Don Bosco Technical High School (Boston)

Don Bosco Technical High School (called as Don Bosco Trade School from 1946 to 1954 and officially named Don Bosco School of Technology from 1993 until its closure) is a defunct all-boys Roman Catholic secondary school for grades 9 through 12. Founded for immigrant boys by the Salesians of Don Bosco, a religious order of priests and brothers, the school was situated at 300 Tremont St. near the red light district, Boston, Massachusetts, United States from 1946 until its closure in 1998.

Don Bosco Technical High School
Address
330 Tremont St.

Boston
,
Massachusetts

United States
Coordinates42.3493°N 71.0648°W / 42.3493; -71.0648
Information
TypeHigh school
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic, Salesians of Don Bosco
Patron saint(s)St. John Bosco
Established1946
FounderBr. Julius Bollati, S.D.B. and Br. Angelo Bongiorno, S.D.B.
StatusDefunct
Closed1998
School districtArchdiocese of Boston
DirectorFr. Richard J. McCormick, S.D.B.
PrincipalCharles A. Schuetz
Employees64 (1980)
Grades9-12
Enrolment625 (1991)
Classes offeredCabinetmaking, Construction Technology, Drafting and Design, Electronics, Electricity and Science Technology
Campus typeUrban
Colour(s)Green and yellow   
Athletics conferenceCatholic Conference (MIAA)
SportsFootball, basketball, track, swimming, hockey, tennis
Team nameBears
YearbookTechnician

History

Founding and expansion
The Don Bosco Technical High School building during the early 20th Century, when it was still the City of Boston Girls' and Boys' Continuation School.

In 1945, the Salesians of Don Bosco in Boston purchased the neglected former John Paul Jones School building, built in 1898, located at 145 Byron St. in East Boston and renovated it.[1] Don Bosco Trade School, as it was known then, opened for the 1946-1947 school year with two teachers, Br. Julius Bollati, S.D.B. and Br. Angelo Bongiorno, S.D.B. and 16 students.[1][2] The new school was founded in almost a perfect location and time period: it served large numbers of the underprivileged children of mostly Roman Catholic Italian immigrants, offering both a trade and religious education. By 1954, enrollment had grown to 200, making the Byron St. campus too crowded.[1][2]

The school, in partnership with the Salesian province leadership, proceeded to search for a property in Boston fulfilling the necessary requirements. The school leadership looked in a few locations, including Jamaica Plain and the South End. Initially (January 1954) a site on Rockwood St in Jamaica Plain was chosen; however, in August 1954 this plan was abandoned in favor of the former Brandeis High School on Warrenton Street, South End.[2] Don Bosco Technical High School remained at this site until its closure in 1998.

New campus and growth

The Salesians moved into the Brandeis Vocational School Campus, the main building of which was formerly the City of Boston Continuation School, with the two sides of the building split into Boys' and Girls' Units, in time for the 1954 school year.[1][3] During this time there was a Salesian seminary program at Don Bosco Tech, which was terminated in later years. The original brick/limestone building was built in the 1920s.[4] This was plenty of space to house the student body of 200 plus Salesian quarters.[1] In the years following the student population rose rapidly, reaching 562 in 1966.[5]

Decline and closure

By 1974 the school reached its peak enrollment at around 900 students. After that, it struggled as its facilities aged and enrollment declined. In 1971 and 1985 two new buildings were added to the campus to hold expanded electronics departments which were very popular during those years.[6]

On March 15, 1989, 10,800 spectators packed the old Boston Garden to watch the MIAA Division I State Hockey Championship game against highly successful Catholic Memorial.[7] They came back from 2-0 and won the game 5-2, to the delight and surprise of the fans.[7] The championship rings given to coaches and members were gold and silver with an emerald green stone. A bear, which was Don Bosco Tech's mascot, and the player's name were engraved on the sides.[7]

By 1991, enrollment had dipped to 625.[8] A few years later, in an attempt to rebrand and attract new students, the school was renamed Don Bosco School of Technology.[9] By 1998, for financial, demographic and other reasons, including a lack of modern computer courses, the school was forced to close.[6][10]

The building was renovated and turned into a DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, while the gymnasium and pool now serves as the Wang YMCA.[9]

Demographics
Year Enrollment Religious

Employees

 Lay

Employees

 Total

Employees

1946 16[1] 2[1] 0 2
1954 200[2] N/A N/A N/A
1966 562[5] 20[5] 11[5] 31[5]
1974 900 N/A N/A N/A
1980 737[11] 23[11] 41[11] 64[11]
1991 625[8] N/A N/A N/A

Leadership
Director Years President Years Principal Years
Fr. Angelo Bongiorno, S.D.B.[12] 1946-56 Unknown 1946-93 Unknown 1946
Unknown 1947-56 Fr. Ernest Faggiono, S.D.B.[13] 1947-49
Unknown 1949-54
Fr. Emil Francis Fardellone, S.D.B.[14] 1956-59 Fr. Joseph Caselli, S.D.B.[1] 1954-58
Unknown 1959-66 Unknown 1958-74
Fr. Eugene Palumbo, S.D.B.[15] 1966-75
Br. Jerry Meegan, S.D.B. 1974-80
Unknown 1975-80
Fr. Kenneth Germaine, S.D.B.[11] 1980
Unknown 1980-84 Fr. Jonathan D. Parks, S.D.B.[16] 1980-83
Charles A. Schuetz[17] 1983-93
Fr. Vincent Zuliani, S.D.B.[18] 1984-89
Fr. Sid Figlia, S.D.B.[19][20] 1989-93
Fr. Richard J. McCormick, S.D.B.[9][21][22] 1993-98 Charles A. Schuetz[21] 1993-98
Unknown 1994-98

Note: The years listed for many of the school officials listed above may not be complete; only those years which have verifiably been recorded as years at the school have been listed. For example, Fr. Jay Verona, S.D.B. may have served for many years before and after 1966 but sources were only able to confirm the year of 1966.

Athletics

Basketball
  • 1975 Catholic Conference Co- Champions
  • 1975 National Champions
  • 1976 Division 1 State Champions
  • 1982 Division 1 North Champions (no state champions this year due Prop 2 1/2)
  • 1983 Division 1 North Champions (no state champions this year due Prop 2 1/2)

Football
  • 1974 Catholic Conference Champions

Hockey
  • 1981 Division I State Champions
  • 1989 Division I State Champions

Notable alumni
  • Fallout 4, set in the area around Boston, Massachusetts, has as one of the locations 'D. B. Technical High School'

References
  1. "1945-1973" (PDF). static1.1.sqspcdn.com.
  2. B, Mark (2008-01-30). "Remember Jamaica Plain?: The High School That Never Was". Remember Jamaica Plain?. Retrieved 2015-09-30.
  3. Mike, Fr (2009-08-10). "From the Eastern Front: A Look at "Don Bosco Tech" in Boston". From the Eastern Front. Retrieved 2015-09-30.
  4. "rssc-architects : Doubletree Boston Hotel". www.rssc-architects.com. Retrieved 2015-10-02.
  5. (tm), e-yearbook.com. "Don Bosco Technical High School - Technician Yearbook (Boston, MA), Class of 1966, Page 15". www.e-yearbook.com. Retrieved 2015-09-30.
  6. "Catholic Boys High School". bingmcgilvray. Retrieved 2015-10-02.
  7. "Long-lost Don Bosco championship ring back in the right hands - The Boston Globe". Retrieved 2015-10-02.
  8. "Quincy Sun July - Dec 1991". archive.org. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
  9. "Quincy Sun July - Dec 1995". archive.org. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
  10. Meagher, Dermot (2010-09-14). Judge Sentences: Tales from the Bench. UPNE. ISBN 9781555537364.
  11. "1980 Don Bosco Technical High School Yearbook". www.classmates.com. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
  12. "Father Angelo Bongiorno's Obituary on". Boston.com. Retrieved 2015-10-02.
  13. "June 2006 Obituaries Orleans Parish Louisiana". USGW Archives. USGW Archives. June 2006.
  14. "Emil Fardellone Obituary - Westside/Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home | Marrero LA". obits.dignitymemorial.com. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
  15. "Fr. Eugene Palumbo's Obituary on". The Record. Retrieved 2015-09-30.
  16. "Eastboston.com 7/13: Fr. Jonathan D. Parks, S.D.B., former principal of St. Dominic Savio High School (1990-1993)/Savio Prep (2001-2004) in East Boston, dies". www.eastboston.com. Retrieved 2015-09-30.
  17. Balajel, Oana M. (2009-03-01). "Charles Schuetz, educator". Boston.com. Retrieved 2015-09-30.
  18. "Father Vincent Zuliani, S.D.B. - Catholic New York". Catholic New York. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
  19. Quincy Sun, July - Dec 1992, Volume 24-25, Page 71 | Document Viewer.
  20. "Full text of "Additional submissions to the development proposal for the site of bra parcel r-3 / r-3a"". archive.org. Retrieved 2015-09-30.
  21. Quincy Sun, July - Dec 1993, Volume 25-26, Page 314 | Document Viewer.
  22. "Tampabay: Priest quits teaching job amid furor". www.sptimes.com. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
  23. "Feeney brings life story to campaign for state senate | Local News". thesunchronicle.com. April 27, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  24. "1980 NHL DRAFT PICK: Billy O'Dwyer". HockeyDraftCentral.com. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
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