The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-07-01
Conrad Shearer Tells of Advance of the
Schools of Kenosha and Toastmaster
Judge Elrick Cole Calls on Many
for Short Responses.
"HOME AGAIN; HOME AGAIN.
From O foreign shore;
And O, 1T fills n,y heart aCitb jog,
TO greet my friends once more"

The reunion of the students of the
Kenosha High School held on Saturday
afternoon proved the most notable in
the history of the association and when
it closed late in the afternoon the great
crowds of former Kenosha boys and
girls returning to other cities carried
the happiest possible memories of the
day.
After an automobile trip about the
city, covering all the paved streets, the
scum. Here, three hundred sixty strong,
including half the membership of the
Board Of Education, they took their
places around many beautifully decor
ated tables. G. Fillmore Starkweather,
of the class of '61, mounted the ros-
trum and led the singing of that well
known song, Home Again" To the
younger members it was an inspiration
to note the earnestness with which the
early classes entered into the spirit of
the old hymn. Rev. S. j. Vinegar of
fered the invocation, after which the
assemblage was seated and for an hour
busted themselves with refreshments
and group discussions of the days of
long ago. The program opened with an
address by the president, Conrad Shear
er, who said:
"On behalf of the Kenosha High
School Association, there devolves upon
me today the very pleasant duty of
welcoming you to this, our thirteenth
biennial reunion. To the members
from other cities, / can truly say that
your presence makes this gathering com
plete To you who were boys and girls
in Kenosha IS schools half century ago
this home coming brings an endless
flood of memories. Pleasant, yes, many,
and yet there must be some tinged
with sadness.
Comparing our high school of today
with that of twenty years ago, we noted
many marked changes. My class, that
Of 1895, numbered twelve members;
the class of 1915, forty-six In January,
1892, the entire enrolment was seven
ty; the past year it reached within
twenty of the FIVE hundred mark. In
the early '90's, the faculty comprised
a principal and two assistants; the fac
ulty has increased in the same ratio as
has the attendance.
During the past quarter Of a century.
Kenosha has attained a wonderful
growth. It is within the memory of
many of our younger citizens when
the tracks of the Chicago & Northwes-
tern Railway company were considered
the western city limits. You who have
enjoyed the automobile trip about the
city will agree with me that the good
old Southport of days gone by is bare
ly recognizable in our newer and great
er Kenosha. That such should be true
is partially due to natural causes. Lo-
cation is surely conducive to growth,
for Kenosha is the real "Gateway to
Wisconsin. = Those of foreign lands,
seeking the privileges of our free re-
public, land in New York. Many pro-
coed westward to Chicago, the great
metropolis of the middle west. Then
north by way of Kenosha to the Badger
state.
Ours is a city of homes of many ma
tionalities. We draw no line on creed,
color or station. Ours is a democratic
people, ready at all times to cooperate
along lines Of civic advancement. Ours
is 3 city of peace, and our hearts beat
today in unison with the guiding pulse
of the nation in all honorable efforts
to keep our country out of the world
great conflict. There is "OnIy One
Kenosha in the World.' We are proud
of her great achievements, her remark
able progress; we are proud of you who
return biennially to sit at this Alumni
banquet table Ours was the first free
school in the west, the pioneer of that
great movement. We speak with pride
when we say that today our schools are
second to none in the broad land.
Let me urge upon you all unswerv-
ing loyalty to Kenosha and her institu-
tions. Forward" the motto of our
great and prosperous state shall ever
be ours. Our flag, Long may it wave''
over our country, a free God-fearing
people. May it ever stand for justice
to all. The white speaks for the purity
of our purpose; the red, warning to
our foes; the blue field of stars, like
heaven S hope, Freedoms call for all
humanity"
Elrick Cole was introduced as toast
master. Judge Cole, who Travelled one
thousand miles to be present at the re-
union, introduced each speaker in an
appropriate and pleasing manner. V.