Plenty of activities in schools in 1941

Our sentimental journey today is taking us to 1941 for a look at what was going on in our schools.

Our first item started with this headline: “Edison School Pupils Celebrate Close of Successful Sales Drive,” followed by this smaller headline: “Funds from Magazine Campaign To Provide Library Books and Special Assemblies.”

Money realized from the annual magazine subscription drive at the Thomas A. Edison Junior High school will be placed in a fund to provide special assemblies and some will be used to purchase books for the school library.

An assembly celebrating the end of the drive was conducted Friday, at which time Mr. And Mrs. J. Russell MacInnes of Shelbyville, Ind, known professionally as The Larcher Duo, gave a program of classical and semi-classical music. The program was made possible from the special library fund. Preceding the program Arthur Watt of the Senior Hi-Y club conducted devotions.

A summary of the magazine drive was made at the close of the talent program, with the distribution of “Mag Flash,” a daily newspaper which the journalism class published for eight days in connection with the drive. Daily tabulation of results was made on a large bulletin board showing home room standings and gains made toward each room’s quota. The board was made by Joseph Petrich, mechanical drawing teacher, assisted by a group of boys in his class, Donald Allen, Don Bailey, Loyal Barnhart, George Chambers and Herbert Phillips.

The home room of junior boys of Harold Markin was the winning home room group, topping their quota by 540 percent. Second and third place winners were Miss Jessie Henderson’s seventh grade home room with 505 per cent and the library girls, a ninth grade group in charge of Miss Ethel Garn, librarians, with 404 per cent. Eight rooms went over 100 per cent of their quota, the rooms taught by Misses Ruth Harden, Louise Gracely, Charlotte Liewellyn, Jeannette Powers, Mary Gracely, Trolla Klopfenstein, and Mary Jo Stafford and Lamoyne Green.

The winning home room was given an ice cream party Thursday at the school, to which all those who assisted in the campaign were invited. Virginia Bain, member of the library group who turned in the most money of any of the pupils, was presented a large box of candy by Miss Stafford, journalism teacher. Other high salesmen were Grace Crizer, Donald Freese, Ed Call, Billy Rawlins, Ruth Basford, Bill Trafzer, Betty Kreuger, Paul First, Jean McCaulley, Lida Nolfi, Helen Rengert, Jane Lindenberg, Glenn Cornelius, Alvin Boger, Eugene Pletcher, Wills Lamb, Sammy Martin, Anna Ratterman, Billy McCaulley, Janis Brabson, Bob Limbert, Bonnie Musgrave, Helen Williamson and Norma DeSanto.

Our next item appeared in the Marion Star April 2, 1941, with this headline: “Harding Athletes Get Awards,” followed by this smaller headline: “Letters and Numerals Given Basketball Squad in Banquet Program.”

Marion Harding athletes active with Coach Dewey N. Bohyer’s 1940-41 basketball team were honored guests at an award banquet held Tuesday night at Harding Hotel.

Varsity letters were presented to Charles Smith, Gerald Strauss, Loren Willoughby, Pete Bascos, Clayton Gifford, LeRoy McGinnis, Howard Gilbert, all seniors, and Gene Shellhorn, Day Hurst and Charles Roberts, juniors. They will also receive gold basketball charms in recognition of winning the co-championship of the North Central Ohio conference. Varsity members elected Loren Willoughby honorary captain.

Members of the junior varsity receiving numerals are Bill Stein, Charles Bowers, Bob Whitcum, Bob Messenger, Bob Smith, Dick Mulvaine, Richard Cleary, Tom Hurst, Keith Williams, Bill Shipley and Richard Augenstein.

Clyde Everly received a service letter, Jack Ruth was awarded a varsity manager’s letter and four cheerleaders, Homer Frost, Jean Dixon, Doris Utz and Marjorie Callahan, received senior awards.

Presentations were made by Coach Bohyer. He introduced Bill Williams, assistant basketball and head football coach. George Niemi, assistant football and head track coach and O. H. P. Snyder, Harding principal, all of whom spoke briefly.

Among other guests were Superintendent E. E. Holt, Dr. R. T. Morgan, C. C. Roberts, J. E. Frew, Elmer Smith, Roy Everly, Homer Hoffman, Russell Dunlap, L. G. Jones, E. Paul Huffman, J. Eugene Auld, Howard Hoffman, John Fries, T. D. Bain, A. F. Lantzer, D. W. Wilson and J. H. Smith.

And so, I must add, what an impressive showing by our students and our staff of teachers and coaches.

Phil Reid writes about history in Marion County.