August is the month where the freedom of summer vacation fun turns to back-to-school preparation. Today there are many schools involved in the education of the students living in West Ashley. But step back to the 1930s and the main school for many of the students in St. Andrew’s Parish west of the Ashley River was located on Wappoo Road at a site that was considered the geographic center of the school district.
The more formal history of the school system in the Parish begins in the year 1898 in a church on the plantation of Edward T. Legare at Old Town. Miss Louise Williams was the sole member of the faculty and she taught all grades. Edward T. Legare, L.W. Von Postel and L.M. Ridgeway were the first school board trustees.
This school was not easily accessible to all the families living in the Parish so in 1899 a branch school was opened on New Road — what is known today as Savannah Highway. Miss Helen McCarthy served as the first teacher. These two schools consolidated in 1909 to a site a short distance away on Savannah Highway. In 1918 it was decided to move the school to the central district site on Wappoo Road into what would become known as the Little Brown School House.
One decade later, Mrs. John Postel, the principal of the school in 1928, formed a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). The PTA formed a building committee for a new school and in 1930 the iconic structure with its four white columns and “Senior Steps” was constructed on the Wappoo Road Site for a reported cost of $75,000. This building housed eight classrooms, an auditorium, and auxiliary rooms. By 1939 it was necessary to expand the building to accommodate high school students. The first year high school students attended the enrollment was 147.
In 1947 a gymnasium was added to the complex. The new wing constructed in 1954 contained ten classrooms, an audiovisual room and a music room. This room would be of particular importance as the third principal of St. Andrew’s Parish High School, E. Bernard Hester, was instrumental in developing the musical revues held every year during his tenure. The first revue was “Blitzkrieg” held on December 12, 1941. These revues involved almost everyone. Thus musical revue stories and fond memories of Hester would fill volumes.
In addition to the classroom setting, the school offered extracurricular activities: clubs, football, basketball, honor societies, the newspaper Blue and Gold, the annual The Pelican, and a regular update of events, activities, and awards in The Evening Post.
The phenomenal growth and development of the Parish was reflected in this school district by the continual additions to this site as well as the construction of elementary schools at other locations. The St. Andrew’s Exchange Club detailed this school’s history in all three years of its brochure. The 1953 Pelican also has been cited documenting the school’s history.
Unfortunately, the original building succumbed to fire in 1978. It was determined that the structure could not be repaired and was demolished much to the dismay of the alumni. However, there are websites, Facebook pages and reunions, where the alumni of this school gather to remember and reflect on the incredible history of this school. Spirit and memories are strong among them. With part of the collection of Mr. Hester’s scrapbooks now located at Special Collections for all to enjoy, more stories and details of stories may be discovered, remembered, and shared.
Interesting stories about the high school? Contact Donna Jacobs at westashleybook@gmail.com.
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