East High School - Redjacket Yearbook (Pawtucket, RI)

Page 20 text:

Class of 1878 SIXTY years ago this June it was Pawtucket High School's first graduation day. Five students sat on the platform of the Second Baptist Church on High Street, waiting to receive their diplomas from William A. Tolman, Principal. Of course there had been a high school before this—since 1855, in fact—but it was little more than a glorified grammar school, and students had attended for as long as they liked, taking as many courses as they were interested in. So we are justified in calling this class the First Graduating Class of Pawtucket High School. In the class of 1878 there were three girls and two boys. Only two of the five are still living: Miss Sarah A. Jenks. who lives at 123 Mulberry Street, and Mr. Frank L. Gatchell, who is an official of the Pawtucket Institution for Savings. The other three were Miss Alice Franklin. Miss Clara Board -man. who for many years taught at East Street School, and Mr. Frank S. Sweet, a lawyer at Bridgewater after his graduation from Brown in 1882. These five fore-runners of the six-hundred and eight members of the class of nineteen thirty-eight studied far different subjects from those in our curriculum. Besides Latin and Greek, mathematics, physics, astromony, and botany were offered, with practical experience in field work. Singing lessons were given once a week by the music supervisor. Mr. Albert O. White. The crowning glory of the class day was a discourse on Mental and Moral Philosophy” (Just think of it!) given by Dr. Wayland of Brown University. This first four-year course was held in the Second Baptist Church, pictured above, which served as a school building until it was blown off its foundations in the gale of '86. SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH The first graduation exercises must have been very interesting. Besides the usual addresses, every pupil read an original essay. Mr. Gatchell recalls that his was on the subject Manual Training in Education”. An extremely radical idea in 1878! There was no class ode or prophecy, but those graduates did have class rings, inscribed with their motto, Certum pete finem”. or “Aim at a certain goal”. Despite all the differences of time and studies, we think the first class of Pawtucket High must have been much like us in hopes and aspirations and in loyalty to their Alma Mater, and we are proud to salute them. We give you the class of eighteen seventy-eight. Jean Hendricks f 16 ]

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Offi icers President William E. Rutledge Vice-President Walter McIlwain Secretary Phyllis Rodger CLASS ODE As the parting hour draws near Wc. Class of Thirty-Eight, Pledge to our school a loyalty That time shall not abate. Through three brief years wc have been safe Beneath these lofty towers. Gaining a store of worthy lore And knowing happy hours; We’ve watched our river’s sunny calms And raging torrents high; We've learned that life will have its storms That will not pass us by. Now forth we march with lifted eyes Toward conquests yet to come. The shields wc bear, Pawtucket High, You forged here, one by one. Barbara Sprinthall. T reasurer Elmer M. Blistein