The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1947-06-19
Graduation Day-1sO7

Graduation is always big event in
a persons life and there is always
plenty of hard work and fun for
everybody. This year of 1947 found
SAG students receiving diplomas at
the Hagerstown High School.
Forty years ago, in June of 1907,
there were just "a, and that num-
Der, of which % were girls and II
were boys, included the entire num-
Der of graduates in Washington
County - Hagerstown having the
only High School in the County at
that time.
Members of this class were:
Misses, Jane c. Albert, Mar
garet Beachley, Mary S. Bostetter,
Maud c. Chopper, Regina Feighy,
Ruth c. Fiery, Esther M. Fihfrock,
Clara M. Harley, lone Johnson,
Helen r. Kohler, Leila NJ Line,
Clara M. Mckee, Ruth B. Mentzer,
F. Louise Middlekauff, Edna F. Nc
Millen, M. Lillian Mobley, Edna M.
Needy, Nellie Sprecher, Kittie
Startzman, Exile Stephey, Maude E.
Strife, F. May Wishard, Mary D.
Wishard Messrs. John d. Coffman,
D. Webster Groh, Jr., D. Harrison
Hunter, Lawrence c. Mccoy, E.
Lester Mobley, Charles w. Plum
mer, Wilbur c. Plummer, Fred w.
Rouzer, S. Robert Shafer, E. Leroy
Smith, Louis Strock.
Of the thirty-four who graduated,
thirty are still living.
The girls and boys attended sepa-
rate schools. The Girls High School
was located at Broadway and the
Boys High School in the old Acad-
envy Building This was the last
year the boys attended school at
that place as in. 1908 they were
moved to the new Surrey School.
One of the graduates of this class,
Ruth Mentzer, served as a nurse
with the armed forces during the
last war at Guam, Hawaii, and the
Philippines. While in the PHILIPPINES
she visited China and Japan.
In those days students spent but
three years in High School. Books
were free, but there was small fee
of $12 per year charged each stu
dent. Each class was allowed to
choose its own colors, this class
choosing green and white for theirs.
There weren't any High School
rings, only pins, these being gold,
with class colors in enamel, and the
initials HIS. on them.
Newspaper stories of graduations
in the old days read very much like
the ones of today l have clipping
from the Globe, just after gradu-
alton in 1907, which might be mis-
taken for the description of a much
more recent commencement if the
class number in the first sentence
were changed. Here it is:
HIGH SCHOOL
COMMENCEMENT
Academy of Music Completely
Filled With Relatives And
Friends.
The 29th annual commencement
of the Washington County High
School was held Tuesday night In
the Academy of Music, which was
crowded beyond its capacity. Long
before the doors were opened a
large crowd stood outside waiting.
In a short time the theatre was COM
pletely filled. Not only was every
seat occupied, but all available
standing space was taken. The ex-
ercises reflected great credit upon all
who participated.
The decorations were pretty and
elaborate. The stage was profusely
draped with the class colors, Nile
green and white. Three arches in
the rear were decorated in these
colors. The center arch contained
a large class pin lighted with cleo
trio bulbs In the smaller arches at
either side were class pins made of
box wood and daisies. Alternate
strips of white and green covered
the sides of the stage. In front were
daisy-covered pedestals. A rope OF
daisies extended across the front.
The program as published In
Tuesdays Globe was admirably
rendered.
The distribution of the diplomas
was made by Rev. DR.. c. Clever,
who made an interesting address, In
which he said that what America
needs today was a generation of
home-lovers.
The John Mcpherson Scott prize
of $40 in gold, given by DR.. ]. McP.
Scott, as memorial to his deceased
son, was awarded to Joseph w. By
ron, sophomore of the c Class,
for fidelity to duty.