Ben Avon High School - Novaneb Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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took place on March 15 with music by Bake Evans'-orchestra. Spring passed quickly, and we soon packed away our books for a well-earned vacation. It was a more experienced group which reluctantly buckled down on Sep- tember 4, 1934, sophomores in the full meaning of the word. foolish enough to believe ourselves wise because we were no longer the babies of the senior high school, XIVC found that two of our classmates, Hope Snyder and jack Sorg, had 'left our ranks. Although we were, for the most part, continuing studies of the preceding year, Mr. Thompson was our English teacher for the first time, and some of us had Miss Hynadman, a new French instructor. At our first class meeting Marjorie Todd became president, Marjorie Munroe, vice-president, Marian Symons, secretary, and Mary Margaret McMillan, treasurer. We were again represented on the football squads. Bennett, Bracken, Smith, a new class member, and Duff played football, Duke ' Black upheld our laurels for the second year on Coach Barkdoll's basketball team. The sophomore girls also tool-: part in athletics. Charlotte Black, Florence Dodge, Rita Lucas, Betty Phillips, Mary Louise Robinson, .Reba Thompson, Marjorie Todd, and Anna Lou Wfeckes- ser had earned enough points in athletic competition to enter the Ben Avon Sports Club, the girls' intramural program. VVe held the Sophomore Hop for the high school on November 16 after the last football game, a 15-S surprise victory over Sewickley. VVhen we returned from Christmas vacation, Mr. VVatts had become linglish teacher. The days melted away to the balmy air of Spring, and we began to count the number left until june 12, when we demobilized after a strenuous campaign. The doors of Ben Avon High School yawned once more on September 3, 1935. After three months of rest our class returned with ranks somewhat de- pleted. Dorothy Gass left school toibe married, Don Reniers moved to Cali- fornia, and Dorothy McCready, Harry Pflugh, Patty Rahm, Marian Symons, the Brackens, and Margaret Wfolfram were missing. The teaching staff was also changed. Mr. Sager was the new football coach and gym instructor, Mr. John headed the newly formed commercial department and helped coach foot- ball, Mr. Aultman became head basketball coach and helped with football. At hrst class meeting the following oflicers were elected for the Junior year: Paul Smith, president, Duke Black, vice-president, Eveline Mowry, secretary, and Mary Margaret McMillan, treasurer. Bennett, Smith, and Duff were lettermen 4 19

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CLASS I-IISTCBY ORE than four thousands years ago the Egyptians reared a new civiliza- tion on the banks of the life-giving Nile. These ancient pioneers wor- shipped the sun with its light and warmth, symbolized by Horus, god of the rising sun, and the sun-god Ra and left as even today rival our architectural attainments. Vtfe, the class ot 1937 A.D., are firm believers of the theory that history repeats itself. We do not claim to have a new cradle of civilization on the shores of Dickson Avenue, but we, too, worship light and are nearing the completion of a pyramid which shall be an obelisk to our memory. After twelve years of darkness we have resurrected the school annual, an unfailing source of light on the year 1936-37 at Ben Avon High School. Ours is a pyramid of forty-live stones, polished, although somewhat impervious at times, by four years of high school experience, the tomb of some 17,000 hours during which we have been exposed to education. On September 5, 1933 some iifty students resumed studies at Ben Avon High School and became the freshman class. That was a rather eventful day. our lirst day as senior high school pupils. VVe met for the first time some lifteen new classmates from Emsworth. Wfe also entered upon a new course of sub- jects. Each of us sat in a cold sweat during that lirst Latin class, overawed by Miss Bowlin's stern mien and impressive reputation. tl-Ter reputation sulicererl none that yearg for Room E seemed to be a congregating place for freshmen at numerous ten-of-eight and after-school sessionsj English under Mrs. Hill, general science under Miss McClelland, algebra under Mr. Nolstad, a new in- structor, and a course in vocations under Pop Mason rounded out our stand- ard schedule. Mr. Mason had acquired this moniker when report-room teacher to the boys of the class two years before. At the first class meeting Dwight Merker became Ramses I g Marjorie Todd was elected vice-presidentg Roberts Karn. treasurerg and Don Reniers, secretary. Two members, Bennett and Duff, represented the class on a football squad dominated by seniors. Duke Black was our representative on the basketball squad, While some of the other boys played on a rather punk junior high team. Our only social event, the class party, 18

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on the football squad, Black was varsity basketball center on a team which took second place in Section H of the VV.P.I.A.L. During football and basketball season the girls of the class were busy selling refreshments at the games to raise money for the Prom. They also sponsored several bake sales. The various Prom committees worked earnestly during the lirst part of the second semester making decorations and other arrangements. The new ceiling for dances was an important contribution of the Decorations Committee. The long-heralded event was scheduled for March ZO, but that would have resulted in a rather dismal dance, for the exigencies of the historic St. Patrick's Day flood advanced the date to March 27. In the meantime we all enjoyed a four day vacation. On the 27th the gym, disguised as a Spanish Patio, swayed to the rhythm of Brad Hunt, and we had fulfilled our big obligation as the Junior Class. Several class members appeared in Big Hearted Herbert the high school play coached by Mr. VVatts. Marjorie Todd took the feminine lead as Herbert Kalness' wife, Marjorie'Mun- roe- was their daughter, Alice, and Eveline Mowry played Mrs. Havens. june 9 arrived quickly, and we disbanded for the summer. September 1, 1936 was a very significant day, the seniors started the last lap, and the sun-worshippers were about to fulfill their mission. New teachers for the year included Miss Evarts in French, Miss Neilson in Latin, and Miss Hagan as girls' gym teacher. We entrusted the class offices to Bob Karn, presi- dent 5 Marjorie Todd, vice-presidentg Mary Louise Robinson, secretary, and Dwight Merker, treasurer. At one of our first meetings the class decided to revive the school annual. Rita Lucas was elected editor, and Letitia Hamilton business manager. Bennett, Karn, Meyers, Purcell, Smith and DuH were on Coach Sager's football squad. Co-captain Black, Purcell, Luttrell, Merker, Smith, and Duff participated in basketball during the league season, while jim Bennett managed the team. Several projects were started to earn money for the annual. The varsity played three exciting benefit games with the Faculty team. In each case the oldsters showed their championship form by eking out slim victories. The seniors also revived tea dances to raise our contribution to the annual. The proceeds from the senior play, on Deci ll were also used. It was a comedy in three acts entitled Widow By Proxy. Marjorie Todd, Eveline Mowry, Flor- ence Dodge, Mary Pfordt, Reba Thompson, Paul Smith, Stanley Moore, Peter Pfahl, and Homer Hoffman gave a very commendable performance under the 20