A 100 YEAR HERITAGE CELEBRATED

In the early days of Monroe High school, the township was divided into sub district. Monroe was sub district 10. Each sub district elected three men to serve as a board of directors for the elementary school into their district. The township board of education made most decisions such as hiring teachers, appropriating money and determining textbooks. The board of directors took care of the building.

The history of Monroe High School is closely connected to the elementary school. In 1868 the committee was appointed by the board of education to examine the school at Monroe. The committee found the school inadequate and absolutely necessary to enlarge it and build a new school." After deciding against adding to this building, the board investigated the possibility of purchasing the Academy, a private school, but also decided against this.

Land east of Monroe, belonging to Geo. Lonstreet, was chosen as the best site for the new school. When he refused to sell, a lawsuit was brought against him. The court decided on $1,700 as just compensation for the two acres. Board members felt this price too high and decided to purchase two acres of land from Jas. P. Boyd, Harriet N. Boyd and Temperance Boyd. There was considerable disagreement as to where on the lot the building is located. It was finally agreed to "locate on north side of lot 35 feet south of Elm St. and 137 feet from the west boundary line." The four new room building was accepted from the contractors February 2, 1871. The building and lot cost $6,660. On April 18, 1881 Dr. James Macredy,who had been on he Lemon Township Board since 1868, asked permission to use the unoccupied room of the school house in sub district 10 for a high school. The request was not needed for the elementary school. Dr. Macready would have two of his children in the first graduating class. The school was made up of Red Buck, Reed, Oak Hill, Milford and Monroe districts. J.M. Hunt was the first teacher in the school. Years later Ella Cheesman Vance remembered, "I can remember how some of the people talked against the high school and many expressed the opinion that it would only be for a short time." The first year there was only enough tax money for only one half year of school. The next year S.I. McClellan came as teacher and remained until 1888. IN 1886 the first class graduated from Monroe with five members, John Macready, Ella Cheesman Vance, and Elmer R. Lowry. Ella Macready Vorhis, and Edgar Eugene Stewart. Each year thereafter would have a graduating class except 1897. There were to have been two graduates that year but Rose Conover died in late winter and Clarence Warner decided he did not want to graduate by himself, so he quit schools in the spring. Between 1888 and1905 Mr. Williams Mason, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Hawk, Mr. Smith and Mr. Harry Frost served as teachers. Guy Dennison came in 1905. J.L. Miller, who came in 1910, received this letter from Dr. C.F. Macready: "Dear Sir: There is a vacancy in the Monroe High School. There is but one teacher in the High School and he has all the work to do. There is no superintendent. There is a four year course study with six classes a day. The enrollment is 30. The year is 9 months, salary $900 or $100 per month. The town of Monroe is 350 in size , good country and three miles from the Big Four Railroad."

Since the high school was not a township school, decisions concerning it were not made by the township board of education but by a board of directors from the school districts which attended the high school. Thus, we have no records of decisions made concerning the high school until 1911. In 1911 two letters were received by the Lemon Township Board of Education from the fathers who were sending their children to Middletown High School because "the High School you pretend to maintain at Monroe Butler County is not a legal High School; and that it is not in fact teaching all the branches that are required to be taught to comply with the law...That you are trying to (with) one teacher to teach much more than he is able; and that is only a make shift." One month later the board held a meeting to discuss organizing a first class township high school located in Monroe. Plans were made to add to the building in Monroe, but in November 1911 the state condemned the building. The board voted to build a new building for $16,000. Funds from old Monroe High School were transferred to Lemon Township High School.

In 1911 the school had two teachers, Ida Masser (also spelled Moser) and J.L. Miller. For many years the board had a traveling music teacher who went to all sub districts. In 1911 this teacher would begin music in the high school- R.E. Morrison was music supervisor in the rural schools of Wayne, Madison and Lemon Townships for about ten years, making a 30-35 mile trip daily over mud roads by motorcycle. All the students took the same classes with electives available. Among the requirements was four years of Latin.

Ruth Swearingen Finkbone,1910, and Ada Mitzel Chance,1912, recall traveling to Monroe from Liberty Township by Cincinnati-Dayton Road, a mud road. Not only was Ada Mitzel a tuition student, but her father had to rent a stable in Monroe for the horse and carriage. (We learned that buggy races were frequent on the way home from school.) During the senior year of Ada Mtizel the old building was torn down high school classes were held in Stewart Hall (the house east of Riggs Funeral Home). Commencement exercises for all graduating classes were held in the Methodist Church. Seniors received a class pin instead of a class ring, which would appear in early 20's. As early as 1910 the colors of the graduating class were blue and gold

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New Building (1912)

Ed Bolendar came as high school teacher in the new building in 1912. This building would still house both the elementary and high schools. The “auditorium” was made by opening a divider between two large rooms. Students remember a lab on the left and library on the right as they entered the building. Classes were held in the library. Water was a problem for the school for many years. A larger cistern which would hold 100 barrels was built in 1917. In 1926 there were still difficulties so a pumping system was installed. Water was pumped from the cannery, which was located near the present railroad tracks on Cincinnati-Dayton Road, to the school. In 1917 the board recognized “an epidemic of contagious disease exists at Monroe, Ohio” and to guard against spread required all pupils to be vaccinated against smallpox. Pupils were “excluded from attendance” who did not comply. Students were first furnished transportation in 1918. The first “bus” was a Reo wagon, pulled by a team of horses driven by Clem Harkrader.

We know of only one student who left the high school to serve in World War I. Marion Boyd was older than his classmates because he had dropped out of school and then returned two years later. He joined the army during his senior year, 1918, and did not graduate.

During the early days of the schools, boys and girls played baseball together, this being their only activity. The Butler County Fair was a great attraction, and two days of vacation were given each year at county fair time. School began the day after Labor Day and was a 9 month school. Christmas vacation did not usually begin until noon on Christmas Eve. Sports competition with other schools began in 920 when the board adopted the Butler County Athletic Association rules for the township schools. Baseball was the number one sport. Tennis was played on two clay courts that were also used by interclass volleyball team. An all school prom was held as early as 1918.

Transportation and a freer supply of money led to many changes in the 20’s. A small orchestra was part of the music program. The board instituted a lecture series with four lectures per year, paid for by admission at the door. At the suggestion of the Current Events Club (Monroe women organized to study events and promote intellectual and social culture of its members), a cafeteria was begun December 9, 1921. With the financial backing of the Current Events Club and the willingness of each member to help, the hot lunch idea was a success. The cafeteria would furnish warm, correctly balanced lunches to pupils at low cost. Milk was 2¢ a glass, cocoa 3¢; sandwiches 3¢, some substantial dish 4 ½ ¢ and fruit 3¢. By 1922 the school employed four teachers. At this time one half credit was given for “home projects in sewing, canning, pig raising, garden, field, poultry and music.” Board minutes record a receipt for $100 from Dr. S.A. Livingston who had subscribed $300 toward a library at Monroe High School. Livingston was pastor of the Presbyterian Church, beginning his pastorate in Monroe in 1886.

In 1922 the high school requested an appropriate seal. On February 23 a design was submitted for approval. We are not given a description of the seal but believe it to be the one the appears on the Mo-Le-To-Hi, the annual of that year. (The school was known as Monroe-Lemon Township High during the early 20’s.) It is from this seal that the logo for our centennial year is taken. The Mo-Le-To-Hi was published in 1922 and 1924. It was discontinued because of the expense of publication, with the class of ’25 having to pay off the indebtedness.

In 1921 land had been purchased anticipating an addition to the growing school. In 1923 the board entered an agreement with the architect for improving the building. Edna Stouder Wright, ’25, wrote this description of the new building. “The auditorium will be the main feature of the new building because the basketball floor and main play room will be just in front of an elevated, permanent stage. The farm shop will be in the basement also. Since the valuable addition of a Smith-Hughes agriculture teacher to our school, it is necessary to have an extra room. This year we were forced to use the old store room and have it made into a suitable farm shop room. On the first floor will be the four recitation rooms. Since there are four rooms it is impossible to have a conflict of any two classes because we only have four high school teachers. On the second floor there will be a study hall, library, laboratory, and two rest rooms. One for the boys and one for the girls … In the central hall there will be lockers in the wall for each particular student.”

The new auditorium provided many new opportunities for Monroe students. Since the building was not completed at the beginning of the 1924-25 school year, Otterbein Home allowed the first boys’ basketball team to practice there two hours each Wednesday. Only one member of the team, Martin Bishop, had ever played any basketball. After the floor was finished, the team practiced at all hours. Earl Hiteshue recalls John Maude, the janitor, allowed the boys in the school, at what was supposedly forbidden hours, so they could practice. Principal N.P. Blatt was coach of the boys’ team. Girls’ basketball also began in 1925. The girls were county champs in 1929. Everyone in Monroe, from the youngest to the oldest, attended the games. The basketball banquets of those years were community affairs with everyone attending bringing a picnic basket.

When the stage was completed, the students were faced with an empty shell. Students set to work to earn money to purchase the necessary equipment for the stage. Mary Kind Thatcher, ’26, recalls being in six plays in one year to raise the money. The Monroe Grange also helped by contributing four light fixtures and stage curtains.

The new cafeteria was opened November 14, 1925. The domestic science classes managed it, with the two ladies hired to do the cooking. Each high school girl had to take her turn serving one day a week. This would keep down the expense of hired help. The domestic science classes made their gym suits. These gym suits also served as the girls’ basketball uniforms.

The first school newspaper, The Tattler, was printed in 1925. It continued until 1930 when it was replaced by The Lemon. The Tattler not only had stories about school events, but included pictures and the same kinds of articles that had been in the annual. One of the stories in the February 1029 edition of The Tattler was about the purchase of a radio for the school. Apparently several meetings were held and several sets tested before the school finally decided to purchase an 8 tube set, costing $127.50. Another interesting item mentioned in a later paper was the touring of the senior class to Cincinnati, October 22, 1929 to see President Hoover. In the early 30’s The Lemon was the same kind of paper but later was a mimeographed paper.

In 1928 boys were dismissed from school to haul cinders from Armco to build a track at Monroe. Girls’ baseball was organized the following year. Until 1930 the Indian was the symbol of the school, but in the fall of 1930 the student body voted on a new mascot, the golden hornet. The hornet appeared on the class ring the first time in 1932. Until 1931 the school letter was a block M of blue felt. At the annual awards assembly of that year, athletes were presented with a seven inch chenille letter of navy blue trimmed in gold. (This letter is almost identical to ones presented today.) The boys’ baseball team, with the exceptional pitching of Herb Helsinger, went to the state tournament in 1931. Because of the larger number of participants and the expense of the game, football was not played at Monroe until 1935. Coach Wilfred Thies, who had been an all American at Ohio State in basketball, came to Monroe to coach all boys’ sports (without an assistant). The football field was a cow pasture on the Hauser farm. It was the responsibility of the boys’ physical education class to take buckets and shovels to the field to prepare it for practice and games. This class was called the P.W.A. crew of Monroe High School. The first record we have of cheerleaders is ’32 when James Stamper was presented a letter as school cheerleader. Two boys and a girl made up the ’38 squad. During the 38-39 school year the boys’ basketball team had a record of 22-4. They went to the state tournament as a Class B team and won two games. They were beaten by the team that won the state championship.

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Monroe Expansion

Freshmen and sophomore students from Mayfield, Rolling Mill Park, Amanda and Excello were required to attend Monroe High School beginning with the 1929-30 school year. In 1936 pupils from the Maple Park area were required to attend Monroe. By 1937 the school was finally a high school for all of Lemon Township. The faculty increased drastically. Twenty-two single teachers had to find lodgings in Monroe. They remember the hospitality of Louise Fogarty who prepared dinner each evening for the entire group.

The growth of the school was slow in the early years. In 1886 five students graduated; in 1922 ten students graduated. With the addition of the Amanda area there was a rapid increase. The freshman class of 1933 had one hundred two members. The largest group to graduate from Monroe was the class of 1971 which had 274 members. A total of 7,450 students have graduated from the school, with almost 7,000 of those beginning since ’36.

Students saw little change in the high school during the depression years. Eight months of school were held during 32-33 and 33-34. The agriculture class was dropped, but commercial classes, which had begun in 1927, were continued because of their popularity. Teachers were not paid for extra-curricular activities so these were not affected. Salaries of all personnel were reduced during this period. One year, after receiving their pay for September and October, teachers were notified the board was out of money. They went without pay until April. The community extended them credit. We also learned of some incidents where students were so concerned for their teachers that they gave them gifts of money.

In 1934 the school made application for membership in North Central Association of Colleges and High Schools. The school celebrated its ‘semi-centennial’ in 1936 (50 years since the first class graduated). A pageant was held depicting various stages of the school’s development, and a special edition of The Lemon was dedicated to “50 Years of Progress”.

In 1837 the school board received no applications for vocal music teachers. The board decided to employ Charles Benner as instrumental director of music for all township schools. During this year he developed a school music group known as the “Brass” orchestra, because there was more brass than strings in it. In 1938 the first real school band was organized. “Starting with a handful of players there emerged a full fledged 36 piece band.” “With the help of the Federal WPA projects, cloth was obtained and volunteers from throughout the county made uniforms of caps and capes. Lined with gold satin, the blue wool capes were beautiful. That is, until the second game, when rain dampened the capes and the hearts of the players. Results of the soaking left the capes with the outside wool shrunken to half its original size and the satin stretched twice its original size.” By 1940 forty members had their new “bought” uniforms and marched every football game. Benner continued until 1942 when he joined the service. The Monroe Fight Song and the Alma Mater were written during this period by Benner and Eloise DuChemin Brate, vocal music teacher.

In 1938 bids were opened for another addiction to the school. This addition is the present cafeteria and the rooms above it

By 1941 the school was feeling the effects of World War II. “Ray ‘Pete’ Black was the first Monroeite toward whom Uncle Sam pointed his finger. Ray left in September, (1942) before he was given a chair in homeroom.” Conserving all materials was urged by the board. This notice was sent to the school. “In view of the rising prices on every day essentials and supplies in the school, the Board urges the faculty, cafeteria managers and janitors of our schools to conserve in every way possible on all supplies used in the school, whether furnished by the Board of parents. We suggest use of both sides of paper for paper has become a key material in which a serious shortage is threatened … If most of it were salvaged, there would be no lack of packaging for supplies for the soldiers and sailors. Army ordnance plants use 30,000 tons of paper materials a month for packing shells.” Rationing stamps created problems for the cafeteria, and gasoline rationing forced the elimination of busses taking spectators to ball games. The Mercury, the school paper since 1939, was sent to all alumni in service. In 1941 the “previous resolution providing for non-employment of married lady teachers” was suspended for the duration of the war. The government asked for, and received, typewriters from Monroe. Tentative plans were drawn for a new building, but because of scarcity and cost of materials plans were delayed. Detailed reasons for the need for a new bus had to be given before the board could purchase a new bus. By 1947 the servicemen were retuning home, and several of them would return to high school.

A delegation of students who failed to make necessary credits the past school year approached the school board in June of 1945 and asked for a summer school. Summer school was held that summer with students from Middletown also in attendance.

“One executive head of all Lemon Local Schools” was the decision of the board in 1946. C.W. Young was the first and only superintendent of Lemon Township Schools. He had been superintendent of the Monroe school since 1937.

Ten acres west of the school was purchased from John Zecher in 1928. This land was to be used as an athletic field. W.E. Davis was employed as principal of the high school in 1949. He retained this position until 1970 when he took an administrative position in the Central Office. After his death in 1977, the Principals’ Association established a scholarship in his memory, to be given to an outstanding Monroe senior.

Many of the current organizations at Monroe were begun in the thirties and forties. Student Council was re-established in 1932. In 1935 the W.C. Dress Chapter of the National Honor Society was formed. Dress was a former principal who had recently died. The Monocle, the first yearbook since 1924, was published in 1938. (A mimeographed yearbook, The Rocket, was printed in 1937.) The sponsors, a group of six girls, M-O-N-R-O-E, was added to the band in 1947. Many musical productions were given at Monroe through the years, but it was in the 48-49 school year that the Showboat Follies appeared, followed by Campus Follies in 49-50. The Wizard of Oz was the first Broadway musical Follies presentation. It was done in 1959. Pat Townsend was crowned queen and Jim Harrison king of the first homecoming at Monroe November 3, 1950. The cheerleaders were the attendants.

In 1948 the first two floors of the building that now exists were added to the old building. What had been the front of the school became the rear. The third floor was added in 1951. Unsuccessful attempts were made to purchase an exit to Route 25. The new gym was added in 53-54, the football stadium in 54-55, and the library and auditorium in 55-56. The west wing was added in 1967. The most perplexing research we have done involves the name of the school. Nearly all alumni swear they have graduated from Monroe High School and are surprised to look at their diploma to find a different name on it. The official name of the school has not been Monroe High School since 1911 when it became Lemon Township High School. During the early 20’s the school was called Monroe Lemon Township High School. In the same decade it returned to Lemon Township High School. According to John Robison, principal 1931-1938, the school was first called Lemon-Monroe during his administration. This name appears on many school programs but all diplomas from the 30’s and 40’s either have Lemon Township High school or Monroe Lemon Township High School. To illustrate the confusion, the commencement program of one year reads “annual commencement of Lemon-Monroe High School at Monroe High School Auditorium” the diploma has Monroe Lemon Township high School. When the 1948 section was added, the name over the entrance was Lemon Township High School. There is no official name change recorded in the board of education minutes, but these minutes refer to the school as Lemon-Monroe for the first time in 1952. The class composite of ’52 is the first to have the Lemon-Monroe name, and diplomas of that year are the first to bear that name. In 1953 the board minutes record a change order for the architect concerning the name. The specific change is not recorded, but we assume this to be the changing of Lemon Township to Lemon-Monroe, now officially Lemon-Monroe, but in this centennial year it is still frequently called Monroe.

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Merge with Middletown

In 1952 the first mention of a consolidation with Middletown School District is made in the board minutes. In April of '53 there was a combined board meeting with Middletown to discuss consolidation. The first resolution for consolidation was tabled October '53. In June of '54 the board received a petition against transfer. by September 1954 Butler County Board of Education, the Middletown Board of Education and the Lemon Township Board of Education had all passed resolutions for consolidation of the two school districts. On October 6,1954 the Lemon Township Board of Education would meet for the last time.

The school mascot was updated in 1956; the fighting hornet, instead of the golden hornet, would be the rallying point for Monroe fans. Thespian Troupe 1709 was begun during the 57-58 school year.

Monroe Elementary school was built in 1954. This was the first time in the school's history that grades 1-12 were not in the same building. The seventh and eighth grades left the high school in 1968, and the ninth graders attended the Freshman High School in 1969. Monroe remained a three year high school until 1981 when the Freshman High was closed and the ninth graders returned to Monroe.

The school bell of the 1870 building had been placed in the bell tower of the 1912 building. When the 1912 building was torn down in 1967 there was no home for the old bell. A "save the bell" committee was formed, but money was not available. After the death of Gordon Hughes II, '69, his parents erected the bell structure on the football field as a memorial to him. The "victory bell" was dedicated in the fall of 1972.

Students of Monroe were very fortunate in 1969. School was not in session when a tornado touched down in Monroe on May 8. There was little structural damage to the building, but much broken glass would have certainly caused injury if students had been in the southern classrooms. Memorial Stadium was badly damaged. All games the next fall were played during the day because of damages to the lights. A "cyclone" had broken windows at the school in 1928, but no labor damage was done then.

The classes of the early 70's were outstanding in many ways. The football team was Mid-Miami League champs in 69, 70, 71, and 72. Monroe had its own version of social protest and attempts to change the world. The stinging satire of an underground newspaper kept everyone aware of a different point of view. Then there was the class which did not elect the usual class officers, but had a five member council, with each member being of equal importance. Although highly discouraged by the administration, some students wore black armbands to protest U.S. involvement in Vietnam. These were the days when men on the faculty were no longer required to wear a coat and tie, and women actually wore slacks to school. We realize at the writing of this history we are too close to these years to properly evaluate their significance.

The title IX Federal Program, 1969, initiated drastic changes in the athletic program in Monroe. According to this legislation all schools receiving federal money must have equal sports opportunities foe males and females. Golf, cross country, soccer, football, volleyball, baseball, basketball, wrestling, softball, track and tennis teams compete for students and for use of the facilities.

Perhaps the bleakest days in Monroe history occurred during September os 1979. After several unsuccessful tax levies the school board cancelled all extra curricular activities. The day after the last levy defeat, students walked out of schools. The strike lasted six days, but the disruptions made October seem like another beginning to the school year.

In recent years there has been a declining enrollment in the Middletown School District. During the 1980-81 school year elementary buildings were closed and boundary lines were changed. You will read of these effects on Lemon-Monroe in the remaining pages of the 1982 Monocle.

The grandest homecoming in the history of the school occurred September 18, 1981. Festivities for alumni were intertwined with activities for current students. Approximately 35 former staff members attended a luncheon in the faculty cafeteria. Mabel Eldridge, teacher 1922-23 was the oldest returning teacher. Ada Mitzel Change, 1912, the school’s second oldest living graduate, was grand marshal of the parade. Former homecoming queens and alumni band members participated in pre-game activities. Ada Chance and Jaw Switzer, current Student Council president, cut a 4’ x 4’ birthday cake as the band played happy birthday in post game celebration. A reception with birthday cake and punch for all was held in the cafeteria. A memorabilia display provided the beginning of many “remember when” stories. Seven hundred ninety-two signed the guest register during the course of the evening. These and other centennial activities were planned by committee members Nevin Markle, Jim Orem, J.W. Pretty, Shirley Willis, Eleanor Yeager, Earl Jones, Paul Bell, Dale Ridenour, Ed MacDonald, Joe Heck, Lucylle Radar, John Musgrove, Lisa Zimmerman, Gene Best and Della Ewalt, chairperson.

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References

Materials used in the compiling of this history have been gathered from the following sources: Lemon-Township Board of education minutes 1851-1954, on file at Middletown School System central office; all editions of The Tattler 1925-1930 owned by Helen Schultheiss; The Lemon, Vol. I, Nos. 1, 4, and 6 owned by Herd Helsinger and Vol. VI, Nox. 11 and 12 owned by Fern McCreadie; The Rocket, Mo-Le-To-Hi, 1922 and 1924 and the Monocle, 1928-1980 property of the school; the sequi-centennial history of the village of Monroe; the personal scrapbooks of Marie Augspurger; a personal scrapbook of Berneece Overholtz; newspaper clippings from the Middletown Journal; an unofficial list of faculty as kept by Stella Paul; history of the band written by C.W. Young.

The following people have been interviewed, have contributed memorabilia, or both: Don Altstaetter, Arthur Apple, Florence Augspurger, Walter Bender, Robert Blatt, Dr. and Mrs. Marion Boyd, Eloise Brate, Mrs. Paul Buker, Ada Chance, Marjorie Compton, Vivian Duff, Mabel Eldridge, Ruth Finkbone, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Hiteshue, Millie Hollon, Jeanette Lamphier, Mrs. Ed. Long, Nancy Lubberger, Gail Mitzel, Monroe Historical Society, Monroe United Methodist Church, John Robinson, Jeanne Snyder, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Steward, Mary Thatcher, Jack Trimble, and Mr. and Mrs. Homer Weikel. We have also checked the diploma of a graduate of each class from 1938-1952 in our search for name changed. All pictures have been reproduced by Mac Tobias.

This history has been researched and written by Irene and Jim Orem.
Duplicated for this web site by Kameron Catron and James Kyle Jordan.

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