How many people do you know who attended our
sister high school, North High? Plenty, probably—friends, relatives or parents.
The story below is being told by student Claire Haight about some of the things
the North High A Seniors did during their high school career to build up their
social standing. Starting in chronological order from the beginning, meaning
when they were juniors.
Our first social event in high school was a
Hard Time Mixer on November 5, 1914 in the girl’s gymnasium. Dancing took up
most of the evening. The happy crowd departed at the final hour, 11 p.m., with
the strains of Home Sweet Home. Although most of us were a little bashful, we started our social activities
with plenty of “pep.”
A skating party was our last B Junior event
and was held on a cold dreary night, January 29, 1915. We skated at North
Commons, with Miss Mc Almon as chaperone, until we were exhausted. Most of us
were carried to the school, where hot lunch revived us.
There was one social event which Jack
Bleecker will probably remember as long as he lives. That was the Box Lunch
Party, which was held April 7, 1915 in the usual place, the girl’s gym. The
girls prepared box lunches and auctioned them off in the lunch room. Jack
Bleecker was the “goat.” When an innocent box, filled with wieners, dog
biscuits and limburger cheese was held up for auction, Jack drew it, much to
his sorrow. After watching Jack consume said lunch, we departed, mostly for
home.
Next was the Class Picnic. It was held June
20, 1915 at Minnehaha Falls. Our chaperones were Mrs. Bleecker, Mr. and Mrs.
Gisselquist, and Mrs. Mott. The main feature of the picnic was the “eats” to
which everyone did justice. Baseball and races featured the afternoon program.
A cloudburst along toward dark sent most of the class scampering for shelter,
which, for most of us, was home.
A masquerade was our first Senior party and
was probably the most successful social event ever given in the gym. It was
held November 20, 1915 and about 90 members of the class turned out, all
dressed in “nifty” costumes. Leon Bakst certainly did not have anything on us
for color schemes, for there were clowns, milk maids, dancers and hoboes
galore. The evening was spent in dancing and playing games, after which we
adjourned to the lunch room. You know what happened there.
Then
there was the Junior Ball. You’ve sure got to hand it to the Juniors when it
comes to staging Junior balls. They gave the Seniors one of the finest
receptions put on for some time at the girl’s gymnasium. It was held January 7,
1916. The committee worked more than a month getting things ready. The colors,
green and white, predominated in the decorations. The Grand March was led by
Miss Wilson. Gladys Dahl distributed programs which called for 12 dances.
Music was furnished by remnants of the North
High Orchestra.
The patrons and patronesses were Mr. Hobbs,
Miss Wilson, Miss Henry, Mr. Craig, Mr. Robbins, Mr. Williams, Mrs. Wilkinson,
Mrs. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Amland, Mr. and Mrs. Dahl, Mr. and Mrs. Kelly, Mrs.
Weber and Mr. Stanchfield.
The arrangements for the reception were in
the hands of the following B and A Juniors: Howard Stanchfield, Earl Rydell,
Florence Weber, Howard Amland, Gladys Dahl and Winslow Kelly. The Seniors have
since thanked those who were in charge of the Junior Ball for the time shown
them on this January night.
And then finally, we have the Mid-Winter
Picnic. This was held January 29, 1916. If you don’t think there are any
cold-blooded boys and girls in our class you should have been at that picnic,
chaperoned by Miss Henry and Mr. Wi1liams. With the temperatures hovering way
below the zero mark, the boys and girls appeared in their summer costumes and
had a great time in the gym.
So now
you know what kind of fun our older friends and relatives had back then. It is
just natural to compare it in our minds to what kind of events we have in our
schools today. Remember, this was 98 and 99 years ago!
Note: Taken from the 1916 Polaris