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Rindge Technical School


The Rindge Technical School in Cambridge, Massachusetts was founded in 1888 by Frederick. H. Rindge, a wealthy Cambridge citizen who gave to the city of his birth not only a technical school, but a city hall and a public library. He chose for his first principal Harry Ellis, who had been active in the founding of the school.[1]

Founding
On June 1, 1988, the following notice was issued to the pupils of the grammar schools in Cambridge:

"The committee in charge of the new industrial school, given to the city by Fredrick H. Rindge, wishes to state for the benefit of pupils who desire to attend that it is intended to open the school the coming fall.

"Boys will be taken upon graduation from the grammar schools, or an equivalent, for a three year course, to include one hour daily for drawing and two hours for shop work, the latter to include courses in Carpentry and Joinery, Wood Turning, Pattern Making, Printing, Casting, Blacksmithing, Chipping, Filing, and Machine Work, with practice in actual care of engines and boilers.

"The school will be free to boys of good physique who have been residents of Cambridge for two years. A course of study at the English High School will be planned, to be taken in connection with the Industrial School.  This course, though not definitely fixed, will probably be as follows:  Mathematics, History, Physiology, and Chemistry, Civil Government, French or German." [1]

The school began with one building, known as the "Shop Building." [1]

Early Years
At first no academic work was carried on at Rindge. All the boys marched with military precision to the English High School.

In those early years the school was famous as an experimental station in a new kind of education, the technical education. Equally famous were the men who guided it at this period. Among these are, in addition to Mr. Rindge, the Honorable William E. Russell, Thomas Wentworth Higginson, and Harry Ellis, the first Head Master of the school.

In 1892 the school was established firmly enough to warrant the addition of a second building. Thus, the "Science Building" was erected in the rear of the Shop Building and was connected to the latter structure by a covered passageway.

Harry Ellis died in 1895, and in 1898 Frederick Rindge relinquished control. Out of recognition of his contribution to the school, including his support of it with $25,000 per year for ten years, the name of the school was changed from the "Cambridge Manual Training School" to the "Rindge Manual Training School." [1]

Expansion
In 1902 a new school building was erected on the Rindge School Playground for the classes of the old Washington School, which stood on Brattle Street. When the building was erected it was understood that as the Rindge School grew, the new building would be occupied by its students. In 1905 the Washington School was transferred to the new Houghton Building, and the Technical School came into full possession of the Washington Building.

In 1929 the two dwelling houses adjoining the Washington Building were acquired and next the home of former Mayor Walter C. Wordwell, all of which held classes.[1]

Over the course of its founding until at least 1932, a number of new courses of study were added and other courses were revised to keep pace with developments in the industrial field. In 1932 plans were underway to replace the original buildings with the Rindge Tech Building, with plans for eighty-five classrooms, several offices, a gymnasium, an auditorium seating fifteen hundred, and a cafeteria on the top floor. All rooms were to be connected by a telephone system and the auditorium was to have a motion picture machine. [1]

Reference section
[1] The Rindge Brownie, 1932