Deer Park Bicentennial: Throwback Thursday | April 30, 2026
Celebrating Our First Century: A Centennial Jubilee and an East Wing
From a small log schoolhouse in the 1826 wilderness, to a “modern” 12 room school in a village; from one teacher and all grades in one classroom, to a teacher and classroom for every grade; from heating the school with a fireplace, to heating the school with a furnace; from carrying a bucket of drinking water from a spring, to having drinking fountains; a lot can change in a hundred years.
The community was proud of the growth and progress of their school now officially known as the Deer Park Village School.* To celebrate the century milestone and the new expansion of the school that was under way, a Centennial Jubilee and Home-Coming was planned by the Amity PTA. On Saturday, August 7th, 1926, an all day celebration was held on the lawn of Amity School. The jubilee was likely a picnic allowing previous students time to visit and reminisce. The afternoon was filled with festivities featuring interesting games and contests for children and adults alike.
Ribbon worn by attendees of the 100th anniversary celebration.
“Centennial Jubilee and Home-Coming” athletic program
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A more formal program began at 7:00 p.m. with “The Call of the Old School Bell.” Caroline Schenck, a descendent of Daniel Schenck, our district’s founder, gave the welcoming address. Politician, Charles P. Taft II, son of President William Howard Taft, spoke on the “Pioneers of Cincinnati.” The program concluded with the ringing of the Amity school bell. The celebration continued with an evening of dancing in the school auditorium until midnight.
Clyde Sullivan, architect of the new addition commented about the celebration day, “It was held outside on the newly seeded lawn. The new lawn had been covered with fresh manure, and the odor combined with the heat of the day, made the dedication ceremonies very uncomfortable, yet it was a memorable day for all who were there.”
“Centennial Jubilee and Home-Coming” evening ceremony program
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At the time of the Centennial Jubilee, work was already underway on the addition of an east wing to the Amity building which would add four more classrooms and an auditorium (later known as the gym). As part of the renovations, the belfry was removed from the center of the original building, and the bell was sold. The front of the building, including the stone foundation was covered with a new façade of brick to match the new east wing. Porticos with columns were added to the front entrances, and the windows were enlarged. The cornerstone on the building indicates the work was completed in 1927. Students attending the school at this time recollected a time capsule of some sort may have been placed with this cornerstone.
Amity School, erected 1906
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Deer Park Village School (Amity), 1927 After renovations and addition of the east wing
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A newspaper article reported the school is “…. a beautiful building equipped with electric lights, telephone, and water is supplied by the city water system. Drinking fountains have been installed on the playground as well as in the building. The playground is one of the finest in Hamilton County, consisting of about two acres where baseball, basketball and other games are played.” Restrooms were not added to the building until the mid-1930s. Until then, students used boy and girl outhouses along the back of the property near Linden Ave.
The 1927 addition of the east wing was much needed. At the time of the Centennial Jubilee, the school enrollment was 300 students in grades one through eight. They were taught by eight classroom teachers and one music teacher. Just four years later, the enrollment was 500 students taught by fourteen teachers. Even with the new east wing, the building was bursting with students. Deer Park Village School was well respected around the county for producing well rounded students as they often won first honors in the county oratorical contests as well as spelling and athletic contests. “The school was noted for its thoroughness in work in studentship and for its moral training.”
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As Deer Park Village School, celebrated its first century and prepared for its second, it reflected on its responsibility to students and the community. The Centennial Jubilee program concluded with, “And now, friends, at this Home Coming, let us resolve ever to be alert to the interests of Amity School; to form high ambitions and noble resolutions for the success and progress of this Seat of Learning. In the language of the Historian, ‘The past has taught its lesson, the present has its duty and the future its hope.’”
“The past has taught its lesson, the present has its duty and the future its hope.”
As we stand at the cusp of the third century of Deer Park Schools, this remains our charge—our responsibility to honor what has come before, to lead with purpose today, and to boldly shape what comes next.
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* Note: By 1926, Amity Special District, No. 9 had officially changed its name to Deer Park Village School. The building itself was still referred to as Amity.
Sources:
- “Centennial Jubilee and Home-Coming” - program for Deer Park Village School, 1926
- “History of Deer Park Schools,” essay
- “The Sentinel, Deer Park Special Edition,” June 7, 1972
- “Sycamore Messenger, Deer Park Golden Anniversary Edition,” May 17, 1962
Article, “School System Deer Park’s Pride.” - Amity a Reflection, 2007
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
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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.
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