By Arthur P. Harris, Historian
In the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and twenty we entered into the A.H.S. as meek and lowly freshmen. We did cast many anxious looks around us for we were green, yea very green, to the ways of high school. Before this time we had always had only one teacher, while this year we had four and many new subjects were taken also. Miss Bess Reap taught our English and signed our reports. Oh! those reports. Miss Liles instructed us in Civics and Science, two very interesting subjects. These teachers were both very kind and the only way I can account for it is that they both were to be married in the near future. Mr. Higginbotham, our Algebra teacher, had long been married so little was the pity we got from him. Many and many times he threatened and yes often did fire us from the room. One day although he didn’t fire us out, a fire in the grammar grade building drew us out and our younger brothers attended school in the churches the rest of the year. The last and least of our teachers was Miss Davis, Latin teacher. She was small and quiet, but rather commanding in her manner. Our enrollment at the beginning of the year was 35 and at the close 31. Worth Cooper first bade us goodby with much weeping and gnashing of teeth. “I will go,” said he, “to make my mark in the world without an extensive education.” He was followed in rapid succession by Pines Morris, Henry Casper, and Pete Shankle, all feeling the call of the golden eagle. And so after nine months of labor we returned into the free, broad world for a short rest.
When we returned in the fall our number had been decreased by three. Blanche Furr and Addie May Lyerly had gone to the A.N.I.I. We have never been able to explain why unless it was to escape the boys. Addie Mae didn’ t last there but two years for she, like the prodigal son, returned to our fold. Richard Giles had gone to the M.P.C.I. But our number had been increased by six—Maude Lightfoot, Drewery Moore, Grady Austin, Clarence Mabry, Sam Horton and J.B. Carter. This was a valuable acquisition for out of that number we have this year our president and our grumbler. Our faculty was completely changed with the exception of Mr. McIver. Mr. Stevens, a candidate for the ministry, taught Algebra, physical geography and hygiene. He often said that when he found a girl who loved flowers, music and himself he would marry. Since he is still single he evidently can’t find one to love him since practically all love flowers and music. Miss Keel taught history and dreamed, for she married one week after school was out. Miss Moye, the English teachers, was a splendid instructor and to her we owe the beginning of the Midget, our school paper. It was in this year that we acquired Miss Pridgen, who has since directed us in the ways and means of the dead language.
Near the beginning of this second year we began to lose pupils. J.B. Carter lasted only four months in the grind and Robert Howie, son of a Methodist minister, left us in November, destitute of all Christian influence. Our respect for the seniors had increased so that we entertained them at a party at Miss Ellen Huckabee’s.
We entered the junior class with thirty-two members. Nell Snuggs had gone to Davenport to attend. Luron Russell and Grady Austin had completely disappeared. Ora Mae Hill, ethel Coble, Grover Thompson and Virgil Whitley had fallen in love with the class of 1925 and had decided to wait for it. Our number was replenished, however, by Hoyle Efird, Dewey Fesperman, Marguerite Whitley, Laura Smith, Virginia Morrow and Grace Pence. Among the faculty remained Mr. Stephens, Mr. McIver and Miss Pridgen. Miss Braswell came to teach history and English and Miss McLean to teach French. French was new and soon we were parlez-vousing in grand style. Neither Miss Braswell nor Miss McLean liked the climate and left at the end of the year. Our superintendent, Mr. McIver, also made this his last year. We felt that we were losing a real friend for his enthusiasm and interest in the school life, athletics and the boys and girls were never ending.
The famous Junior-Senior party came off in the spring at Miss Dorothy Hunneycutt’s. It was a grand affair and much enjoyed. In the meantime days were flying and soon the year was over.
It was 1923 and we were Seniors. Three of our members, Maude Lightfoot, Grace Pence and Edith Sills, had left town. It almost broke our hearts to see Edith go for she had been with us since the first grade. Margaret Drye had also decided to wait a year. James McLaughlin lasted a little while, but soon stopped to work. We were joined by Harley Rowland, Elsie Burnette, Betsy King, Addie Mae Lyerly and Archie McQueen. Every member of the faculty had left us except Miss Pridgen. Our new faculty was Mr. Beam, superintendent; Mr. Miller, principal, science and athletic coach; Mrs. Laudeman, history; Miss Leach, geometry; Miss Sox, French; and Miss Scarboro, Spanish.
We can say little about Mr. Beam for he says so little himself. Mr. Miller, up until Christmas had a masterly manner but since then—well, he got married Christmas. Mrs. Laudeman was chief official in the Senior class and we all liked her. As for Miss Leach and Miss Sox they are all right for they passed Drewery Moore on French and Geometry.
After Christmas we began to get our entertainments. The Senior girls led off with a party for the boys at Miss Mae Osborne’s. This was followed by one given by the faculty at Mr. Beam’s. On April Fool’s day the Sophomores entertained us at Rachel Huneycutt’s. We not only had a pleasant time while there but an eggy time while leaving. This was followed by an entertainment given to the Seniors of Albemarle by the Woman’s Club. Then time turned backward again in its flight, and we were children once more just for one night. Our hearts were as gay as our appearance when we cast off our Senior dignity and attended our last little boy and girl party given to us by the Juniors.
Now as we approach end we prize these memories of our four years together and especially are we proud of the fact that we close our high school course with more members than we had at the end of our freshman year. This is an excellent record and our last desire is that during the coming years the class of ’24 will keep it bright and untarnished. As we depart we give a rousing cheer to old A.H.S. and bid it goodbye with mingled joy and sadness.
From page 2 of The Midget, Albemarle High School’s student paper. Huneycutt spelled with one and two “n’s” in paper.
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