From The High Times February 7, 1929
The students and faculty met for the last time in the building at Twelfth street Thursday afternoon, to finally assemble all of their books and supplies and transfer them to the New High School. Each group directed by their class advisor marched over to the new building. After depositing their books in their lockers they were taken on a tour of inspection through the building.
School in the new building officially started Friday morning at nine o'clock, with an assembly program. The program was very fittingly opened by a scared song and prayer by the Rev D B Evans, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, followed by several selections by the girls' glee club. Mr Patterson then introduced Mr John Paull, president of the school board, as the first speaker. Mr Paull read some facts concerning the history of free schools in Wellsburg. The present free school system was adopted in 1864. The first building used was the seminary building, which has been built by the Methodist Church. The members of the first school board were G W Caldwell, Joseph Applegate and Joseph Harding.
The first innumeration taken in June 1864, showed 173 boys, 20 girls and 5 colored, of school age. There was a principal and four teachers employed. The principal's salary was fifty dollars, and the teachers, twenty-five to thirty dollars. The first school building was erected in 1868 at a cost of twenty-two thousand dollars. It has eight large rooms, capacity of four hundred students.
The present Central School building was built in 1899, and Junior High, Riverview and Washington were erected in 1911.
He gave this historical background to show the wonderful advance that has been made through the years, and now has made possible this modern structure. Finally he said, "Students keep up the advance by your pride and care of this building. Enjoy it, but care for it."
Supt McMahon was presented by Mr Patterson, and he spoke of what a delightful occasion it was, and congratulated the student body on being the first to use the building saying: "This building is yours not to mark and mar but to use." In conclusion he paid a tribute to the people of the community and the members of the school board, who had the foresight to erect such a structure.
Following Superintendent McMahon's talk the boy's glee club, under the direction of Mr Hill sang two sacred numbers.
Dr Evans then spoke on the added opportunity the new building presents for culture and wisdom. "Modern knowledge is basaed on the scientific theory," said Dr Evans. He spoke breifly of his idea of the planet, Mars and its inhabitants and of Einstein's Theory of Relativity. In addition to the realm of science he urged the students to know some thing in the realm of history, biography, and psychology.
After this program the regular work of the schedule was carried out, beginning with the second period classes.