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| SCHOOL DAYS |
| This is the oldest Schuylkill Haven school memorabilia in my possession. It is the program from the 1897 Commencement Exercises. |
| The ceremony was held at Metamora Hall which is the current location of Geschwindt Stabingas Funeral Home on Main Street. |
| A Brief History |
According to the 1925 Schuylkill Haven Anniversary Book, "A log building was erected for religious and
educational purposes in 1806 on the ground donated by Martin Dreibelbis, on the northeastern outskirts of
the borough. In the school the Bible was the most important text book. It was printed in the German
language. English was not taught in this school".
The next mention by the historian of a school was a one story log structure on Saint John Street. In 1836 this
school was moved to a brick building on the site of the old high school building on High Street. Every pupil
attending this school paid tuition to meet expenses, rather then taxation paying for the schooling.
Schuylkill Haven adopted the state school system in 1838. The schools of the time were quite rudimentary.
Books were rare and the Bible was used to a great extent. The following information was in the 1925
Anniversary Book, having been gathered from an old treasurer's book of the Schuylkill Haven School District
dated 1850 and minute books going back to Civil War days:
"The salaries of the secretary and treasurer of the school district in 1867 were $50 each for the school year.
There were twelve directors, the school term was nine months and the tax rate was ten mills, eight for school
purposes and two for building purposes. The principals salary was $80 a month and the janitor in the Spring
Garden school received $10 a month and the one in the main building $18 a month. There were eight teachers
in the main building and one in Spring Garden. Tuition rates were $1.25 and $.75 to pupils outside the
borough."
A boatman's school was open for about two and a half months in 1874 when canal boating was impractical.
Pliny Porter was elected teacher at a salary of $50 per month.
In 1850, a three story building with eight rooms was built on High Street at a cost of $13,000. The third floor
served as a meeting place for secret societies . The building was later deemed unsafe causing it's inspection
by an architect who claimed it secure but poorly planned. In 1878 the third floor was removed and a wing
added at a cost of $2495. Another wing was later added. In 1858 the school directors bought St. Paul's
Lutheran Church and used it as a school until it was sold to the Roman Catholics in either 1861 or 1863.
In September of 1874, a one story building was completed by J. H. and R. Sterner at a cost of $1400 in the North
Ward. The North Ward Elementary School was later built on this same plot. In 1900 a one and a half story brick
building of two rooms was built on Parkway, then known as Canal Street, in the South Ward. This was later
remodeled into a four room building.
In September 1917, the present Middle School was used for the first time as the new High School Building. It
contained twenty classrooms, a gymnasium, a large storage room, an auditorium with a seating capacity of 600
and rest rooms. The cost was about $75,000. This building was partially destroyed by a fire in 1937 with
rebuilding completed in 1939. ( Note: I remember my aunt recalling the fire and stating that a train passing
through town delayed some fire equipment from reaching the scene much to the delight of many students.)
On September 3, 1957 the Schuylkill Haven School District formed a jointure with South Manheim Township
and later Landingville and Port Clinton. This consolidation of small schools was prevalent at the time. On
August 9, 1966, the district was organized as the Schuylkill Haven Area School District.
Many borough residents remember that there were three elementary schools in town including: the East Ward
located at the intersection of High Street and Union Street, the South Ward at Parkway and Penn Street and the
North Ward on Dock Street. All three buildings held grades one through four with the East Ward also
accommodating grades five and six. The North Ward building was closed in 1978 and in 1991 the new
elementary center on Main Street completed the closing of the other two buildings. Until 1970 the High School
on Haven Street (now the Middle School) housed grades seven through twelve. The current High School on
Main Street opened in 1970 for grades nine through twelve with the old High School building being converted
to the Middle School for grades five through eight.
educational purposes in 1806 on the ground donated by Martin Dreibelbis, on the northeastern outskirts of
the borough. In the school the Bible was the most important text book. It was printed in the German
language. English was not taught in this school".
The next mention by the historian of a school was a one story log structure on Saint John Street. In 1836 this
school was moved to a brick building on the site of the old high school building on High Street. Every pupil
attending this school paid tuition to meet expenses, rather then taxation paying for the schooling.
Schuylkill Haven adopted the state school system in 1838. The schools of the time were quite rudimentary.
Books were rare and the Bible was used to a great extent. The following information was in the 1925
Anniversary Book, having been gathered from an old treasurer's book of the Schuylkill Haven School District
dated 1850 and minute books going back to Civil War days:
"The salaries of the secretary and treasurer of the school district in 1867 were $50 each for the school year.
There were twelve directors, the school term was nine months and the tax rate was ten mills, eight for school
purposes and two for building purposes. The principals salary was $80 a month and the janitor in the Spring
Garden school received $10 a month and the one in the main building $18 a month. There were eight teachers
in the main building and one in Spring Garden. Tuition rates were $1.25 and $.75 to pupils outside the
borough."
A boatman's school was open for about two and a half months in 1874 when canal boating was impractical.
Pliny Porter was elected teacher at a salary of $50 per month.
In 1850, a three story building with eight rooms was built on High Street at a cost of $13,000. The third floor
served as a meeting place for secret societies . The building was later deemed unsafe causing it's inspection
by an architect who claimed it secure but poorly planned. In 1878 the third floor was removed and a wing
added at a cost of $2495. Another wing was later added. In 1858 the school directors bought St. Paul's
Lutheran Church and used it as a school until it was sold to the Roman Catholics in either 1861 or 1863.
In September of 1874, a one story building was completed by J. H. and R. Sterner at a cost of $1400 in the North
Ward. The North Ward Elementary School was later built on this same plot. In 1900 a one and a half story brick
building of two rooms was built on Parkway, then known as Canal Street, in the South Ward. This was later
remodeled into a four room building.
In September 1917, the present Middle School was used for the first time as the new High School Building. It
contained twenty classrooms, a gymnasium, a large storage room, an auditorium with a seating capacity of 600
and rest rooms. The cost was about $75,000. This building was partially destroyed by a fire in 1937 with
rebuilding completed in 1939. ( Note: I remember my aunt recalling the fire and stating that a train passing
through town delayed some fire equipment from reaching the scene much to the delight of many students.)
On September 3, 1957 the Schuylkill Haven School District formed a jointure with South Manheim Township
and later Landingville and Port Clinton. This consolidation of small schools was prevalent at the time. On
August 9, 1966, the district was organized as the Schuylkill Haven Area School District.
Many borough residents remember that there were three elementary schools in town including: the East Ward
located at the intersection of High Street and Union Street, the South Ward at Parkway and Penn Street and the
North Ward on Dock Street. All three buildings held grades one through four with the East Ward also
accommodating grades five and six. The North Ward building was closed in 1978 and in 1991 the new
elementary center on Main Street completed the closing of the other two buildings. Until 1970 the High School
on Haven Street (now the Middle School) housed grades seven through twelve. The current High School on
Main Street opened in 1970 for grades nine through twelve with the old High School building being converted
to the Middle School for grades five through eight.
| To the left is an example of the headgear worn by band members of the past. |
| Two cheerleader patches from the 1950's and band patches from 1933 and 1941 are shown at right. |
| Schuylkill Haven is the home of the "Blue and Gold" but classes of 1928,1935 and 1936 apparently preferred other colors for their class pennants. |
| The bell from the East Ward school on Union Street is now displayed at the Elementary Center. A plaque states that the bell was in service from August 17, 1923 until May of 1973. |
| On the left is the high school on Haven Street as it originally appeared. On the right is the same school later renovated after the fire of 1937. |
| Here are pictures of the three elementary schools. At the upper left is the South Ward building on Parkway. At the upper right is the East Ward building at High and Union Streets. Below is the North Ward building on Dock Street. **Note that these cards did not scan well and are better viewed by clicking on each thumbnail. |
| THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL |
| High School as it was built. At left is a photo of the grounds in August of 1968. Apparently at one time, the Almshouse (Rest Haven), Here are pictures of the present High School as it was built. At left is a photo of the grounds in August of 1968. Apparently at one time, the Almshouse (Rest Haven), used the field to plant potatoes. The lower photo is during construction in December 1968. |
| In the top photo on the right, the school is nearing completion in March of 1969. The lower photo shows the finished project in October of 1969. |
....frequent additions will
be made to this page...
be made to this page...
| LAST UPDATED: NOVEMBER 10 |
| Clicking on this photo will improve it's clarity. Prior to million dollar turf, field houses and new bleachers and lights, Rotary Field served the "Hurricanes" in rudimentary fashion. |
| BLUE & GOLD |
| The Blue and Gold annual yearbook was first published at Schuylkill Haven High School in 1923 and continues today. In 1920, it was called Panorama and in 1921 it was called the Oriflamme. At left, click on the photo to see the intent of the first staff and on the right are three examples of the annual including the 1923 first volume. |
| Uniforms have changed since these early photos of Schuylkill Haven basketball teams: the girl's team of 1922-23 above and the boy's team of 1911-1912 below. |
| This aerial photograph from 2004 shows the high school at the top with the elementary center on the left and the football field at the bottom |
| New pictures from the Schuylkill Haven yearbooks in 1929, 1930 and 1931 just added. This continues the process of adding from each yearbook I have. Read about the first night football game played at Rotary Field in November of 1937. |
| Pottsville Republican of October 27, 1931 HAVEN SCHOOL CORNERSTONE CONTENTS ARE INTERESTING Newspapers, old by-laws, names of officials, money, etc., found in the cornerstone of the old east ward school building at Schuylkill Haven, which has now been entirely torn down were found and are most interesting to native citizens. They are now on display and will in a few days be enclosed in glass for preservation. A gold dollar is among the coins. A slip of paper states that Henry Saylor was burgess, Philip- Boyer, Moses Reed, Daniel Lavenburg, David Lewis and a man named Shultz were councilmen. The cornerstone was laid in August, 1850 and the service of the Masonic fraternity was used. The building cost $7000 and the funds were largely raised with subscriptions of citizens from fifty dollars up. The Schuylkill Haven paper then was named the Schuylkill Haven Map. Many of the firms, advertising are still remembered by citizens of today. Market quotations showed wheat at $1.18 per bushel, eggs were ten cents per dozen, whiskey sold for twenty five cents per gallon. The population of the borough then was 2061 with 471 dwellings and 497 families. In 1850 to that time, 46 couples were married, 423 pupils attended school and there were 315 persons over thirty years of age who could neither read nor write. Of the fraternity bylaws placed in the cornerstone, Carroll Lodge Number 120, I. O. O. F. is the only surviving order. Rates for coal freight on the canal were given as twenty five cents per ton to Hamburg, up to seventy two cents per ton to Manayunk and Philadelphia. |
| Here are two programs from the Schuylkill Haven team. The example at left is from the Minersville game of September 16, 1955 and on the right is a program from a game with Cass Township on October 1, 1954, which they apparently won 25-0 according to the pencil marks of the original owner. |
| In 1953, the Schuylkill Haven football team won the first of many Eastern Conference championships. It was the first championship in this conference for the school. On December 5, 1953, Rotary Field held it's first championship game. Coach Bill Stauffer's Southern Division champs defeated the Northern Division champ, Scranton Tech, 28-6. Below is a ticket from that important game. INFO FROM MIKE TRACEYS BOOK "HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL HAVEN FOOTBALL" |
| Pottsville Republican of January 6, 1916 $60,000 FOR SCHUYLKILL HAVEN SCHOOL At the meeting of the Schuylkill Haven School Board on Wednesday evening, Frank X. Reilly of Pottsville, was awarded the contract to draw up plans for the new high school building to be erected in that town. Two other with schools and public buildings, the board decided to award the contract to him at the rate of four percent, which will be $2400 or more. The new building will cost in the neighborhood of $60,000 and when completed will cost about $68,000. The building will be erected on Haven Street and will be a two story building with a basement to be used for school purposes. In the basement will be a gymnasium and manual training room, both of which will be fitted up with modern equipment. On the first floor will be five or six rooms, a hall separating; on the top floor there will be three more rooms and a large auditorium, which will be used for all public affairs of the high school, also for commencement. The building will be of brick with stone trimmings and will be a modern building in every respect. It is proposed to make it one of the finest in the county and the board desires that everything be done to have the building compare favorably with any high school building in the county. A meeting of the board will be held on Friday evening at which Architect Reilly will be present with a set of plans and if the board adopts the plans, bids will be asked and work started on the building in early spring. |
| The Call of October 4,1929 ATHLETIC FIELD TO BE FORMALLY OPENED SATURDAY |
| The much discussed and dreamed of High School Athletic Field will have become a reality when Schuylkill Haven High meets Pottsville High on the new field next Saturday afternoon. No event in years has caused so much speculation among both students and citizens as the opening of the field and the rivals who will assist in the dedication. The plot of ground was presented to the school district in 1925 by the Rotary Club of Schuylkill Haven. At that time a committee of citizens raised some money for its improvement. In the fall of 1926, high school students under the direction of Professor Madeira stage the play, "Audrey", which netted a sum of over five hundred dollars. These two funds combined amounted to twelve hundred dollars and furnished the means for carrying out the work of grading of a part of the plot which was in progress most of the summer. Preliminary surveys were made possible throughout the voluntary services of Mr. George Butz of the Pennsylvania Highway Department. As a result of the surveys, it was found that enough of the plot could be graded to provide for a first class gridiron. The present field is the result of the action taken by the Athletic Field Committee, authorizing the work and placing it in the hands of Rotarians Harry F. Loy and Clinton Confehr. The field is not complete in every respect but is a vast improvement over the gridiron on Island Park. Adequate seating space in the form of bleachers will be erected and through future benefits of various kinds to be held annually it is hoped to gradually equip the field and enclose it with a fence. This plot of ground has the potentialities for a worthwhile community playground. The original plans call for should be possible to provide new and better accommodations for the city league next summer. Coach Stauffer is working hard in getting his team in the pink of condition for Saturday's game. The McAdoo and Port Carbon games afforded excellent opportunity for showing any weak spots and these are receiving the attention of the coaches this week. Secret practice, something new for the squad, has been the order all week and the opening whistle on Saturday will no doubt release a new bag of tricks on the wily visitors. No game in years has enlisted the general interest of football fans in the community as this game has, and it bodes well for an interest in all school sports throughout the year. The Girl's Glee Club will sing the Alma Mater and the Boy's High School Band will play and march to dedicate the field. Professor Madeira will throw the ball to start the initial game. Schuylkill Haven won the game 12-0. |
| The Call of February 4, 1927 BOARD CLOSED SCHOOLS FOR FUMIGATION Upon orders from the Board of Health, the school rooms in the East Ward of Schuylkill Haven were closed down Tuesday morning in order that the same might be given a thorough cleansing and fumigation. This was deemed necessary in order to combat the threatened spread of scarlet fever and other contagious diseases in this community. Other ward buildings are also to be closed down for a sufficient number of days to provide for the proper fumigation and cleansing of all schools. The Haven Street building was closed down Wednesday that it would be properly fumigated. In the meantime parents of all pupils are asked to cooperate with the Board of Health and the Board of Education in this work by fumigating the home and clothing, also by freely distributing disinfectants on the premises. The Board of Health reached the decision to close the schools at its meeting Monday evening after reports were heard showing that the situation was more grave than had first been considered. It was shown by an actual investigation that on Monday afternoon nineteen students were absent from school on account of chicken pox, six on account of scarlet fever and seventy five on account of other illness, making a total of one hundred pupils or about ten percent of the total enrollment. In the East Ward building the conditions appeared to be worthy of most consideration and definite drastic steps to prevent the spread of disease. In all wards it was found that the rooms had not been fumigated or given any large amount of disinfectant since January 21st and January 22nd. The situation was freely discussed by board members and it was the consensus of opinion that the health laws must be more stringently enforced and complied with to the letter. The law requiring that children absent from school more then three days must have an excuse from the attending physician or family physician before returning to school will be enforced. It is the duty of the truant officer to investigate the absence of all pupils daily, that is, those whose absence has not already been explained. The Health Officer reported that during the month forty one cases of chicken pox have been reported, eight cases of scarlet fever, one case of scarletina and one case of diphtheria. The members of the board were rather chagrined to learn that they had unknowingly permitted a dangerous procedure in the matter of the Junior Choir of the Cressona High School being in attendance at an entertainment given in the High School auditorium last Thursday evening under the auspices of the Odd Fellows. The Cressona schools had been closed last week on account of diphtheria being prevalent in that town. |
| The Call of June 17, 1927 499 GRADUATED FROM HAVEN HIGH Four hundred and ninety nine students have received diplomas from the Schuylkill Haven public schools since the first class of 1879. It is interesting to note the steady increase in the number of graduates in the last several years. It would also be very interesting to know just how many members of these graduating classes are living, how many reside in Schuylkill Haven and how many are now engaged in a profession or how many are successful business executives. There were very few years since the first quartet of graduates stepped from public school life into the world life before them, that did not see a class of graduates from our schools. We would welcome and our readers surely would appreciate if we could republish any article covering any of the very early commencement exercises of our schools. Perhaps some reader can supply such an article. 1879 4 1895 5 1908 7 1920 22 1880 6 1896 3 1909 11 1921 19 1881 1 1897 6 1910 11 1922 30 1882 2 1898 1 1911 14 1923 24 1883 2 1899 11 1912 11 1924 35 1885 5 1900 15 1913 13 1925 45 1887 1 1901 7 1914 10 1926 38 1889 2 1903 5 1915 14 1927 56 1890 5 1905 5 1916 11 TOT 499 1892 4 1906 10 1918 18 1894 3 1907 6 1919 17 This chart appeared in the article detailing the number of graduates by year. Note single digit class numbers even past 1900 and some years with no graduates. The 500th graduate from Schuylkill Haven did not take place until 1928, 49 years after the first graduates. |
| The Call of February 20, 1920 HALF OF PUPILS DEFECTIVE From the report of the medical examination conducted in the public schools of town by the state medical examiner some time ago, it is learned that of the 872 pupils examined, almost one half the number are afflicted with some defect or the other. The purpose of the examination is to be helpful to the pupils. When the examination is made the reports are forwarded to the state by the examiner. From the state department is sent, to the parent or guardian of the pupil, a card giving a complete result of the findings of the examiner. The defects are listed and enumerated and suggestions made for the elimination of the same or improvement of the condition. The idea of the state in conducting theses examinations and notifying the parents of the measures to be taken is for the improvement in the health of the scholars. There is no obligation on the part of the parent to comply recommendations, but it is thought that most parents are sufficiently desirous of having their children in as healthy a condition as possible and glad to take the suggested steps for the improvement of that condition. The complete report is as follows: Pupils enrolled: 931 Pupils examined: 872 Defective pupils: 434 Normal pupils: 438 Pupils with: defective vision, 91; defective hearing, 9; unclean teeth, 2; decayed teeth, 372; slightly enlarged tonsils, 74; greatly enlarged tonsils, 23; slight impairment breathing, 10; marked malnutrition, 1; deformities, 2. |
| The Call of July 2, 1926 WORK ON FIELD TO START AT ONCE Development of the proposed ten acre athletic field for Schuylkill Haven will be begun within the next several days as a result of the meeting of the Athletic Field Association held in the Town Hall Wednesday evening. The plan for the development of the complete ten acre plot, as submitted by the Pennsylvania Department of Internal Affairs was approved by the association and the Board of Education will be requested to approve the present program calls for the development of the entire plot but this will require a number of years. The particular part of the field was ordered to be given attention at once. A committee was appointed to superintend and direct the work which is to be started immediately. The same. The present program calls for the development of the entire plot but this will require a number of years. A particular part of the field was ordered to be given attention at once. This part will be a section 250 feet long and 575 feet wide and will include a track, baseball field, football field, spaces for high jumping, pole vaulting, shot putting, etc. and also grand stands. An urgent request is made that as many members of the student body and individual citizens as can do so, plan to take part in this preliminary work at once. It will be necessary to plow some sections of the field, level and fill up other sections. Teams, wagons, tractors, plows, harrows and scoops will be required. The committee in charge issues a call for volunteers to begin work at once. The chairman of this committee will give full details of what is required. The general plan not only covers the above named appointments but also tennis courts, volleyball courts, horseshoe courts, swimming pool, bandstand and large recreation park. The plans call for trees to be planted throughout the grounds and with the work being continued from year to year, it is believed that within a period of five years or possibly three, the field will be completely under development. The Athletic Field Project is to be thoroughly explained to the general public at a meeting that is to be held within the next ten days or two weeks in the high school auditorium. Secretary Keith was instructed and authorized to procure at once a speaker for the occasion. At this public meeting the deed for the ground will officially be turned over to the Board of Education by the Rotary Club. The committee appointed to make arrangements for the public meeting consists of Clinton Confehr, Chairman, Harry Loy, Harry Goas, Mrs. E. B. Pflueger, and H. E. Oswald. This committee has already outlined an interesting tentative program for the meeting. The plot of ground has already been staked off by Engineer Butz assisted by members of the student body of the high school and the instructors. The stakes show the number of feet to be cut and the number of feet and points where fill is required. It is realized the entire ten acres can not be put under development at once. That is the reason why the Association determined upon one particular section to be first developed. Due announcement of the meeting and details will appear in these columns next week. The committee appointed by President Stauffer to have charge of the development of the field at this time is as follows: Harry Goas, Chairman, H. A. Reber, F. H. Minnig, Raymond Hill, E. B. Hill, Harry F. Loy, Fred R. Burkert, Mrs. W. B. Johnston and Mrs. A. R. Maberry. |
| Plans for a school recreation complex begin... |
| The Call of April 19, 1918 LOCAL SCHOOL TEACHER CHARGED WITH CRUELTY Miss Elva L. Bauscher, a teacher in the schools of Schuylkill Haven, was placed under arrest by Constable John Butz on a warrant issued by Squire C. A. Moyer. The warrant charged assault and battery and cruelty. Mrs. Robert Knarr, of Saint John Street, is the prosecutor. It is alleged that Miss Bauscher abused the daughter of Mrs. Knarr, by using a thick stick and beating the child until welts showed at nearly a dozen places on the child's person. It is also alleged that Miss Bauscher threatened the child with another beating if she went home and told the parents of the first beating. The hearing was set for seven o'clock on Tuesday evening, but the father of Miss Bauscher appeared before Squire Moyer, waived a hearing and entered bail in the sum of $500 for the appearance of his daughter at the May term of Criminal Court. Two local physicians and several mothers with their children, were at the squire's office, ready to testify against the teacher. The case is one of the first of its kind in this section of the state and the trial will be watched with a great deal of interest by teachers and school boards throughout the county. |
| SCHUYLKILL HAVEN'S FIRST FOOTBALL TEAM 1925 |
| Above is an original photograph of Schuylkill Haven's first official football team wins and five losses for the season. For now I can not identify individuals on the picture but there were twenty players. Their names were: William Moyer, Robert Peel, Hiram Fisher, Edward Burkert, Paul Bowen, Luther Shadel, Leroy Lutz, Wellington Hartman, Charles Stauffer, Fred Reed, Jack Stanton, Lester Deibert, William Harner, Quentin Hainley, Stewart Goas, Elmer Noll, Russell Bubeck, George Pettis, Luther Troutman and David Baker. |
| PICTURE COURTESY OF HARVEY AND MARSHA (REICHERT) COOPER |
| The Call of October 4, 1918 GRIPPE CLOSES SCHOOLS HERE Cold, grippe, rheumatics, headaches, sore eyes, drowsy feeling, pain all over the body and a dozen or more aches and pains seriously interfered with operation of the public schools of this town this week. Tuesday afternoon the high school was excused for the balance of the week on account of the large percentage of students who were ill and compelled to remain home. Thursday morning the entire Haven Street building was closed down for the balance of the week because of the additional large number of pupils absent. In the high school, the absentees Tuesday numbered fifty seven. Not only did the illness effect the pupils but the teachers also succumbed to it and by Thursday noon seven teachers were reported on the sick list and unable to attend school. They are Misses, Hill, Paxson, Reinhart, Filbert, Heebner, Noecker and Raudenbush. Fore part of the week, Miss Madeline Brown substituted for Miss Filbert and Mr. W. H. Hartzler for Miss Reinhart. A sufficient number of other substitutes could not be procured to fill the other vacancies and because of the continued spread of the illness, it was deemed best to close down some of the schools. The epidemic is not confined to any one particular school building. All four, the north, south, east and Haven Street schools are all sending in reports of a large number of absentees. Thursday morning it was intimated all the schools might be closed down for a week in order to prevent further spread of the disease. |
| The Call of February 6, 1920 SLIGHT FIRE IN HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING What might have resulted in a serious conflagration at the town's $80,000 high school building was averted by the prompt action of boys in the neighborhood who discovered the flames. It is understood an oil stove was being used Sunday in the lavatory on the third floor. The oil stove was being used to prevent the water pipes from freezing. The oil stove during the early evening exploded. Boys in the vicinity noticed flames leaping to the ceiling. An entrance to the building was made by Paul Clauser, John Luckens and George Reider and the flames extinguished. One of the desks and seat stored in the room was badly burned. The floor and several other desks and seat were scorched. The ceiling was badly smoked. It is said that the discovery of the fire a few minutes later would have found a stubborn blaze to fight and from the fact that Sunday evening it would have been impossible to pump water from the water lines, as there was little or none in them, the entire building might have been destroyed. |
| The Call of June 3, 1921 PUPIL TAKES HIS LIFE IN SCHOOL BUILDING The Schuylkill Haven public, and particularly the school teachers and pupils in the High School building, were shocked Thursday afternoon about one o'clock when it was announced that one of its pupils, Allen Yost, had committed suicide in the building. It was the first suicide to be committed in the town for a number of years and coming at the close of the term and with preparations underway for the commencement exercises Thursday evening, it had a tendency to unnerve the speakers of the evening as well as the instructors. The discovery was made by Herman Fisher and Isadore Shipe, two schoolmates, who were sent to the wash room to clean ink wells. They immediately notified their teacher, Miss Mill and other teachers. Dr. Heim was summoned and he cut the body down and found life extinct. Examination showed he had used several strands of ordinary hay rope to commit the act. He placed the ropes over the steam pipes near the ceiling and standing on one of the lavatories swung himself free. While there was no sign of suffering upon his face it was quite evident that he strangled to death. His neck did not seem to be broken. The rope had caused a deep mark around his neck but the skin was not broken. No definite cause has been assigned to the rash act although it is believed worry over his having lost $18.85 might have prompted him to take his life. He notified his teacher of the loss of the money in the morning and appeared very nervous over its loss. He was told to make a hunt for it about the building and this he did. The boys loss was also announced in the other school rooms. On the same morning about eleven o'clock, he made application to Professor Lavers for an employment certificate. Not being able to supply all the necessary information the Professor asked him to return to the office in the afternoon. when the certificate would be granted. This the boy stated he would do. That the young man had planned his death with deliberation is shown in the fact that a number of handkerchiefs were found tied together in the toilet. On one of them was the initial A. They showed they had been subjected to a strain as they were torn and crumbled. Whether he had actually tried his weight on them and having found them insufficient in strength went in search of rope is not known. However the fact has been established that shortly after 11:00 a. m. he went to the Stanton Mill nearby and asked one of the employees for some rope. The employee in a joking way said, "Do you want to hang yourself?" and the boy replied, "Yes." He was then shown where a number of pieces of rope used for wrapping about boxes when brought from the box factory were. The boy examined a number of them and inquired whether they didn't have any thicker rope. He was told that several pieces put together would be stronger then thicker rope. He then left the building after having carefully selected a number of pieces. It is believed the act was committed shortly after twelve o'clock when the building had been vacated by pupils and teachers. The discovery was made just a few minutes before one o'clock. He was about six feet tall and sixteen years of age. The sad news was conveyed to the family by Reverend Balsbaugh. Needless to say they were deeply affected and the mother in particular being prostrated. One sister, Miss Ruth, survives. The funeral will take place Monday afternoon at two o'clock from his late home. The deceased was a member of the United Brethren Church and Sunday School. He was in the eighth grade, was a second year pupil and had passed his examination and would have been promoted. He had many friends and was liked by everyone. |
| YEARBOOK MEMORIES |
| HIGH SCHOOL FACULTY OF 1923 |
Frank S. Keith, B. A.
Principal, Mathematics
Principal, Mathematics
Anne. E. Boyer, B. A.
French, Science
French, Science
Paul Barton, M. A., B. D.
English, History
English, History
Ethel M. Bausum, B. A.
Latin
Latin
Allan F. Bubeck, B. A.
Supv. Principal, French
Supv. Principal, French
Mary L. Boyer, B. A.
History, Mathematics
History, Mathematics
Catherine Bowman, B. A.
English
English
Paul Christman, B. S., M. A.
Science
Science
| Pictures from my collection of Schuylkill Haven High School yearbooks will begin to be posted here on a regular basis. Keep visiting to find your high school memories or members of your family. |
| Pottsville Republican of November 28, 1885 SCHUYLKILL HAVEN SCHOOLS Captain James K. Helms, of Schuylkill Haven, has commenced a series of articles on the public schools of that borough, the first of which appears in the "Enterprise" this morning from which we make the following extract: The earliest date of a school in Schuylkill Haven, that is a school house, stood where the present principal school building now stands. In the house, the late Professor John H. Guertler taught pay school from 1836 to 1838, at which time as near as can be ascertained the school law was accepted, the borough then being a small village and a part and parcel of what was then called Manheim Township. The borough was incorporated by an Act of Assembly, May 23rd, 1841, and the first election under its charter was held on the second Tuesday of July of that year and on the 18th of July the first school board of the borough met and organized as follows: Charles Dengler and Joseph M. Taylor, three years; Lewis C. Dougherty and Jacob Deibert, two years; Firman Borden and Benjamin Delong, one year. The officers elected were: President, Charles Dengler; Secretary, Firman Borden; Treasurer, Daniel Saylor. The board thus organized, at once commenced and meant business and proved it by levying a tax for all purposes amounting to $650 and then adjourned, each director departing, well prepared to receive the approval and disapproval of the taxpayers. In those days many of the earliest residents were bitterly opposed to taxation for schools, an opposition not only prevailing here but everywhere. But light prevailed and ultimately all opponents were crushed to silence. |
| In May and June of 1892, The Call ran a series of biographies of teachers in Schuylkill Haven. Following are ten of those biographies. Note that all but one teacher is a single woman. OUR TEACHERS Miss Edith Cassavant was born at Evansville, Indiana. Her parents are Reverend Henry Bradley and Eliza A. Cassavant, both hailing from New England. Her earlier education was obtained in the schools of the various places to which the Methodist church took her family including North Hector, Elmira, Seneca Falls, Port Byron, Auburn and Lyons, all in New York and Philadelphia and Spring City in Pennsylvania. While at Spring City she entered the Millersville State Normal School. After graduating thence in 1890, she taught one year at Chadd's Ford, Pennsylvania and last summer applied for the primary school at this place and is now occupying that position. Miss Carrie Butz, our High School assistant, was born in Schuylkill Haven. She is the daughter of Jonathan and Hannah Butz. She received her earlier education in the schools of our town, graduating from the High School on June 12, 1889 and afterward was elected teacher of one of the schools of this place. After teaching seven months she resigned her position, April 3, 1890, to attend the spring session at Kutztown , from whence she graduated June 25, 1891 and has since held the position of assistant teacher of the Schuylkill Haven High School. Miss Annie Stanton was born in Schuylkill Haven October 10, 1872. She is the second daughter of Peter and Bridget Stanton. She received her education in the Schuylkill Haven public schools and graduated with a class of seven under Professor H. Day Gise on June 4, 1890. She was elected teacher of the advanced primary school on Dock Street in the same year. She is now teaching her second term. Miss Margaret Morgan , daughter of George and Margaret Morgan, natives of Wales, was born in Ashland in the spring of 1868. She graduated form the public schools of Ashland in the spring of 1886. She attended the Millersville Normal School the following winter and taught school at Safe Harbor, Lancaster County in 1888. Going back the next winter to take the senior course at the Normal School, she completed the course in 1889. In September of the same year she entered upon the duties of her present position. Miss Bessie Warner, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Warner, was born in Schuylkill Haven May 10, 1866. She graduated from the Schuylkill Haven High School in the spring of 1883 and taught in Wayne Township the following winter. She attended the Keystone State Normal School at Kutztown during the spring term of 1886 and entered upon the duties of her present position in September of the same year. Miss Minnie Sherer, daughter of Justus and Jennie Sherer, was born at Schuylkill Haven, April 6, 1867. She graduated from our High School in the spring of 1885 and taught an ungraded school near McKeansburg the following winter. In September of the same year, she entered upon the duties of her present position. Miss Emma Noss, was born in Philadelphia, the daughter of Reverend John G. Noss, teaches at our Number 3 school. Her education was obtained in the home and private schools at Westminster, Maryland, Edgehill Institute of Littlestown, Pennsylvania and the State Normal School at Kutztown, whence she graduated in 1890. Before the latter course of study she was assistant teacher in a public school near home and since has taught a term at Sacramento, Schuylkill County, and in April, 1891, accepted her present position. Miss Minnie Kerkeslager, youngest child of Alexander W. and Minda E. Kerkeslager, was born in Schuylkill Haven, February 11, 1866, is the teacher of our Number 4 School. She graduated from the Schuylkill Haven High School in the spring of 1885. The first year of her graduation was spent at home. In the spring of 1886 she was elected a teacher of Primary School Number 10. after teaching two terms in the above mentioned grade, she was promoted to the position which she is now holding. In the spring of 1890 she was examined for a permanent certificate which she was successful in achieving. Miss Anna Mattson Wintersteen of Port Carbon, daughter of Tobias H. and Margaret M. Wintersteen is the teacher at school Number 5. She attended the schools of Port Carbon and graduated in the elementary course at the Normal School at Kutztown in 1890. She taught a few months in Brandonville before accepting in January, 1891, a position to a vacancy in our secondary schools, which place she still holds. Mrs. Katie R. Weber (nee Heiser) was born August 9, 1864 at Schuylkill Haven, daughter of Franklin B. and Margaret Heiser. She received her education in the schools of Schuylkill Haven but was on account of ill health, little able to attend before she was nine years of age. She graduated from the High School in May, 1882 at the age of seventeen, under Professor S. H. Meyer and began teaching the following autumn in the public schools of town. She taught the primary grade for four years and was then promoted to secondary, which position she has held for six years. She was married February 19, 1891 to John D. Weber. |
| The Call of August 31, 1917 NEW $80,000 SCHOOL BUILDING OPENING MONDAY Appropriate Opening Exercises to be Held at 2:30 O'clock p.m. The Public is Invited and Urged to Attend John Robert Jones to Make Principal Address. Public Inspection at Close of Exercises. Schuylkill Haven's new $80,000 school building will be opened on Monday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock when exercises will be conducted in the auditorium, under the auspices of the School Board and representative men of the community. To these exercises a general invitation is extended to the public. Everything possible was done by the board to have the entire building furnished and the grounds placed in a presentable condition. They have succeeded to a wonderful extent, but the public is asked not to be too harsh on the criticisms, as the contractors were retarded by the nonarrival of their goods, due to lack of labor and railroad facilities. Comparatively few of the residents of the town have any conception of what a grand school building Schuylkill Haven really has and what it will be in another year to come when the finishing touches are placed in and about it. Men who have been employed on the building state that there is not another school building in this section of the state that can compare with it. The material entering into its construction and the workmanship were all of the very best. It is fire proof and all of the plumbing is strictly modern and complies with the state health laws. The furniture is all practically new and placed to the best advantage of the scholar. The visitor to the building will observe that each room has provision for only forty five scholars of the lower grades. Thus will the teacher be enabled to give each scholar the same amount of attention. The matter of heat and light were given special attention by the board. The High School auditorium wherein will be seats for about 160 scholars is a fair example of the other rooms. The visitor will also notice that the concrete floors have been coated with a dressing, eliminating all dust. The cloak rooms have been fitted with sliding doors and ample provisions have been made for receptacles for all in the line of small closets. A modern clock system will be installed, run by electricity, with the master clock in the office of the superintendent. This clock will not be installed by the time the opening of school arrives. The new building was started in June of the year 1916, the contract having been awarded to the Beard Construction Company of Reading, who in turn awarded subcontracts such as the excavating, wiring and It faces the south and sets back from the street a distance of about sixty feet. Three entrances to the building were constructed at the front and one from the rear, doors swinging outwards. One of the front entrances can be used in gaining admittance to the auditorium. The one to the right of the building is for the girls and the one to the left for the boys. Immediately to the left of the main entrance is located the director's room. To the right is the office of the superintendent and directly to the rear of his office is the storage room wherein are kept the supplies and directly back of this room is the manual training room. To the rear of the director's room is a domestic science room. Both the manual training and the domestic science rooms will be fitted up at a later date. Large toilet rooms with washstands are provided to the rear of the above rooms and provisions have been made for the erection of shower baths. Individual towels have been provided, while drinking fountains are located to the rear on the first floor. The one room that will appeal to the visitor is the auditorium proper. Here accommodations have been provided for about 625 persons. More can be accommodated using chairs. A gallery runs the entire width of the auditorium and faces the stage. It is the intention of Superintendent Hoover to assemble the scholars in the auditorium and after exercises to dismiss them to their respective rooms. The auditorium at night time will be illuminated by eight separate clusters of electric lights. The stage is erected to the rear and has a depth of about fourteen feet and is capable of accommodating about sixty persons comfortably. Foot lights have been provided. At either side of the stage are exits to ante rooms that can be used when a performance is being produced, as dressing rooms. A passageway runs the entire width of the ceiling to the rear of the auditorium and looking down from this passageway one sees the gym well illuminated but as yet not equipped. This will eventually be done. Three recitation rooms are located on each side of the auditorium. On the third floor of the building is located the High School room, without doubt the finest in the building. Here accommodations have been provided for 160 or more scholars, each scholar sitting by himself or herself. The seats in this room run north and south while blackboards have been constructed on two sides of the room. More than sufficient light is furnished. Toilets and cloak rooms have been provided for. Directly to the rear of the building on the upper floor are three good sized rooms. The one to the north will eventually be used as a physical laboratory, the one in the center as a lecture room and the one to the south as a chemical laboratory. All three of these rooms are well lighted and piped for all purposes. The cellar is reached either through a hallway from the main entrance or from a door to the rear. Here provisions have been made for the storing of twenty cars of coal if necessary. Seven furnaces have been installed and the heat from these furnaces will be driven by means of an eight foot fan through flues to each and every room. In all probability, the storage batteries will be located in the basement, which has all been concreted. Work of grading and placing the grounds in shape is now on. This may require several more weeks to complete. At the very end of the school property hedges were planted and these have now reached a height of about six feet and very thick. Once the grading is completed the new High School building will have connected with it a playground the equal of which there is none in the county. Up to the present time there has been no change in the program as published in the last issue of The Call. All of the speakers have volunteered to do their part and the members of the School Board will be on hand to extend every courtesy to the visitors. Visit the new building on Labor Day and then ask yourself how it was that the town got by for so many years with a worn out antiquated school building. |
| YEARBOOK OF 1924 |
| These three photos are from the yearbook of 1924. At left is the Track Team . Below at left is the Mandolin Club with Russell Hutchinson on guitar, Harry Sigmund and Steward Filbert on mandolin and Edward Fessler on banjo. Below is the High School Orchestra. |
| The Call of November 19, 1937 NIGHT FOOTBALL INTRODUCED IN SCHUYLKILL HAVEN Schuylkill Haven was on Monday evening treated to its first night football game. This because the weatherman on Saturday, made it so miserable and unpleasant that the scheduled Summit Hill game was called off. It went on the stage Monday evening, and that too amidst the glow of strong floodlights from a portable system erected for this game at different points about the field. It was a treat indeed, for the fans and the student body as well, this first night game. There was an audience of unusual size in attendance. Both stands were filled to capacity and many stood about the field. Unfortunately, however, many in the audience had "crashed the gate" by crawling in under or over the top of the fence. Guards stationed for the purpose simply could not combat with the poor sportsmanship shown by many of these people, most of whom were adults. But nevertheless a great contest was put on with all the frills and thrills of a "big six" classic. Schuylkill Haven, however, came out at the short end of a 53 to 7 score. Tomorrow, Saturday, Saint Clair will be with us and another splendid game can be looked for. And then, the game of the year, the Thanksgiving Day game, the one that is always looked forward to with the hope of it being a success in more ways than one. Cressona High will be here with a strong and experienced eleven. The first whistle will be blown at 9:30 so all fans enjoying a football contest, played with as much enthusiasm as any of the Thanksgiving Day games over the country will be played, ought to be in his or her seat. Monday, Summit Hill, with a more experienced team, shattered the defense of the local eleven and scored almost at will. Injuries to the Haven team's important men, in the early part of the game, simply demoralized the entire string as substitutions had to be made. Fred Deibert, near the end of the first quarter, suffered a broken collarbone. He was the halfback for the team. Then Marne Bubeck, the fullback, got a crack in the ribs that put him out of the game. He will be out for Saturday's game and probably for the Thanksgiving Day game too. Bill Stauffer, coach, had his ill luck this season with his men, not having a complete first string of players for but a few games. Ed Bolton, his center, has been out for the last two games, with a dislocated knee. And despite the injuries, the players have sustained. Bill has been registering victories right along this season, this being the first defeat. A groan from fans and students went up early in Monday night's game when after untangling the men, Byerly, the team's star man, was found knocked out good and cold. It was several minutes before he was able to get to his feet and resume play. He seemed rather groggy for some time and felt the effects of his blow. It was he who scored the lone tally for Schuylkill Haven on a splendidly executed off tackle play. Bolton booted the extra point. While the score indicates Summit Hill outplayed their hosts in every department of the game, it must be said to the credit of the Stauffer coached lads that they were game up until the very last minute of play and the fans went home with the satisfaction of seeing a team play which displayed mighty courage and dauntless spirit. 4/1 |
| YEARBOOK OF 1925 |
| Images from the 1925 yearbook left to right: the Debating Team, Supervising Principal Bubeck and the faculty. |
| YEARBOOK OF 1928 |
| Images from the 1928 yearbook starting at upper left and going clockwise: the baseball team with Coach Harry McInroy, the Haven Fax newspaper staff, the Thrift Club and the Glee Club. |
| YEARBOOK OF 1929 |
| Images from the yearbook of 1929 include from left and moving clockwise: Harry McInroy, teacher and class advisor; Supervising Principal Charles Madeira; the Debating League and the Junior High basketball team. |
| YEARBOOK OF 1930 |
| Images from the 1930 edition shown here are: at right, the sophomore class, below that the football team with Coach Bill Stauffer and below a scene from the play, "Apple Blossom Time" with a list of the cast. |
| YEARBOOK OF 1931 |
| Images from the 1931 edition include from upper left, moving clockwise are: Paul Christman, Supervising Principal, high school band, Paul Hartranft, class advisor and the girl's basketball team with roster. |