Emerson Vocational High School


Emerson Vocational High School was a vocational high school in Buffalo, New York. It was located at 1405 Sycamore Street in Buffalo's East Side and served Grades 9 through 12. It closed in 2002. Emerson re-opened that fall as the Emerson School of Hospitality located at 86 West Chippewa Street, in Buffalo's Downtown Entertainment District, with a restaurant and banquet facility open to the public and managed by students and teachers.

History

Emerson High School was one of Buffalo's multiple vocational schools, focusing on upholstery, tailoring, cabinetmaking, machine shop, welding, drafting, painting, baking and culinary arts. The school was formed in the early 1911 as Peckham Boys Vocational High School. In 1926, the Sycamore Street building was constructed. The school would later be renamed for former Buffalo Superintendent Henry P. Emerson. In 1975, the school became co-ed. The school closed in 2002, but re-opened on Chippewa Street as Emerson School of Hospitality. The building was renovated and now houses School 97, Harvey Austin School.

Former principals

Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses
  • William W. Miller-1911-1933
  • Richard A. Reagen-1933-1950
  • David Warnhoff-1950-1954
  • John F. Collins-1954-1960
  • Robert E. May-1960-?
  • Robert Fritzinger-?-1977
  • Edmund Olczak-1977-1980
  • John F. Robinson; 1980-1984
  • Angelo J. Gianturco-1988
  • Salvatore J. Sedita-1988-1998
  • John G. Lyon-1998-2002 closed last graduating class in 2002
  • James G. Weimer, Jr.-2002-2005

Alumni