Looking across Beverly Rd. at the rear of 110 Wallis Rd.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

Standing on Beacon St., Carlton St. going north to the right; just offscreen to the right is the house of John Ruggles. This is a school house that was built around the time of the widening of Beacon St. in 1851. There is no evidence that it was ever a public school. There is a record of its use as a private school in 1871 by M. Fannie Welbasky. Welbasky (1841-1922) periodically operated “Miss Welbasky’s Home School for Girls” at various locations in Brookline until 1889. She had an interesting history. Her father was a recent immigrant from Russian and her mother, coincidentally named Susan Ruggles Plympton, was from an established early-European-settler family. Her mother apparently separated from her father shortly after their marriage. Her daughter never married and mother and daughter lived together, mostly in Brookline, until the mother’s death in 1885.

The school building was likely removed for the 1887 widening of Beacon St.

From the 1887 photo series taken just before the widening of Beacon St., most likely by Augustine H. Folsom, a Boston photographer.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

Beacon St (l to r) probably just before its widening; Carlton St. looking north in the center. The driveway of John Ruggles is on the right. On the left is a school house that was built around the time of the widening of Beacon St. in 1851. There is no evidence that it was ever a public school. There is a record of its use as a private school in 1871 by Frances M. (“Fannie”) Welbasky. Welbasky (1841-1922) periodically operated “Miss Welbasky’s Home School for Girls” at various locations in Brookline until 1889. She had an interesting history. Her father was a recent immigrant from Russian and her mother, coincidentally named Susan Ruggles Plympton, was from an established early-European-settler family. Her mother apparently separated from her father shortly after their marriage. Her daughter never married and mother and daughter lived together, mostly in Brookline, until the mother’s death in 1885.

The school building was likely removed for the 1887 widening of Beacon St.

Formerly the Elizabeth F. Raymond mansion. From a postcard.

Looking from Prospect St., School St. is on the right. It was built in 1856, with funds from the bequest of Edward Devotion, and demolished circa 1901. Note the two entrances in front of building, one for boys and one for girls.

Looking from Prospect St., School St. is on the right, the library is in the rear. This is the 1856 high school building with extensions added on both sides. By the late 1880s there was much discussion in town about the need for a bigger building to accommodate the rapidly growing population. These extensions were a stop-gap measure erected in late 1890 before the 1895 opening of the new high school building on Tappan St. It was demolished circa 1901 with the construction of the new Pierce Grammar School.

Page 26, plate 7300. From an album of fifty photographs of Brookline schools, classrooms, and examples of clay modeling, wood-working, and cooking. Produced for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

Page 27, plate 7301. From an album of fifty photographs of Brookline schools, classrooms, and examples of clay modeling, wood-working, and cooking. Produced for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

Page 28, plate 7302. From an album of fifty photographs of Brookline schools, classrooms, and examples of clay modeling, wood-working, and cooking. Produced for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

Page 29, plate 7303. From an album of fifty photographs of Brookline schools, classrooms, and examples of clay modeling, wood-working, and cooking. Produced for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

Page 30, plate 7304. From an album of fifty photographs of Brookline schools, classrooms, and examples of clay modeling, wood-working, and cooking. Produced for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

From the pamphlet entitled Brookline School Photos, Taken and Finished by the Guidance Department, 1933
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

The group is lined up on the south side of the Pierce Grammar School on Prospect St. In the rear left is the high school.

Page 31, plate 7305. From an album of fifty photographs of Brookline schools, classrooms, and examples of clay modeling, wood-working, and cooking. Produced for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

From The Chronicle March 1, 1913

THE PAGEANT OF THE YEAR.

On the evening of February 28, an event occurred which marks an important step in the progress of art. A performance - unique in that it was written, acted and managed by High School girls and boys - was presented before the large audience which filled Shailer Hall. The Pageant of the Year, the work of Miss Evelyn Asbrand, '13, was remarkable in many ways. Although the pageant was under the direction of Miss Stone of the Art department, Miss Spaulding of the English department, and Miss Barnes of the Physical Training department, these instructors so acted that practically all the affairs concerning the productions were in the hands of the students.

First to the view of the spectators came Father Time escorted to his throne by the months of the year [ed. these are actually the signs of the Zodiac]. Stately Father Time and the frolicking months! When their march was over, the Seasons came in First Spring, the fair, fresh youth of the year, entered. Along with her came the Breezes, the Mayflowers and the Rain-drops. Then soft and gentle Summer in her sweet flowing robes appeared. Next came Autumn with the School Children, the Witches, the Ghosts, and the Indians. Finally, lmperial Winter ascended the stage, followed by Holly dancers, Winter Sports and others.

...

J. Louis Keegan was Father Time. Miss Madeleine Hunt was Spring; Miss Estelle Krieger, Summer; Miss Mildred Southwick, Autumn; Miss Elizabeth Macnaughtan, Winter. The Months were represented as follows. Georgia Churchill, January; Margaret Woods, February; Dorothy Elden, March, Katharine Delabarre, April; Rosamund Flanders, May. Mary Knowles, June; Carmen Harris, July; Helena von Ladau, August; Ruth Lyman, September; Frances Coburn, October; Helen Goodnow, November; Elizabeth Corbett, December.

The Breezes in their flowing blue draperies were Misses Dorothy Lindsay, Ruth Reizenstein, Eleanor Sheldon, Josephine Kraft, Mary Hickey, and Hilda Shepard. The pattering Rain-drops were Misses Katherine Andrews, Margaret Daniels, Dorothy Wiggin, Margaret Tuttle, Dorothy Champlin, Marion Lawson, Marion Dooley and Alice Kilmer. The Mayflower dance was given by Misses Marguerite Ayers, Margaret Wesner, Dorothy Amsden, Maud Barrett, Marion Neal, Julie Emery, Olive Amsden and Marie Kaan. The graduates to appear were Miss Helen Carvell, Mildred Stronge, Catherine Lally, Marjorie Kaan, Alice Stewart and Evelyn Fisher. Miss Louise Johnson was the School Teacher, while her misbehaving children comprised Esther Sands, Helen McNamara, Grac Stearns, Mary Hickey, Jessie Southwick, Mignonne Ryther and Ethel Driscoll.

The Witches and Ghosts were Misses Edith Driscoll, Caroline Potter, Mary Houghton, and Manon Cook, Helen Kaan, Eleanor Carlisle, Francis Souther and Helene Kornfeld. Ruth Damon was the Chieftain of the Indian group, composed of Helen Fillmore, Margaret Arnold. Marion Forbes, Lillian Hoeffner, Dorothy Izenbeck, Evelyn Kellsher and Mildred Price. The Holly Leaf dance was admirably presented by Misses Dorothy Rhodes, Manon Driscoll, Elizabeth Cantwell, Susie MacDonald, Dorothy Conklin, Ruth Russell, Mary Moran, and Alice Duffy.

The Winter Sports girls were Misses Alice Burdett, Katharine Da VIS, Louise Roberts, Margaret Farley, Caroline Mackey, Julia Bowker, Tsuya Matsuki, Hilda Marrett, Mary Joyce, Elsie Nelson, Florence Putnam, and Elizabeth Taber. …
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

Boston Herald, February 23, 1913