Chester High School - Reflector Yearbook (Chester, VA)

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The Reflectou : 1924 :jo The baseball team which was very successful drew part of its quota from among our midst, thus calling forth our in- terest and continued support. Vacation time ended all too soon, but the sorrow of re- turning to school was softened by the knowledge that we were Juniors. As Juniors we were fired with a determination to make our influence felt through the school. With Percy Chalkley as president, we accomplished this purpose. Our first big undertaking was the Junior circus which made for us a substantial little sum of money which was to be used as a nest egg for the 1924 Annual. Many smiles were brought forth by the various familiar and unfamiliar circus stunts. Among them was Mr. Tyler’s appearance as prize baby with Mrs. Hurt in attendance as nurse maid. During March of this year the Richmond News Leader sponsored a tri-county spelling bee, in which Henrico, Han- over, and Chesterfield participated. First place in this match was won by Virginia Bell and third place by Violet Suttler, who won first honor in the county elimination contest. In early April we entertained the Seniors. The shop was transformed from an everyday workshop into fairy-land by soft lights, many flowers, and the intermingled colors of the two classes. A pleasant evening was spent uniting Juniors and Seniors into one body which would always love and serve its Alma Mater. Our class held a large place in athletics also, for the bas- ket ball, baseball, and football teams included several of our members. We were exceedingly proud of some of the records made by these teams, especially when we won two out of three basket ball games from Midlothian. About this time examinations came, and after much worry and hard study on our part they were successfully passed and we were Seniors. Our history as Seniors is a tale of work as well as play. The County Fair brought not only honor, but disappointment too, for though as a school we won first place, we lost in the oratorical and essay contests and at basket ball.

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The Reflector 1921 WHAT WE HAVE BEEN True history, it has been said, cannot be written until the days have rolled into years, and the years into centuries ; but the deeds and accomplishments of the class of 1924 need no centuries to brighten the record which they have establish- ed here during the four years of their work. Year after year historians have meted out the merits of their classes, they have extolled their virtues, and labored on their accomplish- ments, and, fellow classmates, we can justly prove that they have not exaggerated their powers nor painted too bright a picture of the things they have done and could do. In like manner, we are entitled to speak of the accomplishments of the class of 1924 of Chester High School. Theoretically, the history of this class dates back to Sep- tember, 1920 when forty green, frightened individuals timid- ly affixed their names to the registration cards which declared them to be freshmen. In reality, our history began when we organized with Cornelia Cox as President and began to par- ticipate in High School activities. Chief among these was the now famous Algebra Banquet which included among its guests many Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors. Another most interesting event was Mr. Hamilton’s and Miss King’o marriage with the attending festivities, in which we took part, Field Day and the May Day exercises completed our year’s activities and found us ready to be Sophomores. Oun Sophomore year opened with a “dash”, and in Octo- ber we held our first important meeting, which was somewhat of a political fight resulting in the election of Margaret Bishop as president. After this meeting we took up our work in earnest and made splendid progress. But amid this hard work we still found time for a little fun. Perhaps the most enjoyable event was the shower which the Home Economics girls of our class, assisted by those of the first year, gave Miss Maynard.

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The Reflector : 1921 31 Tena Branch representing the Senior Class was winner in the district essay contest, while Lucia Krause and Percy Chalkley won renown in the county-wide debate. The Junior circus at Hallowe’en and the Senior Faculty party at Mrs. Ketcham’s are happy memories of the fall, while the Junior-Senior reception is still fresh in its beauty and joy. Valentine days will always recall to our minds — Juniors, hearts, Chester. As Seniors we had realized that the position which we had acquired carried with it many responsibilities as well as many privileges. Our hopes of graduation had formed them- selves into a determination to work harder and bring to our class and school new honors. We realized that suddenly our Alma Mater had grown very dear to us and so in each heart was born anew a further determination to love and serve her better. We realized that for four years we had been bound by those bonds which can only be the result of companion- ship ; that each life had been changed by this contact and was richer and finer because of it. And so our history merges into prophecy — prophecy that the dim, far reaching future will become gold studded and rosy lined as we go down its enticing avenues of adventure, all of which point backwards and ever backwards to our Alma Mater — Chester High School. We catch a glimpse of the fact that our honor is her honor, and that our achievements will be either a disgrace or a tribute to her. And so we come to the parting of the ways. The history of the class of ’24, as made in these halls is finished, but it shall go on and on with us, linking and relinking us with those with whom we labored and rejoiced. “Finishing, yet beginning” truly this is our history. —TENA M. BRANCH.