YS Mysteries continues when we uncover the shocking history behind York Suburban High School that will leave some females feeling ‘some type of way.’ In the late 90’s, York Suburban went under construction to rebuild a few wings within the school to better improve its functionality for students.
One of the affected wings was the art and foods wings; converting a kitchen and living room-like area into the current kitchen-classroom we see today. They took out the fireplace that was rarely in use as well as the entire living room area.
Custodian David Coombs (better known as ‘Buddha’) attended York Suburban in the mid 80s and remembers his friends taking a class that taught homemaking and enjoying it. He said, “the class was aimed at the female students, but some male students chose to take the class anyway.”
He adds that it was not very strange considering some female students took some wood shop classes as well. The remodel came as a well awaited change towards the end of the social movement for women, making it socially acceptable for women to hold full time jobs rather than simply caring for the house and kids.
Before the remodel, females at York Suburban had the ability to take a ‘homemaking’ class that taught students how to cook, clean, and sew. After the remodel, more male students began to take the cooking classes because it seemed more male friendly.
The current kitchen-classroom has about five fully operational kitchens equipped with refrigerators, ovens, stoves, and sinks. The currently classes are taught by Jill Feltenberger and Joan Hammond. They teach baking techniques, family life, single living, foreign foods, and more cooking and home based classes. Male and female students are welcome.