Bedford High School - Echo Yearbook (Bedford, PA)

Page 30 text:

NOVEMBER Brings Disaster 'ln Ren 'fn aahaal As our building looked before the Ere A STUDENTS ACCOUNT OF THE FIRE At 10:23 on the morning of November 29, 1941, the ominous shrill of the fire whistle pierced the crisp autumn air. I know because I was dusting the clock. Curious I stuck my head out the window using my dust cloth as an excuse to look around, As I gazed casually over the roof tops I saw billows of smoke rolling skyward from- eheavens it can't bee the schoolhouse! I dashed for the telephone and heard the operator say, 'fThe fire is at the high school Rushing pell mell from the house, I reached it in record time and found all of Bedford there. Pushing through the crowd, I worked my way around front where the smoke was pouring from the east end of the third floor, The library was al- ready gone and as I watched, blue, green and yellow flames shot upwardeef Chemicals stored in the basement, a man said, I stood stunned and help- less, watching the building in which I had spent so many hours, tottering. The hopelessly inadequate stream of

Page 29 text:

ME LODY ON PARADE A sharp, shrill whistle, the flash of eight twirling batons, the roll of drums and the Blue and White band marches gaily onward through another success- ful year. When the election ballots are counted it is discovered that James Russell is presidentg Bill Miller, secretaryg and Betty Manspeaker, business manager. Having continued practice over the sum- mer vacation, this group is now ready to tackle a big event on their well-filled schedule, that of playing at the football games. After football season they settle down under the watchful eye of their jovial director, Mr. Hunsicker, to prepare for the annual winter concert of the music department. When this is successfully completed. the band is invited to aid in the dedicatio f n o' the Pennsylvania Turnpike, then of the Colerain Township Grade School and finally are asked to give a concert at Ev t ' O0 L k at 'em strut X K seen d U c lveggroup to fill the em t l ere t High School. In the sprlng five members are invited to appear in the district band. Then comes another big event, the annual spring concert, which is again a huge success, Next year seventeen new faces will be in this a 15 ZXXX' p y p aces left by eparting seniors. li f Wu fx xv f PJ :N . 1 Nl

Page 31 text:

,WW ,M-ff' water had as much chance as has a snowball in summer. I wandered around back: there students and townspeople were rushing in and out remoxing band instruments, stage equipment, curtains everything movable Irom the new edition. I joined them but after several trips decided I was doing more harm than good so back around front I went. By this time the ruin in the east end of the building was complete and the Ilames were licking unchecked at the west end I watched, so mad- deningly helpless, as they reached Miss Bowmans room Look, the blinds in Mr 'I'ritt's room are all so even and undisturbed, why don't they do something to saxe it? a voice remarked, t'Yes, why don't they? I echoed as the flames reached that room, too, Now the des- truction of the old part was complete Would the auditorium go too? For a while I thought so Then by some miracle the fire subsided. I went inside the auditorium, Water dripped from the ceiling, smoke filled the room, broken glass and puddles of water covered the floor, but at least it was still standing I wandered through the remaining class rooms empty now except for the ever widening pools of water in the center. Then I went home, Tuesday morning school was resumed in the grade school. 25