Brattleboro Union High School - Colonel Yearbook (Brattleboro, VT)

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8 HY guess? Let's knowf' is our pre- sent watchword. For some reason or reasons too complex for us to begin to explain the public conceptions of science have revolutionized in three-score years from scepticism to confidence. This is a scientific age, an age when the World has one prime demand, facts and more facts. Formerly, science was only the pastime of a few advanced scholars and the artisan was bewildered not to say aggravated when informed that he was applying scientific principles. How much science has come to mean, being applied to everything from physics to life insurance. Science has created the new and improved the old till the rut confining man for centuries is all but obliterated. Of the three ways which man has of carrying on business by rule, by hunches and by facts, it was left to the twentieth century to prove the superiority of the last. Consider the pains and the money which business men are spending to pry open the secrets of nature. The tree ring calendar, of which most people have at least heard, is at length stubbornly revealing the secrets of a varied climate of the Southwest. By such information it is hoped to intrench firmly the nomadic agricultural population of the region. Science too is for the most part the stabilizing agent of insurance com- panies. The risks of accident among people have been carefully charted over a period of years until a specialist can fix with as- surance a rate fair to the customer and the company. At the birth of our country all of the publications could be enumerated with the fingers of one hand. See what the desire for fact, instant fact has caused! Books, newspapers, and magazines, some with a million patrons. News must be new. Such a demand is what backs a message go- ing twice around the world in'two hours and thirty-five minutes. The public de- mands speed, science must produce it. Now for the discoveries in physics and their enlightening effects. The internal combustion engine holds the balance of much of our present prosperity. A new found power supplants our muscular energy. The automobiles which first ap- peared as toys only numbered eight thou- sand in 1900 and even the great financier, J. THE DIAL IVY EIIAY THE TREND OF MODERN SCIENCE + + ,lk IVY ODE Hail to thee, immortal ivy, Lead us on our rocky climb, Mark our heights with transfixed glory, Clear our way, a path sublime. Ever up, you strive and conquer Each new task which looms above, May we climb your faultless ladder, Every round, a deed of love. Scar on scar you cover over VVith a veil of silvery sheen, May we follow your example, That our griefs may not be seen. VVe will lead the life of splendor You have marked so well before, And with you press ever forward For the bounteous gifts in store. But with all our upward striving, VVe will hold to ideals true, VVhich we've planted at the bottom, As this day, we've planted you. -HELEN THoMPsoN. Music by Martha Holland. P. Morgan, refused to invest in such a Wild- cat scheme. Nevertheless there are enough automobiles in the United States to carry the entire population. The once despised gasoline engine, weight equivalent to a horse, now develops four hundred times as much energy. A new cracking process is now used to separate the gasoline from the crude oil. Science has met the emergency otherwise we would not have gasoline for many automobiles. The automobile and its accessories now engage thousands of work- men. My kingdom now for a spare tire not a horse. Once the problem would have been who would feed all the workers thus engaged, but chemistry has meanwhile solved or partly solved that too, I say partly be- cause science will never be complete. Im- provements in fertilizers have increased the potato yield three hundred and fifty bushels to the acre and other crops accordingly. One man with modern machinery is doing the work formerly done by ten. Only by science do we eat smooth apples. Can we fiy? Who says, no. He is just a half a century behind. Through the pioneer efforts of Wright Brothers and others, we must not forget Lindbergh, we are conquering the upper regions. They have by no means been subjugated. The last test failed to bring a fool-proof plane even though the Curtiss Company was awarded first prize. We watch with awe the feats of the German Zeppelins, and owe to science the discovery of helium which removes the dread of fire from these ships of the sky. For a rough estimate as to what the speed- of the aeroplane will approach in 1960 note that there were eight thousand automobiles in the United States three de- cades ago. At present there are eight thousand aeroplanes. The auto in thirty years has increased its speed four fold. What will the aeroplane with a speed of one hundred fifty miles an hour develop thirty years hence? Six hundred and fifty miles an hour, believe it or not! This is an epoch of endurance and speed, the Bremen with her turbines, and her sister ship vying to crack the hours and minutes from the Atlantic voyage. Through the ether now travels the human voice with tContinued on Page 473

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NTHUSIASTIC students have been cheering for Brattleboro High School for nearly one hundred years. The first graduation exercises took place ninety- seven years ago. Ever since December fourth, seventeen hundred eighty-two Cl782j, when the first decision in regard to Public Schools was made by the citizens of Brattleboro, they had, undoubtedly, planned for an institu- tion of higher education. Of course there were many private Academies and Semi- naries in Brattleboro and the surrounding villages, but they didnlt belong to the town. The private Academy at West Brattleboro was far from the East Village, and the private High School on the Common-why they had about one hundred and ninety pupils a11d only two teachers! In eighteen hundred thirty-two a group of public- spirited citizens of Brattleboro formed a High School Association which was con- stituted to establish a High School for young masters, ladies, and misses in the 'East Village., 'y Eleven trustees: John Hol- brook, Frances Goodhue, Joseph Fessen- den, john L. Dickerman, Gardner C. Hall, Samuel Root, Paul Chase, Henry Smith, Henry Clark, Phillip Hall and William Hays, were placed in charge. The school remained under their jurisdiction for ten years, then it was sold to the district. Mr. Holbrook and Mr. Goodhue were at the time the joint owners of the land on which the High School now stands and a good bit of the surrounding territory as well. They sold all of this land except a lot set aside for the school building, and the proceeds helped the Association's finan- cial problems. Work on the building was begun at once and the first session of B. H. S. was held in the early part of eighteen hundred thirty-three. The schoolhouse was a two- story wooden structure painted white. Last year the class of eighteen hundred eighty-four, the last class to graduate from the old building, gave to all the Alumni pictures of their Alma Mater as a remem- brance of their 'fforty-fifth birthday. Up to the year eighteen hundred sixty- three practically the only record to be found of the activities of B. H. S. is a note- book once owned by Addison Hale who, in THE DIAL IVY OIQATIDN GLIMPSES OF THE PAST a spurt of Freshman enthusiasm, copied down a list of subjects taught and the names of the scholars, seventy-one in num- ber, and even then one more girl than boy. But when at last they had acquired a Public High School, the citizens were not entirely satisfied. They wanted to improve their possession, not as to property but system. In eighteen hundred forty-one a committee was appointed first to decide upon and then to incorporate a better school system. The committee adopted that of our neighbor, Massachusetts. Inci- dentally, Brattleboro was the hrst Vermont town to adopt this system. The system was a great success and the splendid schools of Brattleboro proved to be a strong induce- ment to many to settle here. On Monday, April thirteenth, eighteen hundred sixty-three, began a new era for Brattleboro High School. On that day a dynamic personality came to guide the youth of Brattleboro-Mr. B. F. Bingham, a natural-born schoolmaster. As if by magic the whole atmosphere changed, rule, order, and accomplishment stepped to the fore. Mr. Bingham, too, seemed pleased and con- tent for he remained at his post as principal until his death in eighteen hundred eighty- nine when all Brattleboro mourned the loss of their beloved master. Brattleboro was fortunate also to have Mrs. blames P. Elmer CStella Elmerj as assistant principal. Mrs. Elmer served the school faithfully for thirty years in this capacity. Since the year eighteen hundred eighty- nine, B. H. S. has been served by eight principalsg Mr. McLashlen, Mr. James D. Horne, Mr. Hobart Whittaker, Mr. Edgar Smith, Mr. VVarren, Mr. Caverly, Mr. Stevens, and now Mr. Wiggin. In eighteen hundred eighty-four, B. H. S. was presented a new brick building which is still very much in use! How enthusiastic the scholars must have been over such a splendid building even though they were sorry to have the old familiar structure torn down. Let us go back to the days when our B. H. S. was new-say to eighteen hundred ninety-about forty years ago. VVhat were they studying then? Were the courses any- thing like those of today? 7 From the old School Reports we learn that there were four courses of study. The Commercial Course was only two years in length and the subjects were, beside English, Algebra, Geography, History, Arithmetic and Bookkeeping. The English Course was four years in length. The first two years were the same as the Commercial, but the juniors and Seniors studied Astronomy, Chemistry, Zoology, Geology, and Botany. The two other courses were each four years in length. The Latin Course differed from tl1e English only in one respect, that Latin was substituted for Algebra. The Classical Course included Greek' and one term of French. Music and Drawing were required sub- jects. Music had been introduced into the curriculum by Edward Clark, the leader of the Unitarian Church Choir, in eighteen hundred sixty-three. A period of Rhetori- cal Expression, as Senior speeches were termed in the good old days, was held every Vtlednesday afternoon in the As- sembly Hall. Do you know we really aren't as modern as we think we are? It is most interesting to read the old School Committee Reports and chuckle over the familiar expressions. Way back in eighteen hundred ninety- three they had a discussion concerning the advisibility of changing from a one-session to a two-session plan. In the course of the argument set forth by the principal, who favored the one-session plan, we discover the fact that 'fafternoon sessions are held daily as punishment for unpreparedness i11 recitation and for unruly conduct. The statement by the principal to the ef- fect that the students are crowded and if a new building cannot be financed at least an addition should be made is ancient history. Principal James D. Horne originated the phrase in tl9Olj nineteen hundred one. Later he was rewarded by having a room in the third story finished for class work. Possibly twenty-nine years of continued repetition have worn down the sales resist- ance of the townspeople perhaps in the near future-who knows? By nineteen hundred six, athletics had won a prominent place in High School activities and received much praise in the Report. 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Freshman Year N' September seventh, nineteen hun- dred and twenty-six, one hundred and forty-one fearless voyagers set sail on the ocean liner, B. H. S. VVC had never ridden on such a vessel before, and the experi- enced travelers regarded us as quite green. We did not know if the waves were to be turbulent or calm and peaceful. At the first asseirbly, September ninth, everyone stood up and greeted us heartily which made most of us blush, stumble, and feel still more insignificant. However, Mr. Stevens put us at ease, and told us the daily routi11e of a frosh life. A large wave rolled over the men in our party on September tenth when they were innocently listening to a band concert on the lower deck. Accordingly, a larger ship was built the next year so such accidents would not happen again, Before we were far out at sea we found we needed a captain to guide the good ship. VVe bestowed this honor upon Michael Dube. He insisted he needed a helper, so Elinor Holden was chosen as his partner. important matters were filed by Grace Hec- tor, while Richard VVilder was given the arduous duty of collecting money. Rena Farr was his able assistant. Our first party, the Freshman get-to- gether, came on September seventeenth. This was the first year that such a party was given, and for the first time we felt at home. On October fifteenth the annual Freshman Blowout took place. XNe Freshies enjoyed it immensely. Before long our first DIAL was published, and we found it was dedicated to us, the Freshmen. On closer observation we found stories there written by illustrious authors from the class of thirty. There were plenty of activities on our ship. Helen Thompson and Perry Howe were chosen to represent the class on the Student Council. We could also point with pride at our athletes. Mike Dube, Lloyd Goodnow, Bill Rancourt, and Freddie Searls helped carry the pigskin, and these four with John Baker were the candidates for basketball. Mike was also on the track team and Lloyd was a great asset on the baseball diamond. These brought honor to the class, and supplied the upper classmen with real competition. The girls' basketball team came out second in the fight for championship. We were well represented on the general and maximum honor roll, being second on the list for percentage. A contest was held to see who would be the Freshman reporter. This honor went to Elinor Holden, who then became a mem- ber of the Dml. Board. THE DIAL CLAII I-IIITDIQY A great naany of our members were mu- sical, eight being in the orchestra, and seven in the band. A large number were also in the glee clubs, VVith January came our first taste of exams, but we pulled through more or less successfully, and then were ready for the finals which came at the end of our first trip in B. H. S. In June our ship landed in the Sopho- more port, after having been on a success- ful voyage almost free from molestation. -GRACE Hizcron Sophomore Year On September sixth, nineteen hundred and twenty-seven, one hundred and thirty- three members of the class of 1930 re- entered the portals of B. H. S. VVe had elevated ourselves from that noticed and obscure class, called Freshies. We had one year which we and our intellects had the privilege Sophomores. It was our chief omores to set a so broadened our minds in that had spent as Freshmen, so developed that We of being full pledged aim and duty as Soph- good example for the class of Freshmen, who were following our footsteps. It was our privilege to have William Rancourt as chief executive to pilot in time of need, while for his most able assistant we chose Rena Farr. Grace Hector served for his most able secretary. John Baker was elected treasurer, while Mary O'Brien aided him most efficiently. The old custom of hazing having been dropped, we, the Sophomores, introduced the practice of rope pulling, on account of which the Freshies received at our hands, at least one clean bath. VVe were represented on the football team by Mike Dube, Red Searls, Bill Rancourt, and Lloyd Goodnow, all of whom we were very proud of. The Sophomores also did their part in basket- ball, having Bill Rancourt, Mike Dube and Richard Bugbee as candidates. Our able representatives, who efficiently handled the laws and rules of the Student Council, were Jeannette Miller and Richard Wilder. Our advancement to the Sophomore class must have had some effect for we had three Sophomore names on the Super Honor Roll, and sixteen on the General Honor Roll for the second marking period, Our DIAL reporter, Elinor Holden, fur- nished interesting Sophomore Notes for the DLAL, and an immediate glance at the other departments of our magazine will show lruch literary ability from the class of '30, 9 The operetta, which took place on the nineteenth and the twentieth of April, was very well conducted through the aid and ability of many Sophomores. Although no Sophomores took part in the annual high school play they supported it one hundred per cent. The social affairs of our High School Year started with the Freshman party. The party was given in honor of the Freshies in order that they might mingle and be- come acquainted with the upper classmen. The football banquet, track dance, and Junior Prom proved most successful. The Sophomore Senior party was not held this year because of a unanimous rejection on the part of the Seniors in whose honor it was to be held. The Sophomore Class was well repre- sented in various clubs and because of this the clubs became bigger and better. The class of 1930 entered the Sophomore Year, which was greatly enjoyed both scholastically and socially, with the grim determination of making next year, 0111- Junior Year, better than ever. -Joniv BAKER Junior Year When school opened on Wednesday, Sep- tember 5, 1928, we thought we were as im- portant as we needed to be, and having been foolish Freshmen and Sophomores, we set about being dignified Juniors with a will. VVe have one hundred eight members at this time. We noticed that B. H. S. had had sev- eral changes and additions made during the summer. Notionly was history to be taught in Room ll, but a new piano indicated that the room was to be the center of musical activity as well. Over all the building fresh paint and varnish on walls and desks gave a silent welcome to all. We found ourselves in Rooms 24, 25, and 35. We who were in 35 recalled our fresh- man days spent in that very room and were indeed glad to be shifted to Room 11, a room of more prominence in B. H. S. and more suited to our newly acquired dignity. We were glad to welcome two new teach- ers, Miss Leighton and Mr. Jolmston. Groups cannot progress without leaders, and so we elected John Baker as class presi- dent, Elinor Holden as vice-president, Elizabeth Franklin as secretary, Chester Shaw as treasurer, and Beatrice Bangs as assistant treasurer. Our first social time was the Blowout where we Juniors were glad to be present as upper classmen not having been obliged to fCoutinued on Page 483