Sparta High School - Spartan Yearbook (Sparta, MI)

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Sealed: Miss Hanna, C. Fahling, J. Fraleigh, D. XVoolworth, J. Bradford, G. Brooks, A. Powell, A. Ax ord. Standing: R. Norton, R. Trudell, G. Held, C. Mosher, C. Kasper, A. Line, S. Deyo, K. Rider, L. Baughan, M. Straus, R. Bradford, J. Scholten, D. Kober, L. Straus, J. Nequist, D. Thorson, J. Austin. enior f ay The class of 1950 began its thespian activities with the rootin'est, tootin'est, funniest satire on the West ever to gallop across a stagef' namely, Desperate Ambrose by Donald Payton. It was presented on March 25, 1949 under the direction of Miss Virginia Wilson. The play was a tremendous hit and boosted the juniors' treasury quite a little. After it was all over, the cast and all the play committees went to Camp Lake to celebrate. Witli one successful production behind them, the seniors turned to a bit more diffi- cult dramag Mother Is A Freshman , a comedy in three acts by Raphael Blau and adapted from the well-known movie of the same name, starring Loretta Young and Van Johnson. The play, under the direction of Miss Marion Hanna and assisted by John Scholten, was as great a success as the junior play. It was given on December 8, 1949. 19

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unior- enior rom 1949 On May 20, 1949, the long awaited junior- Senior Prom was presented by the class of 1950. The theme was nursery rhymes and both the Methodist Church dining room and the gym were decorated appropriately. The napkins, place cards and programs had a nurs- ery rhyme character on them and the center pieces were made to look like May-pole dances. The gym was converted into a fairy-land of nursery rhymes. Three huge spider webs made of Christmas tinsel surrounded the orchestra pit. Dozens of sparkling stars dropped from threads from the false ceiling added more beauty to the make believe spectacle. A huge mural of Little Boy Blue covered one entire wall of the gym. On the other, Mary Quite Contrary took care of her garden of flowers. Punch was served in the home of The Old Woman Who Lived in the Shoe . Many of the guests made wishes in the wishing well which stood in the center of the dance floor. The stage was changed from a structure of wood and plaster to a garden with soft grass and lawn chairs in which to relax. At intermission, Miss Susan Adams of Rockford entertained the group with two dance numbers.

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nior Cfau .Hiafory Seventy-one determined freshmen began our glorious first year of high school by trying to make the upper classmen forget that we were green and by electing the following class officers: President, Jane Fraleigh, Vice-President, Sanford Deyo, Secre- tary, Almeta Powell, Treasurer, jackie Bradford, Senate Members, Jerry Topping and Gordon Badgerow, Athletic Board, Gene Brooks, and Library Board, Sanford Deyo and Barbara Carrier. We chose Miss Douglass and Mr. Gardner as our sponsors. Our first big taste of Senior High Society was had on February 14, when we gave our party, Cavorting Cupids , with the gym appropriately decorated for Saint Valentine's Day. Selling name cards to the businessmen of the town and collecting waste fat helped to keep us busy and also to enlarge our treasury. Then, almost too soon, it was September of 1947, and we were Sophomores. Chosen as Class Officers were: President, Bob Trudell, Vice-President, Paul Schaefer, Secretary, Betty Lonnee, Treasurer, Karl Anderson, and Library Board, Jackie Bradford and John Scholten. That year's addition to the Senate was Sanford Deyo, and we chose to keep Gene Brooks on the Athletic Board, and Miss Douglass and Mr. Gardner as our sponsors. Dick Holgrem's orchestra furnished the music for our semi-formal party, Frosty Frolic , which was presented in January. To boost our finances, we had baked goods sales, a fat drive, and noon movies. Before we knew it, our second year of High School was over and we had returned to school as juniors. jane Fraleigh was elected Class President that Fall, and other officers were: Vice- President, John Scholten, Secretary, Delores Thorson, Treasurer, jerry Topping, Athletic Board, Gene Brooks, Library Board, John Scholten and jackie Bradford, and our new member to the Senate was Paul Schaefer. Still doing a wonderful job of being our sponsors were Mrs. Wenstrom and Mr. Gardner. A very big event that year was when we received our class rings. Our main thought was to make money, which was accomplished through selling refreshments at the football and basketball games, and magazine and baked goods sales. Our dance, presented in November, was Gob- bler's Giggle , and our junior Play was Desperate Ambrose , a western farce, which was directed by Miss Virginia Wilson. Our finances took a slight beating when we entertained the Seniors with the Jr.-Sr. Banquet and Prom on May 21. The gym was cleverly decorated, the theme being Nursery Rhymes. At last we were Seniors! After getting over the excitement of being THE big wheels, we settled down to our studies and other activities. For the fourth year, we elected Gene Brooks to the Athletic Board, and other officers chosen were: President, john Scholten, Vice-President, Bill Nelton, Secretary, Betty Lonnee, Treasurer, Paul Schaefer, Library Board, john Scholten, and our new Senate member was Gene Brooks. Mr. Gardner remained our sponsor and we chose Miss Hanna to help him out. Mother is a Freshman , our hilarious three-act play directed by Miss Marion Hanna, was presented on December 8. Shortly after, on December 17, Tinsel Twirl , our Christmas Party, was given with the entertainment by a tuneful Senior Quartet. Our finances were enlarged by means of baked goods sales, selling stationery, greeting cards and candy. On May 28, our Baccalaureate Service was held at the Sparta Baptist Church. Then on june l came the night that we had thought of since that first day in grade school: Graduation! But our school days didn't end there, On june 4, we boarded the train for Washington, D.C. and spent an unforgettable six days together on our last class project. 20