GHS Firsts

1882                First annual Commencement.

Women’s Christian Temperance Union begins project to establish Geneva Public Library.  $10,000 donated by Andrew Carnegie for building. 

1884                Last high school class to graduate from the Geneva Normal School

1885                New high school completed and dedicated.  Designed for 200 students.

1902-03           Geneva schools rated “First Class” by the state.

First placed on the approved list of the North Central Association Of Secondary Schools and Colleges.

1907-08,          First Yearbook “Geneva High School Class Annual 1908”

First Boys Basketball Team

First Girls Basketball Team – Won Ashtabula County Championship game.

1909-10,          1909-1910 basketball team wins Ashtabula County Championship. 

At state championship games, defeated Oberlin, Erie, and East High of Cleveland.  Took second place in State Championship games.

First Girls Basketball undefeated season – Ashtabula County Champs.

1910-11,          First named yearbook – “The Baubel”

First drawing classes offered

First school-wide art exhibition

1922-23,          Yearbook becomes “The Mirror”

The Girls Friendship Circle organized.

First Tennis team organized

1923-24,          First major Senior Class trip – Washington, DC

1924-25,          380 students move into “new” high school dedicated January 7, 1925

                       (built 1923-24 at a cost of $290,000.)

First JV Boys Basketball team

First JV Girls Basketball team

1925-26,          First physical education classes offered in Jr. and Sr. high school

First intramural games at GHS for all students implemented. Basketball (most popular with 175 students playing), volleyball, playground ball, baseball, and track

“G” association organized.

First formal track team formed.

First Student Council organized

First boys Hi-Y club organized (junior organization to the Y.M.C.A.).  Purpose: to create, maintain, and extend high standards of Christian character throughout the high school and community.

First Annual Junior-Senior banquet organized.

First Manual Training and Mechanical Drawing (industrial arts department) established.

1926-27,          First high school library established using space in Principal Harry Peck’s office.

First Junior High Student Council organized.

First Latin club, Exemastu (EXemplum Est MAter STUdorium – Example is the mother of studies)

The Girls Friendship Circle disbands and reforms as The Girl Reserves (the junior organization of the Y.W.C.A.)

1927-28,          School library expanded and moved to Room 14.

Camp Fire Girls becomes a school club.

Girl Scouts of America, Troop 1, becomes a school club.

Forensic Club started to support Triangle Debate teams.

Journalism Club begins writing a daily column printed in the Geneva Free Press.

1928-29,          Pep Club organized to promote school spirit.

Stamp Club organized with Principal H. E. Peck as sponsor.

Coach Melvin Laub introduces “zone defense” to basketball team.

GHS band organized. 

1929-30,          Noon sports activities organized.

(These are for the benefit of students living outside the village limits who can not go home for lunch.)

First “Tramp Day” where students and faculty dress as tramps.  (Principal Harry Peck wore a Nail Keg!)

1930-31,          Athletic Association formed first Athletic Committee.

First Junior-Senior Prom held Friday May 22, 1931.

First marble tournament organized.

First soccer games organized.

First golf team organized.

1931-32,          First Radio Club organized by Mr. Alfred Ekern.

First GHS radio station, W8GSY, organized by the Radio Club.

After several losing seasons, GHS no longer fields a girl’s basketball team.

1932-33,          First Geneva Rotary Club awards created to replace the Florey Trophies.

The eagle selected by student body as the symbol for athletic teams.

School colors changed from maroon and white to scarlet and grey.

First League play for golf team.

First intramural softball league formed.

1933-34.          GHS wins first Latin Trophy Cup for state-wide competition (won by Lillian Scudder.)

First Geneva Parent-Teacher Association formed.

1934-35,          First Junior High football and basketball teams organized

1935-36,          Yearbook name changed from “The Mirror” to “The Aquila”

First edition of the school newspaper, “The Talon”.

1937-38,          First Geneva Eagles football team to win the Lake Shore League Championship.

First yearbook dedicated to a team – Eagles football.

1938-39           First Thespian Club formed.  Local chapter of the National Thespians Dramatic Society for High Schools