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

Page 27 text:

HERITAGE later on Montgomery Street and Warren Avenue was an unreclaimed marsh. Mr. Charles M. Cumstan, in whose name an undergraduate scholarship is named, succeeded Mr. Sherwin as Master-in-charge in September of 1869 and remained until 1874, at which time he retired. Following Mr. Cumstan, Mr. Edwin P. Seavers, an assistant professor of mathematics at Harvard was appointed headmaster. In 1880, Francis A. Waterhouse was appointed to the headmastership and it was during his term that English moved to its fourth building located on Montgomery Street in Boston. This new build¬ ing was called the “most modern and elaborate building in the whole public school system.” En¬ rollment doubled. Upon the death of Mr. Waterhouse, Mr. Babson, a Harvard graduate, was installed as headmaster. It was during his 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, who remained headmaster until 1915, when he was succeeded by Mr. Snow, a B. U. graduate. Before the centenary year was over, Mr. Snow was elected to Assistant Superintendent of school, thus withdrawing in favor of Mr. Walter F. Downey, who remained headmaster until 1953. In the summer,of 1953, the Boston School Com¬ mittee appointed Mr. M. Henry Mclnerney as headmaster of The English High School. The old building on Montgomery Street had been abandoned in favor of the old High School of Commerce building on Avenue Louis Pasteur, directly across the street from our traditional rival, Boston Latin. In 1956, Mr. Joseph L. Malone be¬ came headmaster. Since his appointment, many honors have been brought to the school. The Boston English High School has had a long and glorious history. Members of its faculty have given of themselves to the school as well as the entire school system. Its graduates, having trav¬ elled far and in sundry direction, have brought distinction to the Alma Mater.

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I In 1821, Boston, a town of some 50,000 inhabit¬ ants, felt the need to supplement its school pro¬ gram, which consisted at that time of the Latin School and several English grammar schools. Plans were laid for the founding of The English High School. A subcommittee consisting of merchants, the clergy, jurists, and journalists was appointed by the school committee to consider the subject ' of providing advanced schooling for the youth of the town. This committee presented a report which recommended the establishment of a school to be called English Classical School, with admittance attainable through suitable examination. They further stated that the course should be spread over a period of three years, with subjects includ¬ ing English, Math, and Natural Philosophy. Each subject was to be taught by a teacher who had graduated from a University. The school opened in a four-storied building on Derne Street with George Barret Emerson as head¬ master. This location suffered from the joint occu¬ pancy of Hero Engine No. 6, the town watch in the basement, and the lack of an adequate heating OUR system. Solomon P. Miles took over the duties of headmaster in 1823. Shortly after, in November of 1824, the school moved to Pinckney Street where it remained for twenty years. Upon the retirement of Mr. Miles in 1837, Thomas Sherwin became headmaster, hold¬ ing this position for forty-one years until his death in July, 1869. Under Mr. Sherwin, The English High School became widely known for its prepara¬ tory courses in math, physics, and chemistry. Per¬ haps his greatest contribution was his emphasis toward “The making of men.” Few men have so dearly left their imprint upon a school as did Mr. Sherwin. In 1844, the school was moved to occupy jointly (with the Latin School) a new building on Bed¬ ford Street. In these thirty-one years, the enroll¬ ment tripled. 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

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CLASS HISTORY FRESHMAN Our career at English High began after a two- week postponement due to the polio epidemic which plagued New England. Mr. Mclnerney, our new headmaster, made a few faculty changes. During the summer, Col. Meanix retired, and Girl’s Latin moved, — an inoident which made pushing on the M.T.A. buses quite uninteresting. Captain Fisher replaced the Colonel and intro¬ duced the English High School Trick Drill Team. One day, during the first period, a notice was sent to the homerooms, notifying the boys to get their coats and return to their homerooms for dis¬ missal. It seems that we were the victims of a mad bomber. After the police and fire depart¬ ments searched the building, the incident was termed a hoax. Shortly after, the Blue and Blue bombed Latin, 20-14, at Harvard Stadium. Other sports highlights included the 9-2-1 season for our Hockey Team, which earned the city champion¬ ship; a Regimental and city track team champion¬ ship and the 7-5 record of our basketball team, including overwhelming victories over Latin School. All our teams enjoyed victories over Schola Latina that year. In the spring, we watched the upperclassmen finish second in the Schoolboy Parade. Our Band and Bugle Corps came in first place. Blue Cross Blue Shield along with the newly installed one-dollar student insurance policy found many Blue and Blue claimants. Mr. “Red” Evans was out sick and was replaced by Hal Connolly who later went on to set a new hammer-throwing record in the Olympic Games at Melbourne, Australia. Other casualties included Mr. Joseph Sheehan, who suffered a severe heart attack which necessitated a two month convalescent period. Too, a local hospital was greeted with “post number one, my chickadees.” SOPHOMORE The new year brought numerous changes. Mr. Joseph L. Malone succeeded Mr. Mclnerney. The new “Dress Right” policy went into effect. Ties could be rented for 15c. Discussion, Chess, Radio, Photography and Military Clubs were added. The French Club was supervised by Mr. Robert “Red” Evans, until his death in February. Other deaths included Mr. Ralph Quinn, head of the History Department and Mr. Robert Gifford, a veteran of twenty-seven years in our English Department. Mr. William “Notebook” Devore became a De¬ partment Head. Other faculty changes included a new Math Department Head, Mr. O’Brien, from Girl’s Latin School. (For a time there was some doubt as to whether the girls of Girl’s Latin would let the suave, debonair Mr. O’Brien leave.) Mr. Charles Keelon left for the treacheries of East Boston High, where he became principal. The price of milk was raised to 2c and Mr. Malone instituted the Activities Fund. Captain Fisher obtained a flag in Washington and brought it back with him for the School-boy Parade. Upon his return be founded the E. H. S. Cadet Officer Training Corps. The student council, having been