Woodward High School - Boomer Yearbook (Woodward, OK)

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HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING

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THE BOOMER, 1914 The above will be recognized as Mr. B. W. Key. He is otte of Woodward’s original energetic boosters. The City Schools are especially grateful to him for his interest and support. The plan for beautifying the High School grounds was his original plan. In an effort to realize this plan, he has planted trees about the grounds and along the streets leading to it. He has built sidewalks, erected sixteen stone capped brick pillars at the entrances, and has set a five-globe electric light at the front entrance of the building. One of the mementoes that he says he will prize always is a letter of thanks signed by every pupil at the building.

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Wo Mo o The history of Woodward High School began about the year 1901. The first class to complete the course of a higher education than that offered by the common school, was a class of three in 1910 The enrollment at the time was small for the school was still in its infancy having had, previous to that time, only a two or three year course. In 1909 a movement was started by a number of Woodward’s enterprising citizens to build a larger and better equipped building. This movement was headed by Prof. Bert Langly, then Superintendent of the Woodward City Schools. However, owing to the intense rivalry over the location of the proposed building, the necessary vote was not secured until two years later. A class of three girls graduated in 1910 The total enrollment of the High School was sixty-three. Prof. Harry O. Buzzaird was Superintendent at that time, to which position he was re-elected the following year. The fall of 1909 brought forth the High School’s first Foot Ball squad, which made a splendid showing under the direction of Coach Gill. The following spring saw the first track team from W. H. S. at the Northwestern meet at Alva. It was the second year for Basket Ball and each year since, W. H. S. has been well represented in that line of Athletics by both the girl's and boy’s teams. It was with the Woodward teams that the Misses Grace Keisar and Irma Hudson, the champion forwards on the N. S. N. girl’s Basket Ball team, received their early training. In the spring of 1910 the large public school building, on the same block of ground with the High School, was destroyed by fire. It now became necessary to erect a new building and at the election the following summer, school bonds were voted, which provided for a $65,000 High School building Shortly afterwards, work was begun and in 1911 the new structure was ready for occupancy. The school year of 1910-11 saw the first of the class fights, which have proven a constant menace to the faculty and have been a hindrance to the better advancement of the school in general. The most enjoyable event of the year was the first annual High School picnic, which precedent has been followed every spring since. School opened in 1911. in the new building, under Supt. Wm. A. Erdman, with an enrollment of fifty-three Class spirit ran high and petty brawls and rival contests in various literary lines were frequent throughout the year. During the second Semester, the first annual High School and Senior plays were giveu, and dramatics became an important factor in school life at W. H. S. The year closed with the graduation of a class of seven. The first Semester of the school year of 1912-18 opened with an enrollment of eighty-seven, under the direction of Supt. Geo C. Wakefield. Prof. Wakefield came to Woodward very highly recommended from Medford, Okla , where he had done much to bring the schools to a high standing. As usual the class fights started and were carried on to some extent, but largely through the influences brought to bear by Prof. Wakefield, they ceased in a remarkably short time. During the school year, a High School band and an orchestra were organized under the direction of Prof. J. C. Bridges, a man who has since done much to further the musical interests of the High School. Considerably more time was given to literary work and school spirit was instilled, to a greater extent, into the minds of the students The year closed with the graduation of a class of fifteen of Woodward’s representative youth. As the summer advanced. Prof. Wakefield determined to have a nine months’ term of school for the ensuing school year and. through the efforts of H. R. Kent and a few other prominent citizens of Woodward, he succeeded. The present school year of 1913-14 has been one of the greatest and most successful