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Perhaps by this time you readers will agree with him. "May the Plaindealer staff enjoy its centennial year and all former and present teachers in McHenry have a happy Bicentennial year "Arline Harrison Pearson" Of Many AUGUST 6. 1975 PLAINDEALER CENTENNIAL EDITION PAGE 11 Years Ago CLASS OF 1908 - f rom left, back row, Ray Page and William Gallagher; sealed, Sadie Hobart and Gertrude Neiss. *%, CLASS OF 1920 - This is the MCHS class of 1920. In front row, from left, are Robert L. Weber, William Brunswick, George Barbian, Supt. Oswell Treadway, Frank Doherty, Harvey Nye and Clarence Niesen; top row, from left, Mary Smith, Genevieve Carey, Rosemary Nye, Blanche Meyers, Kathleen O'Reilly, Elsie Vycital and Jennie Mae Cooley. 50TH REUNION CLASS OF 1920 - At their fiftieth reunion in 1970, these members of the 1920 class were pcafent: Front row, from left, Kathleen O'Reilly, Rosemary Nye, Elsie Vycital and Mary Smith; in back, Jennie Mae Cooley, Harvey Nye and George Barbian. CLASS OF 1913 ~ The MCHS class of 1913 received diplomas May 27 in the Central Opera House, McHenry. In front row are Frances Welch, Neil Doherty and Inez Bacon; in back, from left, Genevieve Knox, Kathryn Buch, Lora Smith, Elsie Smith, Mary Burke and Agnes Tesch. CLASS OF 1915 - Members of the 1915 graduating class of McHenry high school are shown above. Seated, left to right in the front row, are Irene Burr, Mary Bonslett, Irene Vasey, Lenore Freund and Laura Barbian; standing, Clara Frisby, Guy Bacon, Germer Petesch, Francis Bonslett and Jane Owen. McHenry School Bus Service GROWING FLEET - In comparison to the year 1948, the public school districts of McHenry in 1975 send more than forty buses on the road daily to transport students. These five buses were delivered this Spring, newest of the fleet. Teachers Remember Education Through The Years "To the Plaindealer: "I started teaching years ago, in rural schools around. "But as time passed and years went by, with experience, I found "My interest was in primary work, so in Landmark, first grade I applied -- "That was the year that Eleanor Foley became a happy bride. "Mr. Duker was superintendent then, of high school and of grade. "His tasks were many -- his work the best - a wonderful boss he made! "The year was 1929 -- Mr. Schoenholtz came that year, too. "Mrs. Rulien, our nurse, remembered well, was at that time quite new. "New folks movedJin -- our school grew fast -- new problems we had to face. "The way that our attendance grew, we knew we'd neec more space. "So Kindergarten and my first grade were moved across the street. "The little white house up on the hill became our new retreat. "The new Edgebrook school opened its doors in 1951. "And visitors came from miles around, after Open House had begun. "Mrs. Foley was our principal -- a favorite of us all. "She kept teachers and parents happy -- and children most of all. "A P.T.A. was organized -- they kept our needs in view. "Edgebrook progressed successfully and oh how fast it grew! "To take care of the surplus, they built Hilltop and Valley View. "Before too long these schools were filled to their capacity, too. "My teaching career ended, when I retired in '62. "But the contacts that I made those years were most inspiring , too. "I 've many happy memories of the pupils I have had "And the hopes of the successes of many a lass and lad. "Genevieve Knox" TWO BUSES IN 1948 - Above photo shows one of the two school buses in operation in 1948. There are now over forty buses serving McHenry schools. The driver above is Mike Pitzen. Standing with him in front of bus are Douglas, Sandra and Ron Glosson. Inside is Bob Bykowski.1 ~ ^ MEMORIES "I have many happy memories of the years I spent as a Kindergarten teacher, and as a student in District 15-- nineteen and one-half years as a teacher and ten years a student. "I cherish the friendships I have made with parents, fellow teacher);, and the many little folks "it was my privilege to start on their journey of education. "Shopping is made more pleasant, yes I even forget the high prices when I meet Mothers, Dads and my "little girls and boys, many of them parents themselves now. (Continued from page 10) wholly unfortunate for the community. "McHenry did possess and I 'm sure still possesses many rich and wholesome souls. It was our privilege to absorb something of their spirit. We had many friends, whose memories we cherish. We have many friends among the younger men and women of McHenry today, who in a sense grew up under our tutelage. "iti receiving my greetings as a corporation, -will you be kind enough to pass them along to the people of McHenry. Mrs. Fisher joins me in extending to you our sincerest congratulations. "Cordially. "E C. Fisher "Supt. of Schools. • Peoria" "I started my teaching career in the Cherry Valley school and spent two happy years here. Fall and Spring were beautiful. But Winter was another story. We were in our own little world. The snow was deep. The only person we would , see passing the school all day would be James Sayler in a bob sleigh delivering the mail. Clarence Draper would come in a sleigh for all of us at closing time. I stayed with the Drapers when roads were bad. 1 have remained very close to the families I had during those two years. 1 am invited to the Anderson family picnic in August and plan to attend. "Then 1 came to Ringwood and taught the primary grades for twelve years. "1 was then a mother and homemaker for twelve years as we had a little school of our own with two pupils. Jack and Jim. "While teaching in the rural schools we used to have Township Exercises in the Spring. Each school would take part and the eighth graders would receive their diplomas. One year my little folks had a Rhythm band, cute little costumes and all. Joe Schmitt, the custodian at M.C.H.S., loved by all students, met me on the street as it was near the time for planning for another year and asked ' me if we wouldn't give* a repeat per­ formance. which we did. "Another year each school was to represent a month of thes year in a little operetta. We were to be June and so we had a "Wedding". I have never heard "I Love You Truly" sung so sincerely as George Whiting sang it at 6 years. "Alter twelve years at home, Mr. Duker appeared at our door one morning. He ex­ plained that Mrs. Lenore CooIq^' the kindergarten teacher, had been ill and the kindergarten had been closed. He had a letter from the state that morning saying State Aid would be lost if the kin­ dergarten was not reopened. Well, you have guessed it, I did come* back. That was the beginning of my kindergarten days. 1 loved it, I felt like "Little Goody Two Shoes", a story in the old readers of a little girl who played school and was the teacher. "The next fall I returned to teach kindergarten for a half day class at Landmark. 1 shared a first grade room which was divided with Eleanor Foley. "The next fall we moved across the street to the little white house where Lenore Cooley and I had four kin­ dergarten classes. I spent five years here. Mary Harvey took Lenore's place when she went over to Edgebrook to teach a third grade. "Soon the enrollment in kindergarten made it necessary for more rooms. The board decided two kin­ dergarten rooms were to be added at Edgebrook. Mary Harvey and I made many trips with our superintendent, Mr. Duker, viewing kindergarten rooms and deciding what we would recommend for ours. ' , 'Once again we moved! Mr. Duker thought we could perhaps move most of the supplies, etc., by cars. Alas, Herman Dowe made several trips with his truck getting us moved. "The kindergarten rooms were beautiful. We were so proud of them. I held forth for fourteen years in this room and enjoyed every minute of it . It hurts just a little to see them now used as planned But old Landmark is taking care of our future citizens in a satisfactory way. "I did some substitute work at Landmark and it brought back memories. 1 graduated from high school there in 1922. Our class plays and graduation ceremonies were held in the Empire Show House, the Junior proms were in Stoffel 's hall. "Ringwood has been my home for forty-five years. Our sons were reared here and are both graduates of M.C.H.S. "While substituting in a third grade class the class had a lesson in reading about an old man and his horse plowing the snow in the streets. The plow was made of wood with a point. They wanted to doubt the story. So 1 said. 'Oh' yes that is the way a nice old man named Mr. Meyers used to plow the streets in McHenry each morning after a snow storm' He would also cut ice on the mill pond, store it in an ice house, cover it with sawdust and deliver it to homes in the summer'. Because in those days we ' didn't have refrigerators we had ice chests. A little fellow in a front seat looked up at me and said, 'Gosh, vou must be awful old!' "ToThe McHenry Plaindealer: "When the McHenry high school students registered in August, 1930, the enrollment had increased to nearly 200 students. It was obvious to the superintendent. Mr. Duker. that an additional teacher was needed to increase the staff* from eight to nine teachers. I was the fortunate one to be chosen to fill the vacancy. Teaching positions were very scarce in 1930 because the country was in the midst of the great depression The mem­ bers of the faculty at that time were Leonard McCracken, Edmund Willis, Helen Stevens, Beatrice Lane, Lillian Kor- tendick, Lillian Doherty, Mildred Minnich and Marion Johnson. All teachers were required to live in McHenry and no married women were hired as full time teachers. They were called in for sub­ stitute work only. "The building consisted of the central core of the auditorium and the gym below it. The classrooms were clustered around this core on three sides and there was a study hall which seated 100 students. The whole student body met for five minutes twice a day in the auditorium. These meetings took place at 8:35 in the morning and at 1 in the afternoon. The faculty and superintendent made all an­ nouncements to the students at these times. "There were no school buses to bring the students to school nor to take them home after school. Each student had to solve his own transportation problems. No one knows how much hardship this may have caused because no one com- nlained about it. "The school day started at 8:35 and ended at 3:50 with an hour and ten minutes for lunch. Since there was no cafeteria, most of the students who lived in town went home for lunch, and likewise the superintendent and teachers. Those who ate their lunches at school either played in the gym or visited with their friends when they were finished eating. There was little or no need for teacher supervision during the noon hour. "With the school being relatively small the teachers became acquainted with not only the students they had in class but with everyone in school. In many instances they became acquainted with the parents as well. These con­ ditions fostered understanding and cooperation between students and teachers. "I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to watch McHenry Community high school grow from about 200 to nearly 2,000 before I retired in 1970. The inspiration I received from all these students and teachers has enriched my life more than I can say. "My wife, whose teaching career was contemporary with mine and who was a part of and experienced all the above, joins me in congratulations to the Plaindealer on its centennial. "Clarence F. Anglese" "To the McHenry Plaindealer: "Congratulations to the McHenry Plaindealer on its Centennial celebration. May the next century be for it a source of equal benefit and pleasure to its readers in the McHenry community and elsewhere. "In 1921, when Miss Fannie Granger resigned in Landmark school district, there was a vacancy on the faculty and it was then that I began my teaching in the primary grades in Landmark. The school (Continued on page 12) WHITE HOUSE KINDERGARTEN (now off-campus alternative school Waukegan Road) High School Graduates *