Amherst Regional High School - Goldbug Yearbook (Amherst, MA)

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Of course we were very sorry to leave the old building and to see Mr. Alarshall go, but our sorrow was not unalloyed with joy in our new “possession.” We had made a good start in athletics our Freshman year but now we took a leading part. 1919 men were in the majority in swimming ana took prominent part in all other sports. In fact we are and alwavs have been the most athletic class in Amherst High. One of the changes that came with the new building was the abolition of the Freshman-Sophomore fights. The history of these trials of strength goes back to the early days of the school. The custom is so old that no one seems to know the origin. Back of the Old Building was a ravine, famed throughout the grammar schools of the country for the steepness of its sides and the distance to its bottom It was usual for newly arrived Freshmen to find themselves hustled toward the brink and then rolling and sliding down the slipping side, at last bringing up with a jerk in ashes and trash at the bottom. The Sophomores tried to “start some- thing,” but their efforts were in vain, 1919 refused to roll down the ravine. We in our turn were planning on our welcome to the incoming class. WT started a fight and Mr. Wingate finished it. This was the end of the custom. There have been several outbreaks since that year, but in the main the Freshmen classes have come in peace. Thus died our oldest tradition and with it the glamour of becoming a Sophomore. “Requiescat in pace!” Our officers for the second year were: President, Donald Shumay; Vice-President, Harold Wheeler; Secretary and Treasurer, Susan Paige. This year vocational as w ' ell as college preparatory courses were offered and we had several new members for this kind of work. Physical training was also offered this year under the direction of Mr. Dinsmore and later of Percy Fogg, ’17. How we loved it! Alention must be made of the Sophomore Social, for it w ' as a great success in every way except financially. W’e then began to think about the Junior Play and a committee was chosen consisting of: Roger Baker Mildred Hollis Howard Butterfield Susan Paige Melbourne Hollis Catherine Sullivan After many trials and even a reversed decision, “The Magistrate” was chosen, but that is Junior History. The year ended with the Senior Reception for which we furnished the refreshments. W’e did a good job too. Ask those who were there. And now we come to the Junior year of the Class of 1919. The officers for this year were: President, Donald Shumway; Vice-President, Leroy Mentor, Charles Deuel; Secretary and Treasurer, Susan Paige. In football the varsity team was almost entirely made up of Juniors, in swimming three quarters of the men were Juniors, in basket ball w ' e had three representatives on the first team and the proportion of 1919 men was equally high In baseball. But of course the Play took most of our attention and effort. There is an account of this under a separate heading so there is no need of mentioning it here except to say that it was an unqualified success. This year we had another innovation in the form of military drill in place of physical training. Under the direction of IMajor Brooks the Battalion prospered and in several parades made very creditable showings. 25

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24 Hail! Hail! the Gang’s All Here

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But we did not give all our time to athletics, drill and the stage; we showed up well in scholarship. W ith our new building had come a new society, the first of its kind in Amherst High School, “Pro Merito!” Admission to this is the reward for keeping an average standing for three years of eight-five percent. Early in our Senior year the pins were awarded. Seniors! After three short, weary years we have arrived at that coveted position of honor and privilege denied to others. W e are now on the home stretch and our course is almost run. For our leaders in this last lap we chose: President, Donald Shumway; Idee President, Roger Baker; Secretary and Treasurer, Susan Paige. Under their captaincy we are rapidly approaching the goal, and the day of days. Graduation, is at hand. W e are making the most of our opportunity to make this last year the climax of our course. W’e have been badly handicapped by an enforced vacation of two months in the fall, which resulted in increased effort on our part to finish the re- quired amount of work before the last of June. But we are putting out a class book, the record in this school, that shall stand as a monument to the Class. W e had a new principal this year, Mr. Charles Lester Smith. W’e were certainly sorry to see Air. Wingate go, and we wfish him the best of success in his new posi- tion. It w ' as mentioned above that we were a class that does things, and this is offered as proof. Mr. Marshall went after we had been in High School a year. Mr. W ingate lasted two years and we are now on our third principal. W’e are nearly as hard on superintendents. Air. Reed remained only two years after our advent and Air. Brooks, after one year has had to take a leave of absence. So closes the history of an unusual class. Let us hope that Graduation Day will be but the commencement of new conquests and new achievements to the glory and honor of the Class of 1919.