Rayen High School (Youngstown, Ohio)
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| The Rayen School (Rayen High School) |
|
| Established | 1866 |
| Type | Public secondary |
| Principal | Henrietta Williams |
| Students | approx. 1,100 |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Location | 250 Benita Avenue Youngstown, Ohio, USA |
| Colors | Orange and Black |
| Mascot | Tigers |
| Website | Rayen Homepage |
Rayen High School is one of three traditional public high schools in the city of Youngstown, Ohio. The current facility opened in 1923,[1] when the high school was relocated from a 19th-century plant that now houses the city's Board of Education.[2] Rayen High School will be closed in 2007, to make way for the opening of a consolidated East High School. The former Rayen building is scheduled for demolition, and a middle school will be erected on the site.[1]
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[edit] History
A longtime fixture in the Youngstown City Schools system, Rayen High School opened its doors to 40 students in September 1866.[3] Provisions for the school were made through a legacy of Colonel William Rayen, a judge and former military officer who fought in the War of 1812.[4] Rayen, who died in 1854, left a residual estate of $31,000, which he set aside for the establishment and maintenance of a secondary school. He specified that the school should be free and open to students of all backgrounds.[1]
The original structure, which still stands on the main artery of Wick Avenue, was built in the Greek Revival style. Its appearance has changed little since its construction in the 19th century, and the building is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1]
In response to expanding enrollment, a larger physical plant was erected on the upper North Side of Youngstown in 1922.[5] Over the past 135 years, the school operated on funds generated by the Rayen estate, which was managed by a board of trustees.[6] Admired for its rigorous academic standards, the institution became popularly known as "The Rayen School" in the 1940s. In the course of its long history, the school has been led by 19 principals and graduated more than 50,000 students.[7] Much of Rayen's earlier history was commemorated in a 65-foot-long mural painted by Rayen art instructor John Benninger in the late 1950s.[8] The Rayen mural is currently being removed from the former high school building for cleaning and restoration.[1]
[edit] Sports
Rayen's sports team competed as the Tigers. The school holds one Ohio High School Athletic Association State Championship, a Boy's Basketball crown from 1985. [9] Rayen's stadium, built in 1924, was also the site of athletic events for nearby schools. For decades, it served as "home field" to Ursuline High School, located a few blocks south, and Youngstown State University.
Rayen Stadium was also the site of a significant development in American football history. The first penalty flag was thrown at the stadium in 1941, when it served as home field for then-Youngstown College. Youngstown College coach Dwight "Dike" Beede created the flag to replace the alarms that were generally used at the time. He recognized that some fans couldn’t hear the alarms because of surrounding noise.[10]
The stadium fell into disuse after 1982, with the completion of Youngstown State University's Stambaugh Stadium. Rayen and other city schools began to use Stambaugh Stadium for their home games. Before 2006, the last high school football game played on Youngstown City Schools property was in 1992 at South High School — once the home field for Cardinal Mooney High School. South High School, on the main thoroughfare of Market Street, closed in 1993.
In 2005, the Tigers went 7-3 to win their first Youngstown City Title since 1989 — when the Youngstown City Series still had five high schools. However, the Chaney Cowboys won the rematch in the playoffs. On September 30, 2006 Rayen hosted Akron East High School for the first game at Rayen Stadium in 24 years. The game also allowed alumni to have one last public tour of the school before it closes at the end of the 2006-2007 school year.
[edit] Legacy
During its operation, Rayen High School maintained a commitment to excellence that was reflected in the successes of its distinguished alumni. Graduates of the school included Hall of Fame umpire Billy Evans, comedic actor Joe Flynn, major league baseball player and manager Jimmy McAleer, and 19th-century lawmaker William R. Stewart.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Gwin, Harold. "Mural removed for cleaning; restoration", The Vindicator, January 12, 2007.
- ^ Rayen School History Accessed 2007-03-06
- ^ Rayen School History Accessed 2007-03-06
- ^ Rayen School History Accessed 2007-03-06
- ^ Rayen School History Accessed 2007-03-06
- ^ Rayen School History Accessed 2007-03-06
- ^ Rayen School History Accessed 2007-03-06
- ^ "Rayen's History Portrayed in School Mural", The Youngstown Vindicator, June 14, 1959.
- ^ Yappi. Yappi Sports Basketball AA. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
- ^ Penalty Flag Accessed 2007-03-06
