South High School - Tiger Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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building of her own. The first president of the Hoard of Education. the scholarly Prof. Sven Oftedal, has more than once told me the story of how he helped secure a high school for North Minneapolis that he might thus force the Board to give South Town an equal privilege. It was a hitter cold day, the Monday following the Christmas vacation in early 1893, that the new structure opened its doors for the first time. It was a memorable day in the annals of South High; it was an historical event in the history of South Minneapolis. Early on that morning the student body, then numbering 250, assembled for the last time in the old Adams. In procession, headed by principal and teachers (Miss Klampe still with us), they marched across lots, where but a few years before had been a cow-path leading across the prairie, to the new building on Cedar Avenue. I)r. Jordan had at the beginning of the school year assumed the Superintendency anil Prof. C. I.. Sawyer had been chosen principal of the new high school. South Minneapolis was proud of the new structure with its prepossessing tower, its spacious class-rooms, and its fine auditorium on the third floor, with a seating capacity of 996. Years passed. Prof. A. X. O .ias succeeded Prof. Sawyer. The school outgrew its domicile, and during his time a strip of the auditorium had to be sacrificed and made into class-rooms. In September, 1909, Prof. Joseph Jorgens came to fill the place vacated by Prof. Ozias. The congestion had now become so great that the remaining part of the auditorium had to be converted into class-rooms, green curtains strung on wires serving as partitions. What had formerly been a sorely felt need became an urgent demand. During that year, whenever the occasion demanded a mass-meeting, the student body assembled in the hall on the second Hoor, standing closely huddled together as packed sardines or seated on the floor in a seething mass. You may therefore imagine that there was true rejoicing when, in January live years ago, our present magnificent auditorium was first thrown open for the mid-year graduation, the manual training wing, and the commercial department having been put into use the previous September. Again the rapidly growing school is knocking at the door of necessity, asking for more breathing space. The towering walls to the South give assurance of the fulfillment of the promise. As the old school has stretched out in a vain attempt to keep pace with the spirit of the institution, so may each student help build upward, outward and onward, thus adding fresh laurels to Alma Mater. “Too low they build, who build beneath the stars.” I I 14 I

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OLD SOUTH HIGH Marks’ Michelkt 7JT IK veterans revere the faded Hag, be it ever so tattered, bloodstained, and bullet-pierced, because it has led on to victory through the smoke of battles. So the sons anil daughters of Old South High love the old school, be it ever so rambling, furrowed, and weather-beaten; because it has been a vital factor in shaping their lives. Much comment has been made as to its unfavorable appearance, yet to many the old landmark with its tower and turrets has been a dear, familiar sight for nigh a quarter of a century, because it has ever been to them the outward emblem of signal achievements, steady efficiency, lofty ideals, and sturdy character. It might, therefore, be of interest to know something of the progressive strength and growth of this institution that we now honor. In the attic of the old historic Adams, in September 1885, I)r. C. M. Jordan planted the little acorn which grew up, flourished, and spread its branches manifold. We were a handful of boys and girls in that first class and daily tor three years did we climb the old, winding, wooden stairway which led us to our four class-rooms up under the eaves. Miss Craven, Miss Kerr, and Miss Watts, together with Dr. Jordan, the principal of the school, constituted the first South I Iigh faculty. Simplicity and frugality marked the meager facilities of our school life. The girls had calico or gingham pinafores and wore their hair in pig-tails down their backs; the boys had brass-capped boots and wore the then popular pompadour. The relation of teacher to pupil was closer and stronger than is possible in the big city high school of today. We had a literary society with the grand name ALitlit’liciin, and the members each wore hand-embroidered silk badges of terra cotta red and peacock blue. The meetings were held in the homes of the community and the members took turns in entertaining. Then came a day in the fourth year of our high school career when we had to leave our attic home, and, although we were going to a more pretentious building (the present Old Central), in a more pretentious part of the city, we did it much grieved at heart, being still loyal to Old South I Iigh. We were not received with open arms, coming as we did from South Town, but we seemed to make our way. I rom the OKI Grand Opera House, then on Sixth Street, we passed out into the world with our sheepskins. Years went by and still the youth of South I own patronized the “Attic” High School. Fortunate, indeed, for the South District that at this time it could boast of such public-spirited men as l rof. Sven )ftcdal, I Ion. Lars Swenson, and Rev. M. balk Gjcrtsen. It was through their indefatigable efforts that South Minneapolis was able to get a high school 11.11

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ma VIEWS OF THE NEW ADDITION