Burgard Vocational High School - Craftsman Yearbook (Buffalo, NY)

Page 16 text:

-:-rw . v-rn 2 --qw-yrw mga mam! ,vmzgnm .cfm gafyqz-ggP-:fE'ffi:g.a1f 5 V .1 V 1,,v,.-sf., we ny ffflif'-'i?'gi4!S.w5-1,1,fQ5e H- 2 . .-fwwsvfff T9 414 f.. 'A as ' - .. Hn, 32 gy :fm :ft-ws' in-611.4 All u. ,1-tg. . E121 1 THECRAFTSMA 1 ,. 1- ...L , LM UC TIONAL HIGH CHOOL .... The School of Printing, which was located in a rented building at Michigan and Tupper Streets, became the Elm Vocational School on its removal in September, 19141, to the old Technical High School building on Elm near Eagle. Elm started with just the printing courses. ln 1915, a course in carpentry was started. This only lasted one year and was then superseded by a pattern- making course. At this same time two other courses were inaugurated: machine shop practice and auto- mobile mechanics. ln November, 1916, the first CRAFTSMAN was pub- lished. This was not like our CRAFTSMAN of today but was a quarterly school journal. The year 1917 saw many new happenings for the school. The first four-color process printing was done in our school print shop. The first linotype came to Elm, being loaned by the Mergenthaler Linotype Co. The first vulcanizing machine was purchased, as well as the first oxy-acetylene torch. Special evening courses for drafted men, prior to their induction into service, were started. The annual custom of Open House and Exhibi- tion Night was begun. This year also saw the purchase of the first piano for the school. ln 1918, the War Department commandeered Elm Vocational School, during the summer, for the training of Fighting Mechanics. During all of the years of war, Elm went L'0ver the Top on every Liberty Loan drive, Red Cross drive, etc. The rehabilitation courses for wounded and disabled soldiers started at Elm in 1919 under the supervision of the Federal government. It was in this year that the Elm Tribune made its appearance as the school paper in place of the CRAFTSMAN. This year also saw the first Alumni reunion of Elm graduates. The real beginning of Elm's expansion came in 1920 with the rental of Annex No. 1. This was a three-story brick building at 111 Clinton Street. Storage battery work was begun in this year. All through these years the night school was becoming more and more crowded, until in 1921, it was necessary to establish a waiting list. The annual school play found its beginning in this year, the first production being Dicken's '4Christmas Carol.'7

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SILVER ANNIVERSARY . . . . THE SCHOOL OF PRINTING on the opening day. No time was lost, however, in devis- ing plans to recruit a sufficient number of boys to B11 the classes. A contest was started, and a small hand-lever printing press was offered as a prize to the boy who brought in the greatest number of new students. This method of recruiting may have had its faults but it was highly successful, for it was not long until all the classes had their full quota of embryo printers. The School of Printing went along serenely for two years offering courses in typesetting and presswork as well as the customary bookwork. Both day and evening classes were conducted and some of Buifalo's successful master printers and many of her capable journeymen got their start in this institution. lt is interesting to note that the first part-time class in the State of New York was begun in this school. A class of printers, apprentices receiving instruction in hand composition, presswork, English and Mathematics met one afternoon a week. A number of employers permitted their apprentices to attend this class with no loss of pay. Another interesting bit of history which had its origin in the School of Printing was the organization of the Ben Franklin Club. This Club is still in existence but oper- ates under a different name. The Club is now known as the Junior Craftsmen's Club and is affiliated with the Buffalo Club of Printing House Craftsmen. Membership is confined to Fourth Year Printing Students of Burgard, and it is considered a distinct honor to claim member- ship in this club. ln two year's time we had completely outgrown the Michigan and Tupper building. The popularity of voca- tional education warranted the expanding of our print- ing courses and the introduction of additional types of work. To do this the School of Printing must find larger quarters. About this time the new Technical High School at Bennett Park and Clinton Street was opened and the School of Printing inherited the building on Elm Street made vacant by the removal of Tech. The School of Printing, as a name, then passed from the picture for in the new building we became Elm Vocational School. New and greater things were done here, the story of which is told on an accompanying page.

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SILVER ANNIVERSA ....ELM VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL Prior to 1921, a student, to be admitted to Elm, did not necessarily have to be a grammar school graduate. With the requirements of the trades being raised, the standard of the school kept pace, and starting in this year, no student was entered who was not a grammar school graduate. The CRAFTSMAN as an annual was printed for the first time at the close of 1921. The second and third annexes were rented in 1922. Tire vulcanizing was then offered for day school students and tailoring was opened for the rehabilitation students. The school colors of blue and white were officially adopted in this year. All the courses were two years in length. In 1922 twelve students remained for third year work which was the beginning of advanced courses. Two more annexes were added in 1923, they being Nos. 4- and 5. The other two outstanding events of this year were the opening of aviation work and the holding of the first night school graduation. Our automobile work was growing so rapidly that in 1924 Annex No. 6 came into existence. Added to this, because of the close of the rehabilitation work, we had the facilities of the rooms and shops that they had oc- cupied. In 1925, Elm kept up its expansion. Annexes 7 and 8 were rented. It was also at this time that the need for a new school was greatly felt. Meetings of business men were held for the purpose of presenting this need to the Board of Education. It was on March 2, 1926, that the first hearing for a new school building was held before the Board of Education. This was followed by many hearings until on December 27, 1927, the Board of Ed- ucation accepted the Burgard site and voted 31,000,000 to build the new Burgard Vocational High School. In the meantime Annex 9, a Gospel Tabernacle, was rented for assembly purposes. The first leather bound edition of the CRAFTSRIAN made its appearance this year. The Elm Flying Clubs were organized in 1928, and the first regular aviation courses were offered. The lithography course was started a year later. During the last few years of old Elm, a tremendous expansion of registration in both day and evening school resulted in the turning away of many students, pending the opening of the new Burgard Vocational High School.