420 Howell Ave

The History

HIGHLIGHTS BY DECADE

TURN OF THE CENTURY

“The faculty and graduates of Hernando High School met in the Jennings Opera House on March 31, 1899, to form the first Alumni Association. Fourteen members were in attendance.

In 1912, Mr. Burwell and Miss Hancock, graduates, delivered essays at graduation. The audience placed flowers at the feet of the graduates in 1912.

At the 1912 graduation, some of the music was by Helen Martin.

The Hernando High School mascot was the “Tangerine” and the colors were purple and gold in the early 1900’s.

The mile relay race was entered by Walter Hope, Raymond Pierson, Ernest Rutledge, and Jim Law. They took the first State Championship for HHS in 1915.

In 1916-17, all conference champions in track. A loving cup was given to Knight and Wall.

The track team hold 1st and 2nd place in all entries in 1917.

In 1916, the first football team was formed.

All kids walked to school and brought their lunches.

The early graduations were held at the Jennings Opera House.

The Alumni Association met at the Opera House, the Varnada Hotel, The Tangerine Hotel, and various homes.

The early alumni meetings consisted of piano and vocal recitals.

In 1919, the yearly Alumni dues was 25 cents per year.

THE ROARING 20’S

In 1920, the first class to graduate from new Howell Avenue High School building with two graduates, Miss Lula Hope and Herbert Brown.

The Hernando Leopards were also referred to as “Tangerines.”

In a 1920 school event, entertainment was given by the “Ukulele Ladies” – Flo Stone, Mary Sally Petteway and Marguerite Baldwin.

There was no lunch room. Most of the students walked to school, some rode in a car. There were a few school buses. Students used tablet writing paper for school.

Parents hosted dances in the homes. A volunteer would play the piano or other musical instrument.

The 1921 track team won 2nd place at State - Gordon Kitchen at the high hurdle; Gordon Petteway, 1st place in the 100 yard dash.

The 1922 class produced The Purple and Gold, the first yearbook.

Marion Lindsey Dawson graduated in 1923 and became a Major General in the Marines.

A strong football team led to many victories for HHS.

2nd place in District Meet in Tampa.

January 27, 1926, hot lunches started. Prior to this time, students brought their own lunches.

Beginning of 9-month school year. School started in September instead of October.

Thomas P. Gary designed the first class ring in 1926. It had a tangerine on the top of the stone.

The Jr. High system is inaugurated as part of the school program in 1926. A new library was created for HHS Junior and Senior High.

The High School moved to Bell Avenue location because of over-crowding. In the late 1920’s, residents fell behind in tax payments because of the land bust. This impacted the financial support of the school.

The Southern Association of Accreditation visited HHS and gave a rating of excellent.

Hair styles were short - there were no beauty shops so Hernando High School girls went to the barber shop.

The 1929 championship baseball team members were: James Teuton Varn, Scott Hull, Hurbert Rick, Lesley Bell, Bill Good, Grier Hope, Robert Ghiotto, Nevit Cook, Boo Durshimmer with Coach Meyer.

Some of the girls basketball team members were Ellen Mae Weeks Snow, Mary Arick, Dorothy Spear, Elberta Priest O’Brian, Delmas Cain Fuls, Mahala Robinson and Elizabeth Sewell.

Girl basketball players wore purple bloomers.

P. E. class wore black or purple bloomers, some were made of sateen.

The dances were in homes - most did not have a radio. Someone would play the piano or a victrola.

The Junior-Senior banquets and dances were held at the Hickory Hill Golf and Country Club and Tangerine Hotel.

Most Hernando High School girls carried compact to powder their noses.

THIRTIES - DEPRESSION ERA

County schools opened two months late in 1930. The School Board announced they couldn’t keep schools open for a 9 month year.

The School Board asked parents of Hernando High students to pay $1.50 per month to save the accreditation status. Most couldn’t pay.

In October, 1931, the School Board stated that the teachers would receive only 40% of that month’s wages. Eventually it went to ½ pay for the month.

Betting became legal with ½ of the taxes collected being distributed to the counties for school funding.

Hernando High held its first Homecoming in 1932.

Gas tax went towards education.

In 1935, a law was passed for free text books. A. M. C. Russell accomplished this task.

43 graduated in June, 1936. Largest class to graduate from Hernando High to date. There were 2 sets of twins, Lorena and Wallace Long and Ann and Joe Sistrunk.

In 1938, HHS lost its accreditation because the county couldn’t afford to stay open for a 9 month period.

Some of the outstanding football players of the Thirties were: Lowman, Mills, Ghiotto, Sellers, Maze, Burket, Buck Hope, Horace Gant, Eddie McIntyre, George and Ben Cappleman, Bertie Crum, Joe Johnston, Neil Law, Jr., Wade Hull, Jack Emerson, Eddie Blaha, Charles Tidwell, Boo Dursheimer, Frank Voscenar, Andy and August Michlek, Hansel Boyd, Bobbie Lingle, Jack Underwood, Daniel Hardy, Everett Deems, Billy Wood Manevich, and Melvin Hedrick.

In the late 30’s, Brooksville Juvenile Band became Hernando High School Band and met in the old Legion Building. The band marched in St. Petersburg Festival of States. Doris Menges was the first Drum Major. First Band director was Eloise Kennedy. The FFA took trips To Washington D. C.

THE FORTIES

In 1940, the Senior Play was “PROFESSOR HOW COULD YOU.”

The School Board promises to get Music next tenn in Hernando High School curriculum. Music was to include band and glee club.

A Brooksville housewife will pay additionally 2 ration points for a pound of butter.

HHS undergoes an Air Raid Drill.

Florida to do 7400 models of airplanes for training of new pilots.

FFA and others agree to make model planes.

18 and 19 year olds to register for New Selective Service Law.

In September, Hernando County was over the $200,000 mark in sale of War Bonds. We gained nationwide prominence for this record.

In October, the school had a drive for scrap metal and rubber for the war effort.

Hernando High School Senior Class Play was “TOO MANY RELATIVES.”

The 1943 Class Play was “GIRL SHY.” Tickets were 35 cents for adults, 20 cents for children.

The School Board voted to give the boys in the Armed Forces their diplomas without going through the commence exercises.

Hernando County was in better financial shape than in the 30’s. The school term was again for 9 months in 1944.

After WW II, the County started consolidation of all grammar schools.

School band re-organized September 12, 1946 under Band Director George Kayton with a twenty-eight piece marching band.

Thirty-one students were in the ’49 Senior class - 10 boys and 21 girls.

HHS participated in the Gasparilla Parade in Tampa for the first time in February, 1947. Margaret Eppele was drum major with George Kayton as band director.

The girls and boys basketball teams ended the 1946-47 season with winning teams.

The ’47 senior play “Almost Eighteen” was presented March 7, and was directed by Martha Pekovsky.

HHS graduation was held May 23, 1947. Dr. Kenneth Austin was a member of the graduating class.

The ’47 Seniors took a trip to Clearwater Beach as their class trip.

School opened September 12 for the 1947-48 term.

Hernando High and Brooksville Grammar School enrolled 595 students.

George Kinnear, a former HHS student was playing on the Naval football team in Corpus Christi, Texas and later became an Admiral.

In 1948, Jimmie Gordon was the drum major. 45 members in the HHS band marched in the Gasparilla Parade. FFA and FHA held their annual banquet on April 15.

Andy Oravec was President of FFA. The Senior Class went to Washington D.C. for their senior trip. This was the first educational tour outside of Florida by HHS seniors. 23 Graduated in the Class of 1948.

Bob Wilson was captain of the football team, Dave Jackson and Elbert Royal were alternate captains.

The new athletic field was dedicated October 22, 1948. This had been known as the Red Hill Ball diamond. New Port Richey was the first team played on the new field. HHS won 19-0. The first homecoming game was held October 29 and HHS won over Webster 61-0. HHS won the West Coast Championship. W. A. Biggart was Principal and Tan Varn, Sr., coach.

42 Seniors received their graduation certificates in 1949.

The School team won the Conference Championship.

Hernando High “Leopard Eleven” won over Inverness 6-0 to maintain the unbeaten season with Tom Varn, Sr., Coach.

NIFTY FIFTIES

The 1950 HHS football, basketball and baseball teams all won West Coast Conference. First time in history of conference, all three sports were won by one school - Tom Varn, Sr., was the coach.

A letter contest was held to support tax monies for the Public Library.

Band concerts in the City Park Band shell were a popular item in the 1950’s.

The Primary School on Bell Avenue opened in 1951.

Unveiling of J. C. Emerson Memorial at Emerson Field.

The ’52 Leopards hold best sports record in the state.

The first Miss H.H.S. contest was held and won by Ethyl Mae Allen.

The ’52 Senior Play “The Angel Brats.”

The high school baseball team held a special game to raise money for cancer.

“King Neptune” was the theme for Junior/Senior prom in 1952.

Martha Slayden was FFA Sweetheart in 1952.

A school safe stolen by robbers.

The Quarterback Club planned to build rooms and a ticket booth at Emerson Field in 1953.

HHS Band went to the Strawberry Festival at Plant City.

Record school budget is adopted, proposed expense near one half million dollars.

A Senior could be “hired” to do odd jobs fundraiser for the 1954 senior class.

The last “Rat Day” initiation was held in 1953.

The “Cottage Dinette” was the local hangout.

Girls Basketball Team won the West Coast Conference. The Conference then voted to discontinue girls basketball.

HHS Band received many honors in 1954.

The Championship Crown was won by the HHS baseball team.

The PTA sponsored a Gospel Sing.

Portable bleachers were at the football field.

A fake football player enrolled at HHS on November 1954.

First Leopard Growl was held in 1954.

Talks began about building a new gym at HHS with a proposed cost of $100,000.

Drivers Education classes were proposed in 1955.

The ’55 Senior Class play was “Off the Track.”

The baseball team won the 1955 Conference Championship.

Cecil Miller and Ken Looper were accepted into the Naval School of Music.

One half pint of milk cost .03 at HHS in the fifties.

In 1955, 4 HHS football players were chosen as All Conference - Bill Hope, Glenn Glass, Philip Moore and Ronnie Tolar.

Students from HHS were on “Paul Reynold's Open House” TV show on Channel 13.

The first Leopard Growl with a Bonfire and snake dance was held in 1955.

Jim Colson introduced “The Bunny Burger” at the Dinette, named after Mullen Lewis.

“Big Daddy” Don Gartlits broke the quarter mile race driving record at Hernando Airport.

The HHS band received Sousa Award for outstanding service in 1957.

A Contract for a new high school designed by J. K. Batsone of Clearwater was quoted at $64,305 for five classrooms on Kelly Street.

Classes learn radio broadcasting in 1958 at WWJB.

A portable skating rink came to Brooksville yearly.

Intramural sports for girls were introduced.

The “58 students enjoyed senior hall privileges, senior skip day, and sophomore senior party.

“Dumped,” glass paks, cherry mufflers appeared on all the cars in Brooksville.

The pep rallies were held on the outdoor basketball court at night and one student brought a stick of wood for the bonfire. Mrs. Bell's black dog howled during the pep rally.

The student newspaper was the Hilltop with the “Snooper.” It was published in the local newspaper.

Ernie’s & Randy Record Mart - Hits came on the radio at 9:00.

Sophomore waiters and waitresses served at the Prom Banquet.

Local four- to five-piece bands played at dances.

Local girls were divers on Wide Wide World of Sports at Weeki Wachee.

The school was moved to the new buildings at the bottom of the hill in the fall of 1959.

There was a book chain of students lined up from the old Bell Avenue school the new Kelly Street school to move books.

White tennis shoes got muddy because there was not a road to the school.

The kids crossed a wooden bridge to walk to the Primary School for lunch.”

CITATIONS/CREDIT: 

http://www.fivay.org/hhs.html

Old Brooksville in Stories and Photos