Ilion High School - Class of 1879

Source pdf file is here Utica NY Daily Press 1929 - 3840 on fultonhistory.com

Class of 1879 Returns With Unbroken Ranks

Seven Members Reminisce When They Gather at the Ilion Event

Ilion, June 25 - Leaving the Ilion Academy on Morgan Street, 50 years ago, the seven members of the class of 1879, the fifth class to graduate, returned today with unbroken ranks to do honor to their alma mater and to reminisce of the school days of their youth and review the activities of the intervening half century. The members of the class were: George R. Russell, Ilion, class president; Mrs. Maude Cutler Brockway, Richfield Springs, valedictorian and class poet; Russell E. Shepherd, Jerome Idaho, salutatorian; Mrs. Flora Buck Bennett, Utica, historian; Mrs. Anna Johnson Hines, Norway; Rev. Emory I. Gorman, Florida City, Fla; Mrs. Florence Whitney Russell, Ilion.

Mr. Russell as the chairman 50 years ago was allowed to continue in office over today’s event and the plans arranged by him were most pleasant and complete. At 3 the class met at the home of Mr. Russell at 47 Third Street, where the afternoon was spent in a social time. If one could have been an eavesdropper, they would have learned that the student of the late 70s was up to as many pranks as those of the present day but in those days the rules in the hands of Prof. A. B. Poland proved the golden rule for future better behavior.

Mr. Russell as the chairman 50 years ago was allowed to continue in office over today’s event and the plans arranged by him were most pleasant and complete. At 3 the class met at the home of Mr. Russell at 47 Third Street, where the afternoon was spent in a social time. If one could have been an eavesdropper, they would have learned that the student of the late 70s was up to as many pranks as those of the present day but in those days the rules in the hands of Prof. A. B. Poland proved the golden rule for future better behavior.

At 3 o'clock the class met at the home of Mr. Russell, Third Street, where the afternoon was spent in a social time it was brought out that the pupils of 50 years ago were up to as many pranks as those of the present day. At 6 o'clock a dinner was served at St. Augustine's parish house.

In the evening the class attended the graduation exercises at the Capitol Theater. At the close of the senior class day program, Supt. E. P. Watkins extended greetings to the class.

Mr. Russell, as chairman 50 years ago, was allowed to continue in office over the day's event and arranged the program. An interesting souvenir of the reunion was a copy of the program of the graduation exercise of 1879.

Members of the early classes now living are: Class of 1873, the first graduating class, Mrs. Elizabeth Hoefler Draper, Pasadena, Calif; Misses Ella M. and Harriet Russell, Ilion class of 1873, Mrs. Margaret Hotaling Scriber, Ilion; Mrs. Hattie Finlayson Lathrop.

Class of 1876, Mrs. Clara Ausman Christie, Ilion; William Parker Lewis, Brooklyn; Mrs. Ida Eaton Bugbee, Ilion and Mrs. Clara Vincent Kemble, Utica; class of 1878, Mrs. Marion Irlam Hakes, Ilion; Miss Mary J. Hunt, Frankfort; Miss Carrie Richardson and Dr. Jennie M. Richardson of Ilion.