Hanover High School - Hanoverian Yearbook (Hanover, MA)

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THE HANOVERIAN 7 The Class of '27 now stands on the brink of life. We have just begun to shoulder our responsibility. We hardly realize as yet that we, who only a day or two ago, it seems, were exasper- ating our teachers with our thickness of skull, were bothering them with our arguments, were trying to escape the reciting of unlearned lessons, with a bombardment of questions, are about to be shoved out into the world leaving behind us only the intan- gible effects of our influences and traditions. The memory of those individuals alone, who are the destined children of Fame, survives. The teacher, the workman, the married woman, the school's foot-ball hero-their names are lost but it is by these patient and unassuming souls that most of the world's work is done. As men and women we shall always look back on our beauti- ful new school with gratitude to the good man who made its con- struction possible. And never shall we forget that other school, that dear old town hall, in which we spent more than three years of our school life. Each of us will go his separate way. Time and space con- quereth all things, but sweet memory records the friendships and pleasures of other years. Let us move on, dear class of '27 for other classes even now are crowding swiftly behind us, to fill the space we leave. Katherine Townsend, '27. A SUGGESTION Now that we are established in our New High School Build- ing, there are many whose thoughts turn to the memory of one who worked long, earnestly, and faithfully for the consummation of this project but who did not live even to know that her desire would be granted. Of all those, who in the past century, have been interested in our public schools, none have been more de- voted to the welfare of these schools than Mrs. Harriet S. Rus- sell. It seems fitting and proper that something should be done to perpetuate her name, in the New School Building. It has been suggested that the laboratory might be named for her or that a tablet to her memory might be placed in the building.

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6 THE HANOVERIAN as not to mar the walls in passing through the corridors. A small boy was seen using his eraser diligently to erase a mark on a desk. Likewise a young lady was seen on her knees gathering bits of paper from the floor. The paper had not blown from her desk, but since the owner of the desk was absent she felt it her duty to see that the pieces were put into the waste basket. This same spirit prevails throughout the whole student group and faculty. Again we would assure the citizens of Hanover that we are proud of the beautiful building which has been given to us and that we will always consider it our duty to protect and care for it. Arthur Clifton, '27. COMMENCEMENT At last we have learned enough to begin to really learn something, now it is time for us to go out on our own, do our own thinking and make our own futures. Heretofore, our parents, our teachers, and our friends have reared, educated us, and stimulated our interests but only we, ourselves, can make our lives successful. And who are we? The Senior Class of 1927, prey already to the thrills and regrets of graduation. One moment, the exulting joy of escape from the long, tedious years, seizes us, the next, we are sighing for days that will never return, longing for happy days, for sad days, which we did not value then for the precious jewels they were. We are either hopeful of what is before us, or sorrowing for what is behind us, either joyful of what we are going to do, or are regretting what we might have done. But it is good to be alive, to stand looking out over an uncon- quered world, and to feel you have acquired sufficient knowledge to begin the battle of life. The Senior bears a great responsibility. Is he not the maker of the new years, of the new generations and of the new United States? The work of his hands will either be one more lamp lighting the straight and narrow path of Eternity, or a worth- less husk, lost in the dark, just one more stumbling block for the next traveller. Perhaps his work will make an enticing false light, shining down a path to hell. Education brings forth devils as well as angels. But Hanover High has produced no monsters, and, we sincerely hope, never will.

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8 THE HANOVERIAN HANOVER Hanover, one of the oldest towns of the United States, will be celebrating its 200th anniversary this year. It seems appro- priate to review its history in this issue of the Hanoverian. On the fourteenth day of June, 1727 the Lieutenant-General, Council and Representatives in General Court assembled and passed an Act for erecting a new town within the County of Plymouth by the name of Hanover. This town was to consist of parts of Old Scituate and Abington grants. We do not know why the name of Hanover was chosen, but but how the spelling became changed can be accounted for by the inclination to make improvements in every way on everything. When Hanover was incorporated, it contained about eleven thousand acres, but in 1757, about one tenth of this territory was annexed to that part of Pembroke which is now Hanson. Since 1754, the change in the boundary lines has been slight. There have been several enactments of the Legislature to define the boundaries, but this was to make them clear rlather than to change them. In order to make Hanover a town, the inhabitants had to build within two years a suitable house for the Public Worship of God, and as soon as possible, procure a minister of good conver- sation, and make provision for his comfortable support. Also they had to provide for a school-master to instruct their youth in reading and writing. The First Congregational Church was built in 1728. Much of the lumber was given by men from different towns. The orig- inal church was burnt in 1862. When we look upon the improve- ments of this edifice during the last year we are firmly convinced that the citizens of the town are still upholding the principles which this first church and town stood for. In April 1830, a standing school was voted, at or near the meeting house and May 18, provision was made for building a schoolhouse of wood. This first schoolhouse stood near the center of the town. In 1808, the schools were divided into districts, seven in number. In 1868, the High School was established. The work has been one of steady progress as we can see by the Sylvester High School, a modern building of which any town might be proud. Another example of the interest shown in higher education is the gift of John Curtis' Free Library in 1887, of 1,800 volumes