Ypsilanti High School - Ypsi Dixit Yearbook (Ypsilanti, MI)

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I . - .,- ......-,-,,,. ..- , , J I K. f PRESENT HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING

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- J f. If I ' I .AJ V' A I SECOND IIIGII SCHOOL BUILDING T11e Seminary had the dormitory system, and after the Dis- trict purchased the property an extension was' built to the north on the Washington street front to afford additional rooms for non-resident students. The dormitory system continued until the building was destroyed by fire, March 29, 1857. Inasmuch as the High School succeeded the Seminary the name Seminary clung to it for many years, and is still occasionally used. Our High School is peculiar in this respect: it started out at once, like Minerva from the brain of Jove, as a large and important institution. For twenty years it was the largest and foremost High School in the state. But while the School was so famous and prosperous in its first two decades, it is worthy of remark that the number of graduates during the last five years is more than double the number in any previous ive years of' its history.

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The second high school building was erected on the same plot, but back some 60 feet from the street lines. It had an existence of twenty years-from 1857 to its destruction by iire Dec. 9, 1877. This was a more imposing edifice than the half- tone, made from an original photograph, would indicate. There is nothing shown in the picture with which to compare it. The first story above the basement was twenty feet high, and the chapel was on this floor. Shortly after its completion it was pro- nounced by a Boston educational journal to be the finest public school building in the United States. At its dedication, August 17, 1858, there was read from the platform during the exercises, the first message iiashed through the ocean that very day over the first Atlantic cable: Europe and America are united by telegraph. Glory to God in the highestg on earth peace and good will towards men. ' The third building was erected on nearly the same ground- plan as the second, but the interior arrangements were much superior and more attention was given to the exterior architec- ture. The height of the first story was reduced and the chapel was placed on the third floor. May 3,1894, this structure was partially, burned and the opportunity was made use of to remodel it on advanced lines. The building is of modern construction with steam heating apparatus and an approved system of ventilation. It is lighted by gas and electricityg and is provided with telephone, electric bells, bicycle rooms, city water, and sewer connections.