A subject to generate this column frequently pops up when from time to time I am at a comprehensive loss. Right now was no exception. On specific occasions, I take in my lunch in our business meeting place observing Television discuss demonstrate host Joe Hagler’s “Good Afternoon, Montgomery.” There was a lively discussion likely on with his callers as they talked about the faculty condition in Montgomery. I have heard Hagler compliment the historic Lanier Higher School at times anxious often with its future and his motivation for its exterior and its architectural attractiveness to keep on being the similar.
On today’s demonstrate, he stated anything like this, “In my viewpoint, the most attractive school properties in the point out of Alabama are – #1 – Sidney Lanier Superior College. #2 is Andalusia Large School, of training course.”
Hagler is married to an Andalusia female, Katherine Timmerman, and he is a graduate himself of Opp Significant University. Via the years, he and “his bride” have frequented Andalusia on a lot of returns so he has “gotten his eyes full” of the rather campus and large school creating, it is certain.
My subject matter for this week’s Recall When all of a sudden jumped out at me, and my analysis commenced promptly beginning with The Andalusia Star in 1939 editions. I knew that the AHS Class of 1940 was the first to graduate from the new school calendar year which likely commenced with the Tumble of 1939.
August 31, 1939 – “THE NEW Large School Building Shortly TO BE Completely ready FOR OCCUPANCY – The new higher college setting up is just about accomplished and is predicted to be all set for occupancy when faculty opens September 11. There is a minor ending perform to be carried out in the inside of the building, all of which will almost certainly be completed within just the upcoming couple of times.”
“As shortly as the within of this making is accomplished, W. P. A. staff on the Beautification challenge will get started grading, leveling, and building walks and drives and if not beautifying the college grounds. …The school authorities have had many compliments from site visitors on architectural design, arrangement, small device charge of building and artistic color scheme made use of all through in painting the lecture rooms. …All pupils in the Junior and Senior High College grades, 7 to twelve inclusive, will attend the new high college. A whole enrollment of roughly 1400 young children is anticipated all through the school calendar year.”
September 14, 1939 – “OUR NEW High College Creating – Andalusia’s new substantial college developing was thrown open up Sunday and hundreds of Andalusia citizens thronged the constructing to get a to start with-hand see of the new faculty, its appointments, its furnishings and conveniences, to take a appear at the grounds – and soon after executing all this to knowledge a sensation of satisfaction in this modern-day creating which is the very last term in superior faculty services.”
“The creating, with its two tales and a basement, is of brick and concrete and is fireproof. Each individual place is outfitted with desks, chairs and tables with lockers for each pupil and with radios in just about every place so that in the issue of willpower and assembly, the movements and activities may possibly be directed quickly.”
“The laboratory, the vocational, home ec., and business course rooms are the final term in efficiency in their machines and appointments. The auditorium is an improvement around just about anything we have earlier seen in a faculty auditorium and is one in which the acoustics are exceptional – a high-quality that is gratifying to all Andalusians.”
“The constructing is a credit history to any community, and we congratulate the City Fathers, the City Board of Training, and the Superintendent and members of the faculty on their good fortune in getting been capable to supply these enough university amenities for the pupils of this space that we can get started the perform of the university yr with the assurance for the initially time in decades that we have college structures now ample to fulfill the requires built by the ever-escalating range of scholastics in just this location.”
October 5, 1939 – “ANDALUSIA’S NEW $131,000. Significant School Setting up – All corridors, stairways, entrances and exits are fireplace-evidence. The making consists of 23 school rooms which include science laboratories, commercial office, vocational, dwelling economics, review corridor, and library. Joining the key making is a gymnasium-auditorium with a seating capacity of more than a thousand folks.”
Most aged timers recall that Church Avenue Faculty was the large school prior to the developing of the new 3rd Avenue AHS setting up. As the population grew, so did the need to have for additional schools. Contemplating of those people times, I really feel sad for the darling young school boys who only just one year later experienced to sign up for the services or be drafted for Environment War II. Some of those people young gentlemen hardly ever obtained to attend the new AHS making since they have been killed in the war. Many others did come again and went to superior school soon after 1945 but their peers and classmates, mostly girls, had accomplished their time in large school. So a graduate of the Class of 1943 or 44 would have graduated possibly in the Class of 1948 or 49.
A memorial assistance plaque hangs in the entrance corridor at AHS listing the names of the students who served as soldiers in WWII. A star (*) is put beside the title of each 1 who died in the war. It is a fitting tribute to honor people learners.
The W. P. A. (Will work Development Administration) was a program designed by President Roosevelt in 1935. It put approximately 8.5 million Us citizens to operate. According to the November 17, 1938 edition of The Andalusia Star, “The Federal govt by the W. P. A. will pay out forty-five for each cent of the expense of the building and web site. The project will occupy about 50 workmen and the creating is expected to be concluded by up coming college term.”
“Floor was damaged today for Andalusia’s new higher school constructing. The Andalusia Advancement Firm was minimal bidder ($96,037.50) and true work was begun this early morning.”
The web site (about 40-acre tract), its significant altitude, and the fact that it will go away the existing high university making to be made use of for an additional elementary faculty making is considered by school officers to be most ideal.
In summary, I will convey to you viewers that Mr. A. Reid Merrill of Andalusia Development Co. advised me personally that when the new large faculty was built, there was a big gulley in the back again of the house wherever sooner or later the stadium would be crafted some 10 many years afterwards(1950). He mentioned that through building, it was uncovered that there was a loved ones dwelling in a kind of cave in that gulley. Don’t forget now, this was in the late 1930s at the conclusion of the Terrific Depression.
Thank you to Joe Hagler for his admiration of the Andalusia Higher Faculty constructing which by the way has experienced ongoing updates, remodels, and additions by the years. This thanks is extended from all Andalusians, alumni, lecturers, pupils, school officials, and city officials. It was enlightening to obtain so substantially factual details in the newspaper archives and to Keep in mind When. It was delightful to listen to Hagler spotlight our “dear old Andy Substantial.”
Sue Bass Wilson, AHS Course of 1965, is a area true estate broker and very long-time member of the Covington Historical Modern society. She can be arrived at at [email protected].
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.