Malden High School - Maldonian Yearbook (Malden, MA)

Page 17 text:

MR. GEORGE F, GAY, the out- standin educator for whom the served in the Malden school system from 1886 to 1902. Mr. George F. Gay, who was one of the progressive ncators of his time, became principal in the year 1883, :I under his administration, the school increased consider- y in size. Through his eFforts, an exhibition of the work ie in the Malden Public Schools was placed in the Paris position. Included among the exhibitors was Elliot Paul, lQlcnown author who graduated from Malden High School he early 1900's. is Mr. Gay was the first to recommend school telephones, I he introduced typewriting, stenography, hygiene, and sical Culture in the high school course. Among the many :rms which came about during his regime was no closing the high school for storms short of a blizzard. Almost y years later, we are still trying to find an answer to the fling weather question: To close or not to close! So at was the respect and admiration for this forward- king educator that in 1907, the new Assembly Hall was ned Gay Auditorium in his honor. 9 Gay Auditorium was named, THE HOUSES OF SOLOMON P. COREY AND WILLIAM MANN, both built in the early seventeenth century, were removed in 1892 to make room for the high school. An interesting and striking innovation came in 1886 - military drill was introduced. One day a week the boys of the school drilled in the Mountain Avenue Armory. Military Drill was discontinued in 1894 as it was termed a detriment to the school, encroaching on the regular hours of school work .... It was not restored until 1915 when Europe was in the midst of World War I. While the boys were drilling in the Armory, in 1888 the girls were learning posture, practicing with dumbells and Indian clubs, and marching in the Centre School Hall. Because of the growing school population, the city began to make plans for an even larger and more modern school. In 1896, for the first time in the history of the school, Malden had a substantial red-brick building with accom- modations for 512 pupils, and the former home of Malden High became the Manual Arts Building. When Mr, Gay was elected Superintendent of Schools, his position as principal was filled by Mr. William F. Palmer. After only one year in this position, Mr. Palmer resigned to enter the shipping business where he built up the second Palmer fleet of five-masted schooners. ENTIONI Malden High boys 'he drill corps stand erect e on review in front of the ol in 1890. The commanding er was Captain William H. ship, well-known president he Malden Historical Society many years.

Page 16 text:

THE FIRST MALDEN HIGH SCHOOL, o magnificent French-rooted structure , built in 1872, stood on Salem Street until l939, when it was demol ished to make room for our present new building. lt was used for mony years as the Monuol Arts building when the brick building was constructed

Page 18 text:

SCHOOLMARMS AND SCHOOLMASTERS of 1899 are shown here with Mr, Charles H. Daniels, Superintendent of Schools, on the left. Mr. John W. Hutchins, the Principal for whom our National Honor Society is named, is seated on the right. However, the Building Committee seemed to have been too economical and not far-sighted enough in the construc- tion of the new high school. Within six years, the enrollment had grown to 552, and again, rooms in the old high school were used to care for the overflow of students. Mr. John W. Hutchins, an efficient organizer, who was principal in the year l902, suggested that the old High School building be placed on smaller lot near at hand and the present high school building be extended . . . over the old High School lot , . . . It wasn't until the spri of 1907, however, that Mr, Hutchins' suggestion was act upon. At that time, the eastern one-third of the brick bui ing was torn down, and in its place, the center ofthe n building, containing an assembly hall, library on the seco floor, and a chemical laboratory on the third floor, vt constructed. Even today, at close range, it is possible see where the two brick buildings were connected. The c high school was moved back on the lot and was used 1 THE FIRST BRICK BUILDING was erected in 1896 on the corner of Ferry and Salem Streets. Today, it houses various ottices of the School Department on the first floor. I4