Steinmetz High School - Silver Streak Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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., Before the stock market crash of 1929, plans were made for the building of a high school to relieve the congestion at Austin, Schurz, Foreman and Kelvyn Park High Schools. The foundations were laid in 1930 and the steel erected, but the Work progressed slowly and only when federal aid provided funds could the building be completed, in 1934. The build- ing cost three and a-half million dollars and has been lauded as one of the best public high school buildings in the country. Classes began in September, 1934, with 2207 pu- pils. When the junior high schools were closed in 1935, Steinmetz had to add a ninth grade and the enrollment went so high the Sayre Branch had to be opened. In 1939, enrollment went up to 4246 students including the Sayre Branch membership. It is now around 3400. The only person who can boast that he was with Steinmetz more than ten years is our engineer cus- todian, Mr. Edward H. Bade. He came in 1930 and watched the construction of the building with the most profound care. Our engineer recalls that ridges twelve feet high had to be removed from the center of Barry and Wellington Avenues to provide passage for materials. One of the traditions of Steinmetz is Mr. Bade's talk to each incoming class of 1 B's. The first class graduated on February l, 1935, with 57 members to its credit. The first musical, Chonita , was presented in April, 1935. May, 1935, saw the Steinmetz Civic League begun with its first big spring Clean-Up Drive. Members of the community were encouraged to aid in boosting and improving the neighborhood. That year also saw the beginning of the annual study trips to the nation's capital. The portrait of Charles Proteus Steinmetz was pre- sented to the school in 1938, by the General Electric Company. It is a beautiful oil painting executed by H. M. Mott Smith and presented by Mr. E. W. Allen, vice-president of the company. Among the prom- inent persons attending the ceremonies were Mayor Edward I. Kelly, Dr. William H. Iohnson, Superin- tendent of Schools, and Mr. George F. Cassell, Dis- trict Superintendent in charge of high schools. Mr. O'Hearn's portrait was unveiled on Friday, December 3, 1937. lt was painted by Oskar Gross and presented to the school by the graduating classes of 1938. The school felt elevated indeed when a chapter of the National Honor Society was installed on Iune 7, 1935. Mrs. Florence Young was the sponsor of this organization. Frank I. Reid, president of the first Iune class, planted the first ivy to climb the walls of Steinmetz. That ceremony is a respected tradition which has been solemnly kept through these ten years. Although well launched in music in all other respects, Steinmetz had no band until Capt. Dowse came to join the faculty, in 1937.

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On the very same day that the National Honor Soci- ety had its first meeting at Steinmetz, the first edition of the Silver Streak appeared. The sponsors were Mrs. Dorothy W. Bade and Mr. Perry Gifford. The Steinrnetz Flag was presented to the school by Mrs. Charles Roehl on behalf of the P.T.A. in 1936. The design of the flag is the creative work of a student, Frank Pikrone. Cooperation, service, schol- arship, culture, loyalty and sports represented by the six bolts of lightning in the design stand for the six-fold motto of our school. The Show of Shows was the talk of the month of March, 1936, sponsored by the physical education teachers for the fund for needy pupils. May, 1933, saw the first water ballet at Steinmetz. Named the School of Fish, it was quite a spectacular event. This month also found the R.O.T.C. boys shining their buttons for the first federal inspection of their unit. The opera club and boys and girls of the glee clubs gave a musical called Le1aWala on May 26, 1936. The director of the orchestra at Steinmetz then was Mr. H. Ray Staater. May, 1936, also brought the Steinmetz Clean-Up Campaign an honorable mention in the city-wide contests. Sigma Quad sponsored the Foolish Follies of l937 in December, 1937. It was a hilarious event and the scripts were the work of a student, Everett Glave. Mr. 1-lenze was the club sponsor at that time. The Quad also distributed Christmas baskets for the needy with the aid of the Dardanelles. The P.T.A. gave a Christmas play, using student talent. Guests attending were asked to bring canned food for the Steinmetz needy. The big first of social events was the first Senior Prom, held at the Belden-Stratford Hotel on Iune 5, 1936. As the club activities, classes and musical depart- ments moved along to greater achievement, so did the athletics progress at Steinmetz. A few cheer- leaders appeared to spur the players on at early games. As time Went on, greater athletic prowess was developed and the cheerleading squad grew in number as the fans turned out in greater volume and cheered with increased enthusiasm and school spirit. Steinrnetz was prominent in football in 1936. We tied with Roosevelt and Schurz for the North Section title. We played Schurz at Spencer Coals for a Homecoming and Dad's Day in November, 1936. Tony Canadeo was the captain. He and Bob Hep- burn, Alfred Schwass and Richard Rossi, team mem- bers, Were selected for all-city teams. We were tied but lost the toss to Schurz that year. The team Was rewarded by the students when the Sigma Quad gave a football dinner in their honor. Our basketball team reached the semi-finals in mon ntmfinff nnninst Calumet in that game. 1002 -n1nr11 l1'1r'f f'1f'1!T'lT1S1' il 'I ODD, ,,1n.lcfJ1':11'1r'T f'ffT!'T'11'1S11' QM:-fl? .LEARN