History of South
An excerpt from the 1935 South High School Student Handbook
South High School was the fourth high school established in the city of Columbus. It was opened in September, 1900, by the Board of Education. Charles F. Barrett, who had formerly been the principal of Fifth Avenue Elementary School, was made principal. The Student body was made up of pupils of the upper grades with about two hundred high school members.
Under the leadership of Mr. Barrett and a splendid group of teachers whom he gathered about him, the school immediately began to make itself felt in every way. The district, bounded on the north by Livingston Avenue and on the west by the Scioto river, immediately began to expand in size to the north and east. The student body rapidly developed a school spirit and type of ideals which were the beginning of a series of scholastic, athletic, and high citizenship achievements. These have been characteristic of the institution ever since.
The first class was graduated in 1903 with ten members. It might be interesting to compare this class with that of the graduating class of 1934, which approximated three hundred fifty-seven.
From early days social groups, scholastic groups, book clubs, dramatic clubs, and debating teams have kept pace with athletics, so that the school may be said to have been a well-balanced organization through all the 35 years of its existence. Philo bears the distinction of being the oldest organization to have been in continued existence in the school.
Many athletic trophies have come to the school during the years. The trophy case presented by the Alumni Association carries mementoes of numerous contests. Track stars have shown and brought gold medals and beautiful banners to the school. Football and basketball championships have brought silver and gold trophies of various sizes. The bronze Harley Trophy, emblematic of the football championship, has rested in the case for three years of the last thirteen. Baseball cups are numerous. These prizes have been particularly frequent since 1920.
In 1907 the first Optic came out. For a number of years this journalistic work took the form of a magazine. The Optic and the Senior Book now have a firm place in the traditions of the school. The twenty-eighth anniversary of the beginning of this work was observed this year.
Mr. Barrett, the leader of the school for twenty years, died in the spring of 1920. He was succeeded by Evan L. Mahaffey, former principal of Mound Junior High School, the present principal.
The rapid growth of this city has caused numerous changes in recent years. This has been the period in which new high schools have been built in various sections of the city. South High School left the old building in the spring of 1923 and moved into the present structure on Ann at Deshler Avenue.
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