English High School - Blue and Blue / Record Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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THIRD SCHOOL-HOUSE 1844 enrollment of our school went down. Mr. Seavers, then principal was in 1880 relieved of his duties as head-master, in order that he might accept the position of Superintendent of Schools. Mr. Seavers was succeeded by Francis A. Waterhouse, a graduate of Bowdoin College who at the time was principal of Newton High School. It was during Mr. Waterhouse ' s ad¬ ministration that we received our fourth build¬ ing, located on Montgomery St. in Boston. This building which we received in 1881 was stated to be the most modern and elaborate building in the whole public school system at that time. During the administration of Mr. Waterhouse, our school enrollment doubled in numbers. Upon the unexpected death of Mr. Water- house, Mr. Bccbson, a Harvard graduate, was dhosen to become principal of the most out¬ standing school in the country. It was during Mr. Babson ' s administration that the system of heads of departments was introduced. Mr. Babson, because of ill health, resigned in 1908 to be succeeded by Mr. John F. Casey, also a Harvard graduate. Under Mr. Casey ' s administration, the numbers rose so high, that in 1909, it was necessary to establish an annex, whidh was located at the Patrick A. Collins Building. Mr. Casey remained principal until 1915, when, because of age limit, he retired. Mr. Snow, a graduate of Boston University, then took over the post as head-master of Eng¬ lish High School. Mr. Snow, although prepar¬ ing himself in college for teaching mathematics, won fame and recognition as a French scholar. He became the first head of the French depart¬ ment when it was introduced along with the other departments during Mr. Babson ' s admin¬ istration. FOURTH SCHOOL-HOUSE 1881

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tamed four stories. The bottom floor was divided into two sections, the westerly section containing Hero Engine No. 6 and the easterly serving as the quarters for the town watch. The remaining three floors contained classrooms fitted with pine benches and desks for the pupils. The only heating system was an open fireplace directly in front of which stood the teacher ' s desk and chair. Behind the school was a yard which was used for recreation. Solomon P. Miles took over the duties as head master when Mr. Sherman retired on May 19, 1823. Shortly after, on November 2, 1824, the school moved to Pinckney Street where it remained for twenty years. Upon the retire¬ ment of Mr. Miles in 1837 Thomas Sherwin be¬ came the new head master. Previously he had served for nine years as sub-master and re¬ mained at his new post for forty-one years until his death in July 1869. Few men have so dearly left their imprint upon a school as did Mr. Sherwin. He was an earnest advocate of the superior claims of scientific study, on the grounds of utility, of mental discipline, and of moral influence. SECOND SCHOOL-HOUSE 1824 English High, under his sage direction, be¬ came widely known for its preparatory course in mathematics, physics, and chemistry. Per¬ haps his greatest contribution was his con¬ tinued emphasis toward the making of men. ' ' It was his ambition that English High School should send out into the active pursuits of li fe young men with the intellectual and moral equipment, the force of character and purpose which he deemed essential both to good citi¬ zenship and to business or professional success. His earnest and able advocacy of all measures to enlarge its usefulness will, for all time, asso¬ ciate his name honorably with the history of the school. In 1844 the school was moved from Pinckney St. to a new building on Bedford St., which was to accommodate both the English High School and the Latin School. During the thirty- seven years it remcrined there, the enrollment tripled and it was necessary to hoild some classes in the school houses on Harrison Ave., Mason and South Streets. It is interesting to note that when the school moved into its new building on Bedford Street, the Public Garden was a barren waste. The tide flowed over the Back Bay, and the site of the school later on Montgomery Street and Warren Avenue was an unreclaimed marsh. Military drill was established as part of the school curriculum in 1864. The boys had pre¬ viously drilled without arms under the instruc¬ tion of the teachers. General Hobart Moore was appointed instructor for both schools. Mr. Charles M. Cumston, in whose honor the undergraduate scholarship is named, suc¬ ceeded Mr. Sherwin in September of 1869 and remained until 1874 when he resigned after a distinguished career. Following Mr. Cumston ' s resignation, Mr. Edwin P. Seavers, an assistant professor of mathematics at Harvard, was ap¬ pointed Head Master. In the following years between 1875 and 1880, because of the establishment of the East Boston High School and new district rules, the

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Before the Centenary Year was over, Mr. Snow was elected assistant Superintendent of Schools. He was succeeded by Mr. Walter F. Downey. Mr. Downey, whose term as head¬ master ended only two years ago, brought many honors to the school. In 1922 Gov. Sal- tonstall appointed Mr. Downey Commissioner of Education. In 1938, during Mr. Downey ' s absence, Al¬ bert F. Reed, a former head of our Latin and German departments, assumed the responsi¬ bility of the leadership and guidance of our school. After Mr. Downey ' s return from his leave of absence, in 1938, he remained head¬ master until 1953, when he retired after his long eventful career in the Boston Public School System. In the summer of 1953, the Boston School Committee appointed Mr. M. Henry Mclnerny as Head-master of English High, which had just moved from the old building on Montgom¬ ery St. to its new location on Louis Pasteur Avenue, directly across the street from its ancient rival Boston Latin School. Mr. Mclnerney, a former Head-master of Girl ' s High and a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy, prepared himself well for his duties as Head-master, by securing such degrees as A.B., A.M., ED. M. Mr. Mclnerney adso enjoys the distinction of being a member of a Board of Councilors, which govern all athletic activities in the Com¬ monwealth of Massachusetts. English High has had a long and meritorious history. Members of its faculty have served as leaders in the administration of the school sys¬ tem. Its graduates, many and widespread, have brought distinction to the old school which now looks to the future confidently under the able guidance of the present faculty and the new Head-master Mr. M. Henry Mclnerney to whom we leave the future history of the Eng¬ lish High School. PRESENT SCHOOL-HOUSE 1954