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The Stevens building received its present name, January 10, 1876, by resolution of the board, “in honor of the great defender of the common school system,” Thaddeus Stevens. Prior to that date it was known as the Newtown school.
Stevens School Early Drawing
On the 5th of May, 1857, the township school board decided to purchase lots No. 8 and 4 in block No. 61 from C. P. and B. C. Helfenstein, and on the 19th of June it was resolved to build. A building tax of sixteen hundred dollars was levied, June 26th; the contract was awarded, July 13, 1857, to Benjamin McClow at his bid of eighteen hundred twenty-five dollars, and the work was prosecuted under the direction of Messrs. John and Shipp, building committee. For various reasons this location was not found to be entirely suitable, and on the 5th of June, 1869, the building and grounds were sold to Henry Morgan for five hundred dollars.
Stevens School
Frederick S. Haas, Withington Lake, and M. Emes, a committee of the board, reported in favor of a new location, June 4th; on the 1st of July, 1869, the contract was awarded Joseph E. Thompson at his bid of twenty-two hundred seventy-five dollars, and the building was erected agreeably to plans prepared by Daniel Yost. It was completed in August, 1870, and with extra work the entire cost was twenty-three hundred fifty-six dollars, ninety-five cents.
Stevens School Early Photo
Stevens School circa 1920’s
An addition to this building, similar to that erected at the Penrose building in the previous year, was authorized by the board, July 12, 1875, and a week later Messrs. Schwartz, John, and Robins were appointed a building committee. The work was done by R. S. Aucker under contract for the sum of twenty-seven hundred ninety-five dollars. As again enlarged in 1887 this building comprises eight rooms, in which four intermediate and four primary schools are taught. It is located on Third street at the corner of Spruce.
Construction began on the new elementary building June 6, 1977. Occupancy took place September 1979 for the 1979-1980 school term. The cost of the building was approximately $5.8 million dollars.
Mr. Frank VanDevender was the superintendent of schools when construction began At the time of occupancy Dr. Daniel Witmer was superintendent. Thomas Sanders was the elementary principal at the time.
Serving residents of Coal Township, East Cameron Township, Shamokin City and Shamokin Township, the school has a present capacity for 1,450 students.
The school includes forty-five Regular Class Rooms, three Special Education Rooms, five Kindergarten Classrooms, an Art Room, a Music Suite, Forum (three group instruction), Cafeteria, Multi-Purpose Room,. (Gymnasium-Auditorium), Locker-Shower Rooms, Administrative Suite, Health & Dental Facilities, two Faculty Rooms, a beautiful Library, Remedial Reading Rooms, Remedial Math Area, Teacher Workrooms in each Wing, six C.S.I.U. Special Education Rooms, and a C.S.I.U. Administrative Suite which includes a Conference Room.
When the Shamokin Elementary School was constructed, space was made available for Special Education Classes. These included both District and Intermediate Unit Special Education Programs. The classroom space in the Intermediate Unit Wing was designed to accommodate the special needs of the students.
Since the construction, the Intermediate Unit has operated six programs for students who come from Shamokin as well as other School Districts. Mainstreaming into regular classes has been available to all students. Between classes operated by Shamokin District and the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit, the staff is able to provide appropriate educational programs for special-needs students.
The enrollment in 1987 was 1,185 students and the staff consisted of:
Principal: Mr. Sylverter Schicatano Assistant Principal: Mrs. John Bixler Secretary: Mrs. Charolette Kline Secretary: Mrs. Janet Raker Green Thumb: Mrs. Marie Broskey
