Ilion High School - Class of 1950

Herkimer Evening Telegram - April 26, 1950

Ilion High School Students Launch A Literary Magazine,"Golden Quill"

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Photo Caption - THE GOLDEN QUILL staff, publication of Ilion High School, examine the final results of their first edition. Editor-in-chief Sylvia Reed (seated) talks things over with her business manager, Mary Alice Mosher, left, and Marian Dashner, managing editor. (Telegram Staff Photo)

Ilion High School Students Launch A Literary Magazine,"Golden Quill"

Ilion - The April issue of the Ilion High School Golden Quill, out today, represents another milestone for the staff of the mimeographed scholastic publication, recently named "All-New York" by the Empire State School Press Association.

This month's Quill is volume 1 of a literary magazine which the staff hopes to publish once each semester as a vehicle for creative writing by students.

With the exception of feature space given over to fashions, etiquette, humor, quiz games and crossword puzzle, the entire publication is devoted to short stories, poems and essays.

The editorial staff, under Editor-in-chief Sylvia Reed, launched the experimental issue with the following preface:

First To Be Published

"This issue of the Golden Quill is the first magazine ever to be published in Ilion High School. We hope that it will be enjoyed and well received in the school and community. The Quill hopes a new tradition has been established and that future staffs will also publish magazines to stimulate creative writing. The Quill wishes to thank the students who have contributed to the success of this magazine."

In deference to the popular appeal of romantic fiction, make-up editors awarded to lead position to "The Earthquakers," a World War II adventure story by Joseph Edwards, a senior. Illustrations are by Robert Huyck, a newcomer to the staff.

Other non-staff contributors are Ann Barnes, Robert Loomis, Judith Currier, Sylvia Leistyna, James Bracken, Maureen Schryer and Donald Thom, all students in the junior high school, and William Best, Margaret Wagner and Barbara Brown, seniors.

Staff members contributed heavily to the magazine's contents as well as to its editorial polish. Miss Reed is represented by a column entitled "Friendship," while the etiquette, fashion and humor sections appear under the respective by-lines of exchange editor Maxine Smith, managing editor Marian Dashner and humor editor Peggy Russell. Other staff contributors are: Mary Alice Mosher, business manager; JoAnn Wilson, art editor; Frances Sanders, feature editor, and cub reporter Ana Alvia.

Poll Student Opinion

In a unique effort to poll student opinion on civic matters affecting Ilion youth, the editors have included s cut-out ballot on which students may vote for or against proposed construction of a municipal swimming pool in the Weber Pond area south of the high school building. Rough plans for such a pool were submitted to the village board several weeks ago by the Ilion Recreation Commission with the request that the board sanction a referendum on a bond issue to cover construction costs, estimated at about $50,000. The new pool would replace the present municipal pool in South Ilion, which the commission considers obsolete from the standpoint of size and accessibility.

This month's quill also scores a "first" for the production staff, who turned out its pages on a new mimeographing machine purchased early this month. All personnel of the publication are pitching in to finance the "press" with proceeds from the sale of such varied items as baked goods and stationery.

Energetic Teen-agers

Responsible for the past and current success of the Quill is a group of 26 energetic teen-agers whose efforts are directed by Miss Nellie Schmidt, high school English teacher and faculty member.

Staff members in addition to those mentioned above, are: Sports editors, Alan Momberger and Robert Getman; photographer, Robert Boucher; production editors, Jean Nelson, Carol Hathaway and Doris Wheeler, associate humor editors, Nancy Harter and Mathilda Faulkner; alumni editors, Mary Jane Damon and Georgette Dayton; artist, Barbara Jarvis, and production workers, Betty O'Bryan, Janice Ingersol, Rosemary Thibault, Janet Brown, Dorothy Kidder and Shirley Deller.