Magnolia High School, New Martinsville, Wetzel County, West Virginia This file was submitted by Valerie Crook, E-mail address: This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm Source: History of Education in West Virginia Prepared under the direction of the State Superintendent of Free Schools 1904, Charleston: The Tribune Printing Company, 1904 pg. 182 - 184 Magnolia High School, New Martinsville BY SUPT. B. G. MOORE At an election held August, 1879, in New Martinsville, pursuant to Sec. 24, ch. 123, Acts 1872-3, Magnolia High School was authorized, by the people, with but three dissenting votes. As contemplated in the school law this High School was for the use and benefit of all higher grade scholars of Magnolia District, but its consummation was brought about by the de- mand of one sub-district, No 5, New Martinsville. Previous to the year 1877 the successive boards of education were mostly composed of out of town members and it happened that they neglected the town schools, or rather put all schools of the district under one classification. This was not satisfactory to the citizens of the town and they were clamoring for ad- vanced school privileges These differences in the year 1877 crystalized into a contest at the poles and the town succeeded in electing a board favorable to an improvement in the town school capacity. At the August school election in 1877 a board was elected composed of W. McG. Hall, President, and Levi Tucker and Felix Abersold, Com- missioners. This board, in a preliminary way and without additional levy, organized graded schools for the town of New Martinsville giving advanced wages to a principal and possibly other teachers and graded the schools from the years 1877 to 1880. The citizens of the town were de- manding an independent district, but being in the minority and other reasons present compelled the board to select some other means of estab- lishing good schools. In lieu of an independent district for the town, the board conceived the idea that a high school under the law would inure largely to the benefit of its local habitat and took steps to establish one. The years 1877-8 were lost for the reason of the failure of the sheriff and the consequent tying up of the board's funds in his hands. In August, 1879, another election time came around and a board was again elected favorable to a high school, this time composed of five members, W. McG. Hall, President, Levi Tucker, Felix Abersold, P. Rothlesberger and J. B. Burch. Immediately after the election of 1879 the present High School site was purchased with money on hands. The board recognized that on ac- count of the large expense necessary to establish the High School and keep it running that the available funds under the levies possible at that time were not sufficient. A building of sufficient size and seveial addi- tional teachers were needed. Two members of the board were out of town members, but with the three town members, rcognizing the needs, as- sisted in sustaining the plans for the High School and thus brought unity of action throughout the whole district. The August, 1879, election, hav- ing authorized the High School, gave added levying power to the board of education. The board made its levy to the limit of the building fund and high school fund then ordered and thereby accumulated money in advance. At the opening of the year 1880 the board obtained plans largely by con- sultation with State Superintendent Pendleton To lessen the cost of the building the contractor was permitted to burn the bricks from clay obtained from the lot and on the lot. It happened that the building was not finished until the early summer of 1881, and it also happened that the town was short of schools for the winter of 1880-81. The first teacher employed as principal by the board was Prof. D. T. Williams, but because of delay in finishing the building and the inability to open the schools on time. Prof. Williams obtained employment else- where. When the time came to open the High School application waa made to State Superintendent Butcher to furnish us a principal and he sent to us the very acceptable Prof. A. F. Wilmoth, of Randolph county, Mr. Wilmoth organized the school with a corps of five teachers. Prof. Wilmoth associated with the President of the board and one patron of the school constructed an outline course of study looking for- ward to regular graduation of pupils. This course of study gave to the pupils three years in what was classed as the grammar department and three years in the High School department. Completion of this course en- titled scholars to diplomas. There were no graduates for some four or five years as the course of study required maturing and the irregularity of the standing of students needed better uniformity. When the time ar- rived that pupils were completing the courses graduating exercises were had and continued to this time. The purpose of the board in establishing a High School was the well known object found in many states. All the sub-districts throughout the district were given to understand that upon an examination for entry in the grammar department and High School department of the Magnolia High School a satisfactory proficiency being shown, they were entitled tc entry into the High School. Many pupils throughout the district have taken advantage of this provision and attended the High School. After it was understood there was never any trouble and very little opposition to the High School. All schools throughout the district support it and it has been satisfactory. The following persons have served as principal of the school: A. F. Wilmoth, S. B. Hall, S. W. Martin, F. Burley, E. E. Umstead, J. N. Van- camp, W. W. Cline, J. M. Skinner, D. W. Shields, 1891-4; W. E. Maple, 1895; D. W. Shields, 1896-7; B. H. Hall, 1898-9; W. J. Postlethwait, 1900-2; B. G. Moore, 1902-4. The corps of teachers for the year 1904: 1. B. G. Moore, Superintendent and Principal. 2. W. W. Trent, 1st Asistant Principal. 3. C. S. Farmer, 2nd Assistant Principal. 4. Teresa Gibbons, Teacher. 5. J. H. Gorby, Teacher. 6. Ina Barnes, Teacher. 7. Emma Deiterich, Teacher. 8. Effie Steepleton, Teacher. 9. Kate Moore, Teacher. 10. Edyth Stephens, Teacher. 11. Lucy Briggs. 13. Lottie Bruce, 13. Mary Burlingame. 14. Lida Davis. 15. Nellie Lindsey. 16. L. W. Dulaney. 17. Alice Dougherty. 18. E. T. Shingleton. The following are the names of the Board of Education for the year 1904: E. B. Snodgrass, President; J. J. Rothlesberger, M. B. Potts, Com- missioners; L. J. Williams, Secretary.