North High School - Polaris Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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Tragic Fire Ravages North North functioned in this building until 1913, when on June 18 a fire broke out which consumed most of the school, with only the northeast wing escaping serious damage. The source of the fire is believed to have been traced to the wood shop where sawdust was left in containers with oily rags. The blaze started early that day and continued into the afternoon before firemen finally got it under control, and then only after fire fighting equipment had been summoned from all parts of the city. When the fire was finally extinguished, two firemen lay dead and North had incurred such damage that it was clearly unusable. During the years 1913-14 while the building was being reconstructed. North High pupils attended the old Central High School located at 4th Avenue South and 11th Street. The Central High people had vacated this building to move into their new school at 34th Street and 4th Avenue South. The Street Railway ran special cars to take North pupils to the old Central building without transfer; however, the)' charged them the usual fare. In September of 1913 the Board of Education began to rebuild the building with the addition of the auditorium wing. To this has since been added a south wing, including the machine shop, auto shop, botany laboratory and greenhouse. In 1924 the northwest wing containing the library was completed and in 1939 the present greenhouse was completed under the auspices of President Roosevelt's W.P.A. The reconstructed North in 1915. North before the addition of die northwest (library) wing. North High School. 1966.

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N.H.S. 1891-1966: A Great Tradition Prior to the year 1888, North Side residents desirous of obtaining a high school education were obliged to attend Central High School, although since 1875 North High School had existed in the minds of the more far-seeing residents of the North Side area. The first public suggestion of any change in this condition wasn't made until February 18, 1888. It was on this day that an article by W. J. Abernathy, one of the earliest and most public-spirited citizens of the North Side appeared in the columns of the Minneapolis Chronicle. Mr. Abernathy vigorously advocated the erection of a high school on the North Side. He suggested, First, that a 12-room building be erected—not an elaborate and costly one like the present High School (Central)—but a substantial structure . . . Second, the building being erected, let such rooms as are needed be devoted strictly to high school work ... As for bringing all this about he said, It seems to me that if these facts were properly laid before the Board of Education, backed by a strong petition from the people, the Board would give heed to it. Why cannot the North Side Improvement Association (similar to the present North Side Commercial Club) take hold of this work ? The remodeled Logan School which housed the original North High. North High, the original building. It was erected in 1896. Due to the rapidly increasing enrollment, the accommodations provided the High School department by the old Logan School were found to be inadequate, and for this reason construction of a new building at the present location was begun in 1895. This new North High opened its doors on September 29, 1896, to students enrolled in grades eight through twelve. Soon after its opening, additions were made to the south side for manual training rooms and to the north side for regular classrooms. In answer to this call to arms, the Association circulated and submitted petitions to the School Board which showed evidence of such a hearty endorsement on the part of the North Side public that the Board decided by unanimous decision to proceed at once with the erection of a high school building on the North Side. The total cost of this building was not to exceed $57,000. By the end of 1888, the North High School had been erected on Emerson Avenue between 18th and 19th Avenues North. It opened its doors on January 1, 1889, to a few beginning classes of high school students and about 800 grade school pupils. This building came to be known as the Logan School, and has since been razed. Additions to the 1896 structure brought the original plant to this size.

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Physics in 190) and physics in 196). There has been little change in content, but much in equipment. PSSC is advanced physics for better students. Physics is still physics. Modem Dance has been an elective for many years. Above is a demonstration of one of the skills needed. Dancers find stretch, balance, extension and rhythm useful. Curriculum, Enrollment Fluctuate Through the Years Schools arc established to educate. So North was established and likewise has North lived through 75 years of teaching students the academics, of giving them social experiences, of giving them chances to show their talent and of hope for a future. Before going on, one should take time to find out how, if at all. the curriculum has changed in these 75 years. As far as specific courses are concerned, the changes have been small. The courses of the early 1900's—English language, math, science, business. physical education and manual training-arc still taught today. The greatest change has come in the methods of teaching. Language classes now use earphones and recordings; advanced modem math is given to superior students; chemistry, now chcm study, has changed in content because of the many advancements of scientific research; and seniors learn psycholog)’ in modern problems. Yet with all the changes in methods and school procedures, many can remember the sJoyd” manual training classes, eight periods in the day, getting report cards ever)’ six weeks, the times North made broadcasts over WDGY, KSTP, and WCCO radio, the 25% increase in math enrollment in 1942, the time when North’s curriculum in- thirtccn hours a week. This organization is called N.Y.C. (Neighborhood Youth' Corps) and is part of the National Job Corps Organization. Presently North also has an evening community center program to sene as a resource, a hobby, a recreational, and a skill center. North’s standards of excellence arc among the highest. Today North ranks fifth in Minnesota's 500 high schools in the number of graduates with doctoral degrees. Nationwide, North ranks 207th among 24,284 schools. North is not without pride, especially in her curriculum! eluded teaching war veterans, the erection of the first lunch-counter and later the lunchroom, the first gym. North’s winning debate department and the great plays produced by the drama department. Those involved will best remember the time when the enrollment was so large that 10th graders were held in their junior highs and North teachers went to them to teach them. Faculty size has grown, from 27 in 1907 to 125 in the thirties and to 90 today, with the enrollment. Teachers have come and gone! Some stayed a year, some five and some fifteen. But Miss Madigan. whom many of you remember, is still teaching here after 40 years of faithful serv ice to North. Did you graduate in January or June? Or docs this question confuse you? North had two graduating classes per year until 1947. This procedure enrolled students in September and January. Graduation took place in January and June. But in 1919-22 North graduated three classes a year: December, March and June. As students well know, they never want to study all the time. Over the years many of them have worked while going to school. Tbe N.YA. (National Youth Administration), a federal organization in which North students participated, was designed to give jobs to males. During the depression. North students, with most United States citizens, worked under two programs called the P.WA. (Public Works Administration) and the W.P.A. (Work Projects Administration), organized to give work to those who needed money. Jobs were located at North as well as around the city. North High has recently adopted a similar work program in which students who need financial help may work Chcm Study, which deals with formulae, experiments, and the application of the course to life, is given to seniors.