Terrebonne High School - History

History

On July 7, 1908, it was announced that bids would be taken for the new building. The first building constructed as a high school in Terrebonne Parish was completed in 1909. Built to handle up to 400 students, it was located on the corner of Goode and Point Streets behind the St. Francis de Sales church.

When Mr. W.P. Tucker died in 1909, Mr. Foote succeeded him and became the first professionally trained educator to serve as superintendent. The second principal of THS, Mr. A.E. Phillips, served from 1910 to 1914. The 1910 census noted that he had been previously employed in the sewing machine business.

With a larger school capable of handling more students, the Superintendent Foote began work on consolidating the school system in 1910. Rather than have many small schools scattered around the parish, students would be given the opportunity to travel to Houma to attend school. Obviously, transportation was an issue. To help foster attendance from outside the city, boats (known as transfers) were used to shuttle students to and from school.

In 1911, several new endeavors began at THS. In that year, the commercial (business) classes began. The tennis club started that school year. At the end of the school year, the juniors began holding an annual event in which they bid farewell to the seniors.

Even in its early days, there were student organizations. The 4H club began a group at THS in 1914. Other clubs of the day included the Glee Club, the Reporter’s Club, and two literary societies (Washington Irving and Alpha Beta Gamma).

One of the earliest sports at THS was football. The organization of the program in those days was very casual. For example, the coach for the 1914 team was the quarterback Allen LeCompte. The earliest surviving yearbook (1915) reveals the males played football, basketball, baseball, track, and had a tennis club. Girls played baseball and basketball as well. Most sports were made up of class teams that played against each other in-school. While there were in-school football games, the football team did play other schools. Their 1914 record was 2-2-1. The girls’ basketball team also played several games against other teams.

At that time, the high school grades consisted of eighth through twelfth grades. For the 1914-1915 school year, 53.8% of students passed all subjects. A bit more than half (59%) of the student body was female. Those females were also scoring better grades than the males (85.1% to 79.8%). The average age of both boys and girls in high school was 17. Attendance at high school was 94%. The common punishment for talking and other offenses was to stay 45 minutes after dismissal (for girls) or to walk “tours” around the block a number of times (for boys). In the spring, there would be an annual rally in which students from around the parish met at THS for academic and athletic competition.

A large clock was purchased (with the funds raised by the 1914 senior play) and placed in the hallway. Statues of Washington, Lee, Franklin, and Longfellow were placed in the library in 1915. Two large pictures on the “Evolution of the Book” were placed in the hallway. Though the Ladies’ Auxiliary bought many books for the library, the senior play “Puss in Boots” also contributed money for books after the funds were used to pay for the Panorama.

The year 1914 brought a new superintendent, Mr. Henry L. Bourgeois, who had been the principal of the Romesville High School. Mr. Foote moved to a new job and eventually ended up in Baton Rouge as the supervisor for rural schools statewide. Mr. Bourgeois continued Mr. Foote’s efforts to consolidate the schools. The number of boat transfers increased. The boats were joined by buses in the early 1930s.

The yearbook, previously published only in 1908, resumed publication in 1913. It was also produced in 1914, 1915, and 1916. The next yearbook would not be published until 1938. The 1913 yearbook contained the THS alma mater, pledging allegiance to a flag of crimson and gold. The early yearbooks give us a glimpse at school life in those days.

When Mr. Phillips left to become Superintendent of Schools in Arkadelphia, Arkansas in 1914, Mr. O. H. Briedenbach (then principal of Bunkie High School) became principal of THS. The student population was 950, 110 of which were in the high school department. Though called Terrebonne High School, students from primary grades through seniors attended classes in the building.

During Briedenbach's tenure as principal (1914-1918), it became apparent that the student body was outgrowing the relatively new building. Plans were made for a new school to be located on the block behind the courthouse. The old rooster firehouse and the old school building on the block were torn down at that time. A contract for a new school building was signed on April 3, 1918.

In those days, students had to pass an entrance exam to enter college. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools established an accreditation program whereby accredited school graduates did not have to take the exam. In 1914, Terrebonne High became the second high school in the state (after Saline High School in 1905) to receive accreditation. Two other schools were accredited in 1914.

Today, Terrebonne High houses grades 10-12 with some freshmen on campus. Most freshmen attend Houma Junior High School. It is the second oldest accredited high school in the state of Louisiana. The accreditation was awarded by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1914. During this time Terrebonne High School has occupied four different buildings; the old Houma Fireman's Hall, the Houma Elementary Building on Goode and Point Streets, the Houma Junior High building on the site on the original Fireman's building or "rooster school" which is the present location of the courthouse annex, and the present Terrebonne High School building on West Main Street in Houma.