Muscatine High School - Auroran Yearbook (Muscatine, IA)

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CONTENTS DEDICATION SCENES Q ADMINISTRATION CLASSES ORGANIZATIONS FORENSICS ATHLETICS STUDENT LIFE

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FOREWORD -qv- Employing this Annual as a nzefliuzn, we have assayetl to show the important factors that Muscatine High School has employetl in zlefueloping physically, spiritually, mentally, and morally the high school student of the past anrl present eras. The facts have been re- corrlezl. Ufe only hope that in future years our lives will exemplify the un- derlying principles of this history of our school.

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REMINISCEN CES -4... History is fascinating. It holds a glamour all its own-a glamour that is irresistible. For this reason this Annual Auroran is indulging in painting pictures of the lowly beginnings and the somewhat im- proved institutions thatf led to the development of our present high school, with all of its advantages. The first school recorded in the history of this vicinity was established in May, 1839, by J. A. Parvin, when Muscatine was known as Bloomington in Iowa Territory. Mr. Parvin procured a small cabin for his school at the rate of eight dollars a year. No salary was guaranteed this pioneer in educa- tion. He depended entirely upon the tuition he was able to squeeze from parent settlers, who very often thought of the entire venture as being silly. No records remain to inform us as to what subjects were taught, but in all probability lessons were limited to the three R's. Because he was evidently dissatisfied with his first location, in 1840 Mr. Parvin moved his quarters to a place which was near the site which is occupied by the Court House Square today. A few months later he mot ed his school to Iowa Avenue. After this we have very little information concerning him. Private schools also existed, but most of them seemed doomed to failure. The Hrst true high school wasestablished in 1864. On September 14- of that year, 100 hopeful students took entrance examinations, but only ninety were accepted. The Greenwood Building on Iowa Avenue and Fifth Street was occupied by this nucleus for about one year, after which Scott House at Third Street and Iowa Avonue was procured. Ti is school is the inspiration for many fond recollections in the minds of some of its graduates who still remrin with us. One lovely gray-haired lady, a graduate of 1871, smiled reminiscently when inter- viewed concerning her high school days. She dreamily closed her eyes at intervals as she recalled experi- ences for her youthful interviewer. School was held on the third floor of Scott House. The school rooms, although not very numerous, were quite adequate. There were the assembly room, commonly termed the big room, and two recitation halls. Under the system as it was then, the high school course could be completed in three years. Classifica- tions were A, B, and C, rather than freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior. Each year was divided into three terms composed of sixteen weeks each, at the close of which very strict examinations were given. The choice of subjects in this school was considerably broader than that in previous schools. Algebra, natural philosophy, German, ehemistqr, botany, trigonometry, and the like were taught. Three years of mathematics were required. Grammar was not greatly stressed, one was supposed to have acquired all he needed before entering high school. Extra-curricular activities were slighted in this early school. The only form of athletics enjoyed was sliding down hill. Very seldom, if ever, were declam contests held. The one pride of the school was a debating society, in which fun was never lacking. Parties, although not sponsored by school organizations, were frequent occurrences in spite of the principal's objections to his students' being out late in the evening. Dancing, it seems, was not popular. The favorite game was Happy Is the Miller. These festive occasions did not require a ballroom, most of them, we are told, were held in the basements of various homes. Graduation, as it is today, was the crowning event of one's entire high school career. The erxerciscs were held in Tremont Hall, located on Second Street between Iowa Avenue and Sycamore Street. Be- fore receiving a diploma, each student was required to prepare an essay in which he displayed his best mental self. This was read the night of graduation. In case the essays were too numerous, rather than deprive the audience of its ten hours' sleep, the officials spread the exercises over two evenings. The grade averages of the students were placed after their names on the announcements that were distrib- uted. Woe unto the one that stood at the foot of the class! It is interesting to note that at this time the girls in school greatly outnumbered the boys. This was due to the fact that learning to work was thought more important than learning to spell. In 1873 high school was started on the third floor of the B. E. Lilly Store, where it remained until October of that year. In 1872 agitation had begun in favor of building a school on the lots on Iowa Avenue and Sixth Streets. This idea met with favorable comment, and in 1873 1. P. VVa1ton was chosen architect of the proposed structure. The lots selected were on a high hill, on the top of which were a house and an orchard, and across the Avenue was Seiler's Pond, a fine place for winter skating. The house was moved and the hill was transformed into bricks. Contractor S. G. Hill erected the three- story brick building, the entire second floor of which was to be devoted to high school activities. The tirst floor was for the lower grades, while the third was intended for a school hall where entertainments might be presented before the general public. This portion of the school, however, was never completed. The largest room in the building had a capacity of 125 pupils. Besides this room there were a chemical laboratory, a natural history room, and a recitation hall. By 1374 the enrollment had reached its limit of 125, and every seat was filled. The course of study had been gradually undergoing changes. The most important of these was the provision for a four-year corrrse for those who preferred not to hurry through in three years. Latin was introduced and made a two-year subject. About once a year the school gave an entertainment, and it was with the paid admis- sions to this that charts, books, and an organ were purchased. On the afternoon of February 19, 1896, the school was discovered to be on Ere, and the bitter cold made it impossible to save the building. After this misfortune, school was he-ld in the old Congrega- tional Church until January I, 1897, when our present high school was ready for occupation. In 1916 the addition, known as the B section, was completed.