Waggener High School - RingBrothersHistory.com

The Voice of St. Matthews, January 12, 1956: Not Altogether Suburban After 1955St. Matthews Not Altogether Suburban After 1955In September, St. Matthews got a taste of what he meant. Eastern High’s enrollment was about 1,670 a 225 increase overthe previous year. Greathouse was down to 600 from 850 because of a shift of part of its population to the new St. MatthewsElementary, but Waggener Junior High, only in its second year, had 1,000 pupils jammed in a school built to accommodateonly 850. Principal John Lowe announced that 125 of them would have to be taught part time at nearby St. Matthewselementary.The Jefferson County Municipal Conference representing 27 cities, pointed out that if all the taxes on autos and real estatewere collected properly it would mean an extra $2 million a year for City and County Schools and City and County government,without a raise in rates. The inference was plain; collect the taxes you are entitled to now, before trying to get newones. The Louisville Real Estate Board echoed this argument in newspaper ads.But people in favor of the increase argued that the need was now, while it would take some time to reform tax collectionprocedures. The people of St. Matthews listened. Only 15 precincts in the County voted in favor of the increase in November,and all 15 were in the heart of St. Mathews. The County as a whole rejected it by a 2-to-1 majority.Greathouse School was saddened in February by the news that Kenneth Farmer, principal for almost 10 years, was leavingat the end of the term to become principal of the new Goldsmith Lane School. Miss Elizabeth Bennett, teacher at Greathousefor 10 years, was also slated to leave. She accepted the principalship at Eastwood School.Mr. Farmer was honored with a “This IS Your Life” program in May, and he and the departing Miss Bennett were givengifts of appreciation.In September another “old hand” left the community.Jack Dawson, principal at Eastern High since it opened in 1950, was named the first director of new buildings by theCounty Board of Education. Under his direction, Eastern had become one of the outstanding high schools in the state, bothacademically and athletically, and graduated a record class of 269 in June of 1955.The husky ex-football star was succeeded by his assistant, John Trapp. At Greathouse, 46 year-old Howard Shaver tookover, and Robert Neill, 30, was made principal of the new St. Matthews Elementary School.1955 will be remembered as the year that Waggener Junior High’s Band held its first spring concert, on April 29; that Waggenerstarted it first newspaper, “Chit-Chat,” edited by Phoebe Keith and Connie Carter; that Stivers School opened its library;and that St. Matthews Elementary’s P.T.A. started work on that school’s library.For Eastern High School band it was a sensational year. Directed by Cecil Karrick, the band won the top honors at theSoutheastern ban Festival at Bristol, VA.In politics, it was a lively year in St. Matthews, just as it was throughout the state. Like all Kentuckians, the people of St.Matthews were interested in the comeback attempt of Happy Chandler, running for Governor, and many leading St. Matthewscitizens took an active part in the campaign.But of more immediate interest was the campaign for control of St. Matthews. Mayor James Noland and his George WashingtonParty had been running the City without political opposition for five years. Under the Mayor’s firm hand, the Cityhad advanced to a fourth-class status, had repaired streets, and provided police protection and fire and garbage service.Furthermore, in March of 1955, St. Matthews had defeated Louisville’s last effort to annex the St. Matthews business district,before a Circuit Court jury which ruled against Louisville by a 8-3 vote. This victory freed St. Matthews after a decadeof struggle with Louisville.Opposition in the form of the Community Party developed from three sources. First of all, the people living in the HubbardsLane-Westport sector were displeased with the rezoning by the City of the aforementioned tract of land owned by R.W. Marshall for use as a telephone maintenance center.Young Frank Mimms, who acted as attorney for this group in their unsuccessful attempt to defeat the rezoning, was placedat the head of the Community Party and ran against Mr. Noland for Mayor.Another group in the opposition consisted of men who had originally opposed incorporation of St. Matthews by MayorNoland and his Party.The third group was made up of people discontented with the administration for various reasons. Some of them were disturbedover the fact that two St. Matthews policemen had been indicted for rape in June, although charges were filed awayin October.The two parties maneuvered endlessly, and out of the two candidates for the Mayor’s part plus 12 candidates for Council.It seemed for a while only four or five would be allowed to remain on the ballot. But a decision by the Court of appealsplaced everyone on the ballot except three Community Party candidates for Council, and the voters had to write in theirnames.