Deer Park Bicentennial: Throwback Thursday | April 16, 2026
“It Takes a Village” – The first 50 years of the Deer Park PTA:
From the first meeting Daniel Schenck held in 1826 asking local pioneers to support the building and funding of a school for their children, the parents of the community have always been a key facet to the growth and success of Deer Park Schools. This involvement and support for their children’s education was evident in the early 1900s with the formation of a mothers’ club which evolved into what is today the Deer Park PTO.
By the early 1900s, the Amity School District had a new school building and enrollment had grown to 150 students in grades 1-8. During this time of expansion, two mothers conceived of the idea of organizing a club with the purpose of establishing a closer relationship between home and school and becoming more involved in their children’s education. Other interested women were invited to help develop the constitution and by-laws for the club, and on April 9, 1909 a meeting was held at the home of Mrs. John Chamberlain. Officers were elected, and the name The Amity Mothers Club was chosen. Twenty women became active members of the club that day.
Ribbon worn by members of Amity Mothers Club
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The Mothers Club held monthly afternoon meetings at the school. Besides conducting business, there was typically a speaker on a topic of interest or other entertainment provided. Teachers attended meetings and took part by giving talks or having students present programs. Meetings concluded with a social hour. Refreshments were provided by a committee. However, each lady brought her own cup, spoon and plate to the meeting.
Amity Mothers Club on front lawn of Amity School, 1913
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The mothers were interested in their children developing useful skills beyond the classroom. They encouraged the children to take on projects such as raising gardens, building birdhouses or similar structures, sewing, baking and crocheting. Each fall, the Mothers Club held an exhibit at the school of the projects the boys and girls had accomplished. Prizes donated by local merchants were given for the best student projects in each class. This fall exhibit was so popular that in later years, parents also got involved and competed against each other with their own projects.
The women of the club raised money to benefit the school with events such as holding rummage sales, sponsoring dinners and putting on plays. The proceeds they raised were used for various things to help outfit the school such as purchasing books, pictures and furniture for classrooms, planting shrubs, donating carpet and curtains for the stage, buying playground equipment and purchasing supplies for teachers. They also felt a duty to others and helped less fortunate members of the community.
Amity Mothers Club members in front of Amity School, 1913 (Mrs. Hunt, Mrs. Pierson, Mrs. Schenck)
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In 1925, the Amity Mothers Club joined the state and national PTA and changed its name to the Amity Parent Teacher Association. Fathers and teachers could now be members. In May of that year, the first Fathers Night was celebrated with thirty fathers as new members. Three meetings a year were held at night so fathers could attend.
The PTA continued to use their funds to purchase items for the school, but also began looking for broader ways to benefit the students and community. Funds were used to provide assemblies for students, establish a health clinic in the school, hold evening study classes for adults, coordinate the annual “Summer Round Up” for eye and ear exams for children and to continue their support of the less fortunate. They also understood the importance of social activities and held functions such as an annual Christmas party, teacher luncheons, father/son and mother/daughter banquets, ladies’ gym class and a dance for the graduating class.
Teacher luncheon in Amity cafeteria, 1948
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During World War II, the Amity PTA felt the stress of war as fewer of their members were able to volunteer or attend meetings as many women went to work to help with the defense effort or volunteered at hospitals. Rationing, brownouts and shortages curtailed what the PTA could do. However, they pivoted with a “Women at War Committee” and sent Christmas cards to young men and women in any branch of the service who once attended our school. They assisted with sugar, gasoline and canned goods rationing as part of the war effort. They gave supper parties for the boys (and their parents) who were leaving for the service. They carried on with blood banks, Red Cross work and selling War Bonds to help the war effort. A certificate for patriotic service given to the Amity PTA shows they sold $8,500 in War Bonds.
Our PTA has a long history of supporting dance and musical pursuits. The Amity PTA Glee Club was formed in 1930 composed of mothers and teachers. It was directed by beloved music teacher, Dorothy Howard for whom Howard School was later named. The glee club remained active for many years and presented programs at school and to various groups around Cincinnati.
Amity PTA Glee Club, 1932
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The PTA promoted music and the arts by sponsoring field trips for students to Children’s Theater and the symphony. Since at least the 1940s, the PTA sponsored dance classes for students with classes being held at Amity. The annual spring dance revue (later recital) was always a highly anticipated event. The performances were originally held on the Amity stage, but were moved to Crawford Auditorium in later years to accommodate the large audiences of proud families. The PTA continued offering dance classes until the early 2000s.
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Deer Park PTA Spring Dance Recitals
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The PTA also held annual variety shows in the Amity gym as fundraisers and social events. It wasn’t unusual for 65 or more parents and teachers to take active parts in the shows which were held in the Amity gym. The shows were very popular with the community and raised significant money over the years that the PTA put towards benefitting our schools and students.
News clipping announcing PTA Variety Show
PTA Variety Show on Amity stage
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With the opening of the new high school on Plainfield Road in 1952, it was decided the needs of the growing school district could best be served with separate PTAs. The Amity PTA continued to serve the elementary school, and a new Deer Park High School PTA was organized. A focus of the High School PTA was purchasing items the new school building needed during its first years. Another focus of both PTAs during this time was the new technology of Educational TV for which there were high expectations. Many thousands of dollars were collected to advance this project of which the PTAs donated to generously.
With the growth of the city of Deer Park and of Sycamore Township, the district’s enrollment was quickly increasing. The PTAs actively worked to support the passage of building bonds for both Holmes and Howard Elementary Schools to be built. With the opening of the two new elementary schools in 1958, the Amity PTA changed names to the Deer Park Elementary PTA so all three schools were now united and working together as one organization. The growth of the school district was reflected in the 1959 PTA membership of 1,131 parents and teachers!
In the 1950s and 60s, the PTA organized carnivals or fairs which were popular with families and successful fundraisers. There were game booths and booths for family photos with bathing suit and tandem bike cutouts. Pony, train and ferris wheel rides entertained the children. A food truck sold cotton candy, ice balls, candy apples and popcorn. There was a penny candy and cake stand, and if you still had room for supper the women served a Jitney Dinner (a low cost meal where you may be charged by the scoop).
The annual teacher recognition dinner also began near this time. In the early days, it was typically held in the Amity gym or cafeteria. The school band provided music before dinner, and there was entertainment after the meal. Parents bought tickets to attend the dinner and entertained the teachers with musical numbers and skits such as “The Hiring of a School Marm.” The tradition changed over time, but the recognition dinner continued well into the early 2000s.
Many of these customs that took root during the first 50 years of the Mothers Club and PTA were continued during the following decades. At the same time, new projects, events and organizations were initiated to mesh with the changing times. The Deer Park Athletic Boosters and Band Sponsors were formed to meet the needs of more specific Deer Park programs (e.g. athletics and the arts). In 2006, the elementary and high school PTAs merged into the Deer Park PTO to better serve our students under one umbrella. All these parent organizations have the same overarching goal as the Mothers Club did nearly 120 years ago. That is parents and schools working together to meet the needs of students and to enrich their learning and extracurricular experiences. Deer Park Schools has truly been fortunate to have such dedicated parents as our partners in education for more than a century.
Sources:
- Historian Scrapbook 1909-1960 – P.T.A.
- “The Origin of the Amity Mothers Club”
- “Questions/answers from the Secretary Book of the Amity Mothers Club”
- “History of Amity PTA”
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“Annual Report of the President” – various years
- “PTA Historian Report” – various years
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“Amity School PTA Fiftieth Anniversary” – booklet
If you have artifacts or photos of PTA/PTO events from any time period that you would like to donate to Deer Park Schools to help us preserve our history, you may drop them off at the Holmes building in care of Jake Snyder or email to snyder.j@dpccsd.org . Including any information you know about the photo or item would be of help.
A sincere effort has been made to convey the history as accurately as possible from artifacts, documents and personal narratives in the district’s archives.
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Learn More
Community members, alumni, and supporters are encouraged to stay connected as the celebration approaches by signing up for Bicentennial updates on the district website.
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Don't Trash It, Donate It Instead!
Deer Park Schools is also asking alumni and community members to help preserve the district’s history. If you have Deer Park memorabilia — such as yearbooks, photographs, letterman jackets, uniforms, or other school items — please consider donating them back to the district so they can be featured during bicentennial celebrations.
Alumni & Community Story Submission
As Deer Park Schools prepares to celebrate its 200th Anniversary in 2026, we are collecting memories, photos, and memorabilia from alumni and community members to help tell the story of Deer Park Schools.
If you have a favorite memory, historic photo, or item connected to Deer Park Schools, we would love to hear from you.
Your submission may be featured in Bicentennial displays, district publications, social media features, or community events throughout the celebration.