100 years ago, the Williamsburg High School Class of 1924 was entering their last semester, looking toward graduation in June. Curious about what school life was like for the students? The “Tattler”, the school yearbook, tells us. The 1924 “Tattler” was only the second volume. It was dedicated to Helen E. James, for her generosity to the school and the community. The foreward tells us “We feel that its publication is now past the experimental stage and, we hope, has become an established custom.” And it did last—until 1971 when the last Burgy High class graduated.
There were 17 students in the senior class: Richard Breckenridge, Mary Burke, Millie Dansereau, Donna Emrick, Fredrick Field, Alice Graves, Alma Graves, Eleanor Mansfield, Flora Manwell, Francis Manwell, Edward Schuler, Ruth Smart, Lucy Smith, Daisy Waite, Ruth Waite, Charles Watling and Wenonah Webb.
The junior class had 19, there were 10 in the sophomore class and 17 freshmen. The students had full school and extracurricular activities including baseball and basketball, music, creative writing, debate, dances, dramatic presentations, and more. The 1923-24 school year saw the first school newspaper, and of course the yearbook.
The final page of the 1924 “Tattler” provides the humorous “W. H. S. Directory” of the school:
A is for Alvan, our wee Goshen lad.
B is for the Bobbies, who never are sad.
C stand for Carrol, South Street’s sweet belle.
D is for David, who stories can tell.
E is for Edwin, who drives a Nash 4.
F is for Freddie, who never gets sore.
G is for Goodie, who never is good.
H is for Hazel, who would if she could.
I is just for I, of whom I’m quite proud.
J is for Josephine, with voice never loud.
K is for Kempkes, oh my what a flirt.
L is for Lizzies, Lassies, quite pert.
M is for Merrifield, a teacher we know.
N is for Nash fore’er on the go.
O is for zero, of which all get a share.
P is for plenty, with zero a pair.
Q is for question, part of a test.
R is for reports, which never give rest.
S is for session, held at a quarter to three.
T is for trouble, with session you see.
U for yourself, of whom you have heard.
V is for verdict, P. M. session word.
W is for Watling, who has many a toy.
X is for wrong, not exactly a joy.
Y is for youngsters, Freshies you know.
Z is the end, so now let us go.
Start the new year right and come into Meekins—you never know what you will find! And if it is too snowy—visit us online and connect to the world. Here you can browse copies of the “Tattler”, preserved in the Local History Collection or connect to the “Tattlers” via Meekins online. Take a look and see all the students who were in Burgy High in 1924. Enjoy visiting with every graduating class from 1923 through 1971 and reading about their activities reported in the “Tattler” over the years. Meekins is your community library. Happy New Year to All. Daria D’Arienzo, Meekins Archivist. #throwbackthursday; #tbt.
Posted to Facebook 12/28/2023
