Located in Marshall County, West Virginia about halfway between the cities of Wheeling and Moundsville, Sherrard High School was active from 1911 to 1968 (until it was consolidated into John Marshall High School). Sherrard High had actually been the first consolidated school in all of West Virginia. The area (and school) was named for local landowner Sherrard Clemens, who happened to have been a cousin of the famous author Samuel L. Clemens (aka Mark Twain).
Undated photo of Sherrard School. Unknown photographer.
Week 35: School
Both of my maternal grandparents, Raymond Millhouse and Edna Dean, attended Sherrard, so I’ve heard the school mentioned during several conversations with family members. Plus, I have amassed a small collection of class pictures from family photo albums, which I’ve included in this post.
Sherrard School 7th grade class photo, 1936, Marshall County, West Virginia. Standing from left to right is: Pat. Ray, Lee, Tony, Edna Arlene Dean, Gladys, Clifton, Roy, Baker, Philip, Bob C., and Bob X. The Middle Row is not as distinguishable. I believe the girls are: Mitz, Willa, Elizabeth, Mary, Vin?, Betty, Jane, Eleanor, Mary, Ruby, Alma, and Missy?. The 4 boys seated in front from L to R are: Edward, Hobart, Lawrence, and Edward.
Even though my grandfather, Ray, was older than my grandmother, he was held back a year in school, so the two ended up in the same graduating class!
Raymond Lee Millhouse report cards from Sherrard High School, 1939-1940, Marshall County, West Virginia.
I have to assume if that hadn’t happened, they might not have married each other later on after the end of World War II. They weren’t your classic high school sweethearts, but it turned out that way in the end.
The two graduated in 1940, both with perfect attendance, despite snow and other weather impediments throughout the school year as confirmed by their senior class magazine, School Daze (which they also helped orchestrate).
Raymond Millhouse school photos, 1935-1940, Sherrard High, Marshall County, West Virginia.
Edna Dean school photos, 1939-1940, Sherrard High, Marshall County, West Virginia.
For their senior class play, the students acted out Louisa May Alcott’s sensation, Little Women, on April 19, 1940 in the school auditorium. My grandmother was one of the leads! She portrayed the eldest daughter, Meg March. And my grandfather, funny enough, was cast as her father, Mr. March.
Sherrard High School senior class, “School Daze,” March 1940, Sherrard, Marshall County, West Virginia, USA.
I was positive I had at least one copy of their graduation announcement, if not both, but I am having trouble locating it at the moment. I will update this post in the future the next time I run across it. However, I do have Sherrard High’s 1925 and 1937 announcements.
My best guess as to why these are in our possession is because the 1925 roll featured Louella Marie Burns. I believe the Burns were either cousins or close family friends, because I have plenty of photos of Burns kids. On the 1937 flyer, the name William E. Klages jumps out at me. My grandmother’s 1st cousin once removed, Minnie Margaret Dean, married a man with the surname Klages. I don’t know if William was that man, but there was certainly a relationship between the Deans and the Klageses.
I have also inferred the family held the school principal, E.K. Merinar in high regard. They may have had ties to the Merinar family I am unaware of. Here is an undated Sherrard class photo featuring Mr. Merinar standing at the rear. It appears to be from the early 1900s, however, he was only the acting principal beginning in 1934, so it’s possible either my dating is off or he was running the grade school before he moved on to the high school post. More research would be needed to determine a better year estimate for the photograph.
Undated Sherrard School class photo with principal E.K. Merinar standing at back center, Marshall County, West Virginia.
Another instructor called out on the back of a photo held in my grandparents’ possession was Hilda Briemson. Here she is pictured in a Sherrard High School classroom on the left. Interestingly, her mother’s maiden name was Burns.
Undated photo of Sherrard High School teachers, Marshall County, West Virginia. Hilda Briemson on far left.
Other photos from Sherrard featuring known family members are the following:
Lloyd Dean, undated Sherrard High graduation photo.
Charlotte Cole, 1938-39 Sherrard High class photo.
Lloyd Dean (2nd row, center), undated boys group photo at Sherrard High School, Sherrard, Marshall County, West Virginia.
Lloyd Dean was my grandmother’s younger brother. And Charlotte became her step-sister many years later in 1961 when my great grandmother, Beatrice (Dixon) Dean, was married for a second time in her life to William Cole (Charlotte’s father).
Finally, I have a few other photographs from Sherrard High pictured below, including three of my grandparents’ fellow 1940 classmates and a classroom photo featuring something resembling a ‘show and tell’ or ladies’ gathering of some sort.
Maxine Bomer, Sherrard High class photo.
Susie Tomisin, 1940, Sherrard High class photo.
Bobbie Bomer, 1940, Sherrard High class photo.
Sherrard High School undated photo.
If you have any Sherrard High School stories or photos you’d like to share, I’d love to hear/see them. Comment below!
My mother was Betty Lucille Dellget who graduated with your grandparents in 1940. I graduated in 1964 and my brother Frank Stoy graduated in 1967. I was married to Kenneth Rogerson’s son Barry who is now deceased.
That's so cool. Thanks for letting me know! 1940 was SUCH a small class. I'm sure everyone must have been extremely close-knit. <3
My father Richard Merinar went to Sherrard for awhile and then to Linsly. My uncles Bill,Jack and David also went to the grade school. EK Merinar was an ancestor of mine.Kenny Rogerson was also he was married to Hazel Merinar. if there are McCombs,Fishers,Prices, then I am also related to them. My dad lived in the house where Merinar oil used to be. My grandparents were William and Ruth Merinar. My great grandparents were John and Stella Merinar and Great Great Grandparents were William and Mary Fisher
Susan, the name Hazel Merinar sounds somewhat familiar. Thanks for reading and commenting! I'll be sure to keep an eye out for more Merinar mentions in my paperwork.