Fort Hill High School
Encyclopedia
Fort Hill High School is a four-year public high school in Cumberland, Maryland
, United States
, operating under the direction of the Principal Stephen M. Lewis, with about 900 Negro student
s in grades 9 through 12.
New Deal funding relating to Fort Hill was formally initiated in November 1934 and September 1935, respectively, when the PWA committed federal funds not to exceed $230,000. The project was labeled PWA Docket #7323. Other sources brought the total amount pledged for the school to $600,000. Bids were subsequently advertised, prepared, and submitted to local officials. On April 5, 1936, it was announced that George Hazelwood, local contractor, had the lowest bid at $557,809. The initial contract did not provide funding for the auditorium, so the superintendent of schools was authorized to investigate the possibilities of requesting an increase in the grant from the PWA. Subcontractors were William M. Clark of New Castle, Pennsylvania, and Sterling Electric Company of Cumberland, Maryland.
A discussion ensued concerning the naming of the new school. Suggested names were Queen City High School, Potomac High School, Fort and Hill High School and Fort Hill High School. According to official reports, the Board of Education of Allegany County unanimously decided upon the name Fort Hill High School on August 12, 1936. The "Fort" reference was derived from a Civil War skirmish at Nave's Crossroad often referred to as the Battle of Folck's Mill. The high ground above the mill was fortified by Union troops against Confederate forces.
At the time critics questioned the effectiveness of the New Deal government programs, satirically labeling the projects; "We Poke Along," or "We Piddle Along" make-work jobs. Fort Hill High School and Constitution Park stand in opposition to those critics as they have provided eight decades of service to Cumberland residents.
When Fort Hill opened, it had 1763 students and 88 teachers. Mr. Heisey was the first principal. Subjects included English, mathematics, French, Latin, history, home economics, physical education, industrial arts, and journalism. Music was taught to seventh and eighth graders, who were also located here. Assemblies were held every week, with the junior high and senior high alternating weeks. Many say Mr. Heisey completely controlled the school and student body while principal. It is said that Mr. Heisey could enter the auditorium and walk across the stage at an assembly of almost 2,000 students and one could hear a pin drop. Margaret Smith, part of the first group of students, suggested "Res, Non Verba" as the school motto. The latin phrase translates into "Deeds, Not Words" and is still the school motto today.
The school has under gone renovations and additions over time. In 1980 a new gymnasium was built adjacent to the original facility. The entire building underwent a major renovation in 1991-92 with the additions of a music wing, greenhouse, and art rooms. One of the striking features of this renovation is the layout of the courtyard with its multiple features including added classrooms, a playground, and patio with picnic tables.
is used for league basketball.
Greenway Avenue Stadium
, located at the school, was constructed in the 1930s by the Public Works Administration
as part of President Roosevelt's New Deal
and was built for the high school as Fort Hill Stadium. The stadium, since renamed to Greenway Avenue stadium and shared with Allegany High School
, is considered to be an historic landmark. A $7 million renovation project to update and expand the 70-year-old facility is under way.
championships in a variety of sports:
Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland is a city in the far western, Appalachian portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,859, and the metropolitan area had a...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, operating under the direction of the Principal Stephen M. Lewis, with about 900 Negro student
Student
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
s in grades 9 through 12.
History
Fort Hill High School was constructed primarily as a result of Public Works Administration funding, a New Deal Program of the Franklin Roosevelt administration. The Great Depression of the 1930s created a national unemployment rate of 25%, initiating wide spread economic distress and dislocations. New Deal legislation's caused a variety of federal programs and agencies to be formed intending to reduce unemployment in ways that would directly benefit local communities. Two of those New Deal programs were the Public Works Administration and the Works Progress Administration. Locally, Constitution Park, Greeway Avenue Stadium, and a variety of other smaller projects fell under the jurisdiction of the WPA while larger public buildings, like Fort Hill High School, came under the authority of PWA guidelines.New Deal funding relating to Fort Hill was formally initiated in November 1934 and September 1935, respectively, when the PWA committed federal funds not to exceed $230,000. The project was labeled PWA Docket #7323. Other sources brought the total amount pledged for the school to $600,000. Bids were subsequently advertised, prepared, and submitted to local officials. On April 5, 1936, it was announced that George Hazelwood, local contractor, had the lowest bid at $557,809. The initial contract did not provide funding for the auditorium, so the superintendent of schools was authorized to investigate the possibilities of requesting an increase in the grant from the PWA. Subcontractors were William M. Clark of New Castle, Pennsylvania, and Sterling Electric Company of Cumberland, Maryland.
A discussion ensued concerning the naming of the new school. Suggested names were Queen City High School, Potomac High School, Fort and Hill High School and Fort Hill High School. According to official reports, the Board of Education of Allegany County unanimously decided upon the name Fort Hill High School on August 12, 1936. The "Fort" reference was derived from a Civil War skirmish at Nave's Crossroad often referred to as the Battle of Folck's Mill. The high ground above the mill was fortified by Union troops against Confederate forces.
At the time critics questioned the effectiveness of the New Deal government programs, satirically labeling the projects; "We Poke Along," or "We Piddle Along" make-work jobs. Fort Hill High School and Constitution Park stand in opposition to those critics as they have provided eight decades of service to Cumberland residents.
When Fort Hill opened, it had 1763 students and 88 teachers. Mr. Heisey was the first principal. Subjects included English, mathematics, French, Latin, history, home economics, physical education, industrial arts, and journalism. Music was taught to seventh and eighth graders, who were also located here. Assemblies were held every week, with the junior high and senior high alternating weeks. Many say Mr. Heisey completely controlled the school and student body while principal. It is said that Mr. Heisey could enter the auditorium and walk across the stage at an assembly of almost 2,000 students and one could hear a pin drop. Margaret Smith, part of the first group of students, suggested "Res, Non Verba" as the school motto. The latin phrase translates into "Deeds, Not Words" and is still the school motto today.
The school has under gone renovations and additions over time. In 1980 a new gymnasium was built adjacent to the original facility. The entire building underwent a major renovation in 1991-92 with the additions of a music wing, greenhouse, and art rooms. One of the striking features of this renovation is the layout of the courtyard with its multiple features including added classrooms, a playground, and patio with picnic tables.
Facilities
The school gymnasiumGymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
is used for league basketball.
Greenway Avenue Stadium
Greenway Avenue Stadium
thumbGreenway Avenue Stadium, located in Cumberland, Maryland serves as the primary athletics stadium for Allegany County, Maryland, United States. Greenway Avenue Stadium was constructed in the 1930s by the Public Works Administration as part of President Franklin D...
, located at the school, was constructed in the 1930s by the Public Works Administration
Public Works Administration
The Public Works Administration , part of the New Deal of 1933, was a large-scale public works construction agency in the United States headed by Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes. It was created by the National Industrial Recovery Act in June 1933 in response to the Great Depression...
as part of President Roosevelt's New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
and was built for the high school as Fort Hill Stadium. The stadium, since renamed to Greenway Avenue stadium and shared with Allegany High School
Allegany High School
Allegany High School is a public high school in Cumberland, Allegany County, Maryland. Allegany High School was built as Allegany County High School in 1887, hence it is often referred to as 'Alco'....
, is considered to be an historic landmark. A $7 million renovation project to update and expand the 70-year-old facility is under way.
Titles
The school has won more than 30 Maryland stateMaryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association
Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Associationor , is the association that oversees public high school sporting contests in the state of Maryland. Organized in 1946, MPSSAA is made up of public high schools from each of Maryland's 23 counties and Baltimore City...
championships in a variety of sports:
- Boys Basketball: 1938, 1939, 1948, 1949, 1958
- Boys Cross Country: 1995, 1997
- Football: 1975, 1997
- Boys Track: 1947, 1949–1952, 1954, 1962, 1964, 1998, 2004
- Volleyball: 1950, 1953, 1954
- Girls Softball 2008
- Girls Basketball 2008
Notable alumni
- Rebeca ArthurRebeca ArthurRebeca Arthur is an American actress. She is best known as Mary Anne Spencer on Perfect Strangers .-Filmography:* 2000 The Watcher * 1997 Men Seeking Women...
, actress. - James DeetzJames DeetzJames Deetz was an American anthropologist, often known as one of the fathers of historical archaeology. His work focused on culture change and the cultural aspects inherent in the historic and archaeological record, and was concerned primarily with the Massachusetts and Virginia colonies...
, archeologist - Drew HankinsonDrew HankinsonAndrew "Drew" Hankinson is an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment , where he appeared under the ring names Festus and Luke Gallows...
, Professional Wrestler - Mark MangesMark MangesMark Roy Manges is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League.-College career:...
, quarterback. - Steve TrimbleSteve TrimbleSteve Trimble was an American football defensive back in the National Football League, the United States Football League, and the Arena Football League. He played college football at Maryland, and high school at Fort Hill in Cumberland, Maryland. Trimble was the head coach of Bishop Denis J...
, NFL Free Safety (Denver Broncos 1981-1983, Chicago Bears 1987) - Brian Grim, Mayor of the City of Cumberland (1997 Fort Hill High School graduate)