G. A. R. Memorial Junior/Senior High School
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2012}}
{{Infobox school
| name = G.A.R. Memorial Junior Senior High School
| image = Gar124545.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption =
| motto = "Sons of the Blue and Gray"
| established = 1925
| closed=2021
| type = Junior-Senior High School
| affiliation =
| district = Wilkes-Barre Area School District
| grades = 7-12
| principal = Sean McLaughlin
| faculty =
| enrollment =
| athletics =
| conference =
| colors = Blue and Gray
| mascot = Grenadiers
| campus type =
| campus size =
| streetaddress = 250 South Grant Street
|city=Wilkes-Barre
|state=Pennsylvania
|zipcode=18702
| country = United States
| coordinates ={{coord|41.234|-75.883|region:US-PA_type:edu|display=title,inline|format=dms}}
| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20120221093744/http://portal.wbasd.k12.pa.us/ghs/Pages/default.aspx School website]
}}
G.A.R. Memorial Junior/Senior High School (commonly known throughout the area simply as 'G.A.R.') was a high school located on 250 South Grant Street, in Wilkes-Barre, located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States.
G.A.R. was both a junior and senior public high school, offering education to students in grades 7–12. It was named for the Grand Army of the Republic.{{cite web| title=GAR Memorial Junior Senior High School| publisher=publicschoolreview.com| date=| url=http://www.publicschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/71372| accessdate=April 25, 2011| archive-date=May 24, 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524224123/http://www.publicschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/71372| url-status=live}} In 2021, it was consolidated with other high schools in the area to form Wilkes-Barre Area High School. The school continues to operate, now as a middle school for grades 6th-8th.
History
The school was built in 1925 after construction started in 1921, four years earlier. In 1978, the school district decided to make extensions to the school; this construction was completed in October 1979. The extension included a new cafeteria, gym, chorus room, and band room. The original shop building was demolished and turned into the faculty parking, the Girls Gym was changed into the Library and Girls Gym changing room was remodeled into the Home Ec rooms, the Boys Gym was remodeled into the Tech Ed room, the Boys Gym changing room was changed into the Woodshop room, and the chorus and band rooms were bricked off.
In 2005, a weight room was added. In 2013, the school installed a new turf field in front of the building, replacing the old turf which was worn and damaged after years of use.
The school was consolidated into Wilkes-Barre Area High School prior to the 2021–2022 school year. It is being renovated to be used as a middle school.{{Cite web|last=Guydish|first=Mark|date=2021-07-30|title=WB Area sets ribbon cutting for new school|url=https://www.timesleader.com/news/1504756/wb-area-sets-ribbon-cutting-for-new-school-2|access-date=2021-08-30|website=Times Leader|language=en-US|archive-date=July 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730084905/https://www.timesleader.com/news/1504756/wb-area-sets-ribbon-cutting-for-new-school-2|url-status=live}}
Notable alumni
- David Bohm - Quantum physicist who was involved in the Manhattan Project.{{citation needed|reason=no connection to the school in his article|date=February 2014}}
- Mark James Klepaski- Bass player for the rock band Breaking Benjamin.{{citation needed|reason=no connection to the school in his article|date=February 2014}}
- Greg Skrepenak- Former NFL player and former Luzerne County Commissioner.{{cite news| author=Michael Sisak| date=August 6, 2010| title=Skrepenak sentenced to 24 months in prison, fine| work=The Times-Tribune| publisher=thetimes-tribune.com| url=http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/skrepenak-sentenced-to-24-months-in-prison-fine-1.927570| accessdate=August 9, 2010| archive-date=October 28, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028055314/http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/skrepenak-sentenced-to-24-months-in-prison-fine-1.927570| url-status=live}}
- Sam Savitt - Author and illustrator, official artist of the U.S. Equestrian Team.{{cite news| author=Barbara Loftus| date=August 15, 1985| title=For Famous Artist Sam Savitt, GAR school days were his 'golden' ones| work=Citizens' Voice| url=https://samsavittart.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/profile-wilkes-barre-citizens-voice-aug-15-1985.pdf| access-date=October 21, 2018| archive-date=October 21, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021111809/https://samsavittart.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/profile-wilkes-barre-citizens-voice-aug-15-1985.pdf| url-status=live}}
- Bob Sura- NBA player who last played for the Houston Rockets
- Robert Williams - Quarterback for Notre Dame, 1956–1958
- Maurice Peoples - Olympic sprinter, 1972
- Mark Glowinski - NFL player for the New York Giants.
- Lillian Cahn - Co-founder of Coach Leather{{Cite web |last=Leader |first=Times |date=2015-06-26 |title=Late Coach founder got start here |url=https://www.timesleader.com/archive/340909/news-341524-late-coach-founder-got-start-here-2 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=Times Leader |language=en-US}}
References
{{Luzerne County, Pennsylvania School Districts}}
{{authority control}}
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Category:1925 establishments in Pennsylvania
Category:2021 disestablishments in Pennsylvania
Category:Educational institutions established in 1925
Category:Educational institutions disestablished in 2021
Category:Public middle schools in Pennsylvania
Category:Public high schools in Pennsylvania