File:Principal Arvin P. Jones was the 8th principal of Brunswick High School from 1939-44.jpg

Summary

Arvin P. Jones was the 8th principal of Brunswick High School from 1939-44 during the majority of the World War II years. He earned his A.B. from the University of Maryland and his M.A. from Columbia University. According to Doris Kelley Barker, "he was stern but in a kind way for the kids that got in trouble." His wife taught English and History during the war years.

Mr. Jones later served as principal of Emmittsburg High School and became a real estate agent in Brunswick. He was a close friend of community leaders of the time, including lifelong friendship with merchant and photographer Myer Kaplon.

(Photo & information from the 1965 BHS Railroader yearbook courtesy of Sherry Bowers Stull)

Doris Kelley Barker: He was excellent. Mrs. Jones was our history and English teacher. Poor dear, she had their son, Richard, in both classes because he was in the Academic subjects like me. In History, he would say out loud: “Mom, we don’t want to study about the Revolutionary War, we want to talk about the war now.” It was terrible that he did this. I was fortunate to have him in front of me in every class because of the “J” and my “K” and Bruce Porter behind me. They and Merle Tucker would get my brown bag lunch and throw it around the room (sometimes my Mother had a slice of her delicious custard pies in there & imagine what that looked like after being tossed around). In the science classes where we had the outstanding Mary Rockwell teaching Biology, Chemistry & Physics, Richard would steal my pencils & paper & then Mary would think I came to class unprepared. He would even turn around and shame me for not being prepared. It was terrible but we all loved all of the Jones’ family, even Richard. He became a pathologist and apparently very successful. Mr. Jones was stern but he did it in a kind way for the kids that got in trouble. We had him during the war years 8-11 grades. We had another Jones as principal the last year—tall, skinny, just the opposite of Richard’s dad. He was okay.