Map showing the locations of fifty one high schools in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.
WOODWARD HIGH SCHOOL
It is only appropriate that the first
school shown on this section be Woodward High School. Located on the block at
Thirteenth, Woodward, Sycamore, and Broadway it was the first high school west
of the Alleghenies. It is still the oldest, continuously operating, free public
high school in the world, although it now houses the School for the
Creative and Performing Arts. In 1826, William Woodward (1768-1833), a successful
farmer and tanner provided the land and a trust to pay for a free grammar school
and pay for the education of poor boys. When Cincinnati in 1829 established the
public school system which filled the areas need for elementary education,
Woodward used these 7 acres plus an additional 1 acre for the building of a
secondary school.
The first Woodward High School opened in 1831, it was a
two story structure. From 1843 to 1845 William Holmes McGuffey taught languages
here. He is famous for compiling the Eclectic Reader series of books. (also
known as the McGuffey Reader). His brother taught here for thirty years.
In 1836 a College department was formed and the name
was changed to the Woodward College of Cincinnati. By the 1850's Woodward's
endowment had become insufficient and the high school and college were
discontinued. Woodward High School then became part of the public school system. A larger facility was needed so a new 3 story structure
was constructed in 1854-1855. This is the building you see below. Additions were
made in 1867 and 1880. In 1860 responding to a petition from the students, the
bodies of Woodward and his wife, (Abigail Cutter, who was also involved in
furthering the education of Cincinnati's children), were moved from Washington
Park and re-interred under the sidewalk on Broadway. A bronze statue of Woodward
was unveiled next to them in 1878.
North East
front
North West
front
Gymnasium
Auditorium
Statue
Stair
way
First floor hall
West hall, second
floor
Memorial
window
East hall, second floor
Ruins of Old
Woodward
Committee of teachers and principles looking for lost corner stone
The
building was razed (as you can see in the card above) and a new five story
building was erected in 1907. The most famous alumni of the school laid the
cornerstone for this building. William Howard Taft who graduated from here in
1874 is the only man ever to be both President of the United States and Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court. Among the other minor positions he
held were 1887-member of Ohio Superior Court, 1890-United States Solicitor
General, Governor of the Philippines during Theodore Roosevelt's administration,
in 1904 he became the Secretary of War.
This new structure included the most modern facilities
of the time, including indoor toilets, central heating, a 1,100 seat auditorium,
swimming pool, and two gymnasiums. In 1928 it became both a junior and senior
high school. This school is seen in the cards below.
The shift in populations from the basin to the suburbs
called for a new high school to be built in the northern section of the city. So
in 1953 a new school was opened on Reading Road in Bond Hill. The Woodward name
and statue were transferred there, and no, the bodies were not moved. The
remains were relocated to the south side of the school which was renamed the
Abigail Cutter Junior High School. The stained glass window also remained
behind. The School for the Creative and Performing Arts moved there in 1976.
Some of the more notable people who have attended SCPA are Carmen Electra, Sarah
Jessica Parker and Nick Lachey. Pop star/producer Lachey is producing a reality
show (2008-09) at the school for MTV.
SCPA is now (2010) moving into a new school encompassing a whole
block bordered by Race, Elm, (renamed Erich Kunzel Way at that spot), 12th
Street and Central Parkway. It will contain three theaters. At this time there
are 1,000 students, grades 4-12, attending SCPA. Applications have skyrocketed
as the 2nd season of the MTV show "Taking the Stage" has just been
completed.
Hughes High School is the second oldest high school in the Cincinnati public school system. Established with a bequest from cobbler Thomas Hughes whose shop, believe it or not, was next door to William Woodward's tanning store on Liberty Street between Main and Sycamore. The trusties of the Hughes bequest allowed the estate to accumulate for 27 years until 1851 when the Woodward and Hughes funds were combined. Those children who lived east of Race St. attended classes at Woodward. Those who lived west of Race went to Central High until Hughes High School was completed in 1853 at the corner of Fifth and Mound Streets. That is the school you see in the first five cards.
Looking
Southwest
Rear view & gymnasium Looking
Southeast
Biology Lab
This structure was completed in 1910 in Clifton at the northwest corner of Clifton Ave. and West McMillan St. Once again population shifts caused this school to be shifted to the suburbs. The old Hughes was renamed Jackson Elementary School. (a black only school).
Although the University of Cincinnati is across
the street from Hughes High School, this double card view is not possible. The
photographers
pulled a little trickery to get this view. That is the Deaconess Hospital
in the center. In reality U.C. is located where the camera is.
FOR MORE SCHOOLS 
