New London High School - Whaler Yearbook (New London, CT)

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TRUSTEES EARLr msTCcy cr BELEELEr JCECCE The founder of this school was Leonard Hallam Bulkeley, a merchant of modest pretensions, whose place of business was very near the school which now bears his name. He was born December 22, 1799 and he died December 19, 1849. He left an estate valued at something less than §25,000 to found a secondary school which should be free to the boys of New London. In his will he provided that the funds should be kept intact until the trustees, who were named in the will, would decide that they were justified in the erection of the school. The board of trustees decided in the year 1870 that the estate had increased enough, in its careful management, to allow operations to begin. Accordingly, plans were secured from the famous architect, Mr. Eidlitz, and then the city presented a plot as a site. The main study-hall provided for forty-two boys. The school was opened in September, 1873 with Eugene B. Collester as principal, who had graduated from Amherst College in the preceding June. Mr. Collester resigned in 1880 and retired to Minnesota. The next principal was Ely R. Hall of the class of 1872 of Yale University, previously a teacher in Hopkins Grammar School. Mr. Hall remained in charge of the school until 1888 when he moved to Woodstock. Connecticut, to become the principal of the academy of that city until his death in 1920. The conduct of the school was then placed under Mr. Towne who presided until 1922. Bulkeley School discontinued the practice of a four-year curriculum for a three-year course in 1884. However, in 1910 the school readopted its original plan. Bulkeley School is the successor of the New London Grammar School which was founded in 1713, and maintained jointly by the town and the income of a fund established by Robert Bartlett. Nathan Hale was one of the masters of this school which was in 1873 discontinued in favor of Bulkeley. The legacy of this school was increased by various gifts and donations, notably from Asa Otis, Henry P. Haven, and George F. Tinker. FREDERICK W. EDGERTON

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BOARD Of OFFICERS Ernest E. Rogers Charles B. Waller George H. Bathgate Sidney H. Miner .......................... President Arthur H. Shurts .......................... Secretary Nathan Belcher ............................ Treasurer Frederick W. Edgerton ..................... Ex-Officio CHARLES B. WALLER GEORGE H. BATHGATE ERNEST E. ROGERS ARTHUR H. SHURTS

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“Ah, my Beloved, fill the Cup that clears Today of past Regrets and future Fears: To-morrow!—Why, Tomorrow I may he Myself with Yesterday’s Sev’n Thousand Years.” Omar Khayyam