Happy Birthday Dear Whittier!

10/19/2012

The Whittier Elementary PTA sponsored its annual Fall Festival on October 12. This year’s event featured birthday cakes in honor of the school’s 60th year. The free community social provided activities for families including games, prizes, crafts, face painting, food and experimenting with musical instruments. A drive to benefit the local food pantry also took place.

Whittier, which is located at 130 E. Walnut Street, opened in 1952 in what was then the extreme southeast corner of Westerville. A group of 228 residents signed a petition asking the Board of Education to reconsider the site, since some students would have to cross the Pennsylvania railroad tracks (now the walking/bike path) to get to the school. However, the Board eventually approved the location and Whittier – named after the American poet John Greenleaf Whittier – opened its doors on October 13, becoming the fifth school in the fast-growing Westerville District. The building originally contained 16 classrooms.