Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886

A Glimpse into High School Life, 1952

The following items are from the October and November issues of the 1952 Irene S. Reed High School weekly newspaper called The Saghalie.

The mirror in the boys' lavatory had disappeared and would not be replaced until "those responsible report to the janitor. The loss of the mirror has already inconvenienced many." With Halloween coming up, Mr. Hermes, school principal, put out the word that "High school students have had a good record on this count for several years. Keep it that way. Don't get some mark against you that may hurt in later years."

From the Editor's Weekly Column: "Which of the following would you like to do most and least? Be a cook, start an art museum or start an orchestra? No, I'm not going crazy. This is just an excerpt from the Kudor Vocational Preference Test, which is being given to all seniors by Mr. Packard."

Late in October, the homecoming committee was making plans for special activities for Nov. 6 and 7. "Stunt Night," on Thursday, would begin with an assembly in the auditorium. Entertainment would include three skits and "loads of various other talent by both alumni and students." Following the assembly, there would be a pep rally in the vacant lot at the corner of Railroad and Fifth, where an effigy of the Chehalis Bobcat - mascot of the Highclimbers' opponent in the homecoming game - would be burned in the traditional bonfire. The high school marching band would be featured at half time of the game on Friday night, and the Pep Club was sponsoring a dance to be held after the game.

Twenty members of the football team's "A squad" attended the University of Washington vs. California game in Seattle on Nov. 8. The trip included lunch aboard the Coast Guard cutter "Bering Strait" - the ship on which teacher Emmett Oliver had served during his time in the service. Tickets for the game had been provided by local merchants.

In mid-November, several students participated in the 21-hour search for a U.S. Navy plane that had crashed in the upper regions of the Skokomish Valley. The search was impeded by rain, snow and fog, as well as the jagged steepness of the hills. High school junior Roger Salmi told the Saghalie that "in many parts of the hills it was so steep that we had to crawl on our hands and knees." A group of Navy personnel eventually found the wreckage and recovered the bodies of all 11 crewmen.

In the annual Thanksgiving Basket drive, the Boys and Girls Clubs collected enough food to fill 35 baskets. The student committee leading the drive included Dave Loop, John Alger, Mura Carr, Lillian Johns, Billie Latzel, John Drebick and Bob Sallee. The Shelton Police Department provided transportation for delivering the baskets. A Thanksgiving assembly on Nov. 22, portrayed "in all seriousness the several phases of the history of this holiday." Junior Jack Butler, participating in the junior class skit, carried a squirrel gun that had been in his family for at least 116 years.

Seniors had until the day before Thanksgiving to vote on which graduation announcements they preferred from several that were on display in the student counselor's office. Each announcement had a number; the one that received the most votes would become the official graduation announcement for students to send to friends and family. Senior class adviser Miss Alma Burke reminded students that no one was compelled to buy announcements.

The Honor Society's Christmas card project was wrapping up in time for cards to be mailed on or about December 1. Miss Irene Burright's office-practice girls "undertook the tedious task of mimeographing the attractive home-made cards," which would be sent to school alumni serving in the armed forces in various parts of the world.

Jan Parker is a researcher for the Mason County Historical Museum. She can be reached at [email protected]. Membership in the Mason County Historical Society is $25 per year. For a limited time, new members will receive a free copy of the book "Shelton, the First Century Plus Ten."

 

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