Durfee High School - Durfee Record Yearbook (Fall River, MA)

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The decision to dedicate this book to Principal Charles Y. Carroll was not prompted solely by the desire to give customary recognition to an anniversary. Special tribute, the Record Book Staff felt, is overdue to one who has devoted himself so zealously to education, particularly the education of Fall River youth. An appraisal of his administration justifies the use of superlatives in describing his contribution to the record of B. M. C. Durfee High School. Charles V. Carroll, then superintendent of Woonsocket, R. I. public schools, was elected principal of Durfee on August 4, 1925 and assumed his new duties die following month. A graduate of Holy Cross, he had served his native city as an eve- ning school principal, high school teacher and vice-principal, prior to his election as superintendent, supplementing his teaching experience with special courses at Brown, Rhode Island College of Education and Harvard. Fire and Reorganization The administrative ability of Durfee's new principal was soon tested. When on Sunday, April 10, 1927 the original Technical building was destroyed by fire, his was the task of completely reorganizing the school with a minimum of delay. With practically all shop equipment as well as classrooms and countless text books destroyed, and new programs to be made out for every teacher and pupil, it is amazing to read that the resumption of school routine was held up only one week after the Spring vacation, then at hand. Double sessions were held in the Durfee building; the facili- ties of the neighboring Lincoln and Westall schools were utilized. The Hilltop resumed publication on April 29, its columns replete with news of Spring sports ond other extracurricular activities. Teachers and pupils had cooperated with their prin- cipal. A time and place were found for everything — even detention. Durfee was still Durfee. A new and more modern Technical building was ready for the opening of school in September, 1930, and the school schedule was reestablished on an 8:15 to 1:55 basis. Depression and War The decade that followed brought two new problems for the administration — industrial depression and an ever-increasing enrollment. School department budgets were slashed but every effort was made to give Durfee pupils of that era the same opportunities their predecessors had enjoyed. Teachers worked with larger classes for lowered salaries; pupils shared the burden of homes where there was little or no income — yet there was no lowering of standards. Practical, common sense leader- ship. combined with the cooperative efforts of faculty and student body, kept the spirit of Durfee high. Indeed, it was in that period that a student was inspired to write our Durfee Alma Mater: High aloft ■well lift her banner Bright with Durfee s hue. The tremendous task of winning World War II involved every phase of Ameri- can activity, education not excepted. Principal Carroll took the lead in gearing the school to the war effort —- carefully planning the use of the school’s facilities for the civic good. With the cessation of hostilities, Durfee’s doors were open to veterans

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 c 9o (liar es ( Carro l wh to. for a Cjuctrler of a century, has served IIte peopIe of o7alt r tver With honor, dignity and distinc- tion as principal of % 1 1 ( COnrfee Htcjh cS choo I the (doss of igjo proudly dedicates its fhecord {(look.

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n u u y p who wished to complete their high school education or to make further preparation for college. Those who availed themselves of the opportunity were impressed with thg cordial reception they received from the Durfec principal and his eagerness to assist them. EightyTive veterans received their diplomas with the Class of 1946, many of them going on to college. These, in brief, have been the highlights of Principal Carroll's administration. At the same time, he has been an ardent advocate of extracurricular activities. Durfee s numerous dubs offer all pupils opportunities for fraternization with others whose in- terests are similar, and a well rounded program has been developed. Alumni Field In the booklet published for the dedication of the clubhouse at Alumni Field in 1934, Mr. Ellis Gifford, secretary of the Alumni Athletic Association wrote as fol- lows : When Mr. Charles V. Carroll assumed the principalship, the field began to assume its real place in the life of the school. To his activities in erecting the steel bleachers, buying more land, and building a quarter-mile track and finally culminating in this wonderful clubhouse, Alumni Field owes its present position of being one of the best high school athletic fields in this part of the country . . An athlete in his school and college days and later coach of all sports at Woon- socket High, Mr. Carroll has been particularly interested in developing Alumni Field. Vistitors to the Elsbree Street stadium today find a modern, wfeli equipped recreation field — a far cry from the lot of other years, with its dilapidated fence and an aban- doned schoolhouse serving as a clubhouse. The present clubhouse was built after a city-wide drive for funds — generously contributed to by prominent local citizens. The renewed interest in Durfee sports following the Hilltoppers’ defeat of New Bedford on Thanksgiving Day, 1944, brought a pressing demand for a larger seating capacity. Section after section of bleachers was added until the present capacity of 8,000 was attained. Other improvements included the installation of a lighting system for night games, new tickets booths, accommodations for press and radio, a public ad- dress system, and more recently, the purchase of land immediately south of the field for a practice field. P reparation for Life Principal Carroll, we believe, has kept in mind at all times the primary reason for any school’s existence — the preparation of boys and girls for a good, useful life. We are convinced he has worked tirelessly to maintain Durfees excellent reputation as a preparatory school — whether for higher education or for its graduates’ life work. Names of Durfee alumni may be found on the rolls of America's greatest colleges and universities, and for those wrho have completed their formal education here, he has tried to make their high school years valuable stepping stones to success in business or in- dustry. His dignity in all his relations with the student body has commanded our respect; his efficiency and zeal in directing a large public high school in a cosmopolitan city have inspired in us great admiration. We of 50 are grateful to Principal Carroll for all he has done for Durfee, and for us.