1907 - 1946 History
The charter of 1887 empowered the township Board of Education to levy a tax for the support of schools of a higher grade. Thus ended the old subscription school in Goshen Township. In addition to the town school, there were eleven other sub-districts, numbered from one to twelve. They also went under such local names as Obannonville, Franklin, Oakland, Vinegar Hill, Fairview, Stargazer, Shiloh, Charleston, Spreadeagle, Salem, Goshen, and Sugar Grove.
In 1887, Professor George Johnson was elected Superintendent of Schools and for three years he held the confidence of his constituency. Under his supervision, a new course of study was adopted. The author of this Course of Study was F. B. Bishop, who was a teacher under Mr. Johnson and who later became Superintendent of Schools.
In 1890, there came to the schools of Goshen, Sanford L. Turnipseed. Mr. Turnipseed was a native of Adams county, a brick-mason by trade but destined to become not only the educational leader of his community but the dean of schoolmen in his county. Mr. Turnipseed was popular both with young and old. His pleasing personality was a key that opened every hospitable door in the community. For six years he was at the head of the schools. At the end of his fourth year diplomas were issued to the graduates for the first time. The members of the first class of 1894, were: Bertha Bishop, Adam Dull, Josephine Burger, John McCelland, Katherine Malloy Kirgan, Anna Lesh, Henry M. Sears, and Maude Smeltzer Nichols.
During the summer and autumn preceding the graduation of the first class in 1894, an addition to the old seminary building was made. Sanford L. Turnipseed who was the first superintendent to grant High School diplomas, laid brick while several of the boys, some graduating later, assisted him.
Sandford L. Turnipseed
Among those who helped Mr. Turnipseed in the construction of this building were: Tom Molloy, JohnMcClelland, Dick Holmes, and others. At this time there occurred the first and only labor dispute of the township. The boys said they were doing as much as certain adult workmen who received more pay. They demanded equal pay for equal work. The rebellious economic ideas of the boys were soon squelched and the boys returned to work forthwith. Thus the first industrial dispute of the township ended.
Mr. Turnipseed was succeeded in 1897 by F. M. Woodward who remained at the head of the school for a period of two years. After two successful years at Williamsburg, Mr. Turnipseed was recalled to Goshen. This time, he remained at the head of the school for three years, discharging his pedagogical duties in a satisfactory manner.
Mr. Turnipseed was followed by professor Fred Bishop who had been Mr. Turnipseed's assistant. During the superintendency of Mr. Bishop, the schools of the county were classified by the state. There was one first grade, one third grade, and the remaining schools were classed as second grade. Goshen was rated as a school of the second grade and remained such until January 22, 1908, when it was advanced to a High School of the first grade.
In the summer and fall of 1907, a new building was erected. It was located on a plot of ground across from the old Seminary Building. This was a fine two-story building, constructed of buff-colored pressed brick. There was the same number of classrooms in the new building as in the old seminary but these rooms were supplemented with a laboratory upstairs and two playrooms in the basement. The new building was heated by steam and was constructed according to the state building code. The playground and building were superior to the old building and its surroundings in every respect, The guiding light of this new venture was D.E. Kirgan, Superintendent of Schools at this time. There was no class that graduated in 1908, due to the fact that the charter of the school was advanced from second grade to first grade. The faculty this year was composed of D.E. Kirgan (Superintendent), G. E. Franz, Albert Callon, and Mabel Myers Yeoman.
In 1922 an Art Class was organized by Mrs. Nellie R. Williams. This new movement in local education was financed by the Parent-Teachers Association. About three years later, Mrs. Williams also organized an orchestra. Today the orchestra is composed of about twenty members. It is progressing rapidly and is one of the important activities of the school. In the years 1827-28, a Glee club was organized by Mrs. Williams. In addition to the Art Club, the Glee club and the Orchestra, the school has two literary Societies, viz: The Fort-nightly club, composed of members of the Sophomore, Junior and Senior classes; and the Junior Literary Society, composed of the seventh and eighth grades and Freshman Class. These two societies meet at regular intervals. The school has recently organized a Latin and Science Club. In the grades are found two Health Clubs. During the summer vacation, the 4-H clubs occupy the time of many boys and girls. The 4-H Clubs have won many prizes at the local and state agricultural fairs.
Owing to changes in modern education, the charter of the school was changed from a four-year High School to a six-year High school on May 2, 1928. This innovation necessitated the teaching of Domestic Science and Manual training in the seventh and eighth grades. By the change, the break between the grades has been overcome. Many boys and girls who have heretofore feared the higher grades will now enter the advanced work.