Tampa Rural High School remembered
Contributing writer
Although the former Tampa High School is gone now, a group of alumni are determined it will not be forgotten. They are planning a monument to be erected on the site of the demolished building and soliciting donations for the project.
When the derelict building was demolished in 2002, the city council decided to keep some of the stone and brick with the idea of using them for memorial. Last year the Prairie Pals initiated a fund-raiser for the monument by putting pictures of the building on some of the bricks and selling them as souvenirs. A few of those keepsakes are left. However, no more will be made, because the remaining bricks may be needed for the memorial.
A few months ago a committee of alumni was formed to make some definite plans and begin work on the project. Members are Tom Duggan, Leona Kleiber, Adeline Bernhardt, and Betty Mueller. They obtained the services of Tom Leihy to design an appropriate structure and contracted with Phillip Klenda to build it.
The focal point of the monument will be the emblem stone from above the front door of the old school. Directly under that will be the stone with 1930, the date the school building was constructed. Some of the original stone molding is used in the central column holding the emblem. The slab of stone that was under these two stones will be made into a bench. The plan calls for using the semi-circular stones which were above the gymnasium windows for stepping stones leading to the monument.
The slab of stone students walked on to enter the front door has a special place in the memorial plans. It will be cut in half and used in the wings stretching diagonally from the sides of the central column. Carved into it will be the school name, TAMPA RURAL, on one side and HIGH SCHOOL on the other. A tiger (the former school mascot) will be carved on one end and an open book on the other. Buff bricks will be used for the front wall and red bricks for the rear wall with white stones placed appropriately to complete the design.
If enough donations come in, the committee hopes to add a patio area in front of the monument and a flag pole. Alumna Agnes Steinert has donated a child's express wagon for a raffle. Tickets are available at Tampa State Bank.
Anyone wishing to give a cash contribution should send it to Tampa Rural High School Memorial Fund at Tampa State Bank, PO Box 7, Tampa KS 67483.
