Montpelier High School
Montpelier High School had its beginning in the basement of Washington School located on the northeast corner of 4th and Clay.
The first high school class was organized in 1906 with Fred L Willis as the Superintendent. Eleven students were enrolled in the first year. They were Jennie Barrett, Finch Ridd, Myrtle Conley, Mabel Pearce, Marguerite Whitman, Harold Toomer, Cecil Hull, Earl Jonley, Forest Stuart, Neil Gee, Raymond Reese and Mildred Whiteman.
Morning sessions were devoted to high school work which met in the one basement room of Washington School. Courses were the same for everyone, Algebra, English and Literature, Ancient History and Physical Geography. All eleven students completed the first year course.
By 1906 a building was under construction which was being built on the playground area of what is now A J Winters Elementary school, adjacent to the Purple Sage property. High school classes continued to meet at the Washington School during the second year, but two rooms were then needed to house the students. Carl F Banghart served as superintendent, principal and instructor, with another teacher Miss Lois V Stoddard. There were 25 freshmen and ten of the original group as sophomores. This year the students choose the colors, banners and the Bear mascot.
At the beginning of the third year students moved into the new building. The faculty included H S Stevens as principal and Georgia Bassett and Harold Sanders as teachers. Only five original students remained in the junior year, Mabel Pearce, Jennie Barrett, Neil Gee, Raymond Reese and Mildred Whitman.
By the fourth year the building was completed and the student body was at 48. Only two Mabel Pearce and Mildred Whitman were in the senior class. These two received their diplomas in the spring of 1910. Both had identical grades and graduation was held in the Montpelier Theatre. Rev James Laughlin, pastor of the Methodist Church presided and Dean Elliott, President of the University of Idaho was the keynote speaker.
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The Montpelier Examiner, December 31,
1909
HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING DAMAGED BY FIRE
Shortly after four o'clock last Monday afternoon, Mrs. W W Chapman noticed smoke issuing from one of the basement rooms of Montpelier's elegant new high school building.
She notified Mr. Chapman, who hurried to the building with two buckets of water and also turned on the fire alarm. Before the department had arrived, several other men had come to Mr. Chapman's aid and they were doing good work with buckets.
The stream from the water system put the fire under control in a very short time.
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Montpelier Examiner, Thursday, 6 September 1912, page 1
Everything will be in readiness for the opening of the public schools next Monday morning. Most of the teachers are now here and they are enthusiastic for the year's work. Superintendent Stevenson will meet wit the teachers in the high school building tomorrow to talk over plans for the work.
Following is a list of teachers and grades
which they have been assigned in the different buildings.
High School
Misses Reed, Bathe, Dowling and Stack
Seventh Grade-Mr. Farnsworth
Sixth A-Miss Davidson
Sixth B-Miss Pratt
Fifth A-Miss Pearce
Lincoln School
First grade-Miss Jackson
Second Grade-Miss Larsen
Third Grade-Miss Davis
Fourth Grade-Miss Lauridson
Washington School
First Grade-Miss Stuart
Second Grade-Mrs. Perkins
Third Grade-Miss Ridd
Fourth Grade-Miss Welker
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The Montpelier Examiner, September 12, 1913
The Montpelier public schools opened last Monday with an enrollment of 567, divided by the three schools as follows; Lincoln 172; high school 260; and Washington 135. Although there were vacancies in the teaching force in three of the grades, those who are substituting will have the work well underway for the regular teachers who will be secured in a short time.
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The Montpelier Examiner, Thursday, 24 January 1935, page 1
HOT LUNCH TO BE SERVED AT SCHOOL
Through the cooperation of the IERA, the Montpelier City School Board, the faculty of the city schools and the parents of out of town students, a hot dish is now being served as supplement to the cold lunch that is brought to school by out of town students.
The school board provides the serving room, the
cook stove and the dishes; the faculty provided supervision during the lunch
period and IERA. Most of the supplies used are donated by the parents of
the children who benefit from the lunch.