[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 18, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1337]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           REMEMBERING TOLEDO'S MACOMBER-WHITNEY HIGH SCHOOL

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                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 18, 2013

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, this weekend in my home community of Toledo, 
Ohio, hundreds of alumni from Macomber-Whitney High School will gather 
together to renew friendships and recall their high school years in a 
first all class reunion. The weekend events will feature riverside 
gatherings, tours, and a dinner.
  Vocational High School began training students in 1927. The school 
was moved to its own location, and Irving E. Macomber Vocational 
Technical High School opened its doors in 1938. Named for the man who 
helped develop Toledo's schools and parks, Macomber educated boys 
serving the entire city and was part of the Toledo Public School 
District.
  Harriet Whitney High School began providing a vocational public 
education to high school age girls in 1939. The school's namesake was 
Toledo's first school teacher nearly a century before. Whitney, too, 
served the entire city and was part of the Toledo Public School 
District.
  In 1959, Whitney and Macomber High School became joint-operational. 
The schools were next-door to each other and became known as Macomber-
Whitney. Despite the fact that they shared an urban campus and some 
operations, the two schools remained completely separate in faculties, 
enrollments, and curriculum until the 1973-1974 school year. In the 
spring of 1972, an assembly was held for Macomber sophomores. They were 
told that they could major in one of several programs offered at 
Whitney, taking core courses at Whitney and other courses required for 
graduation at Macomber. The available programs included Distributive 
Education, Business Technology, Marketing, and Data Processing. About 
fifty boys signed up. After initial adjustment, the program change 
worked well.
  The Macomber Macmen were members of the Toledo City League and 
sported the colors of black and gold. Their main rivals were the Scott 
Bulldogs, which was especially heated in their basketball match-ups. 
The Macmen earned a team state title came in 1989, when the boys 
basketball team won the Division I state championship. The Lady Macs 
won two league titles: one for track & field in 1987 and one for 
basketball in the 1990-91 season.
  As enrollment declined toward the end of the last century, the 
decision was made to close Macomber-Whitney High School at the end of 
the 1990-91 school year. The Whitney building continued as home to 
adult education classes, but was demolished in 2011 by Toledo Public 
Schools. The Macomber building has been repurposed by a nonprofit 
organization.
  Macomber-Whitney High School educated thousands of students in the 
proud tradition of Toledo Public Schools, teaching them practical 
skills necessary to enter the workforce. Through those years values 
were learned, traditions passed on, and friendships made. The memories 
of their time at Macomber-Whitney not forgotten, its alumni will recall 
past days with joy, fond recollection, and proud memories.

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