Eastern High School - Echo Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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THROUGH As a result of the report to the Mayor by the Board of School Commissioners of Baltimore in 1844, it was decided to establish publicly supported high schools for girls. Since females were more delicate than males and could not attend schools at a remote distance, especially in inclement weath- er, the recommendation called for two schools, one in the eastern and the other in the western section of the city. On Wednesday, November 27, 1844, the Eastern Female High School opened with its 38 Eastern- ites and its one teacher-principal, Mr. David Ring. The building stood on the northeast corner of Front and Pitt fnow Fayettej Streets. The school year lasted 11 months - from September lst through July 31st - and the school day of two sessions, lasted six hours, not counting the two-hour intermission between sessions, from nine to five. The day was given solidly to listening to lectures or reciting lessons: no physical activity to relieve the mental, no assemblies to entertain and to short- en class periods, no study halls to lighten home- work. Not even a change of periods for a change of scene! The students, in bonnets and shawls, tight, stiff bodices, and long, heavy skirts with pan- talets, sat at the same desk all day, except for a rare, welcome chance to work at the blackboard. Four requirements for entrance were: pupils must be twelve years of age: they must have had at least one year in a Female Primary Schoolg they must be of good moral character, they must pass a satisfactory examination in reading, spelling, grammar, parsing, geography, and arithmetic. To prevent the school from being considered a charity school, a tuition fee of 31.00 was charged. Social position in no way affected eligibility. , In 1850 departmental work was inaugurated and the 185 young ladies could move from room to room. The faculty increased to five. The year 1852 found Eastern with a new home surrounded by spacious grounds, on Aisquith Street at Milliken. Here, the next year, the first public commencement exercises were held, replete with valedictory and pieces The far-seeing principal made three interesting suggestions at this time: the addition of a fourth year, a system of calis- thenics, and the elimination at the close of the year of all those who did not make a passing average! Following a brief temporary location on Balti- more Street opposite Lloyd, Eastern moved in 1870 to a new building at Aisquith and Orleans Streets. The school soon outgrew this building too and, after much delay, moved in December, 1906, into the more spacious new location at North Avenue and Broadway. By this time changes had been made in the curriculum to include a fourth year, study periods, and bookkeeping - the beginning of vocational training. THE YEARS Many of Eastern's traditions were started about this time. A Student Council was established - the first organization in the Baltimore public schools which gave pupils some responsibility in the man- agement of the school. The first graduating class in the new school presented The Mikado, ini- tiating the annual dramatic presentations by the seniors. The men in the opera wore skirts! The Eastern Tattler published by the Class of 1908 was the first year book, a volume of 160- pages. It remained the one and only publication until 1919, when The Eastern Echo appeared in the form of an 18-page mimeographed magazine. This was published three or four times a year until 1935, when it was transformed into a year book and has so continued. The Class of 1920 commissioned Mr. Hans Schuler to design a school ring. Its seal includes the seal of Baltimore City, an open book, a lighted lamp, a laurel wreath, and the school motto, Esse quam videri. Sincerity, as taught by this motto, to be rather than to seem, is the goal of Eastern girls. The Class of 1920 also gave the school its song, The Green and Gold, and the Class of 1918 designed the school flag, both of which reverently close each school assembly. When Miss Laura J. Cairnes became principal of Eastern in 1924, a special honor fell to her. She became the first woman principal of a senior high school in Baltimore. ln 1929 the vice-principalship was filled by Miss A. Marguerite Zouck, who be- came principal twenty years later, when Miss Cairnes retired. Again the school was breaking at the seams. Finally in 1935 the Board of School Commissioners decided upon the Venable Park site, and building was started. On February 1, 1938, classes convened in the new school, the present one on 33rd Street at Loch Raven Road. Because of a special Carnegie Grant in art and music, there is now an interchange of students be- tween Eastern and City College. Male students at Eastern and female students at City College are no longer oddities. In May, 1944, Eastern's hundred years of history were admirably dramatized in the original produc- tion The Golden Chain. Throughout the year Eastern and Western celebrated their centennial. Their ideals, standards, and traditions are very much alike, and yet each has its own distinct per- sonality. And so they have continued - the oldest girls' public high schools with unbroken history in the United States. Through the years, Eastern High School has grown rich in tradition, dear to the hearts of the thousands of women who look back affectionately upon their school and the years they spent in it.

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CLASS SONG OF 1956 Q 4 JJI gh 111frsL,f,ifftin4 .2 ISFIFIHIJJIJU! .1 4 Jillllffirrihtrlrrllf -' ' . ' '- .i H ere s to fifty six, girls, Loyal may we be 'S 'WS' Sf'f'?ig3,ffgiffrf5'9fgT12?5l'lffxiiln Q To the truth she taught us, l A l .:u..lgM?, rk., Mitjfzyfgewwf. To the friends she brought us: y ?g,,Mii,,, . aff - gf52 vf,.gf2ggf Dedlfflfe UNT hwrfs ' - T S elliilflf ' . To praise and glorify E fifwitg,g.Wge1.i Q The best of all the classes ' ' as sE'zQ gg fifZ!1Zi4 'rg .. A ' I S V ,..g,f2f H315 wifi- 51 i f Of Old Efwfern H fell- f ri ' --Ziiitmg.-4.mn,..lf i it -if , QE .fftik -f fl M 3f i t as ,LW . 'iw fii ,A 5 . We will always strive To keep our standards high, In our sports excelling, All our foes repelling. Though we may not win, You'll know we'll always try- The best of all the classes Of old Eastern High. 28 RUTH SCOTT, COMPOSER We will oft' remember, As the years go by, Days of work and pleasure, Like a golden treasure. Deep within our hearts We'll rherish, 'til we die, The best of all the classes Of old Eastern High.