Alfred E Beach High School - Golden Bulldog Yearbook (Savannah, GA)

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 (Innuat Gam nLtts- THE STORY OF THE GOLDEN BULLDOG Beach has always needed an annual because of the many activities and happenings around Alfred E. Beach High School. The students and teachers felt that the seniors would like to have a memorial record of their days of high school. On November 5, 1950, a group of students were called together to form a committee. This committee is called the Annual committee. It consists of two members from each senior class and one member from each of the lower classes. The members of the committee are as follows: William Battey Joan Bryan Josephine Drayton Rachel Edwards Ethel Fields Dorothy Frazier Gerald Haven Benjamin Holmes Amos Johnson Carolyn Johnson George Johnson Erma Lee Queen McGee Carolyn Patterson Marilyn Woods Delores Perry Willie Roberts Evelyn Royal Earldine Sanders Betty Stokes David Thomas Mildred Williams Page 9

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 rJ Col. Alfred Ely Beach was closely related to the early history of education among Negroes in Savannah and Chatham County. Born in Springfield, Mass., in 1826, Col. Beach received his early education in the schools of Springfield and at Monson Academy, Monson, Mass. In 1846, he become joint owner of the Scientific American, a magazine founded to report progress and stimulate interest in Science and industry. Col. Beach was only twenty years of age at the time of the purchase, but possessed of versatile mechan- ical bent and great personal attraction, he early became a mechan- ical genius and inventor of note. He was responsible for the begin- ning of the elaborate pneumatic tube system which now transports mail and telegrams around New York City and originated the system now used in building tunnels. He was the inventor of the shield which made possible the construction of the experimental subway under Broadway, New York City, the forerunner of New York's present vast subway system. Other inventions to numerous to name include the first successful typewriter with radial swinging arms. By 1870, Col. Beach had distinguished himself as a scholar, editor, lawyer, engineer and philanthropist. The Scientific American had become a potent factor of American progress and its offices soon became a resort for inventors, men now famous in the history of invention. It is related that one morning in 1877, Thomas Edison dropped by Col. Beach's office with a package under his arm, which he silently proceeded to open. The content announced itself when he turned the crank and the words Good morning. How do you do? How do you like the talking box? (phonograph). Col. Beach was the first to see the Edison incan- descent lamp, the Edison dynamo and the moving picture machine, called in that day, the kinetoscope. His contribution to the world of science and invention drew to a close in 1896, at the age of 70, but there exists today many avenues whereby the world has benefited that he lived in it. After the Civil War, many northern and Eastern interests contributed to the fostering of education in the South among Negroes. Among these agencies was the American Missionary Association with headquarters in New York City. In 1863, Col. Beach, because of previous acts of philanthropy, was approached relative to a con- tribution for the erection of a school to be located in Savannah. We do not know the extent of that gift but it was without a doubt a most substantial contribution in that the school was dedicated in 1864 as the Beach Institute. During its many years of operation, the Beach Institution contributed to the city of Savannah many of its outstanding citizens — citizens in all walks of life. Beach Institute closed its doors in 1916. The American Missionary Association had accomplished its aim — the education of the emancipated Negro and now left the task to be completed by local interests. In February, 1922, Cuyler Junior High School had graduated 35 students and this was the climax of secondary educational resources in Savannah. During the next few months, at the insistance of Miss Sarah C. Houstoun, the Rev. Arnold E. Gregory was asked to start a private high school in the old Beach building which the association had turned over to the First Congregational Church. The Board of Trustees of the church granted the request and opened the school that fall as the Beach Continuation School. In February 1924, through Supt. Carlton B. Gibson, the Chatham County Board of Education was asked to take over the institution as a part of its school system. Action was favorable and the first graduating class came out February 3, 1927. The school bore the name Beach High School, and Mr. Louis Callen was the first principal. In September 1929 at the invitation of the late John Wesley Hubert, principal of Cuyler Junior High School, the Beach High School occupied a portion of the Cuyler building with Mr. Hubert as principal of both units. When the senior high school entered Cuyler there were 151 students and 4 teachers. Mr. Martin G. Haynes succeeded Mr. Hubert and Mr. Haynes was succeeded by the present principal, Mr. O. L. Douglas. Beach and Cuyler were separated January 26, 1949 and the new Alfred E. Beach High School was occupied January 30, 1950. The new Beach will perpetuate for many generations, the name of Alfred Ely Beach.