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Our Place in History
Public Secondary School Education in Auburn
Education in Auburn initially was a haphazard process, and schools were at first supported by local businesses. The education was inferior and teachers were hard to find. They had to live with families, and often had to accept farm goods in lieu of pay. In the early part of the 19th century, many private schools sprang up to provide for the education of children of wealthier families.
In 1810 subscriptions were sold to provide funding for a secondary school, and a man named Robert Dill, in exchange for shares, signed over some land he owned on Garden Street to build an academy. This land was called "Academy Green." The resultant school was three stories high with two rooms on each of the first and second floors, and one large room on the third floor.
Tuitions were from $3 to $4 a quarter, depending on the courses taken.The school opened on June 4, 1812 and burned to the ground in the winter of 1816.
Various locations were used until the Auburn Academy opened in 1827. In the school there were three departments: Classical, English, and Female.
Over the next several years,a number of other schools for girls or boys of high school age opened, and then closed for a variety of reasons.
In 1866 Auburn Academic High School was founded and moved into the old Academy building. It was partially destroyed by fire in January, 1903. The Board of Education helped replace stained glass windows in the chapel.
Auburn Senior High School opened in 1927 on Franklin St. and at first the junior high school remained in the building on "Academy Green" until it was torn down and the junior high students moved to the Franklin St. location.
Incidentally, this picture of the Auburn Academic High School and the 1930's era postcard of East High on the first page of this website can be seen on a Cayuga County Geneology site published by a gentleman named Bernie Corcoran. Bernie kindly gave permission to use the photos.
Auburn Central High School was finished in 1940, having begun construction in 1910. By 1941 there were three public junior/senior high schools: East, West, and Central.
The new comprehensive high school opened on Lake Ave. in 1970. East and West became middle schools and Central High was used as an elementary school until 1975.
from an article by Martha Shosa in "200 Years of History of Auburn, NY 1793-1993"
The "Arrow" Mystery Solved
Do you remember the question that was posed in the first letter from the planning committee informing us of the plans for a 50th reunion? That question dealt with how the yearbook came by its name "The Arrow". Our hats are off to Tom Morse who did a lot of digging and research and discovered the answer tucked away in a 1951 "Arrow". That was a prodigious effort! Actually, we should congratulate the class of '51 as well for such an enthusiastic essay!
The Arrow's Flight
Through the years since East High School was first erected, the arrow has been associated with it in the hearts of the students. To every one of us the word 'arrow'' brings thoughts of our yearbook, of class rings, and of the familiar building with an arrow crowning all. To each of us come other memories our first day here, commencements and yearbooks of other years, or dear friends we have known beneath this same arrow.
But an arrow is symbolic of other things, too. It calls to mind thoughts of quick, straight flight, and of aim toward a goal. Experience here during our high school years has been planned in large part to give our lives these characteristics of the arrow's flight. In early times smiths painstakingly made each missile straight and sturdy, lest it break in time of need. Just so our teachers have endeavored to instill in us a strong, true basis for living, one which will not fail, no matter what the stress. The ideals of honesty, courage, and loyalty suggested by an arrow's true course are especially important today. The future, as always, is uncertain, but it will probably demand these characteristics from all of us.
The archer in days of old stood with feet firmly planted on the ground, carefully drew back the bow, and loosed the shaft toward the target in no haphazard fashion. Not every archer was a Robin Hood, but everyone who drew a bow gained strength and enjoyment from archery. Through the years East High alumni have tried, like the bowmen of old, to "make their mark." Some, like Robin Hood, have achieved more spectacular successes than others but the ordinary "common people'' too, in their own quiet ways, have used the lessons learned here at East High to aid humanity everywhere.
Each individual has been a finer person because of ideas and ideals absorbed from East High School. The housewife in Auburn, the soldier, the missionary, or the engineer who has traveled far afield all share with us precious memories of East High and of the symbolic arrow.
From The Arrow 1951 Auburn, NY
Our East High Experience 1952-1956
We came to high school in the year just after the post-McCarthy paranoia, but before the idealism of Camelot. Our coming to age was during the conventional Eisenhower years when the St. Lawrence Seaway opened and the Iron Curtain fell. Everything was black and white, and there was no such thing as "situation ethics." We were well aware of the rules that we chose to follow or break.
The fashion of the day consisted of poodle skirts, pony tails, white bucks, and (for the somewhat rebellious) DA haircuts and pegged pants.Jackets,like that worn by James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause, were all the rage, and Elvis burst on the scene while we were seniors.
Like generations before us and after us, there were those who were In and those who wished to be.
Our principal was Russell Morehouse, a man of a somewhat forbidding exterior, but who was basically fair and decent. Our vice principal was George Murphy, who could be gruff but was more accessible than Mr. Morehouse. The football coach, who also taught math, was Mr. Button. He helped lead the combined Auburn high school team to a winning season.Of course, the cheerleaders were in their own right as accomplished and athletic as the players.
Photo supplied by Beverly Martin Padesky
All our teachers were memorable for one reason or another. Mrs. Helen Dewey, our algebra teacher, was also the mother of one of our classmates, Jack Blodgett. Who could forget Louis Fulton, a biology teacher? Anyone having trouble with his course was scared into passing it! Three of our teachers, Miss Geherin, Miss Purcell, and Mr. Waldron have remained in close contact with the class over the years, and have faithfully attended our reunions.
Space will not allow mention of the entire faculty, but the educators at East High School during that period of time were dedicated. They were respected, and what's more they respected the students as well. Many gave freely of their time even after hours to help a student floundering, but asking for help.
All of us have memories of our years at East High School. Some memories are good, some not; but we must agree that the years spent there prepared us well for what was to follow.
