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Page 12 text:
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School life is a difficult thing to put into a package, because it can have many different meanings for many different people. All of us at Flora High School have shared a great many experiences during the years of our school life. We hope that you will find much packed into this 1956 Florian that has great meaning for you. The package will last, and in the future you can open it and examine its contents again and again. Sixty years ago, when the first class was graduated from Flora High School, is the beginning of our story. Unlike today, school then lasted only six months. In the Class of 1896 there were four graduates, three girls and one boy. These students were Celesta Cromer, Eva Drake, Emma Lyon, and Merle Sandifur. Celesta Cromer was secretary to John L. Lewis, of the United Mine Workers, until her death in 1930. Eva Drake Agnew is now a semi-invalid in Miami, Florida. Emma Lyon taught at Flora for three years; she died in 1906. After teaching at State Normal in Oklahoma City, Merle Sandi-fur is now retired and is living in California. The varied interests of the students has been manifest through the years, and the success of their endeavors has been evident many times. Being Hoosiers, of course, one of the first activities we think of is basketball. An excerpt from the 1924 Paradeisos recalls the game of previous days: Our first graduating class—Left to right: Eva Drake, Emma Lyon, Merle Sandifur, Celesta Cromer. For many years basketball has been the major sport of Flora High School. It was introduced in 1908, but was then considered a play-ground game rather than an inter-school game. Only one game was played during the first year. During the next two years many of the schools of the county started playing and it steadily gained in popularity. In these early years Flora's leading rival was Wheeling, with honors about evenly divided. At first all games were played outdoors, with backstops constructed of rough boards. The teams were equipped very differently from those of today—school clothes or a baseball suit were generally used in the games. In 1910-11 both indoor and outdoor basketball were played. The E. M. Eikenberry building was rented. The place was an improvement over the outside court, although there were two posts in the middle of the playing floor and very few provisions were made for the comfort of the fans. During this year F.H.S. defeated every team in the county. The next year the team was unable to secure a hall; therefore played only outside ball. In the fall of 1912a new era in F.H.S. basketball began. The Mayhill building was secured and this made possible a larger and much better playing floor. The seating capacity was about one hundred and fifty. Basketball suits were worn g by the players of F.H.S. for the first time. During
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Page 13 text:
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Flora's first representatives to the State Basketball Finals. Front row: Joe Wilson, Jim Eaton, Student Managers. Second row: Kenneth McGill, Leonard Reid, Coach; Fred Oyler, Russell Callane, Principal; Brentis Berkshire. Third row: Joe Eikenberry, Dick Nevin, David Mills. Back row: The first five—Dick Hanaway, Bill McPherson, Robert Cripe, Robert Spitler, Richard Oyler. the years of 1912-13 and 1913-14 Cutler was Flora's leading rival. Flora held the edge the first year and Cutler the latter year. In 1914 the F.H.S. team was without a home because the merchants complained of the noise the boys made while playing. When the season was about over the room above the water-works was secured but it was too late to develop a good team. Basketball was at such a low ebb during this season that every team in the county, with the exception of Camden, defeated Flora one or more times. In 1916 an addition which included a gymnasium was built to the school house. Although it looked more like a swimming pool than a gym, F.H.S. was proud of it; and it became the scene of many a thrilling battle. In comparison with the other teams of the state. Flora probably had the best team in her history. Both Logansport and Frankfort were defeated. Overconfidence lost the Sectional Tournament. During the next three years F.H.S. was represented by fair but not outstanding teams. In 1920 the first County Tourney to be held in this state was held at Delphi, and F.H.S. coming through unscathed. returned with a fine sheepskin trophy. In 1921 and again in 1922 Cutler won the championship, but in 1923 F.H.S. was victorious and this time won a silver cup. The year of 1924 ushered in a new era for the athletes of F.H.S. The Community Building sponsored by the Flora Community Club gave F.H.S. a playing floor equalled by few and excelled by none in the state. The equipment furnished by
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