Lafayette High School - Oracle Yearbook (Buffalo, NY)

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' flkmorzkf CZMIIKV dbvul Thy Brzgfaz' Hall! CHE history of Lafayette High School actually began in i899 when West High School, an annex to Central High School, was opened as a part of elementary school eight- een. Under Principal Arthur Detmers, many of Lafayette's songs and traditions were formed. As the demand for high school training increased, Buffalo's two high schools, Central and Masten Park, became overcrowded and finally plans for a third high school were drawn. From thirty-two plans, including an oil painting, a committee chose that of Esenwein and Johnson. The site of the new school was Lafayette Avenue and Baynes Street, a piece of land described as meadow land fair. The building was to be of the Renaissance style built in the shape of a block E with the back of the letter fronting on Lafayette Avenue. Continued dis- cussion over the ventilating system resulted in supplying each student with not less than 30,000 cubic feet of air per hour. The original building has a tower rising l50 feet, contains 698 windows, and was built to accommodate l400 students. Finally on July 4, 1901, the ground was broken by Mr. Augustus Scheu, Superintendent Emerson, and more than a dozen other notables. Then Mr. Emerson, Mr. Philip Becker Goetz, andothers made speeches. Suggested names, West High and Jesse Ketchum High, were discarded in favor of Lafayette High School because of its lo- cation. The school was officially opened an September lO, i903 with a first day's attendance of l,050, of which 77 were possible seniors. Mr. Detmers with a faculty of thirty-six members began making Lafayette history in what was then the finest and most artistic school building in the city. Lafayette was now a real school with its colors, violet and white, its motto, Be strong and of a good courage, suggested by the principal, and an emblem in the form of a Guardian Angel designed by a student, Lawrence Hirshburg. In June l906, Mr. Detmers resigned to become an instructor at the Hill School in Pottsdam, Pennsylvania, and Captain Calvert K. Mellen, instructor of mathematics at Central High School, was appointed to succeed him. A circus at Lafayette Field. Cap Mellen, as he was fondly called, served faithfully as principal until retirement in l934. He made a lasting impression on the school, the faculty, and every student who ever came under his influence. Q I V lt was at this time that Lafayette developed many tra- 3 if il ditions such as the Arbor Day Program, led by the sen- ' ior boys, which included a play in May l908. The traditional Memorial Day Program, led by the senior girls, was inaugurated on May 29, l9l3. Senior re- ceptions were held by the faculty for several years. At the reception on April 20, i907 the faculty trans- formed the entrance hall and assembly room, which at that time had movable seats, into a cozy place with tables, chairs, love seats, pillows, and rugs. IO

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'A presence, strong, beneficent, striving Your students, on their way, pausing near the window ledge, Saw the cattle, deep in clover, grazing in the sunlit fields. But Time brought changes, the prospect alters, as to the builder's plans it yields But your building, strong and handsome, a pears as in its early prime Despite the thousands housed within it, stild unscathed by hand or time. Through those quiet years and peaceful noble standards high were set For splendid scholarships, for progress standards never lowered, always kept. ln later years a world in turmoil brought new cares and fears to all. i Witnessed vast transitions, saw political and economic systems fall. ln your task you never faltered though responsibilities Severe Brought heavy burdens, endless effort growing greater year by year. No, there was no withdrawal from those high standards early set, Every duty was fulfilled, every obligation met. Oh those years brought many changes, brought the threat of danger near Danger to our homeland threatened as distant foreign foes a pear. Our sons heard the call of duty, such a call they'd not neglect, Left to fight in far-off battles, their countr 's safet to protect. And our honor roll of heroes as we read it through the years, And pay our homage to their memory, although read through mist of tears Brings a solemn pride and glory, as in gratitude we give To their noble work, our tribute. Oh, through all the ears shall live That honor roll of glory. Through coming centuries shall be read Our hallowed roll of heroes - Roll of our honored dead. As these fifty years we measure, looking back in retrospect A We realize the debt we owe of gratitude and respect To all those men and women who unceasingly have sought To bring success to every effort, who throughout the years have wrought To uphold her name in honor, her success their constant care, Her continued welfare - her well being, always their earnest prayer. Today we pay our tribute, too, to three great leaders, men of force Who, standing at the helm, have kept the huge ship on her COUTSC, Men of strength and courage, who in this work they chose to do Whether in past years or in present, brought their counsel wise and true, Their iud ement firm - their sympathy, an understanding heart As througllm half a century, each has carried on his part. Oh Lafayette, true picture of the schools throughout our land, As here at this half century mark, today with you we stand, May we look into the future of that final half ahead, And ask for you a better era, than this whose years have sped? Ask these blessings for your future, ask for years of peace When nations learn to live in concord, and wars, at last, may cease, When swords shall have turned to ploughshares, and the dread atom bomb Shall give to industry its helpful service, in a world of calm, Give its vast power to the task of better- ing man's condition here on earth, The only real service, the only task of actual worth. - May you carry on your noble work in those earlier years begun Unhampered by world tragedies met, when the century was young. Ever widening the aphelion of your in- fluence year by year As you have done through this earlier cycle, since you came among us here. Ever since upon our western border, through fifty years you've stood ever toward the good. Effie Farnham Burns Poet Laureate of Lafayette ML Mellen- ML Detmersl Mr, Gott 9

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Mr. Frank S. Fosdick, principal of Masten Park High School, with Captain Calvert K. Mellen. About this time the need for ' an actual gymnasium was felt and candy sales were held to l raise funds to build one. These candy sales were held in the auditorium which was gayly dec- orated in a violet and white color scheme. Students in booths sold candy and souve- niers such as violet and white caps and the like. The senior boys dispensed ice cream from their booth on the stage. An original play, THE GOR- GONZOLA by Lucius Pratt with original music by Paul Kellogg, was presented to make money for the gym. Bonds were sold to parents and friends of Lafayette by the students. It was noted that one girl gave a dollar which she had saved by walking to school and back from Hertel Avenue. Because land was not available for building the gym, efforts were turned toward the construction of the Lafayette field. This new athletic field, on Delaware Avenue, just north of Hertel, was dedicated November 23, 1907. It in- cluded a diamond, track and courts as well as a gridiron. Its twenty-eight bleachers accommodated 2500 people. Unfortunately the financial difficulties involved were so great that during the First World War the Lafayette field had to be given up. When Masten Park High School burned in March 1912, Lafayette invited Masten Park students and teachers, led by Mr. Frank S. Fosdick, to share their facilities. Lafayette students attended morning sessions and Masten Park students came in the afternoon from 1912-1914 while Masten was being rebuilt. As the enrollment continued to rise, additional facilities were needed. The lunchroom under the auditorium A candy me in the assembly- in which Mr. Johnson, popular custodian had S, , sold wieners and sweet buns when the school first opened, was long since outmoded, In 1920 construction was begun on the addition to the building which was opened for use in the fall of 1921. The added space provid- ed for a modern cafeteria, gymnasium, pool, home making department, enlarged quarters for the science and art departments, and a photographic laboratory. On November 18, 1938 this section of the building was named Memorial Hall and was dedicated to Lafay- ette graduates who had died in the service of their country during World War I. So through the years Lafayette's traditions and activities continued. On June 12, 1928, a Silver Anniver- sary Dinner was held at which Mr. Detmers and Captain Mellen in turn conducted an f assembly as each did in school. At the 11