Washington School, Built in 1886 Still Serving Marion’s Youth
The Washington School is probably the best constructed school building in the city system with the exception of the recently constructed Jefferson building. Rumors dating back nearly a decade have had the old seventh and eighth grade school condemned, or should be condemned. But the fact remains and backed up by state investigators, that the school is not condemned, never has been, and will not be condemned unless situation unforeseen make it so.
Dating back to its origin in 1886, the Washington School still stands a formidable building, two stories high and rich in the history of education in this city. Although the original brick building still stands, the first school, called simply “the school building” was a log structure destroyed by fire in 1885.
The school was made of Crab Orchard bottom timber, and in damp winter, the logs would sprout, affording teachers with handy switches with which to instill some of the finer points of education.
In 1886, when the first part of the ancient school was built, it was adequate for the enrollment. But in ten years, the board realized that its plans fell short of the unexpected population increase of Marion and a new addition was constructed.
Counting basement and two stories, the Washington School had 18 rooms, but most of the basement has since been converted into toilets, store rooms, and kitchen to feed the 310 students now enrolled. The school offered manual training in the basement years ago, and with the construction of the new building on East Main, plans call for the introduction of another manual training program for the future.
The original cost of the building in 1886 was estimated at $10,000 with the addition in 1896 adding $8,000 more to the cost. On July 17, 1857, Mr. and Mrs. James D. Pulley and Mr. and Mrs. John Goodall deeded property to John M. Cunningham, Williford Ferrell and William Hopper for the purpose of erecting a school building for the students of Marion.
A two story frame building was constructed in keeping with the fashion of the day. It contained four rooms, but eight years later, two more were added. The improved property was destroyed by fire March 3, 1886.
The original brick building had two stories and six rooms. Measurements read 60 X 69 feet. Seating capacity at that time was 450-500 persons.
A Prof. Kiser was the first principal and Miss Annie B. Stilley his assistant.
Today under the principal-ship of Miss Fannie Barham, who had been the school’s leader for 12 years, the Washington has 310 students, 164 of whom are in the seventh grade.
The school has 44 members in the band in twirling under the direction of Lavern Sanders.
This year, the students are given art and music lessons by Don Morris and Miss Georgia Gher each week.
The Washington library, under the supervision of Miss Marguerite Burns has over 2,000 books, a fact that is not widely known in Marion.
Principal Barham’s real pride comes in the students annual magazine sales campaign. Funds resulting from the sales are turned over to the school for the purchase of some needed object.
During the past four years, the magazine money has purchased the scoreboard for the Marion grade school gymnasium, a movie projector for visual aid work, and a piano that will not be used until the new junior high building is completed.
Last year’s receipts, turned over to Miss Barham, have not been put into use as yet, and the principal stated that the money will probably be used to purchase new pictures for the new school.
Each teacher in the school sponsors a club during some part of the year. All the various clubs have not been organized and will not be until later in the fall.
The school will have its own newspaper for the first time in over a decade, sponsored by Miss Lenora Rodd.
Washington’s basketball teams have been known in the past, to be one of the best in Southern Illinois. The team won the Southern Illinois Championship six years ago. Robert Gay is the coach this year.
The faculty reads as follows: Miss Barham, Principal and eighth grade arithmetic; Miss Vivian Cash, seventh grade arithmetic; Mrs. Estelle Jolley, seventh grade reading; Mrs. Vanita Forbes, seventh grade English; Lucian Hill, art teacher: Robert Gay, seventh grade social studies and coach; Norman Rodenberg, school music teacher; Mrs. Velda Turnage, eighth grade social studies; Miss Mae Carmichael, eighth grade science; Miss Rodd, Eighth grade English; Miss Burns, eighth grade reading and librarian; and Wallace Peebles, health and safety.
John Kelton is custodian; Mrs. Lawrence Boswell, Mrs. Anna Travelstead, and Mrs. Bessie Chancy prepare the noon day meal under the federal lunch program.
What will happen to the Washington School when the new Junior High School is completed is still pending. But let it be known now that the building is not condemned, never has been, and will not be unless situations unforeseen make it so.
(Marion Daily Republican, November 26, 1950)