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Page 28 October 2018 The Catoctin Banner Newspaper www.TheCatoctinBanner.com Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com
Catoctin High School Opens, Victorious After Years of Controversy
Courtesy Photo
James Rada, Jr.
The Year was 1969 “This site had previously been
approved by both the County
Commissioners and the School
Students at both Thurmont High Board, and its selection, one of
and Emmitsburg High left school the most scenic in the northern
at the end of the day on Friday, section of the county, and one easily
February 7, 1969. However, when accessible off U. .S Route 15, is felt
they boarded their school buses by the committees to be the most
or walked to school the following feasible and agreeable to the citizens
Monday, February 10, they wound and taxpayers of this area,” the
up at Catoctin High School. Students Emmitsburg Chronicle reported.
from the two rival high schools now However, negotiations on the cost
found themselves classmates in a of the property faltered.
brand new school. Then, on November 27, 1963,
“If problems do arise between Emmitsburg residents awoke
the two groups of students, it will to discover that the board of
probably not be a shock to Catoctin education had reversed direction and
High, for this school, even before it authorized the purchase of the Staub
was built, had one of the stormiest The first graduating class from Catoctin High School is shown entering the auditorium. The site for $30,000.
histories of Frederick’s educational photo appeared in the first Catoctin High School yearbook in 1969. “However, the Board of
growth,” the Frederick News Commissioners apparently threw
reported. caution to the winds and when the
school…but just one. By giving up wanted $1,000 an acre. Meanwhile, Board of Education, either by default
The Need for a New School their small schools in town, each a suitable and larger site just north or deliberate intention, offered no
A consolidation of the two schools community was told that their of Thurmont could be had for $750 alternate site, the Commissioners
had been talked about since the late students would attend a modern an acre. It was also possible for the went ahead and okayed the sight and
1950s. Both Thurmont High and high school located between the two school to hook into Thurmont’s appropriated the money,” reported
Emmitsburg High were old schools. towns. water and sewer system for the Emmitsburg Chronicle.
They needed updating. Thurmont The problem was where to locate additional savings.
High School, which had been built that school? The latter site, called the Staub lawSuiT aNd fuNdiNg ProblemS
in 1919, was overcrowded. During This is where Catoctin High property, was attractive to some The new school was named
a Frederick County Commissioners first became a contentious topic. members of the Frederick County Catoctin High in February 1965.
meeting about combining the Local committees couldn’t reach an Board of Education because bussing However, this wasn’t the first
schools, “A young woman told agreement on where to locate the expenses would be minimized, choice. It might have been named
the commissioner that she knows new school. considering the bulk of the students James A. Sensenbaugh High School,
a new school is needed for she “Since the two committees attending the new school were in after the former Frederick County
has had physical education in the appointed some time back to select Thurmont. Since the school was school superintendent who was the
halls, classes in the warehouse, and a site for a consolidated school have closer to Thurmont, it meant that Maryland school superintendent
has been a witness to ‘many other not come up with a solution as to while some students would travel at the time. The Frederick News
problems’ in the school system,” where the new school would be further to school, more would have a reported that Sensenbaugh had
according to the Hagerstown located, it is becoming apparent that shorter ride. rejected the honor because he didn’t
Morning Herald. On the other hand, the School Board just might take the Faced with having a site forced like naming buildings after living
Emmitsburg High School, built in ‘bull’ by the horns and pick a site upon them, the local committee met people, even if it was him.
1922, was much underutilized, which itself,” reported the Emmitsburg and unanimously recommended the Three days after the school was
was limiting some of the educational Chronicle in July 1963. purchase of forty acres on Payne’s named, six Emmitsburg residents
opportunities available to students. One possible site was found Hill for the school. It was a site
The Frederick County Board of midway between Thurmont and nearly halfway between the two
Education decided to build a new Emmitsburg, but the property owner communities. — Continued on page 29
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