Danville High School - Medley Yearbook (Danville, IL)

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THE MEDLEY Mr. McLauth, who is Professor of Modern Languages in the University of the City of New York, took charge of the school in 1887. A few years prior, the enrollment had been very slowly rising, at this time being 117. The names of the courses were changed to Latin and English, and two terms were introduced. We owe to Mr. McLauth, the planning for the present high school building. The school had spread to the south half of the Wash- ington building on the third floor, and then, till it took three-fourths of the whole floor, so a separate place had to be secured. The present building was completed in 1888, but in 1899, it was too small, so the south half was built on. The class of '88 was not fortunate enough to enjoy the new building. At last their assembly room became so crowded, that this class was going to be forced out. Now they were very industrious, and they begged for any study room available. A small store room was cleaned up and they had a study room, but no teacher. They maintained order and were self-regulating. They arranged a list of offences, for which each one who committed any of them, had to pay a fine to John H. Lewman, our ex-mayor and present pro- secuting attorney, who was so perfect in behaviour that he was made the class treasurer. Enough money was collected to help pay for the class picture. Mr. Stratton B. Brooks, now President of the Oklahoma University, suc- ceeded Mr. McLauth. Music was first introducedin 1897, with singing three mornings each week. An orchestra of sixteen pieces was also organized. Mr. Billinghurst in 1898 was the head of affairs. Under him were seven teachers to instruct the 273 pupils. At this time the three terms were used again. One custom of these years was even more strenuous than spelling of days before, for no person could graduate whose average deportment of all the time he was in high school was below 75. Mr. B. A. Sweet, now Representative in the Colorado legislature, suc- ceeded Mr Billinghurst, and remained until 1902. In 1900, the annual min- strels were started. These lasted until about five years ago. Mr E. D. Martin served the high school for four years, in the capacity of principal. In 1902, the enrollment had reached 340, and nine teachers were employed. Only one course was offered, and the three terms were used, 44 credits being required for graduation. The following year, they re-instated the semesters which we use now, and in 1905 only 29 credits were required. Our principal from 1906-1909, was Mr. Z. M. Smith, now assistant pro- fessor of Purdue. At this time the courses were changed to Latin and Ger- man. In 1908, the new Washington building was completed, so the Domes- tic Science Department was moved from the southeast room of the high school basement, to the same location in the Washington building. The room vacated was used for a few years as an English room, being called the Den by the appreciative students. In 1909, Mr. C. E. Lawyer, now the principal of the new Aurora high school, took charge of affairs, making many changes. Because the enroll- 11 -

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THE MEDLEY HISTORY OF DANVILLE HIGH SCHOOL HE HISTORY of Danville High School as shown on records is somewhat vague. Many records are lost, and those remaining, for the most part, were found discarded in the basement. In 1870, the determination of one man made it possible to start here a high school, which has held its own, and made a history worth recording. Mr. Spellman saw the need of higher education, so he arranged to conduct a school on the second floor of the building now occupied by the Yeomans and Shedd Hardware Store. The people had no slmice in forming this department of education, as Mr. Spellman was entirely independent. It was after sev- eral classes had been graduated, that this school had anything to do with the high school. There was one teacher and an assistant to instruct the twenty-one en- rolled pupils. Their course of study is surprising, as they had such subjects as, Mental Philosophy, Science of Wealth, Greek, Analysis and Astronomy. The school year was divided into three terms. The first one ended about December, and the second one in March, with a week's vacation between terms. In 1872, three girls were graduated, their two year course being ac- counted for, by the fact that they had a good preparation in the grades. Six of the class of twenty-one were graduated the next year, and seven completed the course in the customary four years. For two years, the school was maintained on Main Street, but on the com- pletion of the old Washington building, the high school department occupied some rooms on the north side of the third floor. Upon the death of her husband, Mrs. Spellman took his place, and helped to build up interest, enthusiasm and a name for D. H. S. Miss Cornelia Branch was principal from 1874-1876. In four years, such advancement had been made, that there were 152 members enrolled, and four teachers employed. It was in 1875 that the Alumni Association was formed. This played an important part in high school affairs, until it quietly disappeared about three years ago. In the same year, the courses of study were changed to General and Classical. Miss Annie Hoff had the principalship from 1876-1878, during which time the course of study was changed for convenience sake into Q11 Practical Science, two years with four studies each term, C23 Latin and Natural Science, three years with four and five studies each term, f3l Classical, four years with three studies each term. During the principalship of M. A. Lapham, 1878-1879, and for some years thereafter, unaccountably, the attendance waned, falling from 152 to 80. In the eighties, Silas Y. Gillan, now a noted educator and editor of a school paper in Milwaukee, inaugurated the morning exercises which, strange to say, were spelling lessons. Throughout his entire high school career, a student was required to take spelling until efficient, no one being allowed to graduate who could not spell correctly. 10

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THE MEDLEY ment of students had steadily increased, it became necessary to use the anti- quated style of double seats in the assembly room. Our three present courses, College Preparatory, Commercial and Scientific were introduced. 1912 marked the advent of many new ideas and improvements. The graduating class, sixty-two in number, was the largest in the history of the school, and the first one to use the gray cap and gown and to leave a class memorial in the shape of a massive oak desk which replaced the one that had served so many generations in the assembly room. U The Pearson prize was inaugurated, it being offered to that student who represented best in the Senior class, the product of the modern high school. Northcott Thomas has the distinction of being the first one to have the honor. In the fall of 1912, Mr. A. W. Smalley came among us as principal from Ann Arbor. At the same time the number of the faculty Was increased to eighteen, six of whom now occupy rooms in the Washington building. The courses of study have been increased until we have at present a good busi- ness course in shorthand and typewriting. The high school in its entire forty-three years of existence has had many difficulties to overcome, but it has persevered and triumphed. It has risen into prominence in every field possible. In Literary and Musical fields, it has had a share. Throughout the earlier years, the high school kept things lively by contests which were held in the leading churches. For a number of years, besides County, Eastern Illionis and State con- tests, we have had special prizes for essays, one conducted by the D. A. R. on an historical subject, and the other by a friend of the high school on an assigned topic, altogether, doing much to raise the standard of writing and spelling. g J. K. F., '13. 12