Park Ridge High School - Hoot Yearbook (Park Ridge, NJ)

Page 11 text:

Tfze Hoof 9 1 l they were in for a tussle when they played against our men. . Thus things ran smoothly on and everybody looked forward to an even more successful future for the high school on the height. And then -disaster! How many of us will ever forget that Monday morning in June, nineteen hundred and twenty? VVho will ever fail to remember the sight which struck our eyes as we approached our alma mater? There in the place of our beautiful building lay a smoldering ruin. Destroyed by fire, nothing saved, a heap of scorched bricks and twisted iron! l7Ve stood dazed and sorrowful without knowing what to do or where to turn. Later in the morning we were assembled in the Volunteer Fire Hall. Mr. Schmerber addressed us. He said that he realized the terrific shock it was to all of us and that it was just as much of a shock to him. But, he continued, we must not shirk our duty, we must finish the school year no 'fyf F A'

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cY Tie Hoof partment prepared delicious lunches which they sold to the students at a minimum charge. On the upper floor of this new building were spacious apartments which were, and still are, occupied by a large part of the non-resident faculty. The commercial classes were also held in this building. Since it was but two minutes' walk from the main building the students could travel back and forth with but small loss of time. From this time on Park Ridge High School progressed steadily until nineteen hundred and twenty. Her academic standing became higher each year. Her graduates entered the best col- leges and universities in the United States. Many of these higher institutions admitted graduates of Park Ridge Without examination, thus showing that our high standards were becoming universally known. ln athletics also our fame spread through- out the northern part of New Jersey and the southern part of New York. At various times we were Northern Newjersey Champions in foot- ball, basketball, and baseball. DeWitt, star track man at Rutger's was a student of Park Ridge High School. Park Ridge teams came to be feared by small high schools, while the larger ones viewed us with respect and admiration, and knew that

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I0 The H001 matter what obstacles are in the way. The prime idea in his talk was that we should carry on. And we did. Never has such a record been equal- led in any school. Examinations were to have started on Monday morning, they began that afternoon. We held examinations in all the pub- lic buildings in the town. With wonderful co- operation between the faculty and student body the examinations were run off smoothly and the records compiled. The student body organized to raise money during the summer for equipment for the new school. The people of the town met and with tremendous enthusiasm voted almost three hundred thousand dollars for a new school, work upon which was to begin at once. However, this did not settle the problem of where We were to attend high school for the year, while the new school was in the course of Construc- tion. Then came forward one of the town's most generous citizens, Mrs. Leach, with an offer of her house for the use of the high school. We gladly accepted her unusual offer and when the term opened in September we found ourselves installed in the spacious rooms of the Leach mansion. For those who come to school every morning by train the distance to walk was almost doubled. Many of the Park Ridge students were forced to bring their lunches because the school was too far from their homes. But, in spite of all drawbacks, attendance has been just as regular as in former years and the general standing of the students has been just as high. Both the student body and the faculty have exhibited a wonderful spirit of co- operation under difficulties and the attitude of them both is to be commended to the highest de- gree. Park Ridge has a right to feel proud of its school in every way, nor will those students from other towns soon forget the efficient manner in which Park Ridge looked after their interests throughout the year. ' The new school is now in the process of erection and will probably be finished in time for school to be held in it a few months of next year. VVhen finished it will be one of the best high schools in New Jersey both in regard to the building itself and the equipment which will be installed. It will have a large auditorium, spacious classrooms, well equipped laboratories, and a wonderful gym- nasium. ln fact, the new school will be a building of which any town may be justly proud. ln conclusion, it would seem that all thru the history of Park Ridge High School it has been essentially the spirit of the people connected with it, which has made it progress. The faculty, stu- dents, people of the town all have worked to for- ward the cause of education in Park Ridge, and we feel sure that their past successes will be sur- passed only by those of the future. .Q .. ' e ..