Fort Hill High School

Fort Hill High School is a four-year public high school in Cumberland, Maryland, United States, serving 780 students in grades 9 through 12. Fort Hill is part of Allegany County Public Schools.

Fort Hill
High School
Address
500 Greeway Avenue

Cumberland
,
Maryland
21502

United States
Coordinates39°38′39″N 78°44′55″W
Information
School typePublic high school
MottoDeeds, not words
Established1936
School boardAllegany County Board of Education
School districtAllegany County Public Schools
OversightMaryland State Department of Education
SuperintendentJeffrey S. Blank
PrincipalCandy Canan
Grades9-12
Enrollment780[1] (2016)
CampusSuburban
Color(s)Red and white   
Athletics conferenceAMAC
MascotSentinels
Feeder schoolsWashington Middle School
Websitewww.forthillhs.com

History

Fort Hill High School was one of three local New Deal projects. Fort Hill High school was a Public Works Administration project. Nearby Constitution Park and Greeway Avenue Stadium were Works Progress Administration projects

New Deal funding relating to Fort Hill was initiated in November 1934 and September 1935, when the PWA committed federal funds not to exceed $230,000. The project was labeled PWA Docket #7323.[2] Other sources brought the total amount pledged for the school to $600,000. Bids were submitted to local officials.

On April 5, 1936, it was announced that George Hazelwood, local contractor, had the lowest bid at $557,809. The initial contract did not provide funding for the auditorium, so the superintendent of schools was authorized to investigate the possibilities of requesting an increase in the grant from the PWA. Subcontractors were William M. Clark of New Castle, Pennsylvania, and Sterling Electric Company of Cumberland, Maryland.

A discussion ensued concerning the naming of the new school - suggested names were Queen City High School, Potomac High School, Fort and Hill High School and Fort Hill High School. The Board of Education of Allegany County unanimously decided upon the name Fort Hill High School on August 12, 1936. The "Fort" reference was derived from a Civil War skirmish at Nave's Crossroad often referred to as the Battle of Folck's Mill. The high ground above the mill was fortified by Union troops against Confederate forces.

When Fort Hill opened, it had 1763 students and 88 teachers. Mr. Heisey was the first principal. Subjects included English, Mathematics, French, Latin, History, Home Economics, Physical Education, Industrial Arts, and Journalism. Music was taught to seventh and eighth graders, who were also located here. Assemblies were held every week, with the junior high and senior high alternating weeks.

Margaret Smith, part of the first group of students, suggested "Res, Non Verba" as the school motto. The Latin phrase translates into "Deeds, Not Words" and is still the school motto.

The school has undergone renovations and additions. In 1980 a gymnasium was built adjacent to the original facility. The entire building underwent a major renovation in 1991–92 with the additions of a music wing, greenhouse, and art rooms. Part of the renovation was a courtyard with its multiple features including classrooms, a playground, and patio with picnic tables.

Athletics

Football

The school has fielded a team for 86 seasons (1936-2021), playing 898 total games (700 wins, 181 losses, 17 ties), producing an all-time winning percentage of 79%.[3]

  • Fort Hill has won nine state football championships since the inception of the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association state playoffs in 1974: 1975 (3A), 1997 (2A), 2013 (1A), 2014 (1A), 2015 (1A), 2016 (1A), 2018 (1A), 2021 (1A), and 2022 (1A).[4]
  • Fort Hill has a Maryland state record of most undefeated regular seasons at 20: 1948, 1950, 1957, 1958, 1963, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021.[5]
  • Fort Hill has a Maryland state record of most undefeated seasons overall at 13: 1948, 1950, 1957, 1958, 1963, 1973, 1975, 1997, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021.[6]

Facilities

The school gymnasium is used for league basketball.

Greenway Avenue Stadium, located at the school, was constructed in the 1930s by the Public Works Administration as part of President Roosevelt's New Deal and was built for the high school as Fort Hill Stadium. The stadium, since renamed as Greenway Avenue stadium and shared with Allegany High School, is considered to be an historic landmark. A $7 million renovation project to update and expand the 70-year-old facility has been completed.[7]

Notable alumni

References
  1. "Fort Hill High". NCES. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  2. "Fort Hill High School – New Deal Project". Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  3. "All-Time Fort Hill Coaching Records". Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  4. "MPSSAA Fall Record Book - Football" (PDF). Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  5. "MPSSAA Fall Record Book - Football" (PDF). Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  6. "MPSSAA Fall Record Book - Football" (PDF). Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  7. 2007 Bond Bill Fact Sheet: Greenway Avenue Stadium, State of Maryland. Accessed June 20, 2007.
  8. Rebeca Arthur, Western Maryland Public Libraries. Accessed October 10, 2007.
  9. James Fanto Deetz Archived February 19, 2006, at the Wayback Machine, Minnesota State University. Accessed June 15, 2007. "In 1948 James Deetz graduated from Fort Hill High School, in Cumberland Maryland."
  10. Burke, Mike. "'It was just a blast playing for him!'", The Edmond Sun, February 12, 2007. Accessed June 15, 2007. "In 1974, Manges was the recipient of the Dapper Dan Club’s Top Award after being named a high school All-American quarterback while playing for Fort Hill."
  11. "Something so good, so true from the start". The Cumberland Times-News. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
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