Adel High School - Scarlet and Black Yearbook (Adel, IA)

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::f.a:- 'f -:- '- -- -f -- sf -- -- 0- -f -- -- -- .- .- .- .-- -- A- - -4, 1914 Commencement +P- 713:i1?1f1:2Qa0Le22.1:-vas-:rmsfvslfsni:sQ:2i::'-:sxss-v::L::-vs:-:GA-r:A.S1:Q' NOTHER class has been added to the already long list of those leaving Adel High School, and in one sense that of l9l4 was peculiarly prominent among the graduating classes. Their passing from the halls of Adel High School marked an era - ' in Iowa educational affairs. Their graduation was emphasized by the razing of the old home of the Adel schools, the three-story brick build- ing erected some years before. The destruction of the old building revived memories in the minds of many an Adel resident, and touched the hearts of all its graduates. But if any class had been selected by authorities for the particular honor of being the last to graduate from the honored old school house, it could have come no nearer perfection than that class, which by chance was to be thus rewarded, the class of l9l4. So high were the members of this class in scholarship, so valiant in athletics, so effective in their leadership of the school and so successful in their attempts to lift the institution to a higher plane, that their names will stand long in the annals of Adel High School. It is particularly significant, that coincident with the consummation of the class's school career of culture. the outgrown shelter of time-worn bricks that formed the bonds of conservatism should have crumbled to the ground and upon its site sprung a shelter of progress, typifying in its architecture. structure and atmosphere the hone and promise of knowledge and enlightenment. The commencement of I9I4 can be properly said to have begun on the night of May 25, when the annual banquet given by the Junior class was held. Gathered together upon that occasion were the classes of 1914 and l9l5. and the faculty of the year 1913-I4. Professor Lindeman, super- intendent of schools for the past four years, headed the faculty, which was composed of Miss Elsie Axten, principal of the high school then as she is nowg Mrs. R. E.. Joy, the veteran of the faculty: Miss Marcia Wilson, now Mrs. Ralph Hoffman: Miss Carol Conger, now Mrs. Van Storm, and Miss Catherine Alden, now Mrs. Brown, of Lincoln, Neb. Among the mem- bers of the class of l9l4 was Clark Biggs, to whose name a long list of high school titles could be added, a leader of the school for over three years: Lester Chance, supreme athlete for many miles about, and winner of many a victory for the Scarlet and Black. a true sportsman and gentlemang Geneva Wiles, perhaps the most popular young lady and greatest student ever attending Adel High School, at the head of her class and graduating with an extraordi- narily high standingg Ross Smith, noted as a musician of abilityg Mary Celley. who is now training for teaching, and a number of other talented and true young men and women who have matriculated in the school of life. In the class of I9I5 were Ruth Chamberlin. editor-in-chief of the school annual last year: Golden Mitchell and Marv Frances Clark, efficient business mana- gers of the annual, under whose direction the class expenses were cleared away almost before the annual was issued: Mary F ox, toastmistress of the even-

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+A - . - .- M- .- .......,. -- H- .f .A -- --A -Psa., .21-,, ifn -vsxf-.ss Letter from Hazel Ferguson ref.,-1.-Gfgaefv, 2,521 -are'-6.5. Miss Elizabeth Storm, Editor l9l6 Scarlet and Black, Adel, Iowa. Dear Miss Storm: The one event which stands out above all others in the history of the class of '07 is the famous class scrap of l906, the year we were Juniors. Contrary to the usual custom, our class and the Senior class were the best of friends, likewise sworn enemies to the two lower classes. On account of this feeling of good fellowship for our Senior brothers and sisters, we decided that the Senior-Junior banquet should be an affair far superior to the banquets our predecessors had offered. We hired the Woodman I-lall, furnished it with all the rugs and rock- ing chairs that our long-suffering mothers would furnish, decorated with plants and pennants, secured the services of the Industrial Society to furnish the eats and sat up nights making hand-painted placecards fto the neglect of lessonsj. Meanwhile the Sophs and Freshies were just as busy making plans of an entirely different nature. The son of the county sheriff was inveigled into furnishing handcuffs and shackles, and a supply of white paint was secured. The evening of the banquet the girls arrived at the hall early. They waited and waited, but no boys. At last sounds of warfare arose from the streets below, and the boys dashed up the stairs, minus coats, hats and collars. bruised and muddy and one dangling a pair of shackles. The Sophs and Freshies had made their plans work. On calling the roll two were found missing and the boys went forth to their rescue, finding one hidden in a coal bin, the other still a captive. By this time the town marshal had been called to quell the riot and peace was once more restored. After thread and needle had mended rent garments, bruises dressed and fresh collars found for the crowd, the banquet proceeded, just an hour behind time. Next morning everything from the standpipe to the big rock at the corner of the schoolhouse yard boasted the '08 and '09 numerals, but what did we care. for in our possession was one pair of shackles, worth some five dollars. for which, in due time, the '08 and '09 classes had to pay. This explains why there was no banquet for the '07's. Of course this was a long time ago and such an affair in this present day and age would be entirely out of place, but-well, the members of the class of '07 still know where those shackles are. HAZEL T. FERGUSON, '07

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ing and a host of other social and scholastic successes. The banquet was conceded to be the most successful ever staged in Adel. The next event of importance was the Baccalaureate, held in the Meth- odist church on Sunday evening. May l 7, the sermon, a masterly effort, being delivered by the Rev. Ira T. Hawk, of the Presbyterian church. Upon this occasion the class made its initial appearance in the cap and gown, being the first class in the history of the school to adopt the dress. This speaks volumes for the democracy of the class and the attitude of Professor Lindeman, who was the prime factor in establishing the custom. On the next Friday evening, May 22, occurred the final event of the year, the commencement, at the splendid Adel opera house. The building was filled to capacity. and the interest of the audience typified the spirit of the citizens, who, by their support of the schools, both financially and per- sonally, have made possible great progress in educational lines. After a few preliminaries, Superintendent Lindeman introduced Dr. Arthur McMurray, who delivered an excellent address full of inspirational messages. Dr. McMurray was enthusiastically received and his advice to the class was listened to with intense interest by the audience. A beautiful quartet of voices followed and presented Schumann's Summer Song. The valedictory, a great piece of work, was then given by the honor student of the class, Miss Geneva Wiles. After a delightful vocal duet by Ethel James and Viola Buchanan, the president of the board of education, D. E. Luther, with an appropriate speech, presented each of the class with a diploma, tied in the class colors. With the class song, Waltz and Chorus, from Faust, given in concert, the exercises adjourned. Immediately after the close of the evening's program, a meeting of the newly-graduated class was held and a temporary organization of Adel High School Alumni, with the members of the class as members, and the oflicers of the class as temporary officers of the alumni organization, was formed. Committees were appointed to plan for a general gathering of the alumni and to effect a permanent organization. This meeting, after much expense and labor on the part of the class, was held on the evening of July I4, when a permanent organization of the Alumni of Adel High School was established. A constitution was adopted embodying many of the ideals pre- sented by the class of l9l 4. A committee was appointed to act in co-opera- tion with the school authorities for the advancement of the school. The commencement of l9l4 was a fitting climax to the high school course of the class of l9l4. a commencement that will long stand as the most successful cver held in Adel High School. V. S.'l4