Vol. 26 No. 8 Anniversary -zutO
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25th A nnive'lsa'ly Townsend Harris High School at Queens College
149-11 Melbourne Avenue, Flushing, NY 11367
Revived Harris celebrates alumni's dream come true
Editorial Board Sarah Mahmood Editor-in-Chief Pearl Bhatnagar News Edito r Rebecca Seidel Feature Editor Esther Whang News Editor Elizabeth Kussman Art Editor Sharmin Rashed Photography Editor
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Editors-in-Training Frank Corazza Hayley Desmond Lory Martinez Freddy Millan, Jr Rupeshi Shah Tracey Wang
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.Advisors lisa Cowen Caroline Cross
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Principal Kenneth Bonamo T
by R eb ecca Seidel were many alumni who felt the to the small building on Parsons July of 1984, ... there were more than Old and new - those are the same way. In 1979, after years Bou levard that now houses Robert 20. Of course, they became the new two words that first come to mind of dormancy following the F. Kennedy High School. Though school mascots." in recall ing the history of Townsend schoo l's demise, alumnus Irving it was within walking distance of As the student body grew, Harris. Gerber founded the Townsend Queens College, . it wasn 't right the building became so packed There was the "old" school, Harris Alumni Association. The next door. "Many students called that a move was necessary, but an all-boys college preparatory organization gained members the school Townsend Harris High the school once more encountered academy that lasted School near Queens College," strong community opposition - this from the turn of the said Harry Ratt ien, the first time from those living near the 20 th century until 1942. head of the schoo l's Math proposed Queens College sites. 'We were terribly hurt and Now there's the "new" Department. After numerous delays , Harrisi tes schoo l, still thriving 25 deflated when Mayor LaGuardia The school became finally moved into their brand-new years after its opening notorious for its lack of space building on the Queens College shut the school down.' in 1984. as more and more students campus in 1995. Within this new enrolled. Graduates fondly "I remember when the new school's relat ively""""""""""""''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' remember the "cafetorium," building was finished and we short existence, it a combination cafeteria and 'marched'to the new building from has occupied two homes: the "old" exponentially in its first few years, auditorium, as well as the perilous the old one," said Mr. Rattien. "I building on Parsons Boulevard, and and served as a common ground for trek through the hallways between was the leader of the march and I from 1995, the more spacious "new" reminiscence and reunion. classes. refused to carry a walkie- talkie, I "While I attended Townsend building here on the Queens College "Students were encouraged jogged from front to back a few campus. Harris, it didn't occur to me that not to wear their bookbags during times to make sure everyone was Each of these transformations this was a very special place," said 'passing' because they just banged fine." triggered very different stages in Ted Peck, '42, who helped found into other students in the very tight Dr. Largmann said, "T hat we Harris 's history. But at the same the Alumni Assoc iation . "Now I hallways," said Mr. Rattien. were able to have a new building time, the school has maintained a real ize how very special it was." Students formed very close built within our first 10 years was certain continuity that has lasted the Wanting to give contemporary friendships, literally. "We knew a major factor in our success . For jo urney of years. Academic rigor high school students the same each other - very well," said Tanya this we must thank Claire Shulman, and a high-ac hieving student body opportunities that they had Odom , a memb er of the first former Borough President of are what Harris has always been experienced, theAlumniAssociation graduating class and Co-Pre sident Queens, who believed in our worke d hard to resurrect Townsend of the Alumni Association. "We students and our program." kno wn for - even in the old days. "By today's standards, many Harri s. Much like in the '30s and did not have all the technology, In 2001; Thomas Cunningham of us might have been considered '40s, they struggled against a hosti le equipment, or even space that other succe eded Dr. Largmann as nerds," said Murr ay Berger, '4 0, who community that was adverse to the schools had, but we explained that Harri s was originally school 's existenc e, not wantin g an were encouraged 'Those early months were a prep school for the City College "el ite" school to whisk away the to be creative and to of New York. As such, its level of best students. maximi ze what we exhilarating. ' coursework was much higher than Despite the opposition, the did have." that of a typical high school, and alumn i forged ahead, obtaining During the getting admitted was very difficult. the consent of the city Board of school's first years, Harris's forerunn er was the Sub- Education. The new school - now the Harris family worked hard to principal. Under his leader ship, Freshman Clas s of City College, coed - was to be closely affiliated establish itself in the metro politan the school acquired state-of-the-art with a curriculum designed to bring with Queens College. After area. As the only specialized high technology, and continue d with the boys up to college level in one year. securing this connection - which school focused on the Humanities, traditions it had maintained since Beginning with the class of 1899, included the promise of a building its admissions process was highly 1984, including the Bridge Year it expanded into a three-year high site on campus - the next step was selective. program with Queen s College and school. In 1905, the school relocated to choose a principal. Following The workload was intense, the annual Founders' Day. uptown and was renamed Townsend several interviews, the alumni remini scent of the demands of In 200 8, Mr. Cunni ngham Harris Hall, after the city 's biggest chose Malcolm Largmann, a former the old CCNY prep school. "We retired and was replaced by Kenneth proponent of free public education. high school English teacher, to lead had our hours of homework and Bonamo,formerly principal ofStaten In 1930, the school relocated the new Humanities school in its collateral preparation," recalled Island Technical High Scho.?l. Just to a building of what is now Baruch earliest years. Craig Slutzkin, '9 1, the other Co- like students do in their first year at College, and was renamed Townsend "After defining the aim and President ofthe Alumn i Assoc iation. the school, Mr. Bonamo recited the Harris High School. outline for a new THHS , it became However, he added, "Although Epheb ic Oath during the Fall 2008 Many of the young men of clear that to open the schoo l by there was this high volume of work, Founders' Day ceremony. Townsend Ham s came from September 1984, a full staff would the faculty did impart. ..the need for Throughout Harris's renewed disadvantaged backgrounds, yet they be needed," said Dr. Largmann. "I us to round ourselves out through existence, the Parent Teacher were some of the highest-achieving had only six months for the entire extra-curricular activities ." Association and the Alumni students in the community. process to take place: select staff, Graduates cite their Association have been instrumental The school generated a recruit a first class ofstudents, find a extracurricular activities as some in funding school programs and of school building, order supplies and of the most rewarding parts of the events . With their assistance, Harris disproportionate number distinguished alumni, in a variety equipment, convince parents and Harris experience. "Being a THHS has managed to stay afloat despite of fields. One could attribute this the public that we were a worthy student, a swim team member, a monetary shortfalls in the public Classic editor, and working during education system. in part to the school's dedication to experiment, et al." serving the community - graduates The school did manage to open high school taught me to excel A lot has changed since the recited the Ephebic Oath back then, in 1984, and the Class of 1988 under pressure, seek balance, and days of Townsend Harris Hall, but too. became the first new members of strive to always be well-rounded," fundamentally, Harris has kept up In 1942, citing budgetary the Alumni Association in over 40 said Jeannemarie Hendershot Kim, with its founding principles and restrictions and the so-called elitism years . traditions. Class of '98. of the school as key factors in his "Those early months were Legacies of the old building "I do believe the school has decision, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia exhilarating and filled with include the infamous hiss ing remained true to the original vision axed Townsend Harris from the discussions, problems to be solved, cockroaches, whose descendants that we had in mind 25 years ago," education system. For many, it was new relationships to be formed with are still housed in the Science said Dr. Largmann. "As long as the college, and young students Department. tile THHS community continues the end of an era. "We were terribly hurt and who became very much part of the "Four hissing cockroaches had to honor the values on which it is deflated when Mayor LaGuardia creation of the school's traditions been given to me the year before I founded and builds upon the finest shut the school down ...shortly after and the formulation of its rules and came to THHS as a gift - I know, educational strategies, we shall regulations," said Dr. Largmann. our graduation," said Mr. Berger. that's not normal," said Susan Appel, produce outstanding young adults Thankfully for Harris, there The newest Harrisites flocked the first head of the department. "By to lead our society."