Homer High School - Homerian Yearbook (Homer, IL)

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The present High School built in 1928. THE EARLY Original Homer High School built in 1858. Site of where Homer Park stands today.

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THE WAY WE WERE ... In 1885, the horse and buggy was the order of the day. In fact, during this year the world’s first successful gasoline-driven motor vehicle reached a speed of 9 miles per hour. Grover Cleveland was the President and no world wars had yet become a part of history. The first successful U.S. appendectomy was performed in Iowa, and an identification system based on fingerprints was developed by Francis Galton. Galton proved that fingerprints are permanent and that no two prints are identical. Morton salt was introduced into the market, along with evaporated milk. 1984-85 will be noted in history books as the year of the first Presidentail election which included a woman as a vice- presidential nominee. It was also the year of the Olympics. The U.S. team will be remembered by the spectacular performances of Mary Lou Retton, Carl Lewis, Edwin Moses, the men’s gymnastic team, and many others. In sports, the 49’ers beat the Dolphins 38-16 to capture the NFL Superbowl XIX. 1984-85 will also be remembered by the heart transplant of Baby Fae, the rape case of Gary Dotson and Catherine Crowell Webb, and the famine in Ethiopia. Locally, it will be remembered by the new IGA and the disastrous tornado. It was the year of Ghostbusters, Beverly Hills Cop, USA for Africa, and the new formula for Coke. All in all, a very good year! 1885 3 1985

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 After the town of old Homer had been moved to its new location, more people began to settle in and around Homer. The community grew very rapidly. By the year 1888 eleven school buildings had been built in what is now Homer Community Consolidated School District No. 208. Ten of these schools were built in the country within a radius of five to ten miles from Homer. Enrollment ran all the way from 18-50 pupils. (Excerpt taken from Homer Past and Present) In 1858 the original four room school house was built on what is now the Homer Park (Pictured above left). The first high school class graduated in 1885. In 1914 it was decided to leave the park site and lease the Jurgensmeyer building, better known as the City Building (not pictured). In 1928 the new high school was built (pictured directly left) and the grade school addition and the junior high addition were added respectively in 1954 and 1966. Throughout these changes, the growth of our school and education has constantly increased. The class of 1985 is proud to be the 100th graduating class from Homer High School. 1985 FOUNDATION