West High School - Hesperian Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

Page 14 text:

The Formal Opening. THE evening of September twenty-fifth, nineteen hundred and eight. West High School was formally opened to the public. Lights beamed from the windows of every room. As the guests entered they were welcomed by members of the faculty. Then a Senior boy or Senior girl, in festal dress and with badges marked “Reception.'' offered to personally conduct a tour through the new and spotless wonders of the building. From boiler room they went through courtyard, through rooms A and B and remotest recitation rooms, even fire escapes were tested. The guide, with half fearful assurance, often said, “this is to be the literature library, this is to be the chemistry laboratory, these are to have lockers, but.”—the but was lost in the crowd that filled the auditorium to overflowing. Here green and white banners and green and white programs announced the new colors. Here was heard the long eventful history of the location, the august speeches of senators and superintendent, here, too, fond elders listened to Genevieve Griffith’s violin and Mildred Borom and Bessie Fox in vocal numbers. The program closed with the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner. In this way did West High take her place among the high schools of Minneapolis. Ten

Page 13 text:

The Interior of The School HP HE interior of the West High School is in perfect harmony with the simple, yet beautiful architecture of the exterior. Each floor has its large main hall parallel to the front of the building and its two large side halls at right angles to the first. The three together form a U shape with the courtyard across the inner space and the legs terminating in the auditorium. Across the front of the building, between the two steel stairways, is a big, light assembly room for the Seniors on the main floor and a similar room for the Juniors alx ve. The inner side of the base of the L contains the principal's office, one recitation room and the wardrobes for boys and girls respectively, all lighted from the court. Along the outer side of the side halls big glass doors open at regular intervals into about twenty-four class rooms. In the basement, which is half way above the ground, arc the finest chemistry, physics, botany and physical geography laboratories in the state. Here, also, are the mechanical departments, including shop, wood-turning, machine and forge rooms, free-hand and mechanical drawing rooms and commercial departments, all of which surpass, we believe, any in the Northwest. There is, too, a large lunch room where pupils and teachers obtain refreshments at recess and meals after school at “bargain sale prices.” The whole school thus described is artistically decorated in soft green and buff. It is lighted both by electricity and gas; heated by self-regulating radiators and has a very successful and scientific system of ventilation. Finally, we come to the greatest feature of the building, the pride of the school, the auditorium. A large double swinging door on each side gives access from the side halls to the body of the house, while the balcony can be entered only by similar doors from the halls above. One enters and sees a great light hall with windows at sides and back. The walls and ceiling are dull, rough white, the woodwork polished pine. The whole makes a beautiful audience room, accommodating fifteen hundred people. Nine

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Ode lo Bessie When Bessie looms before our eyes We listen in suspense, We clutch with trembling hands, our chairs, We strain our ears, intense. At first the limpid tones melt soft, Then warm in melody. Then tremble, quiver, rise and fall Like larks above the lea. Then louder, louder swell the notes! The pillars tremble, fall. Blust’ring, they rush thru the door, Fly, roaring down the hall! At last the crashing thunders cease. She mourns for faint hopes sunk, We grieve for friends long lost and dead, We grieve for friends who flunk. O Bessie, such thy power is To move us, dull, alas! We bless thee for that princely gift, (For the time you take from class.)