Bowmanville High School - Screech Owl Yearbook (Bowmanville, Ontario Canada)

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THE LITERARY SOCIETY The Literary Society was the main organizing force for student activities outside of athletics, where a Boys' and a Girls' Athletic Society flourished. The Lit organized the At Home, the Screech Owl Staff, the various par- ties, the Oratorical Contest and of course, the monthly Literary programmes, when class by class, the talents of the school were paraded in music, skits, plays, and always a form song. Only the Commencement entertainment was out of the students' hands as far as planning went, though they provided all the talent there too. Of course, form teachers got into the act with advice and direction as requested. Mr. Longworth, when our form teacher in Fourth and Fifth, writes Donnie Creasser, en- couraged us to put on a shortened version of Gilbert and Sullivan's MIKADO and PIRATES OF PENZANCE which were tremendous fun and great experience. Donnie also mentions the shield that was won by the class presenting the best all round programme. Form V often had the best trained talent, but the two first forms had the larger pool to draw from and two energetic form teachers in Miss Bonnycastle and Miss Wagar. In 1934, they directed a three- act play, MAKE BELIEVE, commemorated in the Screech Owl by a drawing in pen and ink by Ieleen Hallman CMrs. R. Okel of the wood cut- ter CCharlie Spencer! and the princess C?J. MUSIC Perhaps the outstanding feature of the school in the 30's was the musical talent there and its development under Mr. Francis Sutton. He built up an orchestra, a first class chorus and for years led the whole school in a Wednesday morning sing in the assembly. But the A Cap- pella Glee Club which won honours in music festivals was the pride of the school. Again quoting Donnie Creaser's memories. In I form that year we were entered in the Durham Northumberland Musical Festival. Af- ter much rehearsing we felt invincible but Mr. Sutton was not satisfied and he withdrew our application. We were shocked, hurt, and very disappointed. Mr. Dippell appealed in vain. Mr. Longworth finally interceded successfully but Mr. Sutton proved correct, as we did not win. The adjudicator in his remarks pointed out the very weaknesses that Mr. Sutton said would be our downfall . According to the Canadian Statesman of April 27, 1939, Bowmanville High School choristers sang a program of sacred muisc and spirituals in Toronto Parkdale Church on a Sun- day evening. In the November 30 issue of the same year it is noted that the Commencement entertainment of music, dances, and 2 one act plays had to be put on a third time-- on the following Monday. By then the Commencement date had settled to the last Friday in November--then the last Thursday and Friday, and now Thursday, Friday, and Monday. The actual prize and diploma giving was divided up and sandwiched in between Acts--the big thing was the show. From '32 to '38 operettas Cthe cheap kind with low royalties--it was the depression, remem- ber'?J were presented each year, the only really memorable one ENCHANTED ISLE, where the music was Chopin's. Robert Kent played Chopin and Eileen Wight CMrs. N. OsborneJ the heroine. In 1939, 2 one act plays were sub- stituted to give the non-musical students a chance at drama. But there were so many musicians! A brief list from the Screech Owls C30-'34 and then this source dries upl follows: Wallace Horn, Violin, Bernice Bellman, Soprano, Bob Corbett, Piano and Baritone, Phyllis Challis, Piano, George Werry, Piano, Helen Argue, Piano and Alto, Dorothy Edger, Piano, Albert Cully, Tenor, Oscar Jamison, Violin, Charlie Cawker, Cor- net, Piano, Orchestra Leader, Ken Morris, Trombone and Bass, Nan Allin, Alto, Jean and Eileen Wight, Sopranos, Doug Rackham, 1st Tenor--and then all those who came later! Per- formers in duets, quartettes, choruses and all the talented dance groups are too numerous to include.

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besides being served by the long-time members already mentioned, included L.S. Caverly C26- '28, '31-'33J, F. Knox C31-'39J, Mr. G.V. Gould C'31-'39J, H. Rice 034-'35, '37-'38D, Dr. V.H. Storey 0367, A.M. Hardy U39-'47l. In 1940 a I major change took place when the trustees of all the Bowmanville schools were united as the Bowmanville Board of Education which func- tioned from 1940 - Dec. 31, 1950. During that time the chairmanship changed each year, passing from F. Cryderman to Dr. Bon- nycastle, to A.M. Hardy, to W.A. Edger C40- '47J, to W.L. Patterson C40-'48J, to J.R. Stutt U40-'47D, to D.A. McGregor C41-'68J, to Dr. H. Ferguson C'41-'50J, to Dr. Devitt. In 1951 the Durham County Distrist High School Board came into existance to last until the amalgamation of all school boards into the .Northumberland and Durham County Board of Education in January 1969. C.H. Mason had replaced J.S. Moorcraft in II926 and served as Secretary-Treasurer until his death in 1943. S.R. James then carried on iuntil the county board was formed. H.W. Mit- chell of Port Hope served from 1951-'56 and then W.B. Raynolds, a wonderful friend of the school, staff and students alike until his death in 1965. Mrs. Ruth Mutton filled in briefly until the appointment of M.A. McLeod in 1966. Other members who served three years or more from Bowmanville and area on the county board include E.L. Oliver, J.F. Heyland U54-'70J, H.B. Tink C54-'71D, L.A. Parker C'55- '68l, Clare E. Allin C56-'68l, I. Colwill, A.A.H. Strike C56-'72l, Clarence Allin, G. Tubb U62- '68J, W.J. Brown V63-'70J. SOCIAL ACTIVITIES IN THE '30'S THE AT HOME The At Home, introduced by Mr. Dippell, became the annual social highlight of the school year. It was a very special senior dance, as only students from Forms IV, V and Senior Commercial could buy a ticket for two. Mem- bers of the lower forms could go, of course, if invited by a lordly senior Cmake usuallyl. There also developed a system whereby any junior who had won an academic or athletic prize, or had sold ten tickets to the Com- mencement Play, would receive an invitation Ci.e. could buy a single ticket, sit on the side lines, watch the couples dance and eat lunch.D Invitations were also sent to Board members, graduates of the last two years, and any adult in town who wanted one, so frequently one third of those who attended were non-students. The price was stiff for those days, 32.00 apiece, but it was the only school dance with an orchestra. In 1931 it was Scotty and his nine piece Pine Lake orchestra. In 1934, Charlie Cawker's group supplied most danceable music. There was first the formal reception line, then a programme featuring some of the best acts from Literary programmes. Dancing part- ners were listed on dance programmes, given out as tickets when the money was laid on the line. From 1934 to 1941 these programmes and invitations were prepared by the Art teacher and her students, much cheaper than printing. Girls got their first long dresses Coften homemade? for this magical formal affair. Lunch was served in the gymnasium at eleven, dancing resumed, to continue until one o'clock. Much work went in ahead of time in decorating the Assembly Hall. For the first few years, since the dance was held in February and since the school colours were red and white, these colours in streamers, hearts on the windows and balloons seemed appropriate. However, more elaborate efforts were made later. One year that I remember particularly was when the theme was based on the popular song of the day PENNIES FROM HEAVEN. Colourful plastic and oil silk umbrellas were hung open, suspended from the ceiling and cascades of gold and silver 'pennies' erupted from them . Donalda Creasser f1935-'41J. Other school dances took place after the games. A good natured pianist was pressed into service for the music. In the early years this might be Elsie Carruthers CMrs. R. Lunney 1929-'34J who remembers damage to her music by mice in the old assembly hall. Things were much better in the new one! Other pianists of this period were Newton Hackney, Bob Corbett, Ken Tamblyn, Bill Ingram, Helen Argue, Charlie Cawker and later Don Cameron. One and all they would often play during the noon hour for dancing couples Cfrequently pairs of girlsl. Russell Hallman and Donnie Creasser both remember Don's music. Russel C1935-'38l writes: Don Cameron used to have a good thing going for him at the Big 20, taking home five or six pieces of music and playing them over and over until he learned them, then take them back, all but one, which he bought. This is how he knew all the latest songs for the piano at one fifth the cost. Money was always scarce in those days.

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Mr. Ainsley Commercial Teacher C34-'40J Miss Wagar at II Form Picnic 1938 The New Math Teacher 1938 Mr. Lucas First plate for the Morgan Lunney two-plate Screech Owl Cover. Discovered by the Canadian Statesman and contributed to this issue.