Woodward High School - Treasures Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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At last the coveted week, hour, moment are here ethe time of our graduation. After four years of hard work, we are ready to take our places in a troubled world. Whether we enter the business world or whether we continue our education in college, we shall long remember those treasured years spent at Woodward High School. Thus, it is entirely suitable that we should incorporate in our book, The Woodward Annual, links from our golden chain of memories . Our first year at Woodward brought many surprises, both pleasant and unpleasant; but we survived them. As sophomores we looked dis- dainfully upon our successors-Iowly freshmen. We thought we knew everything, but in reality we knew very little. The iunior year found us more humble and a step nearer the great day. Our senior year brought additional knowledge, and we tiedltogether the loose ends of our undergraduate studies. Now that the long awaited hour has come, we reminisce. Under- clossmen replace us, and we are happy, for we know the ioyousness that will eventually come to them. Therefore we dedicate The Woodward Annual to the future alumni of Woodward High School. May they never forget the many noble persons and incidents associated with their school. May they strive un- ceosingly to make this schooI-our Alma Mater-a finer and better school for themselves and those who toliow them. Before we leave Woodward High School, however, one thing remains to be done. At this time we humbly wish to express our gratitude to our parents and teachers torithe love, thoughtfulness, and sacrifice which they have bestowed on us to prepare us for citizenship in this great country- the United States of America.

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Our school, like other institutions of long and noble history, has been perpetuated because of a certain spirit, called the Woodward Spirit, passed on by each generation of Woodward students. No person ever leaves Woodward without being in some way influenced by the Wood- ward Spirit, which had its beginning in 1831. This so-called Spirit is actually a personification of the ideals of William Woodward, whose body reposes with that of his wife, Abigail Cutter Woodward, in front of the Broadway entrance to the school. To all Woodward students and alumni, this Spirit is a reality. To all of us it gives expression to the indomitable will which found a way to educate the coming generations. We can hear it say most clearly: My school is one hundred-eighteen years old. Of course, as time progressed the structure has been changed four times to meet the demands which were placed upon it. In 1831, it was a small two-story brick building which was called Woodward High School. It resembled an ordinary house with no promise of ever becoming a school with such a glorious history and the distinction of being the oldest high school west of the Alleghenies. For ten years, this plain building was a center of learning and culture for the youth of Cincinnati. In 1841, the beIfry was , removed, and a third floor was added, which, I thought was the crowning step in the cuIturaI life of my school. You may realize then how surprised and yes, even how happy I was, when this building was replaced by a greater one of purely Gothic design. For more than fifty years, this beautifully designed school carried on the work of concentrated teachings and upheld fully the standards and ideals of my founder. Finally, however, as more and more youth awoke to the fact that education was one of the very highest ideals of life, the school was filled to overflowing. Again a change was found necessary. At this time, 1910, the present building was erected. Although time marked the change of Woodward High School .as a structure, it, along with my spirit of service and standards of scholarship have remained firm through the years. To some I may seem intangible; but to those who love and know me, my influence has proved real. Yes, I believe that I am loved by those students who, through the years, have been the recipients of those things I have to otter. I believe also that they are justly proud to uphold my sacred traditions.