School Days, School Days, Dear "Old" Golden Rule Days
August 10, 1997, article two

With the approach of autumn, it was time to prepare for the coming school year. Accordingly, a log cabin with a clapboard roof was built. The seats were made of split logs with wooden legs. The writing desk, made of split boards, was attached by wooden pegs to a wall.

It was 1833 and Fostoria's first school building was erected in the village of Rome, on what is today Poplar St. between Tiffin and South Streets. In view of the current controversy over funding public education in Ohio, one can take wry note of the fact that the first schoolhouse cost $75 to build with volunteer labor.

The first teacher was Freeman Luce who came to Rome from Ashland County. He was engaged for three months at a salary of $10 per month. He also "boarded round," meaning he lived briefly with each family that had children in the school.

Risdon, the village to the northwest in the vicinity of what is now Countyline and Summit Streets, was less prosperous that Rome and didn't establish its own school until 1845. Prior to that time, Risdon children attended a Washington Twp. school that was located not far south of Fountain Cemetery.

Fostoria came into being with the 1854 union of Rome and Risdon. On Jan. 1, 1856 Fostoria's first public school, a four-room, two-story structure, was opened near the intersection of Fremont and Main Streets.

That site, donated by Charles W. Foster, father of Calico Charlie Foster, was later home to the Methodist Episcopal Church and today is the location of Governor's Manor. The first principal was John McCauley.

In 1862 the Fostoria schools were placed under the direction of Christopher C. Nestlerode. Nestlerode, a leading educator of his day, began teaching at the age of 17. His family came to Seneca County in 1824. He taught in Tiffin, Arkansas and in Iowa where he was instrumental in the establishment of the public school system.

In 1862 his parents' failing health brought him home to Fostoria. Under his direction, the Fostoria schools began a building program that resulted in the construction of eight schools on Union, High, Center, Sandusky, Crocker and Sixth Streets and Columbus Avenue.

Nestlerode served in various other public offices including mayor and passed away in 1900.

In 1878 Fostoria High School (the abandoned Emerson Junior High School) was built on High St. The east and west wings were added in 1909. Throughout the years, that building was known as the "Central Building" and the "Union School."

In the spring of 1910, Sister Mary Waltrudis awarded a diploma in the two-year "commercial course" to Raymond Carroll. Mr. Carroll represented the entirety of the St. Wendelin High School Class of 1910 and earned the distinction of being SWHS's very first graduate.

St. Wendelin Parish was established in 1843. In 1849 a wooden grade school was built and lasted until a brick building went up in 1886. The Sisters of Notre Dame have been part of the teaching staff since 1887.

By 1916 the high school graduating class swelled to a dozen in the three-year program. In 1920 the fourth year was added. In September 1924, enrollment reached 85.

In the fall of 1923 the monthly student paper, The Torch, was established. A year later the name was changed to The Wendelette.

At the same time Orange and Black were chosen as the school colors and with Herman Blaser at the helm, The SWHS basketball squad began open air practices on the tennis courts adjacent to the church where one Fr. Benedict Burger had erected a pair of baskets.

With the continued growth in enrollment came the inevitable need for a new high school. In the spring of 1930, it was announced from the church pulpit that the campaign to raise money for a new high school had begun.

Principal R.V. O'Connor and Pastor Ambrose Weber had enlisted the advice of Mayor Herbert Whitta, Fostoria Daily Times Editor Roscoe Carle, Dr. T.W. Geoghegan, Fostoria Daily Review Editor E.M. Hopkins and Fostoria School Superintendent L.A. BuDahn.

A pamphlet was prepared for distribution by the SW Bonhi Club. Two senior club members blanketed the city with pamphlets dropped from an airplane.

The cornerstone was laid on Sunday Sept. 28, 1930 in ceremonies presided over by Monsignor Macelwane, superintendent of schools for the Toledo diocese. $60,000 had been raised to build the school and on Monday, Feb. 23, 1931, the first students swirled through the doors of the Countyline St. School.

The Class of 1931 was the first to graduate out of the new high school and the Class of 1934 was the first to go through four years in the new building.

Curiously, the SWHS Class of ‘34 had 34 seniors, 34 graduates steeped in "goodness, discipline and learning."