Wood River Rural High School - Eagle Yearbook (Wood River, NE)

Page 9 text:

 ABOVE: A Behlen building with a large gymnasium, stage and three classrooms was added in 1962. There was a Glee Club and a Chorus in 1916 but no band. The football field for the 11-man team was several blocks northeast of the school. At this time Grand Island and Kearney were Arch-rivals. Football wasn't played for five years during the 20's but was resumed for the seasons of 1930 and 1931. Dur- ing this time basketball was played. Football was back on the calendar in 1949 with a six man team. By 1962, a Behlen building was put up with a large gymnasium and stage and three classrooms. A hallway with four more classrooms was attached to the newer building. District 83, known as Wood River Rural Junior Senior High School, was organized in 1968. Students began classes in the new school in September, 1969. The first graduating class of Wood River Rural High was the class of 1970. 5

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 Spirit Of 76 Our nation's second birthday is more symbolic than simply its birth and the passing of a two-hundred year period. This celebration also symbolizes achievement and growth, reminding us of the past that shapes our present and gives us hope for the future. The sights and sounds of Wood River two-hundred years ago are silent, but our cherished memories of activities and spirit will never die. Kindergarten years for District 8 started as early as 1864. At this time, the school was set up in the old Wood River, several miles west of the present town. This building was re-organized into District 5. By 1872, Wood River had built on Section 20 just east of the city limits. The annual report for 1873 indicated that six boys and 12 girls would be attending the 60-day term. A two-story, eight room frame building was con- structed in 1882. After the full high school course was added in 1889, the graduating class included a total of four girls. The District was re-organized into a high school district in 1891. In 1898, four rooms were added and brick sidewalks were laid. A proposition for a new school building was defeated in 1912. Instead two more rooms were added. Three years later, another proposition was made and passed. The modern brick building was constructed right in front of the old school. ABOVE; A building and a windmill is all that is left at the old Wood River site. RIGHT: District 8 was rebuilt in 1915 and is now used as a grade school. 4

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“Stand Your Ground . . . If They Mean to Have a War, Let It Begin Here. ” Capt. John Parker 1 Capt. John Parker uttered those words as the colonial militia under his command prepared to meet the British troops at Lexington. Those works and the painting—Spirit of '76—exemplify the dedication and determination of the American patriots in their fight for independence. The colonies had organized to express their grievances in an effort to resolve the differences within the framework of the Empire. Several of the colonial legislatures had instructed their delegates to the Con- tinental Congress in Philadelphia to oppose any move toward in- dependence. The movement for independence was gaining strength and following the publication of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, which argued for colonial sovereignty, a resolution was adopted and a committee of five appointed to draft a declaration of independence. 2 General Washington, who had been appointed commander-in-chief of American forces by the Second Continental Congress, was a brilliant military strategist. It was his decision to take his Continentals across the Delaware River on Christmas night which resulted in the first ma- jor colonial victory. That victory at Trenton over Hessian mercenaries gave the ragged army renewed vigor. Supported chiefly through the printing of Continental currency, the colonial army also went through the personal fortunes of many American patriots—among them Washington. Jefferson. Richard Henry Lee and John Adams. These fortunes were donated to the cause of liberty—a cause supported by about one-third of the American population which was near 2,000,000. Another one-third remained loyal to the English crown and the remainder were apathetic. Despite many defeats, the colonies managed to keep an army in the field as a symbol of American resistance, to guarantee a negotiated rather than dictated peace.