Elston High School - Elstonian Yearbook (Michigan City, IN)

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Mr. James Griffin Mr. Riley Schaeffer nr MEMOHIAM Every wagon train in making the long trek westward must regretfully leave some of its members by the wayside. Occasionally, as the Forty-niners crossed the plains, they would see a marker by the side of the trail. Hats in hands the Forty-niners saw that the two markers they approached were those of two faithful drivers, Mr. James Griffin and Mr. Riley Schaeffer. Pausing to reflect on times past, the Forty-niners remembered Mr. Griffin as picking the points of infinity in geometry class and as coach of the tennis team. Mr. Schaeffer will long be remembered for his sense of humor and his ability to make the youngsters work. There are many Forty-niner machinists who will use the skills he taught them. The Forty-niners go forward on the long journey, remembering Mr. Griffin and Mr. Schaeffer as drivers who led them dauntlessly and who kept faith in them, though the roads were rough. The prospectors carry away the inspiration of high quality which was shown in these two men. 5

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INTRODUCTION When the Elstonian staff met in the fall, there was little indecision as to what the theme should be. The Forty-niners was so logical that it was turned to at once. Did not the Forty-niners go to California for gold, and weren't the seniors panning for gold in the form of graduation? Since this was the centennial for the prospectors, it would, likewise, make Forty-niners of this year's graduating class. The Elstonian opens with the underclassmen, sophomores and juniors, on the long trek westward. The sophomores have just started out and have a three-years' journey before them. Junior Charlie has reached the halfway mark and is trying his best to speed up the wagon train. Our senior prospectors are just finishing up the journey and staking out claims. And then comes the shout— Pay Dirt! Graduation has been reached. The trip was not all smooth going; there were mountains to scale and deserts to cross. Then in the course of mining there were some who said, Digging gold is hard work; why not let the other fellow dig, and then get it from him? We're glad to say that these Yankee adventurers were in a minority and that most of our wagon team pitched in and helped one another. During the different sports' seasons our caravan was attacked by hostile Indians, but we managed to beat them off. The activities of the miners were so numerous that they took over a special section of the book. There's also a feature section. Bet it will surprise you. Now that the prospectors have found their gold, they must begin mining it in the outside world. Good diggings to them! 4

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MICHIGAN CITY IN THE FORTIES The study hall mural is an inspiring view of Michigan City as it was in the 1840's. Robert W. Grafton, a local artist co-operating with the Rotary Club, painted this realistic mural for the study hall in 1925. In the forties Michigan City had hopes of becoming a great metropolis. Congress spoiled this hope by giving the harbor fund to the neighboring settlement of Chicago. The thriving town of Michigan City, population 1,500, then turned its attention to securing the Michigan Central Railroad, which now runs through the city. The City was at this time a great grain center for the surrounding countryside and because of its prestige felt that it should have a fine main street. Accordingly, Franklin Street was planked with cedar blocks. Mr. Grafton's mural shows the harbor with the warehouses to the left. Behind the warehouses one sees Hoosier slide, famous as a landmark before its removal. The plank pier was erected to afford a protection for boats coming into the harbor. The creek is no longer called by its French name, Riviere du Chemin — we now call it Trail Creek—but the same spirit remains as that shown in our study hall mural. C