Berkeley High School - Olla Podrida Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

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The school was greatly hampered by poor accommoda- tions and lack of room. There were only four rooms at the disposal of the High School, with an enrollment of 270, in 1894-5. Classes recited in the Principal ' s ofHce and in the hall. In 1896 Mr. Boone, President of the Board of Education, recommended that the High School course be made to cover four years instead of three. This had to be done on account of the demands of the University and the great amount of work necessary for entrance into college. Mr. Boone thought that if we could not have the money for a new building we should at least make the school the best in the state, in instruc- tion and personnel, and a model for other High Schools. A commercial course was added to the other courses of the High School in 1898, but in 1900 it was thought best to establish the commercial department as a separate institution. Mr. Waterman was elected City Superintendent of Schools in 1899, and Mr. M. C. James was appointed Principal. In 1900 a successful bond election was held, authorizing $100,000 for the erection of a new High School building. On February 22, 1901, the corner stone was laid in accord- ance with the impressive ritual of the Grand Lodge of Masons, James R. Foskay, Grand Master, officiating, assisted by Wm. H. Waste of the Berkeley Lodge, After the occupation of the new building the school rap- idly developed into one of the largest and best on the Pacific Coast, under the guidance and instruction of a most excellent faculty, second to none in the state. The great earthquake that visited California on Wednes- day morning, April 18, 1906, almost demolished the new school building, and again Berkeley High had to experience cramped quarters and lack of room. The old commercial school, two churches, the superin- tendent ' s offices, the laboratories and outbuildings were used the rest of the year. The High School building was rapidly

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The Berkeley High School. DOUBTLESS many of us know but little of the history of Berkeley High School, and we should, as students of this school, be interested in its history. For the benefit of all our readers, this article, the most of which has been gathered from old 011a Podridas and from the plan of the new Polytechnic High School, has been written. The idea of having a Berkeley High School was first con- sidered in 1880. when the Board of Education recommended the formation of a high school class in August. Under this arrangement seven students took up the high school course, which consisted of Algebra, Latin, Physical Geography, Eng- lish Composition, Greek and Roman History. The course was rearranged and graded to allow students to enter the University of California. By 1884 the school had progressed so satisfactorily that it was placed on the accred- ited list of the State University. This was under the super- vision of Principal W. W. Anderson. Mr. Anderson resigned in 1884, and Mr. Veghte was chosen Principal. Mr. Veghte held the position until 1890, when Mr. S. D. Waterman succeeded to the position. Thirty-five pupils were enrolled in the High School by 1886, and ten years later this number had increased to two hundred and seventy.

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repaired and was occupied again in January, 1907, and has been the home of Berkeley High School ever since. On August 14 a special bond election was held and $200,- 000 for site and new buildings and $20,000 for repairs on the old building authorized. Land adjoining the old High School building was purchased for $35,000. The plans of Stone Smith, for the Assembly Hall, General Science building and the shops were accepted, and the contract was av arded to Childs Arlett for construction at a cost of $155,602, to be completed July i, 1908. The Grand Lodge of Masons laid the corner stone of the new buildings on August 24, 1907, Mr. Hart, Grand Master, officiating. The new assembly hall will seat about 1,000, and is made of reinforced concrete. The main building is also made of reinforced concrete and has two large floors and a flat roof, which will probably be used as a basket-ball court. The first floor contains a typewriting room, stenography room, com- mercial room, library, three class-rooms and a museum. The second floor has physics laboratory and lecture room, a biology laboratory and lecture room, a chemical laboratory and lecture room, and a physical geography laboratory. The shops have a foundry room, blacksmithing room, ma- chinery room, woodworking room, lecture room and office, with a drawing room and wash-room upstairs. Berkeley High School has been growing steadily, and bids fair to be one of the most famous schools of the Pacific Coast in knowledge acquired by its students, competent instruction and excellence in all branches of athletics. Since 1905 the his- tory of athletics in Central California has been, in a large measure, the history of Berkeley High School, and it remains for the undergraduates to keep up this reputation.