Our Past Is Present August 28, 2017

August 28, 2017

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            There is one bell in Junction City, which has meant much to students both in the past and today.  When this bell’s sound is heard it has a variety of meanings to the listener.

            On August 31, 1871 and by vote of a large majority of citizens, a school building was approved for a Ninth Street location.  That School was to be called the McKinley School and would be completed in 1872.  McKinley was the first school used for a high school in Junction City.  It was actually located at Ninth and Madison Streets, which is on the west side of the current Freshman Success Academy.  There was to be a 750 pound bell received and installed high in the tower of the McKinley building in November of 1872.  The bell served the community in several ways.  Not only did it announce the opening of the school day, the end of recess, but also the end of the school day.  To some who were not in school, the sound of the bell helped people set their clocks at home and even the time to begin their work at their jobs.  Its ringing could be heard all over town. 

            In 1929, when the Senior High School addition was added to the original Junction City High School Building, the bell was mounted on the Ninth and Madison Street corner where the McKinley School had stood for many years.   Due to rough treatment of the bell by mischievous students, it was finally stored.

            When the new high school building was constructed  at its current location in the late 1950’s at 8^th and Eisenhower, the bell was retrieved from its hiding place and may now be seen at the entrance of the Shenk Gym at Junction City High School.  That’s today’s story on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.