EBHS History 1880 - 2021

A BRIEF HISTORY OF
EAST BOSTON HIGH SCHOOL

® EBHS Web Development Team

A Message From The Headmaster

As a proud graduate of East Boston High
School Class of '86 I am honored to play a
small part in the rich and storied history of
this venerable institution. Over its 138 year
history, East Boston High School has
faithfully provided thousands of young
people in the City Of Boston with a
comprehensive and quality secondary
education second to none. The lessons and
subjects may have changed over the years,
but the basic core values of "Class, Pride &
Tradition" learned in 1880 remain the same
today in 2018.

Phillip R. Brangiforte

1875 Petitions by the citizens of East
Boston to establish a high school were
presented to members of the School
Committee at the meetings of March 25,
1875 and February 27, 1877. The first
Petition and Chapter XXII of the regulations
of East Boston of July 13, 1875 asked to
furnish the boys and girls who have
completed the course of study prescribed by
the grammar schools with the opportunity
of pursuing more advanced studies.

1878 A High School in East Boston was
organized in 1878 as a branch of The
English and Girls’ High Schools. East
Boston at that time lacked direct access to
High schools in the district, due to a lack of
public transportation. It occupied two
separate rooms in the old Theodore
Lyman School Building, which stood on 30
Gove St. at the corner of Paris and Meridian
Streets. Mr. J. O. Norris was appointed the
Acting Principal. The registration for the
first year was 55 pupils.

1880 A new East Boston High School was
established as a separated school, Mr.
Norris as Principal The school occupied two
rooms in the old Lyman School building
and one room in Sumner Hall on Elbow
Street. The first class to graduate was the
class of 1881, which included ten boys and
fifteen girls who having completed the
required three-year course. An annex to the
old Lyman School building was constructed
in 1882. The first class to graduate from a
four-year course was the class of 1897.

1901 The Marion Street school building
was occupied in the spring 1901; the school
had a registration of approximately 350
pupils. The building was dedicated
November 21, 1901 at a cost of $275,000. It
was one of the finest school buildings of it's
day. The class of 1901 was the first class to
graduate from the building with thirty-four
girls and twenty-one boys. John F. Eliot
retired as Headmaster in 1920 and Bertram
C. Richardson succeeded him. Double
sessions of school became necessary in
1922 on account of crowded conditions
with approximately 1300 pupils in
attendance.

1926 The new building on the old reservoir
lot of Eagle Hill, located on the corner of
White and Brooks Streets, was built by
architects from the John M. Gray Company
and occupied in September of 1926 and
dedicated in November 17, 1926. The cost
was of the construction was estimated at
$1,500,000. The school featured a Greek
Revival architecture popular during that
era. The interior featured imported marble
and hardwood floors, original plaster
frescoes, woodcarvings and antique
classroom cabinetry.

1976 East Boston High, which had a
projected enrollment of 1,300 students for
1977 , was the only high school in Boston
not included in the desegregation program
for the 1976 year. School official at the time
said that average attendance at the school
that year had been about 950 pupils. About
75 percent of those pupils attending East
Boston High would be bused to other
schools next year, under the desegregation
court order issued by Judge Arthur Garrity.

2000 In August 2000, a twenty-six million-

construction project approved by the School

Committee in 1997 was completed by

architects Cole and Goyette from Boston.

This renovation of the 1926 building

included, a new gymnasium with bleachers,

offices, locker rooms with showers, faculty

dining area, and a fully functioning school

kitchen. Infrastructure renovations

included new engineering systems,

technology networks, accessibility, and site

improvements.

2005 Changes in the educational program
and building codes resulted in a need for
extensive space planning and renovation to
this school building for 1,500 students.
New state of the art travel and tourism,
visual and communication arts, and a
music dance room were created within the
existing building, as well as a library media
center, science laboratories, and fully
functioning cafeteria.

2016 After Two years of extensive

renovation including complete repointing of

all exterior brickwork, installation of a state

of the art window system, new roof and

interior painting, East Boston High

School is designated as a Historical

Landmark by the Boston Historic

Landmark Commission. "The extensive

interior and exterior renovations have

allowed this building to retain its historic

importance, and function as the modern,

state-of-the-art 21st century educational

facility it is today."

2018 The New England Association Of
Schools & Colleges NEASC, the country’s
oldest accreditation association serving
more than 2,000 public and independent
schools, gave its coveted accreditation to
East Boston High School. This was EBHS'
second accreditation from NEASC, the first
occurring a decade ago. According to their
report on EBHS, NEASC wrote that the
accreditation committee was impressed
with the many programs and services at the
school and the professionalism of the staff.

"It was class, pride and tradition,
That has taught me to fly,
Hail to thee my alma mater,

God bless East Boston High."

Mr. Anthony Albano, Class of ‘67 was an
irreplaceable and beloved staff member of
the East Boston High School Community
for over 40 years. During his
remarkable career, Mr. Albano counseled
literally thousands of students and family
members. He was blessed with an amazing
natural ability to connect with everyone he
came into contact with. Mr. Anthony
Albano personified in the truest sense
"Class, Pride & Tradition." He embodied
the very best of East Boston High School.
We are all richer to have known him.

1875 Patrick Kennedy, Philanthropist &
Grandfather Of President John F. Kennedy.

1894 Frederick Mansfield, 46th Mayor Of
Boston From 1934 to 1938.

1896 Frank Greer, 1904 Olympic Gold
Medal Champion In The Rowing Event.

1930 Michael Valerio, Founder And CEO
Of Papa Gino's Restaurant Chain.

1931 Mario Umana, East Boston Activist,
State Senator & District Court Judge.

1932 Helen Johns, Olympic Gold Medalist
In The 100 Meter Swimming Event.

1934 Adio Dibiccari, Acclaimed Sculptor &
Internationally Renowned Artist.

1936 Agostine "Augie" Salvatore Lio, NFL
Offensive Lineman For Philadelphia Eagles.

1936 Guy Vitale EBHS' "Greatest Athlete,"
Professional Baseball Player & CIA Agent.

1937 Edward Gibbons, CEO & Chairman
Of The Board, The Woolworth Corporation.

1947 George Matthews, President, CEO &
Founder of Nuclear Metals.

1975 Frank Renzulli, Movie & Television
Actor And Screenwriter Of The "Soprano's."

1978 Salvatore LaMattina, East Boston
Activist & Former City Council Member.

1993 Jermaine Wiggins, New England
Patriots Tight End Super Bowl Champion.

"Our commitment to excellence since 1880
encourages personal responsibility and
character development through our school
motto of: "Class, Pride & Tradition.".........Phil
Brangiforte, Headmaster, 2018

"Since 1880, East Boston High School has
consistently and faithfully delivered a
quality and comprehensive secondary
education to thousands of young people in
the City Of Boston." .........Mayor Thomas M.
Menino, 2014