CHS History

Chelmsford High School has certainly grown over the years. From its origins as a four-room school house to the recently-renovated facility that stands today, Chelmsford High School is a century in the making. And although the school, its staff, and the students have changed, the spirit of the Chelmsford High School alumni remains the same, growing bigger and stronger each year. Click through the tabs below to see how we’ve changed, grown, and continued our legacy at CHS.

This collection of CHS history is a work-in-progress. Consider this just the beginning.

Click here to view the list of past Sports Captains

Click here to view the list of past All-Scholastic Athletes

1910s

Chelmsford High School began with the fall term in 1917
Prior to that time, there had been two high schools in Chelmsford, The Center High School North Road where the central fire station stands today and North Chelmsford High School, on land occupied today by the north fire station.
The new "consolidated" high school opened in September 1917 with a total enrollment in the four classrooms of 161 students.
Mr. Evan W.D. Merrill was the first principal and the teaching staff included the principal, a sub-principal and nine teachers.
It is interesting to note that Principal Merrill included the following statement in his report to the town in 1918: "Before closing, may I urge in a few sentences the formation of one Chelmsford High School Alumni association before the close of the school year (1917-1918). The interest and cooperation of such an association would be a valuable asset in the life of the school. Long before our present seniors reach their day of graduation, they will want to be assured that there is such an organization to welcome them, an organization which none must enter as strangers and in which all their old school friends will be found."
The school’s athletic department was a microcosm of what it is today, with a baseball team that only played a Chelmsford town team, Howe High of Billerica and Michell's School. By the end of the first 3 years of the High School, there were 20 seniors and 22 juniors.

1920s

Mr. Evan Merrill left in February 1920 and was replaced by Mr. Lester F. Alden.
As late as 1923, Mr. Alden had to include in his report a plea for a telephone at the high school.
In September 1927, Mr. Horace E. Hobbs joined the high school faculty as principal, replacing Mr. Lester Alden.
In the fall of 1927, Mr. Ellsworth Thwing was hired to be the supervisor of physical education.
The high school saw the greatest change with the introduction of football and boys' and girls' basketball. By today's standards the building was hardly acceptable. It was undersized and had a relatively low ceiling but it was the only place available. There were two large iron columns in the middle of the court that made the game rather difficult to play.
High school enrollment grew rapidly to 307 in 1928, causing overcrowding in the 12-year-old building, a problem that was addressed with calls for an addition to the school, including a gymnasium/auditorium.

1930s

The addition to the high school became a reality.
The school had a new principal with the arrival of Mr. Lucian H. Burns in September 1930.
When the addition was completed, it became possible to seat the entire student body at one time for assembly programs without leaving the building.

1940s

1943 saw a significant step forward in the music program at the high school.
Bernie Larkin was hired to fill in during the absence of the music supervisor and brought with him his love of band music. Larkin was the driving force in the formation of the first high school band at Chelmsford High School.

1950s

Mr. Lucian Burns submitted his resignation in 1950 and Mr. John T. Conrad was hired as the high school principal.
During the 1950's, a guidance department was established, a National Honor Society Chapter was installed, and field hockey and softball became part of the athletic program.
Finally, the town authorized the construction of a completely new high school, which opened in September 1959 on North Road.

1960s

The student population continued to rise, and three years after the new high school was built it became necessary to add more rooms to the building.
The 1960s brought more changes as curriculum advanced to include industrial arts, home economics, advanced academic subjects and business education.
The athletic program added track, cross-country, ice hockey, wrestling and golf.
The population of Chelmsford escalated in the early 1960s and the number of school children grew rapidly resulting, once again, in crowded conditions in our schools.
In all too short time, the need for an even larger high school would arise.

1970s

Upon the retirement of Mr. John Conrad in 1972, Mr. George Simonian was named high school principal. Mr. Simonian joined the high school faculty as a science teacher in 1957, and then served as Science Department chairman, science coordinator and director of curriculum respectively.
In the early 1970's, Simonian served as the educational consultant for the construction of the new 2,400-student high school.
The new high school on Richardson Road opened on September 23, 1974.
The House Plan of Organization was established with the four houses being named for four Massachusetts-born authors: Emily Dickinson, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne and John Greenleaf Whittier. A dean was appointed as educational leader for each house.
Mr. Edwin Quinn was dean of Emerson House, Mr. Donald Boucher was dean of Dickinson House, Mr. Robert Kelly was dean of Hawthorne House and Mr. John T. Conrad, Jr. was dean of Whittier House.

1980s

Advances in curriculum, activities and athletics and the high caliber of the teaching staff, Chelmsford High School became a recognized leader in secondary school education. A few of the highlights include:
Chelmsford High School developed an international student exchange program involving six countries and served as a national model for the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
The Dalton Trophy was presented to the high school by the Boston Globe for a record-setting seven straight years for overall athletic excellence.
The orchestra was invited to perform internationally at many music festivals around the world.
The most successful interscholastic team to represent Chelmsford High School was the math team, which dominated the competition for over 20 years.
The high school population reached its peak during the school year of 1981-1982 at 2,550 students, becoming the largest suburban high school and the seventh largest overall in the state.
Mr. George Simonian retired in 1988 and was replaced by Mr. George Betses, who had joined the faculty in 1957 as a business education teacher and the chairman of the Business Education Department. He then served as assistant principal for 20 years.

1990s

Mr. Betses retired in 1992 and was succeeded by Mr. Herbert Levine.
Mr. Levine resigned in 1995 and Mr. Stephen Meidell was named the new principal.
Mr. Meidell came to Chelmsford High School in 1969 as an English teacher and then became the English Department chairman. In 1994, he was appointed dean of Whittier House.

2000s

Principal Meidell retired in 2002 and was succeeded by Mr. W. Allen Thomas, Jr. who joined the Chelmsford Public School System in 1972 as a social studies teacher. He transferred to the high school in 1978 and later became the Social Studies Department Chairman. From 1994 until his appointment as principal, Mr. Thomas served as dean of Hawthorne House.
The high school faculty and student body continued to excel in all academic areas and earned state, regional and national recognition for extracurricular activities and interscholastic athletic programs.
Since 1990 and continuing into the new millennium, Chelmsford High School has instituted teaching strategies and educational opportunities to meet the learning styles of its changing student population.
Up-to-date calendars, websites, and other sources of information have become central to the operation of the school.
The Career Center provides students with access to information on colleges as well as career options through online searches, print materials and invited speakers.
An alternative evening program was established to provide at-risk high school students with an opportunity to be academically successful, gain work experience and achieve a high school diploma.
Renovations to the Richardson Road facility began in 2006. All of the science rooms were brought up to current state specifications and additional spaces were added where the home economics labs and the superintendent of schools offices used to be.
A 1,000-seat Performing Arts Center was added to the back of the school, allowing half of the student body to attend a program at a time.
After total renovation, the library, dubbed the "Learning Commons", has become the hub of academic research and, because it is such an attractive area, is often the site of various social and educational gatherings during and after school hours.
Directors of Maintenance, Gary Persichett, members of the town maintenance staff and school custodians all played a major role in all of the improvements such as a new roof, new curbing at the front of the school, replacement of the stands on both sides of the field in Simonian Alumni Stadium, and many other renovations.
When Mr. Thomas retired in June 2009, Ms. Anne O'Bryant was selected as the new principal of Chelmsford High School. A graduate of CHS, O'Bryant taught social studies at both the middle school level and the high school prior to becoming dean of Hawthorne House.

What will the legacy of your decade hold?

Join our Email List!