Thornton Township High School - Thorntonite Yearbook (Harvey, IL)

Page 23 text:

,?-' THORNTONITE Factory History Under the name of the Harvey High School the wh-eels of industry began their task in September, 1892. The first General Superintendent, Mr. F. L. Mil- ler, was assisted by Instructors J. E. Cable and Bell Porter. Three classes received final promotion before the increasing employment made necessary a larger unit. This demand resulted in the building of a Town- ship Factory in 1898 with a total enrollment of ninety-six employees. Instructor Cable was promo-ted to General Superintendent. W. H. Miller, F. G. Howland, F. A. Braley, J. C. Howe and Mrs. James A. Lawson then comprised the Board of Directors. ' Plans for a new factory building were formulated, and in 1900 the institution was moved to its present location. General Superintendent Calble retired in 1908 and Mr. L. W. Smith became Superintendent. The Board .of Directors had also undergone some changes. W. H. Pease, J. H. McK-ee, Dr. T. A. Noble and L. A. Dolton were the directors then. While under the superintendence of Mr. Smith the employment grew to s-uch proportion that an addition to the building became necessary. The Board of Directors presented an issue for S140,000 to the stockholders. The issue failed in February, 1910, but was approved in August of the same year. Superintendent Smith retired in 1919, Mr. W. E. McVey, the present head of the Factory, taking charge. He was assisted by a Board of Dine-ctors composed of G. H. Gibson, A. H. McDougall, Dr. T. A. Noble, W. G. Morse, Charles E. Waterman, and G. N. Burnett. On the retirement of W. G. Miorse in 1927, E. P. Dickey filled that position. W. R. Brandt assumed Dr. T. A. No'ble's position upon the latter's death. As an accommodation to employees in that district, the Dolton High School Branch Factory 'was constructed, but was not needed after 1929. In 1925 the stockholders saw need: of new space, and accordingly voted S345,000 for the erection of the new building. ' Thornton has progressed rapidly in all phases of Factory work. Under the guidance of Mr. McVey, the Board of Directors, and the competent staif of in- structors, the employees iof the Factory have, after receiving final promotion, carried on the ideals of industry that have been placed before them by the Ad- ministration of the Thornton Factory. The growth of the Factory has been due entirely to those administrators of the stockholders' wishes, the General Superintendent, the Board of Directors and the instructors. The stockholders have made the advancement of industry possi- ble through their -whol-e-hearted cooperation. T.heirs is the spirit that has pre- vailed throughout the years, and theirs is the spirit that will be diffused through the Factory and the employees in the years to come, when Thornton, ever ad- vancing, iever upholding its standards and ideals, will still rbe adequately meeting the growing needs of the township. Page Nineteen

Page 22 text:

T H O R T O CHARLES E. WATERMAN- NlTIi President of Board of Education. Member of Board since 1911. A. H. MCDOUGALL- Vice-President of Board of Education Member of Board since 1913 Chairman Teachers' Committee Committee for Building and Grounds G. H. GIBSON- Member of Board since 1913 Chairman of Committee on Finance and Supplie s Q EDWARD P. DICKEY- Member of Board since 1926. Chairman of Committee on Buildings and Grounds. WILLIAM R. BRANDT-- Member of Board since 1928 Member of Committee on Finance and Supplies. Member Grounds. G. N. BURNETT- of Committee on Buildings and Secretary of Board of Education Secretary of Bo-ard since 1909 Page Eighteen

Page 24 text:

if M53 Ii. ,. Mr. William E. McVey, M.A. University of Chicago Superintendent of Thornton Township High School I S 9' S15 My gf 'ii 2355? HI 52:1 ,T , ef. 1-A 2231 Eg, :gk ax-,ff W and Junior College Qflllf 3 .ig-eq , 55: 2ff,3i,if1? , :Liv ,-HMV' '. R, Page Twenty