Washington Township High School - Wahtonian Yearbook (Waynesboro, PA)

Page 11 text:

In the early 1900's there was strong public opinion in favor of higher education in the township which opened the way for the Township High School which was established in the Rouzerville school building in 1906, being organized June 4, of that year. The school continued at Rouzerville from 1906 to 1915 when larger facilities became necessary and a new building was erected at VVayne Heights. The school increased in numbers, and working under a three year plan, conditions became congested. For several years from 1931 there was an increasing demand for better accommodations. In 1931 the school was changed from a three year to a two year course, with the third and fourth year pupils attending the Greencastle and the VVaynesboro High Schools. For the 1933-34 term all the third and fourth year pupils were acconnnodated in the VVaynesboro High School. By this time there was definite sentiment for a new building in the township which would serve all the pupils and offer a four year course of study. Finally, the plan to finance such a building on a 360,000 bond issue was placed before the voters of the township at the general election in November 1932. The plan was approved by the voters but not without considerable discussion. Next came the problem of choosing a site for the new building. The present site at Hooverville was selected and purchased October 13, 1933. On June 23, 1934, the cornerstone was laid during appropriate ceremonies. On October 10, 1934, classes assembled for the first time in the new building with a student body numbering more than two hundred CLASSES OF 1909. 1910, 1911 Standing-VValter Rowe, Iva Kipe, Frank Morgal, Elizabeth Heefner, Harry Harbangh, Ira Shuck. Seated-Clara McLaugh- lin. Margaret Currens, Nelle Creager. Loraine Honodel, Mrs. Shuck. CLASS OF 1910 Top Row - Mary Reecher, Charles Hartman, Ruth Bohn, Ross Buhrman, Florence Mc- Laughlin. . Center - Brade Sease, Ruth Shoemaker. Lower Row -- Elmira Kline, Clyde Honodel, Bertha Butter- haugh. Rnynloncl. l'l8l'l1Zlllgll. Elsie Keagy. Page Nine

Page 10 text:

History of the Washington Township High School He who lives only in the present viewing men and l W events as he finds them, without thought as to how and by what slow degrees the human race attained its present state. though he may be a very sagacious man, shrewd in business, counting his wealth like a Shylock, must of necessity be a very narrow minded if not a sordid and selfish man. On the other hand he who lives only in the past. delving among the ruins of ancient empires, or deciphering the faded inscriptions from crumbling walls and oblelisks, though he may become a very learned man, will grow antiquated and wholly unfit to keep pace with the progress of the times. If we are to know our probable destiny as a people or nation we must, as it were, stand upon the mountain-top, peer into the dismal dark- ness of the past, then turn with prophetic gaze toward the future. ' ROUZERVILLE The above quotation was taken from a paper published by the Kittochtinny Historical Society. volume X, page 335. March l, 1929. As one ponders over the philosophical con- tent embodied therein, it seems a fitting thought to introduce the history which follows. In as much as a history of the XVashington Township High School has never appeared in any previous edition of the XVahtonian, it was the wish of the staff to include it this year. Our purpose is not to go into minute detail but to assemble what information was readily available and that our limited space would permit us to use. The history of the schools of VVashingtou Township in itself is very interesting and would make a worthwhile study. There is available in- formation which dates from 1799, the year XVashington Town- ship was organized. However. we will limit ourselves to information concerning the high school. ,px A WAYNE HEIGHTS WASHINGTON TOVVNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL Page Eight

Page 12 text:

Page Ten CLASS OF 1922 if C Top Row E- Helen Gordon, Myrtle Jacobs, Esther Shipp, Matilda VVhite, Paul urfman. Center -- Samuel Brown, Thelma Bonebrake, Stanley Tracey, Bessie Dutro. Lower Row - Mabel Honodel, Hubert Solliday. Matilda Crawford, Hilah Tracey, Clarence Keckler, Mary Harbaugh. fifty, working under a complete four year accredited high school course. On December 14, 1934, dedicatory ceremonies were held. As 0116 enters the front door one can see a plaque stating that the school is dedicated To The Exalted Service of Training Youth For Noble Living. The men who served as the Board of Directors when the present building was con- structed were as follows: 1933 193-l VV. E. Harbaugh H. H. Soliday VV. H. Sease J. R. Johnston N. C. Shatzer N. C. Shatzer J. R. Johnston XV. G. Groshon H. J. Gehr H. J. Gehr The architect who designed the building was Bobb and Bixler, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The general contractor was H. B. Alexander from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It might be of interest at this point to mention the growth a11d development of the size of the faculty and of the curriculum. VVhi1e the high school was housed in the Rouzerville building the faculty consisted of one member, the principal. Later the faculty was increased to two members by adding another teacher. VVhen the school was moved to the next location at VVayne Heights the increase in enrollment necessitated a larger faculty, so a thtird teacher was added. As growth continued a fourth teacher was added and later a fifth. There was also just one course of study offered up to this time. However, in 1934 with the transferring of the high school fiom the W'ayne Heights building to the present location came not only a larger physical plant to house the school but also increased opportunities for the students. The faculty was increase in enrollment necessitated a larger faculty, so a third teacher was added. As growth suing one course of study each student was faced with the privilege of making a choice in order to help to better meet the individual needs. The following courses were offered: Academic, Commercial, Vocational Home Economics. Since then the faculty has increased to sixteen members and the curricula have been broadened to meet the changing needs of the times. An extra-curricular program as well as an increased athletic program have been added.