Woonsocket High School - Quiver Yearbook (Woonsocket, RI)

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THE QUIVER v.) 16, as President of the Alumni Association, spoke of the interest of thar body in the school. Frank Seaver, ’15, Superintendent of Schools, gave an interesting history of the high school in Woonsocket, from 1840, when the first high school was built, to the present. Avery Davis, ’17, President of the Common Council, spoke of the financial problem of constructing the new building. Madeline Baxter, ’18, as Principal of the School, told of the aims and of the several courses of the school. Other pupils seated on the platform were Harold Howe, ’16, Anna LaFond, ’17, Frederick Brown, ’18, and Hyman Mayerson, ’18. Afternoon Exercises. Long before one-thirty on the afternoon of April 5, the many visitors, having first inspected the building, assembled in the hall on the second floor, where the exercises were to be held. Dr. William F. Barry, Chairman of the Building Committee, presided. After prayer by Reverend Thomas F. Winn, Dr. Barry welcomed all who had gathered on this day, so important in the educational life of Woonsocket, and introduced His Excellency, Governor Beeckman, who expressed his gratification at being able to be present at the dedication of the high school, which he declared one of the most beautiful and best-equipped in New England. Mr. C. C. Spratt, Principal of the school, spoke of the disadvantages of the old building and of the many pleasing features of the new one. He gave also some interesting facts concerning the growth of the high school in this and in other cities. Congressman Ambrose Kennedy congratulated the city upon the opening of its splendid edifice, dedicated to higher common education. Dr. W. H. P. Faunce, President of Brown University, gave an address on what the high school stands for. Mr. Wendell A. Mowry, Superintendent of Schools, was warmly received, and as an alumnus of W. H. S., spoke of the honored place the old building had held in Woonsocket for so many years. He urged the establishment of a trade school, which would fit boys and girls for various kinds of work. A large portrait of the late Frank E. McFee was presented to the school. This picture, a likeness of the man who, for twenty-nine years was our loved and honored superintendent, was the gift of his family. Letters were read from Mr. DavicT Snyder, Mayor of Woonsocket, and Hon. Aram J. Pothier, Ex-Governor of Rhode Island, who were obliged to be absent. The high school orchestra, under the leadership of Mr. Ervin Thompson, T3, rendered selections at frequent intervals during the exercises. Reverend George F. Beecher, pastor of the First Baptist Church, offered the closing prayer.

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18 Till: QUiVKK classes in Geometry and Commercial Geography. The Me bee Memorial Fund, which is being raised under the auspices of the High School Alumni Association and the Woonsocket I eachers Association, will be used for equipping a reference library in the new building, to be known as the “McFee Library.” Already a large sum has been raised. Nearly all of the former classes of the school have contributed. These contributions have been very generous and have come not only from recent graduates, but from those who were graduated many years ago. The present students have added their share. The pupils of the grade schools and their parents have assisted. Recently a musical festival to raise money for this fund was given in Harris Hall by the Teachers’ Association, and was a great success. Many former students of the school generously gave their services for this good cause. It is intended that this library shall be, in many respects, different from any other in the city and that it shall be a worthy memorial to the man whose name it will bear. Such a library has been needed for a long time and will be a useful addition to the school. W ith all the advantages of the new building, we must not forget the old school, which has done so much for the educational life of Woon socket. There our fathers and mothers were educated and from there many of our friends have been graduated. Surely, we can never forget those periods in the study hall, nor the recitations interrupted by the whistles of trains and the cries of the street peddlers; nor can we entirely forget the dancing and singing at the long recess. We shall always remember the yard with its large elms where, during warm weather, many pleasant moments were passed. To those of us who spent so many happy years under its roof, the old building will still have its dear associations and memories. HIGH SCHOOL DEDICATION Morning Exercises. On the morning of April 5. 1915, a students’ dedication took place in the Assembly Hall of the new building. All the participants were pupils of the school, elected by their respective classes for the offices which they held. The audience consisted of teachers, pupils, and parents. Lorenzo Emidy, 15, acting as Chairman of the Building Committee, presided. Orrell Davis, ’16, as Mayor of Woonsocket, sp«ke of the city’s many fine buildings, among which is the new high school. Mary Murphy, chosen by the Seniors to be Chairman of the School Committee, told of the advantages of the new building, and pointed out the necessity of industrial training in a city like Woonsocket. Helen Kelly.

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20 THE QUIVER The registration this year has been 317, a gain of 37 over last year. A large entering class is expected in the fall. The registration will then probably reach 360. A beautiful silk flag and standard wrere presented the high school before the new building w as in use by the class of 1892. At the presentation exercises there was a large delegation of the class. Mrs. Evelyn Watson Spaulding, Mr. Janies H. Rickard, Jr., and Mr. A. A. Mulligan addressed the pupils. After being accepted by Mr. Spratt in behalf of the school, the flag was saluted by the pupils. This flag was the first gift to the new school from any class. At a declamation contest held in Mansfield, Massachusetts, in which Madeleine Baxter and Vincent Carney represented Woonsocket High School, a silver medal was won by Carney. Both representatives did exceedingly well. The Woonsocket team ranked second in excellence. The following schools were represented: Mansfield, Foxboro, Plain- ville, Franklin, and Woonsocket. The Senior Commercial Law class with Mr. Palmer visited the court house at the December session of the Superior Court in Woonsocket. Tuesday mornings, during the first half of the year, a Current Events class was held in Miss Mowry’s room, which proved interesting and enjoyable. A list of the topics discussed was made by reporters from the class. A list of the magazines and newspapers read by the class was also made and posted. A candy sale was held during the two weeks before Christmas to raise money for decorations for the new high school. The profit was fifteen dollars, which was good, considering the short time the sale went on. The librarians this year have been Catherine Fitzgerald and Marguerite Crawford. One day in April the Commercial Geography class, accompanied by