Blasdell High School - Champion Yearbook (Blasdell, NY)

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t -- - , it fff.F'V a , History of the School ' The first school was located on the Milestrip. What memories it brings to those still living who used to go there. The old school was built in 1843 and was used until 1894. It was a one room, one story frame building. The entrance door faced the Milestrip Road. As you entered you saw rows of hooks where the children hung their wraps placing their dinner pails underneath. Inside was a large room with three big windows on each side. Along these windows were rows of double seats. Down the center there was the teacher's desk and between it and the first desk was recitation space. In the center of this was a big stove. As the number of pupils increased the woodshed, which was hitched on the back, was used as part of the school On Sunday it was used as a Sunday School. The doors of the school were opened and locked by a key eight or ten inches long. School was called together by a small brass hand bell and the classes were opened by the use of a desk bell. The first boy at school each morning built the fire and another brought the water from a near- by farm house. In this school our present library was started by the members of the NCoterie Circlen. Early in 1992 or 1894, the pupils left this building with appropriate farewell exercises and marched, en masse, carrying all the properties of the school to the new building. The new building either side of the hall. After a year shades Pupil: and teachers labored hard on the drama ed out very successful. This drama was given had two rooms downstairs, one on were ilaced at the window. nOut in the Streetsn, which turn- to raise maoneyfor boois. The ole fram school building soon became too small so that it was necessary to build a new one. The people voted to build a brick building. It was started in April 1911 and the following November pupils and teachers moved in. There were four rooms downstairs, upstairs there were the study hall, the office and three class rooms as they are to-day. The upper story of the frame building was made into an auditorium. What had been the Science labratory at the rear of the building became the stage. Downstairs was a small kitchen and teachers' room. In 1914 the vault was put in the basement. The heatpng plant was in the old building and for the first time an automatic system of heating was used in the school. In 1912 the first graduation exercises were held. In 1924 the brick building was found inadequate for the increased student body. At a special school meeting in November 1924 the people voted to tear down the wooden structure at the back and build a fire proof brick addition in its place. On june 20, 1925 exercises were held at which the cornerstone was laid. Within this cornerstone was a copper box in which were placed pictures of the Board of Education and architect, notice of bond issues and annual school meetings, a list of the Alumni members and all the children in attendance The box was soldered together by Mr. Kahler and lr. Brunner. Several members of our graduating class began kindergarten and first grade in the Chapel on Arthur Avenue while this school was being finished. The plans of the building made no provisions for a second story floor over the auditorium A special meeting was called in June 1925 at which the people voted to make all of the addition tow stories high. There were twenty rooms in the new section. At this time a kindergarten was added and the elementary grades were separated from the high school. The library, which had formerly been combined with the office, was moved to the new section and new equipment purchased. Drawing and music rooms were provided. Xie first entertainment which was held in the new auditorium was the Senior play of 1926. This class was graduate from the new school. In 1928 a Commercial Department was In 1929 a Manual Training room was equipped in the basement of the ing. The faculty has increased to twenty-xis the first to started. old build- in number.,JCh 1937, the Board of Education purchased some land across South Park Avenue so that the students could have a place to carry on their sports. This is a Story of our present school. Nay it continue to grow and improve as it has in the past. V' ,. , 'fe meme

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IN MEMORY or ..,,, X 1 1, H U it 1 we -uf -. ,MAJ .Q N 4 . ,'01::v,. L! M 4. iyvdx ' as y a W .f ,f at I Mr. Scott Our school days have been saddened the last months of this school year by the illness and sudden death of our band director, Mr. Will Scott. Mr. Scott conducted classes as usual on Thursday, March lO, but word came Monday that he was in the hospital. He died Thursday, March 17, 1938. From earliest childhood, our Mr. Scott showed the deepest interest and ability in music. Many stories have been told of his efforts to realize his ambitions. When very young, he was given a violin and his older brother was presented with a horn. Becoming discouraged with his violin, he gave it away. But the urge to master it was too great, and he demanded it back again. He never gave it up again. The violin we have seen him play is one of the oldest in ' the country and he valued it highly. A Not satisfied with one instrument, he would steal away to the woods with his brother's horn. One day when company was present, his brother was asked to play a certain piece on the horn. Big brother could not play, but little brother could and did. When he was thirteen he organized a band and orchestra in his home town, practicing in an old barn or in the woods. He began playing for dances when he was sixteen. Soon he was in great demand inall the towns around, being booked up several weeks in advance. Newspaper clippings, now yellow with age, still bear proof of his popularity and sing praises of his entertainments. After leaving Sinclairville, he and his wife lived for some years in Sharon, Pennsylvania. Two sons, Harold and Malcolm were born to them there In 1908, they moved to Akron, New York and in 1916 to Buffalo. Their son, Harold, who was to have been a lawyer was killed in the World War,ten days before the Armistice was signed. Mrs. Scott passed away in 1926, after an illness of two years. Wherever Mr. Scott lived, he organized a WScott Orchestrau which became popular in the surrounding country. At one time he was in an orchestra con ducted by Victor Herbert which traveled with a theatrical company all over the United States. The company disbanded in Texas and Mr. Scott became dir ectcr of a band in Odessa, Texas, where he remained for some months. Later he had bands in Clarence, Williamsville, Corfu. His Corju band was an outstanding feature of the Batavia Fair for many years. In Akron he was also irector of the Methodist and Presbyterian Church Choirs. Hr. Scott came to Blasdell in 1927 and organized our band and orchestra Un er his leadership we won several cups at the Erie County Fair. Last year he was given special recognition there for his splendid work in the musical field. He was the oldest band director in Western New York. Proof of his ability as an instructor is the fact that a member of one of his bands was accepted immediately upon examination by the Boston Con- servatory of Music. Other members of his bands and orchestra in Blasdell have gained recognition in Buffalo. Robert Hall has been accepted also into a band at Indiana. He composes a quantity of music, writing the complete orchest trations himself for many compositions. A prayer service was held at his late residence in Buffalo on Monday morn- ing, March 21, at ten o'clock. The Band and Orchestra were represented by Six delegates chosen to attend. They were William Herrick, Howard Pfalzgraf, Arthur Leyda, Jean Page, Phyllis Hall and Donna Ringer. Members who repre- sented the Facutly were Mr. Buesch, Miss Peck, Mr. Mead and Miss Brewer. At 10:10 o'clock, the student body at school stood silently in his memory. At exactly the same time the Pastor was completing his prayer service. The burial was held at Sinclairville, New York at l:OO PAM. The death of Mr. Scott removes from our midst, one who will never befor- gotten. His cheerful disposition, willingness to help, and his untiring patience with us will never be forgotten and will remain with us forever. ff-ffssnem '- . 'fini w..wss'e fa- ': Q ,i 'A- NA