Lacon High School - Tickler Yearbook (Lacon, IL)

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A AC on Hrs H S cnoon. THE POETRY OF LACON THE PROSE

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L LACON AS A COMMUNITY IN WHICH TO LIVE Nestling among its hundreds of leafy spreading elms which line its broad streets, on the east shore of the Illinois River, lies the little city of Lacon. Its natural beauties are manyg its advantages as a town in which to live and rear one's children are apparent to the careful observer, and its location is ideal. Built upon a gently rising slope. running back from the river, there is an unexcelled natural drainage which insures comparatively dry streets even after a heavy rain. Its numerous shade trees, many of which have served to inter- cept the rays of the summer sun for nigh onto a century, are everywhere. Their spreading branches on many streets form nearly an unbroken line of shade for blocks, lending an air of quiet and sylvan beauty second only to that of the nat- ural forest. One might travel over many states and visit scores of cities and towns, before iinding one with natural beauties equal to those of Lacon. And with Mother Nature having provided an ideal site, man has proceeded to build thereon a little city of many beauties and advantages. The streets are broad and laid out 'fsquare with the world, its business section is compact and its residence district attractive. Lacon is a city of beautiful homes, of well- kept lawns, and of people who take pride in the appearance of the town. Its church societies are progressive, its lodges and clubs active, and its social life interesting. The Congregational Church has but lately been com- pletely remodeled and modernized, the Methodist people have a new and modern parsonage and are planning a new structure to take the place of their present house of worship. which has done duty since the early days of the community. The Roman Catholic organization has a commodious and substantial structure in which to worship. The Masonic orders own a splendid building on a prominent corner, the Knights of Pythias have their own home in a two-story brick business block of nearly equal size and worth, while the Odd Fellows, Modern VVoodmen and American Legion are lodges of numerical strength and activity. The Eastern Star and Royal Neighbors tladies' auxiliariesj are also live ones. The women of Lacon have their other intellectual and social organizations in the VVoman's Club, the Loani Club, the T. B. H. Club and the usual church aid and missionary societies. Marshall County's seat of government is located at Lacon, and, while the court house itself is not a new building, it is a substantial one, and sufficiently commodious to house the county's officials and its records, and it is beautifully and centrally located in a half block dotted with towering elms and carpeted with nature's green.

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it An ornamental street lighting system was recently installed in the down- town streets, which adds much to the appearance of the business section when the shadow of night comes down, and artificial light becomes necessary. And Lacon has a progressive school, evidence of which is furnished by the publication of this little volume. As this article is written, the people are preparing to vote on the annulment of the old special charter, under which the school district was originally organized, and the adoption of this proposition will put the district under the general school law and make possible the estab- lishment of a Community High School. reaching out farther from the center. and making possible a still more efficient school. The membership of the pres- ent board is without exception favorable to this change, and it is likely to carry with little opposition. Lacon has a peculiarly clean and up-standing class of youngsters, budding men and women, who will insure a period of progress and development for the coming generation, and as the mature citizens of today are finally compelled to lay down their civic duties because of advancing years, and turn them over to the boys and girls now enroute to maturity through the pathway of the Lacon schools, these civic duties will be ably handled and properly cared for by those upon whom they will devolve. Of course, there is an occasional black sheep in the flock, a few drones in the hive, such as any community has to contend with, but on the whole the personnel of the pupils of the l.acon school is one to be proud of. So far as the writer has been able to observe, the pupils of the l.acon schools are polite, respectful to their elders, clean, ambitious and active, and those attributes, properly encouraged, directed and rewarded, will make for the citizenship of the right kindg so that, in the years to come, Lacon, now a most satisfactory community in which to make a home. will be still better. NELSON D. HARKEN. J