Urbana High School - Tower Yearbook (Urbana, OH)

Page 16 text:

,We now abandoned our Mail cars and when steam was up in the new locomotive it was attached to a string of fine, large Observation cars. These were new inventions and the sides were entirely of plate glass. ' We could now look out over the preceding years of High School life and perhaps look down on the lower classes. 1 Q . The ceiling of each of these cars is one large mirror. Here were the seats of all Senior reflections and the place where each could see himself as others do. Our friendships had now become as lasting as sheet- iron and as intimate as if bolted together with iron rivets. One morning our Conductor presented himself before a late passenger-perhaps to take his fare. But in these glass cars our observation told us, fair it was not. There was a puff or two of steam, the bell rang and we were at a standstill. Much talk about how repairs could be made, and as the result there was an afternoon the Seniors ob- served as a half holiday. But we were back in the morn- ingland our locomotive stoked and banked for a difficult run. We were on a rough roadbed and our foot-ball hero left us. A I It isn't very often that a theatrical troupe travels in Observation cars. But this was a case of the occupants of Observation cars forming a theatrical troupe and letting a sleepy town know 4' Who is Who. It is now midwinter and after Berg cracked a joke the ice melted on the plate glass, and we could see that it was snowing. Nothing would do but we have a Senior bob- sled ride. It was taken and our respects paid to our former classmate, Besse Fox. The next morning saw us aboard but sleepy 3 the bell rang and we were again busy. We came to a sudden stop -a hot box. Blake was holding his head near the axle- attempting to grind out a lesson. WVhile at this stop the Seniors rolled their boulder up the High School hill. The train now started on its last, long pull. to stop only for April vacation. Class Day, Commencement and the like. ' V This Class Train has not been without its brakemen. targets, switch lights, and other bright marks of prosper- ity, and while we are now rolling on and on, through H111 nel, around bend, etc., let each member monopolize an easy car seat on the shady side of the train, secure the mellowes light and thus be afforded many solid minutes of enjoymen with a copy of the Quietus. For we are soon to be partet and abandon this illustrious train, to put out to sea. Air what a little fleet ! A few hours more and these clustering sails will be scattered and fading specks. each in its oc horizon, straining or drifting towards its own goal. --Hrsroarax.

Page 18 text:

8 oUR HIGH scHooL HE. ERECTION of Urbana's iirst High School building Was begun in 1873 and finished in 1875. Apparatus and other advantages were added to this structure until it had become one of the finest equipped High School buildings in the state. On Saturday evening, December 12, 1896, we suffered its complete loss by fire. The question of providing accommodations for the many pupils until a new building Was erected was a difficult one. The High School proper accepted the use of the Water Street Academy, together with two recitation rooms at the Urbana University. The present Senior Class, which comprised the higher Grammar grade at that time, employed the Catholic Chapel on Washington avenue and the GermanChurch on West Market street as places for recitation. Q - The present beautiful High School building was completed in the fall of 1897 and occupied immediately after the Christmas vacation. Thus the Senior Class has spent four years of High School life in the present structure, under Principals W. McK. V ance, Roland A. Trees, and S. W. Collett.