Batavia High School - Batavian Yearbook (Batavia, NY)

Page 24 text:

Com BATAXIIAN X tlllaaa iianag---tlblh Cfiraila amh Nvln Oh, a wonderful stream is the river Time As it runs through the realm of tears With a faultless rhythm and musical rhyme, And a boundless sweep and surge sublime, As it blends with the Ocean of Years. There is a certain modest city with a broad and attractive Mainstreet on which traiic ne ar ceases except, perhaps, in winter, whenthe heavy snows make the roads iinpassable. A century and a half ago the western part of New York, where this city is located, was a dense wilderness, inhabited only Liylndians and wild beasts. The death-like stillness of the forests was broken only by the fierce howl of the wolf and the, savage sa-sa-kwanl' of the Indian warrior. A narrow indian trail, uiispeak-:T-fy difficult fo. tie? -3 znfn to traverse, passed through the present site of this cityfjatavla. Hou zfer, rife close of the Revolution found tile fierce Indian spirit quelled to such a degree that they began to give up their claims to the lands in Western I-Jew York. In 1798, Joseph Ellicot began the survey of the lands pus chased by the Hol- land Company from Robert Morris in the years 1292-S-4. The land office of this company was transferred from the place where Clarenfe Hollow is now situated to the present site of Batavia in 1802, as Mr. Ellicott deemed this a fme location for the village he hoped to found. He chose his location because it was central, on the line of the Indian trail from Canada to New York, and directly in the path of the immigration moving westward. In the same year that the site of our city was selected, a public road was cut through the newly-founded Batavia and pioneers began to cut down the trees and hew them out for their future homes. In the next year, through Mr. Ellicott's efforts, Genesee county was created with Batavia for its county seat. The population of the new village was increas- ing at a satisfactory rate, and the legislative act designating it as the capital of the new county gave it considerable prestige. Determined that the village which he had founded should enjoy the full benefits which naturally should follow its selection for this important purpose, Mr. Ellicott at once began plans for the erection of a court house and a jail. As time went on, Batavia, a name meaning Holland, grew in population, size and wealth. Educational buildings, churches, large stores, and factories grew to 22 . 'S

Page 23 text:

C1766 BATAVIAN X OSCAR G. WHEAT, Dusty November 28, 1902 Ambition: Chemist. Course: Classical. . Activities: Class Cl, 2, 3, 455 A. A. C3, 433 Football C41 3 Huntley Contest C4j. There is no wisdom like franknes.r. LUCILE D. WHITE, Cea1y November 24, l904 Ambition: To travel. Course: English. Activities: Class 145. A quiet maid but 'very wise. SAMUEL H. Woon, Peach .1-V,..lXfIay 6, 12905 Ambitions: To sell programs atfcbronatiqgs. 1 Course: Classical. .-tif, f FEQQ3.: Q1 Activities: Class Cl, 2, 3, 415 Af C2',f5 4Dg fBicayune Staff C3, 4D 3 Business jManage.1jf,P'ica- . Y yune 41 5 Student Council C3b,j5Senior -13, 415 Class Prophet g4J3 HunTleyQ.Contestf:Gj. f He mastered whatever wasikifqjfworihi the if In knowing. ,l x K. ELLA M. WOOLF June 30, 1904 ' Ambition: To learn to concentrate. Course.: Classical. Activities: Class C3, 43. N ever hurried, never jiurried, As she goes her gentle way. PEARL P. WURTZMAN, Wurtzy ' D 'c. 25 1903 C f Ambition: To coach the B. H. B. B. T. Course: Business. I . U Activities: Class Cl, 2, 3,411 A. -C3fs45S Girls' Basketball C1, 2, 3, 413 CaQta,1Fl'jBiSket' ball C3,4l. . M U Actions speak louder than'::913voriis. t-A 21 4

Page 25 text:

-A ' , . hw qfrie BATAVIAN be just as important to the settlers as the county buildings, erected in the early years of the village's' growth. Railroads began to be constructed, and the small village founded by our ancestors came to be an important railroad center. Tardy recognition at last was given to the ancient Holland land office. On October 13, lS94, this building was dedicated as a historical museum, which was destined to stand through the ages as a place within whose portals the doors of the past could again be opened, and visitors could look upon things as they stood in the days of the Revolution. In our lives we too have, perhaps, been passing over a narrow road compar- able to that over which the Red Man passed, and as life goes on and opportunities wideng that trail becomes a broad, well-lighted city street. For some of us that street, in afteriyears, may increase! in length, breadth and in attfactifveuless. 'Some iii0tl1is'.l92l graduating class will become great men and XVO1ll6l'l Zlll'il vlrillfnever retunr' tor ajifnwtake up a residence in this city. But no matter xvhat fate may have in-store for us,i let us 'all prove ourselves worthy of Bataviag and aboveliall, oldiB.H.S.,:Xvl1icl1 did so much to guide ns toward thc! right path in our e'2ii?ly rnanlioodand womanhood. 'W' 'UM' W- C11-l'11 F A 'I' 'J r ' 'J ' J -Doaoinv M. BUCHHOLTZJ' gy' '9 1 . - 'Ff ' A ' 1 v 1 Qslf , Q, li 9 ' ,, 1 '1' 1 23