Main Avenue High School - El Sombrero Yearbook (San Antonio, TX)

Page 17 text:

THE MANUAL ARTS BUILDING IIIS building of red stone, with its imposing entrance and wide halls is dedicated to the muse (or is there asuch a muse?) of industry. In the lower floor are rooms the like.of which have never been dreamed of by the feminine half of the Student body, at least. Wood turning, joinery, welding, auto repairing; all these things and many more are taught to prepare the boys for the struggle they all must have with life. On the second floor are the Mechanical Drawing rooms where, perched on high stools, boys and sometimes girls, learn to draw with the greatest nicety. Kvery line must be straight, all must be “on the square.” The life lesson this course teaches is obvious. On this floor also are the mysterious Chemistry and Physics laboratories from whence issue those awful odors that so nearly asphyxiate innocent pedestrians. And away up on the “toppest” floor, far away from all the disturbances are the rooms that teach tin girls to be house keepers by and by. Sewing, cooking and dress designing are all taught; and taught well. And because “fine feathers make fine birds”, the girls are also taught to make their own hats. The “Arts” building is indeed well named. Eleven

Page 16 text:

 THE MAIN BUILDING HE imposing structure of brick and, we believe mortor, is the building of which ail Main students are proudest. In the first place, it is the newest. In the second place, it contains—the Cafeteria. The Cat’etera. which during lunch period is well worth the visitors while to watch. Then there is the Auditorium, the acoustics of which arc said to be the best in the city. The Auditorium is very beautiful, but not quite spacious enough for the growing needs of Main. Next in order (in the students opinion, at least) is the rest room. Here under the supervision of an efficient and sympathetic matron, confidences are poured forth, los books and jewelry found, and hurts bandaged up. After this comes the office, really most important room of all. but mostly avoided, because it is the source of pink slips, cut slips and other unavoidable evils of a high school career. In the Main Building, also, are some large well ventilated class rooms in one of which, on certain joyful occasions, steropticon slides are shown. There is a dreadful Geometry room, and a physiology room where cats and snakes and things repose beside a real live skeleton. On the second floor there is a room where typewriters forever click and another where botany and zoology hold sway. On the lower floor near the Cafeteria are the bookkeeping rooms floors littered with blank checks and other important looking papers. There are two story desks with red and blue ink, and pens of assorted colors. On this floor also is the Expression room, where youths and maidens are wont to declaim “The Curfew Shall Not King To night.” Then on the top floor of this building are the rooms where the Orchestra the Chorus Classes and the Glee Club fill the air with melodies. Just above in the “attic” are the studios where in are created many useful and beautiful things. And the halls of the Main Building, have at last been dedicated to the cause their tiled floors were intended for in the first place—dancing. All the school dances are all held here now. and the echo of recent gayety fills the halls and keeps the purils from thinking in indigo moments of discouragement that, “Life is just one—thing after another” (Mostly lessons). Ten

Page 18 text:

CENTRAL BUILDING 11ST across ihe bridge from the Main building is the Central building, covered on one side with vines, and containing?—the Library! Walls lined with books, floors covered with some noisless material, windows filled with growing ferns—who does not delight in spending his study period in this peaceful, altho so very educative, retreat? Notes (we blush to say it) are passed surreptitiously, under cover of the Encyclopedia Brittanica, or perhaps, “The History of the World”! but the pupils do have a dandy time in there, and perhaps the atmosphere makes them learn things. Who can tell? There are history and civics classes in this building, too, where political questions are hotly discussed and great men or great deeds reviewed. There are Spanish, French and Latin rooms here, too, where poor American children try to learn something not at all connected with their mother tongue! And away down at the end of the hall is the room where trig, the crouching ogre, devours innocent High School students. In the rooms of this building the club meetings arc held; Dramatics, Phils, Haynes, and many more. Here also the classes meet, from timid Freshmen to learned Seniors. Voices arc heard front these rooms on meeting days, arguing questions pro and con, and blue smoke, that authentic omen of excitement is seen issuing from the doors! This, then, is—the CENTRAL BUILDING.