Central High School - Centralian Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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Hon. Samuel Chester Gale

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DEDICATION To ihe Hon. S. C. Gale, who, as donor of the annual prize for composition and oratory, has greatly stimulated interest in these departments, and has conferred a lasting benefit upon the Central High School, this book is respectfully dedicated.

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The Hon. Samuel Chester Gale The Hon. Samuel Chester Gale was a native of Massachusetts, born at Royalston, Worcester county, September 15, 1827. He had five sisters and four brothers. His father died in middle life, leaving the family very poor. He had very little education up to his seventeenth or eighteenth year, when he entered an academy. He afterwards entered Yale University, from which he graduated in 1854 with high honors. He came west to Minneapolis in 1857 on a visit, and recognizing the natural advantages and growing prosperity of the city, he determined to remain. Mr. Gale has made Minneapolis his home ever since. He is one of the few who have seen Minneapolis grow from a small town to the metropolis of today. It is due, in no small degree, to his untiring eflorts and thoughtful attention that the school system has reached its present excellent standard. He has always had a particular interest in the Central High School, from the time when he was instrumental in starting it over a hide store on Washington avenue, with fifty or seventy-five pupils, to the present day. In a very short time these quarters were found to be too small to accomodate the increasing number of pupils. In spite of the opposition of the city council and some of the citizens at the time, Mr. Gale finally influenced the board in 1874 to erect a new building, and the west wing of the present school building was built. Mr. Gale was chairman of the committee in charge, and while the school system cannot be said to be the work of any one person, yet, we are indebted to a great extent to his efforts for the present excellent standard it has reached. In fact, he may be called the father of Central High. In February, 1888, Mr. Gale gave to the Board of Education $1,000, from which the annual income of $60 was to be used for prizes, the prizes being awarded to the members of the graduating classes of Central High writing and delivering the best original English orations or essays. Mr. Gale did this because he thought it was for the good of the school and would create an interest in and encourage not only original thought, but also public speaking. It will serve as a monument that will live as long as Central exists, and should be an inspiration to all pupils passing through its doors. GENEVIEVE KING. Vice President ’09.