Macomb High School - Spiderweb Yearbook (Macomb, IL)

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7 he Spider Web iqiq Macomb High School History of Macomb High School N looking over the records of the development of our high school, we find that in times past, things have been different than they now are. To inform you concerning the changes taken place, we have questioned some of the older residents and alumni here in Macomb as to the history of the school since its inception. Some years before 1866 the first Macomb High School was established, the Ih vs under the sujH-rvision of a man teacher, the girls under the supervision of a woman. The boys went to a small school house located on tlu southeast corner of the site of the present second ward; the girls in the building now the Christian Science church. Later, in the early fall of 1866 a large building was erected on the site of the present second ward. The first principal and the only teacher for several years was II. II. Smith. No class graduated the first year but in 1868 the first class of five girls graduated and since then a class has graduated each year. These five girls were Miss Isala-lle Roberts, Miss Addie M. Lance. Miss Imogenc l’| degrafT. Miss Anna Snodgrass and Miss Sara A. Pillsbury. The graduation exercises were much the same as they arc now. the girls all wearing white dresses and the boys in their Sunday la st. The girls wrote and delivered essays and the boys wrote and delivered orations. Music, es|H cially the class song, was one feature of the programme. The diplomas were usually presented by the professor in charge. In looking over the old records kept in the High School, we have been able to find a former commencement programme which may be of interest. This is a programme given by the third graduating class (1870) and shows the great changes which have taken place. I. 3. 1. 5. 0. I • 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 11. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. Order of Exercises Music. Instrumental. Prayer.............................. Rev. H. K. McComb Music—“The Beautiful Silver Sea Oration Public Opinion Henrv Flovd Essay—“L nfinished Work”. Miss Lena Hammond Essay The World’s Future Mis Allie Erwin Music—“Tin Flag of the Free Essay Decision of Character Miss Maggie Cochran Oration Necessity of an Occupation Isaac Martin Essay Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining Mis Ella McMillan Music—Instrumental Duet Essay—“Guard well our thoughts. Our thoughts are heard in Heaven Miss Fanny Twyman Oration— Our Government Orville Powers Essay The Race is not to the Swift Miss Laura Phelps Music—“Away to the Hills” Essay—“Earth’s Battle Fields Mis Nellie Rollins Oration Motive and Character Willie Lj degrafT Essay- Farewell!” ............... Miss Rebecca Brewster Music Quartette Awarding of Diplomas Parting Song by the Class Nimr

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Macomb Higk School Eight

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TKtf pider Web 1919 o Macomb High School History of Macomb High School The attendance of the school for the first few years was about 60 pupils. School took up at 8:45 and the first fifteen minutes was devoted to eha|H‘l exercises, consisting of singing, prayer and reading of the scriptures. If a student wire' late for the chapel exercises, he was considered fifteen minutes late and would have to make up forty-five minutes in the evening. Regular school lH-gan at 9 o'clock and was dismissed at noon. In the winter the afternoon session was from one until four o'clock ard in the summer from one-thirty to four-thirty. '1’he second principal was Matthew Andrews and he ap) ointcd an assistant. Miss Ahbic Summers. Often at the close of school a general assembly was called and each person would respond, u| on hearing his name, as to his conduct for the day. whether had or good. The subjects teught the first few years were: Higher Arithmetic: I . S. History: ('ivies 1 Young's Government Class Book): Advanced Algebra: Ancient History (Woods); Botany: Physiology; Chemistry; Latin; Greek; Geometry; Geology; Rhetoric; Astronomy: Physics; Philosophy; Trigonometry, and Weber’s Universal History, a book dealing with facts from ancient Greece to Jefferson’s administration. Tests were given once every month hut a failure in these did not necessarily mean dropping tin- subject. Grades were based on the scale of 100. 75 being barely passing. Strict order was kept, that is, the pupils were assigned seats which they kept, and they were not allowed to talk in the halls. The boys marched up one side of the stairs and the girls up the other. One lady said that tho she had been out of school for a number of years. ii|m ii returning, walked up the side of the stairs assigned years before. The Seniors were allowed all privileges and the only rule upon them was that they were not to disturb any other pupil. This is one feature entirely foreign in the minds of the members of the class of ID 19, however. The customs of dress would 1m- very amusing, perhaps, could we see them now. Tin- girls wore all shapes of skirts from hoops to extreme tight ones. The waists were tight fitting, buttoning up the front. No fussy hair dressing could be found. In 1886 the school house burned, destroying a small but good chemical and history library. School had been dismissed earlier in tin- day. however, so that no one was in any danger, tho nearly all of the students' books were burned. The building was rebuilt on the same foundation in 1887. during which time school was held uptown in three places, the damage building, the City building and the Holland building. In 1915 the cornerstone of the new high school building on the site of the old Fourth ward was laid. The class of 1919 has the honor of being the first class to enter the new high school and continue all four years. In 1916 the Spiderweb was successfully launched and this is the fourth successful year, and we sincerely ho| c it will continue in years to come.