Rock Island High School - Watchtower Yearbook (Rock Island, IL)

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A Celebration Of Excellence The first Watchtower w s published at Rock Island High School In 1910, thus the 1985 staff thought It appropriate to honor the seventy-fifth anniversary of our year¬ book. As you browse through the book you will find pictures of our ancestors and their present day counterparts In various sporting and academic events. We hope you will enjoy a brief comparison of how our school has changed over three quar¬ ters of a century. By 1910 Rock Island High School was already thirty-six years old and In Its third home. It was located on twenty-first street between sixth and seventh avenues. Mr. A. J. Burton served as principal directing a faculty of eighteen teachers and five hundred fifty-one students, a modest population to our one-hundred three teachers and two thousand one-hundred six students. The 1985 graduates total four-hundred to the fifty-one in the class of 1910. The curriculum of seventy-five years ago also was extremely limited by our present standards. Only ten different sub¬ jects were offered, but today Rocky offers one-hundred eighty-seven different courses. Academics certainly had top priority in 1910 with students being required to take at least two unannounced hour long reci¬ tations each quarter in each subject. Stu¬ dents also had to take public rhetorical exams upon request. A final average of seventy-five percent was demanded for promotion and graduation. Sports did play an important part in the school activities with boys fielding teams in football, baseball, basketball, cross¬ country and track. The girls only had bas¬ ketball in which to showcase their athletic abilities. Maroon and Old Gold were the official school colors displayed at these sporting events. The first Watchtower was financed by the selling of advertising which allows us to compare the community of 1910 and 1985 as well as the school. The ads of sixty-five business establishments in the city of Rock Island helped pay the ex¬ penses of the 1910 publication. It is inter¬ esting to note that one could spend a luxurious night at the Harms Hotel for one to two dollars, or one could buy a top quality man’s suit from The Hub for be¬ tween twelve and thirty dollars. Best of all was the fact that a mounted senior class picture could be purchased for fifty cents from Smith Studios. When the Watchtower went to press in 1910 it was established as a quarterly publication. The school Literary Society used it to showcase student writings of all types. In 1917, the name changed from a two word form to the present and in 1921 the book became an annual being printed only for end of the year distribution. Physically the high school too under¬ went some dramatic changes. In 1937 Rock Island High School had moved to Its present site on the hill and the 1910 build¬ ing soon became the home of Central Junior High. It remained in that capacity until destroyed by fire over Christmas va¬ cation in 1949. Over the years there have been many changes not only in our community but also in our schools. But one common thread runs throughout the story and that is of the pride that we have for ail of the young people who have attended Rock Island High School. Mr. A. J. Burton, principal of Rock Island High School. 1910. Mr. John Murphy, with his sons John and Michael, principal of Rock Island High School. 1985. 2 Opening

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WATCHTOWER Rock Island High School 1400-25th Avenue Rock Island, Illinois 61201 309-788-0484 Volume 75

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The beginning of school brought the reunion of classmates Laura Hudson. Joanna Waddell, Jill Anderson. Registration for the opening of school always means Cassie Stewart and Anne Fitzsimmons. standing in line. Brad Schrager, Trevor Collie and Pryce Boeye help new students sign up for extra curricular activities. Student Life 3