Valparaiso High School - Valenian Yearbook (Valparaiso, IN)

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HARD 71 WES YIELD ATWO FOLD EDUCATION “Good times” reigned throughout the 1920’s. Ex- tra curricular activ- ities such as dances, pic- nics, and weenie roasts were common place. The ’20 ' s also brought changes closer to Valpo’s school system. On September 1, 1927, the Park and Camp- bell streets building open- ed its doors to students. The $250,000 structure included a $112,000 gym- nasium in honor of Chaun- cey W. Boucher, superin- tendent from 1915-1928. The class of ' 28 took advantage of the spacious stage, ample seating ca- pacity, and extra floor space to produce a Senior Circus. Acts included Weary Winge, the Yukon Blizzard, Hunkey Hunet, the Amazonial Banana, and the Follies Girls of 1928. The additional space also provided for a rise of new clubs. Girls formed their first basketball team which later became GAA. Hi-Y, originated in ' 26, based its organization on “clean liv- ing, clean speech, clean thoughts, and clean ath- letics.” The “do-gooders” of the school, Y-Teens, supposedly performed worthwhile services but ac- tually socialized more in its early years. Little money and scar- city of jobs characterized the 1930’s. With the De- pression in full swing, VHS students were faced with hard times. Harriet Rex Smith, ’39 graduate, com- mented on student activ- ities at this time, “Money wasn’t that available. In- stead, we did alot of walk- ing along Lake Michigan. That was the aftermath of every date. Money didn’t make much difference. There wasn’t anywhere to spend it.” Students still tried to keep active. The ' 36 gym classes produced their an- nual May Festival. The theme, Retrogression in Rhythm,” had acts such as a Southern Plantation Scene,” Gay Nineties” and a tap dancing group. GAA was available for girls interested in some type of sport. The club met after school and partici- pated in acrobatics, arch- ery, basketball, and tumb- ling. Eligible boys flocked to the sports department for positions on the ' 39 football team. For the first time in VHS history, the team was undefeated. Mr. Robert Rhoda scored 129 points which is still an unbroken record today. By the end of the ' 30’s, normalcy was returning to the U.S. and VHS as well. The “economic standing” was no longer a much talked about issue. But the nation’s recovery came to a standstill when the U.S. entered WWII. Valparaiso and VHS were highly affected by the war. Calf-length skirts common to VHS halls were shortened to conserve on material. Students rallied for the nation and helped in the war effort at VHS. Girls were in charge of selling war stamps and bonds every Tuesday at noon, while scrap metal drives occupied much time on weekends. The school also co-operated with the gov- ernment by practicing air raid drills throughout ’43. The end of the war in ’45 brought celebrations and parties throughout Valparaiso, but the ending also signified an expan- sion year at VHS. By ’49, VHS was fortu- nate enough to obtain a new gray Ford sedan for the first driver’s education class. Mr. Wiggins, in- structor, was in charge of the class which began January 2. The building and stu- dent body matured during difficult periods. Their hard work and enthusiasm through the hard times was rewarded in the 1950’s. Above: A Ford sedan became the first drivers education car in 1949. Left: Students line halls for practice air raids of WWII. Right: GAA members of 1933