Arsenal Technical High School
Alumni Association

Tech History

Before Arsenal Technical Schools

The Arsenal property was decommissioned for military purposes when the city of Indianapolis encroached upon it in the early 1900s. On March 27, 1903, the Arsenal grounds were sold at public auction to an Indianapolis public trust to keep the property intact, as either the site of a school or a park.

A school named the Winona Technical Institute at Indianapolis was established in 1904. This Winona location offered courses in Pharmacy, Printing, Lithography, Building Trades, Electricity, Iron Moulding, a Library school and other departments. Unfortunately, expansion proved to be too quick and the entire operation was insolvent by 1910. For more information regarding the Winona Technical Institute, see http://historicindianapolis.com/friday-favorites-winona-technical-institute/

At that time, the Indianapolis Public School system was in great need of a third high school. The City of Indianapolis recovered the Arsenal property and quickly established the institution that would become the Arsenal Tech High School that we know today.

1912 to 1919

The Annex building is added to the campus in January of 1917.

After being convinced by Principal Stuart not to quit school in order to support his family, Howard H. Aiken graduated from Tech in June of 1919 and, fortunately, went on to become a father of the Computer Age. He conceived and then helped create the world's first large-scale computer, IBM's Harvard Mark I. This computer performed calculations for the atomic bomb.

The Reserve Officers Training Corps, established at Tech in 1919 by Captain Hardin under the National Defense Act of 1916, offered splendid opportunities in military training for all boys. It furnished excellent mental and physical discipline, raised the standard of conduct and inculcated ideals of service to our country. All boys fourteen or older were eligible and received one-half credit per semester, providing the subject was pursued for two years.

1920 to 1929

The Main Building (Capt. Thomas J. Treadwell Hall) is added to the campus in 1921.

In the early morning of August 7, 1921 at 2:30 am, Tech was deprived of its office building, the Arsenal Office Building and North Guard House, located in the center of the quadrangle. The night watchman, while on his rounds, discovered the fire and immediately sent in an alarm. Fire engines arrived on the scene and the fire was extinguished, but too much of the building had been destroyed for it to be saved. Numerous Civil War relics housed there were also lost. The site of the Fish Pond, The Square, and the Fountain mark the place where the office stood.

The Civil War era Electric Power House is torn down in 1922.

The "Old" Shops and Old Girls' Gym (George L. Lone Hall) is added to the campus in 1922. When this building was built it was known as the "New" Shops because the "Old" Shops were in the Arsenal.

While attempting to save the child Hadley Hull from drowning in Fall Creek, Barton Bradley, a June 1926 graduate, lost his life January 16, 1927. Scholarships are granted in his honor for displaying the noblest of character traits exemplified by Barton Bradley.

The northeast and southeast wings are added to the Main Building (Treadwell Hall) in 1928 as shown in the picture on page 4 of the June yearbook.

The Old West Gym or Boys' Gym (The Reuben D. Behlmer Gymnasium) is opened in 1929.

The East Officers' Residence is demolished in May of 1929 to make room for the drive with travels northeast around the south end of the Main and then straight north along the school's property edge with Woodruff Place. If this drive had been laid out more east northeast or straight east, this historic building could have been saved. A photo of the demolition is shown on page 47 of the June yearbook.

1930 to 1939

The Football Stadium, now known as the Howard L. Longshore Stadium and Wally Potter (Wallace Reid Potter) Football Field, is added to the campus in 1939 as a part of the WPA.*****

1940 to 1949

The Milo H. Stuart Memorial Hall is opened in 1940.

Two 3-inch M5 cannons were acquired in the fall of 1947 through the efforts of Col. Will Brown, formerly in charge of city R.O.T.C. equipment in the Magazine, to replace the two World War I cannons which Tech donated for scrap metal at the beginning of of World War II. The two World War I cannons were placed at the flagpole in about 1921 and were dedicated to the hope that peace would endure after World War I. In a farewell ceremony on October 14th, 1942, they were contributed to the scrap drive for World War II. See http://historicindianapolis.com/friday-favorites-arsenal-tech-trivia/ for more details regarding the M5 cannons.

1950 to 1959

The Annex building and Electric Shop are torn down in 1956 to make way for Morgan Hall.

DeWitt Schuyler Morgan Hall (The "New" Shops) is added to the campus in 1956.

1960 to 1969

In September of 1962, an official all student vote is taken as to whether the school's Greenclads nickname should be changed and, if so, what it should be changed to. At the 1962 Homecomming football game, the change of the school's nickname from Greenclads to Titans was announced in glimmering fireworks.

Tech's Golden Anniversary year, 1962, was the final year for a Junior High School to be located on the campus. The Junior High School in the next year will occupy the new Public School 101 (H. L. Harshman Junior High School) located on the north side of the Tech grounds.

The Cafeteria-Music Building (William F. Moon Music Hall), which began construction in 1964, opens in September of 1965. Lunch facilities move from the Artillery Building, vocal music moves from the Main (Treadwell), instrumental music moves from the Barn (Allen Hall), and the Cannon Publication Dept. moves from the West Residence.

The Civil War era Artillery Building which was used by Tech as the "old" Lunch Room is torn down in 1965.

1970 to 1979

The East Gymnasium and Natatorium is opened in 1977.

The Hanson Hale Anderson Auditorium is added to the campus in 1977.

The Cecil L. McClintock Media Center is opened in 1977.

The "Old" Shops are named George L. Lone Hall in 1977.

1980 to 1989 xxx

1990 to 1999

The Cafeteria-Music Building is renamed the William F. Moon Music Hall in April of 1993.

The Civil War era Barn is named Edith Allen Hall in 1995.

2000 to 2009 xxx

2010 to 2019 The Chase Near Eastside Legacy Center is added to the campus in 2012.