Fredericksburg High School - Rapahanoc Yearbook (Fredericksburg, VA)

Page 38 text:

RF PP l-mrtQC 1921 Miss Rhea was our class teacher during this, our last year in high school. Our hopes were built up and inspired by Mrs. Courtney who always looked on the bright side and told us that there were better things in store for us and we now know that Mrs. Courtney was a prophet and a good one, too. Now to come to the greatest day in the history of our class and in the history of the school; our grand entry into the new high school building of which we are justly proud. We hope that we will prove ourselves worthy of being the first graduating class to go out from this high school building, and we, as a class, wish to thank the gentlemen of the School Board for their kind endeavors to secure for us and the other classes which follow us, such a splendid school. One of the greatest things which has ever been introduced into the high school (and I now undertake to speak for the school in general) is the Department of Physical Education headed by Mr. Swem, our able director. I sincerely trust this instruction will not be omitted next year. Our class play “The Adventures of Grandpa,” produced by the members of the Senior Class, deserves mention as it was successfully acted and was enjoyed by a large crowd. One great achievement of this year will stand out foremost in our history. Ours was the first class to have an Annual. This was vigorously pushed forward by Mr. Link and it was through hard work and perseverance that we secured this monument to the Class of 1921. One thing cannot be omitted from our class history—among our fellow class¬ mates we have some fine athletes who represent us in football, baseball and basket¬ ball, and all other forms of outdoor and indoor sports. Those cold and blustery fall days when our faithful girls crowded the side-lines and cheered on the boys as they struggled to establish the reputation of the first football team of the Fred¬ ericksburg High School, will stand out in our memories, and be an epitome of the struggle before us as we leave the sheltering walls of our Alma Mater. So, in conclusion, may the Goddess of Luck bring us together in the years to come, stirring up ideals and hopes which were kindled by the kind examples of helpfulness and patience which our teachers showed us at all times. And in parting may I say that as my work as Historian is finished I hope that in later years the memories of our school days together will bring a cheery smile to our faces and a warmth to our hears. PARTINGS—adieus and the Class of 1921 departs. George L. Hunter, Historian. 34

Page 37 text:

§]) RAPBHP MDC 1921 carcasses against Mr. Brawner’s fence without mercy, while our dear girl class¬ mates stood watching and pleading for us, but without avail, for we were in the hands of a heartless mob. Such was our initiation into high school. Mrs. Court¬ ney was our first year high school teacher, much to our advantage, as we have learned, because she first expounded to us the laws of a well-regulated school. One of our sore trials during our first year in high school was Algebra. 1 hat un¬ known quantity “X” puzzled our brains, but through the excellent drilling and teaching of Mr. Birckhead we fathomed the depths of our first year in Algebra and climbed to the heights victorious. Next year we again entered school at the Hotel Frederick, but this time under the honorable name of Sophomores. Mrs. Blake was our able class teacher. During our second year in high school we were kept warm and smoky by the so- called New Perfection Heaters. Where they obtained their name is a mystery to me and always will be. They are perfect in only one thing and that is to make one think he is in Pittsburgh or some other smoky place. Our lives were saved from suffocation by the janitor that year. He left one burning accidentally and it ex¬ ploded, to our great relief. So our joys and trials by water and fire were over for one year, and again we found our classes together and ready to start anew our Junior year at the Hotel Frederick where we remained till we were frozen out, and we then went up to crowd the elementary school, to our joy and to their sorrow. Mrs. Williams was our class teacher and advisor who helped us through many a difficulty. On one occasion while quietly studying, our class was quickly dispersed without the ringing of a bell by a peculiar odor issuing from the cloak room. Mrs. Williams hastened to investigate and found lying in the corner of the room a generous portion of lim- burger cheese. After some questioning it was found that the person responsible for the unwelcome lunch was Fielding Wilson. We were all amazed as Fielding was never known to talk in school, much less do anything of that sort. Another Link was added to our school chain and a good one, too, although he was smitten with a Payne, which affected him very badly and soon there were wedding bells ringing. We worked hard that year and when June came we had earned a well-deserved vacation and one which we enjoyed thoroughly. So another school year commenced and we returned to the elementary school where our class was together once more, but much to our sorrow Miss Conway was not with us. We have missed her greatly during this year and hope that she will be able to visit our Alma Mater soon. 33

Page 39 text:

RPvPftHPvHDC 1921 Senior Class iPropfiecp Enter Trent, holding in hand a stack of letters. Greetings— Trent —I’ve just come to talk with you about our class reunion. You know it’s been quite a while since we graduated from old Fredericksburg High School, and I thought it would be nice for us to get together again. ELIZABETH—Oh! how lovely! I’ve had letters from some of the class, but judging from the stack in your hand, you’ve heard from all of them. Trent —Yes, you know the first person I heard from was Josephine Barney. You’d never guess what she is doing! She’s practicing law in New York, and seems to be a very good lawyer. You remember how she was on that debate on immigration? ELIZABETH—Do I? Well what’s become of Josephine Ford? Trent —She’s working with her uncle Henry, at present. She came thru town the other day in her tin-lizzie. ELIZABETH--Well isn’t that nice! And tell me, what has become of the other Josephine—Josephine Dalton? Trent —She and Adelaide Rowe have become great prima donnas, and are at present touring Europe. ELIZABETH—And Trent,—did you know that Marguerite Hawkins is married? Yes, her husband is running a pickle factory in Fredericksburg. Trent— I suppose you knew that Helen Hart received a farm from her uncle for a graduation present. Well, she is having a wonderful time running her farm, and Marguerite tells me that Helen still rides to town in her buggy. And could you imagine Ethel Hallberg as being one of the greatest composers of the day? I was just reading an article in the Literary Digest about her fame as a musician. ELIZABETH—Well Trent—did you hear about Mabel King and Eleanor Purks? They have charge of a beauty parlor down in Richmond. 35