Staples High
School: 120 Years of A+ Education
By Dan Woog
400 pages, 150 photos, and 120
years of memories
The Westport Historical Society is a
proud sponsor of Staples High School: 120 Years of A+ Education. This
book is about the history of Staples High School from 1884 through
today. But it’s more than the story of one renowned, innovative high
school, it’s also the tale of the men and women who made it what it is
today. A story of public education in America, and an intriguing
look at the growth of Westport, Connecticut, from farming village to
artists’ colony to the noted suburb it is today.
Copies of the book may be purchased at
the Westport Historical Society, 25 Avery Place in Westport, or online
at
www.StaplesHistory.com
and
www.ItascaBooks.com.
Artist Howard Munce introduces author Dan
Woog
Author Dan Woog
"Ever since its first graduating class
-- six girls -- Staples High School has been a place of renown. From
1884 -- when 80-year-old Horace Staples built a handsome red brick
building just a few yards from his Riverside Avenue home -- to today, as
an $80 million facility replaces the 50-year-old North Avenue campus,
Staples has been more than just classrooms and courses. It has been a
place of true excitement, of educational innovation, of challenge and
creativity. It has been a national leader in curriculum, student
government, the arts, even sex education.
Through Westport’s growth from a small
farming community to an artists’ colony, then to a booming suburb;
through several wars, one Depression, a baby boom, the wild ‘60s and on
into the 21 st century, Staples has been more than a mirror of its
times. It has helped shaped its town, while significantly impacting the
lives of thousands of young men and women who passed through its halls,
played on its athletic fields and performed on its stages.
More than anything else, Staples is a
place of personalities. Nearly every staff member and student made a
mark on the school. Staples High School: 120 Years of A+ Education tells
the story of all those years, and many of those people. Advanced
Placement and vocational education; Players, Orphenians and Wreckers;
the Student Court, Staples Student Organization and Staples Governing
Board are all here. So too are the voices of Tony Arciola, Jim Calkins,
Wilbur Cross, Karl Decker, Per Haarr, Gerry Kuroghlian, Dick Leonard,
Paul Lane, Albie Loeffler, Gladys Mansir, Craig Matheson, John Ohanian,
Jinny Parker, Al Pia, Vivien Testa, Joy Walker, George Weigle, Jim
Wheeler, and hundreds of other principals, teachers and students. Few
schools in America have as rich and tumultuous a history as Staples –
and none has been as carefully and lovingly chronicled as Staples is
here. "
- Dan Woog
A large crowd came to buy the book and
listen to Dan Woog at the Westport Public Library
A display of paintings, photos and items
about Staples High School
Varsity soccer and football jackets on
display
WHS President Joni Andrews hands a book to
a buyer. Several hundred books were sold in a few hours.
Staples' alums view a slide show about the
school
Author Dan Woog with some of his many
admirers
Photos by Dave Matlow
The Westport Historical Society
offers several other books about Westport's rich history.
