Wilkinsburg High School - Annual Yearbook (Wilkinsburg, PA)

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6 The period from 1900 until 1911 was one of A rapid growth, not only in the number of students but also in the variety and size of the curricu- lum. A few years before, most of the academic sub- jects had been added. In 1901 physical training and drawing had been adopted. During these eleven years the student enrollment increased from 1300 to nearly 3000 and the number of teachers and principals from 45 to 72. The class of 1900 THE HORNER Sci-toon-1887 Cqmgigting of nine girls was the first to complete the three year course in the high school department, and the class of 1907 the first to complete our present four year schedule. Because of the overcrowded conditions at this time. the Board of Education let contracts for johnston School in 1906, and for the high school building in 1911. f1'revious to this time, the high school had been housed in three rooms in the McNair building and later in the entire third floor of the Kelly school.j For the first time, the students of the high school department had a building all to themselves in which they could take the courses and have the entertainment and enjoyment that they wanted. Heretofore there had been no gymnasium, no science rooms. no library, nor study halls, the new building was equipped with all these. The students were quick to make use of these necessities, and in those years started many of the enter- tainments and social activities that we have today, such as the Gym Exhibit. the junior and Senior Proms, and many of the clubs. Under Mr. XY. C. Graham's supervision athletics made great progress. In 1903 was organized the first varsity football and in 1906 a paid coach was hired, and our first W. P. I. A. L. champion- ships in football were won in 1914. 115 and '16. In appreciation of Mr. Graham's work. the new athletic iield. dedicated in 1914, was named for him. In 1915 when the evangelist Billy Sunday had his tabernacle here. in VVilkins- burg. a number of the students of the high school and a few citizens of the borough. infiuenced by his preaching, asked that the School Board prohibit dancing in the schools. The School Board approved this plan, and until 1930 no dances of any kind were allowed in the school buildings.

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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.

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1 , I c WM .4 my MNNGMW A wma -- X SE1uPLE SCHOOL For the second time the Horner School building burned to the ground. and the present junior High School replaced it in 1018. The johnston School was also destroyed by tire and rebuilt in 1922. Allison School was then built so that the lower grades mightl be separated from the congested junior High School. Turner School was then built for the convenience of the students who live in that district. During the next few years the lack of adequate health facilities was felt in the school system, and for that reason the Open Air School in the McNair building was open- ed: this was followed by an Opportunity School for retarded pupils. In 10.22 a dental clinic was started in the junior High School. The work of this clinic was done by the Senior Class of the Dental School at the University of Pittsburgh. The same year school banking was introduced in the schools, and has in every way proved a success. For many years the only publication of the students was a magazine called the Rl'7'ft'7f7, which appeared several times during the year. The last issue of each year was known as the Commencement Issue and serv- ed as our Jmzzmlx do today. In 1021 the Commencement Issue was discontinued and replaced by a yearbook. An appropriate name for this book was sought but the un- assuming name of Thu Amfmzl seemed to be MR. WM. SLATER .-1 Hcfn'lf1'1l 7'cm'hcl'