Warren Harding High School Explained

Warren Harding High School is a public high school in Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States. It is commonly called Harding High School. Its cornerstone was laid on May 10, 1924, and the school opened on September 9, 1925. The school is named for then recently deceased President Warren G. Harding.^[3]

Athletics

The Presidents sports seasons are in the traditional fall/winter/spring format. Sports include football, soccer, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, baseball, golf, track, and softball.^[4]

Buildings

Original facility

The original school was designed by C. Wellington Walker, and was located at 1734 Central Avenue.^[5] Featuring Georgian style architecture and Greek columns, it was in service for 93 years.^[6]

Current facility

Built at a cost of $107 million the new building was completed in 2018 and is a four-story 207000square feet square foot structure.^[7] It was built on a former General Electric factory site which underwent considerable environmental remediation.^[8] The building has many security features, including bulletproof glass and 130 security cameras.^[9]

Notable alumni

• John Edward Bagley (1979), professional basketball player^[10]
• Tony Elliott, professional football player^[11]
• Mike Jones (1985), professional football player
• Walt Kelly (1930), cartoonist, creator of Pogo^[12]
• Fay Honey Knopp (1935), Quaker minister, peace and civil rights advocate, and prison abolitionist^[13]
• Wes Matthews (attended Harding 1974–77), professional basketball player^[14]
• Wayne Moore (1949), Olympic gold medalist from the 1952 Summer Olympics
• Nejdra Nance, child abductee who received national attention for solving her own kidnapping 23 years later^[15]
• Charles Smith (1984), professional basketball player^[16]
• Samuel J. Tedesco, Mayor of Bridgeport (1957-1965), Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut (1963-1965), Judge of the Superior Court (1967-1980)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Search for Public Schools - Warren Harding High School (090045000067).
2. Web site: Warren Harding High School. National Center for Education Statistics. May 27, 2024.
3. Web site: Harding High School to keep name. Lambeck. Linda Conner. 2018-06-02. Connecticut Post. 2019-06-25.
4. Web site: Harding Presidents Athletics. Harding Presidents Athletics. en. 2019-06-25.
5. Web site: Harding High School in Bridgeport, CT. YP.com. en. 2019-06-25.
6. Web site: Harding alumni say goodbye to their old school. Lambeck. Linda Conner. 2018-06-16. Connecticut Post. 2019-06-25.
7. Web site: Construction on Bridgeport's Harding High nears finish line. Lambeck. Linda. 2018-07-14. Connecticut Post. 2019-06-25.
8. Web site: Toxins aside, former GE site slated for new high school. Lambeck. Linda Conner. 2013-06-22. Connecticut Post. 2019-06-25.
9. Web site: Warren Harding High School opens to students for first time Thursday. connecticut.news12.com. en. 2019-06-25.
10. News: Group pushes to keep name of Warren Harding High School in Connecticut . March 19, 2019 . Seattle Times . Associated Press . May 15, 2018.
11. Web site: Tony Elliott Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College. pro-football-reference.com. February 28, 2023.
12. News: Illson . Murray . Pogo Comes to Bridgeport . March 19, 2019 . New York Times . October 30, 1977.
13. Book: Ware, Susan. Notable American Women: A Biographical Dictionary Completing the Twentieth Century. 2004. Harvard University Press. 9780674014886. en.
14. News: Koonz . Brian . Brian Koonz: For Wes Matthews, it's about giving back to the game, kids and truth . March 19, 2019 . Connecticut Post . June 13, 2015.
15. News: Baker . Al . Schweber . Nate . Questions Remain in Case of Abducted Baby Who Turned Up 23 Years Later . March 19, 2019 . New York Times . January 21, 2011.
16. News: Bonjour . Doug . Harding's gym on its way out, but memories will live on . March 19, 2019 . Connecticut Post . February 21, 2018.