Waggener High School - RingBrothersHistory.com

The Voice of St. Matthews, July 16, 1959:In 10 yearsJohn Trapp. A $400,000 addition was built in 1956, and this year Eastern graduated the largest class in the history of theCounty, an even ???? Students.The Eastern Band has won numerous prizes for excellence and in 1957 was picked to play at President Eisenhower’s inauguration.Football field added: A football field was added in to 1954, all the money being raised by the parents and friends of theschool. Current enrollment is 1,688 students.Named for the former principal of Greathouse School, the Mayme S. Waggener Junior High School on Hubbards Lane wasopened in September, 1954, to relieve crowding at Eastern and at the elementary schools here.Originally intended for the seventh, eight and ninth grades, it was soon marked to become a high school. In 1957 it added a10th grade, in 1958 an 11th, and this coming Fall will add a 12th. It will have its first graduating class next Spring.The first principal was John Lowe, former assistant to Jack Dawson at Eastern. Mr. Lowe resigned after the 1958-59 yearto take an executive post with the County school system. He was succeeded by Earl Duncan. Current enrollment is 1,866students.Worth $2 million: The original school and equipment cost an estimated $1 million. Additions to the school in 1956, 1958and 1959 have - raised this figure to $2 million. One of the outstanding features is a series of education—by-televisionclasses being held there, with instructions in science, history and English.Greathouse, of course, is the one County elementary school in St. Matthews proper that has NOT been built since TheVoice began publishing here 10 years ago.Though It has not always been known by that name, Greathouse has served this area since 1877. It has expanded from oneto 27 rooms and has had six locations.For those interested in a bit of history, it was located in 1877 on Browns Lane opposite the Phillip Brown home. MissEmma F Russell was the first teacher and there were seven pupils. Tuition was $4.94 pet month.Named for Miss Tommie: It then moved to the Holzheimer Home off Breckenridge Lane and then to the present site ofthe Palmer Asbestos & Rubber Corporation on Staebler Avenue.Here Miss Tommie Greathouse was appointed teacher for the five-month term for a salary of $210.38. It remained a oneroomschool until 1903 With Miss Tommie the only teacher for 19 years. She remained as principal for 15 more.The school moved in 1888 to the triangle formed by Lexington Road and Frankfort Avenue. By 1893 the enrollment was32. Miss Greenhouse's salary was raised to $85.88 per month in 1902.A building was erected for $7,252 on the north side of Frankfort Avenue opposite Browns Lane in 1915, and it was namedfor Miss Tommie.She retired in 1918. Miss Mayme Waggener, her successor, remained on until 1946 when she was succeeded by KennethFarmer. Mr. Farmer was succeeded in 1955 by Howard Shaver, the Present principal.May. be commercial: The school moved to its present site on Grandview Avenue in 1939. The Eline Realty Companypurchased the Frankfort Avenue School and converted it to an eight unit apartment house. It is still used for apartmentstoday, although the Eline firm is having the property rezoned for commercial use.The two-story building cost 588.000 to build. A lunchroom for 280 persons was added in 1950. Although the schools enrollmentwas up to 740 in 1952, the construction of other schools here has eased the load, and this past semester’s enrollmentwas down to 481.Holy Trinity granddad: The grand-daddy of the Catholic grade schools, Hole Trinity, looks like anything but an old man.The modern yellow-brick school on Cherrywood Road next to Holy Trinity Church is is as up-to-date as anything in theCounty.For it was built in 1953. That’s the year Holy Trinity moved out of its ancient quarters on Frankfort Avenue, and turned theold school building over to Holy Trinity (later Trinity) High.The original Holy Trinity was established in 1880, and until 20 years ago, when Holy Spirit was finished, was the onlyCatholic school here.Built up in 6 years: Most of its expansion has taken place in the last six years. The new school was finished in 1953, twoclassrooms were added in 1955, and a $70,000 wing in 1956. A library was opened in 1957. The school now has 16 classroomsand the past year’s enrollment was 712. Msgr. Charles Boldrick is pastor.Holy Spirit, now 20 years old, and situated at Cannons Lane and Lexington Road, has added seven classrooms since 1949,