Ilion High School - Class of 1909

Ilion Citizen - June 24, 1909

The Class of '09

Article 2

ILION HIGH SCHOOL ONCE MORE HONORS ILION.

Another Fine Class Graduates from the Good Old Ilion High School to the Great Credit of Teachers, Parents and Themselves

The School Year Closes in a Round of Delightful| Functions Which are Largely Attended

Ilion High School never closed a year more worthy than in June 1909. The class graduated this year are a strong and worthy lot of young ladies and gentlemen and reflect credit upon Ilion. Prof. Warren and his able assistants have done splendid work and deserve and receive the hearty appreciation of the community. Ilion has for long years had a deservedly high reputation for its schools and is proud that it is maintaining its high place.

The baccalaureate sermon was preached by Rev. A. S. Brown at the Baptist church Sunday evening before a large congregation consisting of the graduates, their families and friends, the faculty, the Board of Education and citizens.

Class Day

Monday was class day and was well and duly celebrated. The exercises were held in the opera house at 8 p. m. and were largely attended. The opera house was handsomely decorated banners and insignia of the various classes being prominent. The class mad a fine appearance on the stage, the juniors being prominent in the balcony.

The class song of intricate meter and astonishing rhyme was sung and followed by the address of the President of the Class, Harold Jarvis, who acquitted himself most creditably. Miss Grace Greenfield gave a fine rendering of the recitation, "The Day of Judgement." Miss Greenfield recently won the first prize for ladies in the closely contested rhetorical contest and her good work on this as well as the preceding occasion is a pleasure to her man friends.

Two scenes from the tragedy of Julius Caesar were then presented by Ray Shaul, Leland Quinlavin, James Fitzgerald, Westley Ingersoll, Arthur Roberts, Bernard Tracy and Clyde Knandel. Their work showed careful preparation and was well done; it was an exacting piece of work and most creditably performed.

A male quartette from the class, Knandel and Shaul tenors and Roberts and Russell basses, rendered a selection with marked acceptability. The closing number of the evening was a comedy, "The Three Chauffeurs" in which the characters were assumed by Rachel Jencks, Harold Russell, Fred King, Lulu Barnes, Olive Williamson, Gertrude Carney, Elizabeth Dutcher, Elizabeth Matthews, Jessie Pratt, Anna Kellner, Eva Hempstead, Blanche Burdick, Floy Brown, Blanche Ingalls, Harold Jarvis, Selena Houghton and May Jarvis. The comedy proved a comedy indeed and was highly enjoyed.

The High School Alma Mater was sung by the class and after the usual mellifluous class yells, the audience dispersed highly entertained.

Commencement

Tuesday evening the opera house was crowded again at the final assembly of the school year where the honors were announced and the fruits of good work distributed to those who had completed some of the various courses of study. The platform was occupied by the Board of Education, faculty, clergy and members of the Class of '09.

Fred King.

In "A Defense of the Indians," the original American, found a staunch defender in Mr. King the audience was highly pleased with the 'ment of the subject and the splendid delivery of the speaker.

Miss May Jarvis.

The thoughtless who find pleasure in denouncing all who have more than one dollar and twenty-five cents would probably not have liked Miss Jarvis; sensible and strong defense of "Andrew Carnegie's Use of His Money"; but it was a good oration, sensible and sound.

Westley Ingersoll.

A good subject, "The Corsican's Ambition," a wee written oration and a genuine belief in his theme carried Mr. Ingersoll into the high favor of hearers; it was an oration worthwhile.

Miss Laura Chandler.

The educational theme of the evening, "The Kindergarten," was conscientiously treated by Miss Chandler and its value and necessity urged with force and many pithy sentences like "It is much easier to form childhood than to reform manhood."

Harold Russell.

The fine presence, voice and delivery of Mr. Russell added to a well treated and timely subject, "The Power of a United People," caused many to give him the first place among the speakers of the evening; both matter and manner were of high order.

Miss Selena Houghton.

Miss Houghton was the hearts of her audience with her fine delineation of "What We Owe to New England"; she gave a strong and effective tribute to the eternal influence and value of the early colonial spirit and character.

James Fitzgerald.

"Scotland's Greatest Hero" was held by Mr. Fitzgerald to be William Wallace; the oration was finely written and splendidly delivered, being marred only by the unfortunate action of some of Mr. Fitzgerald's friends who in their effort to honor him dishonored both him and themselves.

All the orations were most creditable. The class is a record breaker in numbers and their name will be inscribed on the Rudd Membership Cup; they are also the first class to receive from Albany the graded diploma.

The honors of the class were earned by Westley Ingersoll, valedictorian, with a standing of 92.08; and by Fred King, salutatorian, with a standing of 90.01.

The diplomas were presented to the graduates by Dr. James I. Rasbach, a member of the Board of Education. The benediction was pronounced by Rev. H. E. Pike.

The training of the commencement speakers was under Prof. Samuel Porter and reflected credit upon him as an instructor in elocution.

The Graduation Class.

The class of 1909 is the largest in the history of the Ilion High School; it is especially creditable that of the 25 graduates, 15 are boys; the members are:

President, Harold Jarvis
Vice President, Jessie Pratt
Secretary, Mae Jarvis
Treasurer, Bernard Tracy

Blanche Burdick,
Blanche Ingals,
Laura Chandler,
Benjamnin Wheelock,
Eva Hempstead,
Harold Russell,
James Fitzgerald,
Anna Kelner,
Elizabeth Dutcher,
Raymond Shaul,
Selena Houghton,
Arthur Roberts,
Grace Greenfield,
Floy Brown,
DeWitt Brown,
Raymond Allston,
Clyde Knandel,
Earl Jones,
Olive Williamson,
Rachel Jencks,
Lillian Gould,
Leland Quinlavin,
Clyde Burch,
Lulu Barnes,
Gertrude Carney,
Westley Ingersoll,
Estella Hall,
Helen Hutchins,
Carl Byron.

Off to College.

As nearly as can be ascertained, the class of '09 will enter various higher educational institutions as follows: Harold Jarvis, Hamilton; Harold Russell, Boston School of Technology; Ray Shaul, Hamilton; Louise Chandler, Kindergarten Training School; Olive Williamson, Albany Business College; Grace Greenfield, Mt. Holyok; Clyde Knandel, Pennsylvania; Lillian Gould, Syracuse; Selena Houghton, Oswego Normal; Leland Quinlaven, Hamilton; Blanche Ingalls, Oberlin; Clyde Burch, Syracuse; Bessie Mathews, Troy Business College; James Fitzgerald, Hamilton; Gertrude Avery, Syracuse; Floy Brown, Northwester; Benj. Wheelock, Cornell; Earl Jones, State; Jessie Pratt, Occidental; Fred King, Colgate.