The Lewisburg High School was organized under Professor D.P. Stapleton in
1885, with the first class graduating on May 8, 1886. Students met
in the West Ward School on North Eighth Street, presently called the
Colonial Apartments, until 1898 when it moved into the remodeled South
Ward School on Fourth Street (not present building). In addition,
the Lewisburg Borough School System, as it was then called, also consisted
of the North Ward building on North Second Street. The elementary
grades met in North Ward School and the first floor of the South Ward
building. The middle school grades were held on the second floor of
the South Ward building and the high school grades were held in the
West Ward building.
In 1920-21 the School Board was considering plans to build a new high school.
After much discussion with the citizens of the town, it was decided
to add a gymnasium and auditorium to the original plans and a bond
issue was floated. In the autumn of 1928, the doors of Lewisburg High
School first swung open to the students of Lewisburg and the surrounding
area. The auditorium and gymnasium were not yet completed, but the
classrooms were ready for use and in the spring of 1929 the first
graduating seniors held their commencement in the new high school
building.
It was, in fact, not until 1930 that the spacious auditorium was put into
use for chapels and assemblies. The gymnasium was not used until 1931
when the “Health and Gymnastic Department” came into being. Meeting
twice a week, the health class emphasized First Aid, bandaging and
artificial respiration. In the gymnasium class, volleyball, German
baseball, basketball, and dancing were taught. Thus it came that our
school featured not only high scholastic standards but also many extracurricular
activities.
The Industrial Arts Building was once at the site of the old South Ward.
When the high school was erected on Market Street, the “Ag” students
had to travel back and forth between Fourth Street and LHS. This was,
of course, most unsatisfactory, and so Mr. Harry Troutman, the first
agriculture teacher, asked the School Board if his students could
tear down, move and reconstruct the building near the high school.
Permission was granted.
It was about this time that we became the “Green Dragons.” All schools and
colleges were at that time choosing emblems which Lewisburg also set
about to choose. Probably our school color, kelly
green, was the deciding factor in choosing the dragon, a crest submitted
by a student. Other than these vague ideas, little is known about
the origin of the Green Dragon.
The original blueprints for the school had not included a library. When
the need was felt, a plea was sent out for books and a library began
by the donation of individuals who gave books and effort. The library
was named the Emma Kunkel Comstock Library in memory of its promoter.
The library expanded rapidly until it was too big for the small room
it occupied, a small office on the east end of the second floor hall.
At this time it was decided that by removing several rows of seats
in the auditorium, a room could be made for the library and a classroom.
When the Second World War cam, many of our boys left
to aid their country. The students who stayed at school became part of the
“Victory Corps” which learned to drill and parade. In 1946, through
the effort of the students who canvassed the community for subscriptions,
the vacant field behind the school was improved and made into a Memorial
Field honoring the men who fought for our country.
On the 15th of September 1950, the Lewisburg High School officially
became the Lewisburg Joint High School. The consolidation did not
become effective until July 1951. This jointure consisted of the Borough
of Lewisburg and the Townships of East Buffalo, Buffalo, Kelly, and
Union. The purpose of this consolidation was to divide the cost of
added facilities, which were needed for the increase in students,
among the various members of the districts involved.
Lewisburg High has always been abreast the times in education. Courses in
Drivers education, art, commercial studies, and music were instituted.
Resulting from the $840,000 addition completed during the summer of
1955, shop and home economics facilities were added. Because of the
space provided for the entire junior high in the new addition, the
Showalter house, formerly used for seventh and eighth grade classes,
was razed and the area was converted into a parking lot.
In order to accommodate more students, it was necessary to construct six
new rooms above the already existing industrial arts and vocational
agriculture shops. The work was completed during the summer of 1959.
In April 1965, the new middle school building was opened and the high school
lost grades seven and eight to the new school. In July1965, the high
school became known as the Lewisburg Area High School. This change
resulted from the creation of a new school district under the provisions
of the School Reorganization Act passed by the state legislature in
1963.
In 1973-74, a major renovation to the gymnasium took place. An auxiliary
gymnasium was also added. In 1983 the school’s heating system was
replaced and many classrooms were renovated to make room for new class
offerings. At this time many of the windows were closed to conserve
energy.
In 1995 the district realigned grade levels and began a $19,000,000 project
to modernize all school buildings. Additions were added to Kelly Elementary
School, Linntown Intermediate School, and the Lewisburg Middle School.
Kelly Elementary now houses grades K-3, Linntown Intermediate School
houses grades 4-5, and the Middle School houses grades 6-8. The South
Ward School was renovated to become the Central Office.
During the summer of 2000, a major overhaul to the high school was completed.
No classroom or hallway went untouched. A brand new cafeteria and
three science rooms were added. In addition, a health room and physical
fitness center were placed in the old cafeteria. The technology education
room, music rooms, and biology classrooms were also renovated. Because
these renovations took place on part of the athletic fields, new fields
had to be added behind the middle school on what once was the Pawling
property.
Visitors are often amazed to find that our school was built in 1928. It
has seen major renovations in the past thirty years. Keeping the building
well maintained, while preparing the students with the latest equipment,
technology, and teaching methods, will ensure that future graduates
will receive the same educational foundation as the preceding students.