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Forum: BAKER HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY

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Supporting Info to History of Baker

Created on: 11/21/09 12:23 AM Views: 1512 Replies: 10
Supporting Info to History of Baker
Posted Friday, November 20, 2009 07:23 PM

Newton D. Baker

Newton Diehl Baker, II

IMAGE: Newton D. Baker Baker High was named for Newton Diehl Baker, II, who was Secretary of War during World War I.

Baker was born in Martinsburg, West Virgina on December 3, 1871. This was during the trying years of Reconstruction when friends and neighbors went about in gray military trousers because there was nothing else to wear. His grandfather, Elias Baker, smuggled quinine and other necessities to Confederate prisoners in Fort McHenry. His father was a country doctor.

During his anti-Semitic crusade, Henry Ford published a circular alleging that Baker's name was actually Newman Becker and that he was a Russian Jew. Ford sent two men to West Virginia to examine baptismal records and take photographs of moldering gravestones. He succeeded only in proving that the family name was Baker and that both sides of the family were Protestant.

Baker as a Young Boy
Newton D. Baker as a boy. ?

Baker attended the village schools in Martinsburg through his second year in high school and finished his preparatory training at Episcopal High School near Alexandria, Virginia. He entered Johns Hopkins University in 1889 and graduated with the Class of 1892. During his time at Johns Hopkins, he met Professor Woodrow Wilson, a visiting lecturer from Princeton. At Johns Hopkins, Baker was elected to Phi Beta Kappa by a narrow margin; he tied with another student for the last place in the honorary, and in 1892 eleven men instead of ten were selected.

Baker at 27
Baker as a lawyer in Martinsburg, West Virginia, about 27 years old. ?

He finished the normal two year course in the School of Law at Washington and Lee University in nine months, graduating in June, 1894. He practiced law in Martinsburg for a while, then went to Washington as secretary to William L. Wilson, Postmaster General in President Cleveland's second administration. His first political appointment came to an end in 1897 with the innauguration of President McKinley. Baker returned to legal practice in Martinsburg, but soon moved to Cleveland to join a law firm there.

In 1902 Baker married Elizabeth Leopold of Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Baker was intelligent, charming, and well educated. She was an accomplished soprano, and when she sang at one of Cleveland's pop concerts in 1911, Baker reported that she wore a new dress with "as large a hat as anybody, which is something in this day and generation."

Baker and Pershing
Secretary Baker with General Pershing (left front) and officers somewhere in France, spring, 1918. ?

Under the liberal influence of Tom Johnson and the Progressive Movement, Baker was Law Director (1901-1911) and Mayor of Cleveland (1912-1916). He was one of three founding members of the law firm Baker and Hostetler. Today, Baker and Hostetler has more than 550 attorneys.

As Secretary of War under President Wilson from 1916 to 1921, in a period of fourteen months he raised an army of almost four million men, transported half of them to France, administered the draft law, selected General Pershing, and supervised the rapid expenditure of almost fifteen billion dollars with a minimum of scandal.

Baker's official portrait
The official portrait of Baker by Edmund Hodgson Smart, 1921. ?
A Wilsonian idealist, after World War I he fought American isolationism as an advocate of the League of Nations. Often mentioned as a Democratic nominee for the Presidency, he had strong support as a dark horse candidate in 1932. As a humanitarian he gave unstintingly of his time and energy in active support of dozens of reform and charitable societies. In the profession of law he was appointed to the Hague Tribunal in 1928 and was especially prominent in cases concerning freedom of the press, water diversion by Chicago, and the TVA. He showed his abiding interest in education as a trustee of several colleges and as a staunch supporter of adult education. Diminutive in size but large in heart, he enjoyed a wide circle of friends, both in this country and abroad.

In international affairs he was a steadfast advocate of the low tariff, and of American participation in the League of Nations and the World Court. On the domestic front he was on the left wing in local affairs, and right of center on national issues. In Cleveland, Baker was a gradualist who achieved a reputation as a "reliable radical and prudent progressive." Later he was to question the augmentation of national authority under the New Deal, and in his last years was to be characterized as a genial conservative with an open mind.
 

Baker suffered a second heart attack on Christmas Eve, 1937, and died on Christmas Day at the age of 66.


Adapted from the forward and first chapter of Newton D. Baker, a Biography by C. H. Cramer, World Publishing, 1961.

 
RE: Supporting Info to History of Baker
Posted Friday, November 20, 2009 07:29 PM

Baker and Baker Village in the Early Years

Since there seems to be some interest in Baker's early years, I thought I'd pass this along. First, Baker Village and Baker Village School (later known as just Baker) were built in the early 1940's to house and school military families/dependents (Baker Village was a Government Housing Project and patrolled routinely by military police); this was brought about due to the heavy influx of personnel at Ft. Benning in support of the war effort. I was one of the early military brats to attend Baker and entered the 4th grade there in 1943 (my step-father was sent overseas with the 82nd Airborne Division and my mother, brother, and I had returned to Columbus from Fayetteville/Ft. Bragg, NC). I might also mention that we lived at 110 Fletcher Ave........I've noticed that many of you have made reference to that address. Fletcher Ave was a part of Benning Park (I suppose it still is) and in those days, there were no paved roads.......it was country. Cows, horses, chickens, etc. were a common sight in the area. Our house on Fletcher had all the country amenities.........outhouse, water well off the back porch, fireplaces for heat and a wood stove in the kitchen for cooking and heating bath water. I remember very well walking to school on those unpaved roads and how nice it was when I got to the Baker Village area because those streets were paved (and yes folks, it was uphill both ways).

We attended the Benning Park Baptist Church many of you seem to remember; It was a wooden structure originally. Some of the family surnames in the area back then included Copeland, Redmon, Godwin, Blomberg, Brooks, Cumming, Luke, Levesque, Puckett, Leslie (my step-father), McSwain, and Shepherd. Perhaps a few of these families were still there when you later arrivals came upon the scene. If so, I'd be very interested in your recollections. Guess I've rambled on long enough but thought I'd share with you some of thoughts on what was going on in that area some 54 years ago (My God! Its really been that long hasn't it).

Britt Ware '53

 
RE: Supporting Info to History of Baker
Posted Friday, November 20, 2009 07:37 PM

Muscogee County Schools Shift to Twelve Years

Yes, Virginia, it is true. In the far-distant past, Georgia law required only 11 grades for graduation from high school. When that law was changed, schools switched to the new 12-grade system at various times within a short time window. Baker switched in the school year that began in the fall of 1950.

This means that the Lions who graduated in 1951 had been seniors for two years. They were in the 11th grade, the top grade, in 49-50, and in the brand-new 12th grade, the top grade, in 50-51. Actually, a goodly number of the 11th-grade-seniors in 49-50 were allowed to graduate, after pleading something akin to the NFL hardship case.

I graduated in 1952, the second class to go 12 years. So I never had an option.

We thought we'd have a killer of a football team in 1950, because of our "redshirts." I mean, after all, seniors who can come back with another year of eligibility should be able to do better. 'Twas not to be, however. We got shellacked by Central in the opening game and it went downhill from there. I checked to see just how bad it was, and the '51 Arrowhead didn't even list the games, the scores, or the record. Unfortunately -- or maybe fortunately -- time has erased the details from my memory. Ed Wolfe was the head coach then, and for a number of years following.

Just in passing -- I've been reading all the recent (to me) memories of you guys from the 60's and 70's, and it's been very interesting. Those of us from the Eisenhower years are not, as sometimes thought, incredibly dull and bland -- there are some great memories from those times, too. Maybe if the glorious 2000 reunion takes place, there'll be a moment or two for us oldies to recollect a bit.

Bill Dawson '52

 
RE: Supporting Info to History of Baker
Posted Friday, November 20, 2009 07:42 PM

Newton Leroy Gingrich, Class of '61

Newton Leroy Gingrich, 1961.  
Newt Gingrich, 1995  


 

Pete Young writes: It's just amazing how far Newt (we all knew him as Newton) has come since the Baker Debate Team debated the issue, " Should the States accept Federal funds for public education?"

Newt served in the U.S. House of Representatives for twenty years and was the Speaker of the House from 1995 to 1999.

February, 1996

 
RE: Supporting Info to History of Baker
Posted Friday, November 20, 2009 07:44 PM

Baker's New Switchboard

IMAGE: Telephone Switchboard

1963: Martha Chappell demonstrates the Western Electric Model 555 cord switchboard, newly installed at Baker.

 
RE: Supporting Info to History of Baker
Posted Friday, November 20, 2009 07:48 PM

Donald Ray Johnston, Class of '66

 

[Deceased: March 21, 1969]

Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously for action in Vietnam. The Medal of Honor is awarded by the President, in the name of the Congress. It is the highest award for valor a soldier can receive.

Here is the official military record:

Johnston, Donald Ray
Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, Company D, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division.
Place and date: Tay Ninh Province, Republic of Vietnam, 21 March 1969.
Entered service at: Columbus, Ga.
Born: 19 November 1947, Columbus, Ga.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.

IMAGE:Medal of Honor Sp4c. Johnston distinguished himself while serving as a mortarman with Company D, at a fire support base in Tay Ninh Province. Sp4c. Johnston's company was in defensive positions when it came under a devastating rocket and mortar attack. Under cover of the bombardment, enemy sappers broke through the defensive perimeter and began hurling explosive charges into the main defensive bunkers. Sp4c. Johnston and 6 of his comrades had moved from their exposed positions to 1 of the bunkers to continue their fight against the enemy attackers. As they were firing from the bunker, an enemy soldier threw 3 explosive charges into their position. Sensing the danger to his comrades, Sp4c. Johnston, with complete disregard for his safety, hurled himself onto the explosive charges, smothering the detonations with his body and shielding his fellow soldiers from the blast. His heroic action saved the lives of 6 of his comrades. Sp4c. Johnston's concern for his fellow men at the cost of his life were in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

 

 

 
Read About the Change (Glenn Wells)
Posted Saturday, November 28, 2009 11:10 PM

How the Arrowhead became the Lion's Pride

Okay, kids, here's the story. I was the annual literary advisor for the '69, '70, and '71 Baker annuals. While working on the '69 edition, the question came up as to why the annual was called the Arrowhead when the mascot was a lion. We did some research, most of which I've forgotten, but the gist of which was this: The original Baker mascot was an Indian, so the annual was logically named the "Arrowhead." I think the athletic teams were called the Cherokees, but it may have been come other tribe. At some point prior to 1958, perhaps in a precognizant fit of political correctness (In Georgia in the 1950's? Get real!), the mascot had been changed to a lion and the newspaper was the "Lion's Roar." For some reason, however, the name of the annual had never been changed. We decided to make it consistent, and a vote by the student body was held to pick one of several proposed names. Someone on the annual staff (possibly me, but I couldn't swear to it) had proposed "Lion's Pride" as an intentional pun. The vote, with a little politicking, but, as I recall, no outright fraud, went to "Lion's Pride," which appeared on the '70 edition. And that's the way it happened.

Glenn Wells, '60 and faculty

 
Baker Auditorium Burns
Posted Saturday, November 28, 2009 11:14 PM

Baker High Auditorium Burns

"On March 31, 1971, tragedy struck Baker in the form of a fire. For more than six hours the fire blazed. Left was an empty shell of an auditorium." These words with pictures of the remains are on pages 232-4 in the '71 annual. Remarkably, they have a photo of an album found in the aftermath that was mostly unscathed, "Jesus Christ Superstar".

I remember that day very well. I was in world history class when the fire alarm went off and all of us groaned, "Another fire drill." Needless to say, it became very exciting when someone noted smoke pouring from the roof of the auditorium. Flames went shooting about 100 feet in the air. There were several fire engine companies trying to put the blaze out which took the better part of 6 hours. Classes were cancelled for the remainder of the day. They rebuilt it soon after. Investigations into the fire revealed a boiler being the cause and no foul play was suspected. Thankfully, there was no loss of life or injury.

Walt Egenmaier ('71)

 
BUMS 2000
Posted Saturday, November 28, 2009 11:17 PM

B.U.M.S. 2000

[B.U.M.S. 2000 Photo Album] Album updated 2000-Aug-06
This page updated 2000-Aug-06

B.U.M.S. 2000 was Baker's Ultimate Millennium Sock-hop, Baker High School's first all-class reunion. Months of preparation and hundreds of hours of hard work by dozens of committee members made this the biggest Baker sock-hop ever and the largest reunion ever held in Columbus. As the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer put it, "not bad for a school that no longer exists." Not bad indeed! Baker Lions can do anything!

It's impossible to mention everyone who contributed to the success of this millennial event, but a few people really sparked the project. Carolyn Hall Tidd '70 was a tireless leader and the sleuth who tracked down the Baker Lion. Dell Emerson '69 served as the reunion Webmaster who made certain B.U.M.S. 2000 had a presence on the Internet. Roy Cook '68 organized events and provided leadership.

Like any school morning, Lions stream toward
            Baker
Like any school morning, Lions stream toward Baker. (Thanks to Becky Dewald for this photo.)  
For many, the weekend began on Thursday with pre-reunion parties. On Friday night, Baker Lions completely overwhelmed the Columbus Hilton with the kickoff party.

Saturday began with one last nostalgic visit to the halls of Baker. Lions came by car, trolley, and tour bus. We streamed toward the school and prowled the halls. We wrote our names on the blackboards and remembered the things we did at Baker. Pointing to a dark corner behind the stage, someone said, "That's where I kissed Carol for the first time!" People who had never met shook hands and introduced themselves by name and class year.

The school had been closed more than six months earlier and was in a state of disrepair that made us sad. Even so, we were glad we came back for a last look.

 
Edited 11/28/09 11:24 PM
New Server for @Baker
Posted Saturday, November 28, 2009 11:22 PM

New Server for @Baker

In November, 2001, the @Baker project got a new server, courtesy of the Class of 1965. It's a beauty! The new server is a Dell PowerEdge 2450. That's a rack-mounted machine that was designed from the chassis up to be a reliable, 24 hour a day Internet server. It has an Intel Pentium III-600 processor, over 33 gigabytes of RAID5 disk, 1,280 megabytes of main memory (that's 1.25 gigabytes!), dual power supplies, a built-in DDS4 DAT tape drive, the works! There's even a supply of tapes and a spare disk drive to allow quick recovery if there are disk problems.Photo: New Dell server

By comparison, the new server is over ten times as fast as the original server. It has more "core" memory that the original server had disk space! The RAID5 disk system can keep working even if one of the disks crashes, and we can "hot swap" a replacement without shutting down the server.

The new server was installed on Thanksgiving Day, 2001. You won't see much difference right away. Searches may be snappier, and long pages may display more quickly, but mostly everything will look familiar. The real value of a machine like this one, in addition to reliability, is the programs we can run on it. The first change, installed in February, 2002, gives more immediate control of the contents of their @Baker People Pages. Future plans include making room for more volunteers on the Webmaster staff and allowing comments on articles.

Thanks, Class of '65!

 
Remembering Baker
Posted Saturday, November 28, 2009 11:28 PM

Remembering Baker

Bill Dawson, '52

Several people (my wife among them) have asked me why we Baker folk hang out together through this medium. People from other schools don't do that. What makes us different?

After all, we're surely not all alike. (All you have to do is mention politics or religion to find that out.) We're of widely different ages. We have widely divergent tastes (except that we all agree on barbecue). We live in different parts of the country - very few of us anywhere near Columbus, Georgia.

I tell them that, first, I don't really know. But there are several factors.

High school itself is a time we all remember. Some memories, maybe even most, are good ones. Some are painful. But all of them represent times in our lives when we were, for better or worse, forming our character.

Hormones were, of course, raging. As much as we love the person we eventually wound up with, few of us will ever forget the huge mood swings of teenage love. The highs were out of sight. And the lows - oh, my, they were terrible.

We were impressionable. We had not yet reached the point where we thought we knew everything. We had a lot of "gee, whiz!" moments when we discovered something about the universe, the world, the country, or the people therein that surprised us. And we had some "aw, shucks!" moments when bubbles were burst, when we found out that not everybody in this world is honorable, or even nice.

But those high school moments are remembered by everybody. What makes us remember them more poignantly than others?

Well, consider who we were. Many of us - maybe most - were from military families, and had lived in many, many places. Even those of us who weren't military were from widely different parts of Muscogee county, brought together to what was, when I was there, the only "county" high school. We had no history together. And I maintain that this can be a good thing.

Where I spent my early childhood in South Carolina, I was known to be bookish, shy, and reclusive. At Baker, nobody knew that. People asked my opinion about things, and I told them. And they listened! It was wonderful! People who knew me back home would never have recognized me at Baker.

I think it was that way with a lot of people. Not having to live up to - or down to - preconceived positions in life can free us all.

Next, there was Baker itself. None of our parents had gone there. We didn't know any older people who were alums. The history of Baker was one we were making ourselves. Friends at Columbus High and Jordan used to tell me that they liked their heritage. Actually, I liked the fact that we didn't have any heritage. It was a fresh slate.

Then, of course, Baker eventually ceased to exist. Not only did we have no past to live up to or down to, but no school at all. There is no Baker High anymore. It was born in our lifetime, and it was gone in our lifetime.

That makes the memories special. Remember the Broadway show where, late in Act III, a weary King Arthur told young Tom...

Each evening, from December to December,
Before you drift to sleep upon your cot,
Think back on all the tales that you remember
    Of Camelot...
Don't let it be forgot that once there was a spot
For one brief shining moment that was known
    As Camelot.

Well, for one brief shining moment there was a spot called Baker High. There's no crumbling school to spoil our glistening memories, no decadent young thugs running around with blue sweaters to jar us, no ugly references to it in the media. In our minds, it's still Camelot. And that's a good thing.

Thanks, guys, for helping us all remember it.

April 8, 2005