Burgard Vocational High School - Craftsman Yearbook (Buffalo, NY)

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SILVER ANNIVERSARY Frank Szafranski President Frank Pierowicz Secretary Raymond Fiolli Class Historian CLASS OFFICERS 27 George Krnasky Vice-president Michael Melnik Treasurer Charles Eggert Class Prophet

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1261 1910 THE CRAFTSMAN T0 THE CLASS OF TI-IIRTY-FIVE .... There is only on real failure in life possibleg and that is, not to be true to the best one knows.-Canon F adrer This is Burgard's twenty-fifth anniversary year. You belong to the silver jubilee graduating class. That in itself is quite a distinction. ,lust think of how fortunate you were to have inherited all the good things in voca- tional education that resulted from a quarter century of progress. This morning I looked over the archives of this school and delved into the records of ancient days and recalled that the iirst graduating class numbered four members and the exercises were held in the Y. M. C. A. auditorium. Today, after twenty-five years, we find several of these graduates still in Buffalo and holding positions of trust or engaged in business concerns of their own. 2' ' What was happening in this World of ours in 1910, the year our school came into existence? Well, we may mention the fact that Commodore Peary discovered the North Pole, that King George of England was crowned the same yearg that the Boy Scout Movement was started in America, and an aviator made the first trans- continental flight from New York to California in 84 hours. Now it is done in 8 hours. What wonderful prog- ress has been made! While we are tuming back the pages of time let us note that this year, 1935, also marks the three-hundredth anniversary of the first public high school in America., the Boston Latin School. In town meeting assembled, on the 23rd of April, 1635, the good citizens of Boston decided to open a school and voted nthat our brother, Philemon Porrnont, shall be intreated to become school- master for the teaching and nourtering of children with us. This resolution ushered in America's first high school and brought along with it the Durwe's Board for stupid and lazy scholars, the Dutch Plaks, to slap naughty hands, the famous Hornbookg the Stocks, where boys' feet were locked while the master gave whippingsg and the Quill and the Sand Cup, for drying pages wet with ink. On the wall, there were usually specimens of the Mastefs writing, to prove that he could do it. What changes have come about in schools! Compare Burgard with its modern, scientific, mechanical equip- ment with the HHornbook and Stocks. Yes, indeed, you graduates of the silver jubilee year are to be congratulated. May you always recall with thankful hearts the twenty-fifth and the three-hundredth anniversary years. Our best wishes go with you. ltvvvlf-MVQIK,

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I23l HE CRAFTSMA CL SS HI TORY .... Next to acquiring good friends, the best acquisition is that of good books. -Colton. In September, 1931, at the termination of a joyous summer vacation, a large number of youths between the ages of twelve and sixteen applied for admission to Burgard. Of this group only about three hundred were admitted. A personal interview was held with each pros- pective freshman, and elementary school report cards were also considered in determining which boys were best qualified for a place in the school. We felt bewildered during the first few weeks after our entrance because of the complete change from our grammar school procedure. Our new responsibilities loomed largely before us and the task we had set for ourselves seemed difficult, indeed. As time elapsed, however, we became accustomed to the routine and our greenness gradually disappeared. New and staunch friendships were formed which were to last throughout the four years of our stay at Burgard and, as we hope, for many years into the future. During that first year many of the boys who later were to distinguish themselves in the field of sport or in scholarship made their first bid for fame, Shy, quiet, Frank Szafranski went out for football, the sport which eventually was to give him a place on the all-high foot- ball team. Frank Pierowicz, also a quiet, unassuming student, joined the baseball squad and laid the founda- tion which was to give him a place on the all-high baseball team. Both of them also began an enviable record in scholastic work. In this year Mike Melnik and Ray Fiolli began their training for spectacular work in baseball and George Krnasky went out for football. During the second year, we found that splendid in- struction and excellent equipment made learning easy and we were glad to display our superiority as sopho- mores. Those who returned for the second year began to strike their stride and many fine scholastic and shop- work records were made. This year Charlie Eggert and Carl Patti began to establish a record in football and Hank Meidel began to limber up for cross-country. As the next year rolled around, we felt even more the guidance of Mr. Kamprath and each of our instructors. We felt that we were well on the way to our goal and began to put forth greater efforts. We were proud to call ourselves Juniors of Burgard. During the fall of this year, Charlie Eggerfs fine work on the gridiron