Chester High School - Reflector Yearbook (Chester, VA)

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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.

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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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• i 2 The Reflector : 1924 CLASS PROPHECY I left our gay party, the members of which were enjoying themselves in the free open air of the wood in which we were spending the day. Having become tired of their fun and fro- lic and desiring to be alone with my thoughts, I strolled off along a winding wood path. How far I walked I know not: with the sweet song of birds coming to my ears from the budding trees, and the sweet perfume of wood violets in my nostrils, I thought neith- er of distance nor of time but wandered on. The voice of my friends died away. A squirrel startled from his hiding place, ran across my path and darted out of sight into a clump of bushes. On and on I went until suddenly I came upon an opening in the wood. The noise of falling water broke the stillness which had settled upon the forest. I crossed this little am- phitheatre and stood upon the brink of a babbling stream, musically making its way to the ocean, where it would be swallowed up and lost from sight. I sat down upon a large stone and began to think of my classmates, and to compare them with this little stream, for they were moving onward to the great ocean of life. Soon our class would come to the end of its present course, and its members would be tossed out on the waves to battle for themselves. As I thought, I could but wonder it they would be submerged and lost sight of, as the little drops of water in this stream would be swallowed up in the salt water of the deep olue sea. But my day dream was interrupted by the parting of the bushes on the other side of the water and by the appearance of the most beautiful woman I had ever beheld. She was too fair for mortal and yet I was sure she was not divine. As she glided noiselessly across the distance which sep- arated us, I was able to get a good view of her beautiful face and form. She was dressed in a flowing gown of white silk, which she wore with the grace of a queen. Her long black hair was caught at the back of her neck in a clasp of pure gold; and in her hand she carried a large round glass ball.