Wyomissing Area High School - Colophon Yearbook (Wyomissing, PA)

Page 14 text:

August first, Nineteen hundred thirty-nine if ' Work which had proceeded smoothly for quite some time was suddenly slowed up for a period of three months. Peculiar soil conditions had necessitated the sinking of numerous piles down to bedrock surface. However, April 21, 1939 saw the first milestone passed with the completion of all steel structural work, marked by the laying of the cornerstone, into which were sealed for generations to come, material symbols ol school and community life in their present forms. All through the summer of 1939, the edifice neared its completion, presenting to the town an interesting project. Numerous piles had to be sunk, some to a depth of seventy- three feet, with the combined lengths of all equal to one and six-tenths miles. Enough soil was removed to lill a building titty feet square, twelve and one-half stories high, and sufficient steel was con- sumed to build three average loco- motives. ll all the 10,010,001 bricks used were laid end to end, they would stretch from Reading to New York City just as easily as the plaster covering the interior walls could be I M-we isummmmm-. n - i 2 spread out over three and one-half acres and the roofing over four-fitths

Page 13 text:

May first, Nineteen hundred thirty-nine The only alternative, therefore, in order to obtain the maximum amount of good for the least amount of money, was to construct a new roof for the upper grades and to move the elementary students into the Wyomissing Boulevard structure, antiquated as far as meeting high school needs was concerned, but very well suited for grade usage, ln the spring of 1937, the Muhlenburg Brothers were selected as the architects of the pro- posed institution. A special election was held in August, 1937 at which time the affirmative wishes of the borough on a 3260000 bond issue were determined, Through the generosity of Messrs. Thun and Ianssen a site was donated opposite the athletic field, and, with the aid of the federal government, which promised to give forty-five cents out of every dollar of cost, the go-ahead signal was flashed. With the turning of the first shovelful of earth on September 20, 1938, under the super- vision of the general contractor, 5 - Edward A. Reider, residents of Wyo- t missing began to look forward to a new era in education.

Page 15 text:

December first, Nineteen hundred thirty nine of an acre. About eighteen miles of electric wiring and three and one-half miles of conduits serve 634 lighting fixtures, 579 switches and plates, twenty-eight clocks, not to mention dozens of other electrical appliances. Over one and a half miles of piping run throughout the school between 174 water fixtures. One of the many admirable qualities of the new Wyomissing High School is its unusual location, for it and its surroundings represent a complete educational and recreational unit. Spread out over an area of nineteen acres rest the new school building, a sizeable field house and picnic pavilion, a one-fifth mile track, a large athletic field, a smaller hockey field, four excellent tennis courts convertible in winter time to an ice skating rink-all in a beautifully landscaped setting. During the week of February 20-25, l940, the building was dedicated. The main exer- cises were held Tuesday, February 20, with Thursday and Saturday nights bringing forth a physical edu- cation demonstration and the annual Tri-Hi-Y and Hi-Y inter-club dance, respectively. The High School music clubs rendered a joint concert Sun- day afternoon, February 25 to com- plete the dedicatory ceremonies. During this short time it was esti- mated that a total of 8,000 persons F passed through the Showplace, thereby getting a good idea of the last work in educational progress.