Today's story is a brief look at a "new" high school which opened in 1919. The school includes a freshman class of 12 students. It is Centerville High School, and there actually is a high school in the small very rural community. It is May 1923, and the senior class is graduating.
Over four years the administration and teachers have turned over one or more times. The students remained and progressed. The high school has 13 seniors, 13 juniors, 17 sophomores, and 10 freshmen. All of the original 12 students will graduate. The additional senior student is the superintendent's son. There are four teachers-including the Supe, who teaches four subjects.
The school curriculum offered is Manual Training, Agriculture, Commercial, Physics, Elementary Science, Biology, Mathematics, Latin, English, French, Home Economics, Physical Education, and History. It is precisely what meets the needs of a farm boy or girl, whether staying home to help or with visions of a college education.
Manual Training is one of the liveliest subjects. Every boy in the school elected this subject, and special emphasis is placed on it. Much work has been done towards finishing the school building. The counters and cabinets are finished in the Domestic Science room. The lockers for boys' and girls' athletics were made and installed. The tables for the commercial department, and the tables and cabinets for the science department, were products of their hands. Of course, none of these projects compare with laying the new gym floor last year. That changed the basketball court from 20'x40' to 40'x66', nearly equally Goldendale's new court and certainly far superior to other county gyms.
The basketball season of '23 was quite successful. Centerville had games with Maryhill, Stevenson, White Salmon, Hood River, Goldendale, Dufer, Lyle, Odell, Knights of Pythias, and Hood River Independents. The Hood River Independents came to Maryhill to cross the river but the ferry was not running on account of the ice in the river; so a small launch was sent over after them, on which they arrived safe and sound. Centerville's record was 11-4, winning the last nine games. They lost to Goldendale 15-14. The school also had football, baseball, and track for the boys and volleyball, basketball, and track for girls.
Immigration was the topic of the valedictorian's address at graduation. His opening remarks were, "The nation as a whole is suffering from an attack of acute indigestion caused by the great numbers of immigrants who flock to our shores. They come so fast that the means which we have at present are not adequate to assimilate the numbers in which they come."
The following school year, 1923-24, will see a complete changeover of the admin and teaching staff. Another 100 percent turnover occurs for the school year 1924-25. They remained two years, then another complete turnover in 1926. This certainly had to be a challenge for all concerned-especially the school board and the students.
The 100th Commemoration of Centerville School is planned for Friday, May 1, with a parade starting at 10 a.m. The public is invited to participate and listen to stories about "the good old days" as seen in the eyes of the teller. Lunch is provided. Saturday, May 2, also starting at 10 a.m., is the biennial reunion of former students. Gather up some of your classmates, call the school (773-4893) to make a reservation, and join in the festivities. We hope/plan to honor four former students who went to Centerville High School.
-John Miller
