South High School - Oriole Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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Sowthfs Passing Parade South Highfs doors have been open wide, For fifty long and fruitful years, Challenging all to but step inside, Through its majestic portals and receive its best. Those who wished to learn were taught, Those who remained profited by their stay, Those who refused to acknowledge defeat, Are the successes of today. Some went forward into the world, Gained great fame, earned much respect, But they are so great in number, That space and words must we limit, To just a few examples of each, To enlighten the minds of the reader. Judge Schramm, Rudy Brenlove balanced the scal Balanced them so well that fame is now theirs, To hold and cherish forever and afterwards. Paul Sapsara, a stalwart youth, Went forward to answer his country,s call, Bravely all during the World War ll he fought, Was captured by the Italians in North Africa, He remained in a prison camp until he was freed Became a hero and found himself famous. Rosemary McMahon and Matilda Meyers, Learned their lessons so well, That now they teach them to other youngsters, Who like themselves wish to learn the answers, To all problems perplexing the universe, And pass this knowledge on to others, So that there may always be progress, The foundation of a good teachefs profession. Bert Winters, a politician with conviction, Maurice Goldstein, an attorney with high ideals. es of justice Father Schultz, Rev. Ord, and Hebrew clergy too, All men of God whose mission on earth, Is to help, advise, and give light to the masses By preaching the word of God to all, And preparing them for the after life. Dr. Lawrence Beinhauer, Dr. Gilbert Lloyd, Have been endowed with the supreme gift, That of giving relief to the suffering, Curing diseases, binding the wounds of man, So that good health may be prevalent always. Dr. A. A. Brackmann, Dr. Wm. Gregory, Are dentists of distinction, Morris Finkel, Eddie Albright, Have hearts as large as their businesses Elmer Holland is a senator of renown. All together they make up the passing pa A passing parade of success and fame! rade of South High School -Dolores Nagy

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in program at the Bingham Street Church, the swimming classes in the Oliver pool, and the gym activities at the little red building on Ninth and Sarah Streets. In this small gymnasium, champion basketball teams were developed on a floor not much larger than the living room of a modern home. These limited facilities were made known to the superintendent, and we were assured that the matter would be given every consideration. It is interesting to note the fol- lowing improvements that were provided through the years for South High School: 1. In 1922, an annex to the original high school building was built at a cost of S650,000. 2. In 1935, additional wings were added to the building at a cost of 872,000 S. In 1938, a modern boys, vocational high school was built at Tenth and Carson Streets opposite the original school building at a cost of S465,000, not including equipment. 4. In 1938, land south of the school building was purchased for recreational purposes. The cost of this land with improvements amounted to 846,508 Today, the people of the South Side still look upon their high school as a symbol of the Amer- ican way of life. Here children of all the people live together and prepare together for the lives of service which lie ahead. If through the years the graduates of South High School have con- tributed to the welfare and progress of our city and nation, the future may expect even greater contributions. It follows, naturally, that we should raise a question about the present school facilities and the plans for future improvements. The present South High and South Vocational High Schools provide facilities that in general compare favorably with those of other sections of the city. But South never has had an adequate athletic field, and like other parts of the city it does not have a modern vocational high school for girls. The Board of Public Education has plans that should be of unusual interest to the people of the South Side and in particular to the alumni and present students of the school. First, a ma- jor athletic field is to be built on the land bound- ed by Ninth Street, Carson Street, Seventh Street and Selby VVay. This field will have a seating capacity of between 6,000 and 8,000, and will in- clude a field house and tennis courts. It will be the largest, most adequately equipped field in the city. Dr. Earl A. Dimmick, Superintendent of Schools, and Mr. M. M. Steen, Chief of the Division of Plant Operation and Maintenance, have indicated that visible signs of progress on this field should be in evidence one year from now. Another project of major importance which is included in the Boardis long-term planning pro- vides for a modern girls, vocational high school to be located on the site now occupied by the old high school building at Tenth and Carson Streets. This, of course, is something for the fu- ture, but it is encouraging to know that the South Side, which now has excellent trade train- ing facilities for boys, may one day be proud of the opportunities it will have to offer to its girls as well. May the present students of South High School, and those who will follow them, exercise the wisdom and the determination to take the fullest advantage of the educational opportuni- ties provided for them. Only America offers such opportunities to its youth. -O. I. Schwarm Class of Feb. 1921

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Highlights in the History of Umar Alma Mater If we were riding up the Monongahela River in the earlier part of the nine- teenth century, we would see a peaceful, picturesque valley that extended from this very river to the foothills up and above the high hills-a section that was des- tined to become one of the greatest industrial centers of Pittsburgh. Perhaps no other section has developed so rapidly in a hundred years as has this district, once surrounded by beautiful green rolling- plains and huge estates, but now a busy in- tersection formerly called Birmingham,' and now the South Sidef' The former South Pittsburgh, Birmingham,,, East Birmingham, and Ormsby,, complete the present South Side. Can you imagine the South Side without its own Alma Materv-South High? It seems hard to believe, yet, a little over fifty years ago this reputable school was just emerging out of the sand and rubble to educate the majority of the children of South Side and the surrounding communities of Allentown, Brookline, Dormont, and Beechview. The cornerstone for South High School was laid in 1897 at the Corner of Tenth and Carson Streets, but the building was not com- pleted and pupils were not admitted until September of 1898. The first principal of South High was Dr. R. H. Holbrook, son of the founder of the first normal school in the United States. The first student body consisted of 242 pupils with a faculty of eight teachers. The normal, academic, and commercial courses were offered, but due to the limited space at South High the students taking the nor- mal course spent two years at Fifth Avenue, students taking the academic course spent three years at South and the fourth year at Central High, students taking the commercial course spent one year at South and three years at Fifth Avenue. In 1911, South High was recognized as a separate cosmopolitan high school, of- fering complete courses in all curricular studies. South held its first separate commencement in 1913, graduating 32 pupils. Prior to this time the pupils com- pleted high school requirements at Central High School or Fifth Avenue High School and graduated from these schools. At the death of Dr. Holbrook in 1910, Mr. I. M. McLaughlin, a teacher of science and mathematics at South since September, 1905, succeeded him as prin- cipal. In the early twenties, to meet the demand of the increasing enrollment, ten portable structures were built. These proved so unsatisfactory that in May 6, 1924, it was necessary to replace the portables by adding a new building connected to the old by two passageways. So in September, 1924, 38 rooms plus offices, a library, a swimming pool, gyms, and a cafeteria were opened. Before this addi- tion the students, although pressed for room, attended their studies dutifully. They had to go to the Oliver Pool for swimming instructions, while for their physical education they were obliged to go to the gym at Thirteenth Street. They were so proud of their orchestra that they practiced weekly at the Thirteenth Street gym. Despite many handicaps they did their best to elevate the high standards of South. In 1935 the building was again enlarged by the addition of seven class rooms. 10