RONCEVERTE SCHOOLS

The first district school in Ronceverte was established in 1874. A frame school house, containing one large room, was built with district funds. This school house is still standing and is situated on Greenbrier Avenue, near the back road to Lewisburg and close to Ronceverte Elementary School. (This property is now owned by Mrs. Charles Huffman and family.)

The school at first numbered about twenty-five pupils and was taught by Erwin Beckner for a year. He was followed by John T. Cribbons and Keys Nelson.

About 1882, the school having outgrown it's quarters, part of it was moved into a two room brick building; corner of Greenbrier Avenue and Locust Street and across from The Ronceverte Presbyterian Church. (This school building later the Major S. R. Patton home. The original district school building was occupied, for a time, by the Episcopal Church and later a school for black children. Due to a defect in the title to the lot upon which the building stood, the Board of Education lost control of this property.)

The principals at the new school were, in order: Miss Ella Krebs; Rufus D. Alderson - 1883; A. P. Farley - 1884; L. J. Williams - 1885-1886; Rev. Walter S. Anderson, 1887.

As the pupils increased, teachers were added until in 1884 there were four teachers.

On November 22, 1884, the Board of Education accepted a two story frame addition immediately in the rear of the brick school house, built by contractor D. H. Foglesong at a cost of $800.00.

In 1888, the Board of Education elected a principal and three assistants, at an increased salary; over whom the principal would have authority and ordered that the school should be graded in accordance with the Public School Manual.

The Reverend Max Parr was the first principal. He was succeeded by Miss Celia Betts - 1889; William Hayes - 1890; G. D. Sheckluse, 1891-1893.

The population of Ronceverte increased rapidly from 1888 to 1890 and the need of a large building became apparent. The Board of Education desired a suitable site for a new school building and, after much discussion; the town authorities presented lots #69, 71, 76 and 77 for this purpose. The contract for three story brick building was let to Messrs, Driscoll and Peters, July 16, 1892. When this structure was almost complete, work was stopped because of an injunction which was brought out by some of the large taxpayers. When the injunction was dissolved and work resumed, much of the work had to be done over as the walls were badly damaged by the weather. Nevertheless, by October 1, 1894; six rooms, an assembly hall and necessary stairways were completed. The third story was plastered, but not completely finished at that time.

The school building was a three story brick structure, 70 ft. square, with a mansard roof. There were ten recitation rooms. It crowned a high hill immediately north of the town, overlooked it and was surrounded by a grove of ancient oaks and pines. (This building was replaced many years ago by a brick building with a fine auditorium and is known as Ronceverte Elementary school.)

     Mr. William M. Boal was the first principal of the school. His assistants were Miss Laura Prentice, Miss Mollie Bright, Miss Celia Betts and Miss Mary Williams. In 1896, Mr. Elmer Leach was made principal, and "by order of the board of education at a meeting held July 13, 1896, the school taught in the brick school house in the city of Ronceverte is constituted a graded school."

The 1907 pins were gold and sold for 50 cents. The senior class this year was composed of: Evelyn Blake, Clara Gayley, Maxie Anderson, Clara Crickmer (Betts), Eva Speece, Sidney Kincaid, Lennie Wright.

In 1908 commencement exercises were held in the old Red Elephant building and the senior play was held in the Amusu Theater. The senior class this year was composed of: Dora Dunn, Archie Hurxthal, Lores Surgeon, Carrie Weber, Alice Whipple, Larry Ross. Principal O. O. Crawford classified the school in 1910 making it a first class high school. The class numbered seventeen, the largest class to graduate to that time. They were: Alice Bray, Grace Bray (Underwood), Burton Bray, Edgar Creigh, Lillian Crickmer (White), Addie Dolan (Brackman), Lucille Beman, Margaret Lovelace, Ara Mitchell, Janie Ott, Ethel Robertson, Ethel Shughrou, Georgia Sinar, Helen Smith, Anna Weber, Verna Whipple. In 1911 the seniors were: Blanche Ott, Ruth Level, Lillian Hudgins, Walter Harrop, Wayne Rall, Leo Shughrou, Carleton Nelson, Thomas Levisay. In 1912 there were only five to graduate: lo Boone, Harry Boone, Katherine Harrop, Rose Hanifin (Grow), Ida Smith. The 1913 seniors were: Steele Lovelace, George Jordan, Lester Frazier, Clyde Smith, Everett  Burdette, Huling Baker, Dolly Ramsey, Constance Smith, Marguerite White, Janie Reese, Loretta Clifford (Delaney), Eleanor Bray, Deccie Surgeon (Austin), Mary Martin, Oscar Ressenger, Fenton Leasia, Katherine Harrop, Ruth Morgan, Bertha Howard, Maurice Smith, Rose Armfelt.

In 1914, the seniors were: Mary Allen, Sue Courtney, Polly Coffman, Elliot Hurxthal, Clarence King, Connie Massie, Ethel Morgan, Viola Miller (Rodgers), Hazel Reese, Clarke Reynolds. In 1915 the seniors were: North deVebre, Charles Hanger, Thad Kauffelt, William Moore, Oscar Whanger, Lillian Hamrick, Gertrude Makowicz (Wetzel), Christine Moore. In 1916, the class was composed of: Cary Forren, Paul Hanifin, Ray Lemons, Edgar Loyd, James Miller, Henry Peters, Paul Rodgers, Franklin Shackleford, John Turner, Augusta Boal, Leonard Williams, Pauline Bare (Bare).

The course of instruction offered to district pupils covered a period of twelve years; eight in the elementary and four in high school. From 1875 to 1907 the following gentlemen served terms as school commissioners of Ft. Spring District: Oliver Curry, Ben Hurxthal, Fleming Duncan, D. W. Weaver, Lowellyn Davis, Robert C. Rodes, S. R. Patton, E. P. Staley and J. Robertson, 1907.

In 1906, the president of the Board of Education was A. B. C. Bray. Commissioners were: Howard Templeton and W. H. Hanger.

Teachers from 1897 - 1908 were: Misses Celia Betts, Mary Williams, Laura Prentice, Ellen Prentice, Mollie Wright, Lizzie Arbuckle, Lucille Buchanan, Lucy Leach, Nettie Jackson, Edith Templeton, Nannie Dangerfield, Kate B. Worsham, Ida L. Wright, Mrs. Alice Haynes, Bima Frey-primary; first, second third; intermediate; third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth. Teaching upper eighth "A" - M. M. McGrath, Miss Fannie Eagan, Miss Ela Williams, Lucy Leach, Mary Gilhooly, H. W. Barclay. High School Dept., advanced course, A. R. M. Jamison - high school.

On February 21, 1916, the board called for a vote, at election time, for bonds of $30,000 for the purpose of erecting a high school building. The result was in favor of the issue and on January 24, 1917, a separate structure for the high school was completed.

The high school was under construction for nine months and on January 24 the high school moved to the new building and the grade school remained in the old building.

Greenbrier High School held first place in the state as judged by the curriculum at that time and was considered equal in facilities to that of any other nearby small city.

Professor J. L. Hypes was the first principal in the new building. The faculty consisted of five teachers, a principal and four assistants. Twelve seniors, fourteen juniors, twenty-eight sophomores and forty-one freshman were enrolled. Of this enrollment forty-one were from farms. Sixteen from Greenbrier County-at-large outside of Ft. Spring District and one from Monroe County.

Graduating May 29, 1917 from Greenbrier High School were: Mary Courtney (Richardson), Adeline Harris (Brooks), Clara Level, Mary McCann, Frances McClung, Gertrude Reynolds, Mamie Reynolds, Willard Sleeth, Elizabeth Stull, Blanche Jackson, Vivian Boone. Edward Bray, Garnett Clinebell, Alfred Creigh, Wilburn Howard, Phil Johnson, Robert Johnson, Robert Kauffelt.

On November 17, 1917, the school became a first class high school and received an allotment of $700.00 for it's support from the state.

In 1918 there were nine in the senior class. They were: Nancy Brackman (Wood), Irene Corkrean, Elmer deVebre, Stewart Eagen, Rebecca Martin, Mae Shires. Edward Shughrou, Cornelia Williams, Nelle Vaughan.

The class of 1919 was composed of: Albert Bray, Carrie Beard (Dolan), Madge Coffman, Jessie Coffman, Virginia McCrary (Martin), Lois Boone, William Creigh, Agnes Nolan, Carl Murray, Agnes Harrington, Rodgers McVey, Vivian Ott, Ada Patton (Garvin), Mary L. Rodgers (Clark), Genena Rippetoe, Ralph Boal, Cecil Mann, Brent Kramer, Stella Shanklin (Nelson), Alice Goodall (Carlisle), Edith Patton, Frank Miller, Clyde Burch, Mary Moore, Tom Moore, Hamen Smith, Christine Bare (Smith), Harry Hanger, Edgar Hanger.

In the class of 1920 were: Nickell Kramer, Beulah Ripley (Hopper), Marie Makowicz (Davis), Blanche Knight, Florence Knight, Julian Cobb, Rocier Martin, Jack Martin, Elizabeth Creigh (Alderson), Gerald Shughrou, Watkins Hutchison, Ralph Burch, Payton Bray, Blanche Humphreys, Mark Gee.

From this time on the enrollment increased until it ranked with some of the best in the state and in 1928 there was an enrollment of one hundred seventy-two students. Hot lunch was served by the home economics department to the students each day.

The high school building burned in the early morning hours of January 31, 1928. The only items salvaged were several athletic uniforms. Classes were held in the Methodist and Presbyterian churches.

A bond issue of $99,000.00 to secure funds  for rebuilding was submitted to the voters. This bond issue passed and a new building was built on the same lot the old building was on.

The first girls basketball team was organized in 1905, but no games were played until 1906. As Hinton was the only nearby school with a team, two games were played. The nine regular players were: guards - Pearl Templeton, Elizabeth Blake and Mary Adams. Forwards - Grace Henseley, Bert Webber and Effie Green. Centers - Alice Kramer, Clara and Anna Crickmer. The boys boasted of no team at that time.

In later years, at Greenbrier High Remains of the Tragic Fire

School, the football and basketball teams were a credit to the school; winning many games and trophies. There was also a track team that won many honors. A good percentage of the students either played football, basketball or were on the track team.

In the early 20's the students published a fine school paper called "The Gossip". This paper continued to improve over the years, was still being published in the 1950's. It is now considered a keepsake.

In 1930, a band, with young talent, was organized. Mr. Middlestead came to Ronceverte to instruct the youth. The first group in the band were: Pat Clifford, Jack Winkler, Francis Murphy, Edwin Folden - trumpet; William Folden, James Folden, Elizabeth Grove-cornet; Gertrude Butler-bass; Robert Leach-snare drum; John Cackley-clarinet; Helen Smith-cornet. This group made it's first public appearance before The Ronceverte Business Men's Club in 1931.

Captain W. H. Beardswroth of Greenbrier Military School succeeded Middlestead as director in 1931. In 1932 uniforms were purchased and in the spring of that year the first Greenbrier High School band ever to attend the State Band Festival journeyed to Charleston.

The coming of Mr. Andrew Kozak in 1933 marked the beginning of a stronger emphasis in the G.H.S. band. No special period was scheduled for band rehearsals, so band was an extra curricular activity. The twenty members of the band reported many mornings at 7 o'clock. Members of the band attended the SEA meeting held in Parkersburg in 1934 and found places in the All West Virginia Orchestra. In 1935 Frank Bartels and James Folden represented G.H.S. in the All State Orchestra of that year.

Mr. Domenick Gaudino came to us in September 1937 as director of the band and instructor in mathematics. At that time the band consisted of fifteen members: Robert Rodgers, Walter Lynch, Dale Simmons, Claude Thrasher, John Compton, Jack Kern, Harold Boone, Ernest Cobb, Thomas Burr, Joe Reynolds, Carl Smith, Edwin Ott, Billy Corkrean, Noel Gorman, George Smith. It was an all boy band. New uniforms were purchased through the cooperation of civic organizations and band mothers. Jack Kern, Margaret Sherwood, Honnie Gunnoe and Lawrence Sherwood were members of the All State Band at the State Band Festival in 1941 and the band rated as a first division band.

In 1942 the band had a membership of fifty and records show that an annual concert was given. World War II was declared and Mr. Gaudino enlisted in the army and became Captain Gaudino. The band was put in moth balls for the duration.

In 1948 a new band was organized. Mrs. P. K. Legg was the new director. The G.H.S. Band, the largest in

the county, participated in the State Band Festival in Huntington in 1950; receiving superior rating and placed second in the state in Class C.

The band director and the band decided not to participate in the festival in the future, but to conduct an annual band clinic, followed by a concert tour. The band toured Virginia, Ohio and West Virginia. A new band room was added to the back of the school and a new lunch room and kitchen also.

By 1953 the band consisted of about 160 students, of which 100 were listed as the advanced or concert band. For marching purposes the band was reduced to 87 persons.

The Greenbrier High School band always participated in parades and patriotic affairs of the area and as a consequence was widely known and appreciated.

Mrs. Legg retired from teaching in the 1970's and Dr. Bill Fox became the new band director.

In the late 1960's, by a vote of the people, the schools in Greenbrier County decided to consolidate. A new consolidated high school building was built in Fairlea, WV. The school was Greenbrier East High School. Students came from Alderson, Lewisburg, White Sulphur Springs, Renick, Williamsburg, Frankford and Ronceverte by bus and car to this new high school.

It was then that Greenbrier High School in Ronceverte became Greenbrier Junior High School in 1968. Recently a large athletic building was built on the grounds to the left of the school building.

Many students have graduated from Ronceverte High School or Fort Spring District High School and Greenbrier High School and have gone out into the world to make their fortune. They were good schools of their time. The students received much praise for their conduct when they traveled to other schools and to other states. It was the students fault if he or she did not get a good education because the teachers and principals were some of the best at the time.

And so, let us look back on those wonderful years, realizing that we could have studied harder and hope that our children and grandchildren are as fortunate as we.

May we enjoy our reunion . . .

RONCEVERTE HIGH SCHOOL

All Classes - 1916