MILFORD ACADEMY HISTORY

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     In 1913, the brothers added a preparatory department, which grew so rapidly that by 1916 it required all of their time. In 1916, they established the Rosenbaum School, on the old William S. Pond Estate, located on Gulf Street near New Haven Avenue in Milford. The name was officially changed to Milford School by 1920. This new school was founded as a preparatory academy, while the New Haven institution continued its primary function as a tutoring school. The Milford location proivided the proper steadfastness to continue operating Rosenbaum School in New Haven; Harris, however, spent most of his time at Milford School. Although the brothers maintained two campuses, they still shared the same clerical and teaching staff. The office staff worked out of Milford, but the teaching staff had to keep their sneakers and cleats handy, because they always seemed to be teaching classes back-to-back, the two different campuses, and were constantly on the move.

     Meanwhile, the potential for growth increases as more family members entered the educational field. Another cousin, Harry J. Kugel, was the owner of the Kohur School, in Harrison, New York; his sister Bertha, and cousin Jennie Kugel taught in New Haven schools. His sister, Gertrude, was the librarian at Barnard School in New Haven. Other family members were scholarly Yale alumni. After a while, the terms Rosenbaum and Yale became synonymous. The Rosenbaum Tutoring School, however, remained independent, stalking its sovereignty to anyone who beckoned. Yet there remained and unspoken partnership between Rosenbaum and Yale. Yale professors started sending their students to the Rosenbaum brothers for tutoring, avoiding the need to avail themselves to their students after hours. So, the professors had a tutorial service, and the Rosenbaums had themselves a full-time occupation. Simply stated, the Rosenbaums Tutoring School was founded to fill avoid existing at Yale.

     Time magazine (December 14, 1936) referred to Sam and Harris Rosenbaum as 'Yales leading tutors'. The tutoring school was the only one of its kind around, although the Hopkins Grammar School, Hamden Hall, and the Day School, also maintained long-standing high reputations. There was also the Collegiate School which taught not only college preparatory courses, but art and secretarial skills. It was operated by Headmaster Samuel H. Pite, the beginnings of which parallel those of the Rosenbaum Tutoring School. These schools, however, did not enjoy a relationship with Yale, as was the good fortune of Rosenbaum.

     Predicated on the philosophy that students learn best in small groups, the Milford Academy still maintains unerring principle. The Rosenbaums built a legacy that would be known to generations that followed. Some of the more famous students include: Vincent Price, Efram Zimbalist Jr., famous hollywood actors, and California Senator George Murphy, Pillsbury Mills Executive Phillip Pillsbury, Henry Ringling North, and former U.N. Ambassador to Norway Phillip Kingsland Crowe are famous graduates.

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