Haigler School Trivia

• Haigler's first school was a private school located in a store building located two blocks west of Porter Avenue. Supported by three businessmen.

• 1886--Haigler School District 7 was formed, and a public school was established. Classes were held in the old Donahue Hall, located one block west of Porter Avenue. (near the vicinity of the old Cozy Inn.)

• 1887--The first school house, a wood frame building located in the southwest part of town. Cost of building was $2,700. and was used for 27 years. Students from Parks, Laird and rural Kansas attended this fine school.

• 1912--Haiglers first class was graduated from the 12th grade.

• 1913--Boys football team and the girls basketball team (girls wore bloomers as part of their uniform).

• 1914--New school building of brick, located at the corner of Norman Street and Logan Avenue. The bell was transferred from the old belfry and placed on top of the new building.

• 1914--First Senior Sneak Day. The seniors went to Sanborn, Ne for a picnic and played ball. In later years, seniors went to Denver to Elitch's Garden and other places of interest. (Richard Wall recalls that you could purchase a hamburger in Denver for 5 cents in 1937.

• October, 1931--The old school building in the southwest part of town burned to the ground. "It is supposed that the fire started accidently, although it is thought by some who were witnesses of the fire that it was set ablaze for some unknown reason" ( Taken from the Haigler News 10-9-31.

• 1931--"The Eagle"--school paper published.

• 1936--Despite much opposition, the gymnasium was added to the school.

• 1939--This graduating class was the first to wear caps and gowns at graduation.

• 1952--Some rural school districts contracted with haigler District 7. No more sack lunches--the hot lunch program was launched.

• 1954--Kindergarten was begun.

• 1955--Consolidation with rural school districts.

• 1959--A remodeling program changed the outward appearance of the building, with the addition of new restrooms and glass blocks around window areas.

• 1986--The last class to graduate from Haigler High School. The Haigler School District consolidated with Benkleman, creating the Dundy County School District #117.

• 1990--The school building constructed in 1914 was dismantled, and the present structure was put in its place for students K thru 6. A brick fund was established, with the Haigler Alumni and residents donating funds to purchase bricks to cover the metal building. The bell from the top of the old school was saved to place in the belfry in the new school building.

• 1912--1986.........612 students have graduated from HHS, Classes of 1957 and 1970 each had 18 graduates, the largest classes. Classes '13, '80, '81, and '82 each had one student. '22...no graduates. An average of 8 grads per year in the '74 years of existing high school graduating classes.

Submitted by Joann (Adams) Webster

via Dallas's computor.