Growth and changes in De Witt Iowa schools through 1960s
The historical account traces De Witt and nearby towns education from 1879 to the 1960s, noting rising enrollment, shifts to four years of high school by 1907, inclusion of manual training and domestic science, gender salary gaps, and teacher shortages. It covers building expansions, a 1923 new school completed in 1924, and the eventual 1964 facility housing kindergarten through eighth grade with 600 pupils, plus the transfer of a former building to St Joseph's parish.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Clinton County
Iowa
DeWitt
Board of Education
Ninth Street
Ninth Avenue
St. Joseph’s Parish
St. Joseph’s School
Sixth Avenue
R. B. Schlotfeldt
Social gathering guests named in seating order
Two ladies directly in front of Mrs. Cotton and Mrs. Talbot are Mrs. Will Morton and Miss Mary Bedford. In the middle row stand Mrs. George Lambertson, Mrs. Arey’s mother, Mrs. John Hoskins, Mrs. Aldo McLaughlin, Mrs. Latham, Mrs. Jack, Miss Mary Munson, and Miss Katie Tobin. Front row includes Mrs. Small, Mrs. Neville, Mrs. Benedict, and Mrs. Eggleston.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cotton
Talbot
Will
Dolly Hamilton
Fred
Elizabeth Hamilton) Small
Louis Neville
J. C
Elizabeth Rose) Benedict
Charles
Anna Volmer) Eggleston
DeWitt
North DeWitt
13Th Street
L. C. Arey
John
Elizabeth Lee) Saxton
Nee Brown) Jacobs
David
Sarah Lee) Drew
Chloe Robb
Bill
Jane) Rule
Wick
Mary Wallace
W. H
Helen Bissell
J. 0
Anna Butterfield
Ferree
Myra Fuller Staggs
Anna Bedford Howes
Public School Facility Growth Through Early 20th Century Upgrades
The old structure was demolished to make way for a new building with an auditorium for 400 seats and 100 more with chairs, a 500 spectator gym, a home economics room, and a large commercial department. By 1929 a cone classroom became a library for over 2000 volumes. An athletic field with a cinder track and bleachers appeared around 1934, with night football after field lights. A Smith-Hughes aligned vocational agriculture program started in 1937, spawning the Sadewitt Chapter of Future Farmers of America. Educational films were shown weekly in the auditorium to aid instruction.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cone
Central Library
Smith-Hughes
High School Gains NCAA North Central Association Membership
In April 1939 the high school was accepted as a member of the North Central Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges. Membership in this accrediting body is contingent on meeting standards for teacher training teaching equipment and administrative organization.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
North Central Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges
JHE Dewitt Observer Centennial Issue Section B
The 1964 centennial section lists 1938-39 JHE Dewitt teaching staff led by superintendent O W Beauchamp principal C A Ekstrand coach N T Baird and staff members Miss Jeanette Starr Miss Alice Gill and Miss Ethel Hoer details of the era’s school faculty emerge from the historical issue.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
O. W. Beauchamp
C. A. Ekstrand
N. T. Baird
Jeanette Starr
Alice Gill
Ethel Hoer
Also Mentioned on This Page
Sadewitt
Future , Farmers of America
NCAA
Jhe Dewitt
J. Bruce
Gebhardt
DeWitt, Iowa