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

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On November 2, 1824, the school moved to a new schoolhouse on Pinkney Street. In this build- ing the school remained until its removal to the Bedford Street schoolhouse twenty years later. In 1837, Mr. Thomas Sherwin became head- master of the school. It was a frequent expression of Mr. Sherwin that he tried to make men. From this expression came the expressions English High School Men, or Men of English High. PART THREE In 1844 the school moved from the building on Pinkney Street to the new building on Bedford Street, which had been erected for the accommo- dation of the English High and the Public Latin Schools. This was the home of the school for thirty-seven years. 1864 saw the beginning of military drill at the school under the direction of General Hobart Moore. In 1881 the school moved with the Public Latin School to the Warren Avenue-Montgom.ery Street building. At that time the building was the largest building in America used for educational purposes and the largest in the world used as a free school. By the year 1911 the school had grown to such a size that first and second year boys were housed in two annexes. Even when Latin School moved to a new building in 1921, the first year boys still had to be accommodated in an inconveniently remote annex. On January 30, 1922, Mr. Walter F. Downey was appointed headmaster. At this time the school entered upon a long reign of high standards of scholarship and deportment. Mr. Downey served as headmaster until 1955, a period of thirty-three years and he is now an active member of . the alumni. Mr. Henry Mclnerny became headmaster in 1955 soon after the) school was removed to its new building in the Fenway. Mr. Mclnerny retired in 1956 and at that time Mr. Joseph L. Malone became headmaster. PART FOUR Mr. Malone who had been serving as director of civil defense until the time of his appointment has brought new honors to the school by his un- ceasing work on behalf of the school and its pupils. We are certain that the reputation of the school will be brought to new heights under his guidance.

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Our The History of the English High School BY Edward J. Kelley ' 58 The English High School was founded in 1821, the year after the old town of Boston became a city. In 1821 the city of Boston was inhabited by some 50,000 people. The streets were narrow and the people were prospering from the trade over- seas. In this setting English High was founded. Believing that the existing facilities were inade- quate for handling the education of the students prop erly, a sub-committee was formed to explore the feasibility of establishing a higher institution of learning. The founding of the school was authorized in 1820 in a committee report on education. It was named English Classical School and remained so designated until 1833 when it became known as English High School. This was truly to be a higher institution of learning and only those stu- dents who passed a suitable examination would b° admitted. PART TWO Mr. George Barrell Emerson was the first head erituae master, or headmaster. Examinations for admis- sion were held in the Latin School building on School Street and in May the school opened in the building on Derne Street with a membership pf one hundred and one pupils. The first school building stood on the southerly side of Derne Street, covering a portion of the ground now occupied by the State House exten- tion. The easterly portion of the ground floor was occupied on the quarters of the Town Watch, forerunners of the Police Department; the west- erly portion as the house of Hero Fire Engine 6. The boys in attendance at this school were expected to complete a course of study much more rigorous than at present in less than three years. The course consisted of; intellectual and written arithmetic, ancient and modern geography, history, elements of arts and sciences, sacred geography reading, grammar, bookkeeping algebra, rhetoric and composition, geometry, natural philosophy, English literature and forensics, natural theology, moral philosophy, evidences of Christianity, practi- cal mathematics, comprehending navigation, sur- veying, mensuration, astronomical calculations, and construction, and use of mathematical instru- ments.

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FRESHMAN YEAR 1954-1955 A new building and a new headmaster was a truly novel way to begin a new school year. Our heatjmaster Mr. Mclnerney, a quiet and very dignified gentleman, greeted us at the door of the new building of the Boston English High School. The school had moved during the summer to its present location on Avenue Louis Pasteur hear the Fenway. The building now occupied was the home of the now defunct High School of Commerce. The school itself differed greatly from the junior high schools; there were two lunchrooms but to our surprise no coke machines. Around us the higher institutions of learning towered over our Alma Mater, lending an atmosphere of true learn- in? and culture to our school. It also gave an air of dignity and studiousness to our student body. To top things off, located across the street ,was our traditional rival, Boston Latin School. Entering the school, our home for the next four years, we were led from the assembly hall down the hallowed halls to our respective rooms. The next few days were chaotic but cheerful ones for us; there had been a mix-up on the books and there was a delay in receiving our primers. Nat- urally we were all disappointed. Lockers were late too, but this also was benevolently endured. The upper classmen had begun military drill for that year and we watched, anxiously awaiting our sophomore year to begin. The drill team ' s neat uniforms were the chief attraction. The sports that year enjoyed moderate success. The football team did well, beating every team in the city except for our personal rival, Boston Latin School. Latin gave us a little trouble and they just barely squeezed by us 20-7. The cross country team flashed by the lesser school talent and won the city championship. This highly competitive team went on to completely rout Boston College High School. Our basketball team broke even with no complaints from anyone. The hockey team enjoyed one of its most successful seasons with an ice breaking record of 7-2-2. The base- ball team, winning all but two games, took the city championship. Hardly had we settled down to our semi-alert state of pupil versus teacher when our first tests hit us. Obviously the faculty had lain awake all night in anticipation of our arrival. These tests were masterpieces of their kind. Completely