Wilson Memorial High School - Hornets Nest Yearbook (Fishersville, VA)

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before us. The warmth and understanding they showed has touched many of our own attitudes and personalities, therefore, the (1977-1978) yearbook is dedicated to: and Mr. Robert L. Wenger Mr. Wenger, dedicated to his work, helps his students with their subject when needed. Robert Wenger graduated from Wilson Memorial High School in 1948. He attend- ed Bridgewater College to receive his Bachelors degree, and then journeyed to Madison College for his Masters degree. Mr. Wenger is married and has four children. He has been teaching Bookkeep- ing and General Business here for 19 years. He feels that his greatest moments in teaching occurred when a student came back to tell him that his class helped boost his decision in choosing a career. Evidence that Mr. Wenger’s dedication to Wilson still continues lies in the fact that he went to school here, and returned to share his knowledge with us. Dedication 3

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| In the process of dedicating our annual, two people have been chosen. The effect- : iveness of their teaching and their presence here daily served only to remind us of the | challenging and rewarding future that lay Mr. Jessie D. Ridgeway ® £ Mr. Ridgeway shows dedication to his teaching, by always being around when needed. Jessie Ridgeway graduated from C.H. Friend High School in South Boston. He went on to finish his education at Hampton Sidney College and majored in Chemistry. He, for 35 years, has taught not only chemistry, but also Physics, Biology, Science 8 and Math 8. Mr. Ridgeway became one of our first teachers here at the old Wilson Memorial. When the school moved to bigger and better things, he went with them. When asked if the students of to- day have changed their attitude toward learning as compared with the students of the class of °48, he replied “Yes, they are less eager to learn.” During an interview he was questioned as to whether or not there were any outstanding happenings or ex- periences he could remember. He gave a lit- tle smile and said ‘“‘Nothing you could write about.’ He did state that he thinks, “‘It is rewarding to have taught four of his own children.” Before starting a hard day of work, Mr. Wenger and Mr. Ridgeway get together for a chat on other topics besides school. 2 Dedication

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An Aerial view of the old school shows the many mazes of buildings in which classes were held. Reprinted from the 1948 4 Theme Hornet’s Nest. S Now it was our time for a raise, not in pay, but in rank! Yep, we were in that great department called high school. In the fall of 1944 we began our freshman year in four different schools; seventy-seven of us at Stuarts Draft, fifty-two at New Hope, thirty-six at Fishersville and ninety-two at Beverley Manor. We struggled through those Freshmen and Sophomore years dodging all the knocks we could and drag- ging along all we couldn’t dodge. One round higher—‘‘Oh boy, we’re Juniors!’ Like other Junior classes we gave our class play and threw a party for the Senior class. Let’s see, before long these seniors would leave and next year we’d be the Seniors. Now we’re getting some place. What did you say? Yes, right here it is on the front page (big stuff) of the paper! Fishersville, Beverley Manor, Stuarts Draft and New Hope high schools will be com- bined into one big consolidated high school at the Woodrow Wilson General Hospital. Good heavens, what will that be like? Maybe I should stop school. Can’t do that cause I’m not old enough, don’t suppose I'd do that anyway—I have to get an educa- tion someplace. September fairly flew around and it was time for that new adventure. Let me see, ENIORS NOW AND THEN that letter I got the day said for Seniors to come on Thursday, September 11th, 1947 so I must hurry and catch the bus. They took us to the old school where everyone was excited as I. We scrambled on the buses and were off for Wilson Memorial High. Look at that sign by the gate “For Sale’’—heavens! you don’t suppose they’d sell us? The bus parked across from a sign which said ‘“‘Officers Club,’’ but the man said, ““come on in’. We did. Someone must have come the wrong day, I don’t see how all of us could be in one class. We surely have a nice looking faculty, maybe this won't be so bad after all. Mr. McChesney told us how the senior sponsors had drawn our names to determine our homeroom and after a roll of each homeroom had been read we were divided according to schools to register. Then came the big part, a tour of the school,—such long halls. I'll have rheumatism in two weeks! For the first week or two each school ganged together, but before October had gone we felt perfect- ly at home and hardly knew what our previous school had been. Today our Senior class numbers one hundred and sixty-seven. All of us are proud to be a member of the first graduating class of Wilson Memorial High.