Rayen closes, legacy lives

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William Rayen's vision in the 18th century in Youngstown was promoting a free, public education for the city's children, regardless of race, color or creed.

Rayen was a colonel in the War of 1812 and later became a judge. It was in his home in 1802 the first public meeting was held to organize Youngstown Township.

Before he died in 1854, Rayen, who was childless, made a bequeathal of his residential estate, valued at $31,000, to establish and maintain a public school.

Rayen had been limited in his formal education, and that convinced him that others who would come after him should not be denied that opportunity, says a history compiled by The Rayen Record, the school's newspaper.

And, in 1866, says the 1934 Rayen School yearbook, "40 students marched abreast from the Wood Street School along the edge of the forest to the new, handsome, Greek Revival building."

The original Rayen School building was on Wick Avenue near Wood Street. It still stands today, housing Youngstown Board of Education offices. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

But while that edifice remains, the Rayen School with which most graduates are familiar, and which has stood on Benita Avenue on the city's North Side since 1922, is going to be razed. The school's longtime mascot is the Tiger, and the colors are orange and black.

Construction

A new middle school building will be constructed on the Benita site. Woodrow Wilson High School at Gibson Street and Indianola Avenue also will be razed and a new middle school built at that site.

Thus, the city will have just two public high schools in the 2007-08 school year — the new East High School on the East Side and Chaney High School on the West Side.

This year, The Rayen School will celebrate it legacy with a series of events Sept. 29-30.

Dubbed "Rayen's Last Homecoming," here's what's on tap:

U Sept. 29 (Friday) — An alumni reception for those 21 and older at Stambaugh Auditorium on Fifth Avenue from 6 to 11 p.m. The cost is $20 per person. There will be a cash bar, music and food.

U Sept. 30 (Saturday) — The Rayen School's final homecoming football game against Akron East High School. The game will be played at Rayen Stadium, which has stood since 1924, and which will remain. The game starts at 2 p.m. Alumni also can order a Rayen jersey with their name. Those interested should contact athletic director Marco Marinucci at (330) 744-8566.

After the game, from 5 to 9 p.m., there will be a "walk through" for alumni and others of the Benita Avenue school, which will be torn down by August 2007. That will cost $5 per person.

The reservation deadline for the Stambaugh event is Sept. 5. Checks should be made out to The Rayen School, and mailed to Rayen's Final Homecoming, P.O. Box 1201, Youngstown 44501.

More information for both events, sponsored by The Rayen Trustees, Northside Reunion Committee and the school, is available by calling the high school at (330) 744-8550 or Principal Henrietta Williams at (330) 744-8554.

Scattered

Rayen alumni are scattered throughout every state in the union. The school has produced three Rhodes Scholars and a host of judges, doctors, lawyers, professors, morticians, musicians, teachers and authors.

The Vindicator's late editor and publisher William F. Maag Jr. and late managing editor Ann Przelomski also were Rayen grads.

Williams said it has been estimated that almost 20,000 students have passed "through the halls of dear old Rayen," and the lives of those students have impacted the lives of thousands of others.

"I am sure Judge Rayen would be very satisfied with the impact his vision and $31,000 have had upon so many people of the world," Williams said, adding that the contributions of Rayen grads would ensure that Judge Rayen's vision and spirit and the legacy of The Rayen School will live on forever.

ebrown@vindy.com

Saturday, August 5, 2006