History

Cary's Academy Street School Campus Timeline

Friends of Page Walker blog, "Before There Was Cary, There Was Cary High School."

From the Catalogues of Cary Public High School and Farm Life School, Cary, North Carolina 1914-1915 and 1916:

The Cary Public High School and Farm Life School is an outgrowth of the old Cary High School which had its origin back in the last century and was owned and controlled by a stock company. In 1907, the owners of the property sold their stock to the county, and the school was converted into a State high school, the first to be established under the high school law of 1907.

The Cary High School is not a new enterprise, but has an honorable history. For nearly two decades it has occupied a foremost place among the secondary schools of the State. Even before 1896 when Prof. E.L. Middleton took charge, the school was doing a superior class of work under the intelligent guidance of such teachers as A.H. Merritt, Rev. Solomon Pool, W.L. Crocker, Rev. Jesse Page and the Misses Jones.

For twelve years, from 1896 to 1908, the school was under the wise management of Professor Middleton. Under his leadership the school building grew from a one or two-room structure to a building of sixteen rooms and from a teaching fore of two or three and a small boarding patronage to eight teachers and more than a hundred boarding students. In 1908, Mr. Middleton resigned to enter a different field or work, and M.B. Dry was elected as his successor.

When the General Assembly of 1907 enacted a law providing for a system of public high schools for the State, Cary High School was converted into the Cary Public High School, which enjoys the distinction of being the first high school established under that law. As such, it has now been in operation for eight years, and has steadily grown in patronage and efficiency.

A year ago the school entered upon a career of larger usefulness when it entered its new $30,000 building, a building with all the advantages and conveniences of the most up-to-date city school; and began to do some real work in the teaching of Agriculture and Home Economics, the school having been made one of the Farm-life Schools for Wake County.

The rules of the State Superintendent admit free from tuition to Wake County those who have completed the seven grades of the elementary school... Applicants must bring certificates from the last teacher saying the course has been satisfactorily completed.

All public school teachers of whatever age are entitled to free tuition. All other pupils over twenty-one years of age must pay tuition. Pupils who are unprepared to do the work of the High School are required to pay tuition in the lower grades.

The County Board of Education allows the School Committee to receive pupils from outside Wake County. These pupils receive every advantage usually given in schools under private management.

The school is only eight miles from the State's capital city. It is on both the Seaboard and Southern railways. It is on a principal watershed of Wake County, being high above the surrounding country and consequently free from local causes of sickness. It is in the educational as well as the geographical center of the State, being in close touch with the A. and M. College, Trinity College, the State University, Wake Forest College, Meredith College, Peace Institute, St. Mary's, none of which is more than thirty miles away. Representatives of the faculties of these institutions as well as the State officials at Raleigh are frequently secured as speakers during the school session. The pupils also have easy access to the well-equipped libraries of these colleges, as well as to the State Library at Raleigh.

The new main building is a model of its kind, containing all the advantages and conveniences of the most modern city high school. There are rooms in the basement for heating plant, toilets, domestic science, physical and chemical laboratories, manual training, gymnasium, etc. On the first floor there are four large class rooms, an assembly room for the Elementary School, a library, principal's office and teachers' rest room. The second floor contains besides six recitation rooms for the High School and six music rooms; a large auditorium, with study hall combined, and gallery. The auditorium, study hall and gallery will seat about 850. The primary grades occupy spacious and well-lighted rooms on the first floor.

The boys' dormitory will accommodate about 60 boys. It has recently been provided with baths, toilets, etc.

The girls' dormitory will accommodate 30 girls. Boarding places will be found in private homes for those who can not be provided for in the dormitories,

Other buildings on the campus belonging to the school are the matron's home and a home for the janitor.

On the school farm, the school has recently erected a model barn and a cottage for the farm hands.

The (boys' )dormitories are furnished with bedstead, mattress and springs, chairs, table, lamp, etc. All boys rooming in dormitory must furnish sheets, towels, bedding, pillow and toilet articles such as com and brush, soap, matches, etc. The school furnishes fuel and lights. The cost of board with room from Monday to Friday is $7.50.

The Browning Hall (home for girls) is presided over by Mrs. J.A. Smith, who for several years has successfully managed boarding houses for schools. The building is neatly and comfortable furnished. The girls furnish sheets, towels, bedding, pillow and necessary toilet articles, such as soap, matches,m comb and brush, etc.

Board from Monday to Friday is $7.50 per month, or from Sunday evening to Friday, $8.00. These rates include room, fuel, lights, etc.

From the "Catalogue of Cary Public High School and Farm Life School, Cary, North Carolina 1916":

The old two story wooden building which the school had outgrown was replaced in 1913 by a new and thoroughly modern brick structure with thirty-three rooms, costing $33,000. The old dormitory building for boys which was burned in the spring of 1916 is not being replaced by a $10,000 brick structure which will be completed by the opening of the fall term. This building will be equipped with steam heat, baths, lavatories and toilets. It is located near the main school building and will be occupied by the girls.

The present girls' dormitory, located a few hundred yards from the campus, will, in the future, be occupied by the boys. Sufficient boarding accommodations can be provided for as many students, either boys or girls, as may desire to attend.

From the "Catalogue of Cary Public High School and Farm Life School, Cary, North Carolina 1919":

The old dormitory building for boys which was burned in the spring of 1916, was replaced that year by a brick structure at a cost of about $11,000. The building is provided with steam heat, electric lights, baths, lavatories and toilets, and is now occupied by the girls under the care of the Lady Principal. The old privately owned girls' dormitory, which has been occupied by the boys since 1916, was burned in the fall of 1918. The school is now erecting on the campus a modern brick dormitory for the boys, practically a duplicate of the girls' dormitory, at a cost of about $25,000.

The school is endeavoring to put itself in line with the demands of the times for practical education. The demand for vocational training especially the training needed by the boys and girls who are to live in the country, is becoming more and more insistent. The whole course of study at Cary has been planned with this in view. The so-called cultural subjects have not been discarded, but emphasis is placed on shop work and field work for the boys, and cooking and sewing for the girls.

In the school basement are two large, well-lighted rooms, one of which serves as a kitchen and the other as a dining and serving room. The kitchen is provided with running water, hot and cold, sinks, laundry tub, domestic science desk, oil and wood ranges, cupboards, refrigerator, bins, oil stoves, and the most approved cooking utensils. The dining room contains dining tables with chairs, china and linen closets, and a substantial and attractive set of china and silver ware. The sewing room is on the first floor and is provided with sewing tables with chairs, sewing machines, sewing lockers, dressing mirror, etc. The equipment has been pronounced by experts to be as good as can be found in any school of the same grade in the State at present.

For the boys, there is a room in the basement fitted up with work benches and tools for use of the Agricultural students, and another room contains a cream separator, Babcock milk tester and a sterilizer for use of classes in dairying.

There are also laboratories with individual desks, running water, etc., where systematic work is done in illustrating the principles of Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Agriculture. A large cannery is located on the school grounds and is operated during summer and fall months, canning the fruits and vegetables on the school farm for use in the boarding department as well as the fruits and vegetables grown in the community.

The school owns a farm of twenty-one acres on which a barn and farm cottage have been built. The school also owns a Percheron mare, two Jersey cows, some pigs and chickens, besides a lot of farm machinery. On this farm, as well as on the other farms in the neighborhood, the pupils learn how to set and prune and spray fruit trees, to terrace hill sides, to select and test seed, to grow vegetables for market and for home use, and to experiment with cover crops, fertilizers, etc.

At present the school receives and appropriation from the Federal Government under the Smith-Hughes Act of Congress, which requires that each pupil taking the Agricultural course shall have a "project" either on the school farm or preferably at his home, this "project" to be closely supervised by the Agricultural teacher.

No catalogue was issued in 1918 owing to war conditions.

From the "C.H.S. Echoes Cary Public High School and Farm Life School, Cary, North Carolina 1921":

In May, 1920, the Cary School District voted a bond issue for the erection of a building to be used chiefly by the departments of Agriculture and Home Economics. The building will be of brick and will contain a gymnasium, science laboratories, agricultural rooms, and rooms for cooking and sewing. A separate building will be erected for a wood shop and forge. These buildings will probably be completed by the opening of the spring term.

From the "C.H.S. Echoes Cary Public High School and Farm Life School, Cary, North Carolina 1922":

In May, 1920, the Cary School District voted a bond issue for the erection of a building to be used chiefly by the departments of Agriculture and Home Economics, but owing to unavoidable circumstances the work has been delayed. It is hoped that the building will be under way before the session opens.

Plans are under way for the establishment of a department of teacher training in the school whereby a pupil can get the equivalent of a year of college work toward securing a certificate to teach.

Last year violin was offered in the school for the first time and about a dozen pupils were enrolled. We are glad to announce that this department will be continued.

The Cary Band which was organized last year by Mr. R. G. Prince will be continued this year and Mr. Prince will remain in charge.

The school last year bought six new Remington type writers and arrangements will be made whereby pupils can take typewriting and stenography and get credit for these subjects in at least one course offered in the school. Provision will also be made for giving instruction in art and expressions, credit for which will also be allowed.

To be able to use a typewriter or to play in a band is frequently the means of a student's paying his way through college. Every girl ought to learn to play the piano and sing, and every boy ought to learn to play some kind of musical instrument as well as to sing.

From the "Catalogue of Cary High School, Cary, North Carolina 1924":

The school has ample boarding facilities for all the boarding pupils and teachers. In the basement of the main building is a large dining hall capable of seating over two hundred people. Here the pupils are seated in groups of eight to a table with a hostess in charge, usually a senior. From time to time the teachers of domestic science give talks and demonstrations on table manners. The management of the school believes this to be an important part of an education. By buying groceries by wholesale and by economic management, the school has been able to give very substantial board at $15.00 a month.

The Piano department has long been one of the prominent features of the school. Only teachers of recognized musical attainments are employed for this work. A music studio, six practice rooms and seven pianos constitute the equipment.

Band music has been provided for. The school is fortnate in having a well-organized band with regular instruction given by a recognized band leader. Provision will be made for instruction in violin if pupils desire it.

Teachers have been employed who will give lessons in art and expression to those who desire this sort of instruction.

Public school music has now become an established feature of the school and a trained teacher is employed to give her whole time to it. It is required of all pupils and there is no charge for it.

Believing strongly in the proper development of the physical powers of the boy or girl along with the mental and moral, the school has made ample provision for healthful sports of every kind. A baseball diamond on a neighboring hill besides basketball courts, for both oys and girls, tennis courts, and playground apparatus on the school campus are amply sufficient to keep all the pupils occupied with some sort of healthful exercise at recreation periods.

The new athletic field has been provided with a fence and a grand stand and is used exclusively by the high school for football, baseball, and track.

Letters are awarded by the Athletic Association to the players meeting certain requirements in football, basketball, baseball, tennis, and track.

The school committee gives every encouragement and assistance to the various forms of athletics, providing the teams with uniforms and other equipment, these being the property of the school.

Other buildings on the campus are the teacherage, the janitor's home, and the shop. The janitor's home i all that is left of the old high school building that stood on the site of the present main building up to 1913. The teacher-age has been twice moved and has traveled half way around the campus. The shop was built by the students of the agricultural department in 1921 and is equipped with a forge, work benches and a complete set of tools.

The school campus contains four acres and, according to the last geological survey, is the highest ground in Wake County.

The entire school plant at the present time is estimated to be worth $225,000.

From the "Catalogue of Cary High School, Cary, North Carolina 1925":

During the spring of 1925, a gymnasium was erected on the sourthwest corner of the campus at a cost of about $12,000. The building is of brick veneer and has ample floor space for basketball and the physical training work of the school. The building is provided with dressing rooms, shower baths, spectators' seats, and a shop 25 by 50 feet in the basement for the agricultural department of the school. The building has been named in honor of Cary's most distinguished and beloved citizen, Dr. J. M. Templeton, and will be officially known as the Dr. J.M. Templeton Building for Physical Training.

Unless there is objection from parents, boarding pupils are expected to attend Sunday school and church.

Smoking in any of the school buildings or on the school grounds is prohibited.

The school operates a moving picture machine. The films are furnished by the State Department of Education and are shown each Thursday night. There are no other movies in Cary.

The entire school plant at the present time is estimated to be worth $240,000.

From the "Catalogue of Cary High School, Cary, North Carolina 1926":

The town of Cary has recently installed a water and sewerage system at a cost of $150,000, thus materially enhancing the desirability of the town as a place of residence. Electric lights, electric power and telephones have been in use for several years. Recently the Baptist and Methodist denominations of the town have provided themselves with new brick church houses with every modern convenience and fully in keeping with the school buildings described in this catalogue.

From the 1958 YRAC:

In this year when the community of Cary helps Cary High School celebrate her fiftieth anniversary, we find it fitting to recount the history of our school in picture and story.

Since our community has always stood behind our school and has believed in the best education for our youth, we welcome this opportunity to give credit for the effort that has been made through the years to provide the best education possible and to picture for the community what the school is doing to develop well-rounded citizens.

In order to understand Cary's enduring support of education we glance backward through the years to a small crossroads called Page's Siding, where only a sawmill was situated.

Since the first academy was founded in 1870, the citizens of Cary have believed in the premise that "a good design for education is one that fulfills the needs of a particular community." Such is the spirit of the community, which on April 3, 1907, became the site of the first state-supported public high school in North Carolina. The number of buildings has since increased from one wooden building to seven fine brick buildings.

Today this thriving township, located on main thoroughfares offers excellent educational advantages to all and its progressive citizens are constantly interested in improving the community.

True to the traditions of our forefathers, through a recent bond issue and a supplementary school tax, the citizens of Cary voted to expand school facilities to fill the changing needs of the youth of the community. By 1960, a new high school, offering the best education possible for tomorrow's citizens of the space age, will be ready for occupancy.

We dedication to Cary citizens, past and present, this book conveying not only the record of these past 50 years of progress but also our preparation of the present and hope of the future. With sincerest appreciation we say thank you to the community and people whose beliefs and efforts will serve those still to come.

Walter Hines Page did his share of removing stumps from the grounds of the new Cary Academy for infraction of rules. From a log cabin, the school moved in 1870 into a two-story frame building erected on the present site, and removing stumps served the double purpose of discipline and landscaping.

Through the efforts of E.L. Middleton, enthusiastic principal in 1896, the school soon became well known through newspaper advertising and an attractive catalogue. One of Mr. Middleton's strongest supporters was Dr. J.M. Templeton, school committeeman, who served in this capacity for more than twenty-five years. During Mr. Middleton's career, he gave direction to scores of young people and sent many scholars to colleges and universities, later to become numbered among North Carolina's leading citizens. The original building was enlarged to provide dormitory rooms for boys. Girls who attended the school from surrounding areas continued to board in private homes.

On June 1, 1908, after twenty years in the educational field, Mr. Middleton became Sunday School Secretary for the Baptist State Convention, where he did outstanding work for nearly twenty years.

In 1907, Mr. Middleton and the school trustees decided to offer their holdings in the Cary School to the state, in order to be partially supported by the state treasury and to be known as a state-supported high school. Cary School then became the first public school in the state.

E.L. Middleton remained as head of the school through the following year. Succeeding him in 1908 was Mr. M.B. Dry. Among the noteworthy advances under his leadership was the erection of a new brick building to accommodate the rapidly increasing number of boarding students.

In that same school year, 1913-1914, the Farm Life Department was established. This department provided for the teaching of agriculture and home economics.

The Frank Page Dormitory for girls was erected two years later, taking the place of the old wooden structure which was burned in that year. In 1920 a brick dormitory for the boys was completed, making possible the accommodation of 200 boarding students annually.

The completion of the Walter Hines Page Building for vocational education, providing for the science and teacher-training departments also, marked the fifth important date during Mr. Dry's principal-ship.

The department of teacher training was added by the State Department of Education in 1922. During the next two years public school music and commercial subjects were offered as full-time courses.

The J.M. Templeton building for physical education, built in 1925, made provision for systematic physical exercise for all the school. The elementary department of the school as standardized in that same year by the State Department of Education.

When Cary School as consolidated in 1927 with Morrisville, Mt. Vernon and Goodwin, the sixth brick building, the Marcus Dry Building was constructed. State and Federal aid for the commercial department was begun this same year, making it possible to employ a full-time teacher for the work. This placed the benefits of the commercial subjects within reach of all high school pupils, particularly past graduates.

The special school tax was abandoned by an act of the 1933 legislature and Cary, Mt. Vernon Goodwin, and Swift Creek schools were consolidated into Cary Consolidated District No. 1, supported exclusively by county, state and federal funds. School consolidate and bus transportation closed the dormitories to boarding students that year.

In 1935, besides the regular courses, the school offered instruction in agriculture, home economics, commercial subjects, piano, violin, band music, expression and art, with special attention given to dramatics and athletics.

During the lean depression years, 1936-1940, the variety of activities at Cary High School as limited. The publication of the yearbook was suspended, and the graduation exercises were very plain.

With the forties came World War II, when many students left Cary to take their place in the armed forces and other positions of service.

The years following the war were filled with achievement. As if to make up for the bleak years, the school activities increased, student enrollment grew, and spirits were high.

This is the time of achievement. Today, when the world is crying for people with education and knowledge, Cary High School is increasing the opportunities for students to gain these qualities.

Educational progress has been the keynote of the ten years of Mr. Paul W. Cooper's administration. The faculty has increased from nineteen to fifty-two teachers and the student body has more than doubled in size. The curriculum has broadened to include dramatics, journalism, history of religion, advanced mathematics, chemistry and physics offered yearly, Spanish distributive education and driver education. The Student Council has now been reactivated.

Under the leadership of Mr. Cooper, the new primary building, gymnasium and cafeteria have been added and other buildings renovated. The lighted football field and the new gymnasium have aided the development of an outstanding athletic program.

In 1954, Cary High School became the first Wake County member of the Southern Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges, whose membership includes the best schools in the South, with high educational standards.

Cary High School owes its present position of prominence in the educational field to all the educational and community leaders whose faith in the future of young America has helped create and develop it.