History of Northern  

The citizens of Durham County approved a bond issue in 1952 to build a new high school in northern Durham County, to consolidate Mangum and Bragtown High Schools.  The land for the school was an airfield and apple orchard. 

September 1, 1955           

Northern High School opened with an enrollment of 502 students in grades 9 – 12. 

§          Students came from the feeder schools of Glenn, Hillandale, Mangum and Bragtown elementary schools. 

§          Mr. M. E. McDonald was principal and there was a staff of twenty-one teachers. 

§          Roger Garrett was president of the first Student Council at Northern High School. 

§          Mike Umstead was president of the senior class. 

§          There were 86(?) graduates in the first graduation class in 1956. 

§          The building had seventeen classrooms, a home economics department, a shop, a library, and gymnasium. 

§          The president of the P.T.S.A. was Mrs. Janet Ashe in 1955-56. 

§          The first school committee was as follows:  Mr. W. H. Smith, Chairman; Mr. H. J. Prout, Secretary; Mr. Garland Gunter; Mr. O. A. Johnson; and Mr. Claxtion Sutton. 

§          Mr. E. B. Clements was chairman of the Northern High School Receational and Educational Association, Inc.  Their major project was the construction of a lighted athletic field for the school.  The project was completed at a cost of $30,000.00.  The field was named for Mr. E. B. Clements in the summer of 1956. 

§          Mrs. J. P. Byars was the first secretary to the principal. 

§          Mrs. W. H. Hay was the first cafeteria manager. 

§          Mrs. Nan M. Green was the first librarian.  The Library had a total of 3989 books. 

§          Mrs. H. L. Hassell was the director of High School Curriculum and Personnel. 

§          The Library Club and the Student Council presented the school with an oil portrait of Superintendent Charles H. Chewning.  The portrait was unveiled at the P.T.S.A. meeting on October 8, 1956.  Holman Brown and Ruby Currin made the presentation speeches.  Charles Chewning Jr. unveiled the portrait.                                               

1956                                       Clements Football Field completed. 

1958                                       The auditorium, bandroom, and additional classrooms North Hall, N1-N10, opened for students. 

1963                                       North Hall classrooms, N11-N22, opened for students. 

1966                                       The cafeteria addition was completed.  The enrollment in 1965-66 was 852. 

1975                                       The South Wing (Harrison Hall) was completed providing thirty- teaching stations. 

1981                                       The new Guidance and Main Office complex was completed. 

1982                                       Poe Gymtorium was completed.  The number of faculty was 92 and the enrollment was 1673 with a graduating class of 405. 

1984                                       The new Vocational Wing was completed.  The number of faculty was 99. 

1988                                       The First Phase of New Science Wing and Tennis Courts were completed. 

1993                                       The old Vocational Wing was renovated and new additions completed. 

1994                                       The new Arts Department Wing was completed.  North and West Halls were renovated.  The Second Phase of the New Science Wing was completed.  There was also an addition to the Library and renovations on the existing space. 

1995                                       Major additions were made to the cafeteria and the commons area.  The entire building complex was air-conditioned.