Hudsonville High School - Pioneer Yearbook (Hudsonville, MI)

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CLASS HISTORY We, the graduates of this class have now completed the fourth year of our training in the Iludsonville High school. We have reached the goal towards which we, as a class of Freshmen in 1917, looked with great hope and anticipation. Whether we have made the best of the time spent will not be determined so much now, but it will count in our later lives. In September. 1917, fifteen frightened individuals, all wishing to obtain the enviable rank of Freshmen, gathered with the other students in the assembly room of Iludsonville High. We were young, yet hopeful. After being enrolled by Mr. Keith, we proceeded to cause endless confusion for about a week. Sophomores, Juniors and even the worthy Seniors, spent their days acting as guides to us, poor bewildered Freshmen. Finally, how- ever, when we learned our places as Freshmen, things quieted down. We. guided by Miss Stevens, soon found ourselves stumbling over the hard rocks of Algebra and searching the mysteries of Ancient History. Entering with a spirit to “do or die” we soon found avenues in which to progress. We had one representative, Marion Gillette, on the baseball team. As time passed on one member of the class became ill and dropped out of its activities. Many found the first year too difficult and turned back, hoping to find an easier road to the city of Success. But we soon found ourselves on the next round of the ladder which points to graduation. This year we encountered the puzzles of Geometry but finished in due season by the help of Superintendent Evers, and in English we learned to read and pronounce the English language (correctly) having for our guide Miss De Boer. Harry Raterink, Henry Wiersma and Marion Gillette gained coveted places on the baseball nine. In the fall of 1919 nine Juniors assembled, one having left our class to attend Calvin College. We elected the following officers: President, Freda Boldt; Vice President, Gladys Cory; Treasurer, Irene Morrill; Secretary Harry Raterink. While the rocks of Algebra were not so large and sharp, the puzzles of Geometry solved, we sank into the sands of Latin. This year Chemistry was first introduced by our superintendent, Mr. Van Sickle. We broke half of the glass ware and made a considerable amount of H2S. Those who are unfamiliar with this gas, ask Miss Dewitt concerning its properties. The year of the Juniors in Athletics was a successful one. The Junior baseball players were the same as the Sophomore players the year before. Those taking part in the Annual Triangle meet of Coopersville, Ravenna and Iludsonville were of the girls, Irene Morrill and Frances Patmos and of the boys, Marion Gillette, Henry Wiersma and Frederick Kunzi. This set each Junior’s face aglow with pride. Socially we kept up with the rest, having our annual Weenie roast

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in the fall and later in the school year a St. Patrick’s Party. As May neared to a close, we gave the first Annual Junior Banquet in honor of the Seniors. This event proved a success in spite of the weather. rIhus we completed our Junior year having still one round of the ladder to climb. Now the path seemed full of life and hope: “Where the end is great the way may be permitted to be long.” The Senior year was begun by re-electing last year’s officers. The sands of Latin were deeper and many times we saw the ghost of that ambitious man, Julius Caesar. In Athletics however, the Seniors were not to be outdone. In baseball Marion Gillette, Henry Wiersma and Harry Raterink held places on the team. While in the Field Meet at Coopersville we had four representatives: one girl, Frances Patmos; three boys, Harry Raterink, Henry Wiersma and Marion Gillette. For four years we, the members of the Class of ’21, have worked and played and fought for ourselves. In our lives the work we have done will count for power, in our memories the enjoyments we have had will remain unfading bits of brightness to be recalled with pleasure. We dare to boast in some measure of results and we shall not cease to do this. We are ready to depart and can say: “We are eager to go. We are ready to face the life before us seriously, cheerfully, trustingly, ready to take and to give what the world offers. We shall not forget the experi- ence which this school has given us.” We hope that the incidents which have made up our history as a class, may leave some impression, or set an example for our fellow students so that they may be better able to progress and to perfect the aim of the Hudsonville High School. CLASS POEM Now our high-school life has ended, We have been a jolly class. In regret our hearts are blended, Sighs are heard from lad and lass. We shall miss our friendly school-mates And the splendid times we’ve had, Now we hope that only good fates Await each hopeful lass and lad. As we linger here this evening Waiting for life’s urgent call Since our high school life we’re leaving Let’s have one more class roll call.