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

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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.

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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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Administrative Change In 1935 Winslow's superintendent was e- lected Stephenson County superintendent of schools. Mr. Pfisterer is remembered as apopu- lar and capable teacher, who contributed much to Winslow and its schools. Mr. Clarno, who had been a member of the faculty since 1928, be- came the new superintendent. In 1935-36 the first student council was or- ganized in line with the trend toward more stu- dent participation in school operation. Winslow's first student cormcil planned a clean-up campaign and attempted to improve traffic in the halls, to stop petty gossip, and to entertain students at noon. From this year on, a student council was a feature of the school. Expanding Curriculum Two notable innovations came to our school in the fall of 1938. One was vocational agriculture Qsee pages 32-341, the other was the commercial department. Prior to 1938 bookkeeping had been the only commercial subject, but in that year twenty new typewriters made their appearance as typing, shorthand, and general business were added to the curricu- lum. The introduction of these vocational subjects points up the recognition of the school board of those years that many potential farmers and business employees were attending school in addition to the college preparatory group. With the coming of the typewriters came an end for several years to printed Win-nelsg the 1939 and following Win-nels until 1952 were mimeographed in the school. Many changes in the school characterize the early forties. Emphasis on the academic decreasesg the last literary contest was held in 1941 and the last valedictorian's and salu- tatorian's addresses are printed in 1942. The first school busses were used in the year 1941- 42, and then the outbreak of war made its effect felt. The school held defense stamp salesg it was the site of draft and rationing registrations, the Win-nels were organized around tri- butes to the servicemen. In 1945 Mr. Clarno left our school to teach in the Freeport system. He is well remem- bered for his long period of devoted service as coach, science teacher, and adminstrator. Mr. Clikeman then became the new superintendent. Visual aids came into educational prominence at this time. Student movie projection- ists make their first appearance in the Win-nel of 1947. In addition the school soon secured a slide film projector for instructional use. It was now possible to use these devices to supple- ment the textbook and teacher. Another mechanical devise in increasing use after the war was the automobile. Pic- tLu'es of the school at this time show a greater number of them every year, and it was a com- mon pleasantry that more and more the newer shinier models belonged to students, not teach- ers. marssxmwxsrvra .1sssmsnnamswsx:.a uA...,f