West Branch Times, West Branch, Iowa, Thursday, June 2, 1927
Transcribed by Lynn McCleary, July 25, 2017
Joint Commencement and Dedication at Springdale
Fifty-first Annual Commencement of Springdale High School Is Occasion For Formal Dedication of Splendid New $55,000 Building In Connection With Graduation Exercises For Class of Thirteen, Also 8th Grade Exercises
Picture of school building.
The auditorium of the new school building at Springdale was royally initiated Tuesday at an all day and evening program which proved conclusively that Springdale needed and appreciates such a public building for community gatherings as well as for the public school purposes for which it was designed and erected.
The fifty-first annual commencement exercises of the Springdale High School, at which a class of thirteen boys and girls received their diplomas, was also the occasion for the formal dedication of the splendid new school building which has been erected at a cost of $55,000.
The day’s events began with a program at 10:30, by the pupils of the first eight grades, as follows:
| “Howdy-do,” an exercise by the Third and Fourth Grades. |
| Song, “Stars and Stripes.” |
| Play by the Primary Pupils. |
| Song by Seven Girls. |
| May Day play, in costume, by Fifth and Sixth Grades. |
| Song, “Bobolink.” |
| Play, “Queen of the Year,” Seventh and Eighth. |
| Vegetable Vaudeville, Third Grade. |
| Last Day Song, Third and Fourth Grades. |
This was a very enjoyable entertainment. The costumes, singing and speaking were especially effective from the new stage with its attractive scenery and beautiful curtain.
At the noon hour the big crowd partook of a cafeteria dinner, again demonstrating the efficiency of the new school plant by their use of the home economics rooms in serving the dinner. Anyone who is acquainted with the Springdale community will know without telling that everyone had plenty to eat.
The only event of the afternoon was a baseball game in which the high school team defeated the alumni, after which a recess was declared until the evening program.
The auditorium was filled for the Commencement and Formal Dedication ceremonies which opened at eight o’clock.
Olsen’s Orchestra from Tipton rendered a few selections, after which Rev. W. C. Perdew appeared in invocation.
Dr. E. J. Lauer of the State University staff in a brief, appropriate speech, formally dedicated the splendid new school building to the purposes of education for which it was built.
W. R. Branson, president of the Board of Education, formally presented the building to the community, and F. B. Curran, superintendent of the schools, accepted on behalf of the school and community.
The orchestra then played again, after which Dr. Lauer gave the Commencement address. Thirteen girls and boys occupied the place of honor on the stage. The girls wore charming white frocks and each graduate carried or wore the class flower, the American Beauty rose. The class motto, “We launch tonight, where will we anchor?” was hung above the stage. In Dr. Lauer’s address was the effort to leave with his young listeners some thought which might have a helpful bearing in the decisions which would lead to the ultimate destination of each craft.
A pleasant feature of the evening was the conferring of the Eighth grade diplomas upon twelve young persons who will begin their high school careers next fall. Of this class of twelve, only three are girls, nine boys being a conspicuous majority.
Supt. Curran introduced the Class of 1927, and President W. R. Branson conferred the diplomas.
Rev. Perdew pronounced the benediction.
The Senior class roll included:
| Bernice M. McGee |
| Marie E. Kofron |
| Russell E.Millett |
| Louise E. Wlkerson |
| Blanche B. Melson |
| Conroy J. Brown |
| Dorothy E. Barkhurst |
| Vernon A. Phelps |
| Zona R. Fogg |
| Dorothy J. Melson |
| Thomas L. Pendergast |
| J. Edwin Gray |
| Constance L. Soresen |
With the formal dedication of their wonderful new school plant, Springdale has marked an epoch in her history. For sixty years the old school building had served the community, not only well, but unusually so. The history of Springdale school, in a little unincorporated village, is certainly an index to the character of the pioneers who built it and the ideals for which it stood.
With the flight of time and the changed conditions, expansion was needed in the school buildings. With the consolidation of the surrounding districts, larger and more efficient equipment was necessary. The plant which is now finished and in use is complete and modern in every way. Plenty of big, well lighted and well ventilated classrooms, a manual training room, home economics rooms, gymnasium and auditorium; modern, sanitary plumbing, steam heated, electric lights – every effort has been made to make the plant efficient, and the beautiful, big, brick building will be an ornament to the village.
