Seventy Years of Tradition at Hand

·        Named for Superintendent William H. Hand

William H. Hand was superintendent of Columbia City Schools from 1918 to his death in 1928.  He had been a public school teacher, superintendent in Florence and Chester, head of the Department of Secondary Education at USC, and the state high school inspector before being appointed by the Board of School Commissioners of Columbia after the retirement of Superintendent E.S. Dreher. 

As district superintendent, Hand was dedicated to the welfare of the school children and the improvement of the school system.  He was known for his untiring efforts and intelligent investigation of school programs

The junior high school movement, which was just blossoming in the nation, was one of his particular interests.  Heathwood School, a county school annexed into the city system in 1930, became a junior high that fed in Columbia High School.  That same year, two new junior highs were built according to Hand’s previous recommendations.  Wardlaw Junior High was constructed on Elmwood Avenue to serve downtown children.  Heathwood was closed and its students were transferred to a new junior high built across from the closed Chicora College at the corner of Wheat and Woodrow Streets.  It was named for W.H. Hand and welcomed students in grades seven and eight. 

·        The Hand Campus

The school building was completed on June 10, 1930, at a cost of $590,000.  The adjoining block was purchased from Dr. Burney for $17,500 making a two-block campus. 

A $37,400 addition was completed in 1950.  Between 1976 and 1978 because of a fire Hand underwent a complete renovation at a cost of $2,420,000.

Hand graduates went to Columbia High and University High School until Dreher High School was completed in 1938.  For several years in the early 1950s Hand kept ninth grade students while Dreher was being expanded.  In 1969 Hand Junior High was converted to a middle school with grades six, seven, and eight. 

·        Hand’s Leadership

Hand Middle School has been led eleven principals over the past 70 years. 

John Overton                  1930-1973

Owen Bales                    1973-1974

Christine Webb              1974-1975

Marcia W. McIver           1975-1980

George Goley                 1980-1983

Arianna Sims                  1983-1985

Dr. Dwight Von Kolnitz   1985-1987

Dr. Charles Cothran       1987-1989

Dr. Dorothy Turbeville    1989-1995

Jeanne Stiglbauer          1995-2001

Marisa Vickers                2001-present

Mrs. Marisa Vickers, Principal of Hand MS

(This information is reprinted from Warner Montgomery’s article, “How Hand Began” in the November 30, 2000 issue of The Columbia Star.)