Harrisburg Central High School - Yearbook (Harrisburg, PA)

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l l History of Harrisburg High School I I ,DQSHBQ S N looking over the early annals of Harrisburg We cannot hnd the exact date of the founding of our High School, as all records pertaining to its history are lost. Withotit doubt some pupils think that the High School has stood on its present site forever. In the early part of the nineteenth century, when Harrisburg was a borough, it was divided by Market Street into tivo wards-North and South. Before the enactment of the Public School law in 1834 the children of each ward were educated in private schoolsg tuition beingpaid by their parents or by some generous friend, and occasionally the Legislature appropriated small sums for the education of the children. After this law was enforced the citizens began to organize schools and to erect buildings. But their labor only pertained to the education of the younger children. The older pupils still continued to attend the private schools and academies. As the school committee saw the great benefit derived from the education of the children, they began to look after the erection of schools for the older members. Thus it was that the citizens erected two High Schools in each ward, one for the girls and one for the boys of their own ward. 'With these four public High Schools, Harrisburg must have been a thriving little city. These schools were in their infancy and did not have the choice of so many courses of study as the average High School of to-day. As time and experience broadens the mind of man thus the courses were enlarged and improved. It was now no longer necessary for pupils to be sent to private schools to complete their education. History and records tell us that in 1850, tl1e principal of the North W'ard Girls, High School taught chemistry, astronomy, rhetoric, botany, algebra, drawing, and studies pursued in the average college of those days. In 1854, the boys' of the same Ward were studying Latin, algebra, natural philosophy, chemistry, astronomy, etc. The buildings of these High Schools were situated in convenient places. The North Warcl Boys' High School founded in 1836, was situated in the old Lancasterian school building now known as the De'Witt building. The boys of the South Vliard were not so fortunate as their rivals of the' North W'ard, they were compelled to be moved to tivo or three different places. The school was hrst situated on the site of the present Salem Reformed Church 24

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DRAXVING ROOM

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on the coiner of Third and Chestnut Streets, then it was moved to a new brick school house erected at the corner of Cherry and Court Avenues: Hnally they transfered it into a school house on Mulberry Street, now a part of the Harrisburg' Hospital. Here it remained until the Boys' High Schools of each Ward were consolidated into the Boys' Union High School. The Boys' Union High School was situated in the DeVVitt building on Walnrit Street until it was moved to the Stevens building on Chestnut Street in 1886, where it remained until 1893. The principals of the Boys' Union High School were Daniel S. Burns, from 1867 to 18693 Lemuel O. Foose, the present Superintendent of the Harrisburg Public Schools, from 1869 to 1879, J. Howard VVert, from 1879 to 1893. The records of the Girls' High Schools of both wards is meagre and unsatisfactory. The Girls! High School of the North Ward, established in 18 36,was situated in the Pager building, corner of Waliiiit Street and River Avenue. It remained here until 1857, when it was removed to the W'illard building on State Street. The South VVard Girls, High School instituted in 1836 was held in a school building now a residence at the corner of Front Street and Mary Avenue. It was situated here until 1869 when it was consolidated with the Girls' High School of the North Ward into the Girls' Union High School located in the Willarcl building on State Street until 1893. The principals of the Girls, High School were Miss Maria E. Gill, from 1869 to 18755 Miss Martha Tomkinson from 1875 to 18805 Miss Jennie F. Givler, from 1880 to 1893. In 1889 and 1890 the School Board seeing that the High Schools were being attended more regularly and by a greater number of pupils began to discuss the merits and faults of co-education. Many favorable and unfavorable comments were heard which resulted in the appointment of an investigation committee. This committee examined into the histories of other High Schools that were carried on by the co-educational plan. Every report showed a marked improvement in the intellectual abilities of both sexes. Profiting by the experience of other cities tl1e School Board erected the building of the present High School to be used for the Boys and Girls of both High Schools. The building was dedicated in June, 1893 and in September it was occupied by the students. A more elaborate curriculum embracing three different courses of study-the classical, scientific and commercial -was provided. Under the new state of affairs a marked improvement over the discipline and attendance was noticed. Prof. I. Howard Wert was the first Principal and served one year in that capacity. His successor was Samuel G. Landon, A. B., under whose direction the school flourished and many new organizations were established. The Athletic Association, Debating Society and numerous other clubs were organized. THE T'IIGH SCHOOL ARGUS made its appearance at that time and has held a high position among High School papers ever since its founding. In 1897 Prof. Landon resigned to accept a position elsewhere. He was succeeded by Samuel A. Baer, Ph. D., of 25