Florence Township was originally divided into eight school districts. One-room school houses were located on Harrison Road, Florence-Wakeman Road, West Road, the corner of Denman and Butler Roads, Route 60, Clary Road, Joppa and Mason, and at Axtel corners. A high school was erected in Florence. About the same time [around 1889] a building was erected in Birmingham, next to the present telephone office. This was the first centralized high school in Birmingham, providing two years of high school for its students. Later, the town hall was used, making the school a three year high school.

The stage in the high school was used for fourth and fifth graders, who had a new teacher every two weeks, provided by the Erie County Normal School. Children walked or were driven to school by their parents. When the high school building at Florence burned, some students from there attended the Birmingham High School, paying tuition of $36.00 a year. A new building was erected in Florence and students were again able to attend there. When this building was closed in the late 1930’s, students came to the Birmingham school. Some, however, elected to pay tuition and attended high school at Berlin Heights. In 1937 Miss Doris Prince came to teach at the Birmingham school. After the consolidation into the Firelands school district, Miss Prince stayed on giving a total of 34 years of service to these schools.

The first part of the present building in Birmingham was completed in 1916 and the school was opened to students in January of that year and they were able to have a four year school. Students from Henrietta also attended the Birmingham school, some of them arriving by street car. In the 1930’s a new gymnasium was added, the work being done by laborers of the W PA. At one time this was the largest, most impressive gymnasium in the area.

Through the years the Birmingham school continued to grow and expand.

Carl Robart, former principal and executive head of Birmingham Schools, along with Doris Prince, through their many years of devoted service, gave to the schools a sense of pride and stability. Both were there to witness the transition in 1955 of the Birmingham Schools into the larger district of the Firelands Local Schools.

In 1923 the doors of the new brick Henrietta school on the corner of Vermillion and Garfield Roads were opened, taking in the students from six individual school districts within the township. Joe Mitten was the first superintendent of the school, serving from 1923 to 1930, "Kid wagons" pulled by horses, and the Greenline interurban brought pupils from all areas of the township. Two teachers, Miss Mary Dugan [Mrs. Schafer] from the Reis district and Mrs. Blanche Gatts from the Hill School transferred with their pupils. The new Henrietta building cost approximately $45,000.

The previous year high school classes had been held at the Town Hall, and prior to that, high school students had attended Oberlin, Kipton, Birmingham, Rocky River, Amherst, and South Amherst schools.

In 1924, the streetcar ceased to operate, due to the increasing number of automobiles. The students missed the clanking of the cars as well as the ride to school on rainy days.

Early in October, 1923, the Henrietta P.T.A. was organized with Nellie Coates as its first president. The same month the first Halloween party was held, and a tradition was born to be carried on for many years.

Music played a great part in the history of the Henrietta school. The first of many operettas was "The Isle of Chance." The Kinsley family began its great tradition of providing entertainment for the whole community. Glee Clubs and Mixed Choruses consistently brought home superior ratings in competition under the direction of Marjorie Howe, who instilled into the school and into the community an awareness and love of music.

Sports were not neglected. In 1924 the girls basketball team won the County Championship. 1933 saw the boys’ basketball team qualified for the State finals in Columbus. They finished the season as State runner-up, defeated by Lawrenceville, due to the tireless efforts of John Salisbury.

In 1924 "The Hub" was first published with Grace Dudley as editor. In 1927 the P.T.A. helped to hire a cook--for $6.00 a week. This relieved the home ec girls of the responsibility of serving hot soup and cocoa to the student body. The schools were progressing and the students were happy.

There were many joys along the way--the simple joys--the ones that really count--as one generation succeeded another. When 1955 rolled around and the Firelands consolidation became a reality, the Henrietta people were there, supporting the new venture, proud of their past, but ready to move ahead to a new challenge.

Back to Index

Transcribed by Lowell Dunlap