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

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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

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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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f i 19 c o CLASS OF 1920 When Mr. Turner fame to the St. Paris school in 1916, he was greeted by a Fresh- man class of thirty-two members. Perhaps his Mathmetics courses were too difficult for some, Miss Louther’s Latin frightened others or Miss Newton require 1 too many book reports—at any rate the class de- creased in size until at the end of the four year period only twelve of the orginal num- ber had earned their diplomas. Among the many to leave our school oi fall by the wayside are: Donald Gibbs, Ren- ato Napoli (the Italian) Beatrice Keller, Ruth Schooler, Ruth Johnson, Lillian Tay- lor (deceased) Donald Offenbacker and Grace Lewis. The class spent three years at the old building enjoying the usual class parties, etc., excepting the privilege of giving the Seniors the customary reception, which so- cial affair was omitted because of more pressing needs brought on by the World War. Our Senior year was profitably and pleasurably spent in the new Johnson-St. Paris school building and on June 11, 1920, the honor of being the first class to grad- uate from the new building came to the fol- lowing members: Paul Runkle, Martha Tay- lor, Octave Ammon, Trixie Apple, Delbert Baugh, Cline Currey, Harold Hill, Lottie Harter (Yocum) Dale Lee, Paul Offen- backer, Esther Rose, Hiram Rushaw, Logan Smith anl Gertrude Wiant. The class of ’20 contributed liberally to perhaps the strongest basket ball team our school had ever had to that time and it is with much interest that we look upon the success of the present high school team. As a lasting memorial to our school, class joined class ’21 in erecting the stone posts at the entrance to the school grounds. We are glad to know that S. P. H. S. is to have a seal to represent the school— past, present and future—anl although we may be thought of as a part of the past, we assure the present highschool generation that class '20 stands firmly in favor of the highest ideals and the swiftest advance- ment that may be made for the uplifting of that thing which we hold in common— Old S. P. H. S. —Gertrude Wiant. CLASS OF 1924 One September morning in 1920, we found eighteen Freshman eager to start their high school work and to welcome three new teachers,Miss Gordon, Miss Kremer, Mr. Klapp and our former teacher, Miss Nixon, with Mr. Turner as superintendent. We shone in class and led in fun and good times. At the close of the year we had one of the best stunts in the carnival. We displayed our talent in giving a mock wed- ding, Frank Ross starring as groom, with Mildred Mitchell as bride, John Brough, the officiating minister. The rest fitted into their respective places as bridesmaids, ush- ers, maid-of-honor, best man, and parents. A year later, we find this illustrious class assembled in the Sophomore room. Some members of the class having droppel from the ranks while others came in to fill the vacancies. We did our usual brilliant work and captured the prize in Good Eng- lish week. This work being the interpre- tation of Sir Lockinvar. We had our usual number of social affairs. We not only shone in society but also in athletics. Doe. Ross making the first team when a Fresh- man and continuing on. Our third year began. We have grown into higher knowledge. We greeted a new principal, high school teacher, Miss Colvin. Our third Good English week found us tri- umphant for we captured the pennant for the best stunt. This took the form of an original play written by our class “The Death of Good English an! the Burial of Bad English.” Russell Stitzel officiating as minister and Doc. Ross as undertaker, with a goodly number of mourners. We kept up our usual ability in the class room and in athletics we gave Benny (Donald) Pence to the team. Our social affairs still flourished. At last with pomp anl ceremony we reached and lived our fourth year of high school learning. We were the honorable Seniors. We started our- high school career with eighteen members and we ended this memorable occasion with eighteen. Nine of the eighteen having started anl finished the four years together. For four years we had gathered and stored away the fruits of knowledge to be used when needed. As 68