Highland County Historical Society celebrates 50th anniversary, Part XXXVI

By Pamela Nickell
H.C. Historical Society

Hillsboro, Highland County and a multi-county area in southwest Ohio are blessed to have Southern State Community College.

The founders, boards, presidents (currently Dr. Kevin Boys), staff and students work together for the united purpose of protecting and expanding the educational opportunities of many folks who either would not have the opportunity to go to college elsewhere or who prefer to stay close to home.

The community of Greenfield has just celebrated the 100th anniversary of the McClain High School building and campus that have been meticulously preserved since 1915. In the wave of assistance from the State of Ohio Building Facilities Commission to replace old school buildings with modern buildings Superintendent Phil Cornett, Dr. Dan Strain, and the GEVSD School Board convinced the Commission to make a single exception and contribute instead to the renovation of Greenfield schools rather than replacement; therefore, preserving and protecting the McClain heritage.

Education has definitely changed over the years, increasingly rapidly as technology rages forward. The School Room in the Highland House, put together by Lester Wallis, contains a variety of individual slates used even before large wall-mounted blackboards and white chalk were in every room. Green boards and yellow chalk followed that. Then, white boards and special markers.

But now, as Hillsboro City School Superintendent Jim Smith reported, smart boards that are really large computer screens, are in most rooms. And, rather than notes back and forth between home and school, communication is instantly available via the schools’ websites. Preserved in the Highland House School Room is a ‘Fourth Annual Catalogue’ of the Hillsborough Female College of Hillsborough, Ohio, for the Year ending June 14, 1860 printed at the Highland News office.

So, through protection and preservation, we are privileged to take a look way back. The picture here was taken from this 14-page booklet, with even the tissue insert between the
picture and the introductory page intact.

Both the picture and the dimensions printed beneath the college indicate that it was a large
building. From 1843-56 it was the Oakland Female Seminary, changing to the Hillsborough Female College in 1857. The graduating class of 1860 contained women from Ohio: Hillsboro (spelled thus in this listing), Rainsboro, Newark, and Winchester as well as from Kentucky and Vermont. Other years, Pennsylvania, Iowa, New York, and Illinois are represented.

The Hillsborough Female College was a boarding school. “The boarders retire at 9 o’clock, and rise at 5:30, all the year round. Half an hour is allowed to wash and dress, when all meet in the Hall and take exercise fifteen minutes.” This was followed by prayers, breakfast and housekeeping before classes.

Classes included the classics: Latin, Greek, music and art. “In naming the classes we have ventured to depart from the common practice, and to name them just as the classes are named in Colleges for boys, though the studies pursued by girls must in many respects differ from those pursued by boys. They need less of mathematics and languages and more of what may be termed accomplishments, that they may be refined, as well as intelligent ladies.”

Our lives are enriched by those who before us have preserved and protected.

Let’s keep on...