Polytechnic High School - Caerulea Yearbook (Long Beach, CA)

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18 CAERULEA ' 28 I will never admit that the editors and writers entered into their task with more enthusiasm, faith, or courage than did we in those days of small beginnings. Proud we are of Poly High and her graduates and particularly proud of Caerulea. EUGENE TINCHER ' 08 Another version of the clock story ' ' is given by Mr. Eugene Tincher, student leader in his time, now one of Long Beach ' s most prominent attorneys, whose constant loyalty to Poly High is characteristic of many of the alumni of those early days. To have served twenty years continuously as principal of the Long Beach Polytechnic High School, to have seen its student body grow from less than three hundred to more than three thousand in number, and to have put into the lives of thousands of young people passing through its class rooms an impress that left no regrets to mar the years of life that stretched beyond, is a record which would seem in itself too magnificent to include reminiscence of the common place. David Burcham, however, is like all of us and is human; but just as the touch of the minor lights and shades brings out the beauty of the central motive of a master painting, so the commonplace in life adds brightness to the exalted qualities in men. The old high school building which stood at Eighth and, American, where now the George Washington School stands, was destroyed by fire about ten years ago. On the wall in the assembly hall of that building in 1908 there hung a clock. It was just an ordinary clock, but it had a very attractive face, so attractive indeed that Mr. Burcham, then a young man, paid it constant and devoted attention. A stepladder was always near at hand and several times a a day Mr. Burcham would with agility mount the stepladder and peer longingly into the clock ' s face. Occasionally a look of satisfaction would spread over his countenance at the meeting, but most often a look of disgust, and he would seize the clock by its hands and give its face an adjustment. Why all this attention? was the question often asked. The answer was simple. The clock was wrong, and ' Daddy ' Burcham was right, and not even a clock was permitted to go wrong if he could help it. CLYDE DOYLE ' 09 Polytechnic High can boast no more loyal supporter than Clyde Doyle, whose leadership at this institution was notable and who for many years since has been one of the most brilliant members of the California bar.

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ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS 17 Among ' the thousands who have played their part in the history of Long Beach Polytechnic High School there are many who have reached high attainment. Caerulea, with the student body of Poly, feels the greatest pride in these former students. It is therefore with extreme pleasure that we present anniversary greetings and reminiscences from a few representatives of this honored group. We regret only that time did not permit our hearing from many more. EUGENE I. FISHER 02 Eugene Fisher, member of the board of education and prominent Long- Beach lawyer, is. as his message attests, one of our earliest alumni and possessor of a wealth of pleasant memories concerning early days at the high school and of Caerulea, to which he was a contributor. Happy indeed is the alumnus who can look back upon high school days in such an institution as Long Beach High School. He must surely have gained something noble in the way of ideals and ambitions from such associations and friendships both with members of the faculty and fellow students. When I entered in 1898 Professor Howard L. Lunt, now an instructor in the University of Southern California, supervised the entire school system of the city of Long Beach in addition to being principal of the high school. The high school faculty consisted of three other teachers: E. W. Frew, heading the mathematics department; Miss Jane Harnett, teaching history, civics, and English; and Miss Louise Callow, who resigned a year later and was replaced by Miss Katherine Mosher, then completing her course at Stanford University. Miss Callow taught Latin, Greek, and German. I am glad to pay tin ' s personal tribute to .Miss Harnett, now deceased, who was a teacher of remarkable ability and rare personality, greatly beloved by students and faculty associates. I shall always be grateful to her and to those other men and women who served the Long Beach High School so excellently in the earlier days and who were a constant inspiration to me throughout my high school career and later years. I am glad of this opportunity to express my appreciation for the fine service Mr. David Bureham has rendered the high school as principal during the years of his administration. I am frank to say that our high school annual, which was launched durin ■■ my time at the school and christened Caerulea by Miss Katherine Mosher, has made some progress typographically and otherwise since those halcyon days ; but

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ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS 19 I am glad to see that you folks are showing Daddy Burcham, while he is alive and here rubbing elbows with us all. how much we really respect his manhood, cherish his friendship, and are inspired by his friendliness. During 1908 and ' 09, I remember Daddy Burcham ' s climbing the step-ladder and winding the assembly clock at the old Poly Higli on American Avenue, where the George Washington School is now situated. Sometimes lie could wind it, and sometimes he couldn ' t — I am not now telling why he couldn ' t, because that would be revealing ' confidential communications ' , and also be writing a book in ancient history; and I am no historian. As a student at Poly High, when there were less than six hundred students attending, and Daddy Burcham was, in fact, the disciplinarian as well as principal, and when he was chaperon to our athletic teams in out-of-town games, his fair but firm treatment, his virile manhood had a great influence for the highest and strongest things of life. And the years since graduation in June. 1909. have increased my respect and love for this man; and my wife, Lydia Yeomans Doyle, (L. B. P. H. S. ' ll) joins me in these observations. Good luck to Poly High, and ' God bless vim. HAROLD B. RILEY 10 Harry Riley, outstanding student in his time, recently president of the Alumni Association, and one of Poly High ' s real friends, calls to mind the stirring days of the early history of the school. Years have passed since I was a student at Long Beach High School, but I still enjoy some pleasant memories of certain events that transpired there and hold dear some the friendships made at that time. When I attended high school it was located at Eighth and American and was considered to be out in the country. We boasted an enrollment of approximately five hundred. What we lacked in numbers was made up in appearances. I have a number of comical pictures that prove this last assertion. At the first football game there were six husky rooters, and we had a difficult task in keeping them on the bleachers throughout the game. When the first serpentine was held the residents of our city thought we had gone mad. Throughout our struggles, both in and out of class room, we received encouragement from our principal. By his words and actions he proved himself a friend, and I am glad of the opportunity to offer my word of appreciation of and praise for Mr. David Burcham.