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Watkins Glen Middle School ...

A Look Back --- A Look Forward: Part 3

By Brian J. O'Donnell

In Part 2 of this series I addressed some local history (Culverstown, Salubria & Savoy, Jefferson-Watkins, and Watkins Glen) and some School District history (Watkins Union School-Watkins School District-Watkins Glen School District-Watkins Glen Central School District) and the building we know today as the Watkins Glen Middle School, which has figured prominently in local and district history since it opened in September of 1930. In Part 2 I also featured pictures of the previous facility (1898-1929) destroyed by fire in January of 1929 along with the iconic picture of the laying of the new cornerstone.

One of the challenges associated with transmitting the early history of the District is finding accurate information (since many of the early records just don't exist anymore), and I depend upon local people and their memories to "fill in the gaps" and "right the wrongs." Such an occurrence happened following Part 1 of this series when I heard from SALLY GRIFFITH McMAHON. She informed me that her Grade 6 classroom was held in the District facility that I spoke of as only a Grade 7-12 facility. SALLY began her school years in the current Middle School facility for Grades K-1-2, then went to the newly constructed Elementary School for Grades 3-4-5, then went back to the current Middle School facility for Grades 6-12. For her Grade 5 experience students were combined in a Grade 5/6 configuration (so some Grade 6 students went to the new Elementary School and some were housed at the facility on Decatur Street).

SALLY also spoke of the District acceleration as students took French in Grade 8 and Regents-track students were "pushed" to advance in various subjects so that by their Senior Year, Math (12A - semester course), English, Physics and Physical Education were the only courses available. Other advanced courses were "promised" but unavailable (probably due to small class numbers). Senior-track students -- in their Senior Year -- did take "other" courses such as health, business and home economics. AND..."for some extra fun one night a week we went to another school out of town for enrichment courses such as literature and Spanish," SALLY says.

I really appreciate SALLY'S input as it is so very important for me to "get it right."

In Part 2 I mentioned looking at some of the people and events -- specifically from the 1930/1969 era (the specific time frame from the Class of 1931 to the Class of 1969, prior to the construction of the new High School). In 1930, when the current Middle School facility re-opened as a K-12 school, Schuyler County was divided into a County Superintendency as follows:
-- ALBERTA SPAULDING: Supervisor, East Side 1911-1936
-- CAROLINE VAN LIEW: Supervisor, West Side 1926-1936
-- ELINOR BURGE: Supervisor, East Side 1936-1940
-- IRVING GOODRICH: Supervisor, West Side 1936-1940

* In 1940 Schuyler County became a sole-supervisory district with one Superintendent of Schools for the entire County. That Superintendent was IRVING GOODRICH from 1940-1968. (From 1968-1975 MR. GOODRICH was SCT-BOCES District Superintendent.)

Watkins Glen District Superintendents from 1930-1969:
* JOHN A.BEERS: July 1909-July 1941
* WARREN HERTENSTEIN: July 1941-July 1953
* JOHN R. COOK: July 1953-July 1964
* JACK R. TERRY: July 1964-July 1967
* DR. LLOYD N. PEAK: July 1967-Jan. 1987

* Under JOHN BEERS' supervision the District grew in enrollment and in program. He established a diploma based upon academic achievement through ALL the grades rather than just on passage of Regents subjects. He added the following "Departments" to the curriculum: Homemaking (1925), Art (1927), Commercial (1927) and Industrial Arts (1936). Previously he had added a formal Kindergarten program back in 1919. In 1930 -- with the opening of the "new" facility, he organized Grade 7/8 into a formal Junior High program enabling teachers to specialize in teaching academic courses AND facilitate transition of lower -- self contained -- grades into the high school program. Mr. Beers was also responsible for adding a wide range of extracurricular activities -- Senior Trip beginning in 1912, Girls' Basketball Association in 1910, 1st Tennis Team in 1933, plus Student Council and Library Clubs. Additionally he was responsible for more emphasis of Physical Education as a formal credit-bearing program. Mr. Beers retired in 1941.

* WARREN HERTENSTEIN, born in California and a member of the U.S. Marines in World War I (he spent 10 months in France), led Watkins Glen through the World War II years and beyond. While the athletic schedule was curtailed due to gasoline rationing and the fact that many Juniors & Seniors enlisted in the military, he did organize "Six-Man Football" (we returned to 11-man teams in 1948). The school sold defense stamps and students took special courses in first aid, nursing and nutrition. The Senior Trips for 1942-1945 were to New York City and not Washington, D.C. The "Oracle" (which preceded the Senecan) in the 1940's was dedicated to many long-term faculty: NAOMI ROBERTS in 1943, DONALD HARKNESS in 1944, FRANCIS BLAKE in 1945 and LUCY VIGLIONE in 1946. The dedication in 1947 was to those "dedicated men and women who lost their lives in World War II." The 1948 Oracle was dedicated to JOHN GOETCHIUS, the 1949 Oracle to RAY BAILEY and the 1950 Oracle to JOE LEMAK. The Class of 1950 was the first class from MISS ABBOTT'S Kindergarten to graduate. The 1951 Oracle was dedicated to MILFORD (BUD) WARNER.

* JOHN R. COOK succeeded Mr. Hertenstein in 1953. The "Senecan" became the new name for the "Oracle," and the Student Council went from an informal "club activity" to the more formal organization we know today. The Library Club was organized under LOUISE STILLMAN and the Lettermen's Club was organized under JOE LEMAK. A Photography Club and a Future Nurse's Club were also organized. Again, as more and more extracurricular activities were made available, overall enrollment continued to increase. A good deal of Committee work resulted in a greatly strengthened curriculum as formal tracks for general education, non-Regents and Regents were formulated. The school day was lengthened by 15 minutes with 45-minute periods in a 9:00 a.m.-3:45 p.m. school day. Both IRVING GOODRICH and former Board President DON J. WICKHAM ranked JOHN R. COOK as the outstanding administrator of their time -- high praise indeed for a man well known for his efficiency, fairness, knowledge and great rapport with the entire school community.

* JACK RAYMOND TERRY, a graduate of Mansfield State Teacher's College, where he was also a standout athlete (he excelled in both football & wrestling and was named to the Mansfield Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998), was a Math Teacher and former Principal at Thomas A, Edison HS in Elmira Heights before coming to Watkins Glen as Supervising Principal (Superintendent) in 1964. During his tenure at Watkins Glen MR. TERRY was actively involved in our District joining the SCT-BOCES in 1965 and also helping secure District voter approval to construct a new High School facility. Our BOCES membership and the current High School facility are certainly major facets of MR. TERRY'S legacy at Watkins Glen.

* To complete this listing of those so closely associated with our current Middle School (the former District K-12 facility), I will save former County Superintendent and 1st SCT-BOCES Superintendent IRVING GOODRICH and former Superintendent DR. LLOYD N. PEAK -- the man most closely associated with our Middle School Program -- for the next article in this series. It will be available in a few weeks.

Photo in text:Top, L-R: JOHN BEERS & WARREN HERTENSTEIN; Bottom, L-R: JOHN R. COOK & John Cook with IRVING GOODRICH.

To read Part 1 of this series, click here.

To read Part 2 of this series, click here.