Ionia High School - Ionian Yearbook (Ionia, MI)

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1931 IONIAN Class History of 1931 About four years ago or September, 1927, the school doors were once more opened after the summer vacation. The school grounds became the scene of much hurrying and talking. The Freshmen who were the superiors in the Junior High building were constantly playing jokes on the new seventh and eighth graders. We, for indeed it was we of the class of ”31”, soon were engaged in our new studies. Due to the crowded conditions our class was divided into three groups who seemed unable to cooperate or organize to elect officers. The outstanding event was our picnic at Woodard Lake. After a busy and enjoyable year wre entered Senior High School as Sophomores. The vacation months seemed short, as usual, and our class again assembled. We organized and elected Pauline Scheid, President; Martha Catt, Vice President; Georgia Ronan, Secretary'; and Mary Stewart as Treasurer. We started the year out with a Bang. However we were soon quieted down hy yells from the Seniors telling us to use the other stairway and giving us other instructions in a commanding manner. Also we were the victims of many pranks and conse- quently got into a number of wrong classes, only to he told to go up to the third floor or down to the first. We felt very much honored to think that two members of our class represented the High School in the contests for Declamations and Oratory. Georgie Ronan represented us in De- clamations and Francis Rowley in Oratory. Our Sophomore year was brought to a close with our customary picnic at Baldwin Lake. We had an enjoyable time and were much indebted to our cheerful sponsors. Miss Merrifield and Mr. Misner. The following September, we found much to our regret that some of our classmates had left our ranks. However we could not be retarded by their loss for we had to continue in our progressive march as Juniors. It was now our turn to make life miserable for the Sophomores and show- them we were superior over them. It was still necessary to step around obediently to the call of a Senior. The officers for our Junior year were Francis Rowley. President; Esther Baker, Vice President; Helen Kirsherman, Secretary; and Donald Hacker, Treasurer. As Juniors we made the customary purchase of Junior rings. The next thing which confronted us, as Juniors, was the increasing of our finances in preparation for the great event of the year, that is, the entertainment of the Senior Class at the J-Hop. We raised money for this important event by giving a series of Junior parties. These were all happy events and we can look back to many good times with great satisfaction. The climax of all was the J-Hop. This was given May twenty-ninth at the Jefferson Gymnasium. The success of our party wras due to hard work hy the various committees, into which our class was divided, and by the untiring assistance of Mr. and Mrs. V. J. Hilton, who were spon- sors of the Junior Class. It seemed to us that this must have been the best J-Hop ever given, but we all hoped that the one given our Senior year would be as delightful. Following this came the much dreaded examinations and the rush and hustle of the last days of the school year. From this hurry and worry we found relief and relaxed for our picnic with one grand day of gayety, at Baldwin Lake. After our summer vacation we suddenly found ourselves facing the last year of our high school career. Of course we felt very sophisticated, and the most important persons in the school. Our officers for this year were Philip Faude, President; Victor Schramm, Vice President; Helen Kirsherman, Secretary; and Donald Hacker, Treasurer. Later on in the year the class honors were awarded. We believe that the achievement of Valedictorian, May Piper, is uncqualed in the graduating classes of Michigan today for she has an all A” average. Pauline Scheid, our Salutatorian, was a close second in average and is a student who has excelled throughout her school curriculum. May twenty-second the Senior Play, The Youngest,” under the direction of Mr. Smith and Miss Burke, was produced at the Ionia theatre. It proved to be a great success. Next on the Social Calendar came the J-Hop. Now it was our turn to be entertained. The Juniors did wonders and this gay affair proved to he almost an equal of the one given the year before. Our Social Activities ended with a Senior Class party and a Senior Picnic. Our class has played an important part in school activities. Many of our boys have taken part in athletics. Volney Arnold was Captain of thefootball team and he was prominent in basketball and baseball. Albert Kowatch, Philip Faude, and Clarence Kress were prominent in football and other sports. Much of the success of the football team during last season was due to the hard work and excellent management of the Gold Dust Twins, Clark Welker and Otto HeiflJn music many Seniors were prominent in both Orchestra and Glee Club. Some took lead- ing roles in the operetta, Mary Lou.” Again a class member won honors in oratory. Georgia Ronan won first place in the sub-district oratorical contest at Greenville. We shall always remember the events of Commencement week. Class Day, Class Picnic and the graduation are all vividly impressed in our memories and will never be forgotten. As to judging the future I will leave that to the Class Prophet. I am sure if we can judge the future by the past the Class of 31 will certainly reach the high goal of success. Emma jane Welch. [25]

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Class Will IONIAN 1931 We, the Senior Class of the Ionia High School, of the City of Ionia, County of Ionia, and State of Michigan, being of sound mind, memory, and good understanding, in spite of the tremendous strain we have been under in the past four years, do make, publish, and declare this to be our last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by us at any time heretofore made. ARTICLE I To our Parents we hereby bequeath our sincere gratitude for the tender care they have given us in our struggle to attain a practical and cultural preparation for life. ARTICLE II To our beloved Faculty we leave our hearty thanks for their untiring assistance throughout the four years spent by us in trying to obtain an education. ARTICLE III To the Student Body of the said Ionia High School we bequeath as follows: To the Freshmen we will our dauntless Courage. You’ll need it — we did. To the Sophomores we will our unparalleled Wisdom. To the Juniors who are to fill our honored places we will our pre-eminence in scholastic- attainments, our savoir faire,” our sunny dispositions, and our lofty ideals. ARTICLE IV Our Personal Bequests I, Arthur Rivett, do bequeath my suave appearance and debonair manner to Floyd Gunning. I, Nadeen Zeigler, do sadly leave my steady,” Charles F.dlin, to another beautiful girl. I, Victor Schramm, do bequeath my argumentative ability to Edgar White. I, Mary Piper, leave all of my A note-books to the fortunate finders. I, Volney Arnold, gladly will my athletic prowess to Robert Campbell. I, Mary Stewart, do bequeath my skill in pronouncing, writing, and translating French to Orson Coe. I, Philip Faude, leave my marvelous dancing technique to Flint Watt. I, Georgia Ronan, do bequeath my dramatic ability to William Stanton. I, Francis Rowley, gladly will my golden tongue” to Jane Kidder. I, Pauline Schied, ask that my good looks and intelligence be left to Maxine Hutchins. I, Americo Quaglio, leave my aboe to any one who thinks he can play it as well as I. I, Helena Coe, do bequeath by companionable nature to Louise Winchell. I, Howard Hile, gladly leave one foot of my height to Gerald Cox. I, Helen Kirshman, do gladly will my typewriting technique to the next person who attempts to use my old typewriter. I, Donald Hacker, do bequeath my ability to collect class dues. Athletic funds. Senior Annual money, etc., to the next unlucky person who attains that job. ARTICLE V Lastly, we hereby nominate and appoint our advisor, Lloyd T. Smith, as executor of this our last will and testament. IN Y ITNHSS 117HEREOF, we have hereunto affixed our seal, on this 1st day of May, in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-one. Signed, THE SENIOR CLASS OF 1931. Subscribed and sworn to before me, a notary public in and for Ionia County, Michigan, this 1st day of May A. D. 1931. LEE VAN ALLEN YATES, Attorney Pro Tern [24]

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