Carl Schurz High School - Schurzone Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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JA ji, J llbemle, 1930-1940 Throughout the years 1930-39 Schurz proved over and over again to be an outstanding school in every respect, from sports to scholastic achieve- ments. 1930 saw the Iunior Swimming Team win its second championship. Upon the death of Mr. Charles Lagerquist in 1930 Mr. LeRoy Wetzel took over his work and organized the solo class which in 1934, numbered 600 members who participated in the 1934 Messiah accompanied by the 65-piece Symphony Orchestra directed by Mr. Iames Mason. Champs again in '32 was the Iunior Swimming Team. The Iunior Skating Team was on top too, winning its second City Championship during the next year. It was on Oct. 12, 1934 that the solo class was invited to sing at the Columbus Day Pageant at the World's Fair. Over 18,000 people were present, when the chorus, clad in black choristers' robes with white collars, sang four numbers under Mr. Wetzel's direction. A From the ashes of the Schurz World a new publication under the name Schurz News was brought into being in 1934 due to the fact that Miss Beaton had been granted a Sabbatical leave and the Schurz World was left without a sponsor. Our principal, Mr. Lakemacher, then a member of the Schurz faculty, with the help of two teachers sponsored the new publication. During 1935 he was the sole sponsor, and in '36 and '37 he was again assisted by two other teachers. During these years he also sponsored the Schurzone which was left without a sponsor due to Miss Beaton's Sabbatical leave. Another Championship was brought to us in 1935 by the Iunior Indoor Track Team which repeated its success in '36, The lunior and Senior Golf Teams were also City Champions in '36. The first Mikado, directed by Mr. Wetzel, was given in 1935 by the Choristers, accompanied by the orchestra directed by Mr. Mason. On the evening of April 8, 1936 the pipe organ was dedicated and this occasion ended twenty-Hve years of work on the part of the students, faculty, and alumni. The dream of Mr. Walter Slocum, Principal and Mr. C. A. Pet- tersen, Assistant Principal, came true that evening. The football team, the Schurzone, the Schurz World, graduating classes, students, faculty, and alumni through their contributions made the purchase of the organ possible. Mr. Walter F. Slocum retired on May 6, 1936 after 26 years of service and Mr. Thomas C. lohnson became principal in September 1936. When this year ended we not only had three more City Championships- Indoor Track, and Senior and Iunior Golf Teams, but our front yard was beautihed with a lawn, shrubs, and trees. A P.T.A. unit was organized that year, and held its first meeting on Nov. 19, 1936. Credit is due to these first members and Mr. Iohnson for the beautiful campus we have today. 1937 saw the Senior Indoor and Outdoor Track Teams win Champion- ships. The Schurz Band won its first S in the annual band competition, and the Laurels Honor Society, Red Cross Society, and Student Council were organized. The Solo Class won the privilege of representing Illinois at the National Music Convention in St. Louis in 1938, and the Rifle Team became city champions. Mr. A. G. Bauersfeld came to Schurz as principal in May 1939 upon the retirement of Mr. Iohnson. One of his first objectives was the restoration of the annual alumni meeting which had been discontinued in 1929 due to the depression and the conditions of the times. During this time there were no startling changes in the Schurzites' styles. Skirts were not quite as short as in the flapper era and simple tailored clothes became the perennial favorites, while the boy's fashions remained much the same. Thus ten more memorable years were added to the history of Schurz High School-an example of the progress made since that long ago day in 1910 when our doors opened for the Hrst time. The two pictures, before and after, show the startling change made in our front yard. What had been the dust bowl, scene of all outdoor athletics, became, in 1936, one of the beauty spots of this community. Mr. T. C. Iohnson, who became our principal in 1936 retired in May 1939 to be succeeded by Mr. A. G. Bauersfeld. The pipe organ, dream of Schurzites for twenty-five years became a reality in '36. Through- out the years it has played a leading part in all of the musical productions for which Schurz has become famous. Page 10

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we jourfd izbecacle, I 94 0- I 950 lt is the finest thing I have done in all my seventy-eight years. These words of Gus- tave Brand echoed the enthusiasm of the Schurz art students who had a part in decorating the Schurz library in 1940. In a contest among the students in the art classes it was decided to depict the history of writing in the four periods of civilization. In addition, a frieze repre- senting 27 famous men and women adorns the walls. In 1941, the mural on the ceiling over the library office was painted, and the theme, The Spirit of Chicago, tells the story of our city from the time of the Indians to the Greater Chicago of Today. Mr. Gustav Brand, noted artist, volunteered his services and supervised the work. In 1940 the Senior Outdoor Track Team won the city championship, the Iunior Skating Team, the city championship in '41, and in '42 the Iunior Indoor and Outdoor Track Teams each won a championship, ' .World War II found Schurz doing its part by contributing to the Red Cross, cooperat- ing in the book, paper, and scrap drives, buying war bonds and defense stamps, and aiding the war effort in every way possible. In '43, '44 and '45 the Iunior and Senior Track Teams, both Indoor and Outdoor brought championships to Schurz. In February of '45 Mr. Charles A. Buell came from Taft to take Mr. C. Bilhorn's place as Assistant Principal when Mr. Bilhorn was appointed to the principalship of an elementary school. In Iune of '45 Mr. Bauersfeld retired, and in the following September was succeeded by Mr. Carl G. Tietz, principal of Lloyd Elementary School and a former teacher. The War Memorial Fund was started by the Ianuary '45 class and the four succeeding classes, with the exception of the Ianuary '47 class, contributed their graduation gifts to it. The endowment in perpetuity of a bed and room at La Rabida Sanitarium, a convalescent home for children suffering from rheumatic fever is our World War II memorial. A bronze plaque was also placed in the school corridor near the office. In October of '45 the Schurz Veterans School opened with an initial enrollment of 5 service men. The membership grew so rapidly that the Addison wing on the 3rd floor was entirely given over to the school. The first graduating class in Ianuary of '45 numbered 16 veterans. To date 1921 have been enrolled and approximately 700 have received their diplomas on completion of their work and 250 more through the General Educational Development tests. 1945 also saw our Football Team rate as Co-City Champions and our Track Team as North Section and City College Relay Champs. '46, '47, '48, and '49 saw these Track Cham- pionships repeated. In '46 the Soccer Team won its first Championship since 1924 and in '47 scored a second, while the Football Team won the North Section Championship and advanced to the City Semi-Finals. The Chess Team Championship, the second Lenten program, the Bazaar in '47, and Country Fair in '49 were other successful events. The Mikado was given in May of '49, and in Iune Mr. LeRoy Wetzel retired after 19 years of service, to be succeeded in September by Mr. Arthur Clark who had been a member of the music department since April, 1948. Our 1949 Football Team were All-City Champions, the Golf Team won the City Cham- pionship, the Basketball Team were North Section Co-Champs, and the Track Team repeated its North Section Championship, all in '49. Our first Gold Star of World War II gave his life at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, to be followed by one hundred fifty others who made the supreme sacrifice while train- ing at home or in service over seas. We pause to honor them and the hundreds of our other boys who answered the call of their country and joined the ranks of soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen. The fine vocal music work for which Schurz has become famous is not confined to the choruses alone. The Cecilian Choir, an all-girl group directed by Mrs. Luella Chapman Pierce for several years, participated in radio programs, contests, and concerts as well as in programs at Schurz, and won the highest praise for their beautifully trained voices and excellent work. Miss Schweitzer too, directed a very fine group of underclassmen, both boys and girls, and laid the foundation for fine voice work which paid dividends later in the senior choruses. In the midst of our victories, our successes, and our activities during 1949-50 a note of sadness crept in, for on the evening of Ianuary 12, 1950 our principal, Mr. Carl G. Tietz passed away suddenly. On February 14, Mr. Robert F.. Lakemacher, former teacher, was transferred from the principalship of Tilden High School to succeed him. These last ten years have been eventful ones. Space does not permit all the details, but a firm foundation for the future has been laid, and we can confidently look forward to the new decade opening up before us. Turn the pages and see in detail the story of 1949-50, agstory which makes a glorious ending to our first forty years, and serves as a challenge for the years which lie before us. Part of the painting on the library oHice ceiling, and the scaffold erected in the balcony of the boys gym on which the students worked are pictured at the top of the page with Mr. Brand beside one of the portraits in the frieze painted along the libiary walls. World War II saw several bond drives and regular selling of Defense Stamps. The plaque erected in the corridor, and the bed at La Rabida Sanitarium are our World War II memorials. The famous '49 football team and the '47 soccer team each brought new laurels to Schurz. Mr. A. Bauersfeld frightj and Mr. Carl G. Tietz fleftl were the principals during this decade when Schurz reached the heights in athletics, scholarships, and honors. Page 12