Malden High School - Maldonian Yearbook (Malden, MA)

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Q 2 Z l Q THE TOWN HOUSE ON THE RIGHT, built in 1857 instead of the much-needed high school, housed high school students in two first floor front rooms from 1859 to 1871. The Baptist Church lcentert and Wait's Block lleftj also were landmarks in Malden's Central Square in the year 1869. An appeal was now being made for better accom- modations. There were a number of reasons why the quarters in the Town House were considered unsatisfactory. Lack of space, poor ventilation, and disturbances from rehearsals, dances, and meetings in the hall above, added to the noise from the 'lock-up below, were inconveniences about which there were many complaints. About this time, in 1861, the school was divided into four classes: Junior, Middle, Senior, and Advanced. Among the studies in the Literary-Scientific course were Philosophy, Bookkeeping, Geography, Geometry and Physics, besides the basic three R's . Rhetoric, Comparative Anatomy, Zoology and Constitution of the United States were included in the fourth year course. The Classical course students studied, primarily, Latin and Greek. Starting their first term with Andrews' Latin lessons, the pupil quickly advanced to Viri Romae , By the third term, they began Caesar's Commentaries. The Aeneid, Cicero's Orations, and the Greek Anabasis made up the rest of the course. However, by 1865, there was a gene change of sentiment and school officials began to plc more stress on the modern languages as opposed to ' dead literatures . For the next twenty years, the scholarly and hig respected Mr. Charles A. Daniels, for whom the Dani School was later named, served as headmaster. Wt Malden High's library was first established in 1864, alm two decades before a public library came into existen Mr. Daniels suggested that donations be made by ' students to buy the first volumes. Our library, now equipp with thousands of reading and reference books, had humble beginnings with contributions totaling the magnifici sum of 596.04 Under the guidance of Mr, Daniels, 1 high school was brought from an inferior position to front rank of high schools in the state. The year 1872 marked an important forward step the Malden High School parade. An impressive struct: was built on Salem Street and dedicated to the youth

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IOO years of .. Learning, Laughing, Living The class of 1957 has ioined a parade-one full of eaning-one which belongs to us all. The next few pages ll about this unbroken procession--one which began 100 ears ago, and which grew, as it is growing still. Its story ill produce a few laughs, a nostalgic tear or two, it will ir up memories of long-forgotten incidents. This is your story, Malden High School graduates! Read cmd think! What did Malden High mean to you? And more tportant, what did you mean to Malden High? You in- Jenced its growth. As you entered its doors, each day- fo, twenty, fifty years ago--to learn, to laugh, and to live -you ioined the parade. You waved your banner, and now, 1957 still another class waves its banner as it ioins the 'owing procession of the years. lt wasn't very long before the early settlers of the tle town of Mauldon, Massachusetts realized the need for ducation for their children. Just sixteen years after the atablishment of this New World community, in the year 665, the first free school was opened. Under the strict struction of Ezekiel Jenkins, the young students learned to Reed and Wright and to Refmetick in a rude one-room ubin, possibly located on the present site of Jordan Marsh ompany. Years later, Schoolmaster Jenkins was laid to rest eneath a gravestone bearing the inscription, Mauldon's ute School Master From A Painfull Life is Gone to Take His est His Lord Has Called Him Whome . However, the desire for education seemed to have been uried with Mr. Jenkins - at least for a while. Until the arly 1700's the school was maintained only by the force of ate law, Many times during the 18th century, Malden was immoned to pay a fee for not having a schoolrem. The iw stated where any town shall increase to the number of ne hundred families or householders, they shall set up a rammar school . In 1710, however, Malden consisted of 6 families and 7 paupers. The seven poor members of the W 1, f J 11 c ,, c c c J U ..'- if' F ' f'f l.21 'i J 'iii' ' 2? 3ifY'ffgi-ikwl .sfif ,..1 .,... F 2 1 53' ' i--f ' clip-y,..,?if'?'i'r'5' Ei 2 S , A iiii W W LQHH: 1- ,..,.. .. '.,.,.,. .,V,Vk,,. .,V. . , is ,iw in . ' H H .i ' i lv - ff i it , W 'IE CENTRE DISTRICT SCHOOL, located an the present site of W. T. 5rant's Department Store, opened one of its rooms for the teaching of igh school subiects in 1857. Simply to enter this high school , pupils ad to be qualified in mental and written arithmetic, analytical geography, aading, spelling, and history of the United States! town saved the day! Our city was excused from keeping a grammar school, and from paying the fine! One of the reasons for the cessation of classes might have been the brief period of British occupation between 1775 and 1776. However, in 1783, an important step was taken when the town made provisions for regular school sessions. Since that year, our educational system has advanced steadily, and attendance has grown rapidly. iiiit fs, gi' tim ig-1: sfezesiias- 1 A fell i '. w M -1'1i2f.z 2,5 fit ill ! i ' -5277 'ieiiiiigffgii is tr 1 Ax-Myyj X M AS , F, ,vi yiix ,357 Mes - - C: s -, .fs r-1 ..-A ff m., 5 .H-,gi , , , smug.. Teieeaf . Q, - r is - 2 ifllil i I 'l'lll'l-lfiiiti gfitrfi st... iii,-.dx h U.,,.I,l.,i,.,,,,,ELilgLh 25 y es li fi-he .... , -eeeseef-.. chaol ouje :L J -,.a ',,.:f3 W39 'f'i7 j --M.-.,e A -.,Q...Qfi.....,...y if 1' .sLg1.T:L.......,.,.., ,,. MALDEN'S FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE did not provide a cafeteria, but it did boast a fireplace, possibly used to cook the teacher's lunch. Two windows and a seven-foot chimney graced the 20x16 foot room in which classes were held on the corner of Main and Pleasant Streets. How the townsmen must have prided themselves on this magnificent structure! The year 1844 revealed a lack in the school system - namely, a high school. While there were a great many private academies in the United States, public high schools were practically non-existent until 1860. Although the towns- people did their utmost to further the building of a high school, it was decided that the Town could not afford both high school and Town House, and the latter seemed more necessary. ln 1857, 100 years ago, MaIden's first Town House was built. The general feeling at this time was that the children, by having a high school education might be elevated above the condition of their parents. Thirteen years after the town had first discussed a high school, also in 1857, it was voted to provide one room in the Centre District School for an institution of higher learn- ing , Thus Malden High School had its inauspicious begin- nings. Under the supervision of Joseph H. Noyes, about sixty high school students began a three year course of study covering solid and substantial subiects - natural, moral, and mental philosophy, surveying, and astronomy and many other down-to-earth courses. Two years later, having increased considerably in size, the high school was moved to the Town House where classes were held in two rooms with Mr. Washington H. Merritt in the position of principal. By this time, the course of study had been enlarged to such an extent that it now included a weekly class in which the students were taught correct French accent . This course was conducted by a gentleman of no less imposing appellation than Monsieur P. U. Gemgembre.

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city. At last the citizens of Malden had a high school Iding in which they could take great pride. lt is interest- to note that, in spite of the imposing new school building, ails were lust as apt to play truant as in the days of the cabin school house. The truant officer was ordered to est any child between the ages of seven and fifteen nd wandering on any street or public place during ool hours. For his second offense, the child was sent to eighboring city, presumably for the purpose of keeping fair city untainted. Pupils living at any great distance depended for their isportation on the one line horse cars that ran on an equent schedule. ln cases of severe snow, the horses all interest in getting the pupils to school, and only se students with the greatest thirst for knowledge battled elements on foot. In the year 1876, it was reported that the pupils were willing to make a sole business of study . So many the graduates of Malden High, upon looking back on r three years spent in a flurry of activity, from Junior ieties, dance committees, plays and club meetings, might ember this admonition given at that time: Now it it be settled at once by those who enter the high school ' they must give up many of the entertainments enioyed when in grammar school. ln l878, as at the present time, the schools were the first to feel the pinch of economy. Only six years after The High School had been built, the city fathers already were debating the iustice of supporting a high school at public expense . The schoolmen defended the need for a high school. The feeling was that the abolition of the high school would result in a weakening of the grammar schools. After an earnest appeal by the schoolmen, and especially by the superintendent, Mr. William Lambert, nothing more was heard of discontinuing the free high school. ln the short span of thirteen years, the high school had begun to outgrow its accommodations. Before l885, all the pupils had desks in the second floor Assembly Hall where they gathered each morning for opening exercises. ln the center of the room, the principal's desk held a prominent elevated position which afforded him an un- obstructed view of the entire hall. School-boy pranks were nipped in the bud under the watchful eyes ofthe principal and the teachers who were seated in rows on both sides of the room. Four recitation rooms led off the broad first floor corridor, where, each day the students recited their lessons which included such subiects as Anatomy, Physiology, and Temperance. The course in Temperance placed special emphasis on the effect of liquor, tobacco, and other narcotics on the human body. ,rf 1-.vm TEACHERS AND SCHOLARS OF MALDEN HIGH assemble on the school lawn to be photographed in 1878. Mr. Charles A. Daniels, the principal, is seated at the rear left. In back of him can be seen the corner of Park and Salem Streets.