Nixon Township High School - Nixonia Yearbook (Weldon, IL)

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THE XIX ONI A 111 rough his untiring labor he helped us to do our part ns Juniors in aiding the Seniors to publish the first “Xixonia” of our high school. By his suggestion we chose the motto “Be Square to guide us safely through our high school career. Our class took part in all of the activities of the high school. We gave a very interesting play, “Mans Von Smash to help defray our expenses for the year. We held our class party near Easter at the home of our President. However, the most important event of the year was our Junior-Senior reception. The management of this affair made us realize more fully the dignity and responsibility that was soon to fall upon us in our Senior year. I his year we fully realized the importance of a high school education for our school became an accredited high school. On the Senior Class night, we received the much cherished mallet, which is to be used only by Seniors. At last we have reached our goal, that of being Seniors. Although nine • u us returned this year, only five of us have successfully weathered through the storm from our Freshman class of twenty-one. Our faculty was somewhat changed this year by the absence of Mr. Light body, who had bravely answered the call ot his country soon after the closing of the school last year. Miss allsup also was absent. Mr. Goodwin, as Principal, and Miss Gregory at the head of the History Department, have come and filled their places. Again our corps of teachers was made stronger by the addition of Miss Swain, our Music Supervisor. To be a Senior we found that our pathway was not always an easy one to tread. We organized our class at the beginning of the year and chose for our officers, Charles Adams, President; Velda Hunt, Vice-President; and Hay Olson. Secretary and Treasurer. We immediately began to plan and work tor our annual. As our class was small in numbers, we united our efforts with those of the Juniors and entertained the high school and faculty at our annual “weiner roast in the school yard. We also gave, with the Juniors, a box supper on the evening of December the seventh from which each class made a fair profit. Now looking back over our high school days, we shall always remember the many pleasant times we have spent together. It is our aim through life to always live up to our motto “Be Square.” Gladys E. Hunt ’19. 12

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THE X I X 0 XI A CLASS HISTORY The thirtieth day of August, 1915, marked the beginning of our High School life in the Weldon High School. The Freshman Class of 1915, twenty-one in number, was composed of twelve girls and nine boys. We were guided through our Freshman year in the Weldon High School by Mr. Johnson, our only teacher. He assumed the responsibility of teaching all of the subjects in a two-year high school course while at the same time he acted as principal of the grades. For our class President we chose Ray Olson, who; together with the aid of our teacher, Mr. Johnson, stirred up a great deal of enthusiasm in our class. Probably the most interesting event of the year was our color rush. Our upper classmen gave up in utter despair when they awoke one morning and saw the Freshman colors waving high in the air upon the water tower. The Basket Ball teams, one composed of boys and the other of girls, were organized at the beginning of the year. The members of our class were deeply interested in this splendid high school sport; so to further promote athletic sports the Literary Athletic Association was founded and organized. Our Sophomore year, we were enrolled in the Nixon lownship High School which had in the meantime been organized by the progressive voters of our township. The second year was quite different from the first. While we had lost in some respects we had gained in others. We were no longer “Presides” in an unrecognized two-year high school, but were Sophomores ot a four-year Township High School with a faculty composed of Mr. Johnson, Principal; Mr. Light body, Teacher of Sciences; and Miss Kerr. Teacher of History and Languages. Again we chose Ray Olson tor our ( lass President. On the sixth of October we entertained the high school and faculty to a “weiner roast” at the home of Ossie Shearer. Every one had such an enjoyable time that a “weiner roast” has become one of the yearly events ot the high school. We had enrolled in our class Harry T. (laic, who has made the memory of our class immortal. A state of war had not existed between the Tinted States and Germany more than ten days when Harry bade us farewell forever and entered the army. All that is left now to mark what our class holds dear is a little mound somewhere in France which contains the remains of our brave and heroic classmate. Our Junior year saw our numbers somewhat depleted; for only thirteen students returned. Although thirteen is considered an unlucky number, yet in no way did this time-worn superstition hinder us. Again our faculty was increased. This year we had for our instructors Mr. Johnson, Superintendent: Mr. Lightbody, Principal; Miss Gibson, Teacher of Languages; and Miss Walk up, Teacher of History. For our class officers we chose Rachel Summers. President; Charles Adams, Vice-President; Emil Parker, Secretary; and Beulah Wilson, Treasurer. Wc selected Mr. Lightbody as our class advisor. n

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THE XI X () XI A “CLASS PROPHECY ” It is now the year of 1935. .lust think sixteen years since I graduated from dear old Nixon Township High School. I find myself in tin- great metropolis of the United States. I see on my l ight and left skyscrapers, magnifi cent homes, elegant drives and great things for the eye to gaze upon. I find myself on the East Side mingling with masses of people who make up the large population of this great city. Ah! I see Ahead of me a dingy old build ing. I wonder what it can be? It says upon the large placard: “Swami Yivahandra, A Celebrated Hindu Magician.” Wishing to learn about my classmates of 1919, I believe that I will step inside. As I enter the door, I notice that the room is rather dark, but a small table with a huge glass bowl can be distinguished very plainly. Then as I walk over towards the table and look into the bowl, I try to concentrate my gaze upon it, but at first I find it very difficult to see anything. The vision which instantly appears is a large theatre. It is thronged with people, who are very excited over the entertainment. I wonder who the great actress is, for she looks like some one whom I know. Well, well, if it isn’t my obi friend Beatrice Bales standing on the stage bowing to the applause of her audience, with her arms full of roses. Oh, my ! the vision is fading away. Who would ever think of my obi school-mate, Beatrice, making an actress of herself? This is rather strange for in our school days she thought she would be a school teacher. I wonder what has happened that caused her to change her mind. Perhaps as a teacher, she had her pupils put on a number of plays. Probably in this way, she, herself, became infatuated with that kind of work and decided to become a member of some theatrical company. Ah! the vision has darkened and now the scene is at some large University, in a big laboratory. It is rather amusing to watch the great professors of electricity with their large rubber aprons, mixing different chemicals together. Their assistants are running here and there getting different materials for it seems as though the chemicals which they are mixing together are very explosive, when the electric wire is applied. Well! if this isn't the large Columbia University of New York. One of those professors looks familiar. I wonder who he could be. I wish that he would turn around so that I could see his face more plainly. Well if it isn’t Bay Olson. The vision has grown fainter until hardly anything can be distinguished. Who would ever have thought of Bay being a noted professor in some University? He surely obtained his start in Nixon Township High School under the splendid direction of Professor Goodwill. Again the vision disappears but the scene is in a musical studio. I wonder where this studio is? Oh, there is a pennant in the room which says the “New England Conservatory” at Boston. People are coming into the office continually waiting for their turn to take a lesson. Dear me! it the 13