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

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Girls wore their prettiest dresses, boys their best suits, and gathered in the Assembly Room. Music struck up Csome remember an or- chestra, others a piano being playedl. The boys then chose a girl partner who placed her hand on his arm, and they promenaded across the upper hall, down the boys' stairs, through the lower hall, up the girls' stairs, and perhaps around again until the selection ended. It was not a dance. They walked and talked. Reta Cole fMrs. C.H. Dudley! recalls the Form IV room being cleared of desks and fitted up as a sitting room for one of these affairs, and that a boy often presented his girl with flowers or chocolates. Mary Souch CMrs. Albert Cole? says she and her future husband had their first date at a Conversazione, so romance flourished. There were refreshments, and everyone would be out of the school by 11 p.m. No doubt the evening was well chaperoned. The Conversaziones were usually separate from Commencement, but in December, 1916, one was held following Commencement in the Assembly, and ex-pupils could obtain in- vitations by calling at Kerslake's Drug Store. Though there were no school dances, dancing did at times take place within the hallowed walls. For example, Albert Cole tells about square dancing, with boys, to mouth organ music in the basement in lunch hours. About the same period fPrincipa1 A.H.D. Ross's time? Ina Pethick CMrs. John MacNaughtonD tells of a group of girls in- cluding the Hazlewood girls, Bea Devitt, Edythe Clemens, Leone Wallace, Eileen Howard, Ruth Martyn, Mary McClellan and herself, who, back early from lunch one day, decided to do an imitation of the Ziegfield Follies on the stage of the Assembly. They were kicking up their legs and flinging their skirts around gaily as someone played the piano, 20 when Principal Ross stalked in and caught them. They quailed under the look he gave them, and the legs that had been high-kicking wilted and shook. Ina doesn't remember what punishment they received. Mrs. L.T. McLaughlin fMiss Smith? who had joined the staff in -September, 1913, and Mrs. Dudley CReta Colelwho entered high school that year, recall how a fire in the school in Christmas holidays 1913-'14 damaged the south- east portion of the building containing Forms I and II and the Science Room above Form I. The fire was on Dec. 23, The Statesman records, the flames in the basement being seen by a Goodyear employee, Mr. E. P. Doncaster, as he was leaving the factory just before six o'clock. He turned in the alarm at the factory and the Goodyear brigade got on the scene at once, and were soon 'joined by the town brigade with chemical engine and pumper. Two of the Goodyear firemen were overcome by smoke, but were resuscitated by Mayor Dr. S.C. Hillier. Access to town water from a hydrant iso recently installedl, quick work by the men, plus the fact the fire was noticed when it was, probably saved the building from destruction. Damage to rooms was estimated at between S2000 and 93000, covered by insurance. School resumed on time in January, but two and three classes had to be held in the Assem- bly Room, Mrs. Dudley recalls, with only a cur- tain between, and it was difficult to con- centrate. Also, text books and notes had been lost, and hammering as repairs were made was distracting, but the new science room when finished was a great improvement on the old. In 1914 the first school magazine was edited, called Vox Nostra, and containing activities of that year. At Commencement in December, 1915 in the Opera House, Principal Ross an-

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nounced the sale of the new school magazine for 15 G . It had 23 pages. Mrs. Dudley had a copy, but unfortunately for her and those of us who would love to see it now, her copy was picked up from a display of articles in 1958 during the Town's Centennial. As far as is known, it was only published one year. The first mention found of the Squair prize for the best student in French, established by Professor John Squair of Toronto University, a B.H.S. graduate and author of widely used French textbooks, is on the Commencement program of 1915. From 1914 to 1918, the Great War was con- stantly in all minds and the effects were felt in the school, with a number of students and recent graduates enlisting, of whom several were killed in action. Mr. W.G. Butson, mathematics and athletics teacher, organized a cadet corps on Oct. 29, 1914, and led it until he enlisted and left, early in 1916, as nearly as can be ascertained. Capt. Butson was killed on April 17, 1917 at Vimy Ridge, and the news of his death and others connected with B.H.S. came as a shock to students. Mrs. McLaughlin recalls Roger Bird as the first student to enlist, in the Fall of 1914. He was in Form I. At Principal Dandeno's in- stigation, the students bought a silk Union Jack flag which was placed over the door of that form and stayed there for years. Among other students who enlisted while in school, Mrs. Dudley remembers Bruce Berry, Eric Cousins Ckilledl, Lloyd Rice Cone of those who went at the same time as Mr. Butsonl, Floyd Dudley Cbadly gassedl, Day Warnica, Roy Warnica, and Melville Westaway. Some of these boys must have been under age, but recruiting was going on, and their enthusiasm to enlist was high. Many graduates also enlisted, including Reginald Jolliffee who was killed in action at Vimy Ridge. The Jolliffe prize, the income from 8300, established by Reginald's mother Mrs. Elvira Jolliffe in his memory, was originally given for the best essay on a topic of Imperial interest, but in later years became the prize for highest standing in Grade XIII History. Major Arthur E. McLaughlin, an earlier graduate, Bowmanville lawyer and well known to the school and community, was a senior of- ficer in this area when war was declared and received instructions to commence recruiting. As an officer in the 2nd Canadian Infantry Bat- talion Cthe famous Iron Second as it was known? which was commanded by his cousin Col. Lorne T. McLaughlin, he was killed in ac- tion in September, 1916. In 1918 portraits of Major McLaughlin and Capt. Butson were pur- chased by the school and unveiled. A plaque commemorating all those connected with the school who served in the 1914-'18 war was purchased with funds donated by students and former students. It was mounted in the hall of the school and unveiled on June 3, 1921 by Professor A.T. Delury of Toronto University, a graduate of B.H.S. During the War years, patriotic songs such as Tipperary, Never Let the Old Flag Fall, Rule Britannia and many others were sung at Literary and Commencement programs, and at the December, 1917 Commencement the Cadet Corps No. 544, in their new uniforms, ac- ted as usher. Money to purchase these uniforms at a cost of 94 to S5 each, had been contributed by Board members, parents, citizens, and raised by the boys themselves with a booth at the Fair. 21