Ilion High School - Class of 1910

Herkimer Evening Telegram - June 8, 1960

Ilion 1910 Grads to Find Many Changes in Schools

By Ernie Sitts

Article 2

Photo Caption - IN 1910 the senior men were few in this Ilion High School graduating class. A photo by Thompson was then a tradition just before commencement. From left, the front row ladies are, Marion Hamlen, Anna Rhodes, Elizabeth Richardson, Ethel Christie, Edna Thomas, Pauline Turnbull, Florence Bates, Irene Clinton, Helen Jenne, Anna Hecox, Helen Taylor; men, standing from the left, Stuart Fay, Hamilton Fay, Floyd Avery, Harry Burdick; back row, Lorena Plante, Virginia Welch, Helen Russell, Grace Kellogg, Marjorie Burrill, Marion Brill, Grace Callan, Alma Rae. (* Note - Missing from the photograph are Raymond Brockway, Kent McGowan and Raymond Luley. Alma Rae's name does not appear in the list of graduates and was not in 1910 list in the Alumni book "History of the Union School").

Ilion - The 80th consecutive alumni reunion of Ilion High School will be at 6:30 June 23 in the Elks Club when the 50-year class of '10 and the 25-year class of 1935 will be honored.

Per tradition, the 25-year group are the host class and most of the officers of the Alumni Association are chosen from that class. Francis DeJohn is president; John Fitzgibbons, vice president; Kenneth Hanson, treasurer, and Miss Anne Thune, secretary. Directors are Paul Kinne, who was president of the class of 1935, and Matt Williams, its treasurer, Master of ceremonies is Frank (Soupie) Campbell, now of Schenectady. Speaker is Joseph Manion, Niagara Falls, both '35 graduates, there were 120 seniors that year in the Capitol Theatre receiving the coveted diplomas. It was in the middle of the depression and class members were "sent forth into a commercial world which was not then ready to receive them."

It was the era of WPA, NRA and other Washington-inspired initials, symbolic of the times. The economic situation in Ilion was "tight". Parents were nonplused to find money for graduation presents.

Nation Booming

By Contrast, 25 years earlier a class of 25 seniors was "sent forth into an era of good-feeling, when Ilion and the country at large was booming and when anyone with a high school diploma was considered 'educated'."

Again by contrast, a high school diploma is no longer a luxury but a must. College graduates have a saying that their bachelor degree and 15 cents will take them anywhere in the city on the bus. A master's degree is "a convenient thing to have around the house but if you want to get any where you should have your PH. D."

Fifty years ago it was an outstanding socio-economic achievement to go to college. The lucky ones were "written up" in the local papers. Today their names are a part of a long list of graduates accepted by many colleges and universities.

It is not now known how many of the 50-year class will attend the reunion. Some are in Ilion and vicinity; many have died others have married "and moved away," and their present names and addresses are not known to the reunion sponsors.

As listed in the senior annual of that year the graduates were:

Floyd Avery, 16 Charles St.; Florence Bates, E. North St.; Marion Brill, 167 W. Main St.; Raymond Brockway, Herkimer; Harry Burdick, 74 Second St.; Marjorie Burrill, 119 E. Clark St.; Grace Callan, E. Frankfort; Ethel Christie, W. Clark St.

Also, Irene Clinton, 21 Third St.; Hamilton and Stuart Fay, 63 Second St.; Marion Hamlin, Mohawk; Anna Hecox, Elm St.; Helen Jenne, 20 John St.; Grace Kellog, 16 Grove St.; Ramond Luley, 83 Otsego St.; Kent McGowan, 8 John St.

Also, Lorena Plane, W. North St.; Anna Rhodes, Highland Ave.; Elizabeth Richardson, 24 John St.; Helen Russell, 29 First Ave.; Helen Taylor, Frist Ave.; Edna Thomas, High St.; Pauline Turnbull 17 West St.; Virginia Welch, W. Clark St, and Alma Rae.

Miss Russell, with an average of 93.03 was valedictorian, followed by Miss Turnbull with 92.09 as salutatorian. Commencement speakers (honor student) were the Misses, Russell, Turnbull, Welch, Bates, Rhodes, Brill, Hamlin and Floyd Avery.

Before Caps, Gowns

The class dressed in their "graduation best," (caps and gowns were first worn by the class of '21) received their diplomas from A. D Richardson, then president of the Board of Education. Other board members were Dr. J. I. Rasbach and A. H. Summer. Frank D. Warren was school superintendent and Loretta Douglas, high school principal (preceptress).

The exercises were on the stage of the Grand Theatre (Ilion Opera House). Class colors were red and gold. The commencement program was June 21, preceded on Sunday, June 19, by the annual Baccalaureate sermon in St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, by the Rev. Harry Pike, rector. The church was then on the corner of Railroad (Central Ave.) and W. North Sts.

The alumni reunion of that year was In Harter's Hall where the Post Office now stands. C. C. Tyler, then manager of the Remington "Armory," was principal speaker. The Alumni Association was then 30 years old, having been formed in 1880. The first Ilion graduating class of six seniors was in 1873.

The graduating girls probably bought their gowns at Herkimer's New York Store (now Mungers) and the boys could have been outfitted at Sherman's Clothing Store, Otsego St., Ilion. Their Jewelry came from G.H.P. Stone, Harter Block, or Rudd and Rix, Main St. The horse was being superceded by the automobile. A 1910 Ford could be bought for $950 "complete with side curtains, three oil lamps and magneto." Those in the money could have considered a Mitchell, advertised at $2,000.

A new bill had just passed the state legislature, sponsored by the then Senator Seth Heacock, Ilion, which made auto licenses a law. Speed, by the same law, was set at 15 miles per hour in the villages and 30 in the country. "First class cities could set their own speed limits".

For those who do attend their 50th anniversary June 25, reminiscences of the old Morgan St. School will be swapped. The present high school, since expanded many times, was erected in 1914. The school colors, now gold and brown, were then gold and black. In 1883 they were scarlet and gold. It is thought that the present colors were adopted during the football season of 1914 when the first Golden Bombers were born.

Sports In 1910

The graduating class of 1910 had cheered their football team to victory the previous fall in their home games at Chismore Park (now site of Remington Plant 2). The only game the team lost was to Hamilton College! The coach paid by the townspeople, was John Harrison, then peace justice for the village. Kent McGowan was captain of the 1909 team. Baseball too, was played on the park or at the then new Typewriter Park. Basketball, as major sport, was not recognized until the new gymnasium in the high school could be used in 1914.

The "Alma Mater" of the class of 1910 was razed in 1927 to make way for the Municipal Building. In 1864 when it was erected it was reputed to be "one of the finest schools in the state." It had cost the taxpayers $23,000 and augmented the old stone school on the same site, built in 1850. Many of the present 25-year class were transferred to other schools from their fourth and fifth grade classes in the Morgan St. School when word came down it was to be razed. They were then in the "intermediate department."

Present alumni officers said today they expect "a good turn out" of the 25-year class, and it is expected other smaller class reunions will be held within the framework of the big one. It is the 35th anniversary of the class of '25 and the 40th of the class of '20, traditionally "reunion years."

Miss Thune, alumni secretary, said that reservations for the dinner are due June 18. Tickets are available from committee members or at the Ilion Savings and Loan Association., Powers News Store, Marine Midland Bank, Oneida National Bank and DeJohn's Remodeling center, W. Main St.

It is expected Arthur Bates, now of Brooklyn, class advisor to the 1935 class, will be present.

Class of 1935

Besides the officers mentioned above these were the graduating seniors in 1935:

Paul Kinney - President
Catherine English - Vice President
Matt Williams - Treasurer
Evelyn Hight - Secretary

Ruth Allison,
Laura Ashton,
Dorothy Ball,
Fred Barker,
Arthur Barnum,
Beatrix Baxter,
Arlene Bellinger,
Milton Bennett,
Alex Benson,
Bernadina Berckemeyer,
Walter Bird,
Leona Birckenmeyer.

Arthrur Bostrom,
Arthur Bryant,
Dorothy Bullion,
John Cacciatore,
Frank Campbell,
Russell Chesebrough,
Keith Cormia,
Valeria Cormia,
John Cushman,
James Dare,
Winifred Davis,
Francis De John.

Marie De John,
Edythe Duesler,
Clara Eckler,
Janice Eckler,
Evelyn Farley,
Marie Farley,
Julian Finnegan,
John Fitzgibbons,
Robert Forristel,
Anna Fortuna,
Edna Friis,
William Fullem.

Mildred Geer,
Glen Goodrich,
William Grimshaw,
Kenneth Hanson,
Alida Helmer,
Ernest Hildebrandt,
Karl Hoerner,
William Hofstra,
Miriam Hollister,
Robert Hubbell,
Ernest Hughes,
Edward Humphrey.

Jane Johnson,
Dorothy Jones,
Elizabeth Jones,
Doris Judd,
Minerva Kegel,
Robert Kennedy,
Elton Kerber,
Iva Kinney,
Helen Kler,
Anna Kovac,
Theodore Leonard,
Edwin Loomis.

Mary Lubey,
James Mackin,
Joseph Manion,
Richard Maurice,
Janet McGowan,
Eleanor Milsted,
Clara Mischke,
Jean Morton,
Helen Moynehan,
Clinton Munson,
Jack Myers,
Donald Partington.

Jeanette Patterson,
Marian Patterson,
William Pedersen,
Charles Pelepshin,
Isabel Polvent,
Johanna Potzner,
Marjorie Randall,
Adelaide Reynolds,
Edward Rhodes,
William Ringwood,
Jean Risedorf,
Bernice Rix.

Arthur Roberts,
Philip Salsburg,
Lloyd Schafer,
John Schremp,
Elizabeth Shaffer,
Ruth Short,
Mary Simmons,
Burley Smith,
Norma Smith,
Joan Sprague,
Emerson Stairs,
Ruth Stanburg.

Marie Stevener,
Charles Sullivan,
Virginia Sullivan,
Mildred Tetlock,
Theodore Trombley,
Arlene Waite,
Helen Wakefield,
Ruth Ward,
Lillian Wasmer,
Eleanor Waters.

Thelma Watson,
Stewart Welch,
Saxone Werching,
Donald White,
Alice Wilfert,
Thomas Williams,
Arthur Winckel,
Marion Wood
Winifred Zimmer.