The History of Landis School

The Beginning

     Vineland's first high school wasn't really a school at all. A small cluster of scholars and their pedagogues made use of Cosmopolitan Hall on Plum Street in a make-shift sort of way. This parcel of center city real estate was donated by Charles K. Landis, Vineland's founder, for the purpose of public enlightenment.
     (It is now used as the parking lot for the Vineland Public School's central office.)
     With the growth of Vineland's population, and the concurrent expansion of educational achievement, construction of a high school became tantamount to the town's success. In place of temporary facilities, a large, impressive school was built on the corner of Sixth and Plum Street.
     Ulysses S. Grant was president then and he happened to be a good friend of our Mr. Landis. So, it came to be that history was made when President Grant led the procession to dedicate Vineland's new high school. The year was 1874. This handsome school was eventually renamed Central School when the next new high school opened down the street. This new high school in turn became Reber School and is now the central office for Vineland Public Schools.

Vineland Grows

     Years passed. Vineland became a large and prosperous town. The city faced the challenge of providing secondary education to a population of recently-arrived immigrant families who could only dream of high school diplomas for their sons and daughters. The challenge was met with the dedication of Vineland's landmark Gothic Revival high school on West Landis Avenue. It is this school that the elder townsfolk think of as Vineland High.
     The members of the Board of Education were praised at the school's dedication (shown right) by New Jersey Governor A. Harry Moore for their ability to plan for the future as well as the present. The year was 1927. Public officials spared no expense when they selected the prestigious school architect, James O. Betelle, to design the new high school. The school was equipped with the latest in educational technology: Print shop, mechanical drawing room and metal shop were the boy's domain. These classrooms, along with the girl's domestic science and typing classes drew students, not college-bound, to prepare for the changing employment scene. The more academically inclined could enroll in college preparatory curriculum. A sunny art room and a music annex gave everyone a chance to enjoy culture. Poster-size diplomas of the time list the variety of degree programs students could pursue in their state-of-the-art high school.

School Days Arrive

     Mr. Ralph Kocher was appointed principal under the administration of Supervising Principal Herman Weidner. Superintendents weren't in style yet. Mr. Weidner was known to have stopped in to classrooms to show the ropes to new teachers, when necessary. Faculty received report card "grades "from the principal and, in turn, presided over their students with an iron hand.
     However, student pranks were common then, as now, especially involving classmates' automobiles. The prized possessions were parked strategically within view from classroom windows as a hedge against class clowns. The clock in the school's 80-foot tower showed the correct time. Radio communication over walkie-talkies was required to set the giant hands. An observer across Landis Avenue would report the position of the hands as the proper time was set.
Years passed. Generations of students in turn arrived, studied and graduated Mrs. Anna Clippinger was promoted from assistant to principal. School plays were performed. The school newspaper, The Hi-Spots, was published. Everyone traveled to Washington D.C. in the spring. There were two chances to graduate - one in February, and one in June, (an arrangement, dropped suddenly, that continues to puzzle this historian).
     After the students were dismissed for the day, the high school doubled as a social center for Vineland. Since fire had claimed Cosmopolitan Hall in 1917, when people called it simply The Auditorium, the city had to use the Grand Theater for civic events. That was until the new high school opened The architect had thoughtfully planned public entrances to auditorium and gymnasium facilities. The 1,000 seat auditorium was equipped with a projection booth for cinematic entertainment. The stage proscenium was beautifully ornamented with plaster rosettes. For a final touch of elegance, the auditorium was surrounded with oak wainscoting. A balcony was included for maximum seating capacity and a lovely view of the performers. Once it opened, the Vineland High School auditorium was the premier gathering spot for the town.

The Modern Age

     Miss Mary Rossi (shown left) became Vineland High School's principal after that and enjoyed a long tenure. During this extended era, Gittone Stadium was improved and replaced Landis Park for football games. This was also the time spectators began to enjoy the view of the rear facade of the school from the stands, a view which is still enjoyed by football fans today.

     The seniors still went to Washington in the spring, unless they behaved too badly and had to be kept home as a lesson. In June, they donned gray robes, marched into Gittone Stadium, turned their tassels and proceeded into their future.
     About in the early 1960 's something known as the baby boom finally caught up with this beautiful high school. Suddenly, it was too small and the Board of Education began to consider building something bigger and more modern. This state-of-the-art high school opened across town. What was once the best high school in the state began to show signs of being obsolete. The year was 1963.
The Vineland High School name carved in stone above the entrance was covered with a new sign that read "Landis Jr. High School". C. Edward Lipartito was principal and he was succeeded by Dante Guiliani when the Junior high concept was replaced by something new, the middle school. The action now centered around the new high school across town. The Landis School Historical Committee began to uncover the original beauty of the old school. The seats in the auditorium were worn out. Paint covered the once gleaming oak wainscoting and the curtains were faded, James Brown was principal. The year was 1987.
     As interest in the school's history revived, the case was made in the state capital for formal recognition of Vineland High School's, (now called Landis Middle School), importance. In Washington D.C., historians agreed that the school was indeed special and added to their list of valuable historic sites. It is called the National Register of Historic Places. The Board of Education decided to fix up the auditorium so it could look as it once had in its prime. Off came the paint, in went new seats, that look just like the original ones. And, as the focus of the lovely theater, the old Vineland High School logo that greeted the audience all through the years. Thomas McCann was principal. The year is 1997.

by Jane Brandt, school historian