Madison Central High School - Tychoberahn Yearbook (Madison, WI)

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HISTORY

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This year, 1969, sees the close of a long tradition of education and school spirit as Madison Central University High School adds the final chapters to her history of more than 100 years. But though 1969 is seen as the final year, it is also a centennial year for Madison’s oldest high school. In actuality, Madison High School, as it was first known, began in 1853. The first graduating class was graduated four years later in 1858. Two more graduating classes followed in 1859 and I860. The next year the Civil War forced the school to close as so many boys went off to fight. During this period an attempt to re-establish a Female Academy was made, but it did not last for more than a year. The co-educational high school re-opened in 1866 and the next graduation took place in 1872. Since then there has been a graduating class every year. Adding the three pre-Civil War graduations to the 97 since 1872, you get 100 years of co-educational graduation, a centennial for Central High School. Madison High School's history began in 1854 in the basement of the Methodist church with 90 pupils and one teacher. In 1856 it moved to the Congregational church with 150 pupils, but attendance was irregular, so progress was slow. In 1858 a move for a permanent school building was made when the Madison Female Academy building (on the present site of Central) was bought for $3500. When the school re-opened in 1866 after the Civil War interim, the original building was reported to be unsightly, badly arranged and wholly unworthy of the city. The need for a new building was seen and finally realized in 1873 when it was constructed on the original site. An addition was made in 1888, doubling the building’s capacity.