English High School - Blue and Blue / Record Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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i Our Mcritage In 1820, the town of Boston felt that the time had arrived to supplement its secondary school system, which at that time consisted of only the Latin School. A subcommittee, consisting of clerg) , merchants, and jurists, was appointed to consider the subject of providing advanced schooling for boys not pursuing a college career. This committee presented a report which recommended the establishment of a school to be called the English Classical School (a title that was eventually changed permanently to the English High School in 1833) with admittance obtainable thru ' suitable examination. This committee further stated that the course should be spread over a period of three years, with subjects including English, Math, and Natural Philosophy. The school was opened in a building on Derne Street (in the rear of the State House, the site now commemorated by a plaque, gift of the Class of 1874) in the year 1821. George Barrold Emerson, a famous New England educator and botanist, was appointed the first headmaster. Mr. Emerson served until 1823, resigning at that time to open a fashionable academy for girls. Shortly after the appointment of Solomon P. Miles as headmaster, the school was moved from Derne to Pickney Street where it remained until 1844. Mr. Miles retired because of ill health in 1837 and was succeeded by Thomas Sherwin, a master in the school since 1829. Mr. Sherwin, a great and beloved headmaster, and a famous author of math text-books, presided over the school until his death at the age of 70 in 1869. During his regime such famous men as J. P. Morgan, the great financier, and Samuel P. Langley, inventor of the airplane engine, were graduated from the school. In 1844, the English High School was moved to a building on Bedford Street, which was also to house the Latin School. There the school remained until 1881 when English was moved to an elaborate new building on Montgomery Street, a building regarded in its time as one of the finest educational edifices in the country. Mr. Cumston, a master in the school for over 20 years, was appointed headmaster at Sherwin ' s death. He continued in this post until 1874, when he retired to pursue a business career. Edwin Pliny Seaver, an instructor of mathematics at Harvard, was his successor, resigning in 1881 to accept the position of Superintendent of Schools in Boston, the second teacher at English High to be honored so, — John D. Philbrick having held the position previously. Francis A. Waterhouse, a graduate of Bovvdoin and headmaster of Newton High School, was his successor, continuing in that office until his untimely death in Europe, while on leave of absence in 1894. Mr. Robert Babson, a teacher of German since 1864, was appointed his successor. Mr. Babson retired because of ill health in 1901; it was during his time that the system of departmental heads was established. Mr. John F. Casey, his successor, had been a teacher of mathematics in the school since 1872 and was held in the greatest of esteem by the alumni and student body. Mr. Casey retired reluctantly in 1915, because of the age limit and was succeeded by William B. Snow, then head of the French Department. During Mr. Snow ' s regime, the English High School celebrated its centenary. In 1922, the School Committee elected Mr. Snow Assistant Superintendent of Boston public schools, whereupon he was succeeded by Mr. Walter F. Downey, who had been a teacher of mathematics in the school for 12 years. On Mr. Downey ' s retirement in 1954, Mr. M. Henry Mclnerney was named headmaster. It was in Mr. Mclnerney ' s time that English High School moved from the old building on Montgomery Street to the High School of Commerce building on Avenue Louis Pasteur. Since the appointment of Mr. Joseph L. Malone as headmaster in 1956, many new honors have been brought to the school.

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Richie RICHARD A. ABBONDANZIO 30 South Waverly St., Brighton School: Boston Latin School Ambition: To be a Teacher College: Boston State Teachers College Hobbies: Build Rockets JOSEPH ABRAMS Joe 45 Hamilton St., Dorchester School: Oliver Wendell Holmes Junior High Ambition: Engineering or Accounting College: Northeastern University Hobbies: Fishing, Basketball Drum and Bugle Corps 3; Junior Achievement 3,4 STEPHEN J. ABBOTT Steve 539 Washington St., Brighton School: Taft Junior High School Ambition: Railroad Industry Hobbies: Model Railroad Enthusiast BARRY P. ADAMS 3 Intervale St. School: Boston Latin School Ambition: Test Pilot College: Northeastern University Hobbies: Bowling Honor Roll 1; Track 2 ALAN J. ABBOUD Al 21 Milford St., South Boston School: Boston Latin School Ambition: Aeronautical Engineer College: Northeastern University Hobbies: Stamp Collecting; Record Collecting Drill Team 3, 4 CARROLL R. ALLSTON 74 Waumbeck School: Lewis Junior High School Ambition: Engineer College: Howard University Track 1, 2 Shorty SALVATORE J. ABRAMO 58 Barnes Ave., East Boston School: St. Dominic Savio High School Ambition: Business Man College: Bentley College Hobbies: Handball, Records Glee Club 4 Sal S2