Woodward High School - Treasures Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

Page 13 text:

rxuxxxxxxxxxxnxnxnxxxxx l 1 I 4 i xxxxxxsxxxxxxnxxxxxnxxx William Woodward was born at Plainfield, Con- necticut, on March 8, 1768. He was a man who helped make the world a better place to live in. He was not a literary genius, not a poet, nor a hero of a great battle, but a plain and simple man whose generous heart and interest in education gave to Cincinnati its first high school. At an early age Mr. Vlfoodward came west to seek his fortune, and in 1791 landed at Cincinnati, where he built himself a cottage, using some of the timber of his boat for it. As a farmer and tanner he toiled for many years, and in 1816, on a large strip of land, built a new home at the northeast corner of Main and Wfebster Streets. With his purpose ever in mind, he now turned his attention to the fulfillment of his life's dream. In 1826 the deed of his gift was drawn up. This provided for the erection of an institution of edu- cation, and granted seven acres of Mr. VVoodward's property for the school building. The plans were placed in the hands of two trustees, Mr. Samuel Lewis and Mr. Osmond Cogswell. The work developed rapidly, and on October 24, xxxxxxxnxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The History of Woodward 1831, the Erst high school in Cincinnati opened its doors to those who would learn. This first build- ing was a four-room house, two stories high, and surmounted by a belfry which contained the Wood- ward bell. This bell now occupies a place of honor above the southwest door in our auditorium, and is rung each year at our Founder's Day celebra- tion by a former W'oodward student. With forty-two pupils enrolled under the super- vision of three teachers, the little school progressed successfully. Mr. Frederick Prescott was the first principal, he also taught English. His brother, Thomas Prescott, was teacher of languages, and Dr. Joseph Ray, instructor of mathematics. ln 1836 the legislature granted a charter, and the Woodward College became a fact. The high school department was continued. The number of pupils increased. In 1851, girls were admitted, and Miss Swan came to Woodward as the first woman teacher. Mr. Brunner, a teacher of French, and Mr. Aiken, a musical director, were also added. The need of a larger building was evident, so the first little school, sacred to those who had passed

Page 12 text:

i r 51: W 1 4 A 1 J A I J A r I I I 1 ' J A I A , Q

Page 14 text:

through it, was replaced by a larger structure, which was opened on December 31, 1855. The sum of 330,000 was expended on the new school. It was a line specimen of Gothic archi- tecture, beautifled by two terra cotta gargoyles, of which we are the proud possessors. They are in the Graduates' Room, with many articles from the old schools and from Mr. Woodward's home. The spacious halls and numerous classrooms of this building were a marked improvement over the first little school. After an additional wing had been built, the school had fifteen classrooms and a gymnasium. Pupils now crowded the school, and lack of room made it necessary to transfer many to the Walnut Hills High School. The Old Woodward Club of 1831-1851 and the Alumnal Association decided to erect a monument to Mr. Vlfoodward. The bodies of Mr. Woodward and his beloved wife, Abigail Cutter Woodward, were removed from the Presbyterian Cemetery, where they had been laid to rest long ago, to the east side of the Woodward High School grounds. The sum of 558,724.84 was raised, and over the two graves a monument was placed, and dedicated on October 24, 1878. The second building soon became crowded, and the time was approaching when this splendid struc- ture would have to be replaced by a larger one if Mr. Woodward's excellent work was to continue. So a new Woodward, our present school, was begun in 1907, and on November 4, 1908, with Mr. William Howard Taft, a graduate of '74, as orator, the corner stone was laid. The new building, cov- ering an entire square, is Hve stories high, and contains classrooms, a gymnasium, library, lunch room, rest rooms, and an auditorium with a seating capacity of eleven hundred. -How unlike the little school of 1831 with its four rooms! Still the same Woodward spirit, which filled that little school of years ago, now hlls the halls of our great institution. In 1919 the Bettens' library was presented to us by Mr. Bettens, a graduate of Woodward in '68, in honor of his mother, Louise E. Bettens. We, the Class of 1922, having spent four years within the walls of Woodward High School, and realizing the priceless value of education, will go out into the world with a great love in our hearts for William Woodward and an abiding loyalty to our school and its teachings. ODA BAUER, '22.