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How Central High School’s mascot became the Lancers after years of being known as the Mirrors

In 1960, Central High School changed its mascot from the Mirrors, which was named after the school's literary magazine, to the Lancers after a student contest was held.

Central’s mascot since 1960 has been the Lancer, a knight who rides proudly with a lance and his trusty horse.
Central’s mascot since 1960 has been the Lancer, a knight who rides proudly with a lance and his trusty horse.Read moreIsabella DiAmore

“What is a Mirror?”

Many Central High School alumni still don’t know the answer to that question.

Central was founded in 1836, and until the 1960s, its mascot was called the Mirrors, a nod to the student-run literary magazine known as The Mirror, which was established in 1885 and is the oldest publishing high school magazine in the United States.

But what would a Mirror look like? In a 1959 edition of the Centralizer, the school’s student paper, a poll was taken among students to find out if they knew what a Mirror meant. Many said they had no clue. Some said it had to do with the idea of reflection.

According to the Centralizer, the nickname started to appear in the school’s paper in 1926, referencing Mirrors as the student body and athletic teams. But the phrase never appeared in the school’s magazine. It has addressed the students or teams as “the Red and Gold,” Central’s school colors.

The student body, which was all boys until 1983, when it began to allow female applicants after a long legal battle, decided it was time for a change.

In 1959, a contest was held by the student association to nominate a new mascot. Some of the names submitted included Beatniks, Dragons, and Redmen.

The creator of the winning design would receive a “handsome” athletic sweater from the school store, the Centralizer wrote, while two runners-up would be awarded a $5 gift certificate to the school store.

David Kahn, the school’s historian and a 1963 graduate, said he believes the discussion about a new mascot name stemmed from the school’s rival, Northeast High, changing its name from the Archives to the Vikings.

“In 1956, when the new Northeast opened on Cottman Avenue from 8th Street and Lehigh Avenue — that old building became Thomas Edison High School — I think that’s when they changed their mascot to the Vikings,” Kahn said. “I’ve never verified that, but seeing that Northeast was no longer an Archive, people here started to think more about it.”

In March 1960, Central officially announced its new mascot. The student association president at the time, Randy Young, revealed a pin bearing the nickname Lancers, with a knight in armor holding a lance. The creator of the pin was David Goodman, a 1960 graduate.

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“The general opinion was that the old name Mirrors was static that it brought no image of school to mind,” the Centralizer wrote in May 1960. “After consultation with the Associated Alumni the name and mascot ‘Lancers’ was chosen.”

Central has been known as Lancers for 64 years and counting. The crimson red and gold colors remain.

Kahn said the change is a significant moment in the history of Central, the second-oldest high school in the country.

“We always have to look forward in what we’re trying to do now,” Kahn said. “Just like back then to make it a very special and important place. That’s our history. We’re still creating history every day. I tell the kids that you’re already in our archives when you enter the building.”

In The Inquirer’s Mascot Bracket, we’re looking for the best amateur mascot in the Philadelphia area. The winning mascot earns a $1,000 donation for its school’s athletic department. Voting ends April 5 at 4 p.m.