A Tribute To Mingo High School

Franklin School

Educational facilities were provided by the erection of the Franklin School house on the hillside, the first site of Central in 1873.  It was a two-story frame building of two rooms, one upstairs and one downstairs.  Several years later, four more rooms were added.  Because of the presence of some large chestnut trees in the yard, it was first called Chestnut Ridge School and later changed to Franklin.

Logan

The Logan Building, a two-story, four-room brick structure was erected on the East Side, known as the Bottoms, in 1886. It was in use until purchased by the Carnegie-Illinois Steel Company, though the last years it was used as a storeroom for desks, blackboards, etc., for the Mingo Public School System.

Lincoln

Central

In 1930 Mingo High School was dedicated.  It was a three-story-plus basement brick building.  The high school pupils were moved from the Central building.  The school board was reorganized and consisted of Dr. Fred Riney, George Sharp, Edward Fithen, David Reisling, and Dr. Gourley. On February 15, 1957, an addition, a new gymnasium , was dedicated and opened for inspection. The school year, 1968-69 brought about two major changes in the high school.  First, it became a three-year high school for grade ten, eleven, and twelve.  Second, the attendance was extended to include approximately 130 students that previously attended the Cross Creek Local Schools. The graduating class of June 1970 listed 121 seniors.  There were approximately 140 juniors and 120 sophomores enrolled in the high school during that year. The personnel roster of the high school listed twenty-two teachers, one guidance person, one secretary, two custodians, two matrons, and five cafeteria workers. The schedule of classes included seven periods of instruction and a lunch hour.  Classes began at 8:20 A.M. and the final bell was at 3:20 P.M.  Students attended school for 180 days with the teachers assigned an additional two days for workshops and two works days. The salary scale for teachers that was in effect for 1970 had a beginning salary of $6,300 for those having a bachelor's degree and no experience.  The maximum salary for any one having hours beyond the master's degree and ten or more years of experience was $11,879.60. Mingo High School was officially closed and students were incorporated into the Indian Creek High School.  This school was a merger of Mingo High School and Wintersville High School.  Residents now have an open-enrollment option and can attend Steubenville High School, Indian Creek High School, or Buckeye Local High School.  Go Indians!

Harmony School

The first school building was not located in the city limits, but in George's Run.  The first school was opened in 1856 on Parr Addition.  It was surrounded by trees and was set back from the road(present Route 7). The school at this time was conducted for two terms each year.   There was a six-month term in the winter which all students attended including those desiring a higher education.  Their ages varied from five to six to somewhere in the twenties.  The fall term was conducted by men until after the Civil War. The three-month term was taught by ladies.  Young children and girls who could be spared from the daily work would attend this term. In the fall of 1857 school was opened by Jarvis Scott, who was then teaching.  His teachings included the ABC's, reading, mathematics, algebra, philosphy, and astronomy.  The older students would teach the ABC's to the younger ones.  This gave more time for the older ones to study in their advanced courses. As enrollment increased, discpline became a problem.  One teacher was unable to cope with the students so a second teacher was employed just to keep order.  Harmony was restored and it was also chosen as the name for the school at that time.  About 1895 the need for a larger school was evident.  There was, however, a controversy as to the people in the community wanted it on Route 151 and some on old Route 7 east of Commercial Avenue.  These two locations were under discussion, and when the final decision was made, they "harmonized" and built it half way between the two originally proposed locations.  "Harmony" was obviously still a good name for the school. The present Harmony Grade School was constructed in 1926 on a site of 1.41 acres.  It is a multistory designed brick structure.

Hills School

On  October 9, 1841, Robert Hill, Sr. donated the orginal plot of land for school use.  For the sum of $1.00, he sold it to Steubenville and Cross Creek School District, Lot Number Two and Ten which can be identified as the east end of the triangle near Wilson Avenue-Montgomery Lane intersection.  The early educational edifice was a white frame, one room school located somewhere near the point.  This school is originally known as Oak Grove School for the stately forest of trees on the farm surrounding it. Benjamin and Mary Hill, in 1891, granted to the school district another tract of land.  Shortly afterwards, a two-room school was constructed, and in 1938 a brick addition provided two more classrooms to the east of the first two. At this time, the school had its own board members made up of men who lived in the vicinity.  They were Robert Fisher, James Erwin, Rod Forsha, Harry Montgomery, and Frank Vogt. In 1945 when the school became a part of the Mingo Junction School District, it was then renamed in honor of the Hill family, who donated the land. Hills School had four classrooms and a general utility room used for meetings, music classes, and a gymnasium. For many years, all eight grades were accomodated, but as the community grew and the enrollment increased, the upper grades were removed one at a time and taken into Central School.  Four teachers taught the first four grades the last years it was used. The building served as a community meeting place for many years.  It saw many classes of First Aid and Civilian Defense during the war years.  A community Sunday School met in the building for many years, and when Raynes Church was just being organized, the school was used for both Sunday School Classes and Church.  When Hillendale Firemen organized, the school was used as a meeting place, and when the firehouse was built, the men moved into it, but the women organized an Auxiliary and met in the school until the meeting room of the firehouse was added. In 1964 the Mingo Junction Board of Education obtained an option from George Wilson Jr. and Sr. to purchase 157 acres for the new school complex, including the Hills Elementary School.  Approved by voters in the 1964 election, the transaction was then completed.  Grading began immediately and construction started in 1965. In September 1968 the new Hill School was opened.  It accommodates the first six grades and kindergarten. 

This information was reprinted from the "1970 Bicentennial History of Mingo Junction, Ohio".