Photo taken from archive photos owned by St. Francis Community Schools.
Photo of the original school building in St. Francis. Believed to have been built on the site of the existing Grade School Building.Brief School History
The high school began in 1901 and was held in the elementary school at that time. It was established largely through the efforts of C.M. Kincaid, a graduate of Nebraska University who also served as principal of the grade school.
In addition to promoting the first high school, he was a major influence in the establishment of a four-year county high school. In early 1903 the state passed an act that allowed the creation of county high schools for qualifying counties. The provisions of the act were met by Cheyenne County, and in July the commissioners gave approval for the establishment of the Cheyenne County High School in St. Francis. The first classes began in September 1903, and the first graduates of the high school four years later were Charles Benkelman, Ben Harrison, Tessie Lawless, May Watt, Hazel Halley, Effie Walin, and Irene Moore.
In 1917 a new high school was built at the site of the existing high school on College Street. Classes were moved to this high school during the 1917-1918 school term. The course of study for students during most years of the county high school was divided into three parts: a college preparatory program, normal training for those planning to teach, and a general program for those not wishing to specialize in a particular field. The building itself (red brick on the east side) still stands as a part of the current high school; there have been eight additions to it during the nearly 90 years since it was built.
In 1917, a high school was also started in Bird City and became a rural high school in 1921. In 1923 the Cheyenne County High School was changed to the St. Francis Community High School under an act passed specifically for the transition of county high schools to community high schools.
Photo taken from archive photos owned by St. Francis Community Schools.
Early photo of the St. Francis Grade School Building.Music emerged as an early part of the high school's curriculum, with the first high school band being organized during World War I, 1917-18. Football teams were organized around 1915, and St. Francis had its first undefeated, championship team in 1923. Basketball teams originated around the same time as football; wrestling was not organized until 1932.
Photo taken from archive photos owned by St. Francis Community Schools.
Photo of early St. Francis. The school building is the large building near the center of the photoThis information was excerpted from the book Cheyenne County History. If you are interested in the full history, this book can be found at the St. Francis High School library as well as the St. Francis Public Library.
Additions/Corrections to School History
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