Wachusett Regional High School - Wachusett Yearbook (Holden, MA)

Page 9 text:

The High School students at the entrance of Damon Memorial, 1891 or 1892. Back row: Walter Turner, Reuben Moore, Minnie Timme, Miss Buzzell, Ina Lamb, Herbert Seaver, Josephine Carey, Bertha Graham, William McDonald, Annie Fales, Thomas McCabe, Amy Howe, Cleve¬ land Lowell, Mr. Learned. Seated: Winifred McCabe, William Warren, Gertrude McDonald, Alice Richardson, Ada Fales, Albert Rivers, Sadie Rogers, Marguerite Davis, Alice Mulcach, Alice Parker, Charlie Benson, Helen Davis, Maude Moulton, Nellie Moore, Inez Jordan, Persis Howe, Bessie Sneadon, Helen Johnson. Education in Holden The grammar school which now stands in Chaffins started as a three-room school and was added to in 1925 and again in 1931. These three schools have all received additions in the past five years to accommo¬ date the rapidly increasing enrollment. As we look back and compare the one-room school- houses of past years with the beautiful, scientifically planned buildings of today, we realize how far Holden has progressed educationally in its desire to produce worthy citizens in each succeeding generation. With its keen interest in its schools Holden has gone far toward achieving the aim of education ex¬ pressed by Dr. James Conant: “The primary concern of American education today . . . is to cultivate in the largest number of our citi¬ zens an appreciation both of the responsibilities and the benefits which come to them because they are American and free.” —FAITH BASCOM 5

Page 8 text:

The OLD CENTER SCHOOL (now the Holden Clinic), stood on the site of the present High School. Previous to 1888, when Damon Memorial was erected, used as a High School above and Grammar School below (Primary School was then in the Lower Town Hall). From 1888 to 1910 Primary School below and Grammar School above. Education in Holden seventy per cent or above, while a pupil was allowed to enter with a grade of forty per cent. The follow¬ ing entry was taken from an old school-committee record: “School committee mett by appointment for the examination of Teacher and Schollers. For the high school—1 Teacher and 8 Schollers were examined. All passed but Teacher did not.” The school year in those days consisted of four terms of about ten weeks each, and included a summer term. The school day began at about nine o’clock in the morning and ran until four o’clock in the after¬ noon with an hour out for lunch. The closing of school in the afternoon usually ended most of the school activities for the day, however, for the pupils were given little homework. Most of the children walked several miles to school, but some of them rode in sleighs or “rigs” for we find an entry in 1907 which states: “Voted to pay for good warm blankets for the rig carrying pupils to Quina- poxet.” In 1869 there were twelve men on the school com¬ mittee, each representing a school district. It was not until 1877 that the number was reduced to three, and since then it has varied from three to six members. In 1872 William C. Metcalf, the first superintendent of schools, was appointed, and in 1890 Holden and Leicester joined to form a school union. In 1900 the present union of Holden, Oakham, Paxton, and Rut¬ land was formed. In 1911, $20,000 was appropriated for the purpose of building a new grammar school in the center, which was to be located on Phillips Road. This has been named the Margery A. Rice School in honor of Miss Margery Rice, who for forty-six years was a beloved teacher in the Center School. 4

Page 10 text:

First Raw: Robert Ford, Carole Anderson, Nancy Johnson, Marcia Smith, Elaine Johnson, Jean Zinno, Gail Van Riper. Second Row: Donald Prouty, Judith Forsberg, Robert Clouthier, Robert Price, William Harris, Fred Anderson, Ralph Nordquist, Shirley Fournier. I CLARION STAFF 1954 has proven to be another successful year for the Clarion.” The staff, made up of Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors, has worked hard to contribute the many fine poems, short stories, cartoons, and various other selections. It is published once a month and it is written entirely by the students. Feature Writer Audrey Z. King Activities Nancy L. Culross Jean R. Zinno Cynthia A. Perry Photography Kay F. Woodall Rose I. Conrad Art Joan P. Clemens Robert L. Price Scribes Carole A. Anderson Faith Bascom Janet Berggren Harold F. Cooper Shirley M. Fournier Gail Judith L. Howe Elaine H. Johnson Nancy E. Johnson Carol V. Lindgren Herbert G. Sherwin Van Riper 6