Ilion High School - Class of 1912

Ilion Citizen - June 27, 1912

CLOSE OF THE SCHOOLYEAR

Happy Graduates and Proud Parents Join With Worthy Instructors in Many Commencement Festivities

AND SO ENDS ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR AND SCHOOL LIFE

Article 1

The Ilion High School Marks Another Mile Stone in Its Successful and Honorable History

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This is commencement week in the Ilion schools; and a fairer week could not have been chosen. The hard work is done and with the summer days have come a release from study and. enjoyment of the social side of school life.

Reception to Juniors and Faculty

Interesting Events of the Commencement Season - The Class Play Was Presented - And the Names of Those Who 'Passed' the Awful Regents Ilion Has Reason to be proud of its Schools

Friday evening the seniors received the members of the faculty and junior class at Harter's Hall. The general effect of the decorations was beautiful, consisting of palms on the platform and numberless college and high school banners floating form the ceiling. The committee in charge had made its preparations so thoroughly that nothing occurred to mar the pleasure of the evening. Miss Perkins' Orchestra rendered music or dancing. The patronesses were Miss Douglas, Mrs. Schwartz, Mrs. Van Alystine, Mrs. Hakes, Mrs. Couglin, Mrs. Lewis, Mrs. Haller, Mrs. Bach, Mrs. Getman, Mrs. Ingersol, Mrs. Richardson and Mrs. Hamlin The committee in charge was Miss Helen Van Alstyne, Floyd C. Lewis, Miss Marie Couglin, Miss Jane Hakes and Arleigh D. Richardson.

Especially tasteful were the programmes which were inclosed in brass covers bearing the seal of the school and the figures '12 and suspended from cords of blue and gold, the class colors. The reception was given as a farewell by the seniors to those with whom they have been closely associated during their school years and was an event that will be long remembered.

During the year, a change of principals was taken place and Prof. Warren after a period of most efficient superintendency was succeeded a few weeks ago by Prof. H. M. Schwartz who is taking up the work with marked satisfaction to all concerned. During all the changes in superintendents, Miss Douglas, preceptress of the High school, remains at her post serving the school with an effectiveness which elicits the deep wrath of the students, the undivided approval of the graduates and the high admiration of the patrons of the school. It is one of the most fortunate features of our school live we have been able to retain the services of the preceptress so widely recognized as one of the best disciplinarians and most successful instructors in the state. It would be a pleasure if adjectives and space permitted to speak in detail of the merit of each individual teacher; they are capable of teaching force and everyone deserves individual mention for their good work; they are well maintaining the high reputation the Ilion schools have achieved in the past.

Inspiring Address to Graduating Class

A large audience convened in the M. E. church Sunday evening to hear the baccalaureate address to the graduating class by Rev. Calvin H. French. His sermon which was most inspiring and instructive was based on the subject, "Fair mindedness," and was taken from Heb.-11-26. --- "He looked away unto the payment of wages due," and he impressed upon the graduated the necessity of looking away from the attractions of the present hour to the final out come of conduct.

Commencement

The Grand Theater was crowded Wednesday evening with relatives and friends of the thirty students who have completed the academic course of the Ilion High School. The stage of the theatre presented a pretty appearance and showed much artistic skill on the part of the Juniors in arranging the flower decorations of ferns, daisies, and buttercups so as to harmonize so beautifully with the class colors, blue and gold.

As the curtain rose it showed the class of 21 young ladies and nine young men occupying the right of the stage, and the members of the faculty, the Board of Education on the left, and Rev. E. B. Topping and Rev. A. S. Brown.

Superintendent H. M. Schwartz introduced Rev. E. B. Topping who invoked the divine blessing. He was followed by the speakers of the evening as follows: Essay "Modern Chivalry," Helen Annie Hall; essay, "The Summer Camp," Ethel Cora Bach; music; essay, "The Beneficial Influence of the Theater," Marie Kathleen Coughlin; essay, "The Place of the Kindergarten," Gertrude Rosalind Smaltz; music; essay, "Public Play Grounds," Helen Hoffman Walrath; oration, "Government by Commission," Lyle Kirkland Bushnell; music.

Owing to illness Miss O'Brien was excused from speaking. Each speaker handled his or her subject in a most concise and interesting manner, and their delivery was excellent, receiving the hearty applause of their friends.

At the close of the oratorical portion of the program, Superintendent Harwood M. Schwartz addressed the members of the class and gave them much practical advice, urging them to work for success, not as a class but as individuals, and to be workers with push and power back of them to be able to do the right thing and stand up for what is right because they know it is right and not content to be wishers.

Mr. Schwartz announced that the first honors of the class were won by Miss Helen Hall with an average of 92.4 and Lyle Bushnell was awarded school honors with average of 90. The class average was 81.7. Also that Miss Elsie Whitney had won the D. A. R. prize of $5, her subject being "Marion and His Men."

The president of the Board of Education congratulated the class and presented them with their diplomas in the following order:

Scientific Diploma

Harry Francis Haller

Classical Diploma

Ethel Cora Bach
Isabell Hubbel Burke
Lyle Kirkland Bushnell
Annette Truman Chattaway
Frances Marion Getman
Jane Qualtrough Hakes
Helen Annie Hall
Fannie Melissa Harter
Floyd Clinton Lewis
Marguerite Fox Lewis
Kathleen Jane O'Brian
Arleigh Dygert Richardson Jr.
Virginia Ross
Gertrude Rosalind Smaltz
Helen Marguerita VanAlstyne
Helen Hoffman Walrath
Leroy Bentley Williams

English Diplomas

Marie Kathleen Coughlin
Ruth Janet Ferguson
Ellen Foothorape
Margaret Sophia Hamilton
Sara Jane Ingersoll
Gladys Maude Roberts

Elective Diplomas

Volney M. Becker
Elsie Marguerite Butterworth
Anna Cecelia Cronkhite
Ward Goodwin Gordon
Edgar Gale Hamlin
Ralph Lucy

The benediction was pronounced by Rev. A. S. Brown.

At the conclusion of the exercises class yells were given, and the members of the class received the congratulations of their friends.

Alumni Meeting

The annual meeting and banquet of the Alumni Association of the Ilion High school was held at Harter's Hall Wednesday evening. There was a large attendance of the girls and boys of other days and they all had a fine time.

At the business meeting the following officers were elected: President, Leo H. Powers; first vice president, Rome Worden; second vice president, Josephine Parker; third vice president, Ellen Foothorpe; secretary and treasurer, Floyd Avery.

Miss Rae Russell reported that the class of 1894 had subscribed $25 to apply on decorating the new High school: this money will be duplicated by the state. A committee of three were appointed to consider the advisability of admitting to the association all those who would have graduated previous to the first graduating class. This would include all those who attended the recent reception to Prof. Curtis. After the business meeting dancing was enjoyed.