Belleville Central High School - Tower Yearbook (Belleville, NY)

Page 6 text:

L'5 y L 5 1 % 51 s ss«r -j l ue uox jt a stutwi r £ UOll 3Jf »(J £ U oi} c ioxn uim o J) SJU ttC J0

Page 5 text:

 A CADSMY £ C EirTBvAL SCHOOL TVT 7 ORK

Page 7 text:

commEmoRATiON Union Academy Is A Spirit (AN EDITORIAL) Union Academy at Belleville is more than an in- stitution ot learning. Union Academy is more than a school, locat ed in a strictly agricultural community, that has sent to all the world men and women who have been an inspiration and a guide. Union Academy is a spirit that tor 100 years had imbued the boys and girls who passed through its portals and has molded and inspired them tor a lifetime of service. Not by accident have Union alumni been a shining mark wherever they have been set down in the busy eddies of life. Not through coinci- dence have they for a century been beacons lighting the way to progress. Leadership, civic progress, simple faith in God, love of mankind, a desire to help—these are the heritage of each succeeding class that has come from the fam- ous school. It was the spirit of Union Academy that would not say die when fire laid low the historic school. Before the embers had died the Union spirit was planning for a newer and grander physical insitution to rise from ruins. A hundred years ago the call of the spirit of Union made possible its founding, amidst the pri- vations of a new country and through the sacri- fices of a people whose very existence was a bitter, continuous struggle. A half century ago began a movement which kept the school going by the gift of money and time and service; kept it going through genera tlons, instilling the old ideals. Now has come a new call, a call for sacrifice as great as any recorded in the noble lives of those who carried on through the dark days of the Academy. The response has been a new Institution, modern in Its plant adequate in Its equipment and facilities, but old in the spirit of Union. Why have scores of persons given of time and service and substance to rebuild Union Acade- my at Belleville? How has this been possible with- out levying a tax or ussuing public bonds? What brought about the erection of a new building in record time under these unparalleled condi- tions? The Union Academy spirit that has pos- sessed its alumni and permeated the entire com munity. Congratulations are in order. To those who have, by unsparing effort, ceaseless planning and sacrificial devotion, wrought this miracle, go congratulations. To those who have contributed money go congratulations for the insight to grasp an opportunity to make the finest investment to which money could be put. To the community about Belleville, Woodville, Ellisburg and other nearby points go congratulations for the posses- sion of an institution that is aggressively Ameri- can and that will build for generations to come character and manhood and womanhood. To the boys and girls of this and coming genero tlons congratulations that they are to have edu- cational opportunities unexcelled in any commu- nity. and the heritage of a century of Union Academy traditions and Union spirit. What is the Union spirit? Perhaps Norris Shepardson best summed it up in his famous pre- face to the Memorial Endowment Book when he quoted St. Paul. Isn’t it a yearning for whatso ever things are true, whatsoever things are hon- est, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report ? May Union long continue to prosper in teach- ing that as a life program for her boys and girls. Originally printed In the WATERTOWN STAN DARD, September 2, 1924. 3