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A School is Made
1922--A decision was made by the Grand Island School District to
organize the system into a kindergarten-six, seven-nine, ten-twelve
arrangement.
1924--It was reported to be the first junior high in the state. The cost to build was $140,000.
Howard J. Finley, first principal of the R.J. Barr Junior High, 1924.
This
photograph was found in a time capsule, July 1998, in a corner stone
while demolishing "Old Barr" also known as Connell, 318 South Clark.
A School is Named
The school was named for R.J. Barr
who was Superintendent of Schools
from 1882-1922.
Changes Take Place
1956--Superintendent Wiltse began developing educational specifications
for a new building. The processes leading to the actual construction of
a new building took 11 years.
1958--A seventh grade common core curriculum for both junior high schools was approved.
1960--A foreign language lab was added to the school.
1961--The Junclaus store, located just west of the school, was leased for the site of the shop for the next five years.
1965, February--Decision reached to place the new school on property north of Stolley Park Road.
Building of a New School--Approved
1965, April--Bond issue of $1,760,000 was approved.
1965, October--Contract for construction of school awarded to Johnson
Company of Salina, Kansas. Total cost of the project was $1,154,283.
1965, November--Ground breaking ceremony occurred.
1966--Cornerstone of the building laid by the Grand Lodge AF & AM of Nebraska.
New Barr Junior High School Completed
1967, Fall--School was occupied for the 1967-1968 school year with an enrollment of 683 students.
**Formal dedication on November 19, 1967.
**The new building included climate control, elevator,
auditorium, two industrial arts rooms, cafeteria, vocal and
instrumental music rooms, nursing station, counselor's offices,
gymnasium, two home economics rooms, classrooms for all academic areas
and outdoor space for physical education activities.
1967, June--A major flood causes $80,000 in damages to the new building.
1967, October--Additional property was purchased to enlarge the site.
1969--The school newspaper formerly titled the Crowbar, and the Barr
Barker, was renamed The Paper Bulldog. Boys wrestling was added to the
extracurricular activities.
1972--Student enrollment increased from 618 students to 756 students
due to annexation of Central Park area south of town. 1975--Girls
basketball, volleyball and track programs began in the fall.
1980--Tornadoes which struck Grand Island, on the night of June 3,
1980, caused $264,489.73 worth of damage to the building. The building
was repaired in time for the opening of school in the fall.
1988--A seven period day was implemented, a change from six periods,
allowing students to have more opportunity for exploratory courses.
1989--Twenty years of celebration for the school newspaper was
celebrated with a Twentieth Anniversary Edition. The journalism paper
earned a medalist rating, the highest awarded by the Columbia
Scholastic Press Association, from 1980 through 1990.
1990--A fenced all-weather track and new football field was approved at a cost of $97,000.
1991--Principal Frank Haack retires after serving as an Administrator to Barr Junior High from 1959-1991.
1993--Bond issue for the Grand Island School District passes. Barr
Junior High gains $3,110,000 for the remodeling and building process.
1994--Breaking of ground for the new facility begins.
1995--Remodeling and construction are underway for a new middle school facility.
1997--The facility is scheduled to be completed and opened as Barr Middle School.
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