Rowe High School - Viking Saga Yearbook (Lakeville, OH)

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Class History When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal attention to which the laws of nature and nature’s God entitled them, a decent respect to the opinion of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impelled them to that separation. Therefore I shall endeavor to relate in as few words as possible the events which led up to this separation and resulted in this declaration of independence. Twelve years ago, we the class of ’45, leaving our carefree kindergarten days behind, formed these bands by starting our school life at Farnham, Amboy and East Conneaut. Our trials started on that very first day. As an example I will cite the case of Altha Bates who had to stand in the corner because she talked to the little boy sitting across from her. A very unjust punishment she thought for how else can you make friends but by talking to them? The first few months seemed full of these unjust punishments until we learned there are some rules you must abide by for the good of other people. In the meantime we learned our numbers and A. B. C.’s and by the time the year was over we felt pretty smart because we could read and add just like grown-ups—almost. It seemed that the next few years until the eighth grade passed very rapidly with minor incidents here and there to remember. Cookie never will forget Would remind them forevermore when someone batted a baseball right into her face; it hit her on the nose and hurt “something awful!” The eighth year is the one we all can remember the clearest. In Farnham Mrs. Wellman started the first Junior A Cappella Choir with great success. We had robes and were very proud of ourselves until we heard a recording of our voices. Then we thought we sounded too much like babies and not enough like the Rowe High A Cappella Choir. This also was the year we met as one group to take our I. Q. test at Rowe. We all looked at each other and thought, “Will I ever know the names of all those kids?” Soon after this ordeal was over we obtained our diplomas and said good-bye to elementary school. Many of us from Amboy and Farnham wondered if we ever would learn what to do and where to go when the bells rang and a few had horrible nightmares of getting lost in that big high school. Finally, however, September of that memorable year, 1941, arrived and fifty-five of us were ushered into our big freshman room feeling very small and insignificant among all the strange faces. To top this off the upper classmen were leering at us from the open doorway as if we were a cage of monkeys in a zoo. I believe the first thing the teachers noticed was that we seemed to be addicted to pushing our books out of our desks. They said each class had some peculiarity and this was ours. After a few days we discovered high school was not as scary as we had thought it was going to be. In fact we might admit we were having a great deal of fun. Even the initiation wasn’t as bad as the seniors pretended they were going to make it;

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Bunnell, regretfully impart to Ray Fogg, my capacity for careful driving. Better do as I did, Ray, get a job at a funeral home just in case. I, Marjorie Tinney, contribute to Ruth Ashby my 76-inch waistline. Following faithfully my energetic routine of a pound of chocolates a day and no unnecessary exercise I am sure that you will have no trouble keeping your winsome midriff below 90 inches. To brighten the noon period for future seniors I, Clifford Osborne, surrender my title of “The Idol of Intra-Mural Basketball’’ to Bill Colby, who I hope will look upon his position as fervently and reverently as I have during my reign. Because there is an over abundance of “Dorothys” in the class of ’45 I, Dorothy Norton gladly give my first name to any under classman who wants a change. Before answering in class, be sure you’re the Dorothy that is being called on. I, Lois Wallace, resolving to show my gentler side do willingly leave behind me to Bessie Ring my gentleness on the basketball floor. But one word of warning— three fouls and you’re out. So that the seniors of ’46 will not find their English too dry I, John Ericksen, endow to Lyle Norton the right to entertain by stories, jokes, and personal philosophy the said English Class. Also, he should necessarily have my ability to write apologetic letters to Mrs. Kitchen. I, Jane Hibler, present to Kathryn Bosick my position as “Official Senior Piano Drummer”—always willing to play for devotionals at any teacher’s two minute notice. And Follow Well This Plan of Mine Having no more use for my little black book of telephone numbers and overseas addresses I, Dorothy Holbrook, will to Thelma Stephenson the said book. My parting with this badly-worn and trusty little book results from my decision to become a “Batchelor.” There must be a private secretary in the future senior class so I. Catherine Cole, turn over to Margaret Dewey the accuracy and speed with which I take shorthand dictation and type a letter. A temperamental typewriter, a leaky pen and Mr. Deevers’ gentle temper are requirements for success in the business course. To the junior who has a will of iron and a good fist to pound Mrs. Kitchen’s desk I, Howard Irish, decree my worthy position as President of the Senior Class. Still hoping myself to be in the good graces of the aforesaid parties I, Dorothy Cook, bequeath to a mentally deficient junior the pleasant ( ?) experience of writing the Senior Class Will. As we, the aforementioned seniors do leave the portals of our dear Rowe High forever as students, we hope that the seniors of ’46 will uphold and strengthen the vital spirit and growing accomplishments of our beloved Alma Mater. In witness whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 31st day of May in the year of our Lord Nineteen Hundred and Forty-Five. Signed: Class of '45 Attorney: Dorothy Cook Witnesses: Seal:

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the boys just looked darling sucking lollypops and wearing short pants and big bow ties. Our officers—President, Richard Wheeler; Vice President, Dorothy Cook; Secretary, Altha Bates; Treasurer, Marjorie Tinney were soon elected and we began to figure out ways to make money. The war was the next thing to upset us and it did not look as if we were ever going to have any parties because the school had to conserve on electricity. We finally sponsored our first party in February, a Valentine Party for the whole school. We ended up the year in grand style with a few more parties and a Tom Sawyer skit for our freshman assembly. A smaller group of students trouped into the study hall in our Sophomore year. We were not the timid little youngsters we had been a year ago. I can still hear Mrs. Kitchen telling her Latin class that she didn’t know why it was but the sophomore classes always seemed the most prankish. She was sure we were a little worse than average, however when a few of our class decided to take the afternoon off and go to the movies one sunny day. They will never forget the horrible sinking sensation they had when they came face to face with Mr. Holdson as they skipped merrily out of the theater. For our contribution in entertainment we sponsored a Hallowe’en party and also were hosts to the freshmen. Richard Wheeler was again chosen for President; Howard Irish, Vice President; Dorothy Cook, Secretary and Bernice Hershey, Treasurer. As we reached the top floor and the junior room our number had dwindled down to forty-one. We were extremely sad to have to say good-bye to Richie Wheeler when Filling His Heart with Memories Sweet and Friendly he left to go west for his health in the early part of the year. Howard Irish was voted into the President’s chair with Vice President, Richard Olson; Secretary, Dorothy Cook and Treasurer, Marjorie Tinney to assist him. Robert Parker was chosen to be our representative in the student council. Weird lights, ghosts and people cacheing under davenports were some of the sights seen and produced by Dorothy Norton, Altha Bates, Marjorie Tinney, Jo Anne Wright, Dorothy Cook, Delores Davis, Bernice Hershey, Ethel Shuster, Duane Loomis, Gordon Turner, Kay Graff and Alex Elonen. Yes, it was our Junior Play, “Watch Out For Spooks ’ directed by Miss Fritts. Delores Davis portraying the negro maid was enough to give the cast as well as the audience hysterics. Remember the expression on Miss Fritts’ face when the boys began to ad lib while dressing Duane Loomis as a girl? WTho could forget it? Then Dorothy Cook, Gordon Turner and Marjorie Tinney were elected to the National Honor Society. Plans for the Junior-Senior Prom were soon under way. A Hawaiian setting was decided on and we had an enormous palm tree in the center of the gym against which a mannikin dressed as a Hawaiian lady leaned. Theie were pink and white columns reaching to the ceiling and a number of pink and white streamers extending from these columns to a cluster of colored lights grouped above the tree. An Ashtabula orchestra was hired and we had a glorious time. Richard Olson, Alex Elonen, Altha Bates, Gordon Turner, Howard Irish, Dorothy Cook, Marjorie Tinney, Jane Hibler, Lois Wallace, Clair Bunnell, Delores Davis, Mary Lu Torrence and Allan Ritari contributed their voices to the A Cappella and