The present site, which comprises a spacious campus of eight acres, was purchased by the city of Effingham and donated to the county. A handsome pressed brick and stone building was erected in compliance with plans and specifications designed by Alfred Meier, of Atchison. The building, costing more than $22,000.00, was completed in June, 1891. School opened September 14, 1891, with F. J. Squires, principal, assisted by J. O. Ward, Miss Julia Heath, and Miss N. Grace Murphy. Three courses of study were provided for: Normal, general and college preparatory.
On the night of November 6, 1893, the building was destroyed by fire. School was opened the next morning and was continued the remainder of the year down town in lodge rooms, churches, and the public school building. The present building, erected on the same site, was ready for occupancy by the fall of 1894.
Following are the names of the principals who have served the school: J. F. Squires, 1891 to 1893; S. J. Hunter, 1893 and 1896; J. W. Wilson, 1896 to 1907; W. H. Keller, 1907 to 1908; E. H. McMath, 1908 to 1911: J. R. Thierstein, 1911 to 1915, and A. J. McAllister and G. W. Salisbury. 1915 to 1916.
The county high school exists mainly to afford free high school education to every boy and girl in the county. Since its students come principally from the rural districts, it must educate them to become better homemakers and better farmers, and to appreciate more fully the advantages of rural life. It must also help prepare better teachers for the rural schools and train them for business as well as for college.
Atchison County High School, Effingham, Kansas
It has grown in efficiency and influence until it is recognized as one of the best high schools in the State and is on the accredited list of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. This means that our school is recognized by the colleges of Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia, South Dakota, Wyoming and Colorado, which admit our graduates without examination.
The faculty has increased in number from four in 1892 to twelve in 1915. The number of graduates in 1892 was two, in 1915, thirty. Since its organization the departments of commerce, music, manual training, domestic art, domestic science, and agriculture have been added, a farmers’ short course established, and a demonstration farm in connection with the work in agriculture put into operation.
The school is well equipped in laboratories, and has a library of 3,000 volumes, and all the leading magazines and papers. A lively interest is taken in athletics, both Young Men’s Christian Association and Young Women’s Christian Association have a large membership. Every year the students have the benefit of a splendid lecture course.
From its halls have been graduated 387 young men and young women, who are now filling positions of honor as doctors, lawyers, ministers, teachers, superintendents, farmers, bankers and missionaries, and are found in nearly every State in the Union and in some foreign countries.