Adrian High School - Sickle Yearbook (Adrian, MI)

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young people is seldom seen. We had not been settled in this new territory very long when it was deemed advisable for us to organize. Our first general assembly was held in October of 1895, at which time Clarence Wilcox was elected president and VVilfred Shaw secretary. Our meetings, of which we had but few during our Freshman year, were in keeping with our position in the High School. The dignity a11d strict observ- ance of parliamentary law were extraordinary, apple cores, erasers and umbrellas playing an active part in the spirited arguments which often arose. VVe allowed the first winter to slip by without a class sleigh ride, but in the following June joined the other classes in a picnic at Sand Lake. It is needless to say that this was one of the most enjoyable events of the year, and did much towards strengthening the bonds of friendship between the classes. Soon after this came the long summer Vacation, which we thought had been earned by faithful and diligent toil. When September came again and the mandatory clang of the bell was again heard, we returned to our duties, not as Freshmen, but as second year students. Many changes had been made: Mr. Curtis had been elected Superintendent of Schools in our city, and Mr. Stratton D. Brooks had been ap- pointed Principal of the High School, the position Mr. Curtis had occupied for seventeen years. Several days passed before we had adapted ourselves to our new surroundings, but very soon matters connnenced to move along smoothly. At the outset of this new school year, the strength and worth of 'QQ became more noticeable than ever. We were strongly represented in both literary societies and in the foot ball team. In social events the Class of '99 took no back seat. We were rapidly growing out of our semi-barbarous state and taking upon ourselves an enlightened appearance. Outside of the general course of events, the first semester of our Sophomore year was a quiet one. The first snow storm was late in coming, but as we had allowed one winter to pass over our heads without a class sleigh ride, extra efforts were made to have one on this occasion. Roy Beal announced that his home, seven miles west of the city, could be had for the taking, and to that pleasant place we made our way on as beautiful a winter's night as could be asked for. Arriving there, we were ushered into the dining room, where we did ample justice to an oyster stew. The evening was passed in playing games and dancing, and at an early hour the next morning we departed for home. In the spring term the officers who had conducted affairs for a year and a half stepped down, and in their stead Sadie Edwards became president and Chas. Morden secretary. The next important event came in June. Again we com- bined with the other classes of the school for the annual picnic at Sand Lake. This was as pronounced a success as it had been the year before. When next we assembled in the class room it was to com- mence our Junior year, and the second half of our sojourn in the High School. VVith the advent of the third year we were obliged to lose from our number some of those who had been with us from the earliest days of our school life. Among them xx ere Jennie Moreland, Charlotte Lane, Edna Culver and Percy Wines. Their leaving was a serious blow to us and one from which we have never fully recovered. XVhen one enters

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......CLASS HISTORYM... HISTORY, according to Suley, grat- ifies the curiosty of the reader about the past, modifies his views of the present, and his forecast of the fu- ture. Every organization has a his- tory. In some instances it is a noble one, and one of which its makers may well be proud. Gur attention is usually directed to the exploits of great men and the rise of nations form petty sovereignties to world powers. We seldom think of the histories that are being formed from day to day by the organized classes in our public schools. It will prove interesting without doubt to those who have not been associated with us during our life in the High School to learn something of our rise from obscurity in the grammar school to an enviable place of prominence among the powers which have dominated the halls of Old Central during the past four years. While we were yet a comparatively obscure organization in the grammar school, the marked advancement which we had made in literary pursuits had been noted by the enlight- ened bodies which had gone before us. For some years we had been looking forward to the time when we should reach that degree of excellence which would enable us to cross the divide and establish a republic of our own in the broader ter- ritory. The sunnner of 1895 was a long one for our little band, but at last our hopes were realized, and the day which was to become a landmark in our lives was at hand. The doors of Old Central opened before us, and what was to become the famous Class of '99 commenced its campaign. In base ball and foot ball, as well as in literary work, we had had some experience, so that on entering the High School we were immediately considered capable of taking an active part in both literary and athletic circles. During our Freshmen year our forces were divided, the girls being placed under the watchful eye of Miss Smith, while the boys were assigned to the care of Miss Sperry. As a class we were possessed of that happy gift of independence which is necessary to success, and when we were called upon to march into chapel for the first time, we did it with all the dignity and self-assurance that we could muster up, thus gain- ing the favor and admiration of the upper classes. Mr. Curtis was our principal then, and gave us a most hearty welcome. After his pleasing address, we went to our respective rooms, and at last realized that we were indeed members of Adrian High School. We certainly commenced this new period of our history under the most auspicious circumstances. Our forces were large, and a more active, energetic and ambitious company of

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upon his third year in the High School, he begins to feel his importance. It is then that he realizes that he will soon occupy the middle east room, the room upon which every Freshman looks with eyes filled with awe and wonderment. It was a pleasant and prosperous year for us, though not an eventful one. Aside from the animal sleigh ride in january and the picnic in june, nothing of importance affecting the class as a whole took place, though the nmnerous clubs in the school, the histories of which must ever remain unwritten, made life interesting for those desiring amusement. In the autunm of 1898 we entered upon our fourth and last year in Adrian High School. We assumed our rank as Seniors gracefully and, as Seniors generally do, made ourselves an example of excellence for the lower classes. It was not long before it became evident that the younger generation was an observing one and, from present indications, we may expect worthy successors. We were now entirely independent of all classes and factions in the school--a little nation by ourselves. Settled as we were in a room of our own, with Miss Louise B. Stickney as our mistress, we were prepared to spend a pleasant and profitable year. Mr. Brooks had accepted a position as superintendent of a large school at LaSalle, Ill., and Mr. Welch, formerly of the Jackson High School, had taken his place as our principal. In coming to our school, Mr. Welch had a difficult position to fill. His predecessor, Mr. Brooks had been a very popular teacher, and some of the students, principally the boys, were at tirst rather disposed to feel unkindly towards our new principal when he enforced stricter rules than had been customary, but at the present time we are pleased to state that these same boys are to be found among Mr. Welch's warmest friends. We commenced to lay plans for the year early in September. During the third week of that month a business session of the class was held, at which time officers were elected for the year. Clarence Wilcox was again chosen chief executive, showing the high regard in which he is held by the class. At the same time Hattie Rowley became secretary, Jerome Moran treasurer and Mr. Case sergeant-at-arms. Mr. Case was obliged to leave school soon after his election, and Leon Treat became sergeant in his place. We had decided to issue an annual at commencement, and in October held another session for the purpose of choosing the board of editors. This was an important step and demanded the most careful attention and consideration of the class. As a result, an exceedingly competent body was chosen, and with Robert Park as editor-in-chief, and Wilfred Shaw as business manager, the two latter having been appointed by the teachers of last year, the class of ,QQ was prepared to issue a fine volume. Miss Grace Langdon, who had gone to Europe to live just before we became Seniors, has been our European correspondent, and has written many inter- esting letters. In December, as in the winter of our Sophomore year, we enjoyed a sleigh ride to the home of Roy Beal, and it was a success in every particular. On the evening of March gd, our class gave a social in the High School room, the proceeds of which, together with the amount realized during the year from general taxation, were sufficient to defray all our graduating expenses. This, of