Abraham Lincoln Junior High School - Annual Yearbook (Rockford, IL)

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Shirley Madsen, vice-president: VVilliani Christine Moucoulis. secretary, Miss Bea- HISTORY OF THE SECOND SEMESTER 9-A CLASS Sharp, president: Walter Lynch, treas- o Llfef. trice Johnson, adviser. In the fall of 1934 nine groups of bewildered freshies entered Lincoln junior High School. Those bewildered children are now the present 9A class, no longer bewildered but confident that they can get along in the world. Many things troubled us at first. Wle found that we were separated from our friends and scattered in nine different home rooms. We had the usual difficulties that all seventh graders had: we had trouble Ending our class rooms: we could not work our combination locks: we forgot where the auditorium and gymnasium were: we believed the 7A's who told us we could ride on the elevator: we were frightened when we were summoned to the office, However, we lived through it as other classes have, and finally found ourselves advanced to the 7A grade, At this time our chief joy was trying to confuse the entering 7B group. In 7A we had three experiences to remember-most of us had the measles: we saw our first 9A play: and we received our first ANNUALS. VVe were as energetic as the upper classmen in securing signatures in our books, and it was not long before our An- nuals were interesting museums of autographs. VVhen we returned as eighth graders in the fall, we were no longer afraid of anything. Now for the first time we were privileged to elect a subject for our course. VVe knew everyone and everything in school. Many of us were engaged in the various activities of the school. We lived through the first semester of this year in eager anticipation of the time when we should be nine A's and thus the exalted beings of the school. VVe watched the privileged first semester class depart and happily moved into their places. Our number had greatly increased, Five groups having been added from the out of town pupils who take their ninth grade work in town. In March we elected Miss Beatrice johnson as our class adviser, and shortly afterwards began our campaign for election of class officers. After a spirited campaign we elected the following: William Sharp, president: Shirley Madsen, vice-president: Christine Moucoulis, secretary: and VValter Lynch, treasurer. Then came the tryouts for the 9A play, Second Fiddle. lt was a difficult task to elim- inate the candidates for the various roles, for we were all excellent actors: however, the job was accomplished and on May 13 and 14 the play was given to crowded houses. Everyone was delighted with the performance, and everyone was strong in the praise of the play, the actors, Miss Cotta, and the many who assisted behind the scenes. The story of our class is almost over. As we look back, we think with pleasure of the many leaders in school activities we have furnished. The Student Council, the Traf- fic Club, the Lincoln Log, the band, the orchestra, the three operettas have all had mem- bers of our class giving excellent service. We are all sorry to leave Lincoln and to go to a place where we are not known. Xlfe find comfort in thinking that in our going, Lincoln has truly lost a treasure. f31l

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i J Hisronv or THE nnsr s en' 2 -ft' if ff erick, adviser. A large group of frightened, cowed seventh graders sat in the auditorium one Febru- ary day in l934, waiting to see what the next few minutes would bring them. Mr. Hanna, the principal, talked to us about the school and our part in it. Then he read the names of our groups for home rooms. Then did we feel forlorn, for many of us who had been to- gether for six years now found ourselves separated, claimed by strange teachers who led us through the halls to rooms which we were told were to be our home rooms for the next three years. Here we signed our names, were shown our programs, and were then escorted through the long corridors of the three floors of Lincoln to be shown our class- rooms. How strange it all was to us then! How strange it all is now that we ever thought it so dreadful and incomprehensiblel VVe loved those first days in spite of our uncertainty, for weren't we in high school? VVeren't we ever so much more important than those little children still going to grade school? We probably made the same mis- takes that all newcomers make, but now we have quite forgotten them. We enjoyed the operetta, the 9A play, the many entertainments, and the coming of the ANNUAL to which we had looked forward before we came to Lincoln. VVhen we returned in the fall, we were safe in the assurance that comes to the 7A's and were ready to laugh at the poor little freshies who were so stupid. The year passed happily and uneventfully except for the epidemic of measles which some of us rather enjoyed. In eighth grade we made our first choice of electives, then we tasted the Hrst sweet joys of the freedom of high school. When we returned to school in the fall, we were saddened to learn that one of the eighth grade teachers, Miss Stone, had died during the summer. WVe all missed her, those of us who had her in home room and those of us who had music with her. It felt wonderful to be 93's-the pleasure of being a real high school classg it felt wonderful and a little fearful, we had heard of those awful ordeals of the ninth grade- finals and intelligence tests. They aren't so bad after all, was the relieved comment of most of the class. 9A'sl A class play, party, and celebration galore! We elected Miss Broderick as our class adviser, and a fine one she has made. When the time came for the election of officers, there was much excitement. We had a class meeting at which the various candidates appeared, making promises of what they would do if elected. But we did not believe them any more than we believe other campaign speakers, and we voted for the ones we already knew would till the position best. As a result of the election, Ralph Hanson was our presidentg Donald Patton, our vice-presidentg Phyllis Sundstrand, our secretary, and Billy Bowman, our treasurer. Soon tryouts for our class play, The Wary Ape, were announced by Miss Fields, the dramatics teacher. The play was given on December second and third, and was a huge success. We did not know until then that our class had so many fine actors, Miss Fields deserves great credit for the fine work the cast produced. Then the 91-X party-a real dinner party with speeches, entertainment, party dresses 'n everything. And didn't we behave well? VVe ourselves could scarcely believe it! The last day-what can compare with it? The soft-hearted ones were ashamed when they had to struggle to joke and laugh about it: they would rather think about the past three years and the leave-taking. How can anyone describe the feeling when, finally out of the building at last, the class looked back and experienced a foolish desire to run back and stay for another three years? VVith our departure, the history of the first semester 9A class of 1937 is ended. l30'l f Y 1 Hanson, president: Donald Patton vice-president: Billy Bowman, treasurer Phyllis Sundstrand, secretary, Miss Brod

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WHOS WHO IN THE SECOND SEMESTER 9-A CLASS Evert Shostroin, Alice Carl- son, who the class say will amount to the most in the future. Virginia Reum, Al- fred Soffer, the best stu- dents. Priscilla and Melba- mae-just smiling. Melvin Johnson, who uses the most hair grease. Lorraine Bildahl, the girl with the most unusual hairg Les- lie Hughes, who has the curliest hairg Marjorie Blomquist, who uses the most war paint. Carl Kerr and Lucy Carlson, the shyest. Alfred Sorter and Carol Vos- burgh, the most reliable: Eugene Van de Walker and Phyllis Sundstrand, the neatest. Ralph Hanson and Carol Vos- burgh, the most popular: Theodore Liebovich and Marilyn Johnson, the most amusing. Ruth Soon and Burdette Per- son, the most democratic: Eugene VandeWalker and Eleanor johnson, the best looking. VVillian1 Tuman, boy most often sent to the office: Frank Robinson, a good athlete: Evert Shostrom and Carolyn Eklund, who won the American Legion citizen awardsg Mary jane Too- man. the girl most frequent- ly sent to the office. Emma Dannenberg, a cheer leader: Richard Kjellstrom, concert master of orchestra: Theodus Benton, an athlete and good fellow. The tallest and shortest - Mary Belle McWilliams. Marion Olson, Charles Vola, and Bob Nelson.