Springfield Trade High School - Beaver Yearbook (Springfield, MA)

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FIFTIET. to mention the countless servicemen that trained under his guardianship and used his equipment. Needless to say, in his humble way, he accepted his responsibilities as a faithful citizen would. His pleasure far out- stripped his toil. In 1948 a new era in trade training began. Our youthful giant was finally recognized on par with his cousins in the other high schools. So, he took on a new name, ‘Trade High’! He still took the terminal boys and girls, but now had added responsibility. He must show his charges that they never need fear competi- tion. He must show that they must hold their heads high in the community, in that humble, but confident manner of a well-adjusted man. He quietly worked on his new assignment and gave the community back more than they expected. With the passing of time our youth became man, and his guardian became old in years, bROARY though young in spirit. So a new guardian was appointed, Mr. Edmond P. Garvey, who today is faced with a fifty-year old youngster, who still wants to grow in all directions. How to keep this growing in check is quite a problem when so many youngsters feed this growth; so many diversified developments need this growth; and so many communities press for this growth. The class of 1962, hate to leave this old man of fifty. They hate to leave his home. All families lose a member, now and then, but there are so many gracious greetings at the family gatherings that families still cling to- gether, bonded by the central tether of parent- hood. We hope, then this grand old man will grow with his increasing family and never re- tire to the old standards he left in 1911 or to a ‘“‘golden age club! ’ Springfield needs him; he needs Springfield. FIRST GRADUATING CLASS. FIRST HOME The styles in 1937 were not too different than those worn under the recent trend. These girls were the first graduates from the Continuation School that was used as the Girls Division of the Old Trade School. From 1911 to 1913 this site on 32 Taylor Street served as “home” for the onginal Trade School. This is a far cry from the present structure. 10

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FIFT Bt] of America hustled to house its citizens; indus- try rushed to reap its profits and just plain people pressed for pleasure. We had our few bad years, now we looked for light-hearted, well-fed and well-heeled years. In the turmoil something happened. Some got rich, very rich and the poor got poorer. There seemed to be some contradiction in whomever had charge of issuing events. However, our mere stripling of a youth was feeling the firm hand of his guardian. The good Mr. Burridge, with his far-sighted wis- dom, held his excitable, youthful charge in check. The right time had not arrived yet. His cultural cousins looked askance at this youth- ful upstart. We must advance with caution, advises the ingenious guardian. Your day is coming, he insists. Meanwhile, our youth grows. His muscles are beginning to bulge with new life. His phys- ical rainment of brick and mortar are stiffling his heart-beat. His pulse painfully pounds from constriction. He is well-fed with new children, but his energy needs boosting. He must get new expansion space. His various activities cannot be girded by a limited measure; he must grow in all directions. Arrangements are finally made for the growing boy to bellow out his erstwhile pleasure, when the Board, listening to his guardian, agreed to don him w.th a new suit of steel and stone. His strides became 7-league style as 32 Spring Street became his new home. So, at the age of 10 years, our child grows fast. His numbers mul- tiply, and his needs increase. The year is 2d Two years later, he changes his name from Vocational to Trade, and under this name and Mr. Burridge’s careful guidance, he is con- firmed for manhood. So, with maturity and grace, he accepts the responsibilities of the community. He continuously prepares his boys for the daily chores that bind a good com- munity together. No glamor comes his way. He does not operate spectacularly, but follows good old-fashioned ‘‘horse sense.’’ As his standards rise, so does the community's. As his enrollment increases, so does the community’s population. As he wisely equips himself and his charges for life's work, so does the com- munity equip itself for the future. By 1934 our youth has risen to great think- ing. Up to now, he has taken care of the boys of the community. His thoughts turn now to added responsibilities. How about the girls? His new home cannot house both boys and girls, so again the community responds to the occasion and appoints Mrs. Margaret Ells to assistant-principalship in charge of girls. The Old Hooker School again affords space for our youthful pioneer. All is not settled, how- ever, for no family can be separated and endure as a family. + e % Mrs. Margaret C. Ells Assistant Principal In charge of Girls’ Division Great minds of the community were shown by our erstwhile guardians, Mr. Burridge and Mrs. Ells that one family needs one home. Consequently, planning started on just that. The future home must be a pleasant home, have a homey atmosphere, and must have a natural and beautiful location. The site at 1300 State Street was finally chosen and con- struction began in 1938. By the-Fall of 1940, the new home was blessed with eager young- sters, ready to learn the operations of the trade of their choice. Again though, the shadows of war loomed overhead. Undaunted, our now ‘old’ man of experience accepted the challenge and before cheers returned to the world, had trained some 16,000 persons to take over the many jobs in the plants of the area involved in war production. The ‘old’ man doesn’t even want

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FIFTIETS ANNIVERSARY STILL IN USE er In 1921 this building on 32 Spring Street was erected as the new Trade School, but a growing enrollment soon made it inade- quate. It is now used as the administration offices of the School ‘Department. NOW TORN DOWN = Chl The Old Hooker, School on North Main Street served as the Continuation School and Trade School. Later it became the Girls Division of the Trade School. It was occupied until 1940 when the new school was completed. Grade Schonl Code Grade, you are a heritage laden with opportunities that are legion, and our responsibilities are correspondingly great. Bu every public and private raparity may it be our supreme desire to serve, honor, and obey our highest ideals and striue to uphold the right; and by our example may we incite in others a like respert and reverence. fay we achieve high standards of workmanship, worthy habits, honorable manhood, wholesome personalities, and noble chararter. (Ou the field, in the shop, in the class, and in years tn come, grant that we shall bring glory to our School, City, State, and Nation. 11