Wilkinsburg High School - Annual Yearbook (Wilkinsburg, PA)

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A History of Wilkinsburg Schools To write a compact, accurate, yet brief account of the schools of this commun- ity, has been a ditiicult task for several reasonsg first, because of the lack of accurate data on this subject, second, because there are so many little, yet important details which go to make such a history interesting. and third, because there is no definite source from which all facts may be obtained. In spite of these things, we have tried to pick the true from the false, the interesting from the monotonous, the facts from the suppositions, and to give appropriate background and due respect to that class which lirst graduated from our high school fifty years ago this spring. About the year 1840, Mr. James Kelly, a prominent citizen of the town, for this district at that time was Wilkins Township, contributed money toward the tirst pub- lic school in this district. FU It was a simple log structure with one ' ,T V room, located somewhere near the site of the , --if ' yk present Semple School. The next building gf' X 1 e mf? in the district was a one-story brick building iii - gc? g ffl ,. situated on what is now the corner of Center J ,gi and Wallace Avenues. It was later used as -Ur Pl-:.- Q i '51-7 ' A a carpenter shop where most of the caskets 35:21, E E551-7' for this district were made. This was fol- lowed in 1850 by a two-room brick structure AR'risT's CONCEPTION oy . on the same site but nearer North Avenue. FiRsT Scitool. In 1872 a frame building was built on the same site but facing on Wallace Avenue. These buildings were all public schools, but in 1852 a private academy was erected on the southwest corner of Center and VVallace. This building was bought in 1875 to provide more room for the growing school. Until 1877 the village school system had been rather complicated. At that time Mr. J. D. Anderson, who was interested in education and the schools of the community, was selected principal and given charge of the schools. From that time, the schools of Wilkinsburg took great strides forward until they were consid- ered among the best in Allegheny County. This fact was proved by the great number of students from outlying districts who preferred coming to school in VVilk- insburg under Mr. Anderson's supervision to attending the schools in their own districts. At that time, the primary grades were taught in the new frame building which contained four school rooms and a hall where town meetings were held. The intermediate grades were housed in the old brick building next door. The gram- mar grades were housed in the old academy across the street. Assisting Mr. Ander- son were four teachers.

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THE mmm SET UD

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l The intermediate grades were housed in 1 the old brick building next door. The granunar grades were housed in the old academy across the street. Assisting Mr. Anderson were tive teachers. ln 188.2 the community was so pleased with its school system that it erected a tifteen-room, three-story brick building on the site of the present junior High School. 'l'his was called Horner School and was built at a cost of 536,200 On the completion of this building. the older ones were sold. On March 19, 1883, tire broke out in the directors' room of the new building and destroyed all books, minutes. records and former school history. ,lt is for this reason that we have today no detinite records of our early school his- tory. VVilkins Township became the in- dependent borough of XVil,kinsburg in 1887 and Mr. Anderson, being principal of the schools, was put in charge of the 1'ublic Schools of NYilkinsburg. lt was in this year that the tirst class of three girls graduated from XYilkinsburg, in whose honor we have dedicated this Golden jubilee issue of Thi' .1fm1zt1l. MR. J. D. Amneksos On january 13. 1800. the Horner School caught tire and burned to the ground. 'l'he pupils were housed in the various churches for schooling. .-Xt this time it was decided to erect two buildings, one of 15 rooms to replace the one burned and an- other for those students in the 'l'hird VVard. Later a two-story building was built on the corner of l'itt and McNair Streets. A few years later the school board awarded a contract to build a school building in the Second VVard at a cost of 338.500 'l'his new building was located on the corner of Center and South Avenues. 'l'he idea of a commencement was tirst introduced by the class of 1893. Lack- ing an auditorium. the graduating class gave a short program and received its diplomas in the Odd lfellows' Hall. In 1897 a complete course of academic sub- jects which included Latin, Geometry, physics, history, linglish and rhetoric, was added to the curriculum. Mr. li. 51. Shives. who had been principal of the public schools. was elected superintendent. Because of the crowded condition in the schools the Board of lflducation thought it best to erect another building in the lfirst Ward: therefore, on September 23. 1002. contracts were let for Semple School. It is interesting to note that until 1003. the three buildings already erected and the one about to be erected had no names and were referred to merely by the ward in which they were located. Since this system was awkward and dithcult. the buildings were given the names that we know todayeellorner. lVlcNair. Kelly and Semple. All were named for promi- nent citizens of the community.