Fitchburg High School - Boulder Yearbook (Fitchburg, MA)

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CLASS LIISrORV. of ’02. Tlie baseball nine was composed mostly of ’02 men, viz.: O’Brien, Dareh, MeCue, Barker, Ryan and Burdo. A truly reat event ha pened during our Sopho- more year and one worthy of being most carefully noted. Imagine the emotions which swept like a tidal wave through our bosoms as instead of Air. Kimball, dearly beloved and highh ' popular both as a football hero and as a genial master, a new mem- ber greeted our eyes. We can never forget that high forehead, those intellectual eyebrows, that sharp vis- age and those well-molded features. No, we can never forget. Many a batch of “1000 words” was written, many a slip of paper cleaned up from the floor, many a demerit ladled out, but still the suppW was ever ready to meet the demand. At last, how- ever, he showed signs of relenting, and victory, as usual, was ours. The white-winged dove of peace again reigned supreme in Room 23. We were the only class that ever got the best of Mr. Cobb. He has been able to manage those who have since sat in his room with his thumb and forefinger. In that same 3’ear two members of the class of 1901 planned a poster-paint-pot raid upon 1900. Looking for recruits in their own class, they were surprised to find onh one endowed with sufficient courage to run the risk of being “nabbed” (i. e., pinched). Taking pit on them, no less than five recruits from ’02 enrolled upon their side and were direetly responsible for the many dainty deeorations which appeared in prominent places the next morning. Our career as juniors was one continual blaze of glorv. We practical W supported the whole school. Without our assistance any new scheme was doomed to failure, but if we chose to lend our aid and sup- 16

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CLASS HISTORY. debate. But the glowing eloquence of Geoffrion finally overpowered the feebler defense of Hubbell, who insisted that such an innocent-looking prisoner could not be guilty of such an atrocious crime. After a sitting behind locked doors the jury rendered the verdict — guilty. Naught remained but for Judge Knight to pronounce the fearful penalty. The crowded throng in the court room listened with bated breath as His Honor, all dignit} and austerit q slowh rose and spoke the sentence, “Thou shall not bestow up- on any of the participants of this solemn trial, nor upon their friends, nor upon the entire Ninth Grade, any demerits furthermore during this school 3 ' ear.’’ This sentence explains why “many of the partici- pants of this solemn trial” are still in school. By the time we became Freshmen our reputation had grown to be as boundless as Prof. Cobb’s in- finity. The upper-class men watched our rapid devel- opment with admiration, which was not unmixed with jealousy. How could thev help being a little envious? Was not the truth slowly but surely dawn- ing upon them that we were their superiors ? No Sophomore dared invade our sacred precincts. Even the Seniors did not seek to impede us, nor trip us up when we walked through “Lover’s Lane” to the school library for reference works. Nothing ever heard of equalled our popularity as Sophomores. Scholars and teachers alike had learned to respect us. The material in our class was match- less, our resources unlimited. Several of our men did •excellent work on the track team, notably Hardy, Grubb, Knight, Hubbell and A. C. Mayne. Hosmer and Schragle upheld the honors of ’02 in the basket ball games. The football team would have been incomplete without Ryan, Moran, Downie and Grubb 15

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CLASS HISTORY. port to each new project it wRvS assured of complete and overpowering success. In athletics ’02 outdid the whole school. Ryan, Geoffrion, Barker, Burdo, Church, Hardy and Grubb, all of ’02, made the foot- ball team what it was. The flower of the baseball players was represented by Barker, Burdo, O’Brien Church, McCue and Darch from ’02. The debating club was also composed largely of ’02 members, and on the prize debating team it is generally admitted that dayman of ’02 did the best work. The glee club would have been an impossibility without ’02. Our first regularly conducted class meeting took place Sept. 12, 1901. It was marked by the absence of that childish wrangling which has generally char- acterized the first meetings of other classes. Ever - thing went off smoothl} ; there was nothing to detract from its success, although several unused bal- lots marred the beauty of the assembly hall the next morning. Hubbell easily, perfectly and satisfactorily illustrated “the divine right of presidents.’’ Other meetings were held and class pins and colors were chosen (by whom is not known). We gave two par- ties at Wallace Hall, music being furnished by the popular pianist, Ezra P. Coleman, and one at Wha- lom. Each of these was such a tremendous success as can never be surpassed. Early in our Junior year an organization was formed, in our class alone, such as the whole school has never before been able to support. This was the High School Drum Corps, which later developed into a circus band. It is doubtful if such a talented band of musicians will ever again be collected. It was composed of the following ’02 men : Geofirion, Clif- ford, Hubbell, Knight, Smith, Bonney, Percy Fisher, Charles Fisher, Stewart, Bogart, Henault and Kim- 17