Stevens High School - Red and Black Yearbook (Claremont, NH)

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a tradition that will accept the new if :if -1 I- 'Q '-qv. , W Z5 'Q-'v-'WU' Stevens High School is in Claremont. ie Zfwmy of S 694 Sedan! The summer of 1866 is memorable in the history of Claremont and paramount in the history of our high school, for in that year Paran Stevens of New York City, son of early Claremont inhabitants, donated the sum of 310,000 to found a high school, provided the town would appropriate an equal amount for that purpose. In the autumn a town meeting was called to consider Mr. Stevens' generous offer. With great enthusiasm and unanimity Claremont's citizens voted to accept the donation under the condition named. They voted to raise and appropriate 315,000 which, with Mr. Stevens' S10,000, was to be used to purchase a lot and to erect a school building. A committee of five selected the homestead lot of the late George B. Upham at the corner of Broad and Summer Streets containing nearly two acres as the prospective site and purchased it for the sum of 32,500 A dignified, two- story brick structure was erected and said to be, one of the most elegant, substantial and convenient edifices for the purpose for which it was built in the state. Containing four large school rooms. large vestibules. a basement for the heating plant, and a spacious hall in the upper story, the school accommodated one hundred and twenty-five students. That was the beginning of an institution which has since proved invaluable to the city of Claremont. ' Mr. Stevens contributed full half of the cost of the building and the lot on which it stands. Soon after its completion, he gave the town 310,000 toward a per- manent fund for the support of the school. He also presented life-size portraits of George Washington and Daniel Webster, painted by eminent artists, and a Chickering concert grand piano. Before his death in 1872, Mr. Stevens bequeathed 540,000 to be added to the 810,000 before given for a fund, the interest of which is to be used for the school's support. At the annual town meeting in March, 1868, five men-one from each religious society in town-were chosen to be the high school committee. It was also voted to give this new institution of higher learning the name Stevens High School, to honor Paran Stevens. It was the expressed wish of Mr. Stevens and of the town that the school should be kept entirely free from anything like sectarianism. Following this, the committee laid down one stipulation-that, the morning session will begin with a reading of the Bible and the saying of the Lord's Prayer in unison. Mr Stevens is very well described by one of his intimate friends in an obituary notice: He was a man of quick and clear intelligenceg bold and at the same time cautious, full of energy, untiring in diligence, a thorough New Englander in his fearless shrewdness whilst equally noted in his fair dealing and integrity. To the sterling qualities which commanded respect and earned wealth, were added a decided sense of justice, courteous and large hospitality, and warm affection. The requirements of entrance and graduation were much stricter years agog so that only those who were thoroughly prepared in reading and necessary subjects were admitted. The first term at Stevens began on the seventh of September, 1868, with ninety-eight scholars and a faculty of four including Dr. Nathan Barrows,

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In '52 a long tradition ended, and a new tradition began - Judge Albert D. Leahy congratulates retiring principal Stephen A. Doody and new principal Edgar L. Lord. To the class of 1953: I wish to congratulate the editors and the sponsors on their choice of theme for this year's Red and Black. Any institution of long standing builds up a body of tradition through its active years. Stevens High School is no exception, and it affords a wealth of such material accumulated for eighty-three years. I hope that this issue dedicated to the portrayal of Stevens' traditions will bring much pleasure to her alumni and for many years to come to the class of 1953. Most sincerely yours, Edgar L. Lord, Principal ' MR. EDGAR L. LoRD is THE I THIRTEENTH HEADMASTER OF STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL Nathan Barrows Arthur J. Swain Reuben S. Bingham Lemuel S. Hastings Melville C. Smart LeRoy S. Dewey Walter H. Young Anson W. Belding Allen C. Cummings H. Lawton Chase Albert B. Kellogg Stephen A. Doody Edgar L. Lord 1868-1870 1870-1880 1880-1881 1881-1889 1889-1902 1902-1907 1907-1909 1909-1912 1912-1918 1918-1919 1919-1921 1921-1952 1952 The Principal shall have the general management of all the details of discipline and of the daily routine of the school, and it shall be his duty to see that all the requirements of the Committee are faithfully complied with, --Catalog of Stevens High School, 1868-69

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and yet hot lay aside the old. u . x ff j Claremont is in New Hampshire. the principal. Early curricula contained no vocational or scientific courses but rather a general, classical background. The first graduation class in 1871 con- sisted of twelve members. They graduated in the Opera House, as the high school was not large enough to accommodate them, and went from there to the Town Hall where the Senior Reception was held. By 1908, the enrollment had increased to one hundred and fifty-six. An addition was deemed necessary, and on April 10, 1909, the town voted the sum of 558,000 to be expended on a single story unit to be added to the front part of the building to relieve some of the con- gestion. It contained a laboratory, a classroom, a headmaster's ofhce and a manual training room in the basement. Even that addition was found inadequate by 1914 because it was obvious that the building had to be radically remodeled, for a yearly increase in students seemed inevitable. For this purpose the town voted an appropriation of 373,000 This building was of brick with cement trimming and contained twenty-one rooms instead of the former nine. In 1929, the School Board upon the consent of the General Court, took over the responsibility of Stevens High School from the town. The building was again remodeled at a cost of S300,000, and a new extension was added to accommodate the Junior High School. The old building, itself, was greatly altered, and various improvements were installed. The three floors contained five classrooms each. At this time the teaching staff had increased to nineteen and the en- rollment to four hundred and thirty-four. Currently, Stevens High School has an enrollment of five hundred and twenty pupils under the excellent supervision of twenty-nine capable, well-trained teach- ers. In great contrast with the curriculum of the nineteenth century, five adequate courses are offered- the English, Scientific, Classical, Mechanic Arts, Home Economics and the Commercial-all-of which aid in preparing the student for his- future life work. This fine selection is sure to fulnll any young person's needs, whether he plans to go on to college, enter industry, or go directly into the business world. Opportunities are provided in many fine extra-curricula activities to develop special talents, and to teach the student to use his leisure time constructively, to learn the meaning of co-operation and to form worthwhile, lasting friend- ships. Through the years Stevens High School has valiantly upheld her many line traditions and is con- tinually bringing new honor and glory to the name of Paren Stevens, the founder of an integral part of Claremont.