Trinity High School (Washington, Pennsylvania) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Trinity High School |
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| Location | |
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231 Park Avenue
15301
United States
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| Coordinates | 40°09′53″N 80°14′58″W / 40.16472°N 80.24944°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| School district | Trinity Area School District |
| Principal | Craig Uram |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Color(s) | Blue&White |
| Mascot | Hiller |
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Trinity Hall
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| Nearest city | Washington, Pennsylvania |
| Built | 1857 |
| Architect | Copeland, T.V.; McKim, Mead, and White |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001681 |
| Added to NRHP | September 27, 1976 |
Trinity High School is a public high school located on a hill in Washington, Pennsylvania. Its tall bell tower has been a well-known sight in Washington County for over 100 years. This school is also recognized as a historic landmark by the Washington County History & Landmarks Foundation.
Contents
The History of Trinity High School
How Did Trinity High School Start?
The oldest part of Trinity High School was once a school just for boys. It was called Trinity Hall School for Boys. This school operated from 1879 to 1906. The land where the school stands today has a long history. It goes back to the 1850s.
The Spring Hill Mansion
In the 1850s, a man named Joseph McKnight built a large home. It was a twenty-five room house called Spring Hill. This beautiful Italianate-style mansion was built on top of a hill. It looked over the town of Washington, Pennsylvania. Today, this historic mansion is connected to Trinity High School. It serves as the main offices for the school district.
Later, a wealthy merchant named William Smith bought Spring Hill. He bought it for his son, William Wrenshaw Smith. The Smith family hired a famous landscape artist. His name was Robert Morris Copeland. He helped design the beautiful gardens around the house.
William Wrenshaw Smith had a special connection to history. He was a cousin to Julia Dent, who was married to President Ulysses S. Grant. Wrenshaw Smith even helped President Grant during the Civil War. President Grant visited the Spring Hill mansion many times.
Trinity Hall School for Boys: A Look Back
William Wrenshaw Smith was a very religious man. He helped start Trinity Hall School for Boys. This school followed a special teaching style. It aimed to be like a big family, with a priest guiding the students.
Trinity Hall was open from 1870 to 1906. Many children from important families attended the school. These families included Heinz and Carnegie. Even a grandson of President Grant went to Trinity Hall.
Changes at Trinity Hall
In 1883, Trinity Hall School for Boys started to change. It added a "military department." This was mostly for exercise and discipline. It was not a strict military academy. The school also became more generally Protestant. This was different from its earlier, more specific religious focus.
Different priests led the school over the years. But in the 1890s, William Wrenshaw Smith took over as the main leader. This change might have happened because fewer students were joining. Trinity Hall closed its doors in 1906. This was two years after Smith passed away.
Trinity Hall Becomes Trinity High
After Trinity Hall closed, the building was empty for almost twenty years. In 1925, several local townships decided to buy the property. These townships included Amwell, Canton, North Franklin, and South Strabane. They wanted to turn it into a public high school for all their students.
There was a small problem with the sale. One township secretary refused to sign the papers. But the Pennsylvania Supreme Court made them sign. The original classroom building of Trinity Hall was used until 2004. It was taken down in 2006. However, the Spring Hill mansion part of Trinity Hall is still used today. It serves as offices for the Trinity Area School District.
Today, Trinity High School is a modern public school. It has about 1,279 students in grades 9 through 12. The school is set up like a campus. The Trinity Area School District also has a small Trinity Hall Museum. You can visit it by making an appointment.
Activities and Sports at Trinity High
Trinity High School offers many fun activities and sports. Students can join various teams. These include football, baseball, basketball, and soccer. Other sports are cross-country, track, wrestling, and volleyball. There's also golf, rifle, lacrosse, ice hockey, swimming, softball, tennis, and cheerleading.
The school's sports teams compete in the WPIAL AAA and AAAA divisions. The ice hockey teams play in the PIHL Open Division.
Famous People Who Went to Trinity High
Many successful people have graduated from Trinity High School. Here are a few:
- Abraham Higginbotham – An actor, comedian, and TV producer.
- Jesse William Lazear – A researcher who studied yellow fever.
- Joseph Albert Walker – An American astronaut and test pilot.
