Ilion High School1909 Senior Class HistoryAs reported in the "1909 Senior Annual"
Four long years ago in the year nineteen hundred and five, on a day always to be remembered, we entered the portals of this school. The student body was assembled for morning exercises and our appearance created no little fun and amusement. With very little ceremony we were stowed away in the annex in spite of the fact that our class was the largest that had ever been enrolled. Though our class was graced by several geniuses, we received very little notice from the upper classmen.
The first important event in our school life was a class-meeting which was the first and last during our freshman year because of the intrusion of Miss Douglas. Nevertheless, things went on peacefully and the first year drew rapidly to a close. lt was then that we lost exactly seventeen of our initial number of seventy-two, among whom were Lucius Cook and Freda Crulkshank.
In the fall of 1906 we returned as gay and happy Sophomores. The monotony of this term was broken by rhetoricals under Mr. Springstead and another class-meeting which, as before, was adjourned by our principal. Soon after, an entertainment given by the English classes, several participants of which were members of our illustrious class, proved the most enjoyable event in our second year. A German play was also held in which a number of our classmates played the role of German school children. So, as in our first year, time slipped swiftly away, and with the closing of the term, several more of our members parted from us.
With our numbers now reduced to forty two, we again gathered together in the fall of 1907, for a year that was to be crowded with many happy and joyous events, as jolly juniors. We were at once over whelmed with rehearsals for the Junior recitals. Our interrupted class-meetings were again continued. Here, Leland Quinlavin had to be constantly squelched while Kent McGowan was continually rising to second motions made by Grace Callan. However, much work was accomplished, the class officers were elected, the class colors chosen and our beloved banner made.
The time after this was generously filled with recitals and "feeds."
After Xmas and the dreaded Regents examinations were passed, another class meeting was held in which plans for the junior sleighride and banquet were made and completed. At the Lake House in Middleville this event passed off successfully and was greatly enjoyed by all.
After a brief respite of two months, the voice of the clanging bell in the tower again summoned us back to duty. We entered the portals of our Alma Mater for our last term as haughty and world-wise Seniors. Despite our cloak of dignity and the consciousness of added years since we last gathered together, we mounted the stairs with some haste and not a little trepidation to view the rejuvenated faculty. Instead of the tall, fierce looking professor, whom, from past experience, we had imagined as the instructor in history, we were introduced to a short, dapper little fellow, Mr. Porter. Close by stood a slim, demure girl with an exceedingly winning smile. This we, at once, decided was our new class member, Jessie Pratt from Albany, of whom we had all heard. Imagine our surprise when we went forward to welcome her into our midst, to be presented to our future Latin teacher, Harietta Amelia March. We were now rushed through the formalities of an introduction to another beaming lady whose, "Ach! delighted," assured us of her vocation as instructor in languages. In the doorway of the mathematics room stood a tall, slender and quiet woman with a welcoming smile. This, by the process of elimination, we decided was our teacher in mathematics. Somewhat dazed, we secured our seats, but the well-remembered and familiar faces of our preceptress, together with those of Mrs. Davies and Miss Hendrix, soon reassured us. Work was begun at once and we soon found ourselves well established in the old regime. Within a short time a class-meeting was held, but, owing to the return of many German papers, a large number of our classmates were not qualified as Seniors. Officers for the ensuing term, nevertheless, were elected.
Winter soon gave place to Spring. The heavy skirts of the girls and the stiff corduroys of the boys were replaced by sheath gowns and well creased trousers. The hockey stick and puck gave way to the ball and bat; the skiis to the golf niblick; the skates and the polo game to canvas shoes and tennis. But all these signs of summer impressed the more upon our minds the fact that the end of the first great epoch in our lives was rapidly approaching. We awakened to find that we were facing Commencement with not a little trepidation and fear that was not unmixed with sorrow.
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