Davenport Central High School

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Davenport Central High School (founded 1904) is a four-year high school in Davenport, Iowa. It offers over 200 courses in a four-block schedule, as well as a variety of extracurricular activities, clubs, and teams.

[edit] History

1900 Davenport Board of Education purchased the old Griswold College site for $53,000. This purchase included Kemper Hall and the home of Professor Sheldon, the two buildings on the eastern side of the campus. Local Architectural firm, Clausen & Burrows, was selected to create the buildings' look and design.

1904 Building contract awarded to H.B. Walter Construction Company of Danville, Illinois.

1905 June 19, 1905: The cornerstone was laid with a large ceremony and parade, celebrating the placing of the cornerstone.

1907 Building was completed at a cost of $347,000. Built to accommodate 1600 students. People were amazed at the building's immense size. Classes moved into the building. DHS officially opens at the new site. 750 students, 29 teachers, Superintendent J.B. Young retires, Frank L. Smart becomes new superintendent, and George E. Marshall becomes the new principal.

1915 Kemper Hall becomes the Home Economics building. Industrial Arts Building erected.

1922 Stella Matthews and Lovena Moore write the words to the school song, Hail to the Red and Blue. The two students each won $3 for creating the song. Esther Caudell, director of choruses at DHS, is credited with writing the music.

1924 Davenport School Board purchased ground for athletic and practice fields at Brady and Baker Lane from James D. Baker. Purchase included 10 acres for a price of $18,000.

1930 New gym and administrative building were added. Gymnasium was dedicated to George Edward Marshall, the current principal. Gymnasium is considered one of the finest in the Midwest. Old gym in the main building was converted into a modern cafeteria.

1932 George Marshall dies in office in December of 1932.

1933 First football homecoming game held. A.J. Naumann takes over as principal.

1935 Homecoming dance first hits DHS. Paul Moon, with help of Bill Rivikin and Lenvil Simmons, lead an effort to adopt the Blue Devils as the DHS mascot.

1940 First Spinster Spree is held. First Variety Show was performed. 460 Graduates in 1940. Band and Girl's Sextet appeared on NBC's Music and American Youth in April of 1940.

1948 Roger B. Berry becomes principal

1953 Life Magazine profiles Davenport High School.

1959 A building (now the annex) was built for the ROTC program.

1960 DHS becomes Central High School because West High School was built. First Girl's Synchronized Swimming Team.

1962-65 Semester Swirl (Winter Ball) dance held.

1969 Eskel C. Norbeck becomes principal.

1974 Lawerence Gehrig becomes principal

1978 Orville Kahler becomes principal.

1979 Auditorium renovated. Don Fisher becomes principal. 2100 students.

1980 President Carter comes to Central on August 22, 1980.

1981 Bathrooms and drinking fountains restored. Auditorium remodeled for $135,000.

1984 Berry Addition built to connect main building with the gym. Included: cafeteria with skylights, instrumental music room, 3 home economics classrooms, 2 driver's ed classrooms, metal shops, and a new kitchen. Tunnel was closed.

1985 North High School was established in a building that was formerly Wood Junior High.

1989 Hall of Honor established honoring distinguished alumni. Construction on stairwells finished to enclose.

1994 Davenport High Schools changed to include ninth graders in the fall of 1994. Paul Massman was principal.

1995 Industrial Arts building torn down to accommodate for more parking. Don Fisher stepped in as principal from March 96 to end of school year.

1996 Central High School adopts block schedule. Steven Bjornstad becomes principal.

1997 Henry Caudle becomes principal.

2000 On May 3, 2000, President Bill Clinton speaks at CHS. Clancy Simmons becomes principal

2001 $6.6 million expansion renovation paid for by voter-approved 1% sales tax. Wooden lockers replaced, classrooms expanded, elevator installed, more classrooms added, science labs remodeled.

2002 Jeff Craig becomes principal. $13.8 million total renovation stone tuck pointing and replacement, remodeling of band/vocal rooms, new seating in gym, new windows and exterior doors.

2004 Tim Wernentin becomes principal.

2007 Central enacts a new policy restricting the usage of backpacks and large bags. The controversy causes much uproar in the school.

[edit] External links

• Davenport Central High School Website
• CHS Vocal Boosters Website
• CHS Band Website
• CHS Key Club Website