Decatur High School - Decanois Yearbook (Decatur, IL)

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,J With pride and pleasure Decatur High School honors Theodore Coleman, the first boy graduate of Decatur High School. In 1868 he received his diploma as a member of the second class to be graduated from this school. He was the first male graduate because the class of 1867 was made up entirely of girls. Mr. Coleman is now eighty-three years of age. With him in his class were four girls: Clara Alli- son, now Mrs. C. M. Imbodeng Fannie johns, later Mrs. Sedgwickg Ruth Crissey, now Mrs. Cornell of Streatorg and Jennie Newell, who became Mrs. Wilson. Mrs. Sedgwick and Mrs. Wilson are dead. Mr. Coleman's parents came to Decatur in 1855, and his father, john W. Coleman, established the first high school in the city. This was a private school, or academy, as that was the term applied to such a school in those days. This should not be confused with the original Decatur High, established a few years later by the late E. A. Gastman. Mr. Coleman gives an interesting' account of his high school days. He explains that the school room was in the basement of the Baptist Church, which at that time was located on the northeast corner of Water and William Streets. There were only three grade schools, known as ward schools, namely, the Sangamon, the Wood, and the Big Brick . The curriculum was planned by the principal, and the students had no choice but to follow it to the letter. The first year's work consisted of arithmetic, algebra, grammar, and spelling. Various forms of these, together with geography and the rudiments of historv, consumed the next two years. In the last year there was composition, geometry, trigonometry, bookkeeping, and Latin or German. 0ur Commencement day, says Mr. Coleman, was on june 2, 1868. The exercises were held in the evening in the old Powers Hall on the third floor above Greider's restaurant. I delivered an oration entitled, 'Illinoisz Its Past, Present and Future' Fannie Johns read a horoscope of the class, Clara Alli- son read an essay entitled, 'What Next,' which caused some merriment since she was married shortly after commencement. Mr. Coleman was one of the founders of the D. H, S. Alumni Association and of the Y. M. C. A. in Decatur. He is the oldest member of the Masonic Lodge in Decatur and at present is living in the Masonic Home at Sullivan.

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Miss Mary English was graduated from the De- catur High School in 1884. From 1901 until her resignation in 1932 she taught Latin is the high school, and served as head of the language depart- ment. For many years she was senior class adviser, So closely is the history and development of the high school identified with her that the senior class of 1935 wishes to express its appreciation of her service to the school. :sg r For thirty years Miss Olive Bear was a teacher in the Decatur High School. In 1929 she was forced to resign from the faculty because of poor health. At the time of her resignation she was head of the English Department. The high school regards her as a valuable friend and desires to honor her in this issue of the Decanois, for which she was a most capable adviser.