Lena Winslow High School - Win Nel Yearbook (Lena, IL)

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tudent Attitudes The attitude of the students toward their school was affectionate, almost sentimental. In the valedictory address at the 1927 commencement, for example, Arol C. McCaslin said: For our successful graduation, we owe much to you, dear teachers. We could have ac- complished very little without your guidance and instruction. But for your constant encourage- ment and assistance, when lessons seemed long and impossible, many must surely have fal- len. With much regret we part from this institution and its instructors. Many times, no doubt, we will wish for your advice to help us through some difficult problem. Our memories of you will always be inspiring, and will help to fill the vacancy left in parting. The board of education, as well as the teachers, was praised by the students. The 1928 Win-nel says, As a student body, we take this opportunity to express our appreciation of the loyalty and ever-increasing interest this board has shown in our behalf. We especially thank them for the improvements made in the building, for the excellent manner in which the building has been keptinrepair, and for the liberal appropriation made for needed equipment. fThe appropriation spoken of, the district budget for 1927-28, totalled S11,000! This covered the salaries of five high school teachers, the cost of supplies, and the high school board's share of the custodian's salary and maintenance of the building., The 1927 and 1928 literary contest team-a group of champions. Rebecca Coleman, Florence Dalrymple, John Bradford, Jr., Bessie Brandt, Josephine Kilian. 5 v E .l

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0 Sag X N' Goins --f fnti' ' 9 The Twenfies In the twenties, interest in the school centered in the aca- demic studies. The student body was serious and appreciative of the privilege of attending high school. In an interview a 1928 graduate says, The emphasis was on studying and getting your lessons when I went to school. This alumnus also mentions the many chores including milk hauling with horses and spring wagon before school in the mornings. The subjects studied were arduous, including among others, advanced mathematics, physics, advanced civics, commercial geography, Latin, and modern and ancient history. The curriculum was intended to prepare students for further education. Six of the ten members of the 1924 class and eight of the 16 members of the 1925 class were attending college in 1926. They wrote letters back to school for publication in the Win-nel, they visited the school and spoke before the assembly. School recreation consisted of group singing twice a week at the opening exercises and competitive spelling between class groups from 1:00 to 1:15 each afternoon. Dramatics also played a very important role inthe school. Orations and declamations were presented in the county literary contests, with the 1927 and 1928 contestants remembered as a group of champions. One 1927 graduate had been in six plays. These plays were given at different places. For example, the 1924 senior play Am I Intruding? was given at the Winslow Opera House on May 26, at Cedarville on May 27, and in McConnell on June 4. These early Win-nels were partially financed by advertise- ments. Interesting ones include Blue Label Cheese, Winslow's Fa- mous product, and the Fuller Hotel's news window, featuring As- sociated Press news, changed three times a week. Class parties were big events-usually taking the form of a hike from the school to Cedar Cave and attended by all students and teachers. X. I l 3 . 1 ' q f 9 1 -6 1' ' I ' x 1 xx K 75 7 I me 1 'wi , Qi 14' , 'fax ' usher: I 4 I V I ,. - 4 1 4 'OGG :af J x7 V Q I 7 W I I 1 Ka-sans? 'J Q4 007g I' 94: ha NX. -N Q HQ- . -t sf Q ll I I f , Q

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The Thirties The early thirties are perhaps best remembered for the depression and the drought. The Win-nels of these years mention such things as threadbare overalls being worn, and the writers of the 1933 Win-nel praise a second-place trophy of a new basketball as being of more use to us fthan a loving cupl during the depression. The valedictorians' and saluta- torians' addresses speak of the uncertain future. But Wins1ow's literary contestants came up with three winning teams to take permanent possession of the county trophy in the thirties and in 1933 the Latin Club reached a high point of 34 members. The New Gym Through all these years there had been no school gymnasium. Sports had flo1u'ished most in the fall and spring when the play grolmd was used. The Winslow Lyric Opera House, above the present Parriott Grocery Store, was used for basketball and dramatic productions. There had been talk of building a community building somewhere in Winslow and finally a campaign took shape to build a gymnasium and auditorium adjoining the school. The 1935 Win-nel describes for us the heated campaign which preceded the balloting on this gymnasium proposal. There was sharp division as to whether the building plans pointed to an opportunity or to a disastrous undertaking. Excitement in the community ran high, every possible voter was brought in to the polls, and the gym won by more than 2 to 1. We read of the flurry the day of the opening of the bids and the interest shown in the actual building operations. The brick and glazed tile structure was 80x80 feet, with playing floor 70 x42g it cost 517,000 and had a seating capacity of about 600. The dedication took place October 12, 1934, with Fran- cis G. Blair as the speaker. For many years this gym was to serve not only as a school gym- nasium but also as a community auditorium for the Winslow fair, cemetery benefit dances, pie socials, and the like. The gymnasium made many changes in the school. Before the gym came, Win-nel pictures were taken outdoorsg from the 1935 Win-nel on, most pictures were taken in the gym. Of course physical education was expanded with the coming of the gym' and its new dressing rooms. Class plays, commencements, and other programs now could be held at the school. In later years, as you will read in the special section on the history of the Proms, it was to be their locale. No one could count how many spectators have cheered the many basketball games within its walls. This investment of the community would seem to have been a sound one.