior high until by 1955 it appeared burstingat the seams. So--in that year a modern junior high school was built at 19th and Buerkle streets at an approximate cost of 3160, 000. providing a sorely needed relief to classes held in basement rooms and crowded spaces. Yes, the junior high boys and girls left the haunts of dear Old Stuttgart High thus providing adequate space for the increased number of senior high students. And to these she yet stands .... a patriarch of old .... lovedand honored .... patiently bearing the weathering of time .... steadfastly nurturing the traditions and sentiments so dear to all who have tread her halls. - The first school building in Stuttgart was a .E little log house which was aformer slave cabin LFAY1 at Gum Pond Plantation in 1878. Reverend 2. Adam Buerkle , Henry Kirchoff, and Louis Duen- i - - 2, sing constituted the first board of trustees, and 5 I I a A. F. Buerkle taught the seven pupils inattend- ance for a three month term, inMay, June, and E I I E l I E I li July. Four of these pupils were two young mar- l:.'IT.:.: -5.2 ried couples that wantedto learn their A B C's. n:'i'::'f:!':':E Some of the 65 pioneers that traveled from I - - Q 75: ' Ohio to Arkansas with Reverend Buerkle start- J Egfg' I I EEE! g ed settling on the land where Stuttgart stands . , L . . - A- I X ly lil h ll fee-wa F nm xl 4 5 We

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0 wwf f af , Q'- V 5 Zo. nf ,nsfyv The late afternoon bell has just rung and students follow the walk to Buer- kle Street, free from books for a day or possibly for a whole week-end. Junior high students are proud of their mode rn building. The noon bell at Senior High has just rung and students hurry in all directions for the lunch period. THE PLACE