Approximately
150 years ago the citizens of the City of Portland decided to have a "free
high school". The first session opened in Morgen's hall, a one room wooden
structure, at Morrill's Corner, in the fall of 1874 with 31 students attending.
Before the end of the year, the high school moved to the Heseltine Grammar
School on Ocean Avenue where it remanded for four years; crowded conditions
existed at Heselton. Five students were graduated from the first class.
There were two sessions daily and, as late as 1895, school was held six
days a week. The courses were similar to those of our present Algebra
and Latin. However, a student had no choice in subjects, but was compelled
to take all those offered in order to be graduated.
In
1878, Deering moved to the old wooden Longfellow School which was located
opposite of Central Square Baptist Church. Seventy students were enrolled;
however, the school was so large that the ground floor was used by the
student body. Mr. F.E.C. Robbins was principal. In 1887, two new courses
were re-organized and renamed the Commercial Department. The first edition
of the school newspaper, The Breccia was published in 1887.
In 1889, Deering had became part of the City of Portland. When the Enabling
Act was before legislature, Mr Fred Matthews, a graduate of Deering who
was then practicing law in the city, included in the act a provision for
the "continuing" maintenance always of a high school in Deering of equal
grade and standing. So it is that Portland has two schools of superior
standing.
By
1897, with Mr. E.H. Crosby as principal, the school has grown so plans
were made for new building which was to have fourteen recitation rooms,
a library and a large assembly hall. Loud and long were the protestations
that such a building was a wicked waste of money since four classrooms
would do nicely - and why a library? In 1889, however, work was started
on the construction of the main building of what is know known Lincoln
Middle School. Just before the building was to be occupied, Mr. Crosby,
Principal, was killed by a train at "Woodfords Crossing" during a rain
storm. His term was completed by Mr. Swan and Mr. Hill. In 1898, on January
30, the new Deering High School was decided by Principal William H. Marvin.
The Assembly Hall, which was located on the third floor, was dedicated
to Mr. Crosby and remained in his name until the hall was renovated into
a library. From 1902-1909, Mr. John M. Nicholas served as principal; from
1909-1913, Mr. Herbert I. Allen was the principal; and from 1913-1919,
Mr. Louis B. Farnham, was chief administrator of Deering. Yet only fourteen
years after 1898, the school has grown so that an addition, the Annex
of Lincoln Junior High was built. In this building, the school's disaster
occurred, the fire in May, 1921. The library and classrooms in the main
building were entirely destroyed. For the remainder of the year, classes
were held in the Annex and in two local churches.
Under
the administration of Mr. William E. Wing, principal of Deering from 1919
until 1942, the present Deering was built and enlarged. In 1922, the main
building was constructed and housed 826 students, and in 1932 a small
wing was added to complete the structure. The athletic field was laid
out and many curricular activities were started. The school newspaper
was named The Purple Line in 1929 and changed to present Ramblings
in 1940.
Mr. Wiggin as head of Deering and through the difficult war years his
able administration was appreciated by all. In the fall of 1960 Deering
became a three year high school for the first time. Freshmen were scheduled
at the four hour schedule in junior high schools. Sophomores, juniors,
and seniors occupied the Stevens Avenue School in which many improvements
had been made during the summer. The school day was extended from 1:05
P.M. to 2:10 P.M., and included seven periods - each forty-five minutes
long. In the fall of 1979 Deering became once again a four year school.
