Collection: Jefferson School.
On September 5, 1916 the Jefferson Township voters passed a resolution mandating that a new school building to house both elementary and high school students be built. The first school board members were: Ephriam Miller, Thomas Conner, Jacob Chamberlin, Frank Crist, and Harry Hall. In 1922 the seven school buildings were abandoned.
The Jefferson Township High School, was located halfway between Midland and Westboro. In 1959, Jefferson High School was consolidated with the Blanchester School System. On January 1, 1960 the Jefferson Board of Education was officially disbanded and the consolidation was completed. Mr. Vernon Blankenship was Superintendent; Boards member were: Granville Chamberlin, president, Brice Snead, William Kuhnell, Paul W. Berger, Dale Kratzer, and Delbert Taylor.
The school has served as a focal point of interest for many years and many activities. One which rendered a service to the entire township was the Jefferson Daily Vacation Bible School which children of all denominations attended.
The athletic field still serves as a recreational facility for township children and their families. The Farmers' Institute, as long as it was in existence, met annually at the school.
The Jefferson Alumni was revived for its 50th Anniversary in 1973. An extremely large crowd was present and it has continued to be a very active organization of alumni and faculty returning once a year for a meal and time of reminiscing.
Jefferson High School has produced a large number of prominent citizens in all walks of life, especially teachers and administrators. Mr. Walter N. Nichols, long time county superintendent, is an alumnus of Jefferson.
During the years on 1928-1932 (5 successive years)Jefferson was county basketball champion, a record which has never been duplicated. In 1930 Jefferson's basketball team advanced to the semi-finals of the state tournament, a record unequaled by any other Clinton County team as of this writing. (1982). In its final year as a high school Jefferson won the 1959 Clinton County Basketball Tournament, defeating Port William High School by one basket. (2 points).
