A Brief History of Ottawa Hills High School: 1925-1957
By Mable C. Tenhaaf - English Teacher
On April 30, 1923, The Grand Rapids Board
of Education voted to purchase two city
blocks, about six acres of land, between
Alexander Road and Iroquois and Cadillac
Drives for $28,000. On this land was to be built Ottawa
Hills High School; the name was stipulated in the deed to
the property.
Many people expressed doubts about the location of the school, for
it was almost at the southeast edge of the city, and there were few
houses in the neighborhood. Time, however, proved that those who
located the school far in the field were men of vision. In thirty
years the city had grown so much that plans were being considered
for a junior high school still farther to the southeast to meet the
needs of the increasing school population.
The building was started in 1924 and was finished the next spring.
To carry out the Indian theme suggested by the name of the school,
designs taken from Indian pottery, blankets, and rugs were used in
a border about the main entrance, and directly above the door was
an Indian head, which was later adopted as the symbol of the
school.
In September, 1925, the doors of Ottawa Hills High School opened
to about 650 students and thirty teachers under the direction of
the first principal, Henry D. MacNaughton. Many of the teachers
came from Strong Junior High School, where they had taught with
Mr. MacNaughton. The Students came primarily from Central and
South High Schools. Grades 7-1 to 10-2 were included.
In the early days not only was there plenty of space around the
school, but there was so much space inside the building that
during the first winter many of the faculty parked there cars in
a room known then as the garage, now as a general shop. But the
days of space unlimited did not last long. In 1929 two large home
rooms, and six class rooms were added above the shops. As four
rooms on the first floor were taken over by the elementary grades.
The much expanded high school population, now about 1465, was
still very crowded. In 1931 the elementary wing was added to the
building, two floors being used by the elementary grades, and a
third floor by the high school. In 1939-1940 the high school
enrollment had reached 1801, and the crowding increased as the
elementary grades took over some of the rooms on the third floor.
The congregation continued until 1953, when Mulick Park Elementary
School opened, and the High School regained some of the much
needed space.
Although some changes have been made in the curriculum, the basic
courses are much the same. Commercial, vocational and college
preparatory courses were offered when the school opened, and they
are all offered today. In the first few years of the School three
semesters of algebra, three of geometry, and one of trigonometry
were available in addition to the general and business mathematics
courses. In the school year 1956-1957, a fourth semester of algebra
was added. This made it possible for a college preparatory student
to have four years of mathematics. In addition to the general
science studied in the eighth grade, a number of courses may be
taken. The botany and zoology of earlier days have been replaced
with a year of biology. Chemistry and physics are still taught,
and physiology and physical science, one semester of each. Greater
changes have been made in the foreign language department. Formerly
it was possible for a student to have four years of Latin or three
years of French. Now two-year courses may be taken in Latin,
French, and Spanish. In September 1957 German will be taught. The
majority of Ottawa students go to college. Indicative of the
number who continue their education is the enrollment in four
academic departments. In the year 1956-1957 there were 320
students in foreign language courses, nearly 100 in Algebra III
and IV and trigonometry, 110 in Chemistry, about 50 in physics,
and 30 in physical science. From a senior class of 217 there were
150 English VII and VIII, college preparatory courses.
An important part of any school is the library. When Ottawa Hills
was opened, the library was a branch of the Ryerson Library. Miss
Clara Mast was the first librarian. She was joined in a few years
by Miss Grace Beeby, and these two devoted book lovers remained in
charge of the library until it was taken over by the Board of
Education in 1942. At that time Miss Mast and Miss Beeby retired,
and Miss Isabella Krzyminski, now Mrs. Herbert Sullivan, became the
head librarian, a position which she still holds. The school has
indeed been fortunate in having three people, so capable and so
enthusiastic about their work, in charge of this essential
department.
The Ottawa Library has been consistently rated satisfactory by the
University of Michigan. Two large, pleasant reading rooms, a
conference room, work and storage rooms, and an office for the
librarian afford adequate space. An attractive feature in one
reading room is a literary mural painted by Kreigh Collins during
the depression years as a WPA artist project. Famous Characters
from literature from Paul Bunyan to Omar Khayyam look down upon
the students reading of their deeds.
The annual circulation at the Ottawa Library is about 30,500 books
and 7000 magazines which are charged out in addition to those used
in the library. Last year over 600 new books were added to the
collection. Two trained librarians and an active Library Club of
thirty members work tirelessly to serve the school.
One measurement of the influence of Ottawa Hills High School on
the community can be found in the membership three organizations.
Over 1200 parents belong to the Parent-Teacher-Student Association.
Among their contributions to the school have been annual summer
scholarships in music, art, and dramatics for student of
exceptional ability, as well as instruments for the music
department, a tachistoscope to aid in developmental reading, and
furnishings for a faculty lunchroom.
The Quarterback Club of nearly 800 members is interested in all
sports for the boys. It helps to provide athletic equipment,
promotes trips for athletic teams, and furnishes an annual dinner
for team members.
The OHBO Club, an organization of about 200 members, helps to
provide musical instruments and music scholarships.
Probably one reason for the enthusiastic support given to
Ottawa Hills by the parents is the fact that many are former
Students of the school, who are interested in continuing the
worthy traditions of early days and in helping their school to
advance.
The influence of former Ottawa students is apparent not only in
the school but also in the community as a whole. Graduates of
Ottawa are to be found in the medical and the legal professions
in Grand Rapids, in the ministry and in the schools, in banks
and in real estate, in business and in industry, as well as in
musical organizations.
The School has pressing problems today as it did a quarter of
a century ago, and one of these is the same lack of space.
Classes in home economics have neither sufficient space nor
modern equipment. Another need is a program for the mentally
retarded pupils in the school, one geared to their interests
and abilities, in which they can proceed at their own rate to
develop essential skills and attitudes as far as is possible for
them.
During the thirty years and more that Ottawa has been in existence,
many honors have come to the school as the trophy cases in the
school corridors show. The school has won the City All Sports
Trophy six times. It has won 39 city championships and seven
state championships in sports. Banners and plaques testify to
the triumphs in debate and forensics. In journalism the Legend,
Ottawa's Yearbook, has won five All-American ratings, and the
Spectator, the school newspaper, has won four All-American ratings,
the latest being in the year 1956-1957.
There are other honors that have come to Ottawa, honors that
bring a feeling of sadness as well as pride. One is the service
roll in the main corridor. Here are the names of over 1050
Ottawanians who served their country in the time of war. The other
is a beautiful silver-covered bronze memorial to the fifty-three
students of Ottawa who gave their lives for their country in World
War II. This tribute, just inside the main entrance, was designed
by Marshall Fredericks and purchased with funds earned by students.
During the years there have been many changes among the faculty.
None of the thirty teachers who came with Mr. MacNaughton from
Strong Junior High School or who joined the staff the first year
are now at Ottawa Hills. Miss Elizabeth Matheson, the first
cafeteria director who provided frequent teas for the faculty;
Mrs. Jennie Van Dyke, whose sterling character made her an
inspiration in the Junior High School; Harry Richardson, head of
the science department; Sidney Byckman, head of commercial
department and for years the school treasurer; Don Toland, popular
mathematics teacher; these are no longer living. Miss Alma
Seegmiller, for years the head of the mathematics department and
beloved senior adviser, is now at Junior College. Henry Ludwick,
the first teacher of boys' physical education and for years the
basketball coach is now assistant principal at Central High School.
Merwyn Mitchell, at present a music instructor at Ottawa and
Miss Lencre Bader, head of the mathematics department, came at
the beginning of the second year. Miss Bertha Lewis, English
instructor, and Miss Mable Tenhaaf, head of the English department,
joined the faculty at the beginning of the third year. These four
teachers are the only ones who have been on the faculty for thirty
years or more.
Ottawa has been very fortunate in having had during thirty-two
years of the guidance of principals who were devoted to their
work. Mr. MacNaughton, affectionately known as "Mac," the first
"Chief," lead the Ottawa tribe for twenty-five years. Among his
many outstanding qualities, two were of prime importance to the
school. The first was his exceptional ability as an organizer.
Whether it was all due to native talent or whether it was partly
the result of his military experience, Mr. MacNaughton's skill in
making out a program was the wonder of the faculty. His ability
was apparent in all the activities of the school and was
undoubtedly the main reason for the successful development of
Ottawa. A second characteristic was leadership. An indication
of the way the students felt toward Mr. MacNaughton may be
found in the way those former students, now parents, still refer
with warm regard to "Mac," and in the pleasure with which they
recall the early days of the school.
From October 1939, to November 1941, and again from May 1942,
to August 1943, Mr. MacNaughton, a reserve officer, was recalled
to active duty in the army. During that time Michael Schillenger
was acting principal. He was a kindly, earnest man who served
the school wholeheartedly and efficiently.
Elmo Wierenga, the present principal of Ottawa, is a young man
with a sincere love for boys and girls and a great faith in
people. These qualities are apparent in all his contacts with
students and parents. Ottawa is his work and his entertainment,
his vocation and his avocation. He is a worthy successor to
the first "Chief."
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