The History of Sheridan Elementary School
Sheridan School is the neighborhood school for children living in the area from Third Street east to the Lehigh River, and from Hamilton Street north to city limits. It was originally known as the Sixth Ward School. The original school was designed by a prominent Allentown architect and engineer, Gustavus Adolphus Ashbach. The building was erected in 1870 and housed twelve classrooms, a central hall, and four wooden stairways. A high board fence separated the boys from the girls, and an iron fence was built in front of the property. Children in grades one through eight attended the school.
In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s Mrs. Elsie Heckman, Marion Ruhe, and Mary McDermott conducted a social center at the school. This was the forerunner of the present Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs.
In 1921 the building was reconstructed. The facility now had more classrooms and was fireproofed and modernized. However, it was still too small to take care of the increased enrollment. To eliminate the crowded conditions a portable annex was constructed.
The need for a larger school was quite evident, and in 1924 the brick annex was erected. This was partly due to the continuation school and to the rapid growth of the city along Catasauqua and Fullerton Avenues. At that time children attended Sheridan School until the completion of eighth grade. The schools’ peak enrollment was a record 1204 students.
The school has been utilized as a continuation school for dropouts, who, because of age, were required to attend certain classes. It was also Allentown School Districts first sixth grade center.
The Baum Art School was housed on the first floor of the original stone building for a period of time. The talents of many young artists were developed and refined while attending this facility.
A salute of proud recognition belongs to the Sheridan School, for an Americanization School was inaugurated at the building. Night classes were held in the past for hundreds of men and women who were born in foreign countries and immigrated to the United States, eventually settling in the local area. Here at the Sheridan School they were educated with the necessary knowledge to become naturalized citizens of the United States of America.
In the summer of 1976 and again in the summer of 1982 several improvements were made at Sheridan School. Many classrooms were painted and carpeted, ceilings were dropped and new lighting was installed. The renovations provided a much more pleasant atmosphere for both teachers and students.
Sheridan School is greatly indebted to Mr. Isadore Max, an alumnus of Sheridan School who made many donations to the school in memory of his brother, Abraham.
There is a provision in the will of Abraham Max for a cash award to be presented to the boys or girls who annually wrote the best essay on some phase of the life of Abraham Lincoln. A sister, Mrs. Esther Max Coleman, had carried out the wish of her brother Abraham for many years.
In the spring of 1982 the Lincoln essay contest was discontinued and the Max Citizenship Award was initiated at Sheridan Elementary School. It is through this program that one boy or one girl from each homeroom is selected by his/her peers as best representing their class throughout the school year. That lucky individual is then presented with a Max Award Trophy at our school’s annual awards assembly. In this manner the Max family continues to honor Abraham’s wishes by providing the school with a monetary sum to be utilized toward the purchase of trophies.
The Sheridan School PTA was organized in 1949 under the leadership of Mr. Stephen Markowitz. This fine organization functioned for the benefit of Sheridan’s young people until the summer of 1985. At that time the PTA (Parent Teacher Association) was reorganized into an all inclusive group, the Sheridan Elementary School V.I.P. (Very Interested Persons). Under the leadership of Vanessa Gruber, the V.I.P. maintained a spirit of cooperation and helpfulness with the school’s staff, striving to assist the school in providing students with the finest possible education program.
In the fall of 1980 Sheridan Elementary was nominated to be placed on the Pennsylvania Inventory of Historic Buildings. The nomination was initiated by Mr. & Mrs.Laverne Markham, parents of children attending Sheridan School. With the assistance of Rep. Kurt Zwickl, they were successful in their bid to have Sheridan School’s rich history recognized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. On May 20, 1981, Sheridan Elementary School was officially dedicated as a Pennsylvania Historic Building.
Sheridan School presently houses grade one through five. In its efforts to meet the needs of a diversified student body, E.S.O.L. (English For Speakers Of Other Languages) classes are also conducted to assist the children of Syrian, Spanish and Asian backgrounds. The major goals of the program are to develop competence in English so the child can eventually adjust to a regular classroom situation, and to maintain with respect the native culture of the child.
During the 1983-84 school year the Allentown School Board approved construction of a brand new Sheridan Elementary School. The architectural firm of Breslin, Ridyard, Fadero was selected to design the new school building. Franklin Skepton & Co. was appointed as the general contractor.
A symbolic groundbreaking ceremony was conducted on June 11, 1985. The entire student body participated in this commemorative event, and the project was officially initiated. Excavation began on July 30, 1985, with project completion targeted for September, 1986.
The original Sheridan Elementary School Buildings were demolished in July of 1986. Since the new building was not quite ready for occupancy at that time, the Sheridan School office staff was temporarily housed in the faculty room of the Washington Elementary School. On August 23, 1986, the office staff returned to Sheridan, with the remainder of the staff moving into their new “home” on August 29, 1986. Everyone was busy bustling about the new facility in preparation for the arrival of students on Wednesday, September 3, 1986.
The “new” Sheridan Elementary School was officially dedicated as Allentown’s newest and most modern educational facility on Sunday, November 16, 1986. The dedication ceremony was planned as the school’s kick-off activity for American Education Week.
On May 8, 1987, a formal Datestone Ceremony was conducted in the new school’s auditorium. Representatives from each of the school’s homerooms placed a class thought along with an item representative of the 1986-87 school year into a “time capsulate” during this program. Following the placement of items into the container, the entire student body moved outside where the sealed time capsule was placed into the west wall of Sheridan Elementary School. The 1986 Datestone was then permanently cemented into place, preserving memories of 1986-87 for posterity.
A “FREEDOM SHRINE” was installed and officially dedicated as a permanent part of Sheridan Elementary School on May 17, 1988. This salute to freedom consists of 28 laminated plaques - each representing an important event in American History. The documents were mounted in the school’s main foyer immediately outside the school office. Grade level student representatives performed skits and portrayed activities of freedom for the entire staff and student body as well as for District Board Members and Administrators.
The “FREEDOM SHRINE” was financially sponsored by the “Max Family” through the Exchange Club of Allentown.
During the 1988-89 school term Sheridan Elementary School became affiliated with the Lee M. Machemer Sr. Sertoma Club of the Lehigh Valley. Through this educational partnership Sheridan’s students are afforded experiences that would not otherwise be possible. This includes unique auditorium programs, educational contests and even an annual visit by Santa Claus complete with gifts for each student.
In October of 1989 Sheridan Elementary School began a cooperative venture with AT&T Corporation. Through this unique school/business partnership AT&T company employees visit Sheridan School on a weekly basis to provide assistance to students experiencing academic and/or social difficulties. Approximately thirty AT&T volunteer employees participate in this partnership. It is through these and “Educational Partnerships” that many unique experiences are afforded Sheridan’s young people.
During the summer of 1992 the staff of Sheridan Elementary School embarked on an exciting initiative aimed at improving overall school effectiveness. Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. offered their resources & expertise in assisting the staff with their goal of taking Sheridan Elementary School to the next level of excellence. Personnel from Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. began work with teachers on developing and implementing an outcome based science curriculum. Both corporations committed themselves to an intensive “long term” “PARTNERSHIP” with Sheridan Elementary School.
During the ‘92-’93 school term each grade one staff member at Sheridan School was paired up with a team of scientists from Air Products. With the support of Air Products an outcome based science curriculum was drafted and published during the year. Each of the five curriculum strands is highlighted to students with a “hands on” presentation by Air Products scientists. The project culminates with a full day visit to Air Products corporate headquarters by our grade one students and staff each year. This outcome based curriculum was developed for grade 2 in ‘93-’94 and grade 3 in ‘94-’95. Grade 4 will develop a new outcome based curriculum during the ‘95-’96 school term, followed by grade 5 in ‘96-’97. This is an outstanding example of educators and corporate professionals working cooperatively for the benefit of children.
In 2001, Sheridan Elementary school was selected as a Property of Merit for Allentown, PA. In 2002 the school was given the honor of Lifetime Property of Merit for being the anchor for the community it is located.
The first principal of the Sheridan School was James F. Gallagher, who served from 1890-1918. Successors in this administrative position and their years of service included:
Hugh Gallagher (1918-1927)
Anna McFaddon (1927-1932)
Fredic J. Doll (1932-1 month)
Arthur R. Berlin (1932-1945)
Laura Bechtel (1945-1946)
Paul M. Yeager (1946-1974)
Mary Turczyn (1974-1979)
Wayne J. Trumbauer (1979 -2001)
Diane Neikam (2001-2002)
Christopher Baldrige (2002-2003)
Michele M. Ryan (2003- )
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