Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-19
GROUND IS BROKEN
FOR HIGH SCHOOL
Principal Wilson Turns First
SpadefuI of Earth for New
Central Building.
SEVERAL HUNDRED PUPILS
AND GRADUATES LOOK ON
Members of Board of Education As
slst in Ceremonies at 18th
and Clifton Streets.

NoTh was begun this mirnng on the
ne" Central High School that is to stand
! at 18th and Clifton streets northwest. Fol
lowing brief appropriate ceremonies, in
the presence of the entire school body,
Emory S. Wilson, the principal turned
! the first spadeful of frozen red earth
near the center of the big rough lot on
which the splendid new building is to
stand.
little tattered flag. frayed and faded,
on a we'll worn staff marked the spot
Ihis small banner has been used for
many years as a marker in the COM
petitive drills and regimental parades,
and is as old as the school itself. II
claimed the territory for the spirit of the
instruction of youth. just as the banners
of the explorers of old claimed new con-
tinents or Islands for the sovereigns who
sent them out. In a huge circle on the
sloping ground stood the pupils of Cen
trail High School,. it's teachers and
alumni officials of the board of educa-
tion and many others.
''New Central" Is Sung.
All uncovered as Principal Wilson read
from the Apocryphal book of Eccelesias-
ticus the verses beginning: Let us now
praise famous men, even the artificer and
the workmaster, that pass their time by
night as by day." ending with the Lord S
Prayer. Three verses of Onward, Chris
tian Soldiers were sung, followed by the
first verse of the song, "Old Central" and
two verses of the new song New Gen.
trail Next came the marching song of
the school. 'Tenax Proposti." and Here S
fn - II c;ob
the clear morning air. the dark blue of
the cadet uniforms, the somber hues of
civilian suits and the bright colors of the
girls dresses banked together in the big
ring, several hundred feet in diameter.
There are so many men here really
more entitled to the honor than l am,
any one of whom it would be most ap-
propriate to ask to perform this act. that
a choice is impossible said Mr.. Wilson,
indicating a knot of members of the
board of education and others high in
scholastic circles who stood behind him,
as he held a shovel in front of him. Be
sides. l want to do it myself! This is
the happiest moment of all my connec-
ton with Central High SCHOOL,
Battery of Kodaks Click.
Then. amid smiles and the clicking of
a battery of kodaks. he picked up the
spade and broke the ground. The inn
plement was turned over, in turn, to
Fred L. Fishback, president of the Cen
trail High School Alumni Association;
Ernest l.. Thurston, superintendent of
schools; Henry P. Blair, president of the
board of education; Capt. James F. Oys-
ter. former president Stephen +. Kra-
mer, assistant superintendent of schools,
and Ernest II. Daniel, vice president of
the board of education. Each dug up a
spadeful of earth, and it was hard work,
too. for the ground was almost as solid
as a rock. Each s1nilingly attempted to
get more respectable shovelful than his
predecessor. but it looked like tie.
The spade was finally offered to the
little son of Principal Wilson. who came
just about to its handle in height. but
he had probably taken careful note of
the muscle needed and respectfully de-
clined.
March Back to Old School.
The ceremonies over. the school cheer
formed for the march down 18th street
and through o street to their old quar-
ters. Here are the words of the new
verses written in honor of New Central
and sung by the thousand or more boys
and girls who attended:
Here's to New Central, After long years
Greetings We bring her with laughter and tears:
Tender her iaurels won in fair fight.
ofer her iriumphs gained by y0ur ght
Spirit of Central-sprif of old
Now for New Central. TO have and to hold
Guide thou footsteps down through the years
Here's TO New Central, Three rousing cheers
Here's TO New Central. Long may her pane
Stand fos things noble true TO her fame:
Long may her colors. dark blue and white.
Wave FOR her loyal champions Of right.
Spirit intrepid, brought from the past,
Spirit Of Central. long tried, steadfast,
Guide thou our footsteps down through the ycars
Here's to New Central. Three rousin: cheers