High School of Commerce - Caduceus Yearbook (Springfield, MA)

Page 16 text:

wn a si NENA a i Sl A lk i a Sh te eC LARD e UG EeUlo ay: essen The Hicu ScuHoor of Commerce, Erected 1915 r A Vision Realized 7 Wrres the taxpayers of a city of 100,000 people vote one million dollars for the erection and equipment of a new high school, the onlooker is naturally curious to know whether the city has been carried away by an educational fad or whether it has some- thing for which it can say, ‘‘value received’. There is no doubt in the case of the High School of Commerce. Before the year 1898, the opportunities for varied study in the secondary schools of Springfield were to be found in two distinct courses, academic or college prepara- tory, and general. These were open to pupils who had completed the elementary school work, and the teaching was done in what is now known as the Central High School. In that year, 1898, Superintendent of Schools Thomas M. Balliet decided that the young men and women of the city should be given the opportunity of taking a com- mercial course in high school, if they so wished. At that time Carlos B. Ellis was teaching in the Westfield High School and Superin- tendent Balliet invited him to come to Springfield and organize a commercial de- partment in the Springfield High School. In 1898, Central High School was opened in its new building and a commercial department was installed under Mr. Ellis with Miss Emma Thrasher assisting. There were thirty-seven pupils in one room. Besides the regular high school subjects, electives were offered in stenography, typewriting, bookkeeping, commercial arithmetic, and commercial law. The first class, composed o twenty-six pupils, graduated in 1900. The commercial course was designed for the young men and women of Springfield who would, upon graduation, seek work in stores, banks, and business offices. In 1906, it became necessary to transfer the commercial department to the newly Page Eight

Page 15 text:

en Cela Dy USGK Ls group of French girls here to study American business methods. Always the man of the moment, our principal worked out a special course for the benefit of our friends across the water. For this efficient piece of work, the French government presented him with the honorary degree, “‘Officier d’Instruction Publique’. Wesleyan University has pre- sented him with the degree, Master of Arts. He has been president of the Massachusetts Teachers’ Association and of the Eastern Commercial Teachers’ Association which includes teachers as far west as Chicago and as far south as North Carolina. Mr. Ellis could not forget that he had had to work on a farm in order to acquire an education. Therefore, he worked indefatigably for the Carlos B. Ellis Scholarship Fund, established by the alumni and the teachers of the High School of Commerce in the fall of 1921 to help deserving boys and girls in their quest for higher education. Realizing how valuable his assistance is, the alumni have made him a life member of the com- mittee. Led on by his vision, he has carried out successfully many enterprises, but none more wonderful than the founding, thirty-one years ago, of this High School of Commerce and wisely directing it from its beginning. Only a man of courage and initiative with vision could have done this and only one who had power and wisdom could have carried it on. A true vision, however, does not stop with accomplishment, but goes on to greater and better things. The High School of Commerce has become a ‘“‘greater’’ school and that it may continue to become a ‘“‘better school” is still the vision of our honored principal, Carlos B. Ellis. BERNADETTE L)arGIs Cuarces PENSAROSA of the Quill Club Page Seven

Page 17 text:

wv ASDeUn Goh Ss completed Technical High School, as it had outgrown its former home. Another chap- ter then began in the history of our school, which was at that time composed of nine teachers and three hundred ten pupils. Recognition of the work being done in the de- partment and of the fact that it was essentially a school that was ‘‘different’’ led to its organization as an independent school in September, 1910. It began its life as the High School of Commerce with four hundred eighty pupils. Superintendent James H. Van Sickle, worthy successor to Dr. Balliet, was a strong believer in the department and had great faith in its work. As the Technical High School building was no longer large enough to hold it, the High School of Commerce was transferred back to Central where the sessions were held in the afternoons. Even with this handicap, the new high school grew rapidly, until in 1915 the enrollment was eight hundred seventy. Meanwhile the plan of organization and the principles guiding the course of study had made themselves felt in the city. The business men awoke to the fact that they were getting better equipped employees, and that this school was one whose object was prac- tical and proficient education. They felt that an institution giving such service, which had won a place of distinction for itself in spite of all its handicaps, should be given a place to do its work amid the best surroundings possible. With practically no opposi- tion, the taxpayers of Springfield gave their consent in favor of Mr. Ellis’ plan for a million dollar appropriation for the home of the High School of Commerce. In 1914, a site was purchased for the building where the school now stands. It had originally been a pond which had been converted into a dump, and was filled in with rubbish of every description. This site was purchased for about $200,000, and the build- ing was begun. It was erected upon concrete piles driven into the earth. Twelve hundred thirty-six concrete piles were drilled into the ground on this site and the new building was erected on these piles. In September, 1915, the school was completed. It had cost $725 ,000, and was furnished for another $75,000, making a grand total of one million dollars for the entire school and site. Today it would cost about two million dollars for the same building. The building was planned to accommodate 1500 pupils, but from time to time changes have been made in the interior arrangements to take care of the ever increasing number of pupils. The present enrollment is 1746, and it is believed that eventually the building will accommodate 2000 pupils. Many of the teachers whom we have with us today have been here since Commerce first occupied this building. Their names are: Mr. Ellis, Miss Al len, Miss Bigelow, Mr. Campbell, who has taught shorthand in the school since 1908, Miss Anna S. Danforth, Miss Dearborn, Miss Grant, Miss Halligan, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Macalpine, who has taught bookkeeping with us since 1909, Mr. Masters, Miss Miller, Miss Palmer, Mr. Potter, Miss Roberts, Miss Sinsabaugh, Miss Julia Strong, who has taught history since 1905, Miss Alice F. Danforth, secretary of the school, and Mrs. Mary C. Campbell, the director of the lunch department. So we have our High School of Commerce today, the finest high school building in Springfield, and one of the finest in America. It came into being because of the needs of the people for a business training school. May it continue to provide our city with ed- ucated men and women for years to come. Dorotuy Simpson Aven ReyNoLps Page Nine