Central High School - Central Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

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Dr. P. M. Watson, Principal Mr. John E. Lee, Asst. Principal Mrs. Myrtle J. Bell, Asst. Principal

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School History By ALBERT PRICE July 13. 1846 made a decided change in the field of education among Clevelanders. It was upon this date that a group of thirty-four boys and a teacher first assembled in a small room of a Baptist Church on Euclid. This assemblage marked the beginning of Cleveland's first high school. The first years were hard because of lack of funds and equipment. For two years. Mr. Bradburn petitioned the City Council to establish a school for those who had proved themselves scholastically in grammar schools. George Hoadley, mayor of Cleveland in 1846. urged the City Council to establish the proposed school. Andrew Freese was appointed as the first principal of Central High School. Under his guidance Central flourished. It was. howover. opened to boys only. In 1847 the Council of Cleveland made provision for a girls’ department. Central grew from a one-room organization to become a real educational asset. Bradburn succeeded in passing a law in the Ohio Legislature requiring the city to establish a permanent form of higher education. The old school was transferred to a building erected on land purchased near the corner of Erie and Euclid streets, which is now the site of the Union Trust Building. This building was only a frame structure in 1852. The first graduation from this building was held in 1855. On April 1. 1856 a permanent stone structure was dedicated with elaborate services and remained until 1878. After 21 years had passed, ground was broken for the erection of a new building, which towered on East 55th street. There it has remained. fading into past glories and has necessitated only two additions which were made in 1892 and 1904 respectively. The limitations of the old structure made it necessary for plans for a new school to be made. In 1939, ground was again broken as the first step in the creation of a new Central High School. This step was taken in the spring of the year, and by fall the cornerstone of our new building was laid. The pupils of this class were just entering Central at the time when a most elaborate program was held in the auditorium of the new building. This program can be recalled with great pride for it marked a most important step in the advancement of education in Cleveland. Participants in this program were as follows: Reverend R. B. Carver, Edwin J. Bradley of the Board of Education, Theophrlus Mann. James F. Brown. George J. Green. Charles H. Lake, P. M. Watson. Mrs. Azalia Williams, Wilton Nichols, Martin E. Blum and Lawrence Payne. The Central High School Band under the direction of Mr. James P. Lee. supplied the music. Reverend Charles H. Crable closed the ceremonies. The present building has served its community well during the last three years. Our class, of course, is the first to graduate after attending all six semesters in the new school. For many of us. graduation comes only a few short weeks prior to induction in the Armed Forces. Whether in War or Peace, our school will carry on its worth-while traditions and continue the pursuit of those permanent ideals of our Democracy.

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Faculty First Row: M ss Frieda Fliedner; Miss Alta M. Bien: Miss Helen M. Chesnutt; Mr. John E. Lee. Ass't Principal: Hr. P. M. Watson, Principal: Mrs. Myrtle J. Bell. Ass't Principal; Miss Constance Page: Mrs. Gertrude K Ifoyle: Mr. Howard Matson. Second Row: Mr. L. J. Rentsch: Miss Sylvia E. Excell: Miss Juanita Thomas; M ss Margaret Hatfield; Mrs. Odessa Salvant: Mr. G. C. Muthersbaugh: Miss Lula Ballard; Miss Josephine A. Rush: Mr. G. D. King; Miss Ardelia Bradley. Th rd Row: Mrs. Mina Spauld'ng; Mrs. Katherine Morrow; MVs Marion Gregory; Mrs. Clarice N. Hague; Miss Lula C. Gee; Miss Amanda Baer: Mils Erma Jung: Miss Irene Aitken; Mr. Andrew Scginac; Mr. Lloyd Mark Icy. Fourth Row: Mr. Benjamin Sachs; Mr. Luther V. Abcle: Mr. Glenn E. Graham; Mrs. Mary Odbert; Miss Edna Weston: Miss Ruth Hoftyrer; Mr. J. F. Drinkall: Mr. Claude B. Benedict: Mr. David Pierce. Fifth Row: Mr. Lewis Miclke; Mr. Ellsworth Leamon; Mr. Herbert F. Bauer: Mr. P. A. Carlozz'; Mr. Harmon T. Olds; Mr. E. D. Christophcrson: Mr. Earl Me Peek. Sixth Row: Mr. James P. Lee; Mr. Wm. L. Mong.