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As early as 1918 the
board was in favor of expanding the school plant. Lots were purchased
from W. W. Stephens thus extending the grounds to Walnut Ave. Three lots
above this street were bought from Mrs. Gilbert Miller and Miss Nina
Longanacre. In 1926 and 1927 other land was purchased to
extend the athletic grounds and provide for another building. An option
was secured from the owners of the Alderson Baptist Academy Square but a
$20,000 bond issue was defeated and the High School was not located in
this area. The last land purchase was made from W. R. Jones in
1948, completing the school quadrangle. In 1927 the board
felt the old building was inadequate so a second bond issue was voted by
the people to construct a junior-senior high school. Ground was broken for
the new high school building in October, 1927, and the next year, the new Alderson High School building graduated
the
class of 1928.
The following is a list of "first" with
Alderson Schools:
1. Athletics became a part of A.H.S. in
1910.
2. Music was added to the curriculum in 1924 with Mrs. Ossie Keadle as
director.
3. The first basketball games were coached by the boys themselves.
4. H. A. Yeager, principal, officially established football in 1926 and
coached the first teams.
5. Abe McLaughlin was the first paid coach and joined the facility in
1936. During his coaching years he had the highest winning percentage than
any other coach in Greenbrier county.
6. McLaughlin also organized the Nine girls club to assists with athletics
and this club continued to be a valuable part of the school.
7. The Aldersonian, the official school newspaper was first published in
1917 and continued until 1957, or 58.
8. The first school annual was published in 1940.
9. May Day began in 1928 and continued.
10. The PTA was first established on 9-24-1926 by Carl G. Eades and also
continued.
From a movement that started in the 1950s most states decided to
consolidate a lot of small town schools. One of the "touted" advantages
was it would save money. Although it wasn't until the late 1960s, Greenbrier County built two new
large schools called Greenbrier East and Greenbrier West. Alderson
lost it's high school and those students had to travel to Fairlea, W. Va.
With no high school for parents to send their children, it is most certain
the decision was made not to live in, or move to Alderson any more. The
town's economy was damaged by this, as were small towns all over the U. S.
Still standing, the building we all know as Alderson High School graduated it last class
in 1968, just a short 40 years after it begun. There is much sadness in
the fact that what we used to know and cherish, is no longer there.
However, there are fond memories of what we were a part of, and as long as
there are a few of AHS graduates alive, a reunion of sorts is possible.
"Hail, Hail, Hail to Alderson, The High School That We Love".
A related article on this by David
Shields, is worth
reading again.
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