Emmerich Manual High School

To provide training in such fields as mechanics, drafting, and the domestic arts, a resolution was adopted which petitioned the Indiana General Assembly to permit the school board to levy a tax for the construction of a new industrial school in Indianapolis. On June 14, 1888, the board went on record as favoring the proposed step in manual training education and voted to establish two such classes in the Indianapolis High School. Forty students enrolled in these first classes, and enthusiasm for the undertaking grew. A bill to enable the Board of School Commissioners to levy a tax for the construction of an industrial school in Indianapolis (House Bill 811) was introduced in the Indiana House of Representatives on February 19, 1891. With the support of the Marion County legislators the bill passed the House easily: however, it did not reach the Senate floor until the closing days of the General Assembly, On the next to last day of the legislature, Senator Thompson of Marion County was persuaded to sponsor the bill. Because his name would not be reached in sufficient time to present the bill, Senator Fuik of Monroe and Brown counties at the last minute presented the bill to the Senate. This bill, permitting the collection of five cents on every hundred dollars of taxable property in Indianapolis for the establishment of an industrial training school, was passed with one dissenting vote, on March 7, 1891.

Although several sites were considered, the south side was favored because there was no high school already in that area. In 1894 school authorities purchased for $40,000 a tract of land with a frontage of 420 feet (130 m) on Meridian Sheet, 183 feet (56 m) on Merrill Street, and 331 feet (101 m) on Madison Avenue, forming a triangle.

Dedication ceremonies for the Industrial Training School at 525 South Meridian Street in Indianapolis took place on May 31, 1895.[2]

In 1899, the school was renamed Manual Training School. In 1916, it was renamed Charles E. Emmerich Manual Training High School, in honor of the first principal of the Industrial Training High School.[2]

On June 7, 1920, the cornerstone of the "South Building" extension was laid. This would include an auditorium, cafeteria and new gymnasium. A portion of this wing collapsed while under construction in November 1920. The addition opened in the Spring of 1922.[2]

In 1953, the Charles E. Emmerich Manual Training High School relocated to 2405 Madison Avenue, its present location. The Meridian Street facility was renamed the Harry E. Wood Vocational Training School, which operated until 1978. The South Building was razed in 1986.[2]