Central High School prepares to celebrate 150 consecutive years in existence Friday.
Assistance Principal Terry Godfrey said a lot of research has taken place on the history of the school.
“We spent some time going back and looking at history books and trying to determine just how old Central High School was,” said Godfrey. “In our research we found that we were 150-years-old and we determined that we were 150 consecutive years old.”
She said that the school is actually other than that but was shutdown for a short period of time.
“In 1861 the school was opened for about 3 months, then it shutdown for the Civil War and it didn’t reopen again until 1864,” said Godfrey.
Central High School Principal Deborah Stephens said she wonders what it would have been like back when the school was first formed.
“Going back to the Civil War,” said Stephens. “What that would have been like in St. Joseph to have all the students at home and not going to school. What that would have felt like for families.”
Central student body president and high school Senior, Joseph Kellogg said this year he has learned a lot about the history of his school.
“I was looking through the school board records from the 1800s,” said Kellogg. “It’s kind of cool knowing we’re in a school that was around in the 1800s and was so different then then it is now.”
The school is one of the oldest schools in the State of Missouri.
“We’re trying to determine through some research just exactly how many others are older,” said Godfrey.
Due to the age and lack of in-depth records Godrey said it’s hard to figure out just how many other schools that are still in existence in Missouri are older, but that it’s not many.
In recognition of 150 consecutive years in existence Central High School is celebrating Friday at 6 p.m. on the school’s front. The Missouri House of Representatives will make a proclamation, banners will be unveiled and the Falcons Sky Diving team will make an appearance. There will also be fireworks after the football game.