Richmond High School - Shield Yearbook (Richmond, CA)

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HISTORY OF -R. U, HS: In this, the 1932 Hi-Nus Supplement, there are two anniversaries to commem- orate. The first, to which we dedicate this book, is the Washington Bicentennial ; the second is the twenty-fifth anniversary of the foundation of our school. When Richmond was incorporated as a city, no provisions were made for a high school. As the population increased, it was evident that a high school was needed. Petitions were circulated and, with but one dissenting vote, the issue was passed. On February 13, 1907, papers were filed at the county recorder’s office. Temporary headquarters of the newly organized school were established in an old building on Standard Avenue now occupied by the Veteran Firemen’s Asso- ciation of Richmond. The teachers were Mr. B. X. Tucker, Miss Ruth Peterson, who is now Mrs. Tucker, and Miss Alberta Beli, who is Mrs. Burnett, a teacher in Burlingame high school. The school had an average attendance of 32 students. The corner stone for the new high school building at Twenty-third and Mac- donald was laid on May 23, 1907, and on February 12, 1908, the building was com- pleted. The first student, Walter Smallwood, was graduated in May, 1908. The attendance steadily increased. In 1914 a $64,000 building, containing a cafeteria, an assembly hall, and several classrooms, was constructed to accommo- date the large number of students. Again in 1921 an addition was needed. Gardner Hall, with its classrooms and domestic science department was built. With an enrollment of 800 in a building intended to accommodate 400, it was evident that a new high school was needed. A site of 19 3 10 acres was purchased and, in 1925, an $885,000 bond issue was passed. Construction of the building was started in November, 19206. Today in the $680,000 building, first occupied in August 1928, we have a faculty of 60 and an average daily attendance of 1187. In September, 1931, the clubhouse, which was christened the Union, was completed. secause of crowded conditions at Longfellow Junior high, there is no longer room enough for the Continuation School students. The school board, therefore, decided to erect a new unit on the high school campus. Construction has been started on a two story brick structure which will be of the same type as the main plant and which will cost $35,000. There will be twelve large classrooms, two rest rooms, and two teachers’ rooms. The building will be completed and ready for occupation by August. WE ARE PROUD As the close of the semester draws near, and some of us are soon to end our school days, we should pause a moment and allow our thoughts to travel back over the events of the last few months. The commission, led by Don Follett, an excellent president, has performed its duties in a most commendable manner. In athletics we have had a good year, always winning and losing like sportsmen. “ Daddy-Long-Legs,” the term play, was a great success trom every point of view. This term we are all proud: proud of our commissioners, our teams, and our play. Few will dispute the statement that.we have had one of the best semesters in the history of Richmond High. The success of our student activities this term cannot be attributed to luck or chance, but must be attributed to conscientious effort, not only on the part of the commissioners, the athletes, and the cast of the play, but upon the part of the student body as a whole. The keynote of school life is an excellent student government, and we have all helped to make the student government of spring, ’32, an excellent one. THE SPRING ComMiIsston—President, Donald Fo llett: Vice-President, Ruth Eichar; Secretary, Anita Chasseur; Boys’ Athletic Commissioner, Frank Ausez ; Student Judge, Vuokko Carlson; Prosecuting Attorney, Elvin Cometta; Girls’ Athletic Commissioner, Lorraine Michel; Social Chairman, Olga Hahomed; Com- missioner of Law and Order, Darrow Sutton.

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a. SENIOR DAY May 13 was Senior Day. This one day in the year that the to-be-graduated ruled was pronounced the best the school has ever haa. The seniors began the day with a grand march at 8:15 in the school auditorium, accompanied by music furnished by the following senior boys: Leon Edlefsen, Sam Hadley, Clyde Cook, Vernie Marcyes, Gordon Williams and Elvin Cometta. Uncle Sams, Hindus, Clowns, Mammies, Infants, Hoosier Schoolboys, Old Fashioned Girls and Scotchmen walked the boards while the best costumes were being selected. Frances Schwarz, dressed as a mammy, and James Vanoncini, as Tarzan, won the prizes, two jars of candy. After the parade, an amusing play was presented by the Senior class. The setting was a cafe in the Montmartre, Paris. The characters were: Tourists, Dorothy Swope, Marion Honsinger, and Eugene Doyle; Waitress, Alice Traverso; Artists’ Chorus, Leonora Brougham, Dorothy LaPlante, Alma Yeater, Yvonne Hastings, Laverne Patterson, Ruth Goddard, Jeanne DeBord, Marguerite Russell; Boys’ Chorus, Halbert Glover, George Brougham, Francis Lansman, Melvin Hansen, Dar- row Sutton, Blair Spires, Wilfred McKoy, and Eugene Shea; Apache Dancers, Mervyn Chenoweth, Julius Schnaitman; Flower Girl, Anita Chasseur; Accom- panist, Evelean Hebrard. The Seniors continued to rule the day with good fun, topping it off with a costume-dinner dance at 6:30 in the attractively decorated school cafeteria. The menu was well prepared and clever hats and favors were given each senior. Danc- ing and specialty numbers were enjoyed between courses. The entertainment con- sisted of a vocal solo by Ruth Fenix; accompanist, Gail Herbert; a violin solo, Marjorie Whittlesey ; accompanist, Evelean Hebrard; a reading by Alma Yeater ; and an amusing stunt by the senior boys. Mr. Tucker gave a toast to the senior class and Walter Bradbury replied. The reading of the last will and prophecy was performed by Darrow Sutton. Dancing concluded the evening, thus bringing another Senior Day to a close.

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