St Bernards High School - Bernardian Yearbook (Fitchburg, MA)

Page 18 text:

1764 ee pomee 1964 As an expression of gratitude, we dedicate our Bernardian of 1964 to the men and women of Fitchburg who by their lives of courage and self-sacrifice have contributed to the general well being of the community during the two hundred years of its existence.

Page 17 text:

yielding place to new... The passing of Arthur and the change from the old order to the new was attended with a calm and gentle serenity. But our transformation here at SBHS from the old to the new makes itself heard as well as seen. The first few weeks were such a change from the usual day-to-day routine undisturbed by noises foreign to a classroom. But by now we have become accustomed to the whirring sound of efficient, but noisy, modern construction machines of all sizes and shapes. In no time the powerful bulldozer changed the face of our erstwhile portable yard, putting portables 41, 42, 45, and 46 out of existence. Portables 43 and 44 are still with us but their days also are numbered. They, too, will be a thing of the past as soon as two new rooms are completed to replace them. The newest and highest of the eight portables, 47 and 48, will be retained and connected with the new addition. The removal of the portables marks another transition for us from the old to the new and recalls our freshman days, which were happy days, we must now admit. Our isolation knitted us more. closely together as a class than if we were mingling with the upperclassmen. There was a sense of proud proprietorship— the portables were ours and the yard was ours and the upper classes were told to keep out. We had heard the portables referred to as the “chicken coops’’ and soon we also were maligning them as such. But one day the portables came into their own and had a taste of glory, when the architects surveying the premises referred to them as campus buildings. So the portables were after all right in step with modern trends in school construction. Now the middle of October, we see the steel framework of the four-storied addition standing erect and skeleton like. It is hoped that it will be ready for OC cupancy in September, 1964. But we will not be included in the enrollment of the 1100 who will en- joy the new classrooms and the new labs, the caf- eteria, and the new chapel. Our memories of our alma mater will be those of the old St. Bernard’s High which we share with the hundreds of Ber- nardians who have preceded us since that first opening day back in September of ’27.

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At the time of its incorpora- tion in 1764, the population of Fitchburg was about 250. Although salmon trout abounded in the Nashua, this river was considered more of a curse than a blessing, because of the expense of build- ing and repairing bridges. For this reason, it was thought that Fitchburg would never be a flour- ishing settlement. Every day, many Bernardians cross over the Nashua river by this bridge which connects Har- vard Street, on which the school is built, with Fifth Street. In 1764, the roads of Fitch- burg were few and poorly con- structed. Summer Street, a busy thoroughfare today, is not included among the four principal roads leading through the old town. It used to be a cobble-stoned street with huge elm trees on both sides and could boast of some very fine old residences, and a trolley-car line. Summer Street, one of the boundaries of our school campus, is a familiar street to most Bernies. Goodrich Street runs parallel to the back of our school, and was named after one of Fitchburg’s old families. It is related of Deacon David Goodrich that he was fired upon by Indians when he was out looking for his cow. He wheeled his horse and started down what is now South Street. The Indians fired but owing to the rapidity of his flight missed fire. When he reached the garri- son, he gave the alarm. He lost his hat which ten years later was found on the head of a captured Indian. James Altieri, Edward Mc- Caffrey, and Carlo DiNatale on the lawn in front of the old Good- rich house, facing the school grounds.