Baltimore Polytechnic Institute - Cracker Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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aio-.s.fL.....krv...r.s:urs-....e.-A--'--9 -5-M 1-- ...z-.-i'::.-f'j AA.iA-I-AAFL 5 --...-2L..'-J' ' -t.: ...'1J'A.. ..-..-A. 7' ws... ..t.,.-.1 .. .- . . .e-ff!A- - --.Ly.a.l-4-V -H -- ' L-'54-A A' ...QA -' ,isis--.117-2Le:l..L'4..LwL-.I......i1' Q... av. ... . ..--... S14...L-.s. ..- ...,-,... x X... --.-Af... -f -- - .- --A-A -,..-Y--Y 'M '1..', '-....-...4:,t .... -....:..-,........:......................... ' ' ' :..' ......-. . the passing of Lieutenant King, the man who made the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. He was succeeded by a former graduate and teacher of Polytechnic, Mr. Wilmer A. Dehuff, a serious but kindly guide for the school. Upon assuming his duties as principal, Mr. Dehuif introduced several innovations and revisions. In addition to the Advanced College Preparatory Course, which was retained, a College Preparatory Course without the advanced work was offered. This course gave the school a much wider field of work. Mr. Dehuif also inaugurated a well-organized student government. In 1927 the School Board appropriated 51,000,000 for the rebuilding of the Polytechnic Institute. In 1930, the largest year for the school, many changes were wrought in the buildings. Razing started in February and continued through the summer. The buildings that were torn down included the central building, the old annex and the cottage to the east of the school. In their place rose the new Polytechnic Institute, a happening many boys did not expect to see during their stay at Poly. On the annex lot arose a spacious and beautiful auditorium with a seating capacity of twenty-five hundred and a stage where many future graduations will he held. In 1931 the new school was completed and occupied by many proud students. The new auditorium was christened with the annual presentation of the Poly Follies and later with the graduation exercises of the class of '31, for this class has the distinction of being the first to graduate from this building. There will be far better advantages for the students of future years at Polytechnic than have ever before been known. Although students of coming years will have all these advan- tages of equipment, of facilities for teaching and of places for recreation, it is hard to believe that they will surpass the excellent record that has been made by former graduates. It will be enough for coming students to keep up and cherish the high esteem in which our Alma Mater, Polytechnic, has always been held.

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' ' 'au-...-..-.a-n.1n-44' '.----o4cA' W' Y' -.L '2a'.a. 'L...-' I Q- 1 , ,,,,..,h4.., , . V, ,, , ., .,,-..,...-,....Y-.,.......,,- . ...........-....v - -- - , , . - . .......-,......-..............................l The History of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute A SCHOOL which was to be known as one of the best technical schools in the country made its inconspicuous beginning on the cold winter morning of February 26, 1884, when the Baltimore Manual Training School was opened for pupils of Baltimore. Although this was the first educational institution of its kind in the country, the beginning appears to have been rather an unpretentious one. The records show that in 1885 there were only 120 pupils entered in the school, nor did the school enrollment exceed 275 pupils until 1902. In 1890 a new building was erected on the lot adjoining the old building and the school life proceeded as before. Then in 1893 the name of the school was changed to The Bal- timore Polytechnic Institute. A new and very helpful era dawned on the school when Lieutenant William R. King, U. S. N., Retired, was called to become its principal. After a year spent in serious study of the situation at the school, Lieutenant King made several good recommendations to the Board of Visitors. These recommendations were carried out and the school became in reality a technical institution. An advanced College Preparatory Course was offered, which in- cluded such subjects as calculus, surveying, analytical chemistry, and the mechanics of ma- terials, subjects heretofore unknown in high school curricula. Graduates from this four-year course were given sophomore standing by engineering colleges. As a result of this change, the enrollment increased to such an extent that in 1908 it was necessary to remove the first year classes to an annex on Division Street. ' The property of the Maryland School for the Blind was next purchased in 1910 and in December of that year the first year classes were transferred to that building. Plans were started for a new structure to be erected on the Blind Asylum lotg but as the city needed a through street, north and south, Calvert Street was cut through, thereby reducing the size of the lot. However, the plans were revised and two wings were added to the Blind Asylum building. The entire school was admitted to its new quarters on September 22, 1913. The growth of the school from that time on has been truly remarkable. The enrollment has reached well over two thousand pupils. In 1921, a sad blow came to the school with

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ACULT