Hastings High School - Saxon Yearbook (Hastings, MI)

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Faculty 1. R. X. Keeler 8. Alexina Meier 2. Mrs. Chester Stem. 9. Ann Thomas 3. Bert M. Hartoerink. Commercial 10. Elsie Fitz 4. Gertrude R. Miller. . Normal Principal 11. Clayton G. Hinckley..Physical Science 5. Jennie McBain 12. Clara Rogers 6. Carolyn Andrus 13. William F. Boyd... 7. Bessie M. DeVoe, Asst’t. Prin...Mathe- VVm. T. Wallace, Principal...................History mat cs. Flora B. Renkes.......................English Verne E. Rogers-------History and Athletics Anchored The students of the Hastings High School in the year 2000 decided to publish an Annual in accordance with the custom of all their worthy predeces- sors, even back to those ancient times when school had actually been held in the old red building on the hill. To me was given the pleasant task of search- ing in unknown lands for the faculty of 1916, for while their influence still lingered in that school yet all earthly trace had been lost of them. With a few companions I immediately started in search of that place where I knew they must he. for there could exist nowhere a land more fitted for them than that famous place called Utopia. After days of endless search in regions of light and of darkness we reached it.;—a land more perfect and beautiful than human mind could imagine. In the middle of this country was a palace where the controlling powers of that land resided and we entered here to inquire concerning those we were in search of. In the executive office, to our amazement but pleasure, we found our former Supt. Lederle, surrounded by a switch board with which he could communicate to all parts of the building, and at his right hand was the familiar figure of I ‘rincipal allace who was at that time busily engaged in picking up a few bits of scrap paper and was softly humming to himself a “Jewel” tune. After friendly greetings had been exchanged we made our errand known and were told that because of the excellency and efficiency of our former faculty they had been given complete charge of that planet called Earth, and because of the great- ness of their duties, they all had offices in that building. Mr. Wallace offered to be our guide thru the building and allow us to visit each one. I he first room we visited was very near the office and we were told that here all the grievances of the earth were brought and always peaceably and justly settled. Here at the desk sat Mrs. Renkes but we were not greatly sur- prised for her work here was but a continuance of the work she had so long carried on in the old H. H. S.—that of mothering and looking after the rights of all. She told us that her work was comparatively easy with the exception of one offense which continually confronted her—and that was the obnoxious habit of gum chewing( ?) Across the hall we found Prof. Kebler to whom had been given charge of all plant and animal life on earth. He was at that time engaged in a verv 8

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serious problem, trying scientifically to figure out the connection between Fresh- men and the color green. In a very large and spacious room three fair beings reigned who had control of the languages of the earth. After the terrible European war of 1914-1916, the German language became nearly extinct and Miss Meier was very busy trying to reestablish it. Miss Thomas was happy over the fact that there were still a few teachers faithful enough to the old Romans to labor with Latin in our schools on earth. Miss Andrus’ duties were very res] onsible because English was fast becoming the universal language. Next we entered the historians’ room. Here, seated upon a high stool, b°- fore an immense desk was Prof. Rogers, energetically writing page after page in a huge leather volume. He seemed very absorbed in his work and we won- dered what great event or character was just being recorded in History. Mr. W allace told us that he was compiling a volume of biography of the great Theodore Roosevelt and we. realizing what a great and noble task he had taken upon himself tiptoed breathlessly out lest we should disturb him. Our visit to the observatory took us to a room in the dome which was filled with many maps and telescopes and here, directing the movement of the solar system was Miss DeYoe. She was deeply absorbed in some new work she had just taken up, that of trying to construct bv geometry a high school wherein the Freshmen could really Ire seated in the assembly room. Suddenly a queer sensation came over us. We felt ourselves growing smaller and smaller until it seemed as if we were reduced to the size of a molecule. It was a strange sensation yet a familiar one, ah ves, was that not Mr. Hinckley standing in the door looking at us—certainly for that was the same feeling we had so often experienced in the old high school when he had asked us to explain some unexplainable thing. The feeling quickly passed, however, with his warm greetings and Mr. Wallace explained that because of his profound knowledge of science he had been given complete charge of all physical and chemical changes in connection with the earth. In the accountants room we found Miss F'itz and Mr. Hartgerink. Miss Fitz was typewriting business letters for Mr. Lederle, and Mr. Hartgerink, hav- ing charge of the finances of the earth, was posting his books. As we were leaving this room the gong sounded, so we inquired alxxit those faculty members of whom we had seen nothing. Mr. Boyd’s room we were told was next to that of Miss Fitz and Mr. Hartgerink, and he had charge of the erection of all new buildings. Miss Roger’s room was also near by, and she had the important and envied task of creating and determining the styles for each season. Mrs. Stem had also been given a pleasant duty for she had charge of the music on earth in the direction of which she had been very success- ful and it was confidentially told that she even had one school that could sing “Pats Pick’’ thru without missing a note. Our time had passed quickly. We would have liked to linger longer, but as the Annual was to be published in June we realized we must hasten back with our news, glad to have learned that our high school faculty of 1916 were numbered among the profound influences upon human development. 10