Charles W Baker High School - Lyre Yearbook (Baldwinsville, NY)

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HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1920 On the twenty-eighth of June, 1916, forty-eight very dignified and studious young people were graduated from the North and South ide Grammar schools with all the pomp and honor due to such an occasion. The days which followed between our graduation and the opening day of school in the fall were anxious ones for us. What were we to do when we entered the strange place to which many of us were to go? How would we ever become accustomed to so many different teachers, and queer-looking rooms? After many warnings from our upperclassmen, we entered the Study Hall on the second of September. And will we ever forget the mistakes some of us made that day? How proud those Seniors must have felt in knowing the words of the Alma Mater, while we just “Joined the chorus” and “Sped it onward.” W had scarcely become accustomed to our new surroundings, when we were given a vacation because of the infantile paralysis epidemic. And when school commenced again, it was like beginning anew. Now, we were permitted to join the Athletic Association and the girls to enter the Glee Club. But, first, we were at the mercy of our upperclass- men who initiated us at a Hallowe’en party. This party and the others held annually during our high school career will long be remembered. It is doubtful whether we enjoyed the first one, or those in which we played the pranks, the most. In the winter, an Athletic banquet was held, Which everyone pronounced a huge success. In April, the Glee Club concert was held in the Town Hall, the proceeds being added to the piano fund. One of our members won second honors in the “County Prize Speaking” contest at Solvay. Several of our boys and a few of our girls answered the call for farm cadets. Then came the dreaded “exams.” Some of us could no longer be counted as members of the Class of 1920. In September, we again entered upon our duties. Many new faces greeted us, both from the faculty and the student body. Soon after school opened a Junior Red Cross was organized in which the girls and a few of the beys became deeply interested. Football and baseball schedules were curtailed because of the war. Seme of our fellow-classmates substituted in the games which were held, however. With the proceeds of their annual concert, the Glee Club presented the High School with a splendid Victrola. At the “County Prize Speaking” contest at Skaneateles, second honors were awarded one of our number. Later the same selection was delivered at an “Inter-County” contest at Auburn. Then again came those awe-inspiring “exams,” which marked the half- way post of our high school career. Juniors now! How proud we felt to be part of the upperclassman body, for now certain privileges were granted us which are reserved for upper- classmen only. It is a law of the Glee Club that its officers be Juniors or Seniors. When the elections were held, Juniors filled two of the offices. On the Executive Council of the Athletic Association, two members were now permitted us. Some of the young men earned berth on the football team. The games played were few, however, school being closed because of the “flu” epidemic when the season was at its height. 8

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I The Juniors The Junior Class of B. H. S. is a large and live class. They are fitting successors to the Class of 1920, as Seniors. Although they (or any other class) can never hope to reach the heights which the present Senior Class have attained, we feel sure that they will give a good account of themselves. They have already gained honors in athletics and in music. In many ways they have shown that they have true school spirit. At the Glee Club Concert this last year they staged a play which was very well acted, and was one of the features of the evening. They have helped the Seniors by taking charge of a number of the things incident to graduation, especially the trimming of the hall, for which we are extremely grateful. With this last word of advice we wish you the best of luck during the next, your Senior, year: Be careful to be as good examples to the rest of the school as we have tried to be! The Sophomores Webster’s dictionary defines a Sophomore as “one next above a Fresh- man.” While we do not wish to deny that Webster probably knows, we do believe that the present Class of Sophomores are very little above Freshmen, if they are any above them. They have allowed the Freshmen to “beat them out” for the athletic teams. Also we fear that they have forgotten or neglected to teach the Freshmen the customs of B. H. S., and to realize that they have come to study, not to play, and that they must be seen and not heard. Although this is not true of all the individual members, as a class they should wake up and in the two remaining years of their sojourn should show the rest of the school that they are alive. Next year they will be members of the uppei’class body. May they overcome their failings and become an important factor in the life of the school! The Class of 23—Skidoo Now we come to the babies of the school, the largest class in the school. How funny they looked when they first entered the Study Hall! Many of the older students wondered if some of the pupils of the fifth grade had not entered the Study Hall by mistake. They thought, “What can the school be coming to, if they allow such young children to enter High School? Why, we were all larger than they are, when we entered.” But even if they have been here such a short time, they have already won some honors. Two or three members of 1923 have won letters on the athletic teams, and many have obtained honors in their studies. (We are glad to see that they have come to school to study and that they are work- ing hard.) Next year they will be Sophomores. It will be their sacred duty to see that the entering class is trained in courtesy and in the customs of B. H. S. Therefore, be careful to conduct yourselves as models and be patient, little ones, you will be Seniors in three (or more) years. A professor who had been a little too exacting with a student at an 5 examination in Chemistry asked, as a final question, “Can you tell me any- thing at all about prussic acid?” “Yes,” replied the student. “It is a deadly poison. One drop on the end of your tongue would kill a dog.” 7

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 On the eighteenth of February occurred a ne’er-to-be-forgotten event in the history of our class: an Athletic banquet was held in the Parish House. This banquet was a welcome home for the High School men who had served in the war. In May a Junior-Senior banquet was held in the High School. A sup- per, followed by toasts by the members of our class and a play by tne Seniors, constituted the program. Now came the time when cur boys proved valuable to the class of 1919, which was noticeably deficient in the masculine element. The male talent of the play given by 19 was furnished by ’20. And what those girls would have done without our boys remains a puzzle. We had now become so used to taking the examinations that we passed them by as a mere trifle, knowing that when we encountered them again it would be the most critical test in our lives, so we saved our strength accordingly. On the fifth of September we entered the Study Hall for the beginning of our last year. Now we were to be patterns instead of imitators. And if anyone doubts whether we have faithfully carried out this duty, let him consult the faculty. Every time this whole year, when we have felt like doing anything out of the way, we have been restrained by the thought, “We’re Seniors,” and if we weren’t restrained by the thought we were reminded of the fact by the faculty. This year we were greeted by our new principal, Mr. Elden, and many new teachers. Some of our former classmates were not present, having decided that being Seniors in the real sense of the word would be too strenuous. At the election of officers of the Glee Club, the president and the secre- tary were chosen from among our members. Our class has had a prominent place in Athletics this year. In foot- ball several of our boys played regular positions, one being captain. Again, in baseball we were called upon to furnish the captain. In basketball, a new sport for this school, the Parish House being rented for the purpose, two of our girls played on the girls’ championship team, one scoring the most points of anyone in school, while one of our boys played on the winning boys’ team. As soon as the results of the January examinations became known we organized our class. We had the honor of electing as president our one member who has made his course in three years. Although few in num- ber, we surpass former classes of B. H. S. in one respect, we have as many boys as girls. Indeed, we are also proud of having both our honor students boys. As a class we have enjoyed an abundance of meetings and good times, which I am sure we will never forget. Soon after the mid-year examinations the “flu” again visited us, when, much to our sorrow, a vacation was granted to us. Our annual banquet, scheduled to be held during this recess, had to be postponed, but when it was held, soon after Easter, we all heartily agreed that the old saying that postponing a thing spoils it, is untrue. The crowning event of the year came with the Glee Club concert, in which all the girls took part. Never was a concert such a success, both financially and musically. So, we plodded along studying our best for our yearly tests. Although at times much discouraged, we are here tonight none the worse for the wear. I have told you of our past, now I leave it to one of my classmates to tell you our future. 9 a MARY LOUISE GARDNER.