Memories of Bartlett High School by John Chandler
During the period during which the U.S. was involved in WWI,
parents in Bartlett village developed considerable interest in
providing educational facilities for students seeking high school
diplomas. A few had been fortunate enough to avail themselves of
higher education at schools in Conway, North Conway, Gorham (N.
H.) and in Fryeburg and Portland, Me.
After very careful planning, and having dredged all obvious
alternatives, a small group of persons banded together to
establish a two year high school. It was housed in the precinct
building in Bartlett Village and a teacher was engaged to conduct
classes in the subjects essential to meet State secondary schools
standards. The first classes were held in September of 1922, with
20 students enrolled.
The teacher selected for this project was William Hounsell of
Conway. This proved to be a very wise choice. He was an
excellent teacher and was able to maintain discipline in difficult
situations. He did a fine job in preparing the students for the final
two years of high school.
In September of 1924, a four year High School was established
with a new building (now part of the elementary school) and with
William Hounsell as principal. The student body was made up
mostly of underclassmen. Senior students were very limited in
number. Inability of the older students to attend other schools after
the two year program caused a spin-off into the job market and left
only two potential senior students. When school opened in
September, only one senior was enrolled. The other, (myself),
having been elected captain of football at Kennett High School,
and wishing to avail himself of this experience, decided to remain
at Kennett.
The situation changed when Christmas vacation rolled around
and it appeared possible for this student to attend college,
provided all resources were conserved toward that end. He
therefore returned to Bartlett High School in January of 1925 to
finish the year and graduate. This doubled the size of the first
class of graduates from B.H.S. - from one to two! Both seniors
went on to attend the University of New Hampshire as
undergraduates. One went on to obtain advance degrees from
Harvard University, while the other followed a career in electronics
and aviation.
After this lowly beginning, B.H.S. went on to successfully prepare
students for advance study or life in an increasingly complex world.
Bartlett High School numbers among its graduates persons who
have successfully followed careers in business, science and
research and persons who were later engaged in advancing
education. Also included among B.H.S. graduates are many
scattered about the world, among them are many high ranking
military personnel.
In the late 1950’s, for economic and other reasons, the high
school was discontinued and the students began to be bused to
Kennett High School in Conway. This moved made available to the
students more varied curriculums and modern facilities desirable
to the learning process.
Bartlett, in the opinion of one early graduate, can be justly proud
of its young people’s accomplishments toward better education
during the early 1920’s. A careful study of the record seems to
indicate that when it comes to a high school, big is not necessarily
better.
Editorial note: Bartlett High School graduates might be
interested to know that William Hounsell (1898-1969) continued to
further his career. He became the superintendent of schools in
Penacook (N.H.) before he retired to Conway, where his widow,
Hazel Towle Hounsell still makes her home.
During the period during which the U.S. was involved in WWI,
parents in Bartlett village developed considerable interest in
providing educational facilities for students seeking high school
diplomas. A few had been fortunate enough to avail themselves of
higher education at schools in Conway, North Conway, Gorham (N.
H.) and in Fryeburg and Portland, Me.
After very careful planning, and having dredged all obvious
alternatives, a small group of persons banded together to
establish a two year high school. It was housed in the precinct
building in Bartlett Village and a teacher was engaged to conduct
classes in the subjects essential to meet State secondary schools
standards. The first classes were held in September of 1922, with
20 students enrolled.
The teacher selected for this project was William Hounsell of
Conway. This proved to be a very wise choice. He was an
excellent teacher and was able to maintain discipline in difficult
situations. He did a fine job in preparing the students for the final
two years of high school.
In September of 1924, a four year High School was established
with a new building (now part of the elementary school) and with
William Hounsell as principal. The student body was made up
mostly of underclassmen. Senior students were very limited in
number. Inability of the older students to attend other schools after
the two year program caused a spin-off into the job market and left
only two potential senior students. When school opened in
September, only one senior was enrolled. The other, (myself),
having been elected captain of football at Kennett High School,
and wishing to avail himself of this experience, decided to remain
at Kennett.
The situation changed when Christmas vacation rolled around
and it appeared possible for this student to attend college,
provided all resources were conserved toward that end. He
therefore returned to Bartlett High School in January of 1925 to
finish the year and graduate. This doubled the size of the first
class of graduates from B.H.S. - from one to two! Both seniors
went on to attend the University of New Hampshire as
undergraduates. One went on to obtain advance degrees from
Harvard University, while the other followed a career in electronics
and aviation.
After this lowly beginning, B.H.S. went on to successfully prepare
students for advance study or life in an increasingly complex world.
Bartlett High School numbers among its graduates persons who
have successfully followed careers in business, science and
research and persons who were later engaged in advancing
education. Also included among B.H.S. graduates are many
scattered about the world, among them are many high ranking
military personnel.
In the late 1950’s, for economic and other reasons, the high
school was discontinued and the students began to be bused to
Kennett High School in Conway. This moved made available to the
students more varied curriculums and modern facilities desirable
to the learning process.
Bartlett, in the opinion of one early graduate, can be justly proud
of its young people’s accomplishments toward better education
during the early 1920’s. A careful study of the record seems to
indicate that when it comes to a high school, big is not necessarily
better.
Editorial note: Bartlett High School graduates might be
interested to know that William Hounsell (1898-1969) continued to
further his career. He became the superintendent of schools in
Penacook (N.H.) before he retired to Conway, where his widow,
Hazel Towle Hounsell still makes her home.
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| Bartlett Historical Society |
| Preserving the history of the villages of Bartlett, New Hampshire |
| 20th Year Reunion - June 18, 1960 Back Row: Albert Johnson, Douglas Chandler, Raymond Hebb Middle Row: Alberta (Bean) Apodaca, Madeline (Whitcher) Balogh, Olive (Sterling) Neally Front Row: Ona (Bond) Lane, Alma (Chadbourne) Rickards |
| PO Box 514, Bartlett, NH 03812 (603) 383-4110 info@bartletthistory.org |
Norman Head, Chairman of the Bartlett Historical Society
Reunion Committee, encourages all Bartlett school
alumni to save the date of Saturday, August 23, 2008,
and plan to attend a reunion of Bartlett school students.
The Historical Society is hosting this reunion to
commemorate the 50th anniversary of the last
graduating class and the closing of Bartlett High School
in 1958. Norman announced that the celebration will
begin on Friday, August 22nd with a “Meet and Greet”
and will conclude on Sunday morning, August 24th with
a “Till We Meet Again” breakfast. The celebration will
take place on Saturday, August 23rd at the Attitash
Grand Summit Hotel & Conference Center. The Historical
Society has made a deposit and the Grand Summit has
confirmed the reservation for the facility on that date.
The Grand Summit is offering a 10% discount to anyone
who mentions that they are reserving for the reunion.
Chairman Head and his committee continue to search
for class representatives. The class reps will be
responsible for providing the committee with a list of
the names and addresses of their classmates;
maintaining contact with their classmates throughout
the announcement, registration and planning process;
and to be an advisor to the committee regarding plans
and activities. In the meantime, we appreciate any help
in obtaining classmates' names, addresses, emails and
phone numbers.
Interested persons may contact the committee through
the Bartlett Historical Society website at
reunion@bartletthistory.org, or by calling Marcia Dolley
at 603-367-9278.
Plans and updates will be posted here on the Society's
website and in the local newspapers.
Reunion Committee, encourages all Bartlett school
alumni to save the date of Saturday, August 23, 2008,
and plan to attend a reunion of Bartlett school students.
The Historical Society is hosting this reunion to
commemorate the 50th anniversary of the last
graduating class and the closing of Bartlett High School
in 1958. Norman announced that the celebration will
begin on Friday, August 22nd with a “Meet and Greet”
and will conclude on Sunday morning, August 24th with
a “Till We Meet Again” breakfast. The celebration will
take place on Saturday, August 23rd at the Attitash
Grand Summit Hotel & Conference Center. The Historical
Society has made a deposit and the Grand Summit has
confirmed the reservation for the facility on that date.
The Grand Summit is offering a 10% discount to anyone
who mentions that they are reserving for the reunion.
Chairman Head and his committee continue to search
for class representatives. The class reps will be
responsible for providing the committee with a list of
the names and addresses of their classmates;
maintaining contact with their classmates throughout
the announcement, registration and planning process;
and to be an advisor to the committee regarding plans
and activities. In the meantime, we appreciate any help
in obtaining classmates' names, addresses, emails and
phone numbers.
Interested persons may contact the committee through
the Bartlett Historical Society website at
reunion@bartletthistory.org, or by calling Marcia Dolley
at 603-367-9278.
Plans and updates will be posted here on the Society's
website and in the local newspapers.
| Click on select images to see a larger version of the picture |
This article from The Reporter in
1978 noted: "A committee is
working to spread the word far
and wide to men and women who
attended Bartlett High School
that a reunion is planned for May
27. Anyone who is a graduate of
B.H.S. or knows someone who is,
is urged to tell them of the
gathering to take place at the
Bartlett Hotel on that date. For
more information, call one of the
following: Opal Eastman,
Conway; Doris Chadburn, Glen
or Alice Davis, Bartlett."
1978 noted: "A committee is
working to spread the word far
and wide to men and women who
attended Bartlett High School
that a reunion is planned for May
27. Anyone who is a graduate of
B.H.S. or knows someone who is,
is urged to tell them of the
gathering to take place at the
Bartlett Hotel on that date. For
more information, call one of the
following: Opal Eastman,
Conway; Doris Chadburn, Glen
or Alice Davis, Bartlett."
| Contact the Bartlett Historical Reunion Committee directly at reunion@bartletthistory.org |
| The Grand Summit Hotel is offering a 10% discount to anyone who mentions that they are reserving accommodations for the Bartlett School Reunion. |
| March Update: The BHS reunion committee has recently mailed out more than 800 invitation packages to Bartlett School alumni. They are still searching for addresses for nearly 100 others. The committee is now asking for assistance from family and friends of those who attended Bartlett schools and who did not receive an invitation package. You may submit information to the committee at reunion@bartletthistory.org, or by contacting Norman Head at (603) 986-6278 or Marcia Dolley at (603) 367-9278. Your assistance is appreciated. |