Donations to the 25th MPTCC Anniversary Fund can also be mailed to MPTCC, Box 266, 20 Wabash Avenue, Hickory PA 15340
Hickory High School was established in 1902 as successor to Hickory Academy. The first class graduated in 1906 and the last class in 1959. The school had many official names over the years but was always known as Hickory High School. The original Hickory High School was on Main Street in the building formerly occupied by Jay Allison Plumbing. The building on Wabash Avenue was built in 1914 and was completely placed into service for the 1915-1916 school year.
The following is taken from the July 4, 1959 commencement program:
"Hickory has been known as a school and residence town for a century. The history of our school certainly carries out that description. Early in 1913, the Board of Education of Mount Pleasant Township decided that the high school, organized in 1902, must be expanded and modernized. About the same time, the state of Pennsylvania was planning to set up a vocational education program on the secondary level. Fortunately, the two groups were able to combine ideas, and Hickory was selected as the location for one of the first five vocational high schools in our state."
With the jointure of McDonald, Midway, Robinson Township and Mount Pleasant Township, a new high school (Fort Cherry) was planned and built. It opened to Junior and Senior High School students in the fall of 1959. From that time until 1989 the Hickory School building was used as the Hickory Elementary School. In 1989 the Fort Cherry Elementary School was opened.
Through the efforts of John McCarty, Willard (Bud) Allison '46 and others, in 1990 the unused building was purchased by Mount Pleasant Township for one dollar and work began to convert it into a community center. The project was started by McCarty, Allison and Dick Brown, '55 and carried on by Bob Phillips, Jack Caldwell, '44, Bob Smith, '39, George Hoop, '40, Rich McClain and many, many other caring individuals.
The following is taken from the July 4, 1959 commencement program:
"Hickory has been known as a school and residence town for a century. The history of our school certainly carries out that description. Early in 1913, the Board of Education of Mount Pleasant Township decided that the high school, organized in 1902, must be expanded and modernized. About the same time, the state of Pennsylvania was planning to set up a vocational education program on the secondary level. Fortunately, the two groups were able to combine ideas, and Hickory was selected as the location for one of the first five vocational high schools in our state."
With the jointure of McDonald, Midway, Robinson Township and Mount Pleasant Township, a new high school (Fort Cherry) was planned and built. It opened to Junior and Senior High School students in the fall of 1959. From that time until 1989 the Hickory School building was used as the Hickory Elementary School. In 1989 the Fort Cherry Elementary School was opened.
Through the efforts of John McCarty, Willard (Bud) Allison '46 and others, in 1990 the unused building was purchased by Mount Pleasant Township for one dollar and work began to convert it into a community center. The project was started by McCarty, Allison and Dick Brown, '55 and carried on by Bob Phillips, Jack Caldwell, '44, Bob Smith, '39, George Hoop, '40, Rich McClain and many, many other caring individuals.