Worthington High School - Cardinal Yearbook (Worthington, OH)

Page 17 text:

ELEMENTARY BUILDING-built in 1938 The old grammar school and high school were torn down. The present elementary building which you see across the street was completed in 1938. At the end of our tour you will see our beautiful new high school. Now let’s go over to the Kilbourne Memorial Library. This is the site of several historical schools. The first one was the Worthington Academy which was founded in February, 1808. This institu- tion was started by James Kilbourne so the children of the community could obtain a higher education than that which the public schools offered. The following subjects were offered: spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, history, surveying, navigation, English grammar, Latin, Greek, rhetoric, logic, natural and moral philosophy and astronomy. When this building was erected, a bell was placed in the cupola. Today that same bell hangs in the belfry of the elementary building. The Academy was very successful and soon many people who were ready for higher learning had finished it. Therefore, in 1819 the Ohio State Leg- islature granted a new charter which established the Worthington College in place of the Academy. The charter stated that the purpose of this school was “for the education of youth and all liberal arts and sciences; in virtue, religion and morality: and conferring all the degrees and the literary honors granted in similar institutions.” Reverend Philander Chase was the College’s first principal. He was succeeded by his son in 1820. Attendance declined and in 1823 the College closed. In 1830. Salmon Portland. Dr. Wooster Beach and Col. James Kilbourne started the Worthington Medical College. This institution was against the practice of bleeding, excessive purging and the use of arsenic and mercury. Instead it urged the use of herbs. In 1839 an unfortunate incident occured which caused the doors of this college to be closed. Several graves at Potter’s Burying Field, which was located where the Union Depot is now standing, were robbed. The Medical College was blamed for this. 1813

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OLD ELEMENTARY BUILDING—built in 1874 The old Medical College was torn down and a new grade school was built in 1874. August 29. 1879, a high school course was established. The attendance grew so great that a high school building was erected at the back of the school lot. In 1916 a new high school building was completed on the southeast corner of the school farm lot. This building is now the Junior H. 5.

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When the grounds and building were searched, the body of a negro was found be- hind the Principal’s house. Soon after this incident, the General Assembly deprived the Worthington Medical College of its right to issue degrees. 1830 MEDICAL COLLEGE MEDICAL COLLEGE-1830 The building which we are going to enter is the James Kilbourne Memorial Library. It was given by Mrs. William G. Desher in 1927 as a memorial to her grandfather, Colonel James Kilbourne. The very first Worthington library was founded in December 1803 soon after the settlers came here. It was named after Dr. Jonas Stanberrv, who owned most of Sharon Township. When anyone was going back east from the settlement of Worthington, he carried lists of many things needed by the early settlers here. Things which he was to purchase and bring to Ohio. Among these were books: school books, history, philosophy, math- ematical books and those on religion, sermons and biography. These subjects pre- dominated. Newspapers, when they were to be had. passed from family to family. The Stanberry Library soon declined and the People’s Library wras opened. It was kept in the post office, and the current postmaster acted as librarian. The books in this library were paid for by solicited subscription. A large case of choice books was kept in the high school room of the old grade building. High school boys solicited funds for these books under the supervision of Charles E. Jefferson, Superintendent of schools at that time. 1814