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OUR HISTORY
“An organizational meeting for a school for the Mentally Retarded children of
Adams County was held Monday night at the Wilson Children’s Home with Mrs.
Margaret Stephenson, of Wamsleyville, explaining the importance of such an
undertaking for the county. She also described the benefits to the pupils in the
educational program. The name of the “Happy Hour School” was selected and their
goal is to raise money to support the venture.” This is from an August 20, 1964
newspaper article.
The first class at Happy Hours School had nine children and one teacher, Inda
Evans. The Child Welfare Board administered the program. To oversee the program
a board was formed with Margaret Stephenson as President, Audra Jones as
Secretary, Norma Hayslip as Treasurer, Wanda Combs as Reporter, Teresa Wallace,
and William Woolard.
The program operated in different church basements in West Union until
September, 1969, when it moved to the Oliver Township School. It was purchased
from the local school district for $1.00.
Legislation enacted in 1967 placed the control of the school under the
jurisdiction of the Mental Retardation, and a County Board of Mental Retardation
was formed on November 20, 1967.
In 1976 plans were developed to start an Adult Activity Center for adults in
Seaman. In 1984, Norma Bowman, Superintendent at the time, applied for a grant
from the state for the construction of a new sheltered workshop. The grant was
approved in 1989 and the new workshop called Venture Productions, Inc. was
constructed in West Union.
Through the years, as the local school districts have taken responsibility for
the education of children with disabilities, the preschool and school age
programs have been dropped. The last school age classroom closed at the end of
the 2008-2009 school year. |
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3964 Wheat Ridge Road , West Union, OH 45693
Phone (937)-544-2574
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Website Designed and Maintained by CMoore Web Solutions
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