Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades - Mechanic Yearbook (Media, PA)

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hrst election and Dad, Lentz was our choice for the one to pilot us through th' remainder of our first year. . Our time was now mostly occupied with the fall and winter sports. We con- tributed several of our members to uphold the honor of the school on the gridiron. Wfhen the basket ball season opened we defeated the juniors in several hotly con- tested games in which class spirit ran high. VVe also played the seniors but lost by a small margin. ' During the latter part of our freshman year the Glee Club and Mandolin Club was organized, and they were very beneficial toward making our entertain- ments successful. It was mainly the efforts of the leaders Reichert and Addis that brought about this satisfactory condition. Our first year having thus passed we advanced another step towards our goal entering our junior year, March 30, 1907. This is considered by all classes to be the hardest term, but which we are glad to say was full of pleasures as well as troubles. There were several of our members who left us at this time either voluntary or otherwise. lfVe sincerely extend to them our best wishes and suc- cess for their future. We were gratified by the showing we made in the annual ,Inter-Class Meet as compared with our previous record, scoring 25 points. Although we were dis- appointed with the number of points we. scored, we were consoled by the thought that we had another chance to win. Drolet was in the presidentls chair to guide us during the first six months of our junior year and Bates succeeded him. Until our junior year there had never been a literary society started, and it was mainly through the efforts of some of the faculty and several members of our class that the project was successful. Groff served as the first president. The principal feature of this society was several debates given through the winter. The first question is one we meet with in everyday life-Resolved, That the most successful business men are not strictly honest. Mumma, Smith, Zook and Hulme spoke for the affirmative side and Printz, Beans, Tomlinson and Kistler upheld the negative. The judges rendered their decision in favor of the affirma- tive side. The next debate was an Inter-class affair. The question was-Re- solved, That the United States should permanently retain the Philippine Islands. MacDonald and Rinehart as principal speakers and Addis and Freed as assistants I9

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lass Qisrurp 0 completely relate all the incidents that occurred during our stay by as a class at Williamson, how in starting in as new material we were shaped and moulded into a Williamson graduating class, K WS' ' would require the services of one more competent than I. 3 if X In giving this history I cannot go into detail but simply dwell upon the more important factors that go to make up our stay, as to Co so would require a larger book than the Mechanic On the memorable day of April 19, 1906, our class, seventy-six in number, was wafted through the portals of Williamson on a Spring Zephyr. After making the usual number of mistakes due to our greenness-such as inquiring for our spending money and meal ticket, we started forth to strive for success. But, as it is in all cases, there was evidence of the presence of that dreadful and yet natural disease, one which hovers about all Freshman Classes- homesickness. In order to help us overcome this feeling, the seniors tendered us a reception shortly after we entered. It proved beneficial to us by bringing us more in touch with each other and in developing that staying quality-class spirit -which existed throughout our life at Williamson. After the entertainment we retired to the dining room. I-Iere we were given a lesson by the seniors and juniors in how to give a class yell. Although it was our first lesson, I must say we made our share of the noise in giving one which we were proud of. Having become accustomed to the daily routine which was presented to us. we turned our attention toward the event which is worthy of notice, and that was the Inter-Class Meet held june 23, 1906. The freshman class, as a rule, are des- tined to make the least number of points. We did the best we could and died hard. scoring but I7 points. We more than atoned for this deficiency by supplying the different varsity teams with several of our members, which gave us a place in athletics at the school. There were several pleasure trips taken during the early summer but none more wished for than the August vacation. After a month's relaxation from stud- ies we returned filled with a desire to do better. Upon our return WC hgld Om- 18

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on the negative side, upheld the honor of our class and were victorious over the freshman class. The most important and crowning feature of our Junior year was our mid- year entertainment held February '27, 1908. In saying that ours was considered to be the best entertainment given in this school, I not only speak for the mem- bers of the faculty, but also voice the sentiments of those who were present. The program was unique, and consisted of monologues and several selections from the musical clubs. The quartette rendered several selections and met with great success. These were followed by a sketch from Dickens entitled The Pickwick Trial, which proved very interesting, and last but not least the Humanophone, the only remarkable instrument of its kind that was ever presented to the Ameri- can public. It was a great success and one which kept every one interested. As a fitting climax to the entertainment we were asked to repeat parts of the program, but owing to conflicting regulations we most gracefully refrained from doing so. However the quartette responded to several invitations, namely-W'est Ches- ter, Chester and Parkesburg. Cn March 28, 1908, we received that long-looked-for name-Seniors! Hen- wood was our first president of this year and Reichert succeeded him. As this is the most important year, we as a class strived harder for the 1n0st we could get out of it, realizing the advantages which it brought with it. XV e al- so hoped to set an example that would be a credit to us in the future, both in class and shop as well as in athletics. As to our being successful, I will leave that to those with whom we came in contact. On May 20th, 1908, we gave a reception to the freshman and reserve classes. A short entertainment was given which was followed by a fitting one in the dining- room. Though not an elaborate affair it established a feeling of good will and welcome to these classes. The spirit with which we gave this was the same as that with which we were received just two years before-a spirit which tended to brighten up our Geezer year. In the Inter-Class meet held 8 ing 0' ' 1 . . . . s 73 P 1UfS Out of a possible IO8, Juniors 17, freshmen 18. lilhs won the individ- ual honor of ou ' - - . , r class, scoring IO points. We broke five standing records, which 'll ' ' . . . W1 80 down ln the history of the A. A. as a precedent. During the baseball Season We Played a series of Games with tl 1 I . by a single defeat. june 20, IQO , we won a decisive victory scor- s ic unc er classes and were not humiliated O