Mercer High School - Hi Times Yearbook (Mercer, PA)

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CLASS HISTORY Wc really got off to a good start with one hundred and twelve members in the Freshman Class. In our organization meeting, under the guidance of three members of the faculty. Miss Hofmann. Mr. Speiglemyer. and Mr. Ringer, we elected the following officers: President Vice-President Secretary Treasurer Cecelia Viazanko James Hamilton Helen Kelso Robert Ringer Our class proved very enterprising and among its achievements was our class paper. The Spirit of 44.” Cecelia Viazanko and Helen Kelso were co-editors. By February, we were all excited for we were planning our first party. Wc spent all day fixing our decorations of red and white streamers from the ceiling. They certainly were tricky. We brought our skis and our skates to help decorate the fireplaces on either side of the room. Two cotton snowmen survived the heat of the excitement very well. The orchestra was called “The Four Aces. Those red and white dolls pinned on conspicuous places were souvenirs. In March everyone began to talk about the Gym Demonstration that was to be held in May. Many of the girls were in the flag drill, pyramids, and tumbling exercises while the boys were in the “Men in Silver whip cracking, and mat exercises. Many of the girls sang in the Baccalaureate choir. They wore dark skirts, with white blouses. It was a pleasing experience for the girls. To top off the year the class had a picnic at Conneaut Lake. Back to school in September of 1942 with many sighs about returning from that wonderful vacation. Under the supervision of Miss Rocks and Mr. Patterson, we elected the following officers: President Vice-President Secretary Treasurer Duke Hinds Helen Kelso James Hamilton Raymond Moon On December 7, we were suddenly faced with war. For many of the class this meant a great change in hopes and aspirations for the future. In accordance with everything else that year we had a patriotic party called “Victory Dance.” The decorations were red, white and blue, with victory pins as souvenirs. The bank boards were adorned with pictures of General McArthur and General Eisenhower. The Seniors of 42” conducted a Who's Who in each class and these were the results of the Sophomore vote: Best dresser Best husband-to-be Best wife-to-be Most intellectual girl Most intellectual boy Most popular girl Most popular boy Most handsome boy Best dancer Best dancer Most likely to succeed Most likely to succeed Prettiest hair Prettiest hair Betty Thompson Raymond Moon Mary Crawford Helen Kelso Duke Hinds Cecelia Viazanko Duke Hinds LeRoy Knapp Marjorie Amy Robert McElrath Helen Kelso Duke Hinds Virginia Zahnizer LeRoy Knapp And again we went to Conneaut for our last day. A good time was had by all. It didn't seem possible that we could be Juniors but there we were in Miss Lafferty's and Miss Miller’s home rooms. The officers for the Junior year were: President Vice-President Secretary T reasurer Duke Hinds LeRoy Knapp Bill Wardle Robert McElrath IK The 1944 Echoes

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elman Glory and honor and fame and everlasting laudation For our captains who loved not war, but fought for the life of the nation; Who knew that, in all the land, one slave meant strife, not peace: Who fought for freedom, not glory; made war that war might cease. Glory and honor and fame; the beating of muffled drums: The wailing funeral dirge, as the flag-draped coffin comes: Fame and honor and glory; and joy for a noble soul, For a full and splendid life, and laurelled rest at the goal. Glory and honor and fame: the pomp that a soldier prizes: The league-long waving line as the marching falls and rises: Rumbling of caissons and guns: the clatter of horses' feet. And a million awe-struck faces far down the waiting street. But better than martial woe. and the pageant of civic sorrow; Better than praise of to-day. or the statue we build to-morrow: Better than honor and glory, and history's iron pen. Was the thought of duty done and the love of his fellow-men. —Richard Watson Guilder. The 194 4 Echoes 17

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CLASS HISTORY This year our party was held in March. It was called the Shamrock Shin-Dig . The decorations were appropriately green and underclassmen were green with envy at the success of the party. We tackled something new when we presented our Junior Class Play entitled “Early to Bed. Early to Rise”. Everyone anxiously awaited the announcement of the cast and the tension was removed when Mrs. Wiese, the play director, announced the characters. Financially and otherwise the play was a success. The highlight of the year was of course, the Prom. The scene was a rose bower and Jimmy Sylvester’s orchestra furnished the music. The most important features for the girls were the evening gowns and the corsages. The finals brought us back to reality and so ended our Junior year. We entered school for our last year of work on September 7, 1943. We entered with a mixture of feelings—feelings of gladness that we had at last come to the year which had been our goal for twelve years and feelings of sadness at leaving those with whom we had associated for four years. Because of the war our class at the beginning of this year had diminished to a mere forty-two pupils. Many and varied activities brought us different experiences from those we had had before. In our first class meeting we elected the following officers: President Vice-President Secretary T reasurer Raymond Moon LeRoy Knapp Bill Wardle Cecelia Viazanko One of the first enterprises of the year was our class party. It was called “This Is The Army.” In accordance with the patriotic theme our decorations were red, white and blue. In typical army style our food was sold from a canteen. We introduced something new at this party, a floor show. It was the highlight of the party and successfully entertained our guests. The next thing of major importance was our class play, Tom Sawyer . Mrs. Wiese again directed it. It proved a great success and financially paved the way for our year book. We chose the following persons as a staff for our year book: Editor Duke Hinds Literary Editor Cecelia Viazanko Photography Editor Betty Thompson Business Manager Raymond Moon There was much running around getting pictures taken, getting assignments which the members of the class wrote in on time and all that goes with making a successful year book. Six members of our class played Varsity basketball. They are as follows: Raymond Moon, Duke Hinds. Bob McElrath, Bill Hoagland, George Yeager. Alfred Boyd, all six of whom received letters. One worth while project of the Senior Class was the selling of the Defense Stamps and War Savings Bonds. Under the guidance of Miss Munnell, one of our Senior advisors, the class took complete charge. During the early part of the second semester we decided to wear caps and gowns, which were to be blue and white for the graduation exercises, which were held on May 26, 1944. It was with deep regret that we realized that our high school years were over. Not again would we all be gathered under the same roof, engrossed in the same joys and sorrows: but from four years together we had learned much. So we approached our commencement with some reluctance for what we were leaving behind but already looking ahead to what was to come. Helen Kelso Mary Crawford The 1944 Echoes 19