HISTORY OF HAWCREEK TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL (GILSON HIGH SCHOOL)

Copied from the 1937 first Hawcreek Township High School yearbook.

  Since this is the first year book put out by the Haw Creek Township High School, we are giving a brief history of the school as prepared by Mr. Neumann, the first teacher of this school. We are dedicating this book to Mr. Neumann.

  In the spring of 1902, a petition requesting that an election be held to vote for or against the proposition to establish a high school in Haw Creek Township, was circulated by John Farrow and John Wolf. The required number of signatures was obtained, the election held, and the school established. The next step was the election of a Board of Education. The following members were elected:

Frank Lawrence, President

H. C. Upp, Secretary

O. J. Sherman

James Davis

John Wolf

  The Board then called an election to vote on two propositions; viz., For or Against the proposition of bonding the township for $5000 for 10 years; For or Against the proposition of locating the school in Gilson.

  The "Opposition", however, obtained an injunction on the ground that the site was not definitely located and that the tickets, used in said election, were illegal because of the square in front of the words "For" and "Against". The contention was that the squares made the election according to the Australian system and school elections were not held under that system.

  The Board then called another election to remove the first objection. The ballots read For or Against locating the school on lots 1, 2, and 3 in block--. This carried. These lots were purchased from the Jake Keller heirs. The injuction case was tried in August and the court pronounced the ballots used legal. It was now so late that a building could not be finished by the first of September. The "Opposition" seemingly, had accomplished its object to delay the school another year. The Board prevented this by renting the upper room of the village school building. J. K. Neumann and Daisy Lawrence were employed as teachers and the Haw Creek Township High School opened September 15, 1902. The course of study offered the regular eighth grade work for the first year and, in addition, three years of high school work. All pupils were admitted who had completed at least the seventh grade. Twenty-five were enrolled. Near the close of the school year, five girls and a boy took the Teachers' Examination, there being no qualifications required at this time except that the applicant had to be 18 years of age to teach. The five girls obtained their certificates but the boy was not quite 18 so did not receive one.

  In the spring of 1903 an election was held to vote for or against the proposition of discontinuing the school. This was an intensely interesting election, for both sides were determined to win. The group in favor of the school was victorious by nine votes.

  The Board engaged the architect, John Wolf, to draw the plans for a building and awarded the contract to James Moore of Gilson for $4,398. Mr. Moore completed the building during the summer. On September 7, 1903 the second year of school began. This was the first in the new building. The same teachers had been retained.

  During the year, the school sponsored a Lyceum Course of four numbers. In January the Juniors gave the play "Diamonds and Hearts". In the spring, Mrs. George, of Elmwood trained a class for the Declamatory Contest. Ray Farrow represented the school in the County Contest at Abingdon with the humorous declamation "The Day of Judgement". Bert Woolsey won second place in the 100 yard dash and Ralph Wolf took first both in the shot and hammer throw. The athletic events were held during the afternoon, declamations in the forenoon.

  Miss Lawrence was retained for another year, but J. K. Neumann was succeeded by R. L. Cripps under whom the first class graduated.

                  CLASS OF 1905

Setta Miller                           Elsie Sherman

Ralph Wolf                            Harley Snell

                  Frank McKown