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

Page 28 text:

It is interesting to note that for Oshawa High School, the Motor Age had begun in the Fall of 1917, with mention of a girls' basketball team and a boys' football team motoring down for games with B.H.S. Probably, being from the Motor City, they were ahead of Bowmanville on the number of cars then in use, for Mrs. McLaughlin says our teams always travelled by train at this time. The girls' game referred to here was a dandy with the team play of our girls simply superb . Evelyn Dickinson as defense was in- vincible, and Rena Jewell, Mildred Bentham, Louise Morris and Mary McClellan fairly chain lightninged the ball up to Marian Wor- den and Beatrice Devitt who scored goal after goal, 11 in 15 minutes. Rain stopped the game, and all repaired to the Girls' Patriotic Tea Room, where the Oshawa girls were en- tertained. On the football team in October, 1917, playing a game here with Port Hope boys Cno mention of how they travelled upl B.H.S. won 9 to 0 with this team: Lorne Hastings, goal, Charles Rowe, Raymond Snowden, backsg Percival Muirhead, Sam Mason, Ronald Snowden, half- backsg Lorne Plummer, Morley Burgess, right wing, Herbert Van Nest, centre forward, Wesley Langmaid tcaptainl, Milton Avery, left wing. In the Fall of 1918, the 'flu swept the country, and there were many deaths. In Bowmanville, the Board of Health on Oct. 16 ordered all schools, churches, and other public places of meeting to be closed for two weeks. This must have been extended, for a notice from the Board of Health in the Nov. 14 Statesman directs that churches will re-open Sunday, Nov. 17, and all schools and public buildings on Nov. 18. By order of the Medical Officer of Health, Dr. B.J. Hazlewood, a pupil had to have a doc- tor's certificate to return to school. An inter-school Field Day with Whitby, Oshawa and Bowmanville participating had been arranged in September for Saturday, Oct. 24 19, at Alexandra Park, Oshawa Conly boys were mentionedl. Final arrangements were an- nounced in The Statesman of Oct. 17, but in view of the closing of schools and ban on public gatherings, it probably did not take place. As far as is recollected, there were no deaths among B.H.S. students attending at this time, but many were ill. When word came of the Ar- mistice which ended the War on Nov. 11, 1918, the schools were already closed because of the 'flu, and Mrs. McLaughlin remembers playing a game of tennis on the school court that day. Bells rang and whistles blew to announce the wonderful news that the War was over. The 'flu continued, for the Statesman repor- ted on Dec. 12 that Christmas examinations and Commencement at B.H.S. were postponed until after Christmas because of irregular at- tendance due to Spanish influenza. During the War years, the school donated to the Red Cross proceeds of plays put on by the students in the Opera House, and the girls assisted the war effort in various ways in- cluding helping the tea room run by the Girls' Patriotic Club, a town-wide organization. Miss L.A. Smithson of the staff was director of the school Dramatic Club in 1918 when As You Like It was presented and S201 cleared for the Red Cross. Debates and oratorical contests were promient features of these years, providing good training in marshalling thought and presenting argument orally. A debate by Form III boys at a Literary Society program in March, 1919, had the interesting subject, Resolved that barbarians are happier than civilized people . Affirmative - Gordon Morris, Edward Pethickg negative, and winning, side - Stanley Hardy, Philip Tilley. In an oratorical contest in May, 1919, the participants were all girls: Violet Rowe, Bessie Eastwood, Gertrude Hamley, Jane Grigg, Evelyn Joness. Winners were Jane Grigg, Evelyn Joness, Gertrude Hamley.

Page 27 text:

These hard-won uniforms, bought through Couch, Johnston and Cryderman who took no profit, were worn for years by B.H.S. cadets. When outdated, they were stored up on the third floor, and in a grand clean-out of this room, used over the years for practising club swinging and other drills, as an assembly room after the division into classrooms of the assem- bly on the second floor, for target practice and officer training by cadets under Mr. Mansell Stacey in the 1940's and '50's, the old uniforms Csomewhat corrupted by moth? were sent away and made into blankets which were then sold. In September, 1917, the Corps was loaned 60 Ross rifles by the Department of Militia, and Albert Cole recalls the Corps being led by a bugle band. Cadets were continued at the school until about 1960. Mrs. McLaughlin and also Mrs. Dudley fReta Colel remember that one of the teachers, Miss Bessie Pugsley who taught Latin and History, was travelling in Europe when war was declared and had quite an experience in getting out of Germany into France, hence to England and home. German as a regular subject was dropped about 1916, but is listed in January, 1918 examination results as an extra subject. Striking a lighter note, one of the teachers who followed Mr. Butson, Mr. R. McConachie, seems to be well remembered by students. He was known as Buffalo Bill because of his moustache and a wide-brimmed hat he wore. During the summer of 1917 the school had been painted at a cost of 8200, and in the preceding year and a half improvements in- cluded: slate blackboards, 877, physical and chemical apparatus, 8105, lantern slides, 830, hardwood floor in Board Room, 2590, flag pole, 855, additions to library, 860, framing of art pictures, 860, improvements in basement, 825, pictures presented by Board and friends, 8150. Boys were encouraged to help on farms, and could leave school after Easter examinations if standards set by the Education Department were met, to help plant, cultivate and harvest crops, or work in a cheese factory or creamery. On returning in September, evidence from the farmer had to be provided, and if satisfactory, the principal recommended the student for a certificate under the Farm Option privilege. Albert Cole's certificates all came as a result of Farm Option. In Assembly in September, 1918, badges were presented to 13 boys who showed their patriotic duty by working on farms in the summer. In 1918 the community was stricken by two things, a fuel shortage, and the Spanish in- fluenza epidemic. In April, 1918, Easter examinations were held early and the school closed for two weeks because of the fuel shor- tage, and in September of that year only one side of the school was being heated Cthere were two furnacesb. As school opened, there was a new principal, Mr. W.J. Morrison, B.A., who during his tenure from September 1918 to June, 1929, inspired respect among the students for his high stan- dards and interest in the pupils and the school. There were 70 girls and only 37 boys. The total of 107 was an increase over opening day in 1917, when some forms were said to have been crowded. Form IV in 1918 had ten girls and no boys. Form I had 47 students. In September, 1918 the Boys' and Girls' Athletic Associations elected their officers, with Miss Smith as Honorary President of the Gir1s', and Principal Morrison of the Boys' Association.

Page 29 text:

THE B, From Back: Pearl Luxton, Greta Morris. MIDDLE: Nellie Burke, Helen Henderson, Madeline Stephens, Mar- tion Virture. FRONT: Reta Cole, Lola Souch, Ruby Jewell, Marion Morris, Kate Warnica. CENTRE: Miss Isabel, K. Smith. THE H: Marjorie Moore, Gertrude Hamley, Nancy Johns, Leta Bragg, Louise Hardy, Olive Mutton, Agnes Haddy. CENTRE: Miss Bessie Pugsley, The Idea Maker. THE S: Belle Courtice, Mabel Wight Ruby Bragg, Lepha Don: caster, Gladys Cousins, Pearl McMullen, Marguerite Ramsay, Melita Hoar. Girls 1908- '11 BACK ROW: Helen Mit- chell, Minnie Trebilcock, Beryl Percy, Olga Tod, Carrie Roenigk. M I D D L E R O W : Florence Roenigk, Lillian Bounsall, Vera Ir- win, Vera Pennington, ? , Dora Percy, Diana Fowler. FIRST ROW, Left to Right: ? , Reta Roenigk, ? , Greta Wickett, Gladys Mun- day. Commencement Dec. 19, 1913 Assembly Stage Group 1911 or '12 BACK ROW: Milton San- derson, Gordon Manning, Reginald Jolliffe, Harold Washington, ? , Andrew Nichols, Roy Warnica, Allin Annis, Milton Tucker, Bob Dickinson. AMONG THE GIRLS ARE: Florence Thompson, Madeline Stephens, Ida Elliott, Marion Van Nest, Helen Johnston, Ruby Jewell, ? , Bessie Walsh. AT FRONT: Herb Fowler, Alan Martin, Ross Stutt, ? . 5' .-.ia