Smouse Timeline

18?? - Dr. David W. Smouse, M.D. is born in Maryland.

1876 - Dr. Smouse moves to Monroe, Iowa. (May)

1879 - Dr. Smouse moves to Des Moines, Iowa and marries Amanda Cummins shortly thereafter.

1916 - The Smouses retire and move to California.

1929 - Dr. Smouse and his wife donate $250,000 to the city of Des Moines School System.

1930 - Construction on Smouse starts and is slated to open on Sept. 1st, but is delayed until an additional $83,000 is added. The contribution totals $333,000. The archetictural firm is Proudfoot, Rawson, Souers & Thomas.

Dale Gresdal, a handicapped junior high student lays the cornerstone for the new building. (April 28)

The school is dedicated to a crowd of approximately 3,000 people. Dr. Smouse says it is the first of its kind in the United States. (May 31)

Franklin D. Roosevelt, then governor of New York, sends a telegram to congratulate the dedication.

c. 1930 - Miss Bess R. Johnson, a well-renowned nurse, accepts the position of principal for the yet to be constructed school and takes a year off.

1931 - Smouse opens with a gala event and is featured in the Des Moines Tribune. (April 6)

President Hoover sends Dr. Smouse a note congratulating the new school. (April 27)

1935 - Mrs. Ellen S. P. Moore of Schaller, IA, whose 11-year old son Jeremiah died of polio, leaves $25,000 to Smouse School for construction of a pool. (February 5)

Mrs. Smouse dies in California. (December)

1939 - Dr. Smouse dies in Long Beach, California. (July 2)

The school is named beneficiary of Mr. Smouse's estate.

1941 - Smouse School gets $350,000.

1954 - A swimming pool addition is donated by Mrs. Moore, the mother of a child with polio. Kentile asphalt and vinyl-asbestos tile is installed throughout the building. (Fall)

1958 - Miss Johnson retires, Dr. Robert W. Langerak is appointed as principal. (May 22)

1961 - Bess R. Johnson dies (prior to June 9).

1963 - A new classroom wing is added using the Smouse fund.

1970 - Air conditioning is installed, again using the Smouse fund. Some original oak trim on classroom walls are torn out in the process.

1971 - The Play Roof is closed off.

1973 - The government-funded Foster Grandparent program is introduced.

1977 - Dr. Langerak retires, Robert Langbehn is assigned as principal.

1979 - New parking space is constructed, the drive under the entryway is filled in. Additional office space is created.

c. 1979 - Original glass light fixtures in halls and bathrooms are taken out and replaced with flourescent lighting.

198? - Robert Langbehn retires, Dr. Jerry A. Caster becomes principal.

2001 - New energy-efficient windows are installed and faithfully replicate the originals.

2002 - Dr. Caster retires. He is succeeded by Mrs. Susie Guest.

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