The Alton Democrat, June 16, 1894
Will Be Interesting
The first annual commencement of the Alton High School will occur at the Opera Hall on Friday evening, June 22. The graduates are Miss Mary N. Desmond, Clarence E. Tanton and Louis Gerla.
The programme is as follows:
Invocation.
Soprano solo---Violin Obligato.................Braga.
"Angels's Serenade,"
"The School Master's Guests....Cynthia Meyer.
Oration,............................Clarence E. Tanton.
Immigration.
"A Bombastic Description.....Harry Vander Linden.
Quartette...................................................Silas.
"The Owl"
Oration,............................................Louis Gerla.
Is Our Country Retrograding?
"Hezikiah Stubbins," ................Gerrit Vandenburg.
Oration,....................................Mary N. Desmond.
Curiosity, The Mother of Invention.
Trio-----Female Voices.................................Smart
"The wood Nymphs."
Address to Class......................Principal of School.
Presentation of Diplomas.
Quartette..............................................Thompson.
"Good Night."
Alton Democrat, Sept. 19, 1896
Alton School Notes:
The Alton public and high school began last Monday with the following
efficient corps of teachers in charge: Prof. T. B Hutton, Principal; M. H.
Douglas of Grinnell, assistant principal; Miss Anna Stronks, intermediate;
Miss Bertha Waldo, second primary; Miss Tressie Waldo, first primary; and
Hiss Helen Riddle of Des Moines, will teach vocal music and assist in
hearing recitations of the English classes.
School notes of the Alton Democrat of November 20, 1897
"Our School Bulwark of the Nation.’’
The boys of the High school are enjoying the rare sport of foot ball.
The Effort, will meet next Friday evening at the home of Miss Elizabeth Smith.
We are grateful to our board for a full set of Colombia maps and other apparatus placed in the schools last week.
The fourth, fifth and eighth grades are arranging a Thanksgiving program to be rendered in the assembly room the afternoon before Thanksgiving.
The number of pupils enrolled in the various departments for the month ending November 5th, are as follows: Number of boys; First Primary, 26; Second Primary, 21 Intermediate, 9; High sdool, 16. making a total of 72. Number of girls, First Primary, 15: Second Primary, 24; Intermediate. 16; High school, 29: making a total of 84. Sum total of pupils enrolled, is 156.
School notes from the Alton Democrat of June 4, 1898
THE CLASS OF ‘98
Will hold their Graduation Exercises June, 10th.
Commencement exercises of the Alton High School will be held at the Opera House on Friday evening, June 10th, The class to be graduated composed of five girls and one boy. The members of the class are the Misses Esther Mintin, Elizabeth Smith. Bessie Braskamp, Mina Houwers, Susie Ablett and Peter Lucas. Considering the class individuals and collectively we are proud to say that it is worthy of all the attention and honor paid to graduates. Each member has prepared an oration to be delivered that evening, the embodiment of which will doubless in a measure reflect the strength of character and mental power that has keen developed in the different members during the time which they have spent as students of the High School. This class comprises some of our most ambitious and energetic young people, and we bespeak success and honor for the class of ‘98 in the commencement exercises.
Alton Democrat, September 16, 1899
The Alton public schools will open next Monday, September 18th, in charge of the following efficient corps of teachers: Principal, Prof. J. E. Vertz; first assistant principal, Arnold Meyer; second assistant principal, Miss Rena Cathcart; intermediate department, Miss Hanson of Jefferson, Iowa; second primary, Miss Libbie Waldron of Greenfield, Iowa; first primary, Miss Vance of Sutherland. Another year's study has been added to the High school and a few changes made which it is believed will add very much to the efficiency of our schools and the prospects for a successful year's work are most encouraging. Our schools have always ranked first among the schools of this section of the state and we have no doubt but their high standard of excellence will be maintained during the ensuring year.
Alton Democrat, February 24, 1900.
The number of pupils not absent nor tardy the last mont is small owing to the very stormy days. They are as follows, First Primary: Earnest Eason, Louie Otkin. Second Primary: Milo Gibbs, John Eason, Hattie Douma, Lizzie Otkin, Millard Smith. Intermediate: Arthur Gleysteen, John Reuvers, Virginia Slagle, Willie Otkin, Johannah Van Nimwegen, Jakie Reuvers, Katie Houwers, Mary Bowers, George Eason, Dick Reuvers. High School: Mary Eason, Jacob Douma, Christina Braskamp, Henry Lucas, Cecilia Lieb, Jay Carpenter, Clara Pitts, Jennie Rensink, Mary Van Nimwegen, Ethyl Lytle, Jennie Campbell, Josie Houwers, Henry Scholten, Ella Carpenter, Otto Lieb, Edward Smith, Otto Braskamp, Mary Houwers,
John Noteboom, Bennie Braskamp, Carl Otkin, Boi Schmidt, Ida Bomgaars, Elsie Otkin, Hattie Scholten, Minko Mulder, Steve Eason, Mamie Van Nimwegen, Leona Desmond, Mabel Gleysteen, Helen Slagle.
Alton Democrat of March 3, 1900. (County Seat Cullings)
The February teachers examination brought out considerable pedagogical talent last Friday and Saturday. Those who took the examination area; John F. Aue, Alice Ingold, Sioux Center; Mrs. Hannum, Inwood; Nettie B. Corden, Sheldon; May Van Horssen, Carmel; Phoebe L. Miller, Hattie Keith, Joanna Downs, Ireton; Maggie Neary, Zella Smith, Grace Matthews, Anna Bahr, Mary Husig, Minnie Lynch, Rock Valley; Minnie Blunt, Eula Baden, Hawarden; M. J. Duven, Kathryn McDonald, Amelia Fanning, Maurice; Edna Stiles, Della Gosline, Kathyrine Rowenhorst, G.T. Van deSteeg, John Vos, Jacob W. Meyer, Kathryn De Kraay, Orange City.
Alton Democrat, March 31, 1900
Clerk John Meyer informs us that several changes are to be made at the
public school for the spring term in order to accommodate the expected
influx of first term youngsters. Miss Nellie Weeks of Rhodes, a sister of
Mrs. Prof. Vertz, has already been engaged as assistant to Miss Vance in the
primary department. It is probable that from fifteen to twenty extra seats
will be put into the room and barely possible that further changes in the
way of a partition across the room may be made. It is only a question of a
year or so, from all indications, till our school population will have
outgrown its present quarters and an addition must be built.
-----
The following pupils were neither absent nor tardy the last month: First
primary--Susie Douma, Bertie De Bruin, Louie Otkin, Earnest Eason, and Henry
Uttermerk. Second primary----Lizzie Otkins, Mitchel Noteboom, Milo Gibbs,
Jennie Roelfson, Lizzie Ekelmans, Seney Smith, Myrtle De Kraay, John Eason
and Dick Richards. Intermediate--- Ary Talsma, Jakie Reuvers, Hattie Van
Hull, Eva Pitts, Mary Bowers, Willie Ekelmans, Dick Reuvers, Bennie Jansen,
John Reuvers, Virginia Slagle, Johanna Van Nimwegen, Katie Houwers, Florence
Boersma, Dena Klein Bekman, Margery Pluim and Harry Vander Pol. High
School---Chauncey Pitts, Mary Eason, Jake Douma, Cecilia Lieb, Willie
Bowers, Joe Lieb, Gideon Pitts, Jennie Rensink, Mary Van Nimwegen, Abbie
Kamber, Josie Houwers, Jessie Campbelll, Willie Stronks, Henry Jansen, Josie
Frederiks, Ed Schmidt, Otto Broskamp, Bennie Braskamp, Mary Houwers, Minko
Mulder, Ida Bomgaars, Steven Eason, Mamie Van Mimwegen and Helen Slagle.
Alton Democrat, April 14, 1900
The senior class this year is composed of seven members, five girls and two
boys. They are Misses Celia Lieb, Celia and Emma Mulvany, Christina Braskamp
and Mary Eason and Messrs. Henry Luca and Jacob Douma. They are all Latin
division students and some are already planning for attendance at some good
college. We wish all could go. The advantage of a higher education is untold
no mater what may be the life work of the man or women.
Alton Democrat, April 28, 1900
The following were neither absent
nor tardy last month :
First primary—Arthur Smith, Laura Smit, Ethel Dotzemod, Dina Houwers, Nellie
Knoll, Ernest Eason, John Roelfson, Louie Otkin, Susie Douma, Bertie De
Bruin, Nick Vander Pol, Sya Gleysteen, Earl Kamber.
Second primary -Millard Smith, Harry Vander Pol, Willie Van Nimwegen, Milo
Gibb, John Eason, Dick Richards, Hattie Douma, Lizzie Ekelman, Lizzie Otkin,
Hattie Roelfson, Gertie Rozenboom. Intermediate: George Eason, Willie
Ekelman, Johanna Van Nimwegen, Katie Houwers, Virginia
Slagle, Mary Bowers, Willie Otkin, Herbert Lucas, Dick Reuvers, Budd Beaman,
Otto Vander Pol, John Reuvers, Doris Kooreman, Arie Talsman, Arthur
Gleyateen.
High school and grammar department -Chauncy Pitts, Mary Eason, Jake Douma,
Willie Bowers, Gideon Pitts, Clara Pitts, Jennie Rensink, Ethyl Lytle, Mary
Van Nimwngen,
Abbie Kamber, Josie Fredericks, Jessie Campbell. Willie Stronks, Henry
Jansen, Ed Schmidt,
Otto Braskamp, Bennie Braskamp Marv Houwers, Minko Mulder, Hattie Scholten,
Elsie Otkin, Ida Bomgaars, Helen Slagle
Mamie Van Nimwegen.
Alton Democrat, June 2, 1900
School Notes:
The following is the honor roll for last month: first Primary---Hellen
Schmidt, Ernest Eason, Ary Talsma, Nellie Knoll, Dina Houwers, Laura Smit,
Arthur Smith, Henry Uttemark.
Second primary: Joe Knoll, Harry Vander Pol, Millard Smith, Hattie Dauma,
Lynn Folger, Milo Gibbs, Seney Schmidt, Myrtle De Kraay, Dick Richards.
Intermediate:--- Florence Boersma, George Eason, Johannah Van Nimwegen, Eva
Pitts, Mary Bowers, Virginia Slagle, Katie Houwers, Dena Klein Beckman, Mary
Schmidt, Arthur Gleysteen, Budd Beamen.
High school and grammar department:-- Christina Braskamp, Mary Van Nimwegen,
Jennie Rensink, Clara Pitts, Abbie Kamber, Josie Frederiks, Joe Lieb, Jessie
Campbell, Gideon Pitts, Ida Bomgaars, Mary Houwers, Hattie Scholten, Leona
Desmond, Helen Slagle, Ethel Lytle, Mabel Gleysteen, Jake Dauma, Chauncey
Pitts, Henry Scholten, Otto Lieb, Ed Schmidt, Otto Braskamp, Boi Schmidt,
Bennie Braskamp.
The entire faculty for next year has been elected and will be as follows;
Supt., J.E.Vertz; High school, A.W. Meyer; Asst., Rena Cathcart; Grammar,
Alvena Hansen; Intermediate, Myrtle Elder; Second Primary, Nellie Weeks;
First Primary, Anna McCullom.
The class honors this year fall to two of our most worthy students Jacob
Douma is entitled to first honors with a yearly average of a little over 96
per cent. Celia Leib wins second honors with an average of nearly 95 per
cent. The former will be the valedictorian and the latter the salutatorian
of the class.
Local occurrences:
The teachers will leave for their summer vacation tomorrow---Saturday.
Misses Case and Hanson go to Atlantic, Miss Cathcart to New Sharon, Misses
Elder and McCollum to Ireton. Prof. Vertz will remain in Alton and Arnold
Meyer will go to the lakes later on.
Alton Democrat of Jan 4, 1902
The following pupils of St. Mary's school have not been absent since
September;
First room---Ralph Cox, Floyd De Kraay, Joseph Even, Stella Goebel, Leo
Goedert, Christ Gerst, Benjamin Homan, Jos. Kurtenacher, Otto Kettler, John
Koch, Wm. Leverman, Leocadia Lucas, Hulda Paas, Clara Schnee, Olivia
Schaeckel.
Second room---Aloy Brunsmann, Aubrey Cox, Ottelia Even, Herbert Fisch, Elis
Friedman, Anna Gerst, Viola Goebel, Josephine Goedert, Anna Goedert, Roman
Hoxmeier, Bernard Hoxmeier, Maria Hoxmeier, Anna Hoxmeier, Elis Henrich,
Maria Hildesheim, Rosa Homean, Maria Kaschmitter, Leona Koch, Micheael
Kramer, John Lucas Frank Miller, Mathias Kettler, Claudius Scheckel.
Third room----Anna Even, Anna Friedman, Elmer Goebel, George Goebel, Mary
Goetzinger, Clara Goetzinger, John Homan, Nicholas Koch, Frank Kettler,
Catherina Lucas, Joseph Leverman, Josephine Schnee, Vincent Tritz, Peter
Thelen, Louisa Trierweiler, Leo Wagener.
Fourth room--Josephine Bult, Hugo Delperdang, Frank Even, Mary Gerst, Edward
Goebel, Mary Goebel, Anna Hansen, Theodore Hoxmeier, Dorothia Henrich, Ida
Henkels, Celia Kellen, Helena Kurtenacker, Susanna Kurtenacker, Peter Koch,
Caroline Kaschmitter, Otto Kaschmitter, Mary Koch, Mathilda Lieb, Louisa
Lieb, Clara Schroeder, Mary Wagner.
Alton Democrat, May 17, 1902
The Alton high school class of 1902 will hold its graduating exercises at
the opera house next Thursday evening. The members of the class are
Joseph Lieb, Jessie Campbell, Clara Pitts, Henry Scholten and Jennie
Rensink. The class colors are the blue and the gray and the program as will
be noticed is a patriotic one. It was intended to have the exercises on
Memorial day evening but they were held earlier on account of the circus to
be here on the thirtieth.
The program follows:
National Airs-Alton Military Band
Invocation.
Chorus ----"Soldiers Chorus"----- Faust-Gounod.
Salutatory ----"The New South"---—Joseph Lieb
Children's Chorus----" The Little Dustman" -----Brahms
"Memorial Day"—Jennie Rensink
Concert Recitation---- "The Blue and the Grey"
"The Nations Banner" —Jessie Campbell
Recitation----"Music on the Rappahannock"----Clara Keiler
"McKinley—A Second Lincoln"—Henry Scholten.
Girls’s Chorus----"The Torrent"—Marchant.
"Songs of Our Nation" Valedictory—Clara Pitts.
Introduction of Class—Supt. J. E. Verts.
Presentation of diplomas—Pres. John Gleysteen.
Sextette sang several songs.
"Home Sweet Home"—Alton Military Band.
Alton Democrat, May 31, 1902
The Alton high school graduation occurred Thursday evening. The class of
1902 consisted of three girls and two boys. They were the Misses
Jennie Rensink, Jessie Campbell, Clara Pitts and Messrs, Joseph Lieb and
Henry Scholten. The affair occurred at the opera house and drew a crowd of
500 people. This was about a hundred or so more than the hall will
accomodate and those who didn't leave on finding the hall crowded either
pushed into the seats to the discomfort of themselves and everyone else or
stood up and obstructed the view of those sitting. There were many there who
cared not a sou for the school or its graduates or their orations. They made
no attempt to comprehend the program and some of them even talked and
laughed during prayer. They were there merely because the affair was free.
A dog fight would have suited them just as well had it been free. If a small
admission fee had been charged —even ten cents—they would have been too
cheap to attend it. They were there for the same reason that a moth butts
its head against a lamp chimney—merely attracted by the glare and glitter.
When the school board gets to charging a few cents admission and shuts out
those who go merely to see the decorations and annoy others by crowding or
incessant talking it will deserve a reward of merit.
Alton Democrat, August 23, 1902
Local Occurrence
Miss Christina Braskamp of Alton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Braskamp,
will have the proud distinction of teaching the largest rural school in
Sioux County. It is the Ver Meer school three miles this side of Sioux
Center. Miss Braskamp graduated from the Alton high school and has since
taken a year's course at Cedar Falls. She has special recommendations from
her teachers as a capable instructor. The Ver Meer school has sixty pupils
in the winter and a yearly average of forty.
Alton Democrat, May 23, 1903.
Local Occurrences:
The graduating exercises of the Alton high school takes place at the opera
house on Friday evening may twenty-ninth. There are four graduates this
year. They are the Misses Jeanette Hyink and Josie Frederiks and Messrs.
Will Stronks and Otto Lieb. The invitations were turned out of this shop and
we must say they are beauties. The program is as follows:
Choru----"Te Deum----------------------Buck
High School
‘Duet-------"Spring Song"--------------Lassen: Mary Schmidt, Mabel Gleysteen
"What Career"----------------------------Will Stronks
Boys’ Chorus------"Fisher’s Song"------Tugts
"Silent Influences--------------------------Jeanette Hyink
Trio--------"Dewy Dell"------------------Smart: Milo Gibbs, George Bowers,
Lynn Folger
"America’s Contribution to Literature"—Josie Fredriks
Chorus---------------"Sweet May"-----------------Barnby
"Wanted a Man"------------Otto V. Lieb
Presentation of Diplomas------------------
Chorus--------Good Night"--------------------King
High School
Alton Democrat, June 6, 1903
"THE CLASS OF 1903"
The graduating exercises of the Alton high school occurred at the opera
house last Friday night The decorators were not the most elaborate but were
considered the neatest yet seen on a like occasion. The stage was covered
with white trimmed in purple---- the class colors. The front of the stage
was a mass of plants and flowers and could scarcely have been more artistic
considering the materials at hand. Above the stage appeared the class motto
"No Battle No Victory." The house was just comfortably filled. There was no
crowding and no disorder. The new idea of charging a small admission fee
proved a success. It eliminated many of those who come not from interest in
the program but merely to see the crowd. The program opened at eight-twenty
with the singing of the "Te Deum by a chorus of male and female voices. It
was very well rendered considering that only school pupils participated.
Miss Stickney presided at the piano and is to be commended on this number
There were twelve girls and four boys in the chorus.
The other musical numbers on the program were all by school talent and of
necessity weak from a musical standpoint-however pleasing they may have been
to those most directly interested. The general public would have appreciated
some really good musical numbers and they would bare helped out the program
wonderfully. It is difficult to discuss high school orations sod essays.
There is and always has been and always will be a certain sameness about
them. A lecture by a mature mind would be much more instructive and
entertaining. The graduating oration tells nothing of what has been done in
the past by the pupil and gives no idea of what be may accomplish in the
future. It is merely a task set and performed without advantage to anyone.
The orations Friday night were up to the average — no better and no worse.
The first was by Will Stronks on the choosing of career and dealt with the
necessity of having a fixed goal and working toward it despite
discouragements and Handicaps. The mere seeking of money and the disdaining
of a lowly start were decried as unmanly. The master of his life work was
eulogized as the one to emulate because he is the one for whom the world is
ready to make room. Miss Jeannette Hyink spoke of the silent influences that
go to form character. The two great national avenues through which they come
are the eye and ear. Mother love shapes the plastic mind of the child by a
thousand silent influences. Environment adds its share without our knowledge
oftentimes and more often with it. The moonlight upon a lake has an
influence over the composer that inspires a great sonata. The poet drinks in
and reproduces in his poems the silent influences extracted from birds and
flowers and the greater beauties of nature. The thought was very good and
quite well expressed. American literature was discussed by Miss Josie
Fredriks. It was traced from the early chroniclers of pioneer days who kept
diaries of their daily lives which were later woven into history. The
contempt for our early writers in England, the lack of historic setting for
American romance, the strenuous life of the pioneers which kept the most of
them from pursuing literary lines were all woven into a very creditable
groundwork. The early writers and their followers the literary field were
touched upon followed by a brief discussion of present day books and authors
----their aims and methods and futures. Otto Lieb's oration was timely. It
was along lines that are discussed daily in the periodicals of the land. The
world has a standing advertisement for men. The great industries are looking
for men who make opportunities instead of waiting for them. Many leaders are
needed today when one was needed years ago. The world is full of
opportunities —not for the college youth too nice to work but for the youth
who is willing to start at the bottom. Honesty and intelligence and industry
were never more in demand than today. The program closed with the
presentation of diplomas by Principal Meyer.
The unfortunate rigidity and absence of gestures always noted on such
occasions was observed through out all the orations. It is a fault of our
school system. It teaches nothing but books. At nine in the morning the
teacher shouts–"Nose in your book there!" –and the pupil obeys. At recesses
and noons the nose is taken out of the book for a brief season. The schools
teach nothing of how to use your knowledge or how to convey it to others or
how to talk in public or how to be natural in the use of your educated
faculties. The graduation oration is generally the one oration of the
pupil’s life. The one supreme effort. It is approached without previous
experience by any of the mental or physical facilities that should be called
into play. Hence it is a painful operation for the pupil and his bearers and
he gets through it with a sigh of relief and vows secretly he will never
again try to speak in public. Why not teach pupils to use their voice in
this great land where the human voice is daily heard moving multitudes in
the various walks of life? Why should a high school graduate not be able
after eight or ten years education to address an audience with as much
freedom as he would harangue a gang of rooters on the baseball field? Get
the young American nose out of the musty book about half the time and let
him tell intelligently what he learned the other half.
Alton Democrat, August 29, 1903
Ben and Otto Braskamp who graduated at the Orange City academy last spring
will enter Grinnell in a week or two. Their sister Miss Christina expects to
teach the KleinhesseIink school west of town beginning on the seventh. Last
year she taught the biggest rural school in the county very successfully.
Public school opens Monday. The school building has been nicely painted
inside during the summer. The teachers are Fred Fuller, superintendent,
Edward Demarest, principal, Miss Emerald Stickney, music, Miss Parker, first
intermediate, Mine Warren, second intermediate, Miss Elizabeth Smith, second
primary, Miss Kane, first primary. All are here except Miss Stickney who is
holding down her claim at Highmore, South Dakota and will come direct from
there probably this evening.
Alton Democrat, September 12, 1903.
Local Occurrence
As is his yearly custom John Meyer has taken a school census of Alton and
finds within her borders 466 young people of school age. This is more than
last year but the attendance at school is smaller than last year. Parents
who are keeping children from school would better comply with the law and
send them. Too many girls and boys think themselves "too big" to go to
school when they get to be thirteen or fourteen. The fact that they have
such foolish ideas is proof that they need more education.
~The above old news copy was typed for posting by Joan Van Peursem.
