Aurora Central High School - Borealis Yearbook (Aurora, CO)

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SENIOR PROPHECY On May 29. 1941. just ten years to the day since I graduated from the Aurora High School. 1 left my interior decorating shop in Chicago, to tour the United States in hopes of seeing, or at least hearing, something about each of my old classmates, the class of '31. The old home town. Aurora, was of course the first place I decided to visit for I had high hopes of meeting at least a few of them there. My hopes were fulfilled, for, on inquiring at the superintendent’s office. 1 found that two of them were teaching in the grade school, which had been the high school when we were graduated. Bernita Johnson, who was always so fond of children, was just where 1 had expected to find her—teaching the kindergarten class—and Sibyl Cherry was making dolls out of cardboard in the third grade room. Sibyl told me that Patsy Hall, after all her studious industry at the Denver University School of Commerce, had changed her mind and was now one of the most sought after of the Mesdames of Denvers younger set. Sibyl also told me that Mary Brooks had reached her ambition as an aviatrix and was making her headquarters at the Municipal Airport. I could not resist going out to see Mary, in hopes of a free airplane ride, but to my disappointment Mary could not be found. I asked the chief aeronautical engineer where she was and before he could answer I recognized him as another classmate, Ralph Rathburn. After telling me that Mary was in the Mercy Hospital, ill after a record-breaking endurance flight, he told me that he also was happily married to his schoolday sweetheart. I decided to visit Mary and went directly to the hospital. At the information desk, whom should I see but Agnes Andersen. She had worked herself up to head nurse. Did she look stunning in her white uniform! It reminded me of senior dress-up day. way back in ’31. Agnes took me through the hospital and in a corridor whom should we meet but Velva Thompson, a technician. Velva and Agnes told me that Blanche Kiernan and Lily Kirke-gaard were at the Presbyterian Hospital nursing. Blanche was the head nurse, while Lily was a trained nurse and both were doing very well, and were much interested in their work. Agnes also told me that several of our group were teaching at Colorado University. Boulder was my next stop. Full of excitement and enthusiasm at my good luck in finding so many of the old class. I was walking slowly up the path of the campus watching the boys practicing spring football when I almost bumped into someone. My 1 beg your pardon was not finished for I was face to face with Eugene Lassman. He was football coach at the University and he had a team to be proud of. He told me that two other former athletes were teaching at the university but he would not tell me who they were so I decided to find out. Inquiring at the office I found that Lloyd Ballard was professor of physics and in the large, smelly laboratory I found Lloyd looking wiser and happier than I had ever before seen him. As I passed the history I 10 ]

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 Lillie Kirkhcaard (Jirl Reserve , 2, 8, 4 ; l’a|»er Stuff, 4 ; |{ O. (J. . |». Club. 4. Patsy Hall (Jlee (lull, 1. 8. 4; (Jirl Rm«-rve , I. 2. 8. 4; Orchestra, 1. 2, 4; Annual Stuff. 8; Muv Quern, 4; Literary Meet. 2; President f Junior CUjm; Student Council Member, 3; Senior Play, 4. Lucille Bridgets (Jirl Reserve , 1. 2, 3, 4 ; Paper Staff. I. 3. 4 ; Annual Staff. 8 ; Junior Play, 3 ; Senior Play. 4; (lift Club, 1, 3. 4; Literary Meet, 2; Com niercial Content. 3. 4 ; (J. K. Play. 3. Bernita Johnson (•lee Club, I, 3. 4; Orchestra. 4; Paper Staff, 3. 4; Ban.I. 2: Cla« Plav. 3. 4; (i. K. Plav 3. 4 ; Cirl Re erven. 1. 2. 3. 4 Tommy Walker Hanketball ; Football ; Captain Fonttall Team. 4. Ruth Bowen Annual Staff, Associate K.litor, 3; (Jirl Reserve , 1, 2, 3, 4 ; (Jlee Club. 1. 3, 4 ; Paper Staff, 1, 2, 3. 4 : Prescient of Clan . 1 ; Vice President. 2; CIuks Play. 3; (J R Play, 3; Orchestra, 3, 4 ; Literary Meet, 2. Eugene I.assman Football. 3. 4 ; Banketball. 2. 3. 4 ; Track. 3 ; Junior Play. 3; Minstrel . 3. 4; Hi-Y, 2, 8. 4 ; Paper Staff. 3. Margaret Smith (Jirl Reserves. 3. 4 ; (Jlee Club. 3, 4 ; Paper Staff. 3. 4; Senior Play. 4. I 9 1

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room I heard the moans and groans of the co-Eds and co-Marys and on peeking in saw the reason for them. Vernon Spencer was at the head of the class and he hadn't lost any of his former sternness either. Vernon told me that Ruth Bowen was leading a girls' orchestra in the Paris Theater in New York and that their fighting was being done through the mail instead of in the library of the old school. I decided 1 must see Ruth, so my next stop was New York. After listening to the performance. I sent in my card and Ruth came out of the stage door with the same old familiar laugh. She told me that Lucille Bridges was private secretary to John D. Rockefeller but that she was on her vacation and they were planning a trip to Europe together. 1 found Lucille in their luxurious apartment at the Broadway Hotel, packing more dresses than the G. R.’s had in their style show in 1931. Lucille told me that Rex Kelso was United States Attorney General at Washington. D. C. I could just imagine Rex as a lawyer, for I could remember his oratorical ability. I decided to go to visit Rex for I was anxious to see President Frank A. Burgess, who had just been inaugurated president of the United States. At the White House. I found Frank sitting in an easy chair, and he is still for the working man. He told me that Phil Ballard was riding the range, that is he was a forest ranger. Asking about James Ballard. I learned that he was chief electrical engineer of the power plant at the Hoover Dam in Arizona. As I left the White House I met Tommy Walker. He was an electrician and had come to inspect the lights of the capitol. since he could not leave so important a job in the hands of his helpers. I boarded a trolley and sat down beside another old friend. Margaret Smith. Margaret was on a pleasure trip to New York, but had made her home on a farm in Grand Junction. Colorado. She told me that Margaret Farnham was an army nurse at Fitzsimons General Hospital. 1 remained in New York that day and boarded a train for home the next day. happy in seeing all my old friends. But someone was missing: I could not locate John Edwards. As I sat looking out the window watching the people board the train at Buffalo I saw a familiar face: yes. it was John's. He told me that he had achieved his ambition as an architect and was still in hopes of some day achieving another ambition, that of making his schoolday sweetheart happy. That evening, sitting alone in front of the blazing fireplace in my studio. I dozed off into dreamy slumber. I gathered all the visions of my glorious trip together and there in the fire I saw a picture—they were all there, all smiling, all in caps and gowns, as real as if they were all standing there. It was the graduating class of 1931. May the next ten years bring as much happiness and success to all! Esther Bowman.