Blake School - Reflections / Call O Pan Yearbook (Hopkins, MN)

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 Mr. C. Bertram Newton. A. B., Princeton '93. who had been for thirteen years a Master at Lawrenceville, was selected as the first Head Master. From 1911 to June. 1919. when Mr. Newton resigned, the school under his leadership rapidly developed into one of the best country day schools. After a year at 1803 Hennepin Avenue, the Senior Department was moved to the present country site, the Junior Department remaining at 1803 Hennepin Avenue for three years more. The first section of the Country School Building (1912) consisted of the Dining I lall-Chapel-Study Hall section and the recitation wing. In 1913 the second section was built, consisting of the Gymnasium, Reading Room. Manual Training Room, etc. By the scholarship record of its boys in school and later in college, by the engendered spirit of good sportsmanship and loyalty, and by the reputation for an idealizing influence on characters at the age of greatest susceptibility, the product of the school came to be recognized for its quality. By his personality, his enthusiastic ardor, and his living example of faithfulness and devotion, Mr. Newton made a lasting contribution to the early development as well as to the permanent success of the school. In 1919, Mr. Raymond B. Johnson, who had in 1916 come from the Country Day School in Boston, Massachusetts, to be the head of the Blake English Department, was appointed Acting Head Master, and. later in the same year. Head Master. In 1920, the Anderson house and barns and six acres of land were bought. This completed the square of the Country School tract and made the total of sixty acres. It also enabled the school to use the dwelling as a boarding annex for the convenience of out-of-town boys or those whose parents left the city for a part of the winter. In 1921. the third addition was made to the building. This greatly increased its capacity and usefulness, making it possible to separate the Upper and Lower Schools, to move the Fifth Year class to the country, and to meet the demands of an increased enrollment. Mr. Charles C. Bovey was the leading spirit when the school was founded in 1911 and continued as President of the Board of Trustees for eight years. To him and to Mr. Newton the school owes a debt of gratitude which may be fully acknowledged but can never be fully paid. Much of the responsibility for the development of the school since its beginning has rested on the willing shoulders of Mr. Franklin M. Crosby, who was Mr. Bovey's successor as President of the Board of Trustees, and who is now in office devoting much of his time and thought to the good of the school. I 10

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A Brief History of The Blake School TIIF. question is sometimes asked. Why is Wake School so named? Was Mr. Blake the founder ot the school? I: is natural that there should he curiosity and natural that there should he a desire to pay honest tribute where tribute is due. Mr. William McK. Blake was not the founder of this school, and yet we do ourselves honor in hearing his name. It stands for a life of devotion to the education of hoys. It is the name of a man who gave his best abilities and his unstinted efforts to a high service. His ideals are Blake ideals. His example is an example for Blake hoys and masters. The actual situation which gave the school its name was in itself a tribute to the fairness of the real founders and to the value of Mr. Blake’s previous school work in Minneapolis. In 1907 he started a tutoring school for about a dozen boys at 200 Ridgewood Avenue. In 1911 some of the men in Minneapolis who had already done so much in other ways for its development, saw the vision of the possibilities of a country day school worthy of the city and its future growth. The names of the first Board of Trustees adequately represent that larger group of men who gave generously for the consummation of the plan: Charles C. Bovey. Presi- dent: lames F. Bell. Elbert 11. Carpenter. Charles M. Case. Fred W. Clifford. George B. Clifford. Franklin M. Crosby, John Crosby. William 11. Dunwoody, Edward C. Gale, Clive T. (affray. Charles S. Pillsbury, David I). 'Penney. Charles I). Velie. Frederick B. Wells. It was at once realized that the small school already in existence and run as a business enterprise for private gain would be badly crippled by a competitor financed on a so much larger scale and managed on a basis of no interest return on original investment. Mr. Blake did not desire the greater responsibility of leadership in the new organization but was willing to join the staff. He was engaged then as Senior Master at a good salary, the private tutoring school was abandoned, and the new institution became the Blake School. W hen Mr. Blake felt it necessary to resign from active teaching he was retired on a pension, which was paid until two years later, when he resumed his profession in another city. 9

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Sell ool Calendar for 1922-23 September IK. Monday, 9 A. M.— Examinations to remove conditions or for entrance. September 19. Tuesday, 9 A. M.—Senior Department (Country School) opens. September 20. Wednesday. 9 A. M.—Junior Department (City School) opens. November 22 and 24—Thanksgiving Holidays. December 22 to January 8 ( Exclusive —Christmas Vacation. February 12—Lincoln's Birthday. February 22—Washington's Birthday. March 22 to April 2 (Exclusive)—Spring Vacation. May 20—Decoration Day. June 2. Sunday—Vesper Service. June 6, Wednesday-—Junior Department Closing Exercises. June 7, Thursday—Lower School Closing Exercises. June8, Friday—Commencement. June 11 to 16—Special School for College Board Examinees. June 18 to 22—College Entrance Examination Board Examinations. 11