Few persons in Ipswich are aware of the fact that the town has had four High Schools.

In fact, only the older folks in town know of the Manning High School, which was located on Central Street beside the old Winthrop School. It was built in 1872 and stood until the late 1940s when it was taken down.

The present Ralph Whipple Junior High School was dedicated in February of 1937. The present High School on High Street was dedicated in 1963.

But what about the first High School? Well, around 1794 the area bordered by County Road, Poplar Street and Argilla Road was owned by the Feoffees of the Free Grammar School and was known as the School Orchard. In this area they had constructed a two-story building at the corner of Poplar Street and County Road. But because of a lack of funds, only the upper rooms were finished.

Here children went to school until 1836 when it was decided that a High School was needed.

The building was then removed to a location on Argilla Road where in more recent years Russell Grant had his lobster restaurant. There had been $300 realized from the sale of the orchard and the town with another $400 paid for the moving and finishing of the lower rooms.

Here children attended their first High School and it continued to be in use until 1892 when the Manning High School was built.

The building was later turned into a stable and it was here that Lathrop Brothers Coal and Wood Co. kept its horses and wagons.

The stable was finally taken down by Mr. Grant, but part of the wagon sheds is still standing. Miss Sasha Lakeman, who passed away in the forties, was the last person to have been graduated from this school.

The photograph shows the first High School. The house on the right is now owned by Edward Rauscher, the police officer.

—HAROLD D. BOWEN