Rice Lake High School - Aurora Yearbook (Rice Lake, WI)

Page 11 text:

Our Faculty in Their Youth NE bright day in 1925, as I was walking along the crowded thoroughfare of the business section of Rice Lake, I suddenly noticeda large, stone building lffllllll which I had not remembered having seen before. Engraved in massive letters across the front were the words: Hall of High School Fame. This inscription looked interesting to me as I had graduated from the Rice Lake High School in the remote past. Upon entering the building, a small catalogue was handed to me. I opened it and, While turning over its pages, came upon these words: Memorial to the Rice Lake High School Teachers. I was ushered into a room at the left of the entrance. The walls of this apartment were covered with rare paintings, all of which I was determined to inspect. The first picture that met my eyes was that of a small, bare-footed boy clothed in a pair of old overalls, patched shirt, and a straw hat, minus its brim. This pathetic, little figure was sitting on the bank of a bubbling brook, patiently fishing. I consulted my catalogue and found Number One to be Prof. Steeps at the Tender Age of Ten. Near by hung the picture of a very shy looking, young lad who was laboriously trying to write on a large envelope which looked as though it might contain a valentine to his aliinity. Who could have guessed this to be the bashful Mr. Forward of our High School days? The next picture presented a winter scene in which a small girl was boldly wading in a half-frozen pond. Undoubtedly, this was Carolyn Gallagher. With such a wilful daughter, her mother's lot must have been far from enviable. A painting of a small child in a plaid dress, white cap, and wooden shoes, next confronted me. She was gazing with open-mouthed amazement at a train of cars. Miss Hooton never did get over the wonder of them. One picture had attracted my attention all the time because of its brilliant coloring. A small girl, dressed in a blue and white checked apron, who was rubbing the tears out of her eyes, was the central figure. The bright red of her hair was no doubt responsible for the crowd of naughty, small boys in the rear. So realistic was the whole, that the inspector could almost hear their taunts of Reddy. At the extreme left was a picture of a small house and woodshed. Near the woodshed was a little boy, clad in jeans and behind him came a stern, austere man, carrying a birch rod. What transpired later, the picture unfortunately did not show. But no doubt the lad was confronted with his first, real geometry proposition: A birch rod plus a father equals a licking. Mr. Kranz is still solving geometry propositions. Leaving this distressing picture, I was glad to turn to another portrait. A chubby-faced child greeted my eyes. She wore a stiffly starched-dress with a large, red sash. Her hair was pulled tightly back from her face and braided in two pigtails. With her finger in her mouth, she seemed to be reciting her first, literary selection. This could be none other than Miss Constance. The next was a kindergarten scene. One little girl was standing in the corner- a punishment, presumably, for saying naughty things. Miss Crawford always was a knocker. Still more amazing was the picture of little Miss McLeod patiently teaching singing to four small cats securely tied to prevent their escape. Last, but not least, was a view of a slender, thoughtful youth constructing a balloon out of a clothes-basket and a bag. Immediately, I remembered that Mr, Bowen's love of construction never deserted him. And, as the story books say, I left the Hall of Fame a sadder and a wiser man. 9

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Faculty LULU MCI4EOD PAUL BOWEN CAROLYN GALLAGIIER WINNIFRIEIJ HooToN THOMAS S. FORWARD CORA I. COXSHALL HERMAN E. KRANZ HENRY J, STEEPS .IENNIE M. CONSTANCE ISLA CRAWFORD 8

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School Board H. JARVIS T. DORGON F. A. TATE S. A. PETERSON E. HARTEI 10