Rawlins High School - Roundup Yearbook (Rawlins, WY)

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History of the Class of 1887 Almost half a century has elapsed since I became a student in the Rawlins Public Schools, coming from Ft. Steele, where they had no school, in December of 1881. At that time the old frame schoolliouse was being used, its two rooms furnishing educational facilities for all comers, from tots to well grown men. Prof. T. N. Wells and wife were the teachers, succeeded the following fall by Prof. C. L. Wells and Mrs. Florence J. Gardiner. Prior to their coming, evidently but little attempt had been made to follow any standard curriculum. Students seemed to have been graded more by size than scholastic attainments. I smile as I recall the husky fellows who used to punch cows during the spring and summer, attending school in the winter, retiring to the “Back-room” to recite elementary arithmetic and other rudiments with the kiddies. One big fellow, 1 remember, “headed” the second reader class. Regular “Classes,” as we know them, were unknown. For instance, when I started, I was put in the A class in reading, somewhere about “X” in arithmetic, and decidedly minus in everything else. The “Three R’s,” with geography, spelling, and elementary grammar, formed the bulk of our labors, with here and there a student who “thought himself smart” puttering a little with higher studies. Prof. Wells and Mrs. Gardiner changed all this. In two years we were following a fairly well organized course of study. About 1885, a class in Latin was formed. Ten or twelve of us began. I think four of us read Caesar together. I read Vurgil alone. June 188 0 saw the passing of the old schoolhouse, as well as the termination of the labors of Prof. Wells and Mrs. Gardiner, whose five years of fruitful endeavor nad organized and built up a student body and 00111 86 of instruction conformable to recognized standards. A new schoolhouse had been built, up on the hill out of town, and a new corps of teachers—four of them now—engaged. With ample room instead of cramped quarters, and enough teachers to give each class full time instruction, the seed planted and nourished by Prof. Wells and Mrs. Gardiner through those toilsome years—watered sometimes, I fear, with their tears—blossomed as the rose, and Rawlins had a standardized school system equal to any. Prof. Blazer announced that he proposed to graduate the first class of the Rawlins High School in June of 1S87, provided there were any of us who could complete the course as laid out. Up to this time, students had atte-nded school as long as desired and then “quituated.” Eight of us started the race for graduation in the first class. Several moved away, others found they had too much of a handicap, and when the spring flowers bloomed,, only Miss Zoe A. Kirk (afterwards Mrs. J. A. Eason) and myself were left. So we graduated in June, 1887. That fall, both Miss Kirk and myself entered different Eastern colleges. Out of more than one hundred “new students,” most of whom were graduates of Eastern High Schools, I was one of two admitted to the Freshman Class without conditions, that is, with no work to make up that should have been done in High School. I understand that Miss Kirk had a similar experience. I mention this merely to show that even at that time,. Rawlins schools ranked in grade and efficiency with the best in the land. Fate has directed my footsteps into other paths, and my labors into other fields, so I know but little of the record of Rawlins High School in succeeding years. I doubt not that it has kept pace with the progress of the day. But I do

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CV'S of 1898 Mazie Irving Draper Mamie Cronin Etta Daley Stewart Stella Bennett Cronberg Mary Nelson KNOW that I laid the foundation of my life’s work within its walls. Without the slightest disparagement of the labors and achievements of others, it stands out, boldly and indelibly written on the Great Record, that it was the ceaseless, soulful and constructive efforts of Prof. Wells and Mrs. Gardiner that laid, broad and deep, the solid foundation for whatever superstructure has been, or may yet be, reared in the public school system of Rawlins. The people of Rawlins owe them an endless debt of gratitude. Yet I know that all the reward they would ask or accept would be that all the generations of its students should strive to fully avail themselves of their opportunities, and build lives that shall ceaselessly reflect credit on themselves and their Alma Mater. The Rawlins High School! More power to it! Long may it live and prosper! —is the wish of all that is left of the Class of ’87. William J. Candlish The following is an account of the First Commencement exercises of the Rawlins High School, June 25, 1887, as chronicled by The Carbon County Journal. the high school commencement The Exercises at the Opera House) Very Entertaining and Successful Saturday evening last the opera house was filled to its capacity to witness the High School Commencement Exercises. The hall and stage were beautifully decorated with evergreens, national colors and flowers, there being a wilderness of the latter upon the stage. The piogiamme opened by an instrumental selection by Forest I). Burnfield, which was well received. Praver was offered by Rev. A. L. T. Ewert, which was followed by a selection by the quartette, “Oh Hail Us Ye Free,” which captivated the audience and