Merrillan High School - Radio Yearbook (Merrillan, WI)

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Jmmmm,i W Will M H 5 illillliiilllllllllllll WHEN I ATTENDED THE 1950 CONFERENCE OF THE 1921 CLASS By G0rd0n 'Closway It was in the spring of 1950, and it was a date lang looked forward to, by some few people scattered in all parts of the United States. It was the time when the graduating class of the Merrillan High School of 1921 was to get together in their old home town for a two days conference. I was at that time one of the Government Lawyers at Washington, D. C., and on June first, I received a telegram from an old classmate of mine, Mr. H. L. Hamilton, a Wall Street financier, whiiih read- I presume you are going to Wis- consin for the conference and I will meet ycu, with mv airplane at Pittsburg, June third, at the Astor landing station. Yours, Hamilton. June second was Sunday and the Blue Laws, in the true sense of the word, were very strictly enforced so I did nothing on that day except going to church, and watching for members of the polirze squad of Blue Law exziercers. On the morning of June third. the sun rose bright and cheerful in the heavens. I arose early, wishing that I were a boy of seventeen again instead cf an old man of fifty-five. I took the monorail-railway from Washington, bade good-bye to the President, and in a few hours, I arrived at Pittsburg. At 3:00 sharp I took an elevator to the landing station, which is a large plat- form about one-half mile square, right in the center of the citv, built over the stores, where the airplane trains come to rest. The first sight which met my eyes was a fine new biplane just coming to a landing. In a short time my old class- mate Hamilton, and I were shaking hands. After exchanging greetings, we left for Chicago, and nearly collided with another plane which was just landing. I concluded that Hamilton was getting too old to drive, and he must have thought so too, for at the next station he hired an aviator. The balance of our journey to Chicago was uneventful, and finally we came to rest on one of the big Chicago landings. Chicago, which is now the largest city in the world, has thirty landings. As we passed over the city we notiied a large factory, one of the largest in Chicago, and in cfrnne-:tion with this was a wonderful hotel. This was the Staples Condensed Milk Plant, and with it the Hotel Staples. As we had decided to stay in Chicago over night, we immediately made our way to Hotel Staples. I knew before this that our old class-imate Willis was the owner of a milk factory, but I did not have any idea that he owned the largest in the world, and also the world's best hotel. Arriving at the Hotel Staples, what was our amusement to find Willis himself with two ladies, in his private lobby, and greater was cut surprise when we saw that it was Pauline Martin and Agnes Rude with him. After a few moments of happy conversation, we learned that Pauline and Agnes were the proprietors of a mommoth Beauty Parlor in New Orleans, and from. their appearances, they evidently had to pay a large income tax. Early the next morning, five people could be seen motoring toward Central Jet., formerly Merrillan, but which had grown so much that Humbird, Neillsville, Alma Center, Hixton and Black River Falls all consolidated, with Merrillan, forming this city, which is now the second largest in Wisconsin. As we neared Central J-rt., we could see tall chimneys and sky-scrapers, and we knew we were approaching a large business center. We finally reached the Union Station landing, passed through its busy crowds, and observed two women hurriedly walking through the jam. As one of them casually glanced around we noticed that she was Governess Nellie Pierce, of California, and her secretary of state, Miss Lillian Olson. These two people were very much interested in politics and later had become political officers of the State. Truly we were glad to see them again and we all went down to the Old Schoolhouse. I must add that the Alumni Association had purchased the former Merrillan School as a relic and just to add to the gathering we held our meeting in the school house, in the heart of Central Jet. As soon as we arrived at the school house we saw three ladies coming our. to greet us and they were the other members of cur class. We were soon all together and later we learned that Co-ra Berger was the head of a large girls school in Montana. Flornce Johnson, now Mrs. Harrison, was a social leader in Florida, and Ellen Larson, a teacher in Ottawa, Canada. A short time later we entered the school house where many people were

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l'ITI111TI'fI1'l111TlITITfl g T' M'H 5 'llmlImnlllIH'I1'iTll HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1921 By Agnes Rude September of 1918 was an eveniful month for the class cf 1921, for the first of that month found us, Freshmen in High School. . Although we were not formlally initiated, we soon took part in the various activities of the school with all possible interest. During the last semester of that year in High we lost one member, Ralph Staples, Ralph left us to go out to Montana. Our first year was one to be remembered for many reasons. We were easily frightened, timid and very studious. As usual, we as Freshmen, were called greenies by the upper classrnen. However, we were good sports, saying that it was all in the game, and that our chance was coming. Our Sophomore year found us without one of the old members of the class, but adopting a new one. That year Russell Lee decided against school and Gordon Clcsway, present President cf our class, took his place with us. We abandoned our Freshman timidity, took active part in the initiation of the Freshmen, and all other activities taking place during that school terlrn.. We had dozens of class picnics besides all the H. S. parties. As Sophs, we were a studious, active, an all-around class, but as Juniors ! ! Really we can't compare the two years, Basket-ball was taken up by the boys and by the girls for a short time. The Athletic Association was orgainzed with one of our class members, Harold Hamilton, as president. Quite an honor to carry off. Several parties, picnics, etc., were given, among them the rcrzeption for the Freshmen, and the Mid-year party. Each one a great success. Then, in the spring we were busy as bees getting ready for the closing of school. Several of the Juniors took part in the Senior class play. In May the great event, the Junior- Senior picnic, took plate This proved to be one of the 'mlost exciting picnics that we ever had because, while we were enjoying our supper bv Lake Arbutus at Hatfield. a terrible rain storm came up. There was a hasty clearing-up--everything and everybody piled into the cars and we scudded off to find shelter. Everything came right through, everyone reaching home that night except a few girls who stayed in Hatfield until the next morning. We worked hard, and with the true class-spirit, decorating and preparixig for the Baccalaureate Sermon. The close of that term found the future-Seniors eight in number-two of the class, Ruby Frost and Fred Kroshinski having left us during that term. In May the District Contest in Commercial Work was held at the schoolhouse. Our class was represented in the typing and penfmlanship con- tests, and though no prizes were carried off, good work was done. In the evening there was a party for all H. S. students and the people who were here for the contest. The fall of 1920 and those dignified Seniors! Some kind advisor told us that we, the Seniors, were to be held up as examples for the members of other classes and we should conduct ourselves accordingly. This, in some way, caused good behavior among us ftho some people say it was only temporary goodnessi. In this, our last year in M. H. S., we have succeeded in many new undertakings. We are members of several successful societies, the Literary Society, Literary Club, and the Athletic Association, But the biggest and best work we have done in our four years in High, is on the first annual of the school, The Radio. We have enjoyed several parties and among these was the party given by the Seniors and Juniors. I am sorry that we, the challengers, were the final losers, but we gave the Juniors their party and an evening was very well spent in doing so. In the first month of' the second semester, Cora Borger joined us and is now helping in every way possible to make all our undertakings successful. SYNOPSIS OF LIFE OF THE CLASS OF 1921 As Freshmen they knew not, but knew not that they knew not. As Sophs they knew not and knew that they knew not. As Juniors they knew and knew not that they knew, As Seniors they knew and knew that they knew.

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Iilllllllllililllillllll - M H S Illllilllillwilllllil hurrying about preparing a big banquet. But who are those three aged ladies over there in the corner talking to that aged man? Woe and behold! It's Mr. Goss, the world's best scientist, who has made himself prominent by his wonderful experiments and discoveries with fish. He is known the world over for introducing fish, and the ladies with him are Mrs. Foley Montgomery, another social leader in Palm Beach, who came up with Florence Johnson Harrison, and Miss Stuve, renowned the world over for being the great Librarian, who introduced the new Stuve Library Classification System, and last but not least, Miss Anderson, who now is a senator in the State Capitol at Minnesota. These people managed to leave their work for a few days and attended the great conference. Then followed two days of splendid and wonderful time of fascinating con- versation, and happy reminiscences of our Merrillan High School days. Then when each returned 'Lo his respective home, and work, and I to mine, I began to think that I entirely disagree with the great writer, William Shakespeare who said, All the Wor1d's a Stage. , Q