By Carmen Ensinger
Greenfield High School is celebrating its 100th birthday this year. Erected in 1924, the school is still providing education to Greenfield students.
The history of the Greenfield School District dates all the way back to 1835 when a 20 square foot log building was erected. The first classes were held in the building in the winter of 1835. This school served the Greenfield community for six years before it burned to the ground in 1842.
In 1844, a new frame building was erected on the corner of East Walnut and East Street and was used for approximately 12 years. Records show that this second “subscription school” was a well-managed institution that “served to strengthen the educational sentiment of the early settlers.”
In 1851, a united effort was made to establish a secondary school. The money needed for the establishment of this school was donated entirely by the citizens of Greenfield. No stock was issued and no thought of repayment was considered by the donors.
The population continued to grow until it was determined that more schools were needed to serve the students.
This secondary school building was completed in 1852 and the first class was held in September of that year. This was the first high school in the Greenfield area and was known as “The Greenfield Institute” and later as “The Old Seminary.”
This was a private institution for five years until it became part of the public school system of the state in 1857. The Greenfield Academy was built on the School Hill.
This building was remodeled in 1877 and eventually torn down in 1908 to be replaced with a $16,000 building.
In 1863, Rev. C.G. Snow was employed as principal of the public school. He was supposedly a man of remarkable character and physique. While he only taught in Greenfield five years, he had the longest record as a teacher in Illinois and possibly in the United States. He was a part of the public school system for 60 years and was well over 80 before he finally retired. He died in 1912 at the age of 95.
Although the school building was donated by the citizens, the administration was a private enterprise and it was not supported by taxation. Annual fees or tuition payment were made by each student.
The school flourished until an addition was needed. The second high school was completed in 1874 and the title to the Seminary grounds and buildings was transferred to the public school district, which was formed that year.
In 1875 the first public and tax supported high school classes were held in the new building and the grade school classes convened in the old high school building.
In 1908, the south building was torn down and another two-story brick building erected in its place. A part of this building was saved – the clock – which now is on display in the Greenfield Square.
At this time, the grade school moved to the north building and the high school classes met in the new south building.
As Greenfield continued to grow, new demands for educational facilities were made. After a bitter struggle between local factions, permission was granted by the voters to build the present high school building.
The first classes were held in the new building in the fall of 1925. During this time, Prof. H.G. Russell served as principal and Greenfield had the largest public high school in the United States, in proportion to its population, and the largest percent of boys in any school in the U.S.
Russell’s goal was first to make men and second to make students of those boys. He served as principal for 13 years. The county contests and football originated in the school system under his guidance.
In 1956, an elementary school consisting of 12 classrooms, one all purpose room, offices, nurse’s room, kitchen and boiler room was constructed in the north end of town. Later on, an addition of five more rooms was added.
The old grade school (the 1908 and 1874 buildings became the junior high school. This arrangement served the district until 1978 at which time the buildings were closed, due in part to energy problems and a decline in students in the district.
In the fall of 1981, at a cost of $110,000, an addition to the north portion of the elementary school made room for the junior high school grades. Previously, the seventh and eighth grades were separated for two years. The seventh grade attended classes at the elementary school while the eighth grade went to the high school.
The year 1944 was a big year for the high school. Twenty years after it was completed, the building was paid off and the last bond burned in front of a large crowd which had gathered for commencement. This also happened to be the largest graduating class in the school’s history.
Greenfield native and noted historian Larry Mears thinks it is remarkable for a small community to pay off the cost of a new building in just 20 years.
“What is even more impressive is that they managed to pay it off even though this was during the Great Depression,” Mears said.
What is even more impressive is that a school built in the 1920’s is still in use today.
“It is a testament to school leadership and stewardship of resources,” Mears said. “Most districts have replaced their main high school buildings. Consolidation in many districts required much larger buildings.”
Many improvements were made over the last 100 years.
“Greenfield has added facilities such as a new gym, shops and a band area in 1964,” Mears said. “That left the 1924 building mainly for class space and administration. Having the 1908 high school in good condition to convert to Jr. High classes, a new grade school for grades one through six in 1956 all served to diminish the need for a completely new building.”
Mears has done a lot of research on the 1924 building.
“When it was built, it specifically had larger areas for the technical and trade areas on the lower floors,” Mears said. “Main part of the west side, lower floor, was dedicated to home economics with stoves, sinks, refrigerators and several kitchen layouts. Many alumni fondly remember the wonderful smell of freshly baked donuts wafting up the staircases.”
Substantial areas were dedicated to industrial arts, including the entire north end and agriculture on the south side were part of the building’s design.
“The school seemed to focus on preparing area youth for all areas of life, not just book learning,” Mears said. “I think it both represented local thinking for education and also set community focus and development with its design.”
One of the most fascinating aspects of the building is the auditorium.
“Even though it was on the second floor, this auditorium became a major benefit to the local community,” Mears said. “Prior to this, the community was using the Opera House, which sat where the new fire department building sits. The Opera House was built in the 1850’s by Methodists and used until about 1900 when they built on the current site at Walnut and Prairie.”
Mears said there were many newspaper articles which listed the use of the school auditorium for events.
“All of the Triennial Homecoming programs were held there for many years,” he said. “There were many plays, shows and other community events held there. Having a meeting room for large area wide events was so beneficial for community togetherness and spirit. It is amazing that all those generations were able to walk those stairs. Of course, later they installed a stair lift for those who were older or disabled.”