Johnson St Paris High School - Parisian Yearbook (Saint Paris, OH)

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I II Ed P .A Let US suppose it to be winter. The noon hour arrives. We satisfy our appe- tites from boxes of half frozen lunch that have been reposing in the unheated cloak rooms. Lunch being over we are thirsty. The old well just south of the building will quench our thirst. How many remember the old iron cups that were securely chain- ed to the pump? What matter how many million germs thrived on the cups’ elge? Again we go back to a lovely Friday afternoon in October. S. P. H. S. is plan- ning a basket ball game. (Yes, of course we played basket ball.) The game is to be played in the open air gym on the school ground. And what team can object? High ceiling, fresh air, soft earth upon which to fall, and no occasion for the referee to call, “ball out,” because it hit a beam. Yes, more than one enthusiastic crowd watchel such a game and “Rah, rahed,” for their team. When the winter grew colder, games were played in the Opera House. This was our resort upon most gala occasions. I wonder how many remember our pet crow? we used to call it “The Raven.” It would perch upon the window sill when we were Freshman and call out “woa” in such a man- ner as often to provoke our smiles. This sometimes caused our teachers to look down upon us with frowns of disapproval. CLASS One afternoon not long ago I was rum- maging through a dusty old trunk that stands in the attic. When I happenel to run across a box filled with some priceless old keepsakes, that I treasure more and more as the years go by. As 1 removed the lid hundreds of news- papar clippings (now yellowing with age) flutterel over the floor. Here were old letters that brought back many happy school day memories. Countless snapshots and photographs now a trifle faded. Some of them brought a smile as I gazed upon the funny big hats, the unbe- coming coiffeurs and the long awkward skirts (for in those days we were bent upon makin gourselves look as old and sedate as possible.) Then again my eyes were dimmed with tears as I looked into the smil- ing faces of a few good old school mates, who have been claimed by leath. As I sat there on the attic floor, read- ing over old literary programs, old invita- rKo T ot‘ I 7f N We thought it had most uncanny judgment and realized that we stulious Freshman were in danger of overworking. Those were great days and we were quite content with our environment, for we knew no better. Contrast these, our high school days with yours, Class of 1929. Your numerous well equipped class rooms, warm lunches in the school cafeteria, bubbling water fountains on each floor, a gymnasium for your gasket ball games anl a large audi- torium for your programs. Yes, our high school experiences and yours have indeed been different. Class of 1929, the class of 1913 con- gratulate you upon the addel advantages you have enjoyed and upon the publication of this annual. We believe it to be a tes- timonial of your fitness to go out into the world and assume greater responsibilities. Again we congratulate you anl wish you well. May each of you become a worthy alumnus of old S. P. H. S. The members of the class were: Lucille Kite, St. Paris; Alta Kizer Nesbitt, St. Paris; Mabel Jenkins Anderson, New Carlisle; Agnes King, Columbus; Bertha McBeth, St. Paris; William Ladkin, Detroit, Michigan; Earl Martz and Charles Spence. —Bertha McBeth. OF 1916 tions to little social affairs that meant so much to us then. Memory took me back to the days when I was a high school girl, trudging back and forth each day, to anl from the old red brick school house which stood on the hill, at the west end of Plum street. I thought of those happy excur- sions to the wools for the early spring flowers. I remembered the great rivalry betw-een the two literary societies and how on Fri- day aftrnoons, dressed up in our Sunday best, with our hearts in our throats and our knees quivering beneath us, we stool be- fore the high school and its visitors and de- livered orations, readings, dialogues and papers. I thought of those never-to-be-for- gotten class meetings, those much-planneJ for Senior receptions and those glorious Halloween masquerades, where we played “Skip To Ma Lue My Darling” until our ever watchful teachers said it was time to go home. 66

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eo P A IvJ I rJJ i yl M H Wd Rev. J. M. Smith preached the sermon. On Thursday evening, May 24, Prof. Lester E. Wolfe of O. S. U., delivered the Commencement address. It was then that we realized we no longer belonged to oil S. P. H. S. Now we were thrown uot in the great, big world to make way for ourselves. As soon as we graduated, two of our members Keith Cretors and Glen Vickery, enlisted in the army and another member, Elva Runkle went to a training camp. Keith was killed in the war and Elva diel while in camp. So now we have only fif- teen in our class. Five years after we graduated we had a reunion at Neva Wiant’s. We did not have any more until two yeas £go, when we decided to have one every year, the seconl Sunday in October. The first one was held in Harmon Park. This year we went to Columbus. We find them scattered and in differ- CLASS OF The class of 1910, like almost all Fresh- men classes started into high school with a large enrollment; took our part in athletics, literary societies, contests, etc. We had our class parties and class scraps, our un- ruly moments as well as our studious ones. In fact, I guess we were just an average normal class. All ten of us are taking our place in the world and working at our chosen professions: Fannie Bollinger, Home Economics instructor at Springfiel 1, CLASS O A score of years and nine months ago, a ban! of Freshman, seventeen strong enter- ed the portals of old S. P. H. S. In the spring of 1913, eight of them emerged, graduates strong and bold, Yea, we repeat “strong and bold.” For did it not require boldness to graduate on Friday night in the year 1913? Nevertheless on th afore mentioned date, these eight battle scarred veterans facel an audience which filled the old Union Opera House. Nor did they even so much as quaver or quake when the speaker of the evening, President Smith of Ohio Northern University, gave expres- sion to the dread superstition regarding the day and the year. They were a most distinguished group who sat upon the platform that evening in May. For mark you there were present: ent lines of work. Several now are located in Columbus, Lowell Ammon, Forrest Tay- lor, Glen Vickery, Laura Johnson Breeken- ridge; and Leota Runkle Watson, Orvin Harvey in Springfield; Harold Carmin in Detroit; Hazel Lindsey Romiser in InJiana; Laura Spence in Washington, D. C., Har- old Barger in Thackery; Neva Wiant Dc- Weese in Conover; Gertrude Kite Leam- mon, Earl W'alborn, Dan Tappy and the writer are in St. Paris. We shall ne’er forget our Alma Mater. Though our high school days are o’er, we will ever love our S. P. H. S. As we did in the days of yore, Yellow and black will always be the colors That will always make our pulses thrill S. P. H. S. to you, we will e’er be true High school days, dear high school Jays. —Mildred N. Hanback. 1910 Ohio; Faye Harvey Glamosky, Detroit, Michigan; Asenath Kizer Hanson, St. Louis, Missouri; Helen Frye Leffel, Christians- burg; Earle Guthridge, dentist at Truckee, California; Lloyd Huffman, Dayton; Cary Kite, dentist at St. Marys, Ohio; Byron Sny- red, manager of creamery at Troy, Ohio; Luther Snyder, mail carrier, Urbana; Jes- sie M. Nixon, librarian at McKinley Junior high school at Columbus. —Jessie M. Nixon. F 1913 a King, an Earl and McBeth. To say noth- ing of William, Prince of Jokes and Charles, master of intellect. Small wonJer the Kite soared high and the Maybel rang out joy- ously as our class song pealed forth at the close of the exercises. Permit us to take you back with us for a peep at our high school days. Go with us to the old brick buliding that stood on the hill, what is now Harmon Park. Two large rooms familiarly known to us as “The Green Room,” anj the “Pink Room,” supplied most of our class room needs. Perhaps there was an advantage over the present arrangement. Closing hour found us unfatigued, because we were not warm from the strain of rushing down long cor- riders anJ worrying lest we lose our way and arrive late to class. 65

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5f H E) - I 1 A Ro T ■!’ I 7 N And how could I forget all those inevi- table love affairs anl those thrilling basket ball games played in the old Union Opera House, while we sat on the stage and rooted until we were hoarse. Those four short years filled with trials and troubles and lots of gool times passed by all too soon and at last our work was completed, we had reached the goal toward which we hai been striving. And as our Senior year came to a close like all other Seniors, we were busy with many plans. And as I looked back over our records I knew that our class of 1916 would always be remembered for two things For we were the first class to present a memorial to the school thus we established a new custom with a worthy motive. Dur- ing our last school week we purchased an ele- gant oak roll top desk and placed it in the superintendent’s office. (Today it stands in Supt. Turner’s office in the new school building.) When too, at the close of our Senior year, the old alumni organization was re- vived. (All was due to Supt. Coleman’s effort and interest) for he worked faith- fully in formulating and carrying out the initial plans of the organization. Again I lived over that Tuesday eve- ning on the 23rl of May, when this new or- ganization held its first banquet in the Masonic Hall. I remembered it as one of the grandest affairs of all my high school life, when one hundred and seventeen mem- bers were seated at the long banquet tables and were served by colored waiters import- ed from “Urbana.” On Sunday evening, May 14, the Meth- odist church was filled to overflowing for it was there our Baccalaureate sermon took place, Rev. Mathews delivering the address, “The Line of Greatest Resistence is the Line of Righteous Triumph.” May 18, our Senior reception was hell in the Masonic Hall and the following eve- ning those anxiously awaited Commence- ment exercises took place in the Union Opera House and it was filled with the largest crowd that had ever assembled to witness such exercises. The old stage looked its best that mem- orable night as a beautiful stage setting had been accomplished by profusely covei-- ing all surfaces with green branches, while our class flower, the old fashioned wild rose was used to splendid alvantage, com- pleting our color scheme of rose and green. As the curtain slowly rose, the gaze of the audience fell upon ten Seniors, namely: Misses Lucile Pence, Gladys Tomlin, Ruth McMorran, Olive Kizer, Thelma Kite, Kath- leen Kite and Messrs. Raymond Apple, Allen Taylor, Harold Lewis and Laurel Gibbs and our three patient teachers, Supt. Clifton Coleman, Carena Jackman and Ruth Max- well. John Kite, president of the board of education, J. C. Neer, county superinten- dent and the speaker of the evening, John Davison, then director of the Normal De- partment of Ohio Northern University, Ada. Mr. Kite presentel our diplomas and Mr. Neer awarded the class honors to Olive Kizer and after a selection by the Arion Quartet, the memorable evening came to a close. VVe had our little mark on a page of the school’s history and now we would pass on leaving our vacant chairs to be fill- ed by those who were to follow. As I sat there reminiscing, the evening shadows crept in at the attic win lows, re- minding me that I had no more time to waste dreaming, for today those six girl gi'aduates and those four gallant young men that sat before the footlights as Seniors, are now scattered anl all playing a part in that drama called “Life.” Lucile Pence and Ruth McMorran are both graduate nurses from Grant Hospital and are practicing their chosen profession in the city of Columbus. All the rest of the girl graduates have long since joined the “Ancient anl Honorable Order of House- keepers.” Today Raymond Apple is one of our most reliable and business like young gro- cery men. Allen Taylor is a builder’s contractor in Dayton. Harold Lewis resides in Colum- bus and is an electrical engineer with the General Electric people. Laurel Gibbs is a civil engineer and has been with a lumber firm in Washington until just recently. So I just can’t help but feel proud of all the members of this class of 1916 and I hope as we journey down lfe’s highway,' we -will continue to perfect those lessons we learn- ed in old S. P. H. S . —Kathleen K. Brown. 67