I know that most of my readers will not know the individual faculty members I will mention this week in my column - faculty members listed in the 1926 Orian. However, I find it's interesting to look back at both teachers and students and compare them with those of today.
The 1926 Orian was dedicated to Helen Tannehill and Nellie Ball with an explanation from the class beneath their pictures. "Out of appreciation for all that they have done in making Marietta High a happier and cheerier school, we, the graduating class of 1926, respectfully dedicate this eighth volume of "The Orian."
The first section of the book contained pictures of the following: The giant elm in Ratbone, The Armory, a snow scene in one of the parks, a beautiful tree in full bloom located below the Anchorage, a picture of Blennerhassett Island at sunset, a shot of Camp Tupper, and one of the city park with a walk along the Muskingum River.
Believe it or not, there are teachers listed who were still teaching when I was in school: George Siegler, Florence Hennis, Ernest Siegfried, Fred Mullenix, Ruth Pattin and Allen Rupp.
Students whose name I recognized were John Clymer, Frank Peavy, Clarence McClure, Betsy Hathaway, Virginia Harness, Gordon Harmon, Gerald Broughton, John Penrose, Walter Partlow, Penelope Gantz, Emily Otto and Susan Marsch.
The class experienced the 74th Commencement, with the class appearing at 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 30, at the First Congregational Church for the class sermon. On Monday, May 31st, the annual Honor Society Banquet was held at 6 p.m. at the Wakefield Hotel. Tuesday, June 1, the class play was presented at 8 p.m at the Hippodrome Theatre, and Wednesday, June 2, class night was observed at 8 p.m. at the City Auditorium. Thursday, June 3, was commencement at the City Auditorium beginning at 8 p.m. with an address by B.O. Skinner, superintendent of Public Schools. Friday, June 4, the Alumni Banquet was held at 6 p.m. at the Armory.
Class officers were Dorothy Ash, president; Randall Suder, vice president; John Clymer, secretary; Frank Peavy and James Wyland, treasurers; and Eleanor Ward and Kathryn Hanna, historians.
Pictures of the Junior High faculty were taken on the steps of the high school, then located on Scammel Street, and the faculty then included teachers that lasted through my vintage: Wilbur Jones, Cornelia McGee, Nina Rowland, Lucy Stacy, Katherine Freeman, Beatrice Kremer, Margaret Miller (who later, through marriage, became Margaret Thompson), Ida Reader, Margaret Newton, E.P. Rinehart, Lola Spies and D.W. Schwartz.
Languages taught in 1926 included Spanish, French and Latin.
Thirteen seniors at MHS created the Rooter's Club for the purpose of better cheering at football and basketball games. That was before parents were permited to scream and yell and get out of hand at games, a situation the schools seem to have today. (A situation not good for players, kids in the audience, home teams or guests.)
The school produced an operetta (a musical comedy) titled "Pickles" under the direction of George Siegler and Irene Ogle, with music offered by Charles Everly and a special orchestra.
It seems one of the prides of the school was the high school orchestra, an advanced unit directed by Herman Cooper, which performed not only during the school year, but all summer for special events.
Adding to the school's musical presentations during the year were the Girl's and Boy's Glee Clubs. An addiltion which added to the many talents of the class.
Marietta has been fortunate during the years, then and now, to have good, understanding teachers. I wouldn't change any of those I had , because it was obvious they knew and loved what they were doing.
In 1906 The Ohio Company had a celebration under the auspices of the Marietta Board of Trade, unveiling a bronze tablet on the Marietta College campus. The tablet was in commemoration of the "First Permanent Settlement and the Northwest Territory" created in 1788. The tablet was presented Thursday, Oct. 18, at 2:30 p.m. on the campus of Marietta College, due to the college had become custodian of many ancient documents of the Ohio Company, including original records and the correspondence of General Putnam.
The presentation was made by Homer Lee, vice president of the Ohio Company of Associates of New York. Lee mentioned the fact that under the lead of Gen. Rufus Putnam, a number of revolutionary officers met with Putnam at the Bunch of Grapes Tavern in Boston on April 25, 1786, to organize the Ohio Company of Associates. It was due to this group that the Ordinance of 1787 was founded because of their persistence. The settlement of Marietta laid the foundation for the Commonwealth of Ohio. Because of these men the development of the western region was established.
A number of tablets were to be placed on various sites where perpetual preservation and care would be assured.
The first tablet was to be placed on the walls of the sub-Treasury in New York City. The second one was to be placed in Marietta on the college campus. In 1906 it was placed at the front of a large cement support that stood below what was the Marietta College Library at the time. The inscription included the fact that Manasseh Cutler, who represented soldiers of the Revolutionary Army, organized as the "Ohio Company of Associates" purchased from the Board of Treasury of the United States on authority granted by the Continental Congress, July 27, 1787, a million and a half aces of these waste and vacant lands."
It goes on to state that the 48 chosen settlers, headed by Putnam, arrived at the mouth of the Muskingum on April 7, 1788, and when the first governor, Arthur St. Clair, reached Fort Harmar on July 9, as he entered Marietta on July15, civil government in the territory was established.
Joan Pritchard is a longtime columnist for The Parkersburg News & Sentinel. Contact her at joprit@sbcglobal.net.
