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History of Kensington, Kansas - Centennial Edition,
1987
Schools:
The first school
was held in the years 1888-1889 in the Greuter
Harness Shop with Mrs. Greuter as teacher. The
family lived in the back of the shop. Late in 1889,
the town's businessmen held a meeting and voted to
build a school house to cost no more than $2000.
This school house, a two story frame building with
two rooms downstairs and one large one upstairs was
situated in the center of the block north of the
present high school building and dedicated on the
evening of October 25th, 1889 with a grand ball
under the auspices of the Kensington Cornet Band. A
supper added to the pleasure of those attending, and
everyone was urged to attend. W.J. Crawford was
president of the Board of Education and Allen
Sanford was treasurer. Jess Cook was principal of
the school and Miss Lillie Allen was primary
teacher. The large room on the second floor was used
as a town hall and until the Congregational Church
was erected a few years later, union services were
held there with Rev. Bonnett and Rev. Davis
preaching.
Original School House,
dedicated in 1889
By 1910 the population had outgrown that first
school house and a two story brick school house with
a full basement was erected on lots just south of
the present grade school. The old gymnasium was the
next addition to the school in 1922 (located where
the present Vocational Educational Building is). The
present high school building was erected in the
1930's with some P.W.A. Labor. The present beautiful
grade school, with kitchen and dining facilities was
erected in 1956 and the $115,000 gymnasium was added
to the high school building in 1960. the high school
was remodeled in April 1967 at the cost of $205,000.
The new Vocational Educational Building, was built
in 1976 at a cost of $70,000.
The most recent addition to Kensington schools is
the new steel bus barn, located south of the high
school. It was completed in December of 1987, a
total of 217 students were enrolled in Kensington
schools, including 10 special education students who
attended programs in Gaylord and Smith Center. 1987
class enrollments were: Kindergarten, 16: first, 20;
second, 20; third, 23;fourth, 16;fifth, 16; sixth,
17; seventh, 13' eighth, 8; freshman, 14; sophomore,
12; Junior, 16; and 16 seniors were graduated .
1987 also marked the retirement of Mr. J.S. Wagner
from the position of superintendent of school. Mr
Wagner ended 32 years of service to Kensington
schools. He was Honored by school and community at a
retirement program and reception
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