Rensselaer High School - Chaos Yearbook (Rensselaer, IN)

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rhnol The present High School Building was built in 1882. Until 1892, the building was used to accommodate both High School students and the grade pupils. The present Senior room and biological laboratory alone were used for the High School, the rest being for the grades. When the grades were removed to the new building, the Fifth and Eighth were left until 1904, when the Fifth was also established in the Grade Building. At present, the upstairs of the High School Building contains the Eighth Grade, Freshman and Sophomore rooms, and the chemical laboratory. Downstairs are Junior and Senior rooms, a Latin room, the biology laboratory and the principal’s office. Gkafo rltunl SmUitng This building was erected in 1892. It contains the first seven grades, the Superintendent’s office, manual- training room, a basement containing a drawing room, shower bath, and dressing rooms for the athletic teams. The building is well equipped, having hygienic drinking fountains, slate blackboards, and steam heat. With these modern improvements, the building is well equipped for some time to come.

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Parker Photo

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Alumni iiSjiatnnj The Alumni of -the Rensselaer High School now number four hundred eighteen, and their history covers a period of thirty years. The first class graduated in 1880 from the old school building ' which stood on the ground where the residence of Benjamin Harris now is. The course of study completed by them did not presume to prepare for college and was only a fait equi alent of the first two years of our present high school course. Notwithstanding this lack in preparation, six of the ten members of this first graduat- ing class passed satisfactory examinations and went to college: a precedent which the succeeding classes have very worthily followed. We have today no fewer than forty of our recent graduates attending the best univer- sities in this country. It was not until 1885 that the High School was commissioned. The course of study had been revised and extended; a new building had been erected and all was ready for the coming of the new superintendent who was destined to give to the High School its first good start. He was a dapper young man who usually dressed in a Prince Albert coat and silk plug hat. His countenance wore a smile even when in anger. He always carried a walking stick which served many useful purposes in his dealings with school children. Fifty-two graduates received their diplomas during his stay of six years. Ihe High School at this time occupied but two rooms in the building. The one, which is now the biological laboratory, contained the superintendent ' s office, the library, and all the laboratories. Here all the useful sciences were taught, from ten to twelve weeks being given to each subject. An old telescope, which now encumbers the superintendent’s office, tells of some doubtful work in astronomy. Some geysler tubes and an electric battery were the outfit for physics. An ugly spot on the ceiling marks the only attempt at experiment in