Today our young men and women show their speed and endurance at Colerain for their second track meet of the Season. GO BIG RED! If you can't make it out, be sure to send lots of positive, winning Big Red vibes their way!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Good Luck Today to the Big Red Track Team!
Today our young men and women show their speed and endurance at Colerain for their second track meet of the Season. GO BIG RED! If you can't make it out, be sure to send lots of positive, winning Big Red vibes their way!
Monday, April 12, 2010
"New Hughes"
As we just had an all staff meeting this afternoon about "the big move" back into the Classical building this summer, it makes me think back and WONDER how the staff and students felt back in 1910 when they moved from our Cathedral-type building down on old 5th & Mound Sts. downtown as they prepared for the even bigger move way up the hill to our present day location in (and on) Clifton.
The proceedings were quite a bit more extravagant than what we'll have for the re-opening...they included a huge Hughes parade from 5th & Mound all the way up to the "New Hughes" complete with every student and faculty member following the elite Hughes band all the way. A grand ribbon cutting ceremony with speeches and performances. The program included alumni, student clubs, then Mayor of Cincinnati, Louis Schwab and other dignitaries of the area. The entire ceremony took place in the front, before anyone even entered the building. Can you even imagine what that must have looked like!
The following poem was written by Mrs. Helen Goodman Logan, Class of 1909 about the "New Hughes," which is also the title of the poem. It really is awe-inspiring at how much EDUCATION was valued, even treasured at the time that our building was built.:
A noble structure here will rise,
A mighty seat of learning;
Oh, may its praises reach the skies,
Its virtues all discerning.
Behold this now assembled throng
To help it on its way along,
To join us landing it in song,
All hearts with joy are burning.
At length 'twill stand in all its might,
Dominion far extending,
With all its glories full in sight,
Its fame enchantment lending.
So long as it may be a school,
It ne'er for wrong will be a tool,
With justice ever will it rule,
Its glories never ending.
Oh, may it make itself a name,
For this end ever trying,
A name without reproach or shame,
To all things edifying.
And when at last old grow its walls,
Its lofty towers, its stately halls,
Oh, may it be a voice that calls
To higher things ne'er dying.
The proceedings were quite a bit more extravagant than what we'll have for the re-opening...they included a huge Hughes parade from 5th & Mound all the way up to the "New Hughes" complete with every student and faculty member following the elite Hughes band all the way. A grand ribbon cutting ceremony with speeches and performances. The program included alumni, student clubs, then Mayor of Cincinnati, Louis Schwab and other dignitaries of the area. The entire ceremony took place in the front, before anyone even entered the building. Can you even imagine what that must have looked like!
The following poem was written by Mrs. Helen Goodman Logan, Class of 1909 about the "New Hughes," which is also the title of the poem. It really is awe-inspiring at how much EDUCATION was valued, even treasured at the time that our building was built.:
A noble structure here will rise,
A mighty seat of learning;
Oh, may its praises reach the skies,
Its virtues all discerning.
Behold this now assembled throng
To help it on its way along,
To join us landing it in song,
All hearts with joy are burning.
At length 'twill stand in all its might,
Dominion far extending,
With all its glories full in sight,
Its fame enchantment lending.
So long as it may be a school,
It ne'er for wrong will be a tool,
With justice ever will it rule,
Its glories never ending.
Oh, may it make itself a name,
For this end ever trying,
A name without reproach or shame,
To all things edifying.
And when at last old grow its walls,
Its lofty towers, its stately halls,
Oh, may it be a voice that calls
To higher things ne'er dying.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
A Brief History of Hughes
Historical Sketch of Hughes High School
Thomas Hughes, after whom Hughes High School was named, died December 26, 1824, leaving a will dated 22 days before his death, by which he left his property to the City of Cincinnati for the education of poor children. This is the oldest of all the bequests for education now available in this city. This property, consisting of land within the present limits of the city, was left in the hands of a board of 5 trustees named in the will, who were to administer the trust and who were also given power to fill all vacancies that might occur in the board.
Hughes, an immigrant from England, adopted Cincinnati as his home sometime near the beginning of the nineteenth century. He earned his living as a cobbler, repairing shoes and other leather products, in his shop which was located in his small, log cabin home on Liberty Street. (On the north side of Liberty between Main and Sycamore Streets is a short street named Hughes and this is where his shop-residence was located.) Hughes lived alone, except for his dog, pony and some chickens.
The income from this property for the first 10 years was used to pay for the education of indigent pupils in the Woodward College, a private institution that was in existence before the organization of Woodward high School. Of the money collected from rents during the next 5 years, over $6000 was lost through the misappropriation of funds by one of the trustees.
In 1845 a lot for a high school was purchased on Ninth Street, between Race and Vine at a cost of $9000. No building, however, was erected on this lot, and in 1851 it was sold for $15,700, and the lot where the old school building stands on Fifth Street, opposite Mound, was purchased for $18,000. Meanwhile, in 1847, the Central School was opened in the basement of the Lutheran Church on Walnut Street, with Mr. H. H. Barney as principal. The next year the school was moved to Longworth Street, between Race and Elm, where it remained until after the organization of Hughes and Woodward High Schools.
In pursuance of an act passed by the legislature in 1845, a tripartite contract was entered into in May, 1851, between the Trustees of the Hughes Fund, the Trustees of the Woodward Fund, and the Trustees and Visitors of Common Schools of Cincinnati, whereby the Hughes and Woodward Funds were to be consolidated with the common school fund of the city, and a Union Board of High Schools was provided for, to have charge of the two high schools to be organized.
The consolidation of these funds, and the organization of free public high schools, had been under discussion ever since the passage of the law in 1845, and had awakened some bitter opposition. Mr. Barney, Principal of the Central School, had taken a prominent part in this discussion in favor of the law, and the views which he represented finally prevailed. The Union Board of High Schools composed of 7 members representing the Hughes and Woodward Funds, and 6 members each year from the Trustees and Visitors of Common Schools, was organized July 22, 1851, and entered upon its duties. In May 1895, this contract was modified so as to give the organization of the board it was decided that Race Street should be the dividing line between the 2 schools, all pupils west of that line to remain at the Central School, which was henceforth to be known as the Hughes High School, and all pupils east of that line go to the building that already stood on the Woodward lot, and to constitute the Woodward High School. This took place on the 16th of September, 1851, and on that date the Hughes and Woodward free public high schools entered upon their career.
In July, 1852, there was graduated at Greenwood Hall the first class of Hughes pupils.
During the following year the new building was erected on the lot on Fifth Street, opposite Mound. This building was imposing in its architecture and was considered at the time as affording exceptionally fine accommodations for the school. It was formally accepted from the contractors on January 5th, was dedicated with public exercise on Monday, January 17th, and the school immediately moved into these new quarters with Mr. Barney and his corps of assistants in charge.
But the reputation of Mr. Barney had extended over the state and in a few weeks after the opening of the school he was elected State School Commissioner of Ohio. He continued in his place a principal of the school until February, 1854, when he resigned to enter upon the duties of his new office.
Mr. Barney was succeeded in the principal ship by Mr. Cyrus Knowlton, a graduate of Brown University, who had for several years served as an assistant in the school. Mr. Knowlton continued in the office of principal until the year 1860, when he resigned, with the intention of entering upon the practice of the law.
The Hughes High School was especially fortunate in having two such men as principals in its early years. Mr. Barney had shown his ability not only as an administrator of the affairs of the school, but also as an advocate both by tongue and pen of the cause of free public education and of the high school as a legitimate part of that system. It was a time when these were burning questions, and when the discussion of them was the order of the day, and when the cause of public education needed bold and aggressive champions. Mr. Barney bore an honorable part in this conflict. Mr. Thornton M. Hinkle, in his address on Founder’s Day, 1898, in speaking on this subject says: “Mr. Barney and his associates, the victors in the struggle of 1845 to 1853, are entitled to as much honor as any of the heroes in our recent war. They settled the question, and it is no longer open for debate in Ohio. They insured the perpetuity of our school system.”
Mr. Knowlton was a man of marked qualities of character that eminently fitted him for the position to which he had succeeded. Not only as an administrator, but as an instructor, he exerted a potent and lasting influence upon the students of the school: and many who have now grown to manhood and womanhood acknowledge their great indebtedness to him and cherish his memory with gratitude and affection. These two men gave a tone and direction to the school that have characterized it to the present day.
Upon retirement of Mr. Knowlton, Dr. Joseph L. Thornton, who had been a teacher in the Woodward High School, was chosen principal. The school continued under his leadership for 13 years, until the close of the school year 1872-1873, when he resigned. Upon his resignation the Union Board passed unanimously the following resolution: “Resolved, that in accepting the declination of Dr. Joseph L. Thornton to reappointment as principal of Hughes High School, after 13 years’ faithful service, this board hereby expresses its confidence and appreciation of him as a man of high and unblemished moral character, diligent and faithful as a teacher and an ardent friend of the public schools.”
The school opened in September 1873 with Mr. John M. Edwards who had been a teacher in the Central High School, and had been in the Hughes from the beginning, acting as principal.
In December of the same year, one whose name is known far and wide, Mr. E. W. Coy, who had been appointed principal, entered upon the duties of his office.
When Hughes High School outgrew its facilities at the old location, the Board of Education and the Trustees of the Hughes Fund purchased a large lot in Clifton, across from the University of Cincinnati, on the corner of Clifton and McMillan Streets in 1906. The lot, 420 feet by 427 feet, cost $102,000 and the building cost was $727,000. The equipment to furnish the new school came to $73,500.
The massive high school containing approximately 5 acres of floor space in its 4 floors and tower was completed in 1910. The building contained approximately 200 rooms, 80 of which were classrooms and had a capacity for 2000 students. The original old Hughes building had but 17 classrooms and little else. The increase in the number of classrooms plus the auditorium, 2 gymnasiums and 2 lunchrooms to accommodate all of these students in these varied fields of study demonstrated how the concept of secondary education had expanded. At that time, 90% of the young people went directly into commerce or industry after completing their education.
Friday, December 2, 1910 was specifically chosen as the date to have the dedication of the new Hughes structure because it was the approximate date of the month that Thomas Hughes signed his will which created this first public education trust.
The “new” Hughes graduated its first class of 107 seniors on June 9, 1911. The first faculty had 54 teachers including 7 Latin teachers, 4 German and 1 Greek teacher. Hughes’ motto contained on the school seal is PRO DEO PATRIAQUE, or “for God and country.” Since 1881, the school’s colors have been red and white.
Hughes High School has undergone significant changes since 1910, both physically and academically. In 1971-72, the large recreation/gym, the Kreuck Center was built. This facility was shared with the Cincinnati Recreation Commission until 2005. The Kreuck Center was named for Edward “Red” Krueck, a well-known teacher and football coach at Hughes in the 1920s and 1930s.
In 1976, an expanded education curriculum was established in a strikingly beautiful building known as the Professional Building, utilizing the most advanced equipment and technology. This 6-story building opened in 1976 to meet the expanded vocational curriculum that was needed to replace what had been offered at the now closed vocational high school,
The entire complex is currently known as Hughes Center and houses 6 college preparatory programs: The Paideia High School for Critical Thinking, the High School for Teaching and Technology, the Cincinnati Academy of Mathematics and Science (CAMAS), the Zoo Academy, the High School for the Health Professions and the High School for the Communications Professions.
For 2 years in a row, Hughes Center won the Cincinnati Board of Education’s School Achievement Award. This award is bestowed upon those CPS schools with outstanding student academic achievement. During the 2000-2001 school year, Hughes met 88.8% of its academic targets and qualified for the district’s distinguished School Incentive Award. Only the highest performing CPS schools earn this special status.
These awards symbolize the remarkable educational renaissance that has been taking place in your alma mater’s hallowed halls. Since 1989, when Hughes High School was closed as a neighborhood school and reopened as a district-wide magnet with its unique programs, student academic performance has been steadily improving and since 1999…improving dramatically.
The work that the Hughes School has done has established for it a reputation that cannot without strenuous effort be sustained in the new building.
Let this thought be an inspiration to all and not only awaken ambition, but also increase the loyalty to the very name, Hughes.
The current Hughes High School, also known as Hughes Center, is comprised of two buildings. The Classical Building is a splendid example of Tudor architecture which is a modified English Gothic. The cornerstone of the school, which was designed by J. Walter Stevens of Minneapolis, was laid on October 16, 1908. The square tower over the front entrance rises 145 feet above the ground and is 45 feet square. There are four lanterns at its corners. The entire structure is in the form of a hollow square, in the middle of which is the large, beautiful auditorium and gallery. Underneath this area are two gymnasia.
The 5-story, “L” shaped annex, also part of the Classical building, was built in the early 1920s and contained 27 rooms, which housed Art, Drafting, and Industrial classes.
Thomas Hughes, after whom Hughes High School was named, died December 26, 1824, leaving a will dated 22 days before his death, by which he left his property to the City of Cincinnati for the education of poor children. This is the oldest of all the bequests for education now available in this city. This property, consisting of land within the present limits of the city, was left in the hands of a board of 5 trustees named in the will, who were to administer the trust and who were also given power to fill all vacancies that might occur in the board.
Hughes, an immigrant from England, adopted Cincinnati as his home sometime near the beginning of the nineteenth century. He earned his living as a cobbler, repairing shoes and other leather products, in his shop which was located in his small, log cabin home on Liberty Street. (On the north side of Liberty between Main and Sycamore Streets is a short street named Hughes and this is where his shop-residence was located.) Hughes lived alone, except for his dog, pony and some chickens.
The income from this property for the first 10 years was used to pay for the education of indigent pupils in the Woodward College, a private institution that was in existence before the organization of Woodward high School. Of the money collected from rents during the next 5 years, over $6000 was lost through the misappropriation of funds by one of the trustees.
In 1845 a lot for a high school was purchased on Ninth Street, between Race and Vine at a cost of $9000. No building, however, was erected on this lot, and in 1851 it was sold for $15,700, and the lot where the old school building stands on Fifth Street, opposite Mound, was purchased for $18,000. Meanwhile, in 1847, the Central School was opened in the basement of the Lutheran Church on Walnut Street, with Mr. H. H. Barney as principal. The next year the school was moved to Longworth Street, between Race and Elm, where it remained until after the organization of Hughes and Woodward High Schools.
In pursuance of an act passed by the legislature in 1845, a tripartite contract was entered into in May, 1851, between the Trustees of the Hughes Fund, the Trustees of the Woodward Fund, and the Trustees and Visitors of Common Schools of Cincinnati, whereby the Hughes and Woodward Funds were to be consolidated with the common school fund of the city, and a Union Board of High Schools was provided for, to have charge of the two high schools to be organized.
The consolidation of these funds, and the organization of free public high schools, had been under discussion ever since the passage of the law in 1845, and had awakened some bitter opposition. Mr. Barney, Principal of the Central School, had taken a prominent part in this discussion in favor of the law, and the views which he represented finally prevailed. The Union Board of High Schools composed of 7 members representing the Hughes and Woodward Funds, and 6 members each year from the Trustees and Visitors of Common Schools, was organized July 22, 1851, and entered upon its duties. In May 1895, this contract was modified so as to give the organization of the board it was decided that Race Street should be the dividing line between the 2 schools, all pupils west of that line to remain at the Central School, which was henceforth to be known as the Hughes High School, and all pupils east of that line go to the building that already stood on the Woodward lot, and to constitute the Woodward High School. This took place on the 16th of September, 1851, and on that date the Hughes and Woodward free public high schools entered upon their career.
In July, 1852, there was graduated at Greenwood Hall the first class of Hughes pupils.
During the following year the new building was erected on the lot on Fifth Street, opposite Mound. This building was imposing in its architecture and was considered at the time as affording exceptionally fine accommodations for the school. It was formally accepted from the contractors on January 5th, was dedicated with public exercise on Monday, January 17th, and the school immediately moved into these new quarters with Mr. Barney and his corps of assistants in charge.
But the reputation of Mr. Barney had extended over the state and in a few weeks after the opening of the school he was elected State School Commissioner of Ohio. He continued in his place a principal of the school until February, 1854, when he resigned to enter upon the duties of his new office.
Mr. Barney was succeeded in the principal ship by Mr. Cyrus Knowlton, a graduate of Brown University, who had for several years served as an assistant in the school. Mr. Knowlton continued in the office of principal until the year 1860, when he resigned, with the intention of entering upon the practice of the law.
The Hughes High School was especially fortunate in having two such men as principals in its early years. Mr. Barney had shown his ability not only as an administrator of the affairs of the school, but also as an advocate both by tongue and pen of the cause of free public education and of the high school as a legitimate part of that system. It was a time when these were burning questions, and when the discussion of them was the order of the day, and when the cause of public education needed bold and aggressive champions. Mr. Barney bore an honorable part in this conflict. Mr. Thornton M. Hinkle, in his address on Founder’s Day, 1898, in speaking on this subject says: “Mr. Barney and his associates, the victors in the struggle of 1845 to 1853, are entitled to as much honor as any of the heroes in our recent war. They settled the question, and it is no longer open for debate in Ohio. They insured the perpetuity of our school system.”
Mr. Knowlton was a man of marked qualities of character that eminently fitted him for the position to which he had succeeded. Not only as an administrator, but as an instructor, he exerted a potent and lasting influence upon the students of the school: and many who have now grown to manhood and womanhood acknowledge their great indebtedness to him and cherish his memory with gratitude and affection. These two men gave a tone and direction to the school that have characterized it to the present day.
Upon retirement of Mr. Knowlton, Dr. Joseph L. Thornton, who had been a teacher in the Woodward High School, was chosen principal. The school continued under his leadership for 13 years, until the close of the school year 1872-1873, when he resigned. Upon his resignation the Union Board passed unanimously the following resolution: “Resolved, that in accepting the declination of Dr. Joseph L. Thornton to reappointment as principal of Hughes High School, after 13 years’ faithful service, this board hereby expresses its confidence and appreciation of him as a man of high and unblemished moral character, diligent and faithful as a teacher and an ardent friend of the public schools.”
The school opened in September 1873 with Mr. John M. Edwards who had been a teacher in the Central High School, and had been in the Hughes from the beginning, acting as principal.
In December of the same year, one whose name is known far and wide, Mr. E. W. Coy, who had been appointed principal, entered upon the duties of his office.
When Hughes High School outgrew its facilities at the old location, the Board of Education and the Trustees of the Hughes Fund purchased a large lot in Clifton, across from the University of Cincinnati, on the corner of Clifton and McMillan Streets in 1906. The lot, 420 feet by 427 feet, cost $102,000 and the building cost was $727,000. The equipment to furnish the new school came to $73,500.
The massive high school containing approximately 5 acres of floor space in its 4 floors and tower was completed in 1910. The building contained approximately 200 rooms, 80 of which were classrooms and had a capacity for 2000 students. The original old Hughes building had but 17 classrooms and little else. The increase in the number of classrooms plus the auditorium, 2 gymnasiums and 2 lunchrooms to accommodate all of these students in these varied fields of study demonstrated how the concept of secondary education had expanded. At that time, 90% of the young people went directly into commerce or industry after completing their education.
Friday, December 2, 1910 was specifically chosen as the date to have the dedication of the new Hughes structure because it was the approximate date of the month that Thomas Hughes signed his will which created this first public education trust.
The “new” Hughes graduated its first class of 107 seniors on June 9, 1911. The first faculty had 54 teachers including 7 Latin teachers, 4 German and 1 Greek teacher. Hughes’ motto contained on the school seal is PRO DEO PATRIAQUE, or “for God and country.” Since 1881, the school’s colors have been red and white.
Hughes High School has undergone significant changes since 1910, both physically and academically. In 1971-72, the large recreation/gym, the Kreuck Center was built. This facility was shared with the Cincinnati Recreation Commission until 2005. The Kreuck Center was named for Edward “Red” Krueck, a well-known teacher and football coach at Hughes in the 1920s and 1930s.
In 1976, an expanded education curriculum was established in a strikingly beautiful building known as the Professional Building, utilizing the most advanced equipment and technology. This 6-story building opened in 1976 to meet the expanded vocational curriculum that was needed to replace what had been offered at the now closed vocational high school,
The entire complex is currently known as Hughes Center and houses 6 college preparatory programs: The Paideia High School for Critical Thinking, the High School for Teaching and Technology, the Cincinnati Academy of Mathematics and Science (CAMAS), the Zoo Academy, the High School for the Health Professions and the High School for the Communications Professions.
For 2 years in a row, Hughes Center won the Cincinnati Board of Education’s School Achievement Award. This award is bestowed upon those CPS schools with outstanding student academic achievement. During the 2000-2001 school year, Hughes met 88.8% of its academic targets and qualified for the district’s distinguished School Incentive Award. Only the highest performing CPS schools earn this special status.
These awards symbolize the remarkable educational renaissance that has been taking place in your alma mater’s hallowed halls. Since 1989, when Hughes High School was closed as a neighborhood school and reopened as a district-wide magnet with its unique programs, student academic performance has been steadily improving and since 1999…improving dramatically.
The work that the Hughes School has done has established for it a reputation that cannot without strenuous effort be sustained in the new building.
Let this thought be an inspiration to all and not only awaken ambition, but also increase the loyalty to the very name, Hughes.
The current Hughes High School, also known as Hughes Center, is comprised of two buildings. The Classical Building is a splendid example of Tudor architecture which is a modified English Gothic. The cornerstone of the school, which was designed by J. Walter Stevens of Minneapolis, was laid on October 16, 1908. The square tower over the front entrance rises 145 feet above the ground and is 45 feet square. There are four lanterns at its corners. The entire structure is in the form of a hollow square, in the middle of which is the large, beautiful auditorium and gallery. Underneath this area are two gymnasia.
The 5-story, “L” shaped annex, also part of the Classical building, was built in the early 1920s and contained 27 rooms, which housed Art, Drafting, and Industrial classes.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Spring at Hughes 2010
Spring at Hughes is always an interesting time of year...everyone has a bit of cabin fever after being cooped up inside for the winter months and it seems like life is just bursting forth into the atmosphere. This spring is no exception, though there is a lot more going on than normal.
The Seniors are bursting at the seams, overly ready for Prom and Graduation to get here and be over with...all together too eager to enter the real world....Little do they know that one day they most probably will wish they had not rushed it so much!
Really all the students are ready to move up the ladder...and everyone is getting more and more anxious for summer break. Don't we all remember those days!
This school year started off with a lot of change and energy with our new Principal, Dr. Virginia Rhodes, rejoining us. (Dr. Rhodes served as the Vice Principal once upon a time!) We also initiated a new program: STEM ("STEM" stands for Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) with this year's incoming Freshman class, and begun the "phase out" of "Hughes Center" and her various programs that have graced our classrooms for just over twenty years.
We are continuing our complete renovation of the Classical building and plans are still on schedule to move back into it for the beginning of school on August 17, 2010....complete with
The Hughes Alumni Foundation is planning several events to mark the momentus occasion, the largest of which is an ALL HUGHES REUNION WEEKEND on October 8 & 9, 2010. We are inviting all Hughes, West Night & Hughes Adult alumni and faculty to come back and tour the newly renovated Hughes during the school day on Friday, October 8, 2010. There will be a few smaller tours on Saturday morning for alumni and friends who are unable to take off of work on Friday. Saturday evening we will be having a dinner/dance at the Kingsgate Marriott. More information will be available soon!
Also, 2011 marks our 160th Anniversary as a school. We all should be proud to be a part of such an extensive legacy of education to have a school that has endured for so long, especially in this day and age of fleeting experiences. Sometimes I wonder (and marvel) at how many generations that Hughes must have and are serving. It is truly an honor to be a part of such a rich, historical school. We have been able to go with the flow and make the necessary changes to keep up with the educational trends and still have successful educational programs, with college-bound students.
Stay tuned for more to come...
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