Classical High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Springfield, MA)

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THE BLUE AND WHITE :Q-oaevxavsnanxa-i:osn:ana:amnmnaa-asusual ns. Q- wx.-sn use wx- vs. use -in -Qi vs- use nn- ox- vs- oxnsa us vin -so ON wrgsrtrlm RAILROAD. 'i 'A ff m, f '- ii 'B ,i- - ,H 5. fa, A W P . V . ,6 I . ' 1 ' ' 7gqm., :vzannrxn . N . f ' M? 5 .11 sal'zm.:,.s-1113 5' ali A ...V M., I A, . ' I ' , ,.,. I .1 .. if 2 V. ,1 'ff -Q-V'-::1'v 1.1 ai. . , f f ' A., yi , ,l..,n,-.n I-' :2'gif5S. f 4 . - - H , 5- , .. ,Q Q - Y MM ' at-451 ' 1 . T7 I W, Q-....--.ta .sg I .. h H M .Q . 5 Iv ,fwVT'rqx-.:5,p-a- 'f ' 1 ' 5 ' .I 5 . -,,, .,,. 4... wg , . L .K Q W A. .3,. . gg-f'. '.- K f ' -xy, 5 .,i ,7f-- ' 7' AF CON TRQIH E E B 5 l KELD. moan w Arn-4 mf, ' vwooo, :ww--mf ' ' This was the train that went through Springfield in the 184OlS, .Many children skipped school to see this train pull into the station. The quarter-century from 18-11 to 1865 has been called the Golden Age, the finest period in the history of the school. Rev. Sanford Lawton began as principal in a twofstory, brick building on West State Street. He was succeeded in 18-1-1 by Ariel Parish. Mr. Parish, a wellftrained, capable graduate of Yale, who had taught bef fore in district schools, was the first of the Springfield principals to make teaching his life work. One interesting feature of his term was the rigorous training given in spelling. Students were required to spell 1,000 words a term, and anyone who could spell -1,000 words in a year was ranked as a first-class speller. When we realize that an uncrossed t or an undotted i, erasure of any word or letter, or a blot where an error might exist, caused the word to be marked wrong, we wonder how there could have been even as many good scholars as there were. ln 1848 the school moved again, this time to a building that had been built particularly for it, on the present site of the Nlunicipal group. The school was dedicated in September with appropriate exercises and speeches by Gov. George Briggs, Horace Mann, Secretary of the State Board of Education, and others. Because of its hardwood floors and cherryftopped desks, it was thought magnificent and was called by old Judge Morris 'lan educational palace . What he would have said about our present schools is an intriguing question. The first class to receive diplomas graduated from this school in March 1856fcomposed of eight girls and one lone boy. Among the four student publications, of this period one was called 'lThe Messenger Bird , put out by the girls, and another, HThe Portfolio . '1The Recorder staff might like to know some of the details of this latter. Separate editors of what were called male and female departments were thought necessary. Essays were written and printed on such melan- choly and thoughtfprovoking subjects as Farewell , l'Thought , HSlander , and How Blessings Brighten as They Take Their Flighrni An item from one issue mentions a class of 166 pupils, 108 girls and 58 men. The third stage, called the Middle Ages, be' gan in 1865 and continued until 189-1. Mr. Parish had resigned in 1865 after completing Z1 years of the finest service, a record in those days of short terms, and had become the Super, intendent of Schools in New Haven. His sucf cessor was the Rev. Milan Cyrus Stebbins. The Superintendent of Schools of this period, E. A. Hubbard, proved one of the best friends of the school. He raised the standards of teach- ing, obtained funds for the erection of several grammar schools, increased the teachers' sal- aries, and lengthened the course from three to four years. He also added new courses of me- chanical and freehand drawing, history, hygiene, and physiology. Court Square in the early forties. This picture was evidently taken on a busy day.

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vxavin-xnsuQ4-sn-Qui. THE BLUE AND W -su -sum-usnsn vsuxnsnsu -uns.vxnwx.1541-Qnvsnvgvin-i4uQ.ss--Q4241-vsanvxuq This was the only way to get to school if you did not wish to walk, or did not have a horse of your own. If you wished to arrive on time, it was safer to walk. THE HIGH SCHOOL ON STATE STREET, 1874'1898 A' me ,f X559 . ogwfef. K TOMMY M11.x.ER's LUNCH . . . This building was on the present site of the Eire and Marine Insurance Company. Many of the students from the High School, pictured above, hiked down here an recess for food and refreshment. GEORGE S. PAGE Pap Corn Vender of the QOYS -6.. L l

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THE BLUE AND WHITE v5.n14ox4vs4vQ4-Q4vxuQnxavx:vs:eLaex:es:ex:eL:vQ- vaaexavxaexsesavsavaavsnxaexawxavxavsinvxnvxaoxaoiniavxn Then in 1875, in the principalship of William Wallace Colburn, the school was moved to a position on State Street between the Church of the Unity and the county jail. The new build- THE OLD Cou nw JAH. N-Qs Y' The jail stood next to the school building and when a hanging was to take place the pupils had a day's vacation. ing, erected for the exclusive use of the high school, had three stories and a basement but still no gym. The principal, who had a dry sense of humor, good discipline, and a love of teaching, was wellfliked. He introduced an examination required of all who entered, regardless of their previous record. During Principal Colburn's term the Lyceum was started as a debating society for boys. Many heated debates were held weekly on such questions as mls Novel Reading Morally Helpfulfl and Should Women Have Votes? Despite much opposition, girls were finally admitted to the society, and, indirectly, this caused the settling of an ancient problem. For years separate en- trances had been set apart for use of boys and girls, and had become a subject for violent disf approval on the part of the student body. Petitions had been of no avail until at last one was granted and the idea of separation was dropped. Believe it or not-the reason ad' vanced for common entrances was that in winter when the steps were slippery, the girls were likely to have severe falls without the support of a male arm! The new principal in 1890, Charles jacobus, introduced the AfBfC-DfE system of marking in place of percentages, This plan has been in use for over forty years, jacobus also added courses in manual training and cooking, and laboratories for biology and physics. Social life centered around school activities, ending with the greatest event in the year, graduation, and the dance that followed. Prom- enades were really promenades in those days: 'kilt first the promenades were held in the High School hall, and the boys and girls did promenade and converse, choosing partners for the numbers on their programs and supposedly conversing on a subject printed thereon. In regard to the dances, a prominent woman considered the waltz objectionable and trusted the day would come when young people would dance only the square dances again. Its only defeat was administered by the Springfield League Team About 1890, track, Held, and other athletics began to take a recognized place in the school activities. Baseball and later football teams were soon in keen rivalry with Holyoke and Monson. There was an amusing incident which ended a