Watkins Glen High School - Senecan Oracle Yearbook (Watkins Glen, NY)

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THE ORACLE. 11 But the pride of both pupils and teachers are the chemical and physical laboratories. These are both splendidly equipped with all necessary apparatus by which the student is enabled to demonstrate for himself those principles which other men have already proved be- fore him. The walls of both the chapel and lower hall have been beautifled much during the past year. As one enters the main entrance to the lower hall, he is greeted by two beautiful busts, one of Washington, the other of Lincoln, daily bringing anew, before each student, the noble and self-sacrificing lives of these two heroes. Then, too. in a conspicuous place in t11e entrance hall is placed a fine bronze tablet, bearing Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, one of the choicest bits of literature the world has ever known. Several pictures adorn the walls of both halls and chapel. Mention should also be made of the plaster cast of the celebrated painting of Gosido Reni, known as the Aurora, and Flight of Night, which are placed on the walls of the lower hall. In the chapel or assembly hall are two beautiful pictures, o11e of Washington, the other of Lincoln: also two busts, one of the poet Longfellow and one of the statesman and orator, Daniel Webster, adorn the walls. Among the very latest additions, during the present year. is a fund. amounting to over one hundred dollars, taken in during the recent art exhibit. The pictures were all very fine, most of them being copies of the old masterpieces, and those who patronized this exhibit had the satisfaction, both of examining pictures which in themselves are an education, and of aiding tl1e school at the same time. Thus, the Watkins high school advanced until, at the present time, it has reached its highest pinnacle of renown, and now we, the class of 1909, saddened by the thoughts of leaving its class-halls, resign our places and leave the ho11or of dear old Watkins High to the loving care of those who are to follow us, especially the Juniors, hoping and be- lieving they will strive to uphold the reputation and honor of the school in the future as we have endeavored to do in the past. E. N. H. '09, 1253 N-!'x maj, Sm

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ltl THE ORACLE. a tiny forest. interspersed here and there with buildings. There, too. we may see the lake, gleaming in the sunlight, its color seemingly borrowed from the clear, blue sky above, its billows crested with white, and its waves dashing upon the pebbly shore. Perhaps next in attractiveness comes the little park, which, with its cool shades, rustic seats and murmuring fountain, entices the passer- by to forget for a moment at least his cares, and rest soothed and quieted by the soit peacefulness of his surroundings, broken only by the ripple of the fountain. Prominent among the recent structures of which the citizens of Watkins are justly proud, stands the Watkins high school building. This large and wcll-built edifice is especially noticeable on account of the spacious and well-kept grounds by which it is surrounded. The thickncss and fresh green color of the grass is due, partly at least. to a strange discovery on the part of the Principal, namely, that the grass wants to grow, and the infiiction of a fine on those hard- Iiearted beings, who do not sympathize with the grass in its determina- tion to grow. Watkins high school or Academy, as it was first called. came into existence in April, 1863, but at that time it contained no graduating course. ln fact, the first class to graduate t'rom the Academy con- sisted of only one member, Mary Minnie Freer, who was graduated in June, 18853. A. C. Huff was the first principal of the school, and he held his position four years, the school meanwhile gradually increas- ing in ability and size. Professor 'Huff's resignation was followed by frequent changes of principals until i874 when Samuel S. Johnson be- came the p1'incipal, which position he still holds. During the period previous to the time when Professor Johnson bc- eanie principal, there were only six grades below the Academy. and two years was required for a child to finish each grade, thus consuming as much time in the grades alone as is now spent in finishing the entire course, Academic work included. VVhen Professor Johnson be- came principal he set to work with his accustomed zeal and energy to effect a reform, with the result, that, at the present time, the work in the grades is completed in eight years and the work in the high school in four years. By this system, a child is graduated from the High School at the same age at which he formerly entered the Acad- emy, and this is done without the health of the child being impaired in the least. by the extra work. For many years both pupils and teachers worked to a great disad- vantage in small and cramped quarters until, in tl1e year 1898, the old building being destroyed by fire, they reestablished themselves in the new and spacious structure now occupied. In this building, a separate room is provided for the teacher of each branch. where he may impart knowledge to his pupils, unannoyed by any outside sounds or disturbances.

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12 THE ORACLE. BOARD OF EDUCATION. GICO. C. XVAVI' S. .IOHNSON I . A. GII111E'1 I' IIICNRY 19. IZOHLM ERS P1'1sid1l111 .. 1'111'11 H1111 1.i111'z11'ia11 .. ........ T1'v:1s111'111' C0111-1't01' Members of oard. GICO. C. XVAV1' . GEORGE 1-I. KING . I . 11. MORAN . A. C. LADOXV . G. XV. RIIRRELI. . .IICSSIE NORTON .. . . M. M. CASS. JR. .. Standing Committe 1f'i11z111C1- . .. . '1'1-:1c111'1's ....................... Ii11l2lI1'S. I11s111'1:11c1- and S11p11111's .. Sc111:1m1 l,1I11':11'y 111111 Ap11a1'z1t1vs .. '1'vxt 1S1:1111s 211111 C111'1'ic'11111n1 .... '1'1'11:111cy and 11111ig:1-111 Pupils 'I'1'1'111 1-xpi1'1f-s .Ii111. 1. 15110 '1'1f1'm 1-xpi1'1s .Iu11. 1. 151111 '1'1'1'111 11xpi1'1HS .IZ111. 1. 11110 'IIt'l'111 l.X11I1'lS .la11. 1. 11111 'l'1l1'111 11x11i1'1'.s .I.111. 1. 15111 'II6f1'1l1 1-x11?1'1-s .I:111. 1. 1911 .,...........I.ifv N11-211111 1' CS. KING AND 111'RRE1,I, .. CASS AND MORAN .. MORAN AND LAUOKX' BCRREIJ. ANU NORTON . NORTON AND CASS .. LAIDOXY ANI! KING Reg111:11' 1111-1-rings iirsi 1N111111111y of 1-21011 111r11t11. INSTRUCTORS-HIGH SCHOOL. S. S. JOHNSON ............... ....,............ . .. .IOIIN A. IZICFRS, A. Il. .... NINA G. VVIILIAMS, R. S. .. CAROLINE F. BARNES. A. 11. .......,.... KA'I'HA1i1N1C BROWN, N111'111z11 f11'FllI11Z1I11 .. Grade Teachers. CAROLINE V. CRAMER ...,............. .... .I17NN11C M. 1C11I.ISON IiI1IZA1i1Q'I'1'I PIIRDY .IVNNIIC IC. MOSI-IITR .. K ATIIICRINIC XVHIPPY .. ... ... P1'i110i11111 v .1- -I'1 11C'11lZ1I ..... Scimlc-11 Mat'111111z1t9v.: ...... I.11g1is11 Eigth 1.11111 - S 'VL 11111 11111111 Sixlh . 1'11t11 F11111't11 1 I 111111- 111111- 1111111 IIICLICN M. JOHNSON .. '1'11i1'11 11'211I1' DAISY C. VAN DER1111' ... S1f'1'11111I IIHIIII 1i1.IZA1l1C'1'1-1 A. MALONEY ................. First 1111.111 Glen Avenue School. ANNA 111. C111.111fN AGNES P. KICNNICDY WATKINS PUBLIC LIBRARY-TRUSTEES. M. M. CASS. JH.. P1'1'SI1II'1!I .............. 'I'1A1'111 1-x11i1'11s .I1111. 1 151111 I . 11. MORAN .........,..... .. 'I'11':11 1'x11i1'1fs .1:111. 1 151111 GICORGIC 11. KING . '1'111'111 vxlmireis Jan. 1 19111 11ARR11fL'1' NOISLIC .... .................. 1 .1111'111'ia11 I111N1lY SHIILMAN ,, VlI1'l12lsul'E'I'