Holmes High School
Timeline
1850
Covington City Charter provided for a high school
1853
Central High School began with 20 students (11 boys and nine girls) in the Fourth District School at 11th and Scott streets. It is the first secondary school in Covington and the first public high school in the state of Kentucky - Asa Drury principal
1866
Daniel Henry Holmes builds his luxurious estate, "Holmesdale" as a summer home for his family
1872
Central High School became Covington High School when a new 12 room red brick school building was constructed at 12th and Russell streets
1896
The State College at Lexington placed Covington High School on the accredited list of high schools which meant that graduates could enter State College classes without further examination
1915
Covington Board of Education purchased Holmesdale and its remaining contents from the widow of
Daniel Henry Holmes, Jr. for the site of the new high school. The home is known as 'The Castle'
1919
The new Covington High School opens on January16
1919
Because of the association with the Holmes estate, the school is referred to as 'Holmes' and officially becomes Covington Holmes High School ~ "The Student," October 1919
1925
The football field is developed in the place of a small lake - the effort to do so was led by
s
tudents - no stands or lights -first game was with Paris, Ky. Before this time the football team played on the Andrews Steel Mill field in Newport
1936
The contents of the Castle are sold at public auction. The Castle is destroyed over the Thanksgiving break
1937
The Administration Building is constructed by the WPA - Works Progress Administration - on the site of the Castle
1938
Lights and stands were installed at the football field with grant money from the WPA
1912 - 1940
Holmes graduated half year classes
1966
The science building and David M. Evans Physical Education Building (the Field House) were built
1967
William Grant School discontinued its high school program and all remaining high school
students there transferred to Holmes
1968
The athletic field is named in honor of longtime Coach Tom Ellis
1980
Chapman Academic and Vocational School opened. It was named in
honor of longtime Board of Education member Virginia Chapman
1982
Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (MCJROTC) began
1987
The First International Baccalaureate Diplomas awarded. Extensive renovation of the entire Holmes complex took place to make it all physically handicapped-
accessible
1990
The Nordheim Gallery opened
1994
The Chapman Child Development Center opened in January
2001
The Holmes High School Hall of Distinguished Alumni and Distinguished Honorary Alumni inducted its first five members
2003
Holmes High School, The History... The Promise - 150 year celebration for alumni and the community
2005
The Bill Meyers Pavilion was dedicated on October 2
2008
Holmes
Auditorium was dedicated as Jack Moreland Auditorium
2009
The Holmes Boys Basketball team wins the KHSAA state championship
2011
The Holmes Media Center, administrative offices, and cafeteria are renovated
2013
Covington Schools Athletic Hall of Fame Inaugural class is inducted in March
2013
A new, state-of-the-art band room is dedicated in April
2013
Holmes receives SACS Advanced accreditation
