Lower Merion High School - Enchiridion Yearbook (Ardmore, PA)

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Lowzn MERIQN NINETEEN rn-uRrv-oNE .mr 'gan nw: f1---- CLASS HISTORY OME five years ago on a warm September morn, numerous, small, scared children slowly, or perhaps quickly, wended their Way into the Junior High auditorium. Their fear was somewhat diminished when Mr. Snow soothingly told them not to be frightened, for the seniors had been just as bewildered the pre- ceding year when they entered for the first time. We, for we were those same small, bashful children, were apportioned to various home rooms to which we soon acclimated ourselves. Then began our high school career. Many of us learned by experience to fear and respect that eternal whistle and its subsequent hour of detention. After we had had plenty of time to make and ripen friendships, our class became organized. Howard Whitby was elected president, Sue Abernethy, vice-presidentg Jean Carlisle, secretary, and Dudley VVarwick, treasurer. There were others of our class who distinguished themselves also. Among them were: Eleanor Kavanagh and John Pennypacker, who received the American Legion Medalsg and William Smith, who obtained the highest scholastic average in the class. The school year drew to a happy close and as a token of appreciation, we presented the school with a sailing ship model, complete in all detail, for the library. The next fall we returned fresh from a happy vacation, stronger in stature and strength, for we were upper classmen. We immediately began our school life as the school leaders and created ideals and models for imitation by the lower class. That year, for the first time in the history of Junior High, a girl was elected president of the school, Susan Abernethy. Of course, the Upper Class took prominent parts in all the productions, and it is with pleasure that we remember our pageant, Columbus, our Music Night, and our gym exhibition. When our class had become organized the following held the oHicers of honor: Robert Blair, president, Ray Wilson, vice- presidentg Lewis Meyers, secretary, and Catherine Gerhart, treasurer. The next year, as sophomores, we were again reduced to subjugation by the all-powerful seniors and the haughty juniors. Nevertheless, we bore up well under the strain and made the best of the situation. New friendships were formed, old ones continued, and soon we felt ourselves a vital part of the school life, though as yet We had not particularly begun to shine. The one thing which we especially remember about that year was the annual Parent's Night, on which we, the lowly sophs, almost unaided, presented a play. You will probably remember that play, because its scene was laid in the internal regions of the digestive tract, notably the stomach. Among our performers who thus displayed their talents were: Louise Cross, Stephen McCormack, Dick McCurdy, Aileen Dunham and others. That year we made the following our officers after hot disputes and endless campaigns: Robert Blair, president, Hugh Wynn, vice-president, Susan Abernethy, secretary, and William Smith, treasurer. The custom of the annual sophomore picnic was to be continued Page Eleven

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LOWER MERION NINETEEN THIRTY-ONE ...qt g , 9 Page Ten Presidents Message V E ARE about to close our Senior year at Lower lVIerion. With regret? With relief? Both, perhaps. Regret that we must leave, so soon, this high school where we have spent four of the best years of our life. Relief that at last we have attained that which we have been striving for, a com- pletion of our high school education. What now? College? Work? There will be some who, although they wish to, may not enter college, either because of financial difficulty or because of a serious lack of effort in their preparation. Others will enter college, backed by their Lower Merion training, and from there will set out in their chosen field. Still others will prefer to start their careers immediately on leaving. All of us, regardless of our aims in life, will appreciate a thousand- fold the training we have received at our Alma Mater. And so we take our leave, hoping that the incoming Senior Class will uphold the standards and traditions of Lower Merion, both in scholarship and athletics. J ACK ROCKWELL.

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LOWER MERION NINETEEN THIRTY-ONE .mg Q' q 4.... but because of rain, it was called off. However, the few stray couples who went any way had a good time. Now we entered our career as juniors. No longer were we humble sophomores. We had been, true, just three short months ago, but now We had advanced a step higher and found ourselves the connecting link between the sophomores and the seniors. This year was, perhaps, one of our fullest. It is with pride that we look back upon our undefeated football team, on which so many of our class representatives played. Even prouder were we of our basketball team which reached the final round in the State Championship eliminations. We ask you-could our school team have reached this point of perfection without the aid of Turner, Pennypacker, Wynn, Rose, and Bradford? No, indeed! They needed them, even as our football team needed our representatives, such as: Turner, Pennypacker, Rose, Bradford, Latta, and others. In girls' athletics we were not so well represented, with only Parvin in hockey, and Baker in basketball. Not alone in athletics were we well represented, but also in scholarship and the school activities. Various of our members were represented on the Merionite Staff, on the debating team, and in the Honor Society. The only shadow which crossed our blithesome career as juniors was the death of r. Penn acker. We had learned to love and respect him in that year and a half that we had known him and his absence was indeed marked. It is useless to try and talk about him here, as it has been done so much better elsewhere. However, the plaque which was erected to his memory reminds us and always will remind us of his helpful presence. It is not altogether necessary to remind us of our last year, crowded with happy memories as it is. Who will forget that powerful football team which went through the season undefeated, to obtain the Suburban Championship? Or who can forget that glorious basketball team which came through with such flying colors? And how about our championship boys' soccer and girls, swimming teams? Then, too, we found success in other fields. The debating team, consisting mostly of seniors, had a most successful season. The annual play contest was added to our list of victories by the excellent acting of Charles Lueders, Ray Wilson, and Catherine Purcell in Finders Keepers. By inviting outsiders to our senior prom, we made both a financial and a happy success of it, even though it had to be postponed once because of the orchestra's tardiness. Q It is unnecessary to mention the other events, both big and small, collective and individual, as these are, of course, cherished in the hearts of those individuals who participated in them. However, this is ust a brief outline of the triumphs and perhaps sorrows of the class of 1931. It is a high record in every way. Scholastically, athletically, and socially, we have reigned supreme. We hope that this record will be imitated, emulated or even bettered by our successors, who have aided us in all our stupendous undertakings. As we leave this school behind us, where we have enjoyed this final year under the class leadership of Jack Rockwell, Susan Abernethy, Louise Cross, and Arthur Finigan, we hand the reins to our worthy juniors, and say to them- Drive on. - Page Twelve