Baltimore City College

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Baltimore City College
Motto: "Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat" (Honor to one who earns it)
Established 1839
Type Public, Secondary, Magnet
Principal Timothy Dawson
Students 1,485
Grades 9-12
Location Baltimore, Maryland, United States
District Baltimore City Public School System
Campus Urban
Colors Orange and Black
Mascot Black Knight
Newspaper The Collegian
Website Baltimore City College website

Baltimore City College is a public secondary school in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.

The school is the third oldest public high school in the United States, predated only by the English High School of Boston (1829), the Central High School of Philadelphia (1838). It is commonly referred to by students, alumni, and to Baltimore residents simply as "the castle on the hill".

Contents

[edit] History

Authorized by the City Council of Baltimore, in March 1838, it took until October of 1839 to open the new school under Professor Nathan C. Brooks. Located on Courtland Street (now Preston Gardens at St. Paul Place), it was later renamed the "Male High School" after the establishment of two schools for females, Eastern and Western High Schools in 1844.

In the 1850s, it became known as "The Central High School of Baltimore" when it was located at the northwestern corner of Holliday and Fayette Streets (the former "Assembly Rooms", built in 1799 by architect/builders Robert Cary Long and Nicholas Rogers, and also the site of the first private Library Company of Baltimore. The school's first commencement was held in 1851 with philosopher, author and civic leader Severn Teackle Wallis speaking.

Here it was next door to the Holliday Street Theatre where the Star Spangled Banner was first performed in 1814 following the British attack on Baltimore. A few more doors to the north was the first home of what later became Loyola High School and College for young men in 1852 where a curriculum of the classics, literature and fine arts was taught.

By 1866, the school was raised to the status of college and named "The Baltimore City College" (BCC) by act of the City Council of Baltimore, and a five year curriculum was begun.

[edit] Relocation

In 1873, the Holliday and Fayette structure was destroyed by a fire that also burned down the neighboring theatre. After several temporary locations, the BCC relocated to a new English Gothic-styled building to the northwest of the old downtown, at Howard and Centre Streets. In 1876, ceremonies were held in the adjacent Academy of Music for the commencement of the new Johns Hopkins University, which had established several buildings alongside City College under its first president, Daniel Coit Gilman.

Baltimore public schools were racially segregated then, and an African American High School was begun out of the Douglass Institute established in 1865. This was later renamed Frederick Douglass High School and became a prominent center for black education.

[edit] American Football Rivalry

During the late 1880s, inter-scholastic sports became a feature of school life and a number of teams were begun in various sports. In 1889, the first football game was played between the BCC and the new Manual Training School (1883), then located on Courtland Street just a short distance from City College's first building fifty years before. After the Manual Training School was renamed to the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (BPI), a scrimmage game continued to be played for almost 15 more years until the first victory by BPI in 1904. This led to the longest continuous public high school American football rivalry in the nation. On Thanksgiving Day, 1965 City beat Poly 52-6, which remains the largest margin of victory in the series to date. Former Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke was the quaterback. The game is no longer played on thanksgiving or at the late memorial stadium but is now located at the home of the Baltimore Ravens (M&T Bank Stadium) in dowtown Baltimore. With this years 44-8 win by City the series total sits with Poly leading the series 58-53-6.

Note: From 1889 to 1903 no records are available however it is believed City won all the games.

[edit] Reconstruction

City College's Tudor Gothic building lasted until 1892 when it was undermined by the construction of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad tunnel from Camden Station to Mount Royal Station, and collapsed. Several years of political in-fighting and the change to a reformist city administration delayed construction of a replacement structure on the same site. In 1895, the new structure, designed by the architects Baldwin and Pennington, was built facing north towards Centre Street.

[edit] The "Castle on the Hill"

Renovation of the BCC main building
Enlarge
Renovation of the BCC main building

This new building became quickly overcrowded and an annex was established on 26th Street. This addition, however, did not help with the increase in school-aged youth beginning to attend school by World War I. During the 1920s, campaigning was begun by the school's alumni to provide a proper building, and in 1926 ground was broken for a massive Collegiate Gothic stone castle with a 40 acre (160,000 m²) campus, on a hill in the newly-annexed northeastern suburbs at 33rd Street and The Alameda. This new structure cost almost 3 million dollars (1926 dollars) and was one of the most expensive secondary schools ever constructed.

The four-level "Castle on the Hill" was surmounted by a 150-ft clock tower designed by architects Buckler and Fenhagen. The "castle" featured arched windows and cornices, gargoyles, stained glass, mahogany paneling, plaster arches, chandeliers and terra cotta tiles and terrazzo floors with two courtyards and plans for additional wings and buildings. Opened April 10, 1928, the Castle was designated a National Historic Landmark on its 75th birthday. In 1939, City College celebrated its Centennial Anniversary with a year-long program of activities and events.


Into the 21st century, the four year course of study has become more comprehensive including modern languages, sciences and mathematics in addition to more traditional classica.

Sadly, on the weekend of August 13, 2006, City College was a victim of vandalism at the hands of "a group of children ranging in age from eight to 15." Students, both current and former, have expressed their disgust at this incident, and hope that it will not hinder the upcoming 2006-2007 school year. Five of the six children suspected of vandalizing the school have been arrested, but they are still searching for the sixth. The irony in this incident, though, is that renovation of the school was just nearing its completion.

[edit] City College Forensics

City currently boasts one of the best Mock Trial teams in the State of Maryland representing Baltimore City in the State Championships 2 times in the last 4 years. In 2006 City defeated the 2005 State Champion Squad from Richard Montgomery High School, but was later defeated by local rival The Park School, who advanced to the final trial.

  • 2002 2nd Place, MSBA CLREP State Championship
  • 2006 3rd Place, MSBA CLREP State Championship

City College's Speech and Debate Program was originally established in 1876 as the Bancroft Literary Society, a second society was established in 1878 as the Carrollton-Literary Society, later called the Carrollton-Wight Society in honor of its sponsor, Prof. Charles C. Wight. In 1906 City held its first debate against rival Central High School of Philadelphia, and in 1908 against rival Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. Both societies provided forums at the school for the development of student debaters. The list of City’s Speech and Debate alumni is a long and distinguished one, and includes mayors, governors, leading academics and captains of business and industry.

In 1997, after a year of study and with funding from The Abell Foundation, City College revived its historic but long dormant Speech and Debate program and began earning for itself a reputation as a leading high school for forensic studies. The team is currently under the direction of Patrick Daniels.

The Speech and Debate Teams most recent prestigious successes include:

[edit] Recent Accolades

City was ranked by Newsweek as the 206th best school in the United States in a May 2006 report. [1]

On September 11, 2006, Varsity head football coach George Petrides was honored as the Baltimore Ravens High School Coach of the Week, his third time receiving this distinction. [2]

On November 11, 2006, Baltimore City College Football beat Poly at a 44 to 8 blow out.

[edit] Notable alumni

(Hall of Fame members in bold)

[edit] Notable former teachers and coaches

[edit] "Alma Maters"

Fight Song

"City Forever"
City, forever, we'll praise her to the skies.
We'll fight for ole City until we do or die!
rah! rah! rah!
Dear alma mater, loyal we'll always be.
City forever and for victory!

School Song

"The Castle On The Hill"
How firm she stands with tower high
the Castle on the Hill.
Her sons have pledged their faith to her,
they'll ever do her will.
Forever let us praise her name,
forever let us be.
The stalwart men of City College;
dear ole BCC.


[edit] External links

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