Beverly Public Schools (Beverly, Mass.)

The Beverly Independent Industrial School opened in 1909 for the purpose of providing occupational training to selected students not attending the Town High School. Steps to establish a liaison with the United Shoe Machinery Corporation were started in 1909. Housed in the noted industrial concrete building designed by Ernest L. Ransome, the Company needed skilled workers for making its product: the shoe lasts or wooden form over which shoes were constructed. Complying with the state mandate of the Douglas Commission (Massachusetts Commission on Industrial and Technical Education) Report of 1906 (Mass. General Laws, Ch 505) which involved manual training in the public schools, the Beverly Cooperative Trade School (1925-ca 1980) was founded with the leadership of George Hervey Vose, a machinist, teacher, and director of machine shops, and Robert Orange Small, superintendent of schools. Curricula included auto repair, cabinetmaking, printing, pattern making and machine shop. In 1968 the Claude H. Patten Trade School opened at the new Beverly High School but was changed in 1970 to the Claude H. Patten (noted teacher and trade school director between 1926 - 1962) Vocational High School, staying in operation until 1995.

Beverly, Mass., beginnings date from 1626 as a coastal community of seamen and farmers. School records dating from 1768 reflect the desire and organization of the community to educate its children. Since 1768 to the present, the district has witnessed the opening and closing of numerous schools or the evolvement of others to best service the pupil population of the day. Several high schools have opened, including ones in 1858, 1903, 1925, and the present one, Beverly High School, in 1965. Concern for educating the immigrant population and providing job and language skills caused the school district to open its adult education program.