The first building used as Porter Township High School, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, was built in 1874 and was located on the northeast corner of Fourth Street and Wiconisco Avenue, Tower City.
Porter Township High School was established in 1885 and was one of the first high schools in the county. It was housed in this 1874 building. The first principal was J. M. Shrope and the first class graduated in 1888 with two members – Wellington Snyder and E. A. Thompson. The class was examined by Frank P. Henry, who succeeded J. M. Shrope as principal.
In 1893, Tower City was separated from Porter Township, and the schools in Tower City, including the high school building, became the property of Tower City. For some years thereafter, Porter Township students received their high school education in Tower City.
In 1894, a new brick building was erected that was to be used by all Tower City pupils.
In 1896, the 1874 building was sold to Hannah E. Henry, and for many years thereafter it was used as a clothing factory. At the time of the Tower City Centennial [1968], the building was owned by Lester Reibsane.
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Photo and text from the Souvenir Book for the Centennial of Tower City and Porter Township, 1868-1978.
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