James Harvey Bowen High School - Bowenite Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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FCDREWORD Marsh lands were the foundation of a great in- dustrial center and sacrificial labor the basis of education in our Calumet region, the home of Bowen High. One hundred years have elapsed since the first settlers founded on swamps what we now know as prosperous South Chicago. Not many of the old timers remain, but every living thing about breathes of their hardships so many years ago. Our present Bowen building, erected in I9II to replace the old South Chicago school, it itself a landmarlc of twenty-five years' standing, significant of the high educational ideals held by those who preceded us. In recognition of our community's centennial anni- versary and our school's quarter-century of long- evity, we, the classes of I936 gratefully dedicate our BOWENITE to the pioneers who, by willingness and perseverance, erected a city within a city and gave us the opportunity of higher education through the years.

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CCDNTENTS ADMINISTRATION S E N I O I2 S ACTIVITIES FE AT LI I2 E S B I2 A N C I-I

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Four South Chicago 1836-1936 A Century ot Progress! Eighteen hundred and thirty-six to nineteen hundred and thirty-six, the interval ot years in which South Chicago has truly risen trom the ranks! A century ot progress so distinctively marked in growth that it has shown and determined the development ot our city ot Chicago. It one were to happen upon South Chicago in the early nineteenth century, he would tind a tribe ot Potawatomi Indians inhabiting the tertile land at the mouth ot the Calumet River. Atter changing hands many times, the property around the Calu- met River came into the possession ot the United States government. The blindness ot love was directly responsible tor the establishing ot a military post, Fort Dearborn, atthe mouth ot the Chicago River, instead ot the Calumet River. A government engineer was ordered to survey the land at the southern tip ot Lake Micchigan, but while exploring the coast he was attracted by a beautitul Indian girl named Le Mai, who lived at the mouth ot the Chicago River. Instead ot continuing on with his sur- vey he stayed at the mouth ot the Chicago River and wooed the beautiful Indian maid. When he was asked tor a report ot his survey ot the land at the southern tip ot Lake Michigan, he reported tor the interests ot the Chicago River region. On account ot its excellent water and land transportation facilities, Calumet increased in population and growth. With the increase in population, a hotel, The Calumet I-louse, was established here in IS36 by several prominent citizens. The removal ot the Potawatomi Indians from this region to a reservation West ot the Mississippi was also secured. After this, Calumet lay down to a long, exhaustive sleep. Calumet did not receive anything trorn the government until i853 when a light- house was established at the mouth ot the Calumet River, but even this was discon- tinued in l855, not to be relighted until I873. lPrevious to I857 the name ot this region was Calumet, changing to Ainsworth Station at the aforementioned date, and in I87l the name was changed to its present one-South Chicago.l South Chicago began to awake trom its lengthy sleep in I869 when the Chicago Canal and Dock Company was organized and began the work ot making a harbor at the mouth ot the Calumet River. In l87O an appropriation ot titty-thousand dollars was received trom Congress tor a harbor ot refuge at the Calumet River. South Chicago was made a port ot entry in I873. Many more appropriations were made and the Calumet River was dredged and widened until it tormed a deep waterway to a point, but a tew teet 'from Calumet Lake. It one were to happen upon South Chicago in the early twentieth century he would see a district bubbling with industrial activity. Steel has been the principal tactor in developing South Chicago as some ot the largest mills ot the world are located in and near the district. This is by no means the only product manufactured in South Chicago. There are a great many grain elevators located on the banks ot the Calumet River. Besides these,there are the shipbuilding, by-products, tlour, lime, and milling industries located centrally in South Chicago. Although South Chicago has progressed considerably in its tirst hundred years ot existence, it is expected to grow larger and more tamous in the torthcoming hundred years. June 7 to I4, I936, will mark the cele- bration ot the Centennial anniversary ot one ot the greatest manufacturing districts in the country-South Chicago.