Ilion High School - Class of 1919

The Ilion Citizen - June 26, 1919

God Speed Class of '19

Article 1

GOD SPEED CLASS OF '19

THE ILION SCHOOLS CLOSE ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR

Their High Rank Is Maintained and Their Usefulness Is Again Demonstrated

The Largest Classes in the History of the School

The Ilion schools have passed another milepost in their history. Ilion has been given another opportunity to note and measure the unusual influence which has for many years poured its beneficial stream into our community life. We have become so accustomed to it that we take without common and too often without appreciation what in other communities would be the subject of long and warm commendation; for our High School is excelled by only two in the state of New York; Ilion ranks third in the Empire State. There are scores of High School which would be proud to be able to say that.

Intelligent Administration

Prof. H. M. Schwartz
Superintendent of School

The high standing of the Ilion schools is directly due to the intelligent and continued administration of its competent Board of Education which has maintained a practically uninterrupted policy for a generation and to the competent management given its direct action by faculties which have been unusually strong and efficient. Prof. Harlow M. Schwartz has for eight years been Superintendent of Schools; his unquestioned fitness for the position, his strong, virile personality, his good common sense, his tactful and forceful management of details, his equipment as an able school man, have been the fortunate qualities which have been at our disposal in the education of our children. He found school standing high in the educational department of the state; he has maintained and advanced that high standard.

MISS LORETTA O. DOUGLAS
Principal of High School

Miss Loretta Douglas has had a most remarkable period of service in the Ilion Schools. There are no students and few residents in Ilion who remember any other principal. Of the 163 young soldiers whose service stars are on the flag which hangs in the High School auditorium every one has passed through her hands and every one of them left her hands with a higher loyalty and manhood because they had been under here instruction. Miss Douglass [Douglas] belongs to that class of educators of heroic spirit who are sworn at during school days and sworn by during all the r '" and in their words nothing bad enough for her while in school and nothing good enough for her after they have left. God makes only a few such characters and happy are the places which are privileged to have the benefit of their rare abilities. It is marvelous what a wealth of invective and torrent of protest has been poured out upon her but there has never been a moment when there was any doubt but that where McGreggor sat there was the head of the table; and to that unhesitating, unfamiliar, reverent, dominant, and yet, wonderfully tender, and sympathetic spirit is due the best that has gone from the Ilion schools into the hearts of countless boys and girls. She is never forgotten and every added year increases the respect and love in which she is held. We shall cast a cautious eye up and down the streets and around the corners for some time to come for she has consistently and repeatedly forbidden us to get, user or publish the cut advised by many who have personal reasons for knowing the meaning of their words that it is not a safe thing to ignore her plain warnings. But we know that east and west, far and near are many who will look at this copy of the Citizen with exclamations of delight because it shows them again her face; and so we take our life in our hands and run the cut.

A. D. RICHARDSON
President Board of Education

The Ilion teacher body ranks high. Its work is strong and modern. It deserves our appreciation and support. Our schools are giving Ilion students the equivalent of the old time college and better than that. We should awake to a realization of the spirit with which we should support our schools and the attention we should give its Parent-Teacher Associations.

The members of the Board of Education back to whom should eventually go much of the credit for our strong school system are Attorney A. D. Richardson, John E. Brenna, Works Manager of the Remington Arms Union Metallic Cartridge Col and George B. Brand, Superintendent of the Remington Typewriter Works.

A Live and Loyal Student Body

The student body its alive and cooperates heartily with the community and school directorate in the common prosperity of the institution. The students have raised during the last year over $1,500 through entertainment course and operetta given by Miss Flint, through the Athletic Association and in similar ways. The proceeds have been used to provide the splendid curtains and outfitting of the auditorium platform, to prove a piano and to put down the splendid floor in the gymnasium. This is a real team work.

Up-To-Date Methods

The bets of modern methods are being used. The vocational work under Prof. F. D. Bradley is little short of marvelous and by itself holds scores of boys in school. The exhibit recently made in the windows of the Powers news room showed carpenter work of a finish and character that would be creditable to professional workmen and which is of the highest practical value to the boys who have been taught to do it. The domestic science classes for girls under Miss Agnes E. Lewis produce equally marvelous results. The Business and office courses are directly fitted to the direct needs of Ilion students. The department of music under Miss Carmen Flint has produced results unexpected and unbelievable to those who have not seen them. A grammar school orchestra containing 18 violins and discoursing music for which no apology need to be made, speaks volumes for Miss Flint and means the most practical kind of benefit to Ilion boys and girls. The high school orchestra carries the same work still farther. Remember, --- when you leave Ilion you go to the poorer schools.

The Baccalaureate Sermon

The sermon before the graduating class was preached in a union service at the Methodist church by Dr. Melville Terwliliger; he was assisted in the service by Rev. D. W. Lyman of the Baptist church, Rev. E. D. Barnes of the Presbyterian church, and Rev. L. R. Benson of the Episcopal church. The preacher said that all, not a few as commonly supposed have talents; the discourse urged their development and proper use.

Grammar School Graduation [Class of 1923]

The graduating exercises of the Grammar School were held Monday evening at the High School auditorium and 79, the largest class in the history of the school, were given diplomas admitting them to High School next term. The school year has also graduated the largest number in the history of the school; 62 in January and 79 in June: total 141.

The exercises opened with selections by the Grammar School Orchestra of 21 pieces mad up as follows: Violins - Tom Willis, Harold Wiedeman, Stuart Lever, Irene LaLone, Ethel Kenyon, Walter Watchers, David Steele, James Moynehan, Florence Porter, John Hannahs, George Hemmingway, Verner Kilbourne, Walter Griswold, Elizabeth Meehan, Howard Filburn, Samuel Jones, cornet - Mildred Klossner; clarinet -Joseph Greyback; piano, Esther LLewellyan.

The orchestra did remarkable work playing again at the close of the program and receiving most appreciative applause.

The orchestral opening was followed by a finely rendered piano solo by Westley Tufts, "O Sanctissimo" who deserves high complement for his work.

The school then presented a play "A School Boy's Dream," introducing in costume 28 Mother goose characters and jingles. The participants who took their parts in a most satisfactory manner, to the great delight of the audience were:

Tom, the school boy, Alfred Brown; Tom's mother, Helen Tetro; Fairy Queen, Mary Hollis; Boy Blue, Alfred Jess; Old Mother Hubbard, Frances Cutler; Little Lord Fauntleroy, Allen Seckner; Cinderella, Lulu Daniels; Palmer Cox Brownie, John Gleason; Diddle Diddle Dumpling, Clarence Tjeerdsma; Jack Spratt, Clark Williamson; his wife, Lena Jackson; Simple Simon, Ralph Clark; Little Miss Moffet, Hazel Williamson; Man in the Moon, William Tillinghast; Little Bo Peep, Mary Ellen Rasbach, Old King Cole, Seth Van Alstine; Mary Contrary, Catherine Williams; Humpy Dumpy, Stuart Lever; George Porgy, Charles Sweet, Little Jack Horner, Earl Capes; Jack Be Nimble, Paul Schneider; Alice in Wonderland, Helen Goodwin; The Hatter, Frank Wilson; Little Eve, Sally Rhodes; Topsy, Dorotha Painter; Tom Sawyer, Gerald Hoke; Tom sawyer's aunt, Beatrice ox; Hiawatha, Otto Miller; Minnehaha, Florence Rude; Rip Van Winkle, Claude Northrup; King Arthur, Charles Byrnes; Jack Miny, Miss Alcott's, Lester Malley; James Pecane; Jack and Jill, Elizabeth Ellis; Ten King of the golden River, Samuel White; Cluck, Edward Meehan; Robinson Crusoe, Gerrit Smith.

The president of the class, William Jones, presented to the school the class gift, casts of the heads of Washington and Lincoln, the gifts being received for the school by Miss Dorothy Waite.

The officers of the class are: William Powers, president;
Ralph Clark, vice president;
Lulu Daniels, secretary,
Clara Cole, treasurer.

The other members of the [Class of 1923] are
Edward Babcock,
Flora Bard,
Blanche Bellow,
Gertrude Brewer,
Alfred Brown,
Chas. Byrnes,
Earl Capes,
Gerald Capes,
Richard Clark,
Leo Connors,
Louis Corbin,
Evelyn Currier,
Frances Cutler,
Mildred Davis,
Grace Evenpeck,
Emily Earle,
Elizabeth Ellis,
Andrew Every,
Gladys Fagan,
Beatrice Fox,
Helen Goodwin,
Rudolf Gettl,
Mildred Hamilton,
Margaret Hammond,
Margaret Harter,
Mary Harter,
Frederick Hartford,
Jessie Hawks,
Margaret Higgins,
Robert Higgins,
Gerald Hoke,
Violette Holdsworh,
Mary Hollis,
Oren Hurlbut,
Alfred Jess,
Katherine King,
Mildred Klossner,
Dorothy Lyman,
William McCoy,
Florence McTague,
Lester Mallery,
Elizabeth Maurice,
Edward Meehan,
Otto Miller,
Marie Nuese,
Paul O'Brien,
Barty O'Shea,
Dortha Painter,
Madeline Perry,
Milton Pollard,
Mary Ellen Rasbach,
Mary Reigler,
Sally Rhodes,
Louis Roberts,
Florence Rude,
Paul Schneider,
Edwin Schofield,
Allen Seckner,
Burley Smith, Gerrit Smith,
Almeda Staley,
Charles Sweet,
Helen Tetro,
William Tillinghast,
Clarence Tjeerdsma,
Wesley Tufts,
Rena Turk,
Seth Van Alstine,
Meldon Wenner,
Seymour Warching,
George White,
Catherine William,
Clark Williamson,
Hazel Williamson,
Frank Wilson.

JOHN E. BRENNAN
Member Board of Education

Grammar School Honors [Class of 1923]

The announcement of the History and Scholarship prizes was heard with interest. The History Prize given by Mohawk Valley Chapter D. A. R. was awarded to Miss Lulu Daniels. The Scholarship Prizes given by the Morgan Street Parent-Teacher Association were awarded to Miss Lulu Daniels, 92 1-8 per cent; and to Alfred Brown, 90 per cent; honorable mention was given Edwin Schofield, 86 1-9 per cent and Florence Rude, 89 9-10.

High School Graduation [Class of 1919]

The crown of the week was the graduating exercises of the Class of '19, I. H. S. which were held Tuesday evening, June 24. Thirty-two received diplomas as follow:

Latin Course
E. Dyme Bennett,
Richard T. Byrnes,
Mabel Aida Decker,
Edward Ferdinand Gerber,
Nellie Gilchrist,
Margaret Matthews,
Joris Rasbach,
Thomas R. Shepherd,
Alfred Lindsay Taylor,
Ethel Allegra Thomas.

English Course
Harry Oakley Ashley,
Beatrice Coleman,
Marjorie Ferguson,
Madeline Hoffman,
Arthur Shirley Hoke,
Wellington Conrad Klipple,
Beatrice Lidell,
Haveland Lutz,
Dorothy Pettingill,
Barbara Schwartz,
Ivan Quinlaven,
Everett Van DerPool.

Scientific Course
Kenneth George Haggerty.

Elective Course
Bernice Brown,
Ruth Brown,
Theresa May Ellis,
Herbert Rhodes.

Four Year Commercial Course
Burton Cohoon,
Helen Marie Kraus,
Irene Raymond Fish,
Dorothy Tjeerdsma.

GEORGE B. BRAND
Member Board of Education

High School Honors

The class honors were announced by Supt. Schwartz: valedictorian, Alfred Lindsay Taylor with an average of 94.3; Miss Ethel Allegra Thomas, salutatorian with an average of 94.1. Miss Nellie Gilchrist, their 92.2.

The average of the class was 82.7 and the regents average 75.7.

The Citizen feels a special pleasure and pride in the honor won by Mr. Taylor form the fact that for four years of his High School course, he has been in the employ of the Citizen Pub. Co., working before and after school and during the summers; he has mastered the printing trade and qualified himself to learn a living at the same time that he has gone to the head of his class in High School; this makes his high scholastic honor the more honorable. It is due to Mr. Taylor to say also that the natural suspicion that the well known prohibition sympathies of the editor of the Citizen and the exceedingly able treatment of that subject by Mr. Taylor are cause and effect has no justification whatever. Not a word passed between Mr. Taylor and the editor on the subject. The young man is entirely competent to prepare his oration without any assistance and we do not doubt but he did so. We make this statement because we have already been questioned by more than one person regarding it. Just the same we are highly pleased with the able and earnest manner in which Mr. Taylor treated the timely subject and we shall not dock his wages at all. He had a close run for miss Thomas was only 1-5 of 1 per cent behind him. That is pretty close work and it is evident that if Mr. Taylor is going to maintain his place ahead of the girls he will have to get up early every morning and keep his running boots in first class condition. Miss Thomas also treated a present day moral question, that of Sunday Movies, and handled it with a fairness and conclusiveness which evidently impressed those who possibly did not agree with her.

Exercises of High Character

The music was especially good. Its high quality was generally remarked. The High School orchestra opened and closed the program with well rendered selections under the leadership of Miss Flint whose fine taste and strong leadership were evident. Roger Whittemore, Ilion's young virtuoso, delighted the audience with his masterly rendering of Viotti's Concerto No. 22 and modestly refused the repeated recall so heartily given him. The Girls' Glee Club sang well two choruses. Rev. E. D. Barnses offered prayer and pronounced the benediction. Prof. Schwartz in presenting the diplomas spoke briefly but impressively, expressing the hope that in the changing conditions and opinions of these war days there had been something in the school years now closing that would remain for steadiness and safety and character in the heart of every member of the class.

And so graduated the Class of 1919 of the Ilion High School. It is a good class. It has been a good year. Board, Faculty and Community have a right to congratulate themselves upon their splendid schools.

The Social Affairs

The social side of commencement was as brilliant and as beautiful as the roses of the month of June. The Junior Prom and the Senior Dance lead to the Alumni Ball; all were delightful occasions; the reunions of old friends were many and the hours were merry and happy.

The Alumni Association

The officers of the Alumni Association elected for the coming ear are: President, Dr. Lewis P. Jones, 1911; first vice president, J. Lyman Golegly (sic), 1916; second vice president, Miss Antoinette Stone, 1915; third vice president, Burt D. Hawks, 1914; secretary and treasurer, Arthur Shepard, 1914.

The retiring president J. Lyman Gollegly of Utica has been active and efficient, and his efforts have been appreciated was shown by a rising voice of thanks.