Evanston Academy - Bear Yearbook (Evanston, IL)

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to his side many who had been at first opposed. The financial condition at that time, the limit to rate of taxation, as well as many other considera- tions, made it desirable that the High School should become 'a Township School, and Mr. Haven labored long and earnestly until the desired end was reached. Then he left the teacher's profession for the practice of medicine, but never lost his interest in, or withheld his service from, the public schools. His life was a success, his death a victory, and his memory among us shall be forever blessed. The nrst graduating class was in the Centennial year, 1876, and num- bered two, Ellen Pryor and Thomas S. Noyes. In 1877 there were seven graduatesg then fourteen, nineteen, twenty and twenty-one. A fair pro- portion of these entered college, and by their subsequent records, won honor for the school. One of Mr. Haven's last acts was the preparation of a four years' course of study, which went into effect the next year, while the school was still connected with District No. 1, and under the superintendency of Mr. George S. Baker, of whose work many good things would be said if space allowed. Lyons Hall was abandoned and what was later known as Bailey's Opera House was used, while the long-needed High School build- ing took shape and all things were making ready for the new regime. The Board of Trustees said they must have as leader of the new school a man of wide experience and broad range of thought, ' and therefore chose Mr. Henry L. Boltwood, then at Ottawa. He revised the course of study, introduced new features made possi- ble by larger quarters and better equipmentg what the school has become under his management speaks for itself. Of his associates there have been in all forty-nine. Of these, two were teachers of music, giving to the school not more than two hours each week, and four others were employed as substitutes for periods less than a year. Of .the forty-three remaining, fourteen men and twenty-nine women, Mr. Boltwood and Miss Barrie came together from Ottawa: Miss Ellen Lee White CMrs. R. Wymanj, and Miss Edwards, came from the village High School. Miss Jane H. White entered in 1885 and Miss Childs in January, 1891. Mr. Beardsley was first connected with the school in 1893 as teacher of Greek and Lating left in 1898 for a year at Johns Hopkins and returned to take the position he now so ably fills. Others there are, some with us still-long may they remain, some who, followed by our good wishes, sought green fields and pastures new.'T Six of the women left for cause, and though in our memories they still have the old familiar names, in law and in society they are known under very different titles. Three others have also experienced a change of name, though it did not occur till some time after they left us. But note-it is only nine out of the twenty-nine. I2

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the Township High School system, and to this Board was entrusted the choice of site and the erection of the building to be known as the Evans- ton Township High School. Mr. Boon1er's death occurred during the year and Mr. S. D. Childs was elected to fill the vacancy. If one had time to read all the records of the trustee meetings between 1846 and 1882, many interesting facts would no doubt come to light. The first teacher was Miss Wheadon CMrs. C. A. Churcherj, and a little later we 6nd the name of Miss H. N. Burns CMrs. Sylvester Hill.J Soon the town of Evanston was organized, and, about 1855, District No. 1 was formed, and a new building, as the little log school-house was outside the district, was built on Church street. In 1860 the upright part of the Benson Avenue building was erected 5 three wings were added later, the last two in 1870, and about the same time the little one-room building on Hinman avenue was built. With the growth of the town changes came, from the one and two teachers the members grew, somewhere there began to be a Principal and Mr. Charles Raymond, who was at the head from 1869 to 1873, was the Erst Superintendent. Under his supervision the schools were graded and much excellent work done. To build on the foundation laid by Mr. Raymond and his associates, came Mr. O. E. Haven, and of him one of his successors, Mr. Kingsley, writes: Under Mr. Haven's nine years' administration the schools were brought to their utmost efficiency. He was a born teacher, and ,to rare executive ability united an earnestness and conscientiousness which never flagged, and personal qualities which endeared him alike to associates and pupils. When the Board of Trustees came together i11 1879 they found them- selves confronted by a great problem-a rapidly increasing population, inadequate accommodations, only two building locations, 110 reserve fund and an enormous debt, contracted in some far-past day, just how, or why unpaid, no one could tell, as all iinancial records had been destroyed in the Chicago ire. The Board met the situation grandly. Their names should be recorded in unfading letters. Messrs. A. N. Young, Lucius W. Conkey, William G. White, D. B. Dewey, Simeon Farwell and H. C. Hunt, with Mr. Haven were the men whose clear headed financial management carried the schools safely through this crisis and so administered affairs that Mr. Kingsley writes in 1892: There are no bonds on the market that command a higher premium among bankers than those of District No. 1, Evanston. Under Mr. Haven the High School department was addedg a proceed- l11gI10t entirely approved by all the people of Evanston, as it was urged that any wishing to pursue higher studies could be accommodated at the Preparatory School, but with great tact and wisdom Mr. Haven 'finally won II

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Of the men, four served but a single yearg two entered other branches of professional life and some of the present staif are preparing to do likewise. Mr. Johnson and Mr. Westgate dropped High School teaching for college work. Mr. Johnson was our Erst real teacher in Science, taking charge of that department in 1886 when it was in a very feeble infancy. By his enthusiasm and his untiring energy, he produced a vigorous growth in that department and left it in 1891 i11 good working condition and enriched with the beginnings of several valuable collections. His specialty was microscopical Botany and his articles were published widely in this country and in Europe. From us he went to Harvard for Special study, then accepted a position at Ann Arbor. He was strong in mind and will, full of hopes and plans for the advancement of his chosen line of work, but God's plan was not as his and ours. The Faculty of the present year numbers twenty-one, seven men and fourteen women, and our total enrollment for the year is 580. Of these, Seventy-five belonged to New Trier and on the opening of their new Town- Ship School only fifteen of that number remained with us. A bit of retrospect is a good thing sometimesg count back by decades and see how great the change has been. The total enrollment for each tenth year is not at hand, but the number of teachers is, and an increase in the number of teachers is merely the result of an increased number of pupils. High District District School. No. 1. No. 2. 1880-1881. .. 4 IO 6 1890-189: . .. 7 27 12 T900-I9OI .------...... ...... . .... . 21 56 28 The number of pupils in the schools compared with the population is unusual, but that fact is easily accounted for, when it is remembered that Evanston is in very truth A Classic Town and many families come here annually to avail themselves of the educational advantages. The last two decades show as great changes in the housing and equip- ment as in the number of the pupils. It has required great. effort and close management, but Evanston may well be proud of her school buildings. It is said that few are finer and better adapted to their purpose. Gladly we here pay tribute to those who without money and without Price so faithfully serve as the representatives of the people, the guardians Of the schools. The largest class yet graduated from E. T. H. S. was iifty-four, in 1393, but the present Senior Class enrolls a much larger number, and hopes to have the credit of being the largest class the school has ever known. The total number of graduates is,432, of whom I54 were boys, an unusually large proportion. Of these graduates 29 per cent. have entered twenty- four different colleges directly. There they learn to appreciate more fully .V I3