Toul HS History
Opened: 1962
Closed: 1966
In the summer of 1962, in response to the Berlin Wall crisis, there was a significant increase in the number of American troops stationed throughout Europe in general, and in northeastern France in particular. Along with the large influx of military personnel, there was a corresponding bulge in the number of dependents. Faced with the overcrowding of the only American high school in the region, Verdun, it was decided to open a new high school in the Toul/Nancy area. Thus was born, Toul American High School.
Space was made available in the Jeanne d’Arc hospital/elementary/middle school complex just east of the city of Toul, and exactly one month after the decision was made, TAHS opened for classes on September 5, 1962. The student body was a mix of kids from three basic categories. One group, the locals, were already living in the area and had previously attended Verdun or one of the feeder junior high or middle schools. Another, the Lakenheath crowd, had transferred in from England where they had attended either Lakenheath American High School or one of its feeders. The third group, the newcomers, were newly arrived from various stateside locations.
Toul High existed for only four years. It was closed at the end of the 1965-66 school year as a result of the French withdrawal from NATO, and the relatively few remaining students once again went to Verdun, which remained open for another two years.
Michael Pence
TAHS Class of 1963