Vocational classes sponsored by the St. Paul Institute began in the basement of Central High School during the summer of 1910.
Official recognition was given to the St. Paul Institute sponsored classes at the September 9, 1910 St. Paul Public Schools Board meeting when the board appointed an “organizational labor bureau” consisting of the Superintendent of Schools, Principals from schools sending students to the new classes and members of the St. Paul Builders Exchange who would monitor the direction of the new program and the students that attended those classes. George Brace was named principal and classes were focused on the building trades.
The new program was under the direction of the St. Paul Builders Exchange and was student fee based. The St. Paul Institute agreement with St. Paul Public Schools was that the Institute would meet any expenses not covered by St. Paul Public Schools in running the program. This program was authorized by the Minnesota Dept. of Education and operated from 1:30 PM until 3:30 PM in the afternoon. George M. Brace, in a speech given in 1921, recognized this as the beginning of St. Paul Vocational Boys School.
St. Paul Boys Vocational School was established in February of this year. (The Girls Vocational School wasn’t begun until 1942. The present co-educational school opened in 1966.) Classes in vocational training were held in the basements of Central and Mechanical Arts High Schools. Shortly after, the trade classes moved to the old Madison School which was located on the site of the present Public Safety Building, 101 East 10th Street. School administrators were George M. Brace, Director of Vocational Education; Franklin H. Thomas, Principal; and fourteen faculty members, three of whom were women.
Above: Students in front of Central High School, 1910.
F.H. Thomas, our principal from 1919 to 1943.