Early Beginnings
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1895—Mason’s Building
Teachers are Alys May Corr, unknown, Belle McEwen, Jim Southerland Gertrude McFall, Dennis Cason, supervisor, & Rev P.W. Corr. In center seated are M.S. Stevens & Alice Heard
On the right are students: Joe McEwen, Mel McEwen, Lewis Bostick, Yancy Teachy, unknown, & Jes McEwen These boys played in the band under the direction of Professor Corr.
Second row: Miss Willie Green, Cora Southerland, Maude Wilkinson & Leland Carlton. Other children pictured: Effie Branch, Myrtle McEwen, Bessie Branch, Flossye McEwen, Lloyd Carlton, Pearl McEwen, Valda Bostick, Mallie Wiggins, Tom Wiggis, Alfred Cochran, Floy Hendry, & Earl Carlton seated on the far right.
Source: Watch Wauchula Win, Margaret Stringer, Photo from Bertie Southerland Forrest
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As pioneers began to travel southward, settlements began emerging throughout the region
that is now known as Hardee County. These communities opened make-shift schools in homes,
neighborhood churches, and one-room log cabins to provide their children with a proper education.
Grades 1- 8 were taught with all grades combined into a single classroom. The main subjects included the
three "R"s: Reading, Writing and 'Rithmetic. The curriculum comprised memorization of multiplication
tables, spelling words, and chapters or verses from the Bible and other literary works. Spelling bees
and recital of subject content reinforced what was taught in the classroom. There was also an emphasis
on addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
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Wauchula School, undated but written on the back
"1st School House & Annex to it in Wauchula."
Source: CrackerBarrel Rootsweb.com,
Photo from Betty White
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Wauchula School
Source : CrackerBarrel Rootsweb.com,
Photo from Betty White
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Strawberry Schools
Our schools were known as the "Strawberry Schools" because the school terms
were scheduled around the harvesting of the strawberry crop.
Classes would begin in July and then close in December through March.
During the harvest, this calendar enabled the children to pick berries along side of their
parents and other siblings. Then the schools would reopen during the middle of March.
Wauchula Schools
In 1884, the first school house was located west of town in a log cabin which housed
120 students.
The principal of the school was Rev. T.J. Sparkman and his assistant was Mary A. Payne.
In 1895, a new school was built at South 8th Avenue and Bay Street by the Masons. The Masons
referred to the school as the "Wauchula School". The building consisted of two floors.
The Masonic Hall was on the top floor and the school was located on the bottom floor.
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1895
Dennis Marion Cason
First Supervisor of Wauchula Schools.
Source: Watch Wauchula Win, Margaret Stringer, Photo from Marjorie Cason Durrance
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Mr. Dennis Marion Cason helped in the construction of the building because he
was very interested in education. He would encourage parents to enroll their children
in school. Therefore, when the school opened; he was appointed Supervisor and
Rev. T.J. Sparkman became Superintendent. Mr. R.D. Moore became the new
principal and Helen Carlton was assigned as the assistant.
They had very little money then. There was only $100 allotted for supplies.
There was also a grading committe which was selected for examinations on
September 2, 1895. The committee decided that examinations would be held
in September. The committee members were: R.D. Moore, C.J. Carlton and
George W. Harp.
Class of 1908

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Class of 1908, taken at the schoolhouse on South Eighth Avenue and Bay Street.
The next year classes were moved to the new brick school on West Oak Street and North Seventh Ave. Professor Shaver was principal.
Source: Watch Wauchula Win, Margaret Stringer, Photo from Emerson Clavel
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New Brick School in 1909
In 1909, students moved to the new brick school located on West Oak Street and North
Seventh Avenue. This was the first of the three units to be built. The location for this
building would be on the east side of the complex.
The school was named, "Wauchula High School," complete with a bell tower. The school
housed all grades at the time of the initial opening.
Professor Joseph Wilson became the principal and the staff comprised of 4 teachers.

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Source: Watch Wauchula Win, Margaret Stringer,
Photo from Frances Causey
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Wauchula High School in 1913 |
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Over Crowded Schools Continue
In 1915, the 2nd building was erected to help eleviate the continuing
crowded conditions due to increasing enrollment.
Compensatory Law
July 1919, the Compensatory Law went into effect requiring that all children were to attend school.
Therefore, the third unit was added connecting the two other buildings at the cost of $25,000.
In 1920 the enrollment of students reached 950.
Over crowdedness occurred in the lower grades. Enrollment showed that the 3rd grade had
117 students and the 4th grade had 120 students. Miss Ella Beeson had to hold double
sessions to accommodate the numbers both morning and afternoon.
W.R. Gramling was the Superintendent and Professor W.E. Sawyers was the Principal of the High School.
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Three building complex located on West Oak Street. The far right building was the High school 1909, far left was built in 1915 and became the Grammar school. Finally, in 1920 the center building was erected.
Source: Watch Wauchula Win, Margaret Stringer.
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Board of Public Instruction Formed in 1921
The creation of Hardee County began on April 23, 1921, when the Senate Bill Number 51 went into effect.
This Bill divided Desoto County into 4 additional Counties: Hardee, Highlands, Glades and Charlotte.
The law also required each of the five counties to hold a conference to determine and assume the
responsibility of Public Instruction respectively. This included equitable division of any left-over funds,
debts and personal property.
On May 4, 1921, the Board was officially appointed in the three districts:
District 1: Bowling Green, Ft. Green, Ona - W.R. Minor
District 2: Wauchula area - S.B. Hogan
District 3: Crewsville, Popash, Zolfo, Gardner, Sweetwater, Limestone & Lily area—H.K. Still
The three men then held an election and determined that S.B. Hogan would become the Chairman of the Board.
W.R. Gramling, Superintendent of PBI was also present and served as the secretary as provided by law.
During the meeting held on May 20, 1921, the annual salary for the Superintendent would be $2,400; with
a $25 travel expense. His assistant would be paid $1,200 annually.
W.R. Gramling
Superintendent of PBI
Original photograph hangs in the lobby of the
District Offices
No Photographer Specified
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Our Motto
Equal training
Of the
Heads,
Hands
And
Heart.
e1920’s g
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A meeting was held on June 6, 1921, in DeSoto County PBI to determine business operation
responsibilities and also to request the State Auditor to audit the books of Desoto. In addition,
they also determined the valuation of the assessable properties for each of the counties using
the 1920 Tax Roll.
The following day, June 7, 1921, the board met to authorize borrowing $350 for teacher’s salaries
which was obtained through the Special Tax Fund.
It was voted the number of teachers per school would be decided based on
enrollment numbers.
· 12-40 students constitutes 1 teacher
· 40-75 students constitutes 2 teachers
· 75-110 students constitutes 4 teachers
· No new school if enrollment was less than 15 pupils
Transportation for students was capped at no more than .20 cents a day per
pupil for all grammar children living 3 miles or more from the nearest school
when Special Tax School District funds were available.
On July 5, 1921, the Board retained an attorney, L. Grady Burton, for legal counsel.
Oak Park School, Wauchula 1925
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Source: Hillsbourgh Library, Digital Collection,
Photograhy by Burgert Brothers
1925
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s and Heart .
A New High School 1926
Inspite of the three unit complex being completed, the school district still
experienced overcrowded conditions.
Once again, the School Board had to bond for a new building in the
amount of $50,000. The school would be located in Pouncy’s Subdivision
about three blocks south of Main Street. Lots for the school were purchased
from W.L. Warren for $5,000. (Board Minutes, Vol 1, page 104)
The new two story High School was to be built by Paber Construction and
designed by H.G. Little, a Wauchula architect. The exterior would be constructed with red brick and stone.
The school contained sixteen classrooms with a large auditorium, office rooms,
library, laboratories, and a clinic. The cost was $50,000. The new building could hold 400 students.
The new school was completed in the spring of 1926.
Principal of the school was Sam W. McInnis.
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Source: Touch of Classes, Project Graduation 1996
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The Great Depression in the 1930's
In the Depression Era, Hardee Schools were referred to as the “Pay Schools.” Education
was greatly affected during this bleak period in history. The Board of Public Instruction was forced
to require a tuition fee to be paid for each student to attend public school.
There was no money to pay teacher salaries, purchase books or maintain supplies for the classroom.
Money was scare for many families, so grandparents and other family members would assist in the tuition fees.
In many cases, children would have to drop out of school because their parents couldn’t afford to pay.
Teachers were paid in script; which was a piece of paper stating that the BPI would issue pay, as
soon as, monies became available. However, this could be a long period of time and teachers needed money
to live. In many instances, teachers would opt for taking 10 cents on the dollar, so they could buy necessary
items at the local grocery store.
Consolidation/ Closing of Rural Schools
Between 1930-1940 era, many schools that had served as the strawberry and
cucumber schools were closed in order to consolidate.
There were as many as 33 schools in various communities throughout our District.
They were Altman, Bowling Green, Bridges, Buchanan,Castalia, Center Hill, College
Hill, Crewsville, Fish Branch, Ft. Green, Gardner, Harrison City, Holzendorf, Lake
Branch, Lemon Grove, Lilly Branch, Limestone, Live Oak, Maud(e), Oak Grove, Ona
Station, Parnell, Pine Dale, Popash, Prospect, Scott, Spring Hill, Sweetwater, Torrey,
Tura, Vandolah, Wauchula and Zolfo Springs.
These schools can be verified as being in existence because the District has Teacher
Attendance Rosters for each of these schools. Please note that actual establishments
are only recorded as we learn more about these schools.
Our records vary due to the time frame involved. Record keeping was simplified in these
early years. Inclusive dates may not be 100% acurate. Regardless, there were many
strides being made to ensure education for all children in the rural areas.
Consolidation occurred as roads improved making travel easier for students to get
to and from school. Major highways that were added also contributed to the closing
of many schools and leaving only the more centralized schools in the county open.
The Board brought the recommendation from the State Department of Education to
the table for consideration at their March 21, 1949, meeting. The recommendation was
for the School Board to consolidate to three permanent school centers:
Zolfo Springs, Bowling Green and Wauchula.
The Board unanimously voted to accept the states proposal. (Board Minutes Vol:2 page 244)
In addition, the railroad also played an important role in determining the three
centers. The North Atlantic Coast Railroad ran through the cities and communities
that would later become Hardee County:Bowling Green, Torrey, Wauchula, Zolfo,
Moffitt, Buchanan and Gardner.
The map below, shows the routes of the railroad.

1920 Map, Source: fcit.usf.edu
Shown on this map are: Altman, Bowling Green, Bridges, Buchanan. Crewsville, Ft Green, Gardner, Grubhof ,
Kinsley, Lily, Limestone, Maud(e), Moffitt, Ona, Sinclair, Sweetwater, Torrey, Wauchula and Zolfo.
1933 Name Changed to Wauchula High School
On August 29, 1933, the Wauchula High School was renamed to Hardee
County High School by the Board of Public Instruction. (Board Minutes, Volume 1, Page 276)
1945 Fire Claims the Hardee County High School
At 10:40 A.M. on April 27, 1945, the alarm sounded for the local fire
department to respond to a blaze at the southeast corner of Bay Street
and Florida Avenue. It was the High School! The arrival at the scene and
seeing that the fire team couldn’t handle the blaze on their own, Chief Peeples
requested help from neighboring fire stations in Ft. Meade, Avon Park and Arcadia.
In spite of their efforts, the heat became so unbearable that they had to retreat. The
building burned to the ground leaving nothing but the walls standing.
All records of students who graduated since 1925 were lost in the fire. The loss of the
building, equipment and contents was estimated at $150,000. There was nothing left to salvage.
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Source:
CrackerBarrel, Rootsweb.com
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Source:
Main Street 2006 Calendar
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The Board being in session, at the time of the fire, adjourned to offer assistance.
In the afternoon of that same day, they reconvened to determine how they would continue
the high school for the 1945-46 school term. Quick action by the board was evident when
they passed a resolution to secure permission from the Zolfo Springs Trustees to house the
county high school in the Zolfo school building.
Superintendent T.E. Blackburn, Board Chairman C.A. Best and Member English made a
trip to Tallahassee where they met with Representative Taylor. In the conference with
Representative Taylor, they made their plead for financial assistance, in order to secure
books, Home Economics equipment, library books, typewriters, desks and other needs.
Upon their return at the May 4, 1945, Special Meeting they reported that they had
been successful in acquiring financial aid.
(Board Minutes Vol:2, Pages 121-122)
Temporary Location for High School Students
The aftermath of the fire, brought on a whole new meaning to opening day.
The Board and Trustees were faced with many obstacles. Additional preparation was
required, in order, for the education of Wauchula High School students to continue.
The decision for the school to convene would be on May 24th. Starting time would
be at 9:45 A.M.
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Source: A Touch of Classes, Project Graduation 1996 |
A plea by Superintendent T.E. Blackburn was made to the community for donations.
“We sustained a very heavy loss in building, books, furnishings and other equipment.
The loss cannot be easily replaced. Much of it is not on the market. We are a small county,
and there is a great need of unity, unity and more unity. We need your help and your
children need the help of all together least we fail them in providing the essentials for an
adequate school system.”
High School principal, Prichard also made requests for much needed items.
Additional concerns and adjustments had to be made to accommodate sanitation issues,
parking, lunches and providing adequate water supply at the Zolfo Springs School.
Transportation of students was another issue that needed to be addressed. It was decided
that for the 1945-46 school term all high school students were to be picked up at three
major locations at 9:00 A.M.
1. All high school students living west of 7th Avenue would wait for their bus at the High School ground.
2. All high school students living east of 7th Avenue will wait at the Bay Street Service Station.
3. All high school students living north of Main Street would meet at the elementary school.
Text books were another issue along with the need of stocking a library. The Principal made a
request to the public to donate any books that private citizens may have. Any donation of books
would be accepted with open arms.
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Source:
Touch of Classes
1996 Project Graduation
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Re-Establishing Credits
All permanent records of students were lost in the fire in the spring of 1945. Therefore,
Mr. Jack Pritchard, Principal of Hardee County High School, responded to requests
from other schools and universities explaining that students were responsible for
re-establishing their credits for graduation.
A letter was written on October 3, 1945. There was also an enclosure for the
purpose of listing courses taken for each of the respective four years: Freshman,
Sophomore, Junior and Senior years. Most of the re-collections of courses taken
were determined by the word of the student.
The Hardee County High School is Rebuilt
It was the 20th of June in 1945; when the Architect L. Alex Hutton appeared
before the Board to submit the application for approval which included blue
prints and specifications. Funds would be directed under the Bureau of Community
Facilities to build a new high school.
The Wauchula Trustees presented the proposed site for construction on
December 27, 1945. It was a 10 acre track located next to the west side of the
old highway known as the Southerland Estate. The cost was $6,000.
In order for the PBI to have funding to build the new county high school,
a county referendum on legislative issues had to be settled for the use of Race Track Funds.
An Election was to be held on February 12, 1946, to determine the funding of the high school.
Trustees and the Board decided to request that the Board of County Commissioners set
aside $5,000 annually to be matched by the Trustees for 15 years. The monies would
come from Race Track Funds, over the 15 years that would provide for $150,000.
The completion cost would be as high as $300,000 which would include 10-12 classrooms,
study halls, furnishings and a auditorium. The monies for the gymnasium would be generated
through the American Legion who agreed to take on the fund raising for this project.
Architect Elliott and Fletcher and Associates were responsible for the specifications.
A building committee was established to oversee the project. Members of the committee
were: R.A. Taylor, A.B. Pearce, Evan Jones, Woodrow Nicholson, L.W. Bostick and Albert Lane.
On April 20, 1948, the Board awarded the construction bid from C.A. Fielland, Inc. of Tampa.
(Board Minutes, Vol:2, Page 220-221)
The cost would be: $320, 619.00
Plumbing: $14,082.50
Roy A. Barnett & Sons
Gym foundation $16,858.00
& concrete floor
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Source: Crackel Barrel, Rootsweb.com |
Dedication Ceremony of the New Hardee County High School
A dedication committee for the opening of the school consisted of Mr. Joel Evers and Mr. H.F. Johnson.
They were given the direction from the Board that the ceremony would be on August 31, 1949. The dedication
ceremony was held in the afternoon with an estimated crowd of 3,000.
The Hardee County Teacher’s Association greeted guests and conducted tours throughout the new complex.
The new school opened for students on September 12, 1949, with 444 students in attendance.
Teachers at opening day were: Joel Evers, principal, Isabel F. Akins, E.E. Bagwell, Katherine Bostick,
Golda Carlton, Frances Causey, Paul Creech, Ralph Fritz, R.G. Manley, V.G. Matherly, Sara McInnis,
Thelma Cole Miller, Alice T. Pearce, C.A. Platt, Mattie Mae Saunders, Norma Shackelford, Louise
Southerland, Mary Louise Van Natta, Maude Wilkinson and Lorraine Young.

Flag Pole in front of Hardee County High School
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Dedication Plaque Hangs in Foyer
of the Hardee County High School
According to the plaque, the school
was erected in 1958
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This beautiful painting hangs in the foyer of the Old HHS on Florida Avenue.
The artist for the painting is Dorothy Sherman Leech. Currently, there is no information as to how the painting was aquired.
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1949-1950 School Year
The Board of Public Instruction ruled that the insignia for the Hardee
County High School would be "H" instead of the "W" for Wildcats.
(Board Minutes Volume 2, page 244)
Lillian R. Brown School Built in 1950
The school was first named Wauchula Junior High School and taught students in
the first grade through the eighth.
Plans for construction of the new school first began when board members met
on May 20, 1950, to accept the bid from Himrod and Bostick for $17,988.
On September 8, 1950, the dedication ceremony was held with the attendance
of two-hundred people. The ceremony consisted of the Superintendet of H.B.
Dominick welcoming the public with the Principal, Mrs. L.R. Brown, of the school
responding.
Guest speaker for the event was D.E. Williams, Superintendent of Education,
State of Florida, Department of Education.
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