Sunbury High School - Torch Yearbook (Sunbury, PA)

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SUNBURY AREA HIGH SCHOOL Sunbury High all glory to thee, is a sentiment that all of us hold; yet how many of us know the history of Sunbury High School? To trace the evolution of our high school we must go back to the end of the nineteenth century when two high schools existed. In 1895 the question was raised: Should Purdy- town, or East Sunbury be consolidated with Sunbury? For practical reasons it was decided in favor of the consolidation, and the Old Main school building was built in 1896-97. This building was originally for ele- mentary students too. The Class of 1 898 was the first class to graduate from this new building with a total of 62 students. 1898 was the year the first football team was organized. The changing times brought a change in subjects. Originally there were two courses—the academic and the commercial. The subjects were required, not elective, for the chosen course. In 1922 Old Main was remodeled; and manual training shops, domestic- science rooms, and many new classrooms were added. 4

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OkCH V Published Annually by the SENIOR CLASS SUNBURY AREA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL SUNBURY, PENNSYLVANIA Volume XXXVIII

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The type of commencement we know today was quite different from the lengthy oratorial commence- ment of years ago. The Old Opera House, located on Chestnut Street where a supermarket now stands, was a frequent place for the commencement exercises be- cause of both size and convenience. In 1939 the high school courses were split—the commercial students were sent to New High and the vocational and academic students remained at Old Main. In the summer of 1955 Old Main collapsed, thus ending her illustrious career. All the high school students, regardless of course, were then sent to New High. In 19— there will be a new high school to accom- modate the needs of all. This building will be one of the most modern and beautiful buildings in Eastern Pennsylvania.