Bennett High School - Beacon Yearbook (Buffalo, NY)

Page 19 text:

The Bennett Beacon I 7 dramatic work which had well established its reputation of being the city's premier in that art. Toward the end of the winter of 1928, the Junior class was organized and Tom O'Neil was elected president, Jane Miller, vice- presidentg Lorna Knibb, secretary, and Albert Cook, treasurer. Ken Nield and Marie Mengle were chosen marshals and the class began its work. Near the end of April, Arbor Day and Junior Day were celebrated simultaneously. Junior Officers' took charge of an impressive assembly and later planted an ivy in front of the building. The same evening, the Junior Prom was held in the gvm where the Seniors were the guests of the Juniors. No one wished to see that year close, for it had been our happiest, our most successful. But we had to go on. Last September, we returned to Bennett for the last time. Now we were to attain our highest achievements and complete our victories. Mrs. Wilkinson, in 207, was to guide the girls through their final year, and Miss Elliott, in 206, the boys. To both of these we extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation for their indispensable services. We quickly began con- scientious efforts in our studies to insure success in the final reckoning. But other activities have not been neglected. The success of our athletics. dramatic, and literary clubs bears testimony to the fact that we have attained the standards set for ourselves in previous years, standards which will remain a goal for succeeding clafses. Early in the spring the Class of '29 was organ' ized and at the first meeting, John Galvin was elected President. Jane Miller was chosen to serve as VicefPresident, Lorna Knibb as Secretary, and Tom O'Neil as Treasurer. At subsequent meetings the following officers were elected: Jean Calkins, Girls' Marshalg George Mason, Boys' Marshal, John Hagmann, Prophetg and Paul Harris, Historian. Shortlv after this, the cab- inet chose Eleanor Poppenberg, Poetg Doris Miller, Valedictoriang and Henry Work, Salutatorian. These officers immediately undertook their duties in this class, a class not only the largest in the history of any Buffalo High School, but also the most outstanding. To establish a fund, a Senior Dance was given in the gym on April 19th. This proved to be one of the most entertaining and novel social functions in Bennett's history. On the evening of May 27th, the Senior Reception, sponsored by the teachers, took place in the gym and was attended by a large number of students and their parents. Now, after having success- fully passed our final examinations, we meet here for the last time as a class, We have established noble traditions and faithfully followed our Bennett Creed which we have immortalized in bronze in the front corridor as our parting gift to the school, so that it may inspire other classes to even greater honors than we have received. But come, we have tarried too long gazing backward, the portals are closing, the future calls and we must go. So now we shall invert our hour glass and once again the sands begin to flow.

Page 18 text:

I6 The Bennett Beacon Senior Class History By Paul E. Harris, Historian Once more the sands of time have emptied themselves into the lower chamber of our hour glass and we have come to the end of our high school careers. The portals of the past are swinging open and we shall pause for a brief space to look down the years which have passed since first we entered Bennett. , On that bright September morn in 1925, when we began our Freshman year, there were realized the hopes of many citizens, who had eagerly awaited the erection of our magnificent building, and had had the responsibility of bringing to pass the dreams that had made our school possible. We are the first class to have received a full four years' training in Bennett and there' fore the first real test of the success of her aims and ideals. Have we achieved our task? The size of the Class of '29, the largest in the history of our Alma Mater, is sufficient proof that we have succeeded, for, if so many have accomf plished what was necessary to obtain a diploma, truly we have not failed our trust. But let us look through the mists of the past at accomplishments other than scholastic attainments. Our lirst year was spent in the more or less uneventful life of a freshman, in becoming accustomed to our new environf ment and laying the foundations of future years. But in that group of young people, fresh from grammar schools, were the potential actors. athletes, scholars, and authors who were to carry Bennett to noble heights and place her among the foremost schools of the country. In September, 1926, we returned to our duties as Sophomores, one step nearer our goal. The girls entered room 123, in charge of Miss Wood, and the boys were placed under Miss McNerny in 124. The second year is perhaps the one in which the majority of high school students really begin to take active part in the extrafcurricular activities which add greatly to the enjoyment of high school life. And so it was with us. During this year we began to take our places on the athletic and debating squads, in the dramatic and literary activities, and to prepare for the work in which we were to excel, thereby bringing honor to our school and to our predecessors who had established those branches of activity. At the completion of that year, half of our high school course had been accomplished. The following autumn, we returned again to begin what is believed by some to be the happiest year in high school life, the Junior year. Miss Brettle, in charge of 223 and its annexes, welcomed the girls and Miss Patterson took her boys into 224. Now members of the junior class were to be found in all the various branches of scholastic activity, gleaning new honors. We were represented on the hockey team which won the first cup for Bennett, on the debate team which tied with Lafayette for the city championship, and in the

Page 20 text:

The Bennett Beacon THE CRUSADE OF 1929 by Eleanor M. Poppenberg, Class Poet Oh honored classmates here in state convened, My humble greetings to you one and all. Last night a panorama bold was screened Before my eyes, which now I shall ,recall- Portentous scenes which shall our lot befall. Equipped for trials which mark their destiny, On Life's highway behold an army small, Their banner borne aloft that all may see Upon its folds inscribedf The best is yet to he. Crusaders they! And each has made his vow, For romance lives forever in the heart. Each youth desires to enter battle now. But ere a soldier makes his final start, Oh let him ponder on the tragic part That woeful band of artless children played, Who, guideless and untutored, did depart. For urged by counsel base, bereft of aid, In Satan's maw they fell! Oh hapless young brigade. But timely warned, this fearless Bennett force Now wisely profit by that luckless fate. They heed both sage advice and wise discourse. The pow'r that knowledge gives, they cultivate, While noble lives they strive to emulate. ' No folly or excess their health impair, In mind and deed they're ever temperate. Alert and keen, of evil they beware, For hydrafheaded Vice shall not this band ensnare. Come Youth! Fill up the broken ranks, calls Life. So forth they march, this army of today. Prepared to wage the never ending strife. A few to distant lands must sail away, The rest at home contend in constant fray. At justice' bar they plead for Truth and Right, And sternly teach the lawless to obey. With skill they tend the sick both night and day. With Woe, and Pain, and Death, they wage a ceaseless fight. So on they tramp through many a coming year. A battle here, a battle there is fought, 'Though oft alone, no friendly voice to cheer. Some hero's tracks to tread, each one has sought, Some soul to each has inspiration brought. May others now their footsteps likewise see, To guide the helpless, is their Godly thought. as IK as A final call-from earthly tasks he's free,- Each dying soldier breathes,- The best is yet to be.