Farmington High School - Student Yearbook (Farmington, CT)

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FARMINGTON STUDENT Up to this time the high school curriculum had included merely the classical course which fitted students for college. But in 1892 two students received diplomas under the so-called English course which appeared at this time. The classes of '93 and '94 abounded in doctors, lawyers, engineers and teachers. Of the latter let us make special mention of Elizabeth H, Hafey, who for so many years as primary teacher in the Union District was the medium through which so many boys and girls acquired the foundation upon which they built their futures. '94 also boasts of the only movie actor in the history of the institution, Iulius Cowles. As we near the end of the nineteenth century we notice material changes in the scholastic atmosphere. In 1899, a third teacher was added to the faculty, which up to that time had consisted of but two, the principal included. To make room for the additional teacher, Miss Ives, a partition was put up to make a third recitation room until some years later, when the whole building was taken over by the high school. In 1900 no graduation exercises were held. In 1902 still greater changes took place in the school routine. The Senior class went as a body to the school board seeking one session and secured it temporarily with this one restriction: that if seen on the streets between 2 and 4 P, M. the offender must remain in school all day for a month. This group is also credited with having the first class emblems in the history of the school and with being largely responsible for the custom existing today of presenting a gift to the school upon leaving, for, previous to this time, it was customary for each class to flaunt banners. bearing the class colors and date, at graduaf tion time. In 1902, also, we have the first class to hold their commencement exercises in the new Town Hall. In recording the names of former students of Farmington High School we must mention the Honorable Frank lones, a member of the class of 1904 and at present a lawyer in Hartford, who has taken a very active part in alumni work. We cannot pass by the class of 1906 without pausing a moment with due reverence to Louis C. Hanrahan, who was the first boy from Unionville to enlist in the great World War and the first to :make the supreme sacrifice over there. The classes of 1913 and 1920 produced the Hrst two professors in Elford Lounsbury and loseph Burns, while '21 graduated the Rev. lohn Delaney, '26, Robert Crowe, a teacher at Holy Cross, and Bernard Flynn, who is at present studying for the Priesthood. A decided metamorphosis took place in the fall of 1928, when the institu- tion was transferred to the new high school building. More teachers were added to the staff. New subjects, including Domestic Science, Manual Train- ing, and Commercial Law were given a special place on the high school curricu- lum. A cafeteria service was organized. An athletic field and spacious gymnasium assured the students of plenty of activity, and brought new life into sports. Nothing which might in some way benefit the students and make them better fitted to bear their share of the country's burden as citizens in the years to come, was neglected. 10

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FARMINGTON STUDENT History of Farmington High School LTHOUGH an elementary education was available. in the town of Farm- ington during the middle part of the nineteenth century, it was not until 1882 that the first class was graduated from the high school, which com- prised but two rooms on the upper floor of the same wooden structure in which the classes of the grammar school were, and still are, conducted. At that time, and for many ensuing years, the institution was known as the Unionville High School, until a complaint on the part of the citizens of Farmington brought about the change which exists today. The commencement exercises of that first class, which were under the supervision of Mr. Montieth, whom we honor as the first principal, were held in the Congregational Church, which stood where the Town Hall now stands. Of the four graduates, three were boys. It is interesting to note that the salutatorian of the class, Iohn Scott King, whose topic at graduation was Education, and who, incidentally, was the first student of the high school to attend college, later was graduated from Yale with the well-known William Lyon Phelps. The valedictorian, Wallace Heady, now holds the honorable position of Iudge in one of the Springfield Courts. In 1883 no class was graduated, due to the fact that Mr. Montieth pre- vailed upon the students to remain another year that they might better fit them- selves for the future. Since this year, 1932, marks the bicentennial of Washington's birthday, we must make mention of the fact that these first two classes fittingly celebrated its occurrence and would undoubtedly have established a precedent for all ensuing classes had it not deducted too muchtime from the pupil's regular work. Of the nine members of the class of '84, those who attained especially noteworthy positions were the valedictorian, P. Tuttle, Iudge of a Superior Court in Connecticut, C. T. Callahan, now deceased, but who rose to the Iudge- ship of the Supreme Court in Springfield and William R, Hayes, the first student of the school to enter the Priesthood, The classes of '85 and '86 numbered eight and six, respectively, while the sole member of '87, Carrie Alling, who was the Methodist minister's daugh- ter, was induced to remain another year. R. Booth, of the class of '88, is at present connected with a business college of high standing. In 1889 we have the smallest graduating class in the history of the school. It's motto, When shall we three meet again, taken from Shakespeare's Macbeth and used so adequately in this connection, tells us all we need to know about the numerical substance of the group. The only boy, B. F. Broderick, has since become a Roman Catholic Priest. On account of the diminutive size of this group, alumni members from the Hrst three classes were asked to take part in the commencement exercises. Iohn King, William Hayes, and Mrs. Ada Woodford, whose topic was Memoranda Alumnorumf' were the principal participants. 9

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FARMINGTON SSQTUDENT Summarizing statistically all available records regarding the history of this institution since its founding, we find that of the 670 graduates, 49 are now dead, the greatest toll of lives having been taken from the class of '97, which has lost half of its members. For three years, namely, 1883, 1887, and 1900, no commencement exercises were held. While the smallest class was that of '89 with three members, the largest up to date is the class of '31, with thirty-five. However, it is expected that the fiftieth graduating class will outnumber all others, having incidentally a total of about fifty students. For Farmington High School we prophesy a continuance of the already high position it holds scholastically as ranked with other institutions of its kind: an increasing interest in sports and social life which is necessary as a basis for contact with others later in life: the continuance and rejuvenation of the alumni association: and finally, fifty more years of successfully preparing young men and women for life. HELEN HARTIGAN, '32, Class Prophecy S I sat in my New York office some weeks ago, a Western Union telegram was handed to me saying I must return to Farmington for two weeks for jury duty. The missive was signed uludge Henry Dobrynskif' My consternation diminished, however, when I read the little note at the bottom, MClass reunion, Alumni Rooms, Iune 15, 1942 Besides performing a service for my little town, I would have the opportunity of seeing or hearing of my classmates. With my Packard fully overhauled, I left New York Iune 1. Approaching Farmington early in the evening, I maintained a steady watch for a sign reading Tourists Accommodatedf' lust over the town line. a sign 'ACarol Skoglund's Boarding House, illuminated in blue and white lights, attracted my attention. Carol in her high school days had had a reputation for good cooking, and I knew she would have something tasty. This milk is very good, Carol. Do you get it from Bryant EH Chapman? A'No, from a West Avon milkman, Richard N. Petersen, who has been giving fine service for eight years. So Pete's a dairy farmer? She nodded and to my further questions about the class, I found that Carol was still one hundred per cent. in woman's special art-giving informa- tion. Carol indeed had kept in touch with the class and offered me some pleasing as well as startling information. William Toth took Miss Bowers place in F. H. S. in the mathematics department. Is Helen Hartigan, our valedictorian, still picking peaches in Burling- ton? was my query. Helen's the editor and owner of the Morning Review, in which Harry Wells, the winner of last year's Pulitzer Prize, has so many articles. His 'Romance of Philosophy' was a wonderful seller. Helen has George Schultz as the chief reporter of her daily edition. GeorQmust have secured his experience standing on Hackney's corner morningsf ll