Lost in time. That is what Emerson High School in Union City, New Jersey is. Let’s step back in time and explore the vibrant history of this institution.
Emerson High School first opened its doors as the sole high school in West Hoboken, New Jersey. This was before West Hoboken merged with Union Hill in 1925. The merger created Union City. Emerson High School then became one of two high schools serving the new city.
Students living south of the Route 495 overpass attended Emerson High School. Those north of it went to Union Hill High School. This boundary shifted over time to balance enrollment. By 2007, both schools had about 1,500 students. They offered similar schedules and courses.
Emerson High School had unique programs. Union Hill had a stronger arts focus. Emerson, however, didn’t have an R.O.T.C. program like Union Hill. Both schools offered career education like childcare, hospitality, and fashion. Union City was known for its embroidery factories.
Superintendent Stanley M. Sanger noted many transfer requests between the schools. Students often wanted to switch for academic interests or family connections. Most requests were approved.
Emerson High School’s ranking varied. In 2008, New Jersey Monthly ranked it 288th out of 316 schools. In 2006, it was 265th.
Enrollment at Emerson High School remained steady from 2003 to 2007. Class sizes averaged 17.4 students in 2003. By 2007, they grew to 20.7. The student-faculty ratio was around 10:1 in 2003 and 12:1 in 2007.
City-Data gave Emerson High School a score of 12 out of 100 in 2010. The graduation rate in 2007 was 86.1 percent.
Emerson High School closed in June 2008. It merged with Union Hill High School to form Union City High School. The new school opened in 2009 on the site of Roosevelt Stadium. Both former high schools became middle schools. Emerson High School is now Emerson Middle School.
Emerson High School had a strong athletic tradition. The football team won the Hudson County championship in 1939. They beat St. Michael’s High School 7-6. Emerson competed in the Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic Association.
The boys’ basketball team won the 2000 North I Group III state sectional championship. They defeated Fort Lee High School in the final.
The annual Turkey Game was a major event. Union Hill and Emerson played each other on Thanksgiving for 88 years. The tradition began in 1919. It symbolized the rivalry between the two towns. Crowds of up to 15,000 attended in the 1930s and 40s.
Stanley M. Sanger described the rivalry as a Mason-Dixon line. The winning school received a half-day off. The Turkey Game ended in 2007 when the schools merged. Union Hill won the final game.
Many notable people attended Emerson High School. Erick Morillo was a famous DJ. William Musto was a politician. Cliff Osmond was a character actor. Esther Salas became a U.S. District Court judge. Alan Weiss is a successful entrepreneur. Frank Winters played for the Green Bay Packers.
Otis Davis, an Olympic gold medalist, worked as a truancy officer at Emerson. Anthony Louis Scarmolin directed the school’s music programs.
Emerson High School’s legacy lives on. It is remembered for its history, traditions, and the achievements of its students and faculty. Though the building now serves as a middle school, the spirit of Emerson High School remains.