Momence High School - Monesse Yearbook (Momence, IL)

Page 18 text:

I—I the Kankakee.’ It never rains but it pours. Traveling with her as companion was Viola Evans. Later, Lucy conducted us personally about the boat. Upon entering the kitchen, Ruth suddenly exclaimed, “Why, isn’t that Clay H. there, washing dishes?’’ Sure enough, it was. Another was added to our ranks, be¬ cause our lady captain at once excused him from his du¬ ties, so that he might have the pleasure of being together. When we went to the lower deck we came upon a famil¬ iar figure, yet disguised by the clothing worn. He was an immigrant of the lowest type, and proved to be Charles Steevens. As it began to grow late, we all retired to our state¬ rooms to dress for dinner. At the table we were served by Fred Evans and by Hazel McConnell, who always as¬ pired to be one of New York’s .“400.’’ That dinner re¬ sembled some of our receptions at High school in Philo hall. There was no restraint, and joy was unconfined. That evening for our edification, an entertainment was given. Among the numbers were the Gertrude Hoffman Glide, resurrected by society, and Fairy Dances. They were given by Margaret Greenawalt, who bids fair to ri¬ val even Madam Pavlowa. Another number was a short comedy, “Something Must have Happened to Ole.” The leading lady in this was Gertrude Smith. This did not surprise me much, as, you remember she was always par¬ tial even to the title; in fact, it was her favorite byword. I learned later from the girls that this was not her usual occupation, for she was the superintendent of a manufac¬ turing plant, which produced one of the most convenient defensive weapons ever made. They have proven a boon to mankind, owing both to their efficiency and ease with which they may be handled. After these numbers, mov¬ ing pictures were the treat. In these appeared our old friend, “The Queen of the Movies,”—Lora Simonds. The next day we landed at the South Side Harbor where we disembarked and took airships for Sandbur Cottage. Among the passengers was Robert Dennis, whom we had not seen, because he, being a modern Croesus, necessita¬ ted his having a body-guard and remaining in seclusion. Arriving at our destination, we were met by our host¬ ess, together with Elva DuBridge and Pauline Nichols, who were assisting in the receiving line, having arrived some time before. Elva had proven more fortunate than the rest of us mortals, as she was the only one who had met the idol of her dreams. Pauline needs no word here to depict her career; everyone remembers what a hit she made last year in vaudeville at Exline, as chorus girl. That evening a grand ball was given at which all the class was present. Among the orchestra were two old friends, Monroe Hayden, playing the hand organ, and George Ferree, the mouth harp. At luncheon, after the last course had been removed, toasts naturally followed, the last of which was given by Hilton Nichols, who by the way, had won fame by going about the country selling patent medicine. He always as¬ pired to be a State Senator, but alas— dis aliter visum! After giving one of his delightful talks, he finished by saying: “So here’s to the class which has brought glory and fame to the Momence High School—the Class of ’15.

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Just A Glance. T. L. PETERSEN, ’15. The last warning whistle had sounded, friends bade friends a tearful farewell, the gang-plank was drawn up, and the steamer, Marguerite, which had been repaired and in use the last ten years, slowly plowed its way out of the harbor, and the greatest ambition of my life was slowly being fulfilled. I was taking a long wished-for journey. I was leaving Momence, after long, monotonous years spent there since graduation, and was crossing the Kankakee to attend a house-party given by Margaret Nel¬ son to all her old classmates, at Sandbur Cottage, in the sandridges near Hopkins Park. As we sailed across the blue expanse of water, Momence, the place where the old Class of ’15 had passed so many delightful hours, slowly faded from yiew. The towers of the old school house, whose ancient halls still echoed with the sounds of “lofty cheer,” disappeared, and I turned with almost a sigh of regret to enter my stateroom when I was startled by hearing one of the sailors rush toward me with outstretched hand. “Why, hello, Pete! Where in the world did you come from? How did you leave things in your part of Mo¬ mence?” Well, you can imagine my surprise when I saw it was —Edgar Jensen. Of course we had a good many things to talk over, not having met for several years, for he lived more in the business district and I in one of the suburbs of Momence. He was now working his passage over on the Marguerite during his vacation from his duties as chef at Theodore’s restaurant, where his hamburgers were the delight of all the patrons. He was also on his way to the house-party. “And did you know Aimee was on board, also?” he asked. “No, indeed! Is she?” I cried incredulously. “What has she been doing all these years?” “Why, you kno-w she is one of the head waitresses,” (I later learned that she was the only waitress,) “at our res¬ taurant. But here she is, and can tell you all about her¬ self.” Sure enough, here came Aimee, and she was ac¬ companied by Ruth Boswell, who was parlor maid of the ship’s chief saloon. “Welcome to our pleasant city,” they shouted, as they caught sight of me. “And are there any more of us on board?” they inquired later when greetings were a thing of the past. “I’m sure I don’t know,” said Edgar, “we might travel over the boat and see. “I saw Phillip in the bank yester¬ day; he is cashier at Heartbreaker’s, you know, and he said he was going to Sandbur Cottage today, but I don’t know whether on this boat or not. But let me introduce you to our captain.” He led us to the cabin where he introduced us to the first woman to become the captain of a ship. It was Lucy Brown! For she was ‘captain of the Marguerite that sails

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The New School Building. By CLYDE L. TABLEB. One of the greatest, if not the greatest need of Mo- mence has been fulfilled this year, and thanks to the vot- of School District No. 42 who have made it possible. Momence had outgrown its schools and had rented two rooms at the Momence Town Hall and one room at the Ganeer Town Hall to take care of the o verflow. The greatest trouble with these temporary quarters was that it left the children too much on the streets during inter¬ missions, with danger of accidents by passing autos. For some years the problem of getting the Primary pupils out of the basement of the Central building has been talked about. The poor light was one of the faults with these three rooms, and the over-head heating another. They were considered injurious to the children’s health and sight. The new building now under construction is 100 feet long and 62 feet deep. The basement has a gymnasium 35x68 feet and 14 feet high, with toilets for boys and girls on either end, the walls of these three rooms being of Tiffany enameled brick, full height. There are also two play rooms, one for the boys and one for the girls, 23x38.6 feet. The entire basement has a concrete floor. The three entrances are of concrete construction with Tiffany enameled brick walls, and the corridors on first and second floors have re-inforced concrete floors and the walls are wainscoated four feet high with Tiffany en¬ ameled brick. There is a drinking fountain at each end of the corridor on both floors. The walls of the corridors and entrances are all of fireproof construction, brick and pyrobar. On the first and second floors the floor plans are identical, four class rooms 23x32.6 feet, and a smaller room 18.6x23 feet on each floor, thus giving us eight class rooms and an office and library in the new building. The stairs leading from the first to the second floor are also of re-inforced concrete construction. The rooms are lighted from one side only, the seats be¬ ing arranged so the pupils get the light over their left shoulders. The cloak room at the end of each class room has no entrance from the corridor. The pupils go through the class room to the cloak room, which enables the the teacher to see anything that is carried in or out of the cloak room. The building has what is known as the direct-indirect system of ventilation, and is electric lighted throughout. It is heated by steam. The west basement room of the old building is converted into a boiler room and both buildings are heated from one plant. Two new boilers are being installed. The face brick were bought from the Thomas Mould¬ ing Co., who operate the Tiffany Enameled Brick works at this place. The contracts were awarded on February 26th, and it was pleasing to know that our home contractors were the low bidders, which assured work for our town people and kept the money at home. Mr. Henry Halpin was award¬ ed the contract for the general construction; the Momence Plumbing Heating Co. was awarded the plumbing and heating contract, and C. C. Johnson secured the contract to wire the building. It will be a good, modern school building, and one of which Momence can justly be proud.