George A. Burridge- Principal of Springfield's Trade School

George A. Burridge
1940 Trade School Yearbook (Beaver)

In 1919 George A. Burridge became the Principal of the Vocational School in Springfield, MA. It was located on the second floor of a factory on Taylor Street. It was a school for boys interested in learning a trade. 

Mr. Burridge had immigrated from Nova Scotia, Canada and learned the Patternmaking trade at the General Electric Co. in Lynn, MA from 1906- 1909. He arrived in Springfield, MA in 1909 and worked in this trade. A few years later in 1915 he accepted a position at Central High School in Springfield. Then, a year later he was assigned to teach patternmaking and electrical drawing at the vocational school. Three years later (in 1919) Mr. Burridge was promoted to become Principal Burridge of Vocational School.

At first he and his wife Mary and their four children (George, John, Mary and Helen) lived in Springfield. In 1925 they moved to a home at 81 Massachusetts Avenue in Longmeadow, MA. Principal Burridge oversaw the education of so many young people who also became skilled laborers during WWII and beyond. These young people were hired by local companies to manufacture the goods that were needed at this time period. 

As more and more boys seeked an education at this school a new building was erected in 1921 at 32 Spring Street in Springfield. The name of the school was changed to Trade School in 1923. Even more students enrolled. 

Trade School
at 32 Spring Street
1940 Yearbook

In 1934 trade courses for girls were organized. In Springfield the girls attended the Girls' division of the Trade School that was located in Springfield's former Hooker School on North Main Street. Mrs. Margaret Ells became the assistant principal of Trade School. She was in charge of the girls.

So many young people were interested in learning a trade that an even larger facility was needed. At this time Principal Burridge oversaw the construction of the new larger trade school that would be located at 1324 State Street in Springfield. Construction began in 1938. 

Trade School
1324 State Street
1940 Trade Yearbook

The new Trade School opened for both young men and young women in the Fall of 1940.

In addition to Springfield students, so many young people from surrounding towns attended and graduated from this vocational school- including students from Longmeadow. The Class of 1940 included Longmeadow residents Joseph Lang, Jr., Bruno M. Gallerani, David D'Antonio and Evaldo H. Morace.  In 1948 the name of this school was changed to Trade High School. 

Longmeadow resident Principal George A. Burridge received an honorary doctorate degree, Doctor of Humanities, from American International College in 1941. He resigned as the principal of Springfield Trade School in 1949 to return to Canada and take a new position in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Dr. Burridge became the first vocational school principal in Nova Scotia. Then, he retired as principal at that school and returned to his love of teaching the trades of patternmaking and mechanical drawing- until retiring from his profession in 1959. 

Dr. George A. Burridge and his wife Mary raised their children in Longmeadow while living at 81 Massachusetts Avenue. Mary passed away in 1953 in Nova Scotia. Dr. Burridge remarried and he later died in 1969. This gentleman was a very dedicated educator here in Springfield, MA and also in Nova Scotia, Canada. He had a great dedication to educating so many young people in the trades.    

Note:  In 1972 the Springfield School Committee voted to change the name of Trade High School to Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical High School.    

Sources: 1925, 1948 Longmeadow Directory; 1918, 1924 Springfield Directory; Springfield Daily News- Feb. 9, 1953 and Nov. 10, 1973; Springfield Republican- Oct. 17, 1948 and The Springfield Union- Mar 12, 1969; 1920, 1930, 1940  U.S. Federal Census. 

~Written by Judy Moran/ Longmeadow Historian