Park Street Commencement

The first school in Grove City was an existing log structure located on Lot 32 at School Street (Park Street) and Alley #2 (Arbutus Avenue), according to research by Faye Morland in her book, Epoch of the Park Street School. A new wood frame structure was built on the site around 1862 and replaced in 1888 by a brick, two story school. A three-year high school curriculum was offered at the Park Street School around 1893 and three years later, the first graduation class was all girls, as shown. By 1908, an issue over a Presbyterian or Methodist prayer caused a community uproar just before a commencement service. The school board wanted to hold the ceremony at Adam Grant’s auditorium but he initially refused because he wanted a “good old Methodist prayer” so the board made plans to hold the commencement at the Presbyterian Church. Grant backed down and allowed the school board to used his auditorium with a Presbyterian sermon and prayer.