Rangeley High School - Tattler Yearbook (Rangeley, ME)

Page 22 text:

18 THE TATTLER The first period began in 1790, shortly af- ter the United States became a nation. In this period, which lasted for fifty years, Maine played a leading part. At this time the only' known motive powers were: the winds, falling water, and animal muscle. Maine was fortunate in having water power in abundance. As a result, small mills and factories sprang up thruout the state. There were then no centers of manufactur- ing. The mills were near the source of the raw material and on some stream, which gave cheap power and likewise was a con- venient route for transporting they manufac- tured, articles. The perfection of steam engine marked the end of the first period, and the downfall of Maine as a manufacturing state. The steam engine was invented in 1782 by James Watt. The engines were not very efiicient, for wood was used as fuel and a great deal of the heating power was lost. During the first of the nineteenth century, coal was recognized as a fuel and was tried in place of wood in the steam engine. The resulting changes and improvements in the steam engine brought it into importance as a source of power. The quick acceptance of the steam engine by the manufacturers is shown by the increase in the amount of coal mined. In the twenty years period pre- ceding 1840, the amount of coal mined in- creased 667 times and about 7347, of this amount was used by the manufacturers. Because of this, the year 1840' is taken as marking the beginning of the second period. Maine was unfortunate in that she possess- ed no coal, oil or gas, and could take no part in the period of prosperity that followed the introduction of steam power. Added to this, was Maine's position at the Northeastern corner of the Union, where no trains were passing from one state to another stimulat- ing trade and giving to Maine some share in the general prosperity. During this period Maine as a whole stood still, though a few sections, like Rumford and Millinocket, where there were large for- est areas and abundant water power, kept up with the rest of the Union. The first decade in the twentieth century marks the beginning of the third economic period. The very thing that put'Maine in the front rank as a manufacturing state in 1780, the very same force that turned the wheels of the mills of those days when har- nessed in a different way will prove today to be far more obedient and useful servant than it was in 1780. This is the white coal of today, electricity. Maine has unlimited opportunities for the development of hydro- electric power. The rivers of Maine have many falls above which enough water may be stored to last the whole year. At pres- ent Maine produces one-third of the electric- ity secured from the hydro-electric plants of the New Efngland States. By using all the available water power in the state for gener- ating electricity Maine alone could supply enough power for her own uses and also for the rest of the new England States, and this could be done without using tidal pow- er. At the Bay of Fundy more than enough electricity for the New England States will be produced, if the project under consider- ation goes thru. Add the tidal hydro-electric power to that producedfrom the streams, and we find that Maine can produce twice the amount of elec- tricity needed tor the New England States. Wlieli one realizes this, the statement that Maine will be onevof the leading industrial centers of the world in a few decades, does not seem so much prophecy as fact. Because of the growing use of electricity in factories and mills, manufacturers are able to established themselves in smaller communities where their workers may make homes for themselves, and where the manu- facturers can more easily avoid labor troubles, What an opportunity these 'ian- ufacturers are going to find in Maine. with cheap power to spare, a healthful climate and an abundance of unsettled land. Maine is called the State of Industrial Opportunity and in the years to come, we will see that Maine is able to live up to her motto- I direct. Class History p::qqQq: : :o:::.n::::::Qo::::::: In September 1922, there entered Range- ley High School the class of 1926, a class which has gained, both for itself and the

Page 21 text:

THE TATTLER 17 background. Each of us is an explorer at the edge of Life. Before us are the paths from which we are to choose if we are to obtain that high pinnacle in Life to which we aspire. In selecting or making our path we should not leave everything to Luck-for Luck does not float around the air and light on Tom, Dlckjor Harry, just anyhow and any- where. It is rather defined as 'the wit to know the thing you want, the will to work, the faith to fight, the strength to use but tem- pered tools and only weapons honor-bright, the spirited and the spunk to dare, the heart to hope, the grit to bear- And when disast- er falls, the pluck to grin and start again'- That is the Luck to which we should trust, and which should prompt us as we press on along our pathway of Life. But we must be even more careful than the explorer. We must endeavor to select only those paths which we know have led others to success, which rise ever upwards, and which are safe to follow. In making our own path, let us make it bit by bit, paying great attention to each bit, for it is the little things that count. By in- telligence and application to the duty of the hour, a puddler becomes the head of a great steel corporation, a district messenger boy becomes the world's greatest inventor. a humble clerk in a backwoods store be- comes President of the United States. No single outstanding deed placed any one of them at the top, but a succession of little things well done. Vvhether we choose a path or make one, we will find that none of them are strewn with roses, but that thorns line the way. However, we should welcome obstacles and push steadily forward and upward, never losing sight of our objective. It the grade should prove too steep, and if it chances that we should stumble and go down, let us re- member that 'he who rises every time he falls will sometime rise to stay! Our motto does not apply only to the beginning of our Life career. All the way-from the begin- ning' to the higher planes-it applies to those obstacles which arise to impede and discourage our progress. I11 each and every ditliculty that we encounter, we can either find or make a way that will take us over it. And so, whatever befalls us on Life's path- way, may we ever re1nember our motto, and remembering, push triumphantly on to Suc- cess. And now the parting hour has come. The class of 1926 wishes me, in their behalf, to say farewell, and it is hard to find words suited to such a time. So I will simply say, good-bye, first, to the parents and friends who in all our undertakings have been so generousgf to the superintendent and school board who have shown so much interest in us. Then to our beloved principal and teachers who have so faithfully and gener- ously looked to our welfare, and whom we shall never forget. To you, dear schoolmateshl say good-bye, wishing you success i11 your school life and in all that you undertake. We shall never forget the happy days with you in R. H. S. Classmates: This is the last time we shall sit together as a class. It is with pleasure mingled with regret that we now look back over our high school days-maybe the hap- piest ones we shall ever know. Together we have worked and shared each other's trials and joys. Now we must say good-bye. But we'll never forget these days. We'll cherish them in our memory and often look fondly back on them. May each of us choose or make our Lite's path wisely and carefully, and may God guide us safely over its perilous turnings. Now-Farewell and Good Luck. Clarence Lamb a:::::::Q:::::::::::::::::::::-ri Salutatory The Class of 1926 wishes to extend their thanks to all who have aided us in our work as a class, and we welcome you to this ex- ercise, our last undertaking as the Class of 1926. MANUFACTURING AND MAINE Maine has passed thru two economic peri- ods, and is now entering upon the third. The third period promises to be the great- est, and the most prosperous, of them all.

Page 23 text:

TI-IE school. an enviable reputation. Indeed, ifew people ever hcard of Rangeley I-Iigh before this famous group of seventeen came to bring it glory. Being very modest and not wishing to show up the other -classes too much, we were rather silent at first, especially in re- citations. Like all Freshmen, we paid more attention to the Seniors' work than to our own. Our teachers, Mr.'Coady, Mrs. Coady, and Miss. Prosser, realized our worth if no one else did. At the end of the year, we learned with regret that five of our number would not re- turn. so it would be necessary for us to re- double our efforts in order to fill their places. We nearly lost our pet Lamb when he strayed to Dallas in search of a Steward, but our famous hunter, Bob, overtook him and sent him home. VVhen we returned to school in 1923 we undertook a very diflicult task, that ot show- ing the new Freshmen how green and in- significant they Were. We tried to start an agricultural course by planting a Bean , but for once we made a mistake and got a Commercial Course instead. Our teachers for the year were Mr. Huff, Miss Dingley, Miss Davis, Mr. Ross, who taught only one term, and Mr. Dow who took Mr. Ross' place. In the second term we decided to try our luck at bootlegging, and made some root beer to begin on. We gave a social in or- der to sell it. Although the social was a success, the hooch wasn't, so we gave up bootlegging rather than spoil our remark- able record by breaking the law. Among our many accomplishments is that of reading the future. At the beginning of our Junior year. we foresaw that in 1926 our Bean would leave us and 'that there would be a shortage of potatoes. Since we believe in preparedness, we secured a Mur- phy. We now have a diet of Lamb, fDunl ham, Rabbit, and Murphyfsl with a Steward to serve them. We found that Mr. Dow was the only teacher who had been able to resist our charms, and that Miss Michels had come to take his place. On account of the scarlet fever epidemic the year was so broken up that we were un- TATTLER 19 able to have the usual number of school ac- tivities. However, we did give at successful Christmas social. To show what we really could do, Mildred Dunham, Esma Moore, and Evelyn Spencer won Certificates for Proficiency in Type- writing. Although Lambs can only bait , our Clarence busted well enough to win the cup in the Interscholastic Speaking Contest. Our Senior year has been, the best of all, for we have at last convinced everyone of our superiority. Our fame reached to Port- land and induced Miss Van Amburg tol take Miss Michele' place. November 26, we presented the drama, The Hoodoo , which, contrary to its name, proved a success. During the four years Albert Loomis, Vic- tor Murphy, Robert Johnson, Gordon Ross, and Cla.reuce Lamb have won the letter R for representing the school in athletics and debating. This year's Tattler is the best ever published for on the Editorial Board are Gladys Steward, Albert Loomis, and Clar- ence Lamb. Evelyn Spencer took another step toward the World Championship in Typewriting when she won the bronze medal. Vera Haley and Mild1'ed Dunham have won a place in Who's YVho for remark- able will-power-they haven't bobbed their hair-yet. We are now leaving Rangeley High School with tl1e satisfaction of having brought it more glory than any other class. We challenge you, undergraduates, to equal our remarkable record, it' you can. Esma Moore 1-::5:o-tease: : : zfpg: :e:,:o:::::: : Class Essay nu THE YELLOW ROSE-OUR CLASS FLOWER ' We the class off Nineteen. Hundred Twen- ty-six, have selected the yellow rose for our class iiower because it is the most lovely and fragrant of flowers. Its perfume is brought to our senses on every passing breegze, just as thought is borne unto our