1960s

1968

Martha Vogel graduated from Henrico High School in 1968, 50 years from now. Ms.Vogel had six classes everyday.She explained to us that her classes were extremely hard but they prepared her for college. When henrico was first built there were grades from 7th to 12th. Martha’s class were the first to graduate from Henrico. When she first went there, Henrico was a small school so everyone was familiar with each other. Martha was very interested in music so outside of her classes she spent a lot of time with things that involved music like joining the choir and being a part of musicals. She also joined the girl’s basketball team which were the only sports that were available at that time for young women that attended Henrico High. Ms.Vogel described Henrico as very campus style. Back then the school had no air conditioning, so when they were hot they would lift the windows up that were in her class and also used fans to cool themselves off.

Some other interesting facts that Ms.Vogel told us about the differences about Henrico from now was that they had a smoking lounge for kids and teachers who smoked tobacco. Another difference from the school today was that there were no AP or honors classes. Everybody pretty took the same classes that were in their grade level. “There wasn’t really a separation based on your academics”, Ms.Vogel said. Later as Martha was attending Henrico she worked on the school newspapers her senior year since there weren’t many extra curricular activities to choose from. Although Ms.Vogel mention that her senior year was fun, she said that she never went to prom. She told us that people went to their prom with their significant other, which she never really gave interest in. Year 1968 came around and Martha graduated wearing a white gown as men wore green gowns, Henrico’s school colors.

After graduating, Ms.vogel went to Mary Washington College where she got her bachelor's degree to become a teacher. She explained that women didn’t have much of a big option as to what they wanted to do once they got of college, that’s why she decided to be a teacher. The college had only women there at the time. Martha really couldn’t explain much of her life after she graduated from Henrico due to time. She did tell us that Henrico prepared her well for college and she felt caught up because of the teaching experience at Henrico High. She felt as though Henrico prepared her for life after high school. Ms.Vogel is now a retired teacher and is now enjoying life with her son and husband. She says that she loves Henrico and would love to come back another time.