Alton High School - Tatler Yearbook (Alton, IL)

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A LOOK INTO THE PAST OF THE TATLER. In 1905 the first Tatler was published. This Tatler was printed and compiled under the direction of Miss Bertha Ferguson. As this was the first Tatler, it might be interesting to see who composed the staff: Editor-in-Chief—Alida Bowler. Assistants—Lucia Bowman, Lucille Ewers. Art Editor—William Koehne. Business Manager—Clyde Porter. It is very interesting to compare the number on the staff then and the number on it now. Five on 1905 staff and ten on 1923 staff. Some of the other well-known people who have been on Tatler staffs are: Elden Betts, who was killed in action during the world war; Paul Zerwekh, Carl Hartman, Walter (“Punk”) Wood, Talket (Bud) Wells, and last but not least, Joseph Dromgoole. We say “not least” because we are very sure that you will all know Joe. In 1911 the Tatler almost suffered a discontinuance. It seems that in 1908 a monthly magazine named the “Piasa Quill” was published by the Seniors. The school decided that it could not support both of these publications, so it was resolved to have only one. The only reason, probably, that the next issue of the Tatler went to press, or wherever they went in those days, was that it was three years older than the Piasa Quill. But anyway, this number of the Tatler has been issued, and as students of Alton High School, it is your duty to support it, and all the other issues that may follow it while you are in school. Page Seven

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A CONDENSED HISTORY OF ALTON HIGH SCHOOL. The first Alton High School, the one which some of our grandfathers attended, was opened in the basement of the Unitarian church in 1858, Yes, it was A. D., but the present needs of this school make it seem like 1858 B. C. About 1866 the need of a better High School was felt, so the pupils were moved to the newly built Number Two, or, as we call it, Lincoln School. The man who had the honor of being the first principal of Alton High School in history was a man by the name of Mr. Raimend. Mr. Raimend must have had a tough job being principal of the first Alton High School as he stuck it out for only two years. At about that time the curriculum was extended to the astounding length of two years. Later, under the reign of Superintendent Principal E. A. Haight, in 1870, the two year term was stretched to three years. As soon as the High School pupils were established in their new building they evidently began elating so loudly and so much that no principal could stay very long. Figures don’t lie, and figures show that from 1866 to 1875 no principal did stay for more than two years. In 1875 R. A. Haight became principal and held that position until 1880 when he was elected superintendent of schools. After that the jinx seems to have been broken, for the shortest stay of any principal thereafter was two years. During Mr. G. E. Wilkinson’s term of office (1893-’96) the present four-year curriculum was introduced. On June 11th, 1902 ,the Masonic fraternity of Alton laid the cornerstone of the present Alton High School building. At that time the enrollment of the school was less than two hundred for, according to old timers, the seats in front of the transverse aisle were not even filled. From that time on the number of pupils in Alton High School grew rapidly until in the year 1914 the annex was made necessary due to the overcrowding. Then a few years ago the still more rapid increase necessitated the buying of the old Boals homestead, now called the Commercial Building. At present writing we are on the verge of voting for money to build a new, bigger, and better Alton High School. Will we go through with it, or will we go through it—by the fallen bottom route? All together now, louder! We’ll go through with it! Page Nine