Central High School - Doubloon Yearbook (Columbus, OH)

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1 - N Vi 15'-X Page Seventee :T Q ,N ...i 51 -KC ll A V SIGMA PHI lN THE LATE SIXTIES Arthur Smythe, left, top row: Abram Brown second from right, top' row. Dr. Mendenhall middle of second rowg A. C. Farr right, second row. First row: E. O. Randall, Alexander Smith, john Calloway In his president's address, appearing in the Public School Report for 1877-78, Dr. Starling Loving stated that for nearly twenty years no new branch of study had been added to the curriculum, although great changes had been made in the manner of treating the subjects. In 1872 instruction in drawing was given in the Columbus schools by the penmanship teacher. Later a system of industrial drawing was introduced and Professor William Briggs of Boston was employed to instruct the teachers and plan a complete course. In the fall of 1875 a room was specially fitted up for art in the High School and was sup- plied with a generous assortment of examples and models. The school always had good music. Efficient teachers were em- ployed and under their instruction many students developed real talent. Boys and girls were not separated. The entire school was trained together. Among the early teachers of music was Professor Hermann Eckhardt, whom many of the early graduates will remember as the leading musician of his day in Columbus. Chapel exercises were held every morning in the Assembly Room, during which there were readings from the Bible, prayer and the singing of hymns and patriotic songs. At this time announcements were made and occasional speakers were asked to address the school.

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1 JF Page Sixteen 'kk fC 55 ?. F? :- 4' 'mm ,,.f-nh now our Assembly Hall. The first class had no class president, the highest honor, that of being valedictorian, was awarded Miss Virginia Howell. Her address, delivered at that time, appears elsewhere in this publication. Only two members of the first class are living, Miss Virginia Howell and Mrs. Julia Diemer Freeman. MRS. JULIA FREEMAN. '63 MISS VIRGINIA HOWELL, '63 The faculty at that time consisted of George H. Twiss, principal, W. G. Tucker, Miss M. B. Treat, Miss M. S. Prentiss and Miss A. V. Thomas. In the late sixties and early seventies practically every subject that was taught was required. The languages consisted of English, German, Latin and Greek. Under the head of mathematics came algebra, geom- try and trigonometryg under science, astronomy, physics, chemistry and physiology. During the seventies four courses, the German-English, Latin- English, and Classical, all requiring four years, and the English, a three- year course, were offered in the High School, but the English and Classical courses did not prove popular, the number taking Greek varying from seven to seventeen during the seventies. In the report of Henry Olnhausen, president of the Board of Education, 1878-79, the recommendation was made that the English and Classical courses be abolished and the Latin-English and German- English courses be retained, since the large majority of the school patrons are decidedly in favor of a course involving the study of either Latin or German.

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1 at Page Eighteen Ni-fs 5: it lf'-'WN REUNION OF' CLASS OF '78 AT FRANKLIN PARK, JUNE, 1908 Top Row: Sylvester W Hoffman, M. Leonora Horlocker, Mrs. Phena Dann Nesbitt and Thomas M. Earl. Middle Row: Flora Barnett Fletcher, Mrs. M. Ada Evans Barr, Mrs. Cora M. Ross Brickell, Kate Williams Osborn, Henry A. Morgan, Frank R. Shinn and Mrs. Hattie Welles Taylor. Bottom Row: Charles Schwenker, Sherman Stephens, Mrs. Emma Lesquereaux Gerhold, John J. Stoddart. teacher: Caroline Breyfogle, Harriet E. Thompson, Mrs. Lizzie B. Nagle Starr, Clara G. Orton, Mrs. Margaret Livingston Smith. An honorary society, which was in the nature of a fraternity, consisting of ten or fifteen boys, was formed in the late sixties. Dr. T. C. Mendenhall was an honorary member. Class parties were given, but the Senior-Junior and Junior-Senior had not yet originated. In the absence of school activities and organ- izations members of the Senior Class during the seventies held social meetings every two Weeks. Because of the change in the number of years required to complete the high school course, from five to four years, the class of 1869 was a combination of two classes and consequently was the largest that had ever graduated from the Columbus High School. There Was no class historian. On account of the large number in the class it was necessary to have exercises both afternoon and evening. In the principal's report for 1875-76 Mr. E. H. Cook recommended that in the future commencement be held in the Opera House, on account of the very large number of parents and friends that desired to attend the exercises, and his suggestion was carried out the following year. After school was out, in the summer of 1869, three enterprising young men, members of the graduating class of that year, Messrs.