School History
Please scroll down the page to view photos and articles about the school's history.
SOUTH
RIDGEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
SOUTH
WARD SCHOOL
South
Ridgewood Elementary, originally called South Ward School, was built
in 1916. The school was
a two story brick structure located on a two-acre site on Ridgewood
Avenue, or U.S. 1, a street that later became congested with heavy
traffic. The school was
renamed South Ridgewood Elementary in 1923.
A tunnel was later constructed under U.S. 1 to provide safe
passage for the students.
In 1956, a two-story wing of concrete block was constructed that
included a lunchroom and three new classrooms at the cost of
$79,185. While Sue
Patterson was principal, South Ridgewood Elementary =became the
first elementary school to have a school library.
The first book purchased for the library was Heidi.
The book was later given to Volusia County School
Superintendent Raymond Dunne when he retired as a token of
appreciation. For most of its existence, South Ridgewood Elementary
housed students in grades on through six.
In the 1960s, the school added kindergarten classes.
Diane Gilpatrick, a teacher at South Ridgewood Elementary,
remember when a tornado was spotted in nearby South Daytona all the
students in the school took refuge in the tunnel under U.S. 1 for
over an hour. South
Ridgewood was closed in 1982.
Before closing, Intermediate students went for a daylong trip
to Kennedy Space Center on an air-conditioned bus with an onboard
bathroom. Primary students went to Sea World on the same type of
luxury bus.
Please click on the photos to see full-size. Use the "Back" button to return
| 1938 Class Picture |
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| 1969-70 Class Picture |
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| 1979-80 Class Picture |
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