Grants Pass High School - Toka Yearbook (Grants Pass, OR)

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 able to recount many lively and entertaining tales of Junior revels held within their walls. In May, when we decorated the Opera House for the graduating class, we did it joyfully, knowing that our class would be the next to leave our dear old High. Last, but not least, comes the most interesting, most important series of pictures we have yet seen. All see the analogy between winter, with its hidden stores of seed and roots, waiting the warmth of the sun to bring them to foliage and fruit; and the Senior, with hidden stores of wisdom, waiting the warmth of a congenial atmosphere to develop the deepest meaning and worth. Our class is a remarkable one. being the first to show an increase in number over the Junior year. About fifty enrolled in September, but for various reasons some have left, so now we number forty-four. Our officers are; Bert Presley, president; Marionne Richey, vice president, and Morris Bocock, secretary-treasurer, upon whose resignation Winfield Gilkey was elected, and our member of the Student Council is Wilford Allen. To Miss White was given the task of guiding our work as a class. Class meetings for us hold no terror, since we first learned the meaning of a little book called “Parliamentary Rules.” Our stick-together, follow-your-leader spirit has made itself manifest on several occasions. One of the many enjoyable events of this year was the class rush, in which the boys of the 16's. assisted by the Sophomores, held their own ground and the larger part of the blue and gold, against the united forces of the Freshmen. Juniors, and a greased pole. They left the campus when time was called covered with dust, glory, and the remnants of clothes. Another was our Halloween reception for the Juniors. Then the hall of the High School became the eerie haunt of ghosts, goblins, and witches, who made the eats disappear in a way not usually credited to “spooks. In return the Juniors entertained us with a party. We have entered so thoroughly into every phase of High School life that we cannot but wonder what the school will do without us. Who will win the victories for the Athletic Association, or lead in chorus, glee club, and orchestra work? Echo answers, Who?” and then a voice seems to say, “None can ever surpass the efforts of the 16 class. Thus it will go down in story, that through its forty-four members the High School has attained its greatest glory. Yes, we feel doubtful as to the future of our school, still, “We’re so glad we’re through We don’t know what to do. So, with a tear in one eye. We will bid you good-bye. 13 Frida Carter. ’16.

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Class history “ J UR Senior year!” says the High School graduating class, and for its members ylhf there never has been such a year. Now. granted the “power the giftie gie us. to see oursel’s as ithcrs see us.” we look back along our school years, and realize that there is no victory without labor. We smile to see ourselves again as Freshmen, wherein we might have been likened to Spring, with its fresh greenness and endless possibilities of development. We see ourselves as we entered High School September. 1912. strangers to High School life. and. in part, to each other. There comes a picture of our first Freshman pow-wow, which resulted in the election of our officers as follows: Ailien Dunbar, president; Lois Bradford, vice president; Helen Layton, secretary-treasurer, and the choosing of our colors, the purple and white. With the rapidity of a moving picture, events of that first year pass before us. Our hazing, socials, class and inter-class hikes and hay-rides filled our time. At mid-year we lost our president and vice president, and again showed our elective ability by choosing Wm. Kesterson and Garnet Best as officers. In athletics, music, and debate we were well represented. Our debaters were defeated by the ' 1 5s. but we were good losers, and continued to hustle and grin. As the springtime is forgotten with the approach of summer, so did we put aside our interests as Freshmen, to take up school life as Sophomores. Only about half of our number returned, but that it was the better half was shown by our increased ability. Our officers. Garnet Best, Winfield Gilkev, and Helen Layton, proved themselves so capable that they remained in position the entire year. As before, parties, hikes, etc., were in order. At that time we conceived the idea that studying was not necessary; that it was merely a means to an end, anyhow. But the conspicuous absence of our names from the roll of honor and exemption lists caused us to change that idea. We were prominent in all phases of school life, and the other classes had to admit that the Sophomores were a jolly good bunch after all. Our debaters defeated the Freshmen but lost to their old opponents, the team of '15. Now comes the Junior year, with the spirit and ever changing atmosphere of autumn. We elected our officers as follows: Morris Bocock, president; Helen Layton, vice president, and Wilfcrd Allen, secretary-treasurer. We tried in vain to conduct ourselves with more dignity, but after all, we were only Juniors. Our teachers, realizing that soon we would pass beyond their control, redoubled their efforts to make us work. A novel event of that time was a “stunt” party given for our enjoyment by the Seniors. An innovation during that year was the Student Council, in which we were represented by Lynn Sabin. If the fairies and nymph which inhabited the dim corners of the Fruitdale and Murphy halls could have been granted the power of human speech, they would have been 12

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The Class Will Tl NOWING that the time is near at hand when we. the Senior Class of G. P. H. S.. 1A in the County of Josephine, State of Oregon, must pass to those Elysian fields of peace where sorrow cometh not, and feeling that our dignified and studious nature has served its end with us, we do on this 12th day of May, in the year of our Laird one thousand nine hundred and sixteen, while in possession of sound mind, memory and understanding (?) make and declare this last will and testament in manner and form as follows: We direct first that all debts and funeral expenses be paid by Christina McLean, President and Cashier of G. P. H. S. Bank, from the amount received by us while we were employed as bookkeepers for D. B. Stewart. CLASS WILL FlRST. Unto Daniel Hull, out of respect and benign feeling for his pleasant morning greeting and his untiring effort in guiding our endeavors so safely through our High School career, we bequeath one patent revolving countenance, guaranteed to smile in all directions at the same time, and trust that it may prove of unestimable value in the years to come when he welcomes the oncoming generation through the portals of our High School. Furthermore, because of his deep foresight and energetic endeavor to make Grants Pass the metropolis of Southern Oregon,, we will and devise unto him the first right in the highest markets of the world for the thousands of boxes of peaches that will be produced on his beautiful and thriving peach orchard of Tokay Heights. SECOND. We do will and bequeath to Herbert H. Wardrip one speedometer for use in the future years as a guide that in his ambition to succeed in accomplishing his every duty promptly he may not exceed the speed limit. To our most worthy supervisor, Marian I. White, we do give with our sincere regards a farm on the Rogue River valley where she may cultivate her favorite flower, the Sweet William. Unto Annette J. Pritzkau we do will and devise one large size milk bottle with which to pacify Freshmen who might otherwise become unruly in class meetings. To James W. Westcott wc r’o hereby bequeath one gallon bottle Libby de 1 alian Olive Oil. to be applied as a lubricating oil to the frog in his throat. Directions for taking will be found on the exterior of the bottle. Furthermore, we leave unto said Westcott one brainometer. which always points to the student who is able to answer his question. This will save Mr. Westcott much trouble with his chemistry students, as he will net have to ask each one separately, and it will undoubtedly last many years as its work will be light. Unto Gladys V. Cox we bequeath a twenty-five thousand dollar modem annex, to be used as a music room, and equipped with all recent conveniences; and we do 14