The Graduates - Part I Hernando High School 1892 - 1951

Old Brooksville
May 13
2 min read

Updated: May 15

Stories by Robert Martinez

This is the first part of the Hernando High School Graduates from 1892 to 1951. If you wonder why it took so long for the county to have a high school, one must take into consideration that after the Civil War ended in 1865, the South was devastated economically and spiritually. While northern states had high schools as early as the 1840s to 1850s, most young people of age in the South were forced to work on their farms at an early age or drop out of school to help supplement the family income. Even as late as the 1950s and early 1960s, there were a few kids forced to give up school out of necessity and earn an income. So it does not give an accurate portrayal of the intelligence of our youth seeing so few graduates during Hernando High's early years. After 1920 that would change considerably when the economy was booming. More and more young folks were graduating. Today, we take a high school diploma for granted, but back in the 19th and early part of the 20th century, a high school diploma was equivalent to a college degree for many families.

Thanks to the following for their contributions

John White

George Allen Jr.

Elaine Crum Sullivan

Jayden Koester

Rare photo of the very first Hernando High which opened in 1889 and remained in operation until 1909.

Florida State Agricultural College football team (1899) located in Lake City, featured the first Hernando High School graduate, Hardy Croom, who played right guard. The team went undefeated because they could find no one to play them. In 1905, the college became the University of Florida and moved to Gainesville.

Three Hernando High School young ladies (1902) Nell Coogler, Mildred Martin and Alice Hale

A scary crowd! A 1911 Brooksville Halloween party shows a variety of bizarre costumes. This photo was taken at the old Hernando High School which was just south of town.