Elk Grove High School - Elk Yearbook (Elk Grove, CA)

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Xcf rg x ,W I' X -R, , , , YLHE 1uLlx fit On rainy days, and believe me, we used to have some rain in the years gone by,-my father, Mr. john Duffy, used to take his two-seated covered wagon with a double team and gather in all the boys and girls in his neighbor- hood to take to and from school. We piled in regardless of numbers, the more the merrier, and enjoyed the trips in the rain very much. By the end of the second year only eight were left to form the Pioneer class of 1896. Vifhile we were not particularly remarkable in many ways, still some of us had very marked characteristics worth mentioning. Lester Ever- son was our class wit, and his interpretations of Shakespeare were worthy of a better fate than usually befell them 3 he was also quite an artist, especially when it came to drawing skull heads that would make your blood run cold with their diabolical grins. But poor Lester had one failing-he couldn't al- ways understand the latest fad in feminine apparel, and unthinkingly accused Miss jane Herrick of appearing at school in an improper garment. Freddy Sehlmeyer was our Hsweeti' boy for he was always devouring quantities of candy and as he was very generous in sharing it with the girls, it is unnecessary to state that he was popular. Arthur jenkins had one fixed rule and that was : -always to come in late. He was also quite a politician in those days and a warm champion of women's rights. l-le shared the honors with Clinton Kerby in being very gallant to the young ladies. Clinton was also clever at writing sentimental notes and kept all our hearts in a flutter as to who would get the next one. Stanley Gage was noted for his brilliant recitations, especially in his English when called on to quote from the Bible. He and Lester were kindred spirits in mischief making, and between them managed to keep life from becoming dull and stale. And what shall I say of the three girls? Eva Kerr was supposed to be extremely studious, but was not averse in indulging in some wild pranks, or even enjoying a flirtation with the opposite sex. Lelia Hunt and May Duffy were just a pair of giddy, happy girls, sharing their joys and sorrows together: they furnished the incentive for most of the jokes and pranks perpetrated by the boys of their class, but as they seemed to enjoy the most of them, no har1n was done. So ends the history of the Pioneer Class of 1896, and we hope that our friends will forget our little failings and only remember some of the few virtues that we possessed. --Mary liully Rhoades, Class of '96. S ul

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W7 , xi THE ELK l ,,flfll,,j,'+U all Tiff -A .1 At the beginning of the second year another mirth-loving crowd of boys and girls came in, and now our school numbered about twenty-six. An extra teacher was needed and so Miss Jane Herrick, fresh from Stanford University, came as an assistant. It soon transpired that our two teachers found delight- ful pastime, when not otherwise engaged, in arguing on the merits of their two respective colleges. From now on our principal was not the incentive of all our Jokes, but divided even honors with Miss Herrick, or Jane as the boys named her behind her back. In the early days of our union high school, we had what was called the four-o'clock session. It lasted from thirty to sixty minutes after the regular day's work and two hard-working teachers donated their time without thought of extra recompense. We all attended by special invitation and finished up those things we had been too busy UQ to attend to during our study periods. l well remember also that Elias Spring, the infant of our class, always took his nap during physical geography recitation, how interesting it must have been to him, but perhaps he had acquired the habit in his more youthful days. Qur worthy professor at one time was called to his home for two or three days and left his poor assistant to our tender mercies. We all decided we would be particularly angelic during his absence, but our good resolutions came to naught when Miss Herrick brought sister Kate to help her out. Miss Kate showed plainly that she thought we were a set of young heathens and needed a strong hand over us, so the boys began to plan several things for her diversion. A tick tack was placed in the basement directly under the teacher's seat, and manipulated by a cord coming through a gimlet hole near one of the student's desks. This created quite a little fun for the pupils and annoyance for the teacher until a trip to the basement let the secret out and stopped further operations. As a crowning feat on the last day of her stay several mice were captured and kept in confinement until the psychological moment arrived. I believe it was VVilliam Duncan, our minister's son, who had the honor of turning them loose, and it certainly caused some commotion. The girls were all in the secret and while they did not particularly enjoy the prospect of mice running around wild, still they bore it bravely in the hopes that it would terrify our new instructor. just what became of the mice I do not know but l think it must have proved to be the climax, for one extra teacher did not appear at school any more and we all became as meek as lambs once again. During the first years of our high school, there were no recreation grounds, where sports could be indulged in as they are today, all around the building, the ground was bare and unadorned by tree or flower. Our intermissions were spent in merely standing around and talking or running down to the post office. For a time at least dancing was all the rage. We quite often used the hall way, or the chemistry room, before it was litted, up for that purpose. l remember one occasion when the dance proved so interesting to those of us who had locked ourselves in there, that we 'failed to note the passing of time, and when the principal finally persuaded us to open the door, we discovered that school was in session and we had to march in and face the derisive grins of those who had not attended the party A small part of our basement was Hoored and this was used for dancing and also for some peculiar gymnastic exercises indulged in by the girls when strictly alone. And by the way it may be worth mentioning that the pupils did not come to school in automobiles in those days, most of them came in carts driving a more or less fractions horse, those near town walked and nearly all brought their lunches. Six

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6, 'M Stanley R. Gage CC1erkj I-Icnry L. Ehrhardt fPresidcntD John Schulze P. B. Smith George W. Lee