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

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There were several trains a day on the Grand Trunk which stopped at all local stations, sup- plemented by those on the C.P.R. after 1913, so that getting to and from other towns for games was quite convenient. At this time games were played by the girls in regular dresses, but running 'shoes were worn - to protect the grass. In 1915 Miss Smith took a summer course in physical culture at University of Toronto when gym costumes worn were middies and blue serge bloomers, and these became standard for girls' athletics. The entire third floor ot' the school, 65 feet by 70 feet, was intended for use as a gymnasium, according to a description of the building in 18 90, and some students recall having exercises, club swinging and drills up there, but in the main, athletics was consisted of outdoor sports - football, hockey, basketball, tennis, and track competitions. However, Reta Cole C1913-'16 Mrs. C.H. Dudleyl, Albert Cole C1914-'18l and Morley Burgess C1914-'18l all mention a room in the basement with parallel bars for exercises, and in 1913 and '14, The Statesman records that there were donations from Commencement proceeds and other sources toward purchase of equipment for physical exercises. Students skated and played hockey at Taylor's rink, where Carlisle Avenue is now, and later at the rink on King Street East, also on Vanstone's mill pond and other ponds. The town band provided music for skating at the rink two nights a week, admission 15c . Car- nivals were held which students and townsfolk attended, and Mary Souch C1916-'17 Mrs. Albert Colel remembers nearly freezing to death as a fairy in a cheesecloth dress. There was also sleigh riding on hills around town. One year Mrs. Humby fReta Roenigkl recalls, the boys'side of the school hill was per- fect for sleigh riding. The boys brought sleighs to school, and the girls went over to get in on the fun. Mr. Elliott soon put a stop to that, and gave quite a lecture on how embarrassing it would be if any of the boys wanted to use a little green building behind the lattice barricade. This building, housing outside toilets on the south side of the school, and screened by evergreens Csee Mr. C.E. Rehder's picture? recalls that Bowmanville did not have piped water or sewer facilities until November, 1913. CThe Goodyear whistle blew to announce the arrival in the town reservoir of water from Skinner's Springs.J In August, 1914, The Canadian Statesman reports that a contract had been let for installation of a complete out- fit of lavatories in the basement of the high school and town water was to be supplied throughout the building for drinking purposes and use in the laboratory. A well to the east had supplied water demands earlier. Mr. Rehder brought this point to mind, and also says there was no electricity in the school before 1912. There was a Literary Society with student executive, and programs were held in the Assembly Room. They included debates Cby boys usuallyl, one-act plays, vocal and in- strumental numbers by students, drills and readings. Though music was not taught in school, it was an important part of all programs. Commencement exercises were held in December or January, some years in the Assembly Room, in others in the Opera House. The big social event of the year from the early 1900's on through the War years, was the Conversazione. The word will be new to some, but not the students of those days. Of Italian origin, it means a meeting for conversation, particularly on art or literature. Somewhere along the line, a lighter tone developed. Never- the less, it was a formal affair.

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onto the carpet - how I missed I don't know. There was a library table in the hall with a large book on it. This was the 'late book' and you signed in when late. My name was there all right enough. Mrs. Humby recalled her teachers, one of whom was Mr. A.R. Cameron, tall, dark and handsome, all the girls adored him. The girls were called Miss, and the boys by their last name only. C. Ernest Rehder 11906-'08J says discipline was firm, but punishment moderate. An in- cident remembered by Harvey S. Wight C1907- '13J now of Czar, Alta., illustrates the kind of rules governing students. During the principalship of Mr. John Elliott, no one except those going home for lunch, could go up town at noon. One day, several of us in the upper form decided we would like to see the new town hall. We went. We were met at the door by Chief Richard Jarvis who kindly con- sented to show us the building. The inspection ended in the basement where there were three cells, and unsuspecting, the boys stepped in for a good look. Bang! Click! The door was shut and locked and Mr. Jarvis without a word went upstairs. Twenty minutes later he came back, having communicated, the boys surmised, with Mr. Elliott. Solemnly he opened the door and suggested that if they ran they might get to school by one o'clock. At the school we were met by a very stern-faced Mr. Elliott who invited us into the office. Here, as an Englishman would say, we were 'stood up and dressed down' in no uncertain terms. It was during Mr. Elliott's principalship that the school motto Non Quantum Sed Q,uale was chosen, and also at his instigation that a very successful reunion of former students was held in 1911 in the Opera House, combined with Commencement, the event marking 60 years of high school classes in Bowmanville. He had, by 1908, compiled a history of higher education in the town, beginning in 1851, to which he added further details in 1945. In 1943 a reunion of his pupils was held in Toronto. Subjects were academic only, and a high standard was maintained. But athletic events, Literary Society programs, Commencements, plays, conversaziones Cof which more later? made school far from all work and no play. The boys played football Cthis was soccer, not rugbyl on the field south of the school, the girls, basketball and tennis on the lawn to the west. There were inter-school games with Oshawa, Whitby and Port Hope, and local and inter-school Field Days. Morley Burgess C1914- '18J now of Oshawa, says the students bought their own football or other equipment by collec- tion from all who were interested in any par- ticular sport. Of basketball Mrs. Humby says, One year we played return games with Whitby. We beat them at home but lost out in Whitby. What a game that was - we took a thorough mauling. However, we won by points so didn't feel too badly. We went to Whitby by train from the G.T.R. station and Mr. Cameron had one of Glover's buses waiting when we got home, tired out. The bus of course was horse-drawn. Another memory, possibly of this same game, was of walking to the Grand Trunk Station, going to Whitby for a game, having supper there and coming home by train in the evening, and little cheering at the game. Elsie Bragg C1907-'10 Mrs. H.D. Watersl remembers getting a black eye at a game in Whitby. Dora Prout C1906-'10 Mrs. Tom Norton? remembers entertaining the Whitby girls in Mr. Tod's ice cream parlour after a 1909 home game.

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