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

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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

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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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CO steps to our graduation in May 1924, we presented “Daddy Lorg Legs” for our class play. Rev 0. E. Miller deliverel the Bac- calaureate sermon using for his theme “The Seven Jeweled Diadem.” Prof. C. L. Clifton of Ohio State University, gave the Commencement address. W. M. Berry, president of the board of education, ,pre- sentel to the nine boys and nine girls grad- uating their diplomas. Out of the eight- een receiving their diplomas, five are en- joying the happiness of married life. They are: Ruby Barger (Johnson), Ethel Cooper (Boyd) Dorothy Clark (Counts), Herbert Foster and William McClimans. Five are training youthful minds in the way of edu- cation. They are: Geneva Batdorf in Jack- CLASS Don’t worry about the future, The present is all thou hast, The future will soon be present And the present will soon be past. The past—Old school mates, oil mem- ories, old happenings, how difficult to re- call! But how many changes can be wrought in four years. Our happy times are too numerous to recall—throughout our Fresh- man year individual rivalry predominated, and as a result all our teachers suffered while trying to promote class spii'it. In the beginning of our Sophomore year our ranks were depleted by one when death claimed Albert Apple. This left sev- enteen to carry on. We were honored in our Junior year with a new member, none other than Frank Ross, whom Fate had destinel an official Baccalaureate decorator, for the third suc- cessive year. He proved his worth to us, when we were proclaimed the most original and artistic decorators. son Twp.; Norma McBeth in Clark county; Josephine Pence, Ruth Apple, Helen Heas- ton in Johnson-St. Paris. Gladys Gabriel is a capable secretary in Springfield. If you want any barber work done go to Donald Pence in St. Paris. Russell Stitzel is a pharmacist in Springfield. Ralph Johnson is in the real estate business in Sprngfield. Naaman Apple is a capable business man now located in Greenville. Millard Stein- berger is holding a gool position in Hagers- town, Indiana. Emory Crouse is working in Columbus. Maynard Berry, our class president, who lives at home is keeping an account of accomplishments done by the var- ious members of the class of ’24. —Helen Heaston. OF 1925 A memorable night was the fifteenth of May, when sixteen of the original class occupied the honored seats, dear to the hearts of all Seniors. The present finds each member of the class active and progressive. Several re- main in St. Paris, proving their worth in various vocations. Two are engaged in the noble profession of nursing, while more than two are in the humble, but likewise noble profession of matrimony. An! now we come to the future, the goal of this great world. But who can tell what golden hours with what full hands, may be waiting you in the distance? Concern yourself with Today, Woo it, and teach it to obey, Your will and wish Since time began. Today has the friend of man, But in his blindness and his sorrow He looks to yesterday and tomorrow. —Anne Urban. CLASS OF 1927 Fourteen short yeai-s have sped away, since a group of happy freckle faced chil- dren found for the first time, themselves occupying the old battered seats in the little brown building on the hill. Ah! Fourteen Years! W’hich can be likened to a drama, enacted in that many ! ays, each day representing a certain canto, wherein the actors properly carrying out their parts. In the first eight scenes, we were mingled together in gaiety and laugh- ter, with a few light touches of grief. All of this was a comedy, which prepared the way for the four following acts, which may be listed under the title “Through the Four Years of High School.” In the fall of 1923, we sailel into the first grade of high school, as a group, of carefree Freshies and not until we had wad- ed into the depths of the studies designated by that position, did it actually begin to dawn upon us what an education meant. Our struggle then was a hard one, but we were all to profit by the knocks, which tf)