Holyoke High School is located in Holyoke just off ofInterstate 391. Currently, there are approximately 1,300 students enrolled in the school in both divisions. The school colors are purple and white. The school song is "Hail, Holyoke", which was written by the high school's first band director Fred Grady in 1937 and dedicated to Dr. Howard Conant, a longtime principal who served the school for 35 years.[5][6]
Academy coursework will build upon the general education curriculum of math, science, and language studies with additional unique course offerings as well as internships and job shadowing opportunities in the field of a student’s choice.[7]
Top to bottom: The first dedicated high school building, constructed on Elm Street between Dwight and Suffolk in 1862; theG.P.B. Alderman-designed high school, used from 1898 to 1964 when the present building opened
Established in 1852 by the city, the school's first principal wasStephen Holman, apolymath engineer, lawyer, linguist, and educator who went on to found theHolyoke Machine Company and Deane Steam Pump Works, purchased the Holyoke Paper Company, and was credited as the first to introduce moderncost accounting into the paper industry.[2][9][10]
From 1872 to 1881, Holyoke High School was one of about a dozen New England schools which received students from theChinese Educational Mission.[11] Upon returning overseas some of these students would go on to serve important roles inQing dynasty China including, but not limited to, Shung Kih Ting,[a] class of 1880, who would eventually serve as acting deputy commissioner of theChinese Maritime Customs Service,[12] and Chow Wan Tang[a] who graduated in 1881 and revisited Holyoke in 1908 as general manager of theImperial Chinese Telegraph Administration.[13]
On January 21, 1924, the school hosted the first of a series of debates in the United States between feministsAdele Schreiber-Krieger ofWeimar Germany andHelen Fraser of theUnited Kingdom, under the topic "That the Hope of Civilization Depends Upon the Continued Growth of Labor Parties Throughout the World" with Schreiber arguing for and Fraser countering.[14]
During a visit to Holyoke in 1916, former President and future Supreme Court Chief JusticeWilliam Howard Taft gave a lecture at the high school on the institution of the US presidency.[15] In 1969 the school was bestowed with the National Bellamy Award, presented annually to one school in the United States. Begun in 1942 by Margarette Miller, and named forFrancis Bellamy, writer of the originalPledge of Allegiance, the award is given to a school each year which embodies the ideals of which the pledge aspires.[16] Although the award is annually presented by an independent organization, in recognition of the school's award, Holyoke High received an official citation from PresidentRichard Nixon, on May 13, 1969.[17]
Larry Chesky (1933–2011),Polka musician and manager ofRex Records, he was inducted into theInternational Polka Hall of Fame in Chicago for his contributions to American style "Big Band" polka.[20] He was inducted into the International Polka Association Hall of Fame in 1985, having recorded over 100 albums by that time.[21]
Ray D'Addario (1920–2011), class of 1938, photographer best known for his work as the chief photographer of theNuremberg trials in postwar Germany, particularly for his photographs of the defendant's bench, including black and white as well as color portraits of those on trial, and landscapes of the remains of the city of Nuremberg.[22]
Frank FitzGerald (1896–1961), class of 1914, went on to become professional football player for theToledo Maroons, later served as a judge in Wayne County Circuit Court,Detroit.[23]
Kenny Gamble (born 1965), went on to become college football player forColgate University, holding league records for yardage attained Colgate and NCAA records for yardage; attended HHS, but transferred toCushing Academy.[24]
Al Grenert (1919–2002), class of 1940, professional basketball player and college basketball head coach.[25][26]
Jim Prentice (1909–2005), class of 1929, American game designer who pioneered electronic board games and was best known for hisElectronic Baseball game which he designed while still a student.[34][35]
Homer E. Newell Jr. (1915–1983), class of 1932, mathematician and NASA administrator, the principal organizer of theAmerican space program in its early years, who managed virtually all non-military unmanned space missions for the free world from the early 1960s until his retirement in 1974.[36]
Archie Roberts (born 1942), class of 1960, led an undefeated Holyoke High School Knights football team during his time as quarterback, and was described by Sports Illustrated as the most widely courted high school football player in New England at that time. Went on to play for theColumbia Lions,New York Jets, andMiami Dolphins before retiring as acardiac surgeon.[37][38]
Mark Wohlers (1970), class of 1988, Major League Baseball player, most notable for his time the Atlanta Braves (1991-1999)
^"Shung Kih Ting".Class of 1884, Harvard College; Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Report of the Secretary. Vol. VII. June 1909.Immediately on arrival at Springfield, Massachusetts, he and his chum, Wong Liang Tun, went to Holyoke, Massachusetts under the charge of Mrs. H. S. Dickerman. Under the careful direction and instruction of that most worthy lady he was able, in the autumn of 1876, to enter the Holyoke High School, where he completed the four years' course without missing a school day, and graduated third in his class...In January, 1908, he received his present appointment (acting assistant statistical secretary), acting deputy commissioner of customs...
^"Of High Degree; Distinguished Chinese Here, Chow Wan Tang Visits Holyoke After 27 Years Absence".Holyoke Transcript-Telegram. Holyoke, Mass. July 14, 1908.Two of China's most brilliant and distinguished officials are spending this week in Holyoke as guests in the Kagwin home in Elmwood. They are Chow Wang Tang who is general manager of the Chinese Telephone and Telegraph company and Mr Yun also an official of the same...Mr Wan Tang graduated from the Holyoke high school and left Holyoke 27 years ago...They are now on their way home and leave Holyoke Friday morninf [sic] for San Francisco whence they will sail for China
^"Taft 'Out in the Woods' on Presidential Situation; Speaks at Reception at Hotel Nonotuck—Not in Favor of Conscription".Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. March 30, 1916. p. 12.Former President William H. Taft paid Holyoke a visit yesterday and was given a warm welcome by Holyoke people. In the afternoon an informal public reception was given him at the Hotel Nonotuck, a large number of people taking the opportunity of meeting him. Later he gave a lecture on 'The presidency' at the high school.
"Why People Like Him".Sioux City Journal. Sioux City, Iowa. April 6, 1916. p. 8.The personality of the man and the breadth and good temper of his speeches pleases democrats quite as much as the republicans—so it was in Holyoke Wednesday evening with those who saw Mr. Taft at the high school auditorium and in the Holyoke club. Especially appreciated was Mr. Taft's remark that Mr. Roosevelt 'places the presidents of the United States in two classes, one of the Lincoln class and the other the Buchanan'– and added, 'he puts himself in the Lincoln class and me in the Buchanan.' This was said with the utmost good nature and it was fact.
^Christman, Kelly (September 18, 1985). "Holyoke native Larry Chesky named to Polka Hall of Fame".Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. p. 5.After his graduation from Holyoke High School, Chesky attended Hart School of Music
^Andreoni, Phyllis (December 25, 1978). "Former little drummer boy makes good; comes home for the holiday".Springfield Union. p. 13.He began playing drums in the Holyoke Public Schools system. Eventually, Edward Nowak, director of instrumental music sent a note home to Hurst's parents suggesting that he was talented and should have lessons...Hurst who graduated from Holyoke High School
^"J. J. Jennings". Pro Football Archives. RetrievedNovember 5, 2020.
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