Easton Area High School - Rechauffe Yearbook (Easton, PA)

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1 ♦ 1 T On Arbor Day, April 22, 1904. a very creditable programme was given by the class of 1905, the principal feature of which was a debate. The room was artistically decorated with our class colors, blue and buff, and the affair was pronounced by all the best of recent years. Towards the close of the term we elected our officers for the Senior year: President, Ellis Snovcl; Vice-President, Blanche M. Heck; Secretary, Hildc- garde Brunner; and Treasurer, Harold Hawk. The following September we again assembled, all joyous to know that that great period, the Senior term, had now arrived, but in glancing around a startling fact presented itself. Still more of our band had left and now in fact we numbered only about 62. A class-meeting was held in September at which it was the intention to elect the staff of the yearbook, but it was later decided to allow the entire class to select the officers. Frederick E. Wheeler was elected Editor-in-Chicf, with Stewart P. Lewis as Business Manager. The name Rcchauffd was afterward chosen as a fitting title for the classbook. It was about this time that the Juniors, trusting in our small numbers, decided to give their first class- meeting. But wc, remembering their interference at our first meeting, secretly made our plans. On the eve- ning of the chosen day a selected group of Seniors casually strolled down the street towards the President of the Juniors, Joe” Crater. Before he had time to rebel he was seized, bound, and a prisoner. Wc had accomplished our revenge. Let the Juniors hold their meeting if they wish, we thought, but let them hold it without their President. At last the direful news reached the Juniors' ears. They marched to his place of confinement and demanded their President, but he was not forthcoming. Then a general scrap ensued but it was useless, Joe remained a prisoner. About 11.30 he was released, arriving at the hall just in time to go home. At the end of the football season the Senior Class, as is customary, gave a banquet in Hcptasoph Hall to the members of the team. E's were awarded to nine men, and toasts and speeches were made. Floyd Robbins was toast-master while the toasts were made by Mr. Simpson and members of the Athletic Association. On 105th Day our class kept up their usual standard of originality. Besides the customary essays, orations, and stories a farce, in which five members of the class participated, was given. Another new feature was introduced by having the music furnished entirely by High School organizations. The room was beauti- fully decorated with our class colors and in the evening a reception took place which was a pronounced success. Soon after this occurred the greatest event of our Senior year—greatest, at least, in the outside interest it aroused—namely, the production of the drama, My Lord in Livery.” Much credit is due to Richard Snyder who as manager, orchestra-leader, master de ballet, prompter, master of properties, and costumer, staged the play, drilled the choruses, and in fact caused the play to be the wonderful success that it was. 11

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Towards the end of the year we heard, with regret, the news that our principal, Mr. Sandt, was to resign on account of ill health, but we were glad to know that our new principal was one of the Faculty, Mr. Jones having been elected. We began the second year of our course with 170 members and again the originality and progrcssivcncss of the class was shown by the election of officers. This was the first time in the history of the High School that the Sophomore class became an organization. As President we elected Donald Armstrong; as Vice-Presi- dent. Agnes Stoncciphcr; as Secretary, Carolyn Amclung; and as Treasurer, John M. Bauer. Although somewhat decreased in membership our school spirit was developed greatly. We organized a class football team and soon became the champions of the school. During the year the President of the Athletic Association discontinuing his studies, the Vice-President, a member of our class, became President. On Lincoln’s birthday, 1903, the class of 1905 presented to the school two beautiful steel engravings of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln which still adorn the walls of the Assembly Room. In April of this year a rash member of our class placed upon the flag-pole of the High School a ‘‘Naughty Five” pennant. Although done without disrespect to the Juniors, it was taken as an insult by them. But Naughty Five” skilfully turned the tables by taking the flag down, cutting it in pieces, selling the pieces to members of the class and donating the amount realized to the Athletic Association. The year drew successfully to a close and all, eagerly awaiting the Junior term, left for their vacation. Our third year opened with greatly decreased membership, but 75 scholars remaining. Our small number caused our one-time foes, who had now become Seniors, to think we would be ‘‘easy fruit.” But we, fearing nothing, openly acknowledged that our first class-meeting would be at the home of Miss Blanche Heck, September 11, 1903. Our confidence daunting the Seniors they collected a select crowd of loafers, bums, boot-blacks, rag-pickers, ragamuffins and Sophomores, armed with brick bats, cobble-stones and the like, to stand in a dark alley and assault each Junior as he came along alone. As usual, their plan was doomed to failure, for the entire class charged upon them and drove them ignominiously from the scene. At this meeting Stewart P. Lewis was elected President, Ruth Walter Vicc-Prcsdcnt, Hildcgarde Brunner Secretary and Frederick E. Wheeler Treasurer. Our class colors of blue and buff were chosen and the design for the pin was selected. During the year our number kept growing smaller and smaller. While some found the duties of school life too arduous, some were compelled to leave by necessity. But it proved a blessing in disguise—a sort of survival of the fittest. The cream of the class remained and although small in numbers wc showed our real character in our deeds. ro

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On the evening of February 24th the play was given. A stage had been erected at the end of the As- sembly Room, and with the simple yet effective properties the room was converted into a charming theatre. The play itself, with its pretty scenery, its chorus, and excellent acting, was without doubt the best ever given in the High School. Misses. Bachman, Niece, and Crosby and Messrs. Wheeler, Walter, and Trach were the principal stars of the evening, although all did equally well. One hundred and thirty dollars was cleared which was given to the Athletic Association, thus placing it on a better financial footing than it had ever before enjoyed. But shortly after this, our greatest event, swiftly the pendulum swung back and the extreme was reached—the death of Norman Trach. After an illness of so few days that many scarce knew he was sick the end came. It was our first real grief. The class was stunned. It seemed impossible to realize it. Norman was one of the most popular students in the entire school and especially in his own class was he greatly beloved. The class did the little they could. Resolutions were passed and the class wore an emblem of mourning for thirty days. Swiftly the time passed on. Three months—two—but one month remained; but one month until that time which we had been awaiting since we were Freshmen would arrive—our Commencement. During this last month a new and untried plan was considered, namely, to hold the Class Day exer- cises in the Opera House. The School Board kindly allowed us to pursue this plan, and to the gratification of all the class it was decided to be adopted. Our history is all but finished. We stand on the very brink of commencement. Of the 140 who entered with us but 55 remain, yet looking back upon the deeds and records of the class we may rest assured that no one will ever be ashamed—nay, even every one will glow with love and pride to remember that he belonged to that great and glorious class—the class of 1905. Historian. 12