Mayville High School - Rocket Yearbook (Mayville, WI)

Page 11 text:

The History of the Rocket After many trials and tribulations, the annual staff, with the support of the students and the community, have published this annual. Nine years ago in 1918, a group of Seniors, after great, untiring efforts, issued a book which they called The Optimist. To secure financial and moral support they had to sell the idea of a year-book to the Board of Education, to the students, to the alumni, and to the merchants. But, before they could begin the actual work of publication, they had many obstacles to overcome, and they desired the cooperation of all interested in the school. The book was well edited, but, because of difficulties connected with the project and because of the busy life attendant upon the Senior year, the book did not appear until after September, 1918, when the persons responsible for its publication had grad- uated. This delay caused the public to lose interest in the book, and, as it had not been a financial success, the class of 1919 very wisely declined to add another possible failure to the list of school enterprises. It remained for the class of 1920 to clear the atmosphere, to resell the idea of a school annual, and to find methods of bringing the issue to a favorable termination. They decided to publish the annual, do or die, and, in order not to lose any money, they decided to spend more money, to get out a larger and higher-class book than The Optimist had been. The school was as enthusiastic as the class, the Board of Education promised complete cooperation, and the idea of having a year book became strong. Everything had to be done to insure its success. There was opposition in continu- ing the name Optimist as that was being used by several other schools. A new title might help in winning over some who still had doubts about the wisdom of publish- ing a book. The class staged a contest to find an appropriate name, a name that would mean instant success, be catchy, concise, and original, which would embody the idea of permanence and, at the same time, be distinctive of Mayville. Many suggestions were offered, and, among many others, the name Rocket.', This word carried all the ideas wanted. Nothing seems more permanent than rock. lVIayville lies in the valley of Rock River, a rocket symbolizes sudden and brilliant success. The rocket's red glare, the bomb bursting in air, Gave proof thro' the night that our Hag was still there. Then, too, as a title, The Rocket is short, catchy, and original. No wonder it won instant, unanimous approval, and the success of the book through seven years is a tribute to its name as well as to the conscientious efforts of its editors. The students of 1918 deserve and, I hope, will receive the considerable credit due their efforts. It was they who first tried to publish a book. Having loved their fellow students, their teachers, their entire school days, they wanted to retain in their memories all that was possible in regard to them. DOROTHEA FULLER, '29. . 171

Page 10 text:

fx'-1 5x uulngua . he Sentor Class unshes to take thls opportunltq to thank those who so qenerouslq supported them ln their uar1- ous c'lCl1U1ll1GS and to express ijt' 1 esifix if, of lxlfi-4: L ..iQ L W ' lil -li A-M -at X--. T ff -the -- e ff Q ' ll Q13 ip ffl UT ,Zz ia , r- X flee if l 4 Q A A 1 ' V ll ,lv l thelr qratltucle to those who, bu the purchase of aclverf tisinq space, have helped to make this annual possible. -w.-l,,f. l61

Page 12 text:

The Quest of the M. H. S. Student One night, 'twas in late summer, As I was walking by An old forgotten church-yard, I suddenly heard a sigh. I got a creepy feelingg I stopped and gave a lookg And in that old-time grave-yard I saw my old friend Cook. He loomed up bigg came closerg And looked me square in the eye. I saw my dear keg-drainerg He made me feel right shy. I stood and watched him fiercely, While he just grabbed my army And sailing, sailing upward, I fell under his charm. We sailed and sailed and sailed, Till above the clouds we wereg When presto! he let go my armg And I went down in a whirl. And as I reached the bottom, I felt a terrible paing I heard my old bones rattleg I saw myself in Maine. I rubbed my eyes and noticed The old bed standing byg It stood an arm's length distantg And I, but two feet high. Now this is the dream I sufferedg Which by no means was meekg But it's the very experience Most high school students seek. I-ARNOLD DOBBERT 27 ISI