Ionia High School - Ionian Yearbook (Ionia, MI)

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I learned that Russell Hoople and Russell Anderson were proprietors of one of the largest paint and wall-paper stores in Newville, and that Floyd Brand, Delbert Lemke, and Roger Monger were associated with them in the business. The program of the evening began and I was forced to postpone my quizzing until later. Jane Ann Rather and Vivian Snyder were the first singers of the evening, followed by Bessie Jimos, who sang her own composition. Celestine Imus followed with a talk to the ladies regarding “Troubles in the Home. ’—I gathered that she knew from experience. A toe dance was given by Helen Terkos and Louise Hoy. Talks were given by Mary Jean Shaw and Sam Glossi, both physical instructors of the Dairy City High School, on “Physical Care of the Child. ’ The program finished with a duet by Hilda Macholl and Roxie Luz, playing piccolos. After this enjoyable program, refreshments were served by Violet Lewis, Beatrice Haney, June Anderson and Ruth Howard. Thus the curtain fell on one of the most enjoyable evenings that I had experienced in twenty-five years. I retired with the rest, only to awaken in the morning to meet again old faces and talk of old times. I was walking down the main avenue when I saw Jack Gierman, who told me that he was chief of police, and asked me if I didn t want to visit the jail. 1 consented, and we started on our way. As the jail was in a remote end of town, we had to pass the majority of the business places of the town. I saw a sign, “BEAUTY SHOPPE,” and after inquiring, found out that it was operated by Marie Dickout and Hazel Scholtens, and that they were assisted by Vera Sessions, Frances Marker, and Bernice Sage. Chief Gierman told me that the next store, a ladies’ cloth ng store, was owned and operated by Gwendolyn Schadler and Marcilene Signs. “The clerks,” Chief said, “were Clara Rook, Lillian Ward, Dona Lee Whitesides, Helen Wheaton and Olive Yeomans.” We next went by the court house, and I marveled at the beautiful landscape. Chief Gierman said that it was the work of Verncr Vogt, and that Arthur Selleck and Charles Foreman had made the plans for the mammoth building. We were now at the jail. We passed through one large iron gate end little did I realize that beyond the other was another old classmate, Leroy Bennett, who, by the way, was Chief Gierman’s first deputy. Another clasmate, Paul Crane, was sitting at a table talking over a telephone. Later Paul said, “We three comprise the whole police force, with the exception of two night watchmen, Wayne Dreger and Richard Dumont.” Chief Gierman explained that only a small police force was needed because of the law-abiding spirit which prevailed in the community. He attributed th's to the fact that most of the leaders in the community belonged to the class of ’35. Mr. Crane asked me if I would be at Newville Rock Gardens in Stone Court to see the fight between William “Wild Cat” Wilder and Ford “One Punch” Loucks for the world’s heavyweight championship. The money from the sale of tickets to this fight would be used for the purchase of guinea pigs for the Quaglia Experimenting Station. Mr. Crane added that Arthur Mann was to be the referee, and Dr. Helen Marsh was to be at the ring-s:de. Dr. Marsh has several trained nurses 26

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PROPHECY Twenty-five years has elapsed since the graduates of 1935 left the historical building of Ionia. We left with a mixed feeling of gladness and remorse to further fit ourselves for our several places in the world. It was in 1960 with a happy feeling that I came in contact with all of my old classmates. As I was working for a newspaper syndicate, I was assigned to cover a story of the formation of a new city in the southern part of the country that had been named “Newville.” At once I decided to make a hurried airplane trip to this community. We were soaring around a small town. We went lower and lower for we were going to land. The airport, I learned later, had been constructed by an old classmate, Wilson Rochester. Three men came rushing to the plane as soon as we had stopped. The men whirled the plane around, and as I was helped out of the plane, the pilot instructed the chief mechanic, Harold Signs, to check the motor as he was re leave early in the morning. I heard several people talking, and I thought I recognized their voices. As they came nearer. I realized that they were five old classmates, Edward Brown, Stuart Brock, Roland Heim, Carl Higgins, and the mayor of the city, Carl Groening, who had formed a reception committee. Carl told me that the new city should have been called “Class of ’35” as there are so many members of that class living there. I asked him where the telegraph office was, and he said he would take me there. Immediately we were in the telegraph office, preparing to wire the paper ab:ut the strange setting, and there I saw two other classmates, Jane Hoy and Star Miles, who were taking complete charge of the office. As we turned to leave, we met more clasrmates, Hermene Arnold and Jean Curtis, who were running cne of the mos! fa.hionr.ble dress shops in town. I then began search ng for a hotel. At last I saw a mammoth sign, “Newville Hotel.’ I stopped, and was very much surprised to see that the proprietor was William Carbaugh. He began relating the good times that we had at cld I. H. S. Mr. Caibaugh told me that there was a community banquet in the dining rocm and that everyone was invited, and urged Mr. Groening and me to attend the affair. The Jennings Jazz Boys were furnishing the rhythm for the banquet. In the orchestra I recognized Harley Bricker, who was slipping into the hearts of the ladies all over the country with his slide trombone. Next I saw a friend who had always hoped to reach higher levels and to have people gaze with awe and marvel at his achievement. Harold Clark is now an exhibition tight-wire performer, advertising the durability of the products of the Lem-mien. Bliss and Schmidt Wire Company. I was next privileged to meet a renowned discoverer, Robert Dunnett. Mr. Dunnett is owner of one of the largest dairy farms in the United States. On this farm he grows Mexican Jumping beans which he feeds to his cattle, so that instead of getting milk in eight and ten-quart quantities, he gets butter in pound and pound and one half cakes. 25

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who will also be present, Dorcas Steele, Rena Gould, Dorothy Edlin, and Kathryn Hawley. I began to feel a bit hungry, and asked Mr. Crane for the location of a good restaurant. Mr. Crane directed me down the street where 1 saw a sign, “DINE AT DYKE’S.” I walked into the restaurant and saw another calssmate, Donna Dyke, who was the proprietoress. Virginia Flanders, Frederic Simmons and Louise Eckert were busily serving meals. Sitting in the booth next me were Mary Badder and Harriett Baker, who informed me that they were in the confectionery business. I learned later that the Pulsipher-Patrick confectionery just across the street was running them keen competition. With her arms full of books and with the air of a dignified teacher, Jane Wilson was walking up the street. I caught up with her, and Miss Wilson told me that she was principal of the Newville High School, and that four other classmates, Frances Ostrander, Margery Stewart, Doris Sible, and Agnes May Haynes, were teachers there. We parted and as I proceeded down the avenue, I noticed a sign, “IF ITS MOORES YOU EAT ITS MOORE’S YOU WANT.” I went closer and saw that Evelyn Moore was also in business. She was owner of the largest creamery in Newville. I stopped and chatted for a wh le, then continued my interesting tours through town. “THEY BLOOM BEAUTIFULLY AT BLUEMLY’S.” After inquiring I found out that Nila Bluemly had the reputation of having the most up-to-date flower shop in the state. The last sign that I saw was one of special interest. “NEED REPAIRING FOR LESS? TRY NIELSEN AND ELLIS’S.” I went inside the shop and saw Spencer Nielsen and Robert Ellis, owners of an auto repairing garage. They told me that phyllis Willaman was the owner of a large automobile agency and Charles Campbell was now known, because he had been in so many accidents, as the crash king, (not the crush) and was Phyllis’s head salesman. I also learned that the most modern shoe shop for ladies in town was owned by Esther Mundt, and that Rozella Hallett, Lenore Hoople and Eva Gaut were the sales ladies. I inquired about Helen Callow, and they told me that she had taken up aviation very seriously and was -•oing well at it up in the air. I counted the friendships that I had a°ain made. I counted 91. As I remem-oered it, there were 93 in the class of ’35. Yes, I remembered I had not seen Elton McClow. I called up Chief Gierman and asked about him, but the Chief did not know, and I asked him to please locate Elton. Three days passed when a knock came at my door. It was Chief Gierman, and he had seme information regarding Mr. McClow. He stated that he was a valet for the king of one of the largest pygmy tribes in southern Africa. Mr. McClow stated that he had always heard that the big things in life came by first following the little things. After my pleasant visit in Newville, I returned to my newspaper work with new vigor and enthusiasm for having renewed every old friendship and recalled the happy memories of 1935. 27 —Charles Stout