Our school has a long history, beginning as an all-girls school and then transforming into what its now, a co-education school. The school building has been around for almost a century. It has gone through many renovations and changes, such as conducting some classes in trailers, to the construction of the new wing in 2013. The High School of Telecommunication Arts and Technology, however, was only opened in 1985. So what was this gothic-style building used for in the decades prior?
The school’s main entrance, dating back to 1915, is a fascinating relic of the past. It’s interesting to consider the context of the women’s suffrage movement when this entrance was built. The decorative elements on the doors hint at a time when gender roles were rigidly defined. It’s as if the school was designed to confirm the aspirations of its female students. Walking past a school in Bay Ridge, the architecture also reflects the remnants of gender segregation in the entrances, inviting speculation about the school’s role in shaping history. However, there’s still much to ponder and debate about this intriguing educational history.
This building was previously known as the Bay Ridge High School. It was an all-girls school and acted as the “sister school” for Brooklyn Tech until its closing in 1985. The school, being an all women’s school in the 1900s, primarily focused on traditional female roles such as secretarial studies and homemaking. Companies often hire graduates directly from the school to act as secretaries and for similar work. The first Principal of the school, as the story goes, was named Harry Potter. The school was also the only High School in the city to teach Norwegian as a second language. Alumni Member Vivian said, “With the Civil Rights movement ten years later in the 1960s, educational facilities flourished. And so did social norms. Competition and necessity. How wonderful.”
The second principal of the School was Elizabeth T. Fitzpatrick. Holding this position between 1938 and 1963, she was the first female principal of a high school in New York City. Sylvia Reich, an alumni of the class of 1962 recalled, “Elizabeth T. Fitzpatrick, Principal from 1938 to 1963, expected us to make the most of our education and intelligence and learn to give something meaningful back to our community.”
Our school has a long history beginning as an all-girls school and then changing into a co-education school. Learning more about our school’s rich history will help bring a stronger sense of belonging to telecom students and will help build a stronger school community. Knowing our school’s past will honor and preserve our school’s culture furthermore and allow future HSTAT students to continue our legacy.
Telecom’s ambitions and high dedication came from the beginning going back to the construction of this building. One of the photographs taken in 1913 labeled “The Groundbreaking Ceremony” shows the many people who supported and encouraged the construction of this school. Tele also has a history of gardening as a leisure for students. A gardening club was established for the girls and one of the photos shared by the Bay Ridge alumni members shows a group of girls gardening vegetables during WWII. They considered it “a victory garden.”
There’s a rich history behind our school building, from its days as an all-girls school to its transformation into a co-educational institution. Former students from the girls’ school once conveyed their congratulations to HSTAT for carrying on the torch and even dedicated a song to Bay Ridge High School. They wished the current students to one day look back and realize the exceptional education they received at their high school. The message also encouraged students to cherish and appreciate their teachers, recognizing that their fondness and understanding for them would only grow over time. Learning about our school’s past makes us appreciate it even more and helps us comprehend the challenges faced by those who came before us. As Vivian, an alumnus of the Class of 1954 said, “Congratulations to HSTAT for carrying the torch, a Song For BRHS.”
