HISTORY OF ZEPHYRHILLS HIGH SCHOOL

Highlights of 1911

Note that a heated political contest arose in 1911 as the Principal of Zephyrhills High School decided to run for Pasco County School Superintendent. His opponent was: O.N. Williams. The local newspaper, The Zephyrhills Colonist, was highly supportive of Sanders. Here are a series of articles to enjoy…some of the Superintendent candidates appear to have needed some grammar and spelling lessons!

The Picnic, Zephyrhills Colonist, November 9, 1911

The picnic was a brilliant success, notwithstanding the fact that the day opened raw and rainy and continued so up to eleven a.m. The crowd was one of representative picnic persuasions and much grub of superior quality was hidden from sight in a very short space of time after they got fairly to work. Judge Hunters notorious Marshall Band assembled on the east end of the city at the proper time, and after regaling the people with strains of exquisite music led the procession to the ground. After dinner, everybody looked happy and Hunters band struck a few more familiar chords. J.F. Stebbins called the people to order and in a nice little talk, gave us many good pieces of friendly advice. Then came Mr. J.L. Geiger, whom our people believe will make a first class sheriff, and who was followed by Professor Sanders (ZHS Principal), who is slated for the next Superintendent of Public Instructions of Pasco County, and as desert they used the editor of the Colonist. The male quartet favored the audience with a couple of fine selections and then the entire crowd went over to the ball ground and watched a very interesting ball game between the high school boys and the Athletic Association nine. The school boys lost to the Athletics with a score of 13 to 6. The little fellows played hard and well, but the preponderance of beef was too much for them. Everybody had a good time and seemed to enjoy it and nothing occurred to mar their pleasure except that young Mr. Harry Harvil who just arrived in Zephyrhills last week, received a severe lick on the temple with the ball, which put him out of the game, but from which it is thought and hoped nothing serious will result, as he soon recovered from the shock.

Don’t Know, Zephyrhills Colonist, November 16, 1911

We notice an article in the Dade City Record, of last week (yet it is a pitty to do so) written in Ministerial velvet, and signed by one of our candidates for county superintendent, which smacks slightly of Cain’s demeanor to the voice after he pulverized Able. Subject: “Zephyrhills Picnic”—The picnic was strictly a happy time affair, neither sectarian nor political. Professor Sanders (Principal of ZHS) was asked to address the people on the all absorbing question of teaching the young idea how to shoot, and he stuck squarely to his text, never mentioned his own candidacy, yet it seems to be the consensus of opinion here, that, barring changes, if there is 300 votes in Zephyrhills next fall, Mr. Sanders (ZHS Principal) will likely get 290 of them. This is not meant to discourage any one, but, we love our neighbors as ourselves, and always reserve for them our heaping measure of gratitude and votes. We feel that “your editor” was the only man “snubbed” as the gentleman of cloth failed to come around and allow us to fall on his shoulder and drop a tear of gratefulness. We are getting to be a pretty fair sized family down here, and as the fellow who wanted to trade affections said, affinity sometimes beats consanguinity these later ides. And we can only say, my esteemed friend, that we love you no less, all of us, but as the dividing line must be located somewhere, we love our Mr. Sanders more.”

A Man of Brains, Zephyrhills Colonist, November 30, 1911

To Editor of Zephyrhills Colonist:

Noticing your uncalled-for tirade against me in your paper I enclose one dollar for which to send me your paper. Now, Mr. Editor, I noticed you was a “very short” man, but I trust you are tall enough, to let me have a word, in your paper, and set myself right before strangers, those who know me will not be affected, for they know I am a very modest preacher. You remind me of the frog in the wall at “Kiota.” You don’t seem to know there is any water greater than the well in which you live. The man who would rise politically in Florida by belittleing the preacher will get left, for the preachers have been one of the many factors, that has made Florida what she is. Your beloved Sanders (ZHS Principal) is a Baptist deacon, and there should be little difference between a Baptist deacon and a Baptist preacher, aside from that Bro. Sanders(ZHS Principal) is no more a citizen of your town than I am, as he has a home Dade City, and his business is teaching, and another year will be more likely to find him in Alauchawa or Key West teaching, than in Zephyrhills, or in the Superintendent’s Office. If I thought you had the votes of your town in your pocket (as you seem to indicate) and could vote them for who you pleased, as so many cattle, of course I would feel badly. But those grand old men who defended the stars and stripes on so many battle fields, will not be led by you. But I believe will vote for the man who in their judgment will best serve the whole people. Pasco County, and those Floridans who has born the burden of the Frontier life, will never support any man with a ring in his nose. Hoping to know each better, I am Fraternally. –O.N. Williams (ZHS Principal’s Opponent for race for Superintendent)

Zephyrhills Colonist, October 12, 1911

Professor Sanders informs us that there is now 135 pupils enrolled in our schools, an increase of 30 during the month. Professor Sanders is an able instructor and his heart is always in his work. He would be an able and progressive man at the head of county educational affairs, and from the splendid opinions expressed him, among his old neighbors in Dade City, them seem to think the same way.

Zephyrhills Colonist, October 5, 1911

Professor Sanders informs us that there will be 150 scholars enrolled by tomorrow, Friday. People who were north are coming in rapidly and many who live here are just starting their scholars. As 11 grades is being taught in our schools people need not send only the more advanced students away. The Zephyrhills schools are par-excellence under the able management of Mr. Sanders.

Zephyrhills News, July 30, 1977

Another enjoyable and successful Zephyrhills High School Alumni and Friends Reunion was held at the Zephyr Park Community Center.

In attendance was …Simon Geiger of Knights, 85, who helped haul the lumber to build the Zephyrhills school in the early 1900s was a student at ZHS in 1911 completing the 11th grade. He has been retired for some years from long service with the Seaboard Railroad.

School rosters from 1911 show these students attending the Zephyrhills school: Charley Bailey, age 6; Charlotte Bailey, age 6; Robley Bartholomew, age 6; Earle Boyette, age 6; Gerald Briggs, age 8; Mary Briny, age 8; Myrtle Briny, age 12; Ruth Brown, age 6; Villa K. Brown, age 5; Charles Campbell, age 10; Lewis Chancey, age 13; Eunice Lee Craig, age 8; Raymond Cursten, age 8; Inis De Ryder, age 10; Lyle De Ryder, age 10; Rachel De Ryder, age 8; Henry Edmondson, age 11; Ella May Fillmon, age 11; Mattie Fillmon, age 6; Herbert Fletcher, age 10; Bethel Geiger age 8; Curtis Geiger, age 10; Lucile Gill, age 5; Jean Giredat, age 7; Charles Glover, age 8; Harmon Geiger, age 10; Corine G….. , at 8; Jennings Gunnoe, age 6; Frankie Hedges, age 6; Katherine or Nell Hendrix, age 6; Ruby Hensley, age 6; Byron Hill, age 12; Gorden Hill, age 8; Moray Kersey, age 14; Margaret Knapp, age 6; Helen Koontze, age 5; George Lambkin, age 12; Guy Lambkin, age 14; Harry Lane, age 17; Dale Leonard, age 10; Ione Lindstrom, age 5; Vernie or Pearl Lisenby, age 6; Nephi Mayo, age 7; Margaret McGuire, age 10; Robert McGuire, age 9; Everett Means, age 11; Reida Lyda; Johnny Means, age 16; Paul Miller, age 6; Pauline Overstreet, age 5; Ray Pellham, age 9; Helen Penrod, age 5; Guy Leroy Posey, age 8; Frankie Posy, age 5; Edwina Rolf, age 5; Frederick Russell, age 5; Otis Ryals, age 7; Parnel Ryals, age 11; Bessie Sauls age 9; Ralph Sauls, age 6; Austin Smith age 6; Hurley Smith, age 6; Josie Stafford, age 8; Myrtle Stafford, age 7; Edwin Stebbins, age 8: Frank Stebbins, age 10; Kenneth Storms, age 8; Ruth Storms, age 7; Frank Studstill, age 11; Mary Tallman, age 11; Ethel Taylor, age 6; Mae Turner, age 10; Herman Vogt, age 11; Billie Wafford, age 9; Leola Wallace, age 5; Lula Wallace, age 12; Mae Wallace, age 10; Esther Ward, age 6; Edith Wells, age 5; Oma Williams, age 5; and Bruce Woods, age 6.

Note that the first official graduation was in 1914 although an eleventh grade graduation (unofficial) was conducted in 1913. At the 1911 year, the following would have been high school related age: Lula Wallace, Johnny Means, Guy Lambkin, Harry Lane, Moray Kersey, Lewis Chancey, and Mary Briny.