BUTTERWORTH HIGH SCHOOL WAS STARTED IN 1881 The First School-Room - 1881 - was the old Wesleyan Church, which burnt down well before 1949. The original Boarding House - 1891 - was the double-storey building behind the Town Hall.- Occupied by Miss Hattingh – 1949.- ( Possibly where Mr Maroon – Town Engineer or where the Vorster`s lived ? ) The total number of pupils in 1892 was 48. In 1893 Three Acres were surveyed as a School property In 1895 part of the present School House was built and occupied as a School. The School first achieved High School status in 1903 In 1904 it was decided to Build an additional block for the school. – Unfortunately the Architect went Insolvent and departed / disappeared for Canada !!! A Mr William Grubb served on the School Board as Secretary faithfully and continuously for - 40 years. – until 1936. The first two Matric candidates were entered in 1901 under the Headmastership of Mr Peter Smith. - We understand that one of these Matrics came “ First “ in the Country In 1909 Mr Smith Resigned and took over Umtata High School. - Most of the Senior Pupils from Butterworth High School followed Mr Peter Smith to Umtata. From being a flourishing High School at that time, Butterworth High School dropped to a Secondary School in which state it remained for Thirty Years. - 30 years. – Under the leadership of Mr Davis, as Headmaster the School became a High School again in 1938. From this time in 1938 under Mr Davis, the Butterworth High School saw phenomenal development. During 1935 Mr Davis was approached by a trader in the Ndabakazi area to please take his sons in as Boarders. This was Mr Smith who approached Mr Gordon. This resulted in - Bertie and Stanley Smith - moving in as boarders and others who soon followed were – Neville Smith, Mervyn, Lionel and Errol Brill, Kenny Muller, Barry Geotsch, R.McEvoy, R. Turnbull, Ricky Gaylard, and others. In time the need for a - Girls Hostel - also became a pressing issue and Mrs M.Mays came to the schools rescue by converting her own home into a Girls Hostel. Some of the Girls from this time in Hostel Were :- Vlasta Thomes -( from Willovale ), - Kay Lloyd, Nola Baisley and others attended Hostel In 1940 when Bruce Gordon arrived at Butterworth as Headmaster. Mrs McClenaghan and her - son - Harold McClenaghan insisted that the family stay at the - Bungalow Hotel – until all their furniture arrived. Mrs Ruth Hall Mrs Hall in - 1929. - Mrs Ruth Hall joined Butterworth High School in 1929 - She was still assisting at the school up to the early 1980`s - What a ‘ legend “ Mrs Hall started off teaching 56 pupils in the Butterworth Town Hall. – Nearly every year she was asked to take a - “ Double Class “ – Besides also looking after the School Stocks and Gardens she also attracted many - “ Dogs “ - from the Village and took them into her home and also to School with her !! – There are many stories told about Pupils and the “ pranks “ with her animals,. The School Buildings – as they were up to the 1970`s – were mostly completed in 1910. 1949 Inspector Caley and Inspector Potgieter carried out an Inspection of the High School students. Their report was favourable. In 1949 the Butterworth Municipality handed over the Old recreational ground.- Over the road (N2 ) to the School ,which the school levelled for playing fields. Also in 1949 – Herbert Gaylard Esq. - Was appointed the - “ Inaugural President “ - of the - Butterworth High School Past Pupils` Association. The School acquired a Contractor with a 17 cubic yard scoop ! – Which was reputed to be the biggest in South Africa at the time – to help level the fields. – Approx. 18,000 c.yds of earth were moved. This Field was measured at approx. 150 yards by 150 yards. It was big enough to cater for a Full size Rugby field, a Junior Rugby field and a 440 yards athletic track. In the Middle of the turf they put down A Cricket pitch. The cost to level all of this in 1949 came to a “ Staggering “ price of £1,200-00. Research completed by Mrs Ruth Hall and Mr Ted Derry assisted.
Posted on: Sun, 09 Mar 2014 14:04:36 +0000