Chester High School - Annual Yearbook (Chester, PA)

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CHESTER HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL. NINETEEN FIFTEEN The comedy, “Babes in Toyland,” was pre- sented to the public under our auspices. This af- fair proved to be a great hit, and may be termed the most successful affair ever rendered by the students, although credit must be given to the teacher who worked on it so untiringly. Besides men of great athletic ability, this class possessed some of the greatest mathemati- cians, poets and debaters ever in the school. In the public debate, our debaters won the cham- pionship for the year. The ’15 class presented to the school a hand- some Victrola and some very fine records, the use of which has been a source of instruction, in hearing the great singers, as well as of much en- joyment to both teachers and pupils. On Arbor Day, the class carried out the usual custom of holding exercises in the school, at the end of which we planted two trees which help to beautify our lawn. These stand as memorials of the great work of this noble class. With the arrival of outdoor sports, ’15. was found to have more members on the baseball team than any other class, and one of her men was the manager. In track. ’15 composed the backbone of the team. One of our lads broke the 220-vard dash school record, which had stood since 1906. Undoubtedly this class had the bet- ter team, and had not the Senior class committed a very unsportsmanlike act, we would have won easily. As it was, they won by two points. The crowning event of the year was our Jun- ior Recital. On account of the size and promi- nence of the class, it was held in the Washburn Theatre, where, when the curtain rose, the audi- ence beheld eighty-four bright and happy young men and women. We then proceeded with the programme, which has set a new standard far above any previous recital. To close this year, the class took her second annual picnic. We went up the river to Burling- ton Island, where we spent a most enjoyable day. September, 1914, brought back a well rested and energetic class to assume the responsibility of being the Senior class and the guiding star of the school during the year. We started with re- organization. the results being Harry C. Dea- kyne, president; Helen Bonsall, vice president; Nora Thompson, secretary; and Sylvester Smith, treasurer, and with these officers we settled down for work. In the early part of November the class as- sembled on the campus and presented a most magnificent bronze sun-dial on a blue marble pedestal, to stand there as a beautifier of our school surroundings, and also to serve as a per- Seventeen

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CHE8TER HIGH 8CH00L ANNUAL. NINETEEN FIFTEEN established a precedent for other classes to follow; for we were the first to organize be- fore our third year. Mr. John Ogden was elected president, and Miss Ethel Bottomley vice presi- dent. This step was the master stroke in bind- ing us together, and preparing the way for the zenith of achievements we have since attained. During this year, we placed in the library a box for the displaying of antique and rare coins. This box of oak, which has a velvet lining, is the work of one of the members of our history class. This, the first of our gifts to the school, was soon followed by another. A picture was placed in Mr. Pedlow’s room. This is one of a series and we hope other classes will follow our example and complete the set. ’15 made her second appearance before the school by rendering the most pleasing exercises for Peace Day yet seen by the students. No won- der the other classes looked on with jealousy when our orators delivered their selections in such an eloquent manner. These marvels had never before been seen. On the arrival of baseball season, our boys held down four regular positions on the school team and duplicate their performance of the year before by winning the interclass champion- ship. While in the second year we won second place in the interclass track meet; ’15 was also honored by having the basketball, baseball and track managers elected from her number. These had charge for the following year. During this, our Sophomore year, we took many enjoyable, as well as instructive, field trips under the supervision of the science department. As a climax to these trips, the entire class took a trip to Lorewood Grove. Here we were enjoying ourselves so much that we forgot that it was nec- essary to return. Had the boat not waited, we should have had to leave behind several lads who were enjoying a cooling dip when it arrived. The reopening of school brought us back in the Junior stage. The class reorganized with Mr. Edward Beatty as president and Miss Ghvadys Williams, vice president. Mr. John Nolan was re-elected secretary and Mr. Benjamin Mills was elected treasurer. With these officers, ’15 was to increase her already wide reputation. When football candidates were called out, ten of our men donned their togs and answered the call. The captain and manager for the fol- lowing year were elected from '15. In basketball, two of our men were on the Varsity and 1915 en- tirely composed the second string. The manager was also a T5 man. Sixteen

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MtltlltllHMMI IMMIIIIIIIMIHIMIII III II lllll CHESTER HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL. NINETEEN FIFTEEN •....IIIIIIIIIINimilllllMMIMIII».IIIMIII............................... Ill III III • petual memorial to our class of their untiring ef- forts and of their deep affection for the school. Lower Classes, we sincerely hope that you will follow our example and dedicate memorials. This same month the class tendered a recep- tion to the Freshman class. After showing these children the wonders of the laboratory, such as the burning of iron and similar experiments, and also the geometry problems, which they termed Chinese puzzles, we assembled in the auditorium and delivered a programme which delighted all. Football season came and our fourteen boys, including the captain, certainly deserve credit for the way in which they worked. A ’15 lad also managed the team. In basketball, this class had four men out of five holding down regular positions. The captain and manager also may be classified as ’15 men. A great stride in advancement was made dur- ing the winter, when it was decided to put the opening exercises in charge of the Senior class. The class was divided into three groups, and each group in turn takes charge of the exercises for a week. The class is certainly to be congratulated on the success of it. for they have not only dem- onstrated their ability in this line, but have made these exercises interesting to the school in doing so. Unusual interest was created this year in re- gard to the interclass debates; for the Juniors had, by some means, managed to tie the Seniors in the early debates, and a high pitch of enthus- iasm was reached when a permanent interclass trophy was presented by Mr. and Mrs. William Hofacker, of Norwood. The winners of the pub- lic debate would have their numerals carved on it. Of course ’15 s peerless team easily carried off the honors for a second year, making them the really only undefeated champions of the school. Through the efforts of some of our members, a new organization was formed, which is known as the Dramatic Society. The purpose of this society has been the presentation of dramatic work, and several pieces of very high class work have been produced. Under 15’s leadership the standard of the Literary Society has been raised both in the work presented and the meetings themselves. During the year a plan was started, whereby we shall now have a ’varsity debating team. The Swarth- more Freshman Debate was a beginning toward this end. For the first time in three years it was found necessary to bring the shower bath into use. In this case the Seniors placed several obnoxious Juniors under its cooling stream of water. This ...............................................................................min...... Eighteen