West Rochester High School - W Yearbook (Rochester, NY)

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bers of both the january and June classes appeared among beautiful decorations while strains of music fioated through the hall from behind a bank of palms and flowers. But details cannot be dwelt on too' long. There are those who say that the fact of age and the act of reminiscing go hand-in-hand through life, and it seems to be reasonably true even in our High School life, which after all is only the larger life in miniature. It is a fact that toward the end of the third year, the careful observer may notice the inadvertent Junior becoming reminiscent. The well worn phrases When I entered high school, and During Freshman yearsf' and lf we only had had Mofojre girl managers of our musical clubs get unconsciously into their vernacular. In our Senior year our class was well represented in all of the scho0l's activi- ties. Anna Belle Cowles and Arling Brown displayed their ability in debating. Much of the success of the OCCIDENT of the past years is the result of the earnest efforts of Arthur Lee, editor-in-chief. Uscar McBain worked hard as captain of West High's track team, and we must not forget to commend Rip Benzoni and Wib lrVoodams for their excellence in Basketball. The Class, because of its splendid success in its first attempt to deal with dramatics, thought that they could safely undertake a Senior Play. They were not mistaken, for with the faithful co-operation of Mrs. C. B. Ellis, and the dramatic talent of Josephine Weis and Frank Schoonover as leading characters in Tom Pinch, the play was one of the finest ever presented in West High School. The january and June classes of 1911 once more united to give their Senior Dance. This was held at Pinnacle Club and Ralph Wilkinson has our highest cefmmendations for having conducted a Senior Dance which for the first time was not only a social success but also a self-supporting proposition from the Bnancial standpoint. Y But in view of the fact that I have devoted so much space to the mention of only the social life of our class, let it also be known that as a result our scholar- ship has not suffered but far 'surpassed that of any previous class. In order to write a complete history of a person all the events of a lifetime must be related. However, in spite of the fact that we have been together but four short years and now must separate: some entering institutions of higher education, others going to business colleges and others starting out on life's broad highway, I have tried to bring this story as near completion as possibleg but you all will agree with me when I say that it is only an incident in a history which cannot be completed for many years to come. BISRNHARD H. VOLLERTSEN, Historian.. twi

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Class History Every properly constituted history divides itself into periods, which in their turn divide and group themselves about events of singular importance. Such history has woven itself closely about the class of June, 1911. If the use of this bit of our earliest history for a preface may be pardoned, it can be said that our ancestors belonged originally to the one great family known as The world at large. But after founding in VVest High School the Class of june, 1911, this family separated into two distinct parts: the one which contains those few who for rea- sons which cannot be related here did not desire to be graduated with the class 5 the other part comprising by far the larger portion is the one about which this history is being written. - Our' political history may be traced back to a memorable day in the fall of 1907. How long four years seemed to us then! How short they really are when we look back into the past! But a good 'historian does not digress from his subject. What a grand scramble there was at that first meeting! Each nomina- tion received a more hilarious applause than the previous one. But it was soon over and the mob resolved itself into a class once more. Although we were Freshmen, things athletic soon claimed our attention. Perhaps you will ask t-o what effect? Well we had a football team, a basketball team and even one in track. But if we did not have our numerals engraved on a silver cup we were much wiser for our experience. Feeling that as Sophomores we would no longer be looked down upon by the upper-class men, we began to sit up and take notice. This we had no sooner done than to our amazement a dance was staring us in the face. How grand it seemed when we thought that we were to hold our first social event in the cor- ridors of our Alma Mater! It is hardly necessary to say that our Sophomore Dance was a thorough success. We all took an active pant in the work of canvassing for pledges toward the purchase of our beautiful Athletic Field. In our junior year we entered upon our career with all the confidence that long practice secures. We had really been preparing the part for two years and its superiority was no stranger to us, 'though we were not sorry to have the world at large recognize us. It was during this year that the class made its first attempt in drama. Much credit is due Jean Sutherland and Charles Storer, who took the leading parts in our junior Farce Nephew and Uncle and helped to make it the grand success it was. Our junior Prom which was held in Sibley Hall and carefully managed by Byron Marsh is worthy of more than mere mention. That night the mem- E181

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Seniors As if upon an eminence we stand, O'erlooking all a broad and pleasant land Through which we've traveled. Sweet memories hallow every sunny spot, The tangled paths were very soon forgot, By time unraveled. The future to these eyes cannot be shown, The journey yet to come must be unknown, And hidden ever. But, though our pathway clear or dim may be 'Twill be enhanced by memories fond of thee, VVest High, forever. E203