Clarence C. Townsend
Clarence C. Townsend was born in Westhampton, Massachusetts, in 1892, the son of Rev. Arthur C. Townsend and Ida Cobb Townsend. He excelled in school, completing his preparation for college at Doane Academy before matriculating at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, where he earned his degree in 1914. He continued his education at the University of Maine in Orono where he was awarded a Master’s of Science degree.
Mr. Townsend began his life's call as a teacher immediately after graduation from Bates College, teaching at Wellfleet High School in Massachusetts. He continued there until he was hired to teach at Meriden High School in Connecticut. After a few years in Meriden, he transferred to New London High School and taught there until 1930 when he took a position at Branford High School as a teacher and assistant principal. In 1925, Mr. Townsend married Marion B. Chisholm from Salem, Massachusetts. In 1931, they had a daughter, Elizabeth Chisholm Townsend, who grew up in Branford. During the 1930's C.C.T., as many referred to him, played an important role in helping students whose lives had become blighted because of the Great Depression. He helped to make BHS a second home to his students. He was often called "Pop Townsend" because of his father figure presence at the school. Students remember him as being friendly, popular and extremely fair. Pop Townsend was an upbeat individual who loved teaching and learning and projected a calming influence during the tragic days when many of his "boys" went off to war.
One of his former students wrote about him recently. "(Clarence was) always lovingly referred to as "Pop" by all the students, always kind, compassionate and understanding. I remember his handling of a minor insurrection of a few sophomore members of the class of '49 who decided to wear dungarees before school let out for the summer. Unfortunately, for this occasion they picked the day that the American Legion and town dignitaries were coming to the high school for a Memorial Day assembly. Needless to say the group was immediately sent to the office to see Mr. Townsend. Although several office members were for immediate suspension, Pop only smiled and sent the embarrassed students to the closest home to call home so they could change their dungarees into something presentable and then return to school. What administrator would take that same tactic today? Incidentally, one of the students was the truant officer's niece; another was the principal's daughter. Pop was also a physics teacher who filled in for the regular physics teacher if no substitute was available. He could also be found in any classroom that needed supervision before a substitute arrived. He simply loved to teach and he loved the students in his charge.
During the early 1950's, overcrowded conditions forced the school system to go on double sessions. The high school students started school at 7 A.M. and ended at 12:20 P.M. The junior high students began at 12:30 P.M. and ended at 5:10 P.M. During this time Mr. Townsend was the high school principal and continued his compassionate running of the school, substituting for teachers when they were absent and also covering the last twenty minute of a class which was being taught by a member of the junior high staff who needed a lunch break before starting the junior high session"
The "Milestone" was dedicated to Clarence Townsend three times in the twenty-four years he worked at Branford High School. In 1932, 1952 and in 1953, in memoriam, he was selected by his students for this honor. In 1953, the tribute recorded, "In loving tribute to the kindly man who, for twenty-four years, promoted the high standard of integrity of this school and molded toward that goal the characters and personalities of those who came within these walls; a friendly man, who dealt in fairness with each girl and boy and teacher, never underestimating the value of the personal, encouraging word; an honest man, who gave unsparingly of his time and strength and intellectual capacity, serving always beyond the call of mere administrative duty; a gently man."
Mr. Townsend began his life's call as a teacher immediately after graduation from Bates College, teaching at Wellfleet High School in Massachusetts. He continued there until he was hired to teach at Meriden High School in Connecticut. After a few years in Meriden, he transferred to New London High School and taught there until 1930 when he took a position at Branford High School as a teacher and assistant principal. In 1925, Mr. Townsend married Marion B. Chisholm from Salem, Massachusetts. In 1931, they had a daughter, Elizabeth Chisholm Townsend, who grew up in Branford. During the 1930's C.C.T., as many referred to him, played an important role in helping students whose lives had become blighted because of the Great Depression. He helped to make BHS a second home to his students. He was often called "Pop Townsend" because of his father figure presence at the school. Students remember him as being friendly, popular and extremely fair. Pop Townsend was an upbeat individual who loved teaching and learning and projected a calming influence during the tragic days when many of his "boys" went off to war.
One of his former students wrote about him recently. "(Clarence was) always lovingly referred to as "Pop" by all the students, always kind, compassionate and understanding. I remember his handling of a minor insurrection of a few sophomore members of the class of '49 who decided to wear dungarees before school let out for the summer. Unfortunately, for this occasion they picked the day that the American Legion and town dignitaries were coming to the high school for a Memorial Day assembly. Needless to say the group was immediately sent to the office to see Mr. Townsend. Although several office members were for immediate suspension, Pop only smiled and sent the embarrassed students to the closest home to call home so they could change their dungarees into something presentable and then return to school. What administrator would take that same tactic today? Incidentally, one of the students was the truant officer's niece; another was the principal's daughter. Pop was also a physics teacher who filled in for the regular physics teacher if no substitute was available. He could also be found in any classroom that needed supervision before a substitute arrived. He simply loved to teach and he loved the students in his charge.
During the early 1950's, overcrowded conditions forced the school system to go on double sessions. The high school students started school at 7 A.M. and ended at 12:20 P.M. The junior high students began at 12:30 P.M. and ended at 5:10 P.M. During this time Mr. Townsend was the high school principal and continued his compassionate running of the school, substituting for teachers when they were absent and also covering the last twenty minute of a class which was being taught by a member of the junior high staff who needed a lunch break before starting the junior high session"
The "Milestone" was dedicated to Clarence Townsend three times in the twenty-four years he worked at Branford High School. In 1932, 1952 and in 1953, in memoriam, he was selected by his students for this honor. In 1953, the tribute recorded, "In loving tribute to the kindly man who, for twenty-four years, promoted the high standard of integrity of this school and molded toward that goal the characters and personalities of those who came within these walls; a friendly man, who dealt in fairness with each girl and boy and teacher, never underestimating the value of the personal, encouraging word; an honest man, who gave unsparingly of his time and strength and intellectual capacity, serving always beyond the call of mere administrative duty; a gently man."