Medina High School - Medinian Yearbook (Medina, OH)

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Senior Department 23 Class History By Leland Longacre As I look back over my school life, a slight remembrance comes to me of my happy days, when, carefree and joyous, our Kindergarten class consisting of Dale Coons, Oral Watt, Metta Dell Green, Leo Bartuneck, Wynne Boyden and myself, found our way to the I. O. O. F. Building where Miss Ella Canavan patiently awaited our arrival. When we were all seated in a circle around her, we greeted her with our daily song of “Good Morning To You.” After nine months of untold patience given by Miss Ella in teaching us the rules, games, and regulations pertaining to Kindergarten work, we started out in life to gain our education in the grades. Our good fortune continued in the first grade under the instruction of Miss Dawley. During this year Inez Brockway entered our class, adding one more to its enrollment. After we had learned to read and spell, we were promoted to the second grade under the instruction of Miss McDougall. During this year we had some sad experiences ; one instance which I well remember was when two of our boys were taken into the hall and intro- duced to a whip, the cause for this severity being their propensity for whisper- ing and throwing paper wads. We were next promoted to the third grade and began more advanced studies under the instruction of Miss Tubbs. We shall never forget the smile that she used to give us each morning as we stepped inside the door. During this year Lester Campbell and Harold Baque entered our class. The last year in the Primary Building was one of the best I have ever spent in school. After four years of faithful work under the supervision of Mrs. Wright, we left our old home to take up a new one in what is now known as the High School Building, and in our struggle forgot the days of slates and also of timid- I. O. O. F. Building, into the fifth grade where Miss Warner, besides instructing ity. On account of the overcrowded school rooms we were again sent to the us on various subjects, started us on our music career by teaching us the art of singing. In this grade Welthene Fenn entered our class. After Miss Warner had instructed us nine months, we proceeded to the High School Building and sang a few songs for our sixth grade teacher, Miss Lacy. She received us with so much joy that she decided to likewise instruct us during our stay in her grade. During this year two more lively pupils came into our class, Elizabeth Branch and Raymond Bennett. During the seventh grade, under the leader- ship of Miss Drake, Marie Hurlebus, Mabel Thompsett, Irene Bostwick, Mahlon Walker and Derwin Nettleton, joined us. It was here we began to learn a little touch of business by writing promissory notes, but when we entered the eigthth grade under the supervision of Miss Wheatley we found that we did not know as much as we thought we did ; in other words we were too con- ceited. Ruth Gill, Ruth Gilbert, Zola Turner, Bryan Case and Harold Waite entered our class in the eighth grade, increasing our number to 23 — that means “SKIDDOO.” Our school life was not all joys. Our last year in the grades was suddenly broken by the loss of a class member, Floyd Baylor, who was called from us to a better land. The class of 1917 was the first to have an eighth

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22 Cl )c Annual can teach even our potatoes to shoot. Since this war is to be fought with bread bullets we can all, even the girls, become muntion makers. It is said that an army travels on its stomach ; let us furnish transportation. And let us remem- ber always that in fighting famine we are fighting the enemy just as surely as if we were in the trenches. There will be heroes in overalls as well as in khaki. But to increase the food supply is only one phase of the food problem. We must not waste it after we have produced it. It is said that the United States throws away enough to feed France. Without doubt we have been more waste- ful than any other country. (It is a downright disgrace; something must be done). Here is where all patriotic women and girls will come to the aid of their country. While speaking of waste there is another matter to be con- sidered. What do you think of a country which, in the face of a famine, uses hundreds of millions of bushels of perfectly good grain for making beer and other alcoholic liquors? Public opinion should rise to the occasion. Although, the food question is of such immense importance, it is by no means the only thing to be considered. The industries must be speeded up ; the railroads must be prepared to handle excess freight ; the shipyards should work double time. There will be no room in this country for a slacker. This is time for united effort ; not a time for strikes and labor troubles. Moreover, it is foolish to speculate on a possible superfluity of harvest when a famine is star- ing us in the face. In short, the first consideration of every patriotic citizen will be his country. So shall we win the war, and win in the shortest time and with the least suffering. We, the class of 1917, have completed our work at Medina High School. It is hard for us to realize this. Now that the time has come it is not easy for us to leave. We are about to enter a chaotic world; we are facing a life that makes no promises. In sharp contrast to the uncertainty of our future plans we see the happy life of the past years. When we consider that from now on, our welfare depends wholly on ourselves, we appreciate, as never before, the efforts which have been made in our behalf. At this time it is impossible for us to fully express our gratitude to Mr. Edmund, the teachers, the School Board, and our parents ; in the years to come we will each of us do our best to deserve the interest which they have shown in us. What may come in these years no man can know. It is a period of transition, of uncertainty. Our Country is engaged in war — but she is fighting that wars may cease to be. We, the class of 1917, are about to enter that fight. We do not clearly see our way — it is certain that our work will not be easy; but now, more than at any other time in our history, the closing lines of our national air are a solace and an inspiration : “Then conquer we must, For our cause it is just And this be our motto : In God is our trust.’’

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24 Cbe annual grade commencement and we thought our hard studying was finished, but as Freshmen in High School we found out that we were still expected to study a little harder. I he September after our graduation from the eighth grade we walked with trembling feet over to the High School Building. After being seated in the Assembly Room we were each in turn asked to give a speech. From here we were led to the Freshmen Room under the care of Miss Feeny. Fortunately, they put me in a front seat and I was very happy the remainder of the year. A s a class we had learned to take school more seriously on entering High School ; new responsibilities were put upon us, such as deciding our new course of studies and also learning to study entirely alone instead of depending upon our teachers, but with these responsibilities came new joys; for class meetings and class parties were now our privilege and delight. During our Freshman year six members were added to our number, namely: — Katheryn Bartholamey, Letha Wightman, Beatrice Smedley, Ruth Bartholo- mew, Franklin Elder and Florence Carlton. Nine months of school passed away. We enjoyed our teachers, classmates, and work so much that we de- cided to stay another year and were promoted to the Sophomore Room under the charge of Miss O’Conner. Many are the days we used to sit and smile at that dear teacher. It was at this time that Leatha Scanlon, Zoretta Simmons and Walter Coleman became our classmates. We enjoyed many parties during this year, but the one of special interest to the class as a whole was a sled ride down to Clayton’s Skating Rink. In September, 1915, we assumed the responsi- bilities of Juniors. Miss McGonagle took us under her wing and helped us through many tight places. In December we decided to have a basket ball team in the High School and as the class of 1917, are proud to have had several members on the team. We also managed a lecture course which was a great success, financially as well as intellectually. Time rolled on and we decided to take another step higher and as we walked up the old staircase and entered the north east room under the guardian- ship of Miss Beech, we became reverent and dignified Seniors. We had acquired such a reputation throughout the country that this year Mabel Branch, and Ruth Dutt, graduates of York High School, and Mildred Ensign and Homer Ensign, graduates of Litchfield High School joined our class to finish their edu- cation in famous old Medina High, and with these additions we now number forty-four members. The Senior year without doubt has been the shortest and most enjoyable year in all our High School life. May the many friendships formed during the past four years be of the kind that last a life time. One thing especially that the Class of 1917 is truly thankful for is that we have had a Superintendent that has truly been “One of Us,” always entering with enthusiasm in whatever we as a class anticipated doing for the right. We are now forsaking Medina High School forever, leaving behind us four of the happiest years of our life. We are going with a feeling of regret that our comradeship has thus come to an end, but can never be broken.