WICOMICO HIGH SCHOOL
Below are a few facts about Wicomico High School that people have asked me about throughout the years.
Higher education in Salisbury began in 1818 with the formation of The Salisbury Academy. The building was located at the corner of N. Division and Chestnut Sts. The structure was destroyed in the fire of 1886. Salisburyformed an educational system in 1867 when Wicomico County was formed. Up to that point, higher education was for boys only. The Constitution Convention of 1867 changed all that and girls were admitted. The originalSalisbury High School remained open to only Salisbury students until 1905. When a new high school was built on Upton St. (where The Daily Times building was), students from the entire county were admitted. This new high school became known as Wicomico High School. This was done as the additional funding was needed to build the school.
The first effort at a yearbook was in 1904. It was known as the Tattler, a name that remained until its discontinuance during the Depression. I have not seen a yearbook from 1929-1941, although graduates from that period have told me that soft bound copies of a reasonable facsimile of a yearbook were issued. Printing of an annual yearbook resumed in 1946. By this time it was known as the Tom-Tom, a name that remains to this day. The first two issues of the Tattler were from Salisbury High School. After they built the new school that opened in the fall of 1905, the school was identified as Wicomico High School in the Tattler.
By 1931 Salisbury’s population had more than tripled since Wicomico High was erected on Upton Street and school enrollment had proportionately grown. A new High School was built on E. Main St., opposite the City Park on land recovered from when the Humphreys’ mill dam broke in 1909. When another new Wicomico High School was built on Long Ave. in 1954, the school on Main St. became Wicomico Jr. High.
Early high school consisted of 9 grades. A 10th grade was added in 1902. An 11th grade was added in 1906. The final 12th grade was added in 1949. So, the Wicomico High School Class of 1950 had to go two years as seniors to complete their education. The yearbook of 1949 has “graduates”, so I guess that you could opt out of that 12th year if you so desired.
(The above photo shows postcards of the 3 different structures that have served asWicomico High School with the high school ring of the era.)
1 comment:
So Wi Middle sits on the ground that was formerly occupied by Humphreys Pond if I understand correctly.So far I've seen 3 paintings depicting Humphreys Pond.Each are in various residences in SBY.The only actual photographs that I've seen of it were submitted by yourself on this blog.Amazing how the educational aspects in and around SBY have shifted over the last century and a half (or so)
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