Firelands Schools
Firelands School district is the result of a consolidation of four individual school districts. The consolidation of Henrietta, Brownhelm, and Camden Townships in Lorain County took place in December, 1952, Florence Township of Erie County joined the consolidation in July, 1953. Each district continued in its original buildings in the 1953-54 school year. The total district enrollment at this time was just under 1,000.
In 1954-55 the new high school was completed. The buildings in each district were used as elementary schools, with the exception of the Henrietta building which was used to house junior high school grades. The first class to graduate from Firelands High School was the class of 1955, with 43 students. The first superintendent of the consolidated school system was James Ehrman, who also took on the duties of elementary principal for a time. Principal at the new high school was Fred Matheney; principal of the new junior high school was Wayne Whyte. The first clerk of the district was E. J. May, who held the job from December to February. In March, 1953, Rex Lees, Sr., became clerk. Additions to the original high school building were made in 1961 and in 1971, giving more classroom space and adding vocational business facilities, more modern shop and agriculture facilities, and a new library.
A new middle school was completed and first occupied by grades seven and eight in January, 1962. In September of 1962 grade six joined the other grades in that building. Grade five was added to the other middle school grades in 1971. The Henrietta building was then used to house students in grade four. Today, in addition to classrooms, the Henrietta building houses the offices of the superintendent, Harris Youngblood. Viola Lees is the present clerk-treasurer.
In May of 1969 the voters of the Firelands district voted to join with four other school districts, Oberlin, Wellington, Keystone and Amherst, to form the Lorain County Joint Vocational School, one of the first vocational schools of its size and scope in the state of Ohio. The first year of operation, 1971-72, Firelands sent 36 students to the vocational school. This year, 1980-81, Firelands is sending 112 students there.
Today the students of the Firelands area are still housed in the six buildings mentioned above: one high school and one middle school, located on Vermilion Road in Henrietta Township, and four elementary school buildings, located in each of the respective districts making up the Firelands area. Total enrollment the first day of the 1980-81 school year was 1,750. This is down from the peak years of the early 1970’s when the enrollment reached 1,950 to 1,970. Firelands High School will graduate 147 seniors in 1981. The board of education employs 92 teachers, 6 administrators, and 52 non-certified employees. Seventeen bus routes cover 88 square miles to bring the students to school. Students are also transported to all parochial schools in the Lorain County area.
Firelands School have always been known for their excellence in sports and in music, as well as in academics. Art and drama now hold a prominent place in the school curriculum. Vocational agriculture and vocational home economics are still taught in the local school to meet the demands of the students. Many people over many years have left their influence on the students, and therefore, on the community. Who can forget Nelson and Marjorie Howe? Lowell Gatts? Elaine Pinkerman? Wilfred Johnston? Frank Miller? to name a few.
Transcribed by Lowell Dunlap