Springfield School District 19 history

But in the next year, 1832, another one-room cabin was erected "of small logs," on the site still taken by a building that served many years as the house of worship of the First Christian church, and that has now been for a long time a private residence.

In the spring of 1867 a movement was set on foot for the establishment of public schools for the youth of Springfield.

In 1876, the new constitution went into effect confining the school levy 40 cents on the hundred dollars and the board of school directors was compelled to reduce the salary of all its teachers—the superintendent to $150 per month, the highest grade teachers to $40 and the lowest to $30 per month.

On May 8, 1880, twenty bonds of the denomination of $100 each, bearing ten per cent. interest were called in and new bonds bearing six per cent. issued in their place and payable after five years.

June 1,1882, the board purchased a lot for school purposes in the third ward for $735 and contracted with Thomas Conlon for building the third ward school house at a cost of $5,996.90.

May, 1883, the board purchased a lot on the corner of Mt.

June 5, 1886, the board purchased two lots at the corner of Kimbrough and Cherry streets in the first ward and had erected a six-room building by Everett Smith and Anderson at a cost of $8,000.

In 1893, the community rose to the challenge and completed a three-winged school house for grades 1-12.

The school named for her, Mary S. Boyd Elementary was established in 1908 at the corner of Central and Benton.

The existing building was constructed in 1911 to replace the damaged one and has continued to serve the community ever since.

In 1925 a grassroots effort took place to fund a gymnasium.

A swimming pool was built behind Holland Elementary in the mid 1930's.

Families in Springfield Township could choose to send their children to Swarthmore High School, Lansdowne High School, and/or Media High School prior to the 1931 establishment of Springfield High School.