June 11, 1907 1,t the first meeting of the Board of School Directors of the Neels Independent School District, a committee was appointed "to look into the matter of building a new school house. Also, a resolution was passed "to arrange with Mr. Speer, Vice President of the Midland Steel Company to sell the school property to the mill for $798.00. The school house was to remain the property of the school and to remain there until the mill needed the land."

The last teacher to teach in the old school house before it was taken over by the so-called Neels Independent School District was Miss Nettie E. Inbric. Miss Imbrie is now retired and lives in Pittsburgh.

The Neal School, a frame building with a single room, had been built on the upper corner of the newly acquired property oil Seventh Street. This frame building, sometimes referred to as building No. 2, was located on the present site of the ice skating rink. This building was used for school purposes until the now Neal Building was built; after that it was used for storage #

Plans were made immediately to start the construction of a new school building. John T. Combs was hired as the architect to prepare specifications and plans for a four-room building to be two stories high. The request for bids for this project was advertised in the Beaver Star, Pittsburgh Dispatch, and the East Liverpool Tribune

Until this building could be erected, the board had to find some temporary quarters for classes to meet the needs of this fast growing community. The rooms, which are now occupied by the City Restaurant and State Liquor Store, were rented for $45.00 a month in the J. E. Cook building on Midland Avenue. Mr. Cook agreed to provide 12 closets for boys and Girls and furnish light, heat. and water." In October the board received complaints relative "to the inadequate closet facilities for school children and the principal and teachers not allowing children time to attend to the call of nature."

July 22, 1907, The old school known as school No. 1 was sold to Father Gallagher for the sum of ~100.00 to be used as a Catholic Church.

The General Contract was Given to David Archibald to build the now school house for the amount of $12,358-00; the building was to be finished in five months. The building was to be 66 feet by 40 feet and was to be located 25 feet north of Ohio Avenue, 42 feet west of Seventh Street, and 42 feet cast from the western line.

Charles Bray, engineer, laid out the site for the school. Previous, however, to starting the erection of the building, it was agreed by all parties concerned to make the collar four feet deeper than had been originally planned. For this additional work, the General contractor was to receive $359.14 extra. Much difficulty was encountered during construction of the foundation because this area was very wet from many underground water springs, The board met with the contractor almost daily in an effort to solve these problems as they developed. Finally, with many ditches and sewers, the foundation was completed.

The contract for installing the heating equipment was given to the Whitncre Boiler Company of Wellsville, Ohio, for the sum of $830.00. At the same time the board negotiated a contract with D. Springer to supply coal for the building at the cost of 71 cents per bushel. When the building was nearly finished, the board decided to add to it a bell tower; so the general contractor received $152.50 extra for building the bell tower and hanging the bell.

To pay for this project, the board issued $15,000 worth of bonds bearing 5% interest, and sold them, after advertising to Otis and Haugh Company in Cleveland; they received $188.00 premium for the sale. At this time the assessed valuation of the community was recorded at $869,030.00. Since the board could borrow 2% of the assessed valuation without a vote of the people. The loan was made without having to wait for an election to ask for the approval of the electors. Sept. 26, 1908 The Neal School was now in use. Elaborate plans were made for the dedication ceremonies for the new building. Several meetings were held with local businessmen at the Hotel to arrange for decorating the streets and store windows on the day of the parade and ceremonies. The board purchased 500 badges to be worn as souvenirs of the occasion.

R. B. McMasters, president of the school board and owner of that farm at the east of the borough on which the oil tanks are now located, was chief marshall of the parade which was headed by the American Mechanics Band. The parade started at the little church, formerly No. 1 school house, to 8th Street, down Midland Avenue to lower end of paved street or 4th Street, counter march on Midland Avenue back to 8th Street, up 8th Street to Beaver, vast on Beaver to 7th Street, north on 7th to new school building. Following the parade, the ceremonies were held at the building. Mr. Alexander made the opening address and introduced the following guest speakers: Mr. J. R. Spear of the Midland Steel Co.; Mr. Rust of the R. B. Co.; Mr. Miller of the S. J. Co.; Judge Holt; Mr. D. Locke, Superintendent of Beaver County School; Rev. Father Gallagher; and Rev. Hosac.

March 8, 1911 The classrooms in the school building were overcrowded by this time. The town was growing so rapidly that names of new students were added to the rolls nearly every day. The old school house which had not been used for some time was repaired a little and put into use for the remainder of the school year. These crowded conditions caused the board to consider seriously the necessity of erecting another school building. They decided that they would try to acquire a site for another school house. It was hoped at that time to got some lots between 10th Street and 12th Street on Penn venue.

Sept. 3, 1212 The classrooms in the Neal School were so crowded by this date that it was necessary to rent temporary classrooms in three other buildings. The board paid $35-00 a month for one room in the Lockard Building, and then had to buy a stove to keep the place warm. One second grade classroom was located in the building on the corner of Midland Avenue and Eighth Street. One third grade class and one fourth grade class were housed in the Rice Building, which was located behind the present American Legion Building.

May 6, 1213

A sign of progress and growth is the fact that the board approved the installation of a telephone in the Neal School. The principal's office in this building also served as the meeting place for school boards. This remained their official meeting place until the high school was built in 1926.

May 7, L913 For several months the board members met frequently in Dr. Hensell's Office to discuss the problems of the school, especially the problem of alleviating the overcrowded conditions. At this time the best solution seemed to be an addition to the Neal School and construction of another school in another section of town if possible. At their regular meeting on May 7, the board passed a resolution that called for a special election on June 10, 1913 to present a $30,000 bond issue to the vote of the people for the purpose of building new schools. This selection was to be advertised in two out of town newspapers having a circulation in Midland. Also at least 20 handbills were to be posted in the most public places. The result of the election was 50 affirmative votes and no negative votes.

May 28, 1913 Mr. Mathews, the architect, had been instructed to prepare some sketches for a building to be erected in the lower end of the borough. On May 28. 1913, these sketches were approved, but a few days later the board decided to get some other architect to present a sketch for a proposed new building. But on June 11, 1913o the board again approved the sketches of Mr. Mathews and ordered him to prepare specifications and detailed plans for the new building which was to be built somewhere in the lower end of town.

June 11, 1913 On this date the board accepted the bid of the Karr Lumber Company in the amount of $11,959.00 for constructing an addition to the Neal School. This would add four classrooms to the building. The work was sup posed to be finished in time for the opening of school in the fall; however the work was not completed on time,, and the opening of school was deferred until September 29th.

August 27, 1913; The board purchased a piece of land on the side of the hill near First Street on Midland Avenue on a "time proposition." They paid $1,250.00 for this site. On September 3 they engaged the David Archibald Company to build a temporary building on this site for school purposes. The building was to have an attached coalhouse and an outside platform.

Sept. 22, 1913 Continued wet weather emphasized the need for improved roads around the schoolhouses; so the board directed the secretary to write to council to ask that something be done about the mud roads around the Neal School and the school at First Street.

Oct. 13, 1913 The minutes of this date indicate that temporary classrooms were being rented at this time for a third grade and n fourth grade. The board arranged to rent chairs and stoves from the M, E. Church to use in this extra classroom.

Dec. 12 1913 The board purchased n bell to be hung in the Neal School. It was inscribed "Midland Borough School District" followed by the names of the school directors, secretary, and principal for 1913. This bell is still being used.

March 28, 1914 The property at First Street., which had been purchased in 1913 upon which a temporary building had been erected, was exchanged with the Midland Improvement Company for a lot located at the northwest corner of Midland Avenue at First Street. This lot was 97 fact by 120 feet. The board purchased an additional 30 feet adjacent to the new lot for the amount of $525.00. The temporary building on the old site was to remain the property of the school district and was to be removed when the now school building was completed.

April 7, 1914 For some reason the board was not satisfied with the work the Kerr Lumber Company aid in building the addition to the Neal School; so they refused to pay the final bill. The board bickered with the Kerr Company for weeks concerning the matter, but finally both sides agreed to a compromise settlement on December 8, 1914, thus they avoided a lawsuit.

May 3, 1914 It was decided at this time to complete only four rooms of the proposed school at First Street and to add to the building as the need required. George Fike was given the contract to build the original part of this building, a one-floor building divided into four rooms. The amount of this contract was $17,955.00. Later on in September as the construction of the building progressed, the following additional contracts were lot: John F. Crichton, plumbing, $1,350.00; John C. Word, electrical work, $475-00; and Joseph A. Langdon, heating equipment, $2,793-00-

22

June 2, 1914 A group of citizens who called themselves the Boosters Club visited the meeting of the school board and recommended that the board purchase the property around the Neal School in order to develop a playground. The board went to work on this matter immediately and in July they purchased from W. R. Rice of the Midland Improvement Company the 14 lights around the school for the sum of $6,500-00.

August 12, 1914 The problem of overcrowded classrooms was still the main issue. Since the now school would not be finished for some time,' the board had to make some provision for classrooms on a temporary basis for the fall tern. Arrangements were made to rent some space for a fifth grade in the upstairs of the building on Midland Avenue occupied by Ebers and Montgomery, the present Murphy's Five and Ten Cent Store.

August 21 1914 The board asked council to permit the borough engineer to lay out the grades around the Neal School and playground and to have the borough help to do the work. They also asked for some grade changes on Woodlane near the First Street School. Apparently the request was not granted because on November 5, 1914, the board officially hired Mr. Rankin as an engineer to lay out the playground.

August 271 1914 Since the school building at First Street was built on the side of a hill, it was necessary to construct a large retaining wall to protect the property from washing on to the street. Angelo Cupani was given the contract for building this retaining wall and for installing a grilled iron fence on the top of it. His contract also included the construction of stone steps from the street up to the building.

Jan. 5, 1915 To relieve some of the overcrowded conditions prevailing at this time in spite of the temporary classrooms which were being used, it is recorded that at this time it was necessary to rent some more space from 0. J, Ranshaw for $20.00 a month. Some space over the Midland Printing Company (rooms now used by the Masonic Lodge) was used for classroom purposes

March 2, 1915 The first floor of the First Street School was scarcely finished when the board recognized the necessity of putting a second story: on the building Bids for this job were called for, and the contractor who built the first floor, Mr. George Pike, was given the contract to add a second story for the sum of $2,544.00. In June of 1915 the board engaged E. H. Fischer to do grading work and to build sidewalks and steps around this building for the sum of $66o.oo. This First Street School had its eight classrooms completed for the fall term of 1915. To add the finishing touch to this school building, Mr. Mathews, the architect, donated a steel flagpole and bad it installed at the southeast corner of the building. The American flag has flown from it on every school day ever since. One last comment concerning this site is that the old frame temporary building which had been built on the original lot was sold on January 4., 1916, to W. R. Rice. Over the years the First Street Building has been kept in the best of repair. In 1951 an entirely new heating system was installed in this building. Also all classrooms were equipped with modern lighting fixtures, which completely modernized the lighting system. The grounds around this building are difficult to maintain because of the steep grades and terraces. The P. T. A. unit of this school had taken an interest in the building over the years. Sometime in the early thirties, the P. T. A. spent several hundred dollars to have the grounds landscaped and planted with shrubs, plants, trees and flowers.

June, 1915 The board was being pressed to get the grounds around the Neal School, which were purchased for a playground, graded and made suitable for recreation purposes. The board thought that perhaps the Pittsburgh Crucible Steel Company would give some financial assistance in building a wading or swimming pool on this site. A letter was directed to them asking for a donation. It was not until 1928 that a splash or wading pool was built by Mr. Cupani for $756.00; it was paid for by the school district. However, at this time, August 1915, the board gave to contractor E. H. Fischer to grade and lay cut the playground at a contract price of $4,080.00. On April 20, 192T, the Anchor Post Iron Works was contracted to install a fence around this large play area, and in the spring of 1931 trees and shrubs were planted which have made this area a very pleasant and beautiful recreation site. Some laymen appeared before the board and claimed that insufficient care had been taken for the safety of the children because there were no fire extinguishers in the schoolrooms. The board authorized the purchase of thirteen dozen.

June 2, 1916 Again the problem of overcrowded conditions and the need for mare classrooms arose to worry the board members. The Neal School at Seventh Street and the First Street School were filled to capacity, as were the temporary classrooms on the second and third floor of the Borough Building. Mr. F. J. Merrick was hired as an architect to plan another now school building to be 1ccatod at Fourth Street and Ohio Avenue. Plans were accepted on July 11, and Cook-Anderson was given the general contract. The building was so nearly completed that it could be used at the start of the 1917 term, but it was not entirely completed until February 5, 1918. The original heating system was installed in this building by Josevli A. Langdon Company. A second boiler was added in September 1917, at a cost of $1,366.00. On September 25, 1911, the board agreed to pay J. Cullen 630 per cubic yard to grade the grounds around the new building.

June 4, 1918 Like the first two school buildings, the Fourth Street

School was scarcely completed before it was found inadequate to house the Growing school population; so contracts were lot on June 28 and July 1, 1918,to the following bidders for an addition to this buildinG:

Jos. A. LanGdon - Repting Contract $ 5,100-00

Falk & Filson - General Contract $ 24,625.00

Crichton PlumbinG Co, - Plumbing $ 4,948.oo

James Farnan - Wiring $ 985.00

At this time the country was engaged in the First World War; therefore the completion of the aldition was delayed because of the difficulty in securing the necessary building materials. When finally completed, the building was used as a combined elementary and high school until the new high school building was built in 1926. On October 14, 1926, the board hired George Folk to construct a concrete retaining wall at the rear of this building to prevent the hillside from falling down on the building. This project cost $753-00. Much of this wall is still in place and serving the purpose. New gas fired boilers were installed in this building in 1952, and each classroom was equipped with modern fluorescent lighting fixtures after the building had been completely rewired. The building has been kept in excellent condition. Since 1928 it has housed all the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades for the entire school district.

Jan. 3. 1919 The board authorized the construction of a coal house at the Neel School for the purpose of storing coal.

March 4, 1919 On this date the school board directed its secretary to send a letter to the Borough Council instructing Them to put in sidewalks a round the Neal School and around the Fourth Street School.

April 92 1919 The problem of housing pupils was again an acute problem of the school district. The Fourth Street School was entirely inadequate to conduct a satisfactory high school program, There were no auditorium facilities for pupil assemblies; the third floor of the Borough Building was being used as a make-shift gymnasium where the high school basketball games wore played. The board of education had been thinking for some tine about the possibility of building a new high school building. The minutes of the board reveal that as early as January 7) 1919, the board started to give consideration to this problem. At the April meeting the board directed Mr. Wm. Hart, real estate agent in the borough, to try to negotiate for the purchase of five lots at Ninth Street and Beaver Avenue with frontage on Beaver Avenue. On May 6 they further directed him to see if he couldn't get a better price. Apparently no satisfactory arrangements could be made because the deal was never completed. No further mention of a high school was made in the minutes until 1921 when a committee was appointed from the board to study the possibilities of building a high school,

June 6. 1921 Mr. Kotler, the supervising principal, reported to the board of education on this date that five temporary rooms wore in use at that time, including the portable buildings at Fourth Street and Seventh Street Schools. The situation demanded that some immediate notion be given to the matter of providing bettor classrooms space. Acting upon this advice, the board asked for bids to build two more portable buildings; on November 9, 1921, Mr. 0. L. Bridges was given a contract to build them for the amount of $605.00. These buildings were heated by coal heaters.

August 4, 1921 This was a historically significant day because it marked the day of the removal of the hand pump from the southwest corner of the Neel Building. This pump had been the source of water supply for the school for a number of years.

March 7, 1922 Evidence that the school district was still using space on the top floor of City Hall for basketball games is found in the minutes of the meeting of the school board bola on this date; they received and considered a complaint filed by the Firemen's Club regarding the pupils' doing considerable damage to the ping-pong table which was in the Firemen's Club room.

Fob. 23z 1924 The board officially approve, the present site of the high school as the proper location for a new high school. There was also considerable interest given to a site near Murphy's Barn which is now the location of the swimming pool. It was reported at the meeting of the school board on June 21, 1924, that the Crucible Company would donate the site for the new high school. However, this never materialized; so on March 21, 1925, t1le board purchased lots 331 to 339 inclusive for the sum of $18,000.00.The wisdom of choosing this site was questioned by some because the area was a depressed one with many underground springs. The grading of Midland Avenue had left these lots considerably below the street level. In the early days this area had been a pond which, when frozen over in the winter time, made a wonderful place to skate. It was also a source of danger to the children who attended the old original school which was located nearby. This was the school later known as school No. 1 by the Neel School District.

March 21, 1925 Mr. Eckles of New Castle was engaged as architect to prepare plans and specifications for constructing a new high school building. The architect was instructed by the board to model the building after the new high school building in Monongahela. Bids for this project wore received on September 8th, but all bids were rejected. The board decided to re-advertise for now bids which were received on October 19, 1.925. The following contracts were let: Cook Anderson Co. - General Contract - $250,024.29 Totterdale Bros., Martin's Perry, Pa. - Plumbing - $10,325.00 Deluer Electric Co., Eric, Pa. - Electrical Work - $5,956.00 Barner & Clark, Now Castle - Heating & Vent. $24,450.00

April 8, 1926 The Board of Education had agreed to call the now building the "Midland High School", but at a subsequent meeting they changed the official name to "Lincoln High School". At the April meeting, the members greed upon the names to be inscribed. on the tablet to be placed in tile main hall. This tablet is still in place in the high school building.

August 4, 1926 Since tile site of the now high school was very low, a considerable amount of eradinG and filling in around the building was necessary. Mr. Cupani was Given the job of (11-ring this work at the cost of 500 per load.

Feb. 9, 1926 The board approved the installation of light poles in front of the high school.

April 29, 1927 Dedication ceremonies for the new high school building were held in the auditorium. Senator David Rood, was the principal speaker.

Ma-ren_O, 1928 The Freeland Nurseries were engaged to landscape the property around the high school for the sum of $4,000.00. Those flowers and shrubs have made the lawns of the high school one of the beauty spots in Midland. The front of tile building faces Lincoln Park, which serves as a beautiful campus. When the addition was made to the high school, some of the original shrubs and trees around. the building were transferred to the Fourth Street and Seventh Street Schools.

Jan, 10, 1929 The school facilities were again overcrowded in 1929. Temporary classrooms wore used, including the basement of the Carnegie Library as well as the portable buildings. It was evident that the high school needed to be enlarged in order to take care of the large number of pupils of the adjacent townships who were sending their high school pupils to Midland on a tuition basis. Mr. Ecklos of New Castle was hired as in architect to make plans for an addition to the high school.. Oil March 14, 1929, the following contracts wore let for tile Project:

Cook Anderson Co. - General contract - $51,720.00

Beaver Electric Co. - Electrical Contract - $ 4,218.00

G. F. Higgins Co. - Heating & Ventilating - $12,500.00

John Crichton - Plumbing - $ 2,905.00

This addition more than doubled the capacity of the high school and also provided for the shop classrooms. Since there were some delays in the construction work, the building was not finished on time; so school did not start until September 16th of that year.

In 1930 it seemed that the school facilities were quite adequate for some time to come; so the board decided to dispose of some of the portable buildings. One of the buildings at the Seventh Street School, including the furnace, was sold to Ohio Township for $150-00; the one at the Fourth Street School was sold to B. F, Shierer for $35-00-

One of the portable buildings at the Seventh Street School was retained for several years and was used principally by the Boy Scouts. Finally it was also sold on June 10, 1937, to Tony Verzella.

May l6, 1933 It had been recommended that the First Street School be closed temporarily and the pupils in that school transferred to other buildings. This was an economy measure in order to save money. A large delegation of residents from that section of town appeared before the board and presented a plea that the building remain open. The board decided to continue to use the building.

August 7, 1933 Mr. Grove was sent a letter of criticism because he was over taxing his horses when delivering coal to the school.

May 10, 1934 All janitors were hired for 12 months, and a summer program of school repairs and maintenance was inaugurated.

June 26, 1941 Under the auspices of the Federal Housing Authority several hundred housing units had been erected in Ohio Township at the top of the hill overlooking Midland. Negotiations were made between the Housing Authority and the school district for this area to become a definite part of the borough and school district. It had been agreed that the Housing Authority

would provide a school building on this site to house the elementary children to eliminate the necessity of these children walking dawn the hill to the schools. The board acted in good faith, especially when they were given an opportunity to approve architect's plans for a school building to be located on the site. After several months of correspondence and trips to Harrisburg and Washington by the representatives of the board, the governmental agencies refused to provide a school building. Their decision was based on the fact that the present buildings were large enough to take care of the pupil load. The school district was extremely disappointed by this decision because the important fact or had been overlooked entirely, the necessity of the children's walking down the hazardous hill to school.

May ji, 1944 The board was sympathetic with the problem of the parents of the younger children who lived In the project and had to send their children dawn the hill to school. An agreement was entered into with the Housing Authority to lease the Community Building located on the project and to operate two classes, a first grade and a second grade. These classes were operated during the school years of 1944-45 and 1945-46. The Housing Authority then cancelled the school district lease, and the classes were discontinued. Since that time all children have had to come down town to school.

July 13, 1944 The school board completed arrangements for the purchase of the property on Midland Avenue in back of the present high school building. The property was bought from the Midland Improvement Company for the sum of $15,000.00 which was the book value of the property. Ownership of this property protected the school district from having any commercial houses built between the high school and Midland Avenue and also provided land for expanding the high school when that would be necessary.

Aug. l., 1944 The board engaged a supervisor of janitors to be in charge of all janitors and to do repair work. This was a progressive step which made it possible to improve the maintenance program.

July 12, 1945 On this date the board completed their negotiations to purchase from the Crucible Steel Company approximately nine acres of land at the very extreme eastern limits of Midland on Midland Avenue. This land was purchased for the purpose of developing an athletic field and stadium. The price paid for the property was the book value, $20,535.00.

May 10, 1946 The Osborne Architectural Firm of Cleveland was hired to make plans and prepare specifications for the development of an athletic field and for the construction of a stadium on the site which had been purchased for

that purpose. The work on this project was started during the summer and the grading and seeding completed so that it would be ready for the football season of 1947. The contracting firm of Macro, Heyor, and Schultz had the job of grading and seeding; the Cyclone Pence Company installed the inside fence; the Bindley Fence Company installed the outside fence. In the summer of 1947 the Bishel Electric Company erected the poles and installed the lighting system; then Midland High School, for the first time in its history, had a football field of its own, equipped to use night or day. The first game was played September 10, 1948. There was also laid out a half mile track and facilities for all field events. The first seats to be installed were temporary seats purchased from C. M. Eichonlaub Company and located on the west side.

In 1950 permanent stool stands with a press box were constructed on the cast side of the field by the Pittsburgh-Dos Moines Steel Conpany. Many additions have been made to the field, including a large concession building and ticket booths, so that the facilities are among the best in Beaver County. The cost of this project was approximately $177,000.00.

1946 During this year the board arranged for an accredited appraisal company to make a complete survey of all the buildings and equipment owned by the district and to evaluate its replacement value. This appraisal is brought up to date each year, and insurance adjustments are made accordingly so that the school district is sufficiently covered each year.

March 15, 1949 The program of the high school had kept pace with the modern trends in education by keeping in mind the philosophy of meeting the needs of the pupils. One area in particular at this time was weak - the Home Economics department. The original department, located in the basement, was almost twenty five years old; the equipment was old,, outdated, and not suitable for teaching home economics in accordance with modern techniques. Therefore

the board arranged to have the Home Economics Department moved to the main floor of the building; an up-to-date, modernized department was installed which cost approximately $46,545.QO. This department not only served all the girls in the junior high schoo1, but it also served to provide space for the vocational course in home economics for girls. This phase of the work was discontinued in 1953 because of a lack of interest an the part of the older girls.

July 1, 1953 7he music forum and area for a future cafeteria which are being constructed underneath the auditorium will be finished and ready for use in the fall of this year. When the original building was built in 1926, the architect provided for these facilities and  estimated that the cost would be approximately $2,000.00. In order to save money the school board decided to defer this part of the program for the tine being. Nothing was done to improve the area until this year. The project will cost $46,545.00. When completed, the area will provide facilities for a large, sound proof Forum to be used for band and orchestra rehearsals, public speaking classes, parties, cafeteria, etc. It will also provide eight  individual practice rooms, band instrument and uniform storage space, music library, director's office, book storage, lumber storage, and many other much needed facilities. Kitchens for the future cafeteria have been partially completed.