Whittier Junior High School
Lincoln, Nebraska 1 9 2 4 January Twenty-fifth .. •
Graduating Class
Whittier Junior High School
Lincoln, Nebraska
The Class has the distinction of being the first to graduate from the New Whittier Junior High School Building
Class Motto In Union There is Strength
Class Colors Purple and Gold
CLASS POEM
By Harold Ostran and Joe Lococo
In the days now long forgotten
In the days of our fore-fathers
By the lodges of the Red Men
By the tepees of the Indians
Where the naked savage wondered Where the Red Skins came to battle
Where the strange Salt Basin glistened
Where the shaggy bison wallowed O'er the sunny rolling prairies
Came the white men pushing westward Came they with their wives and children. Slowly came the covered wagons Straightway by the timber halting, Then began the timber felling Then like magic, rose the cabins. There upon a sure foundation
There beneath the smiling heavens Rose a state, so strong and mighty Which, the people called N e-bras-ka Called they then its name Ne-bras-ka. Through it flowed the sluggish Salt Creek Flowed the Antelope so gently. Straightway, also, rose a city
Rose a fair and busy city
Which the pioneers called Lincoln For their ne'er forgotten leader, For the man who loved the open Loved their fores ts and their prairies
Slowly, slowly, grew the city
Noted for its fierce jack rabbits
Noted for its prairie chickens
Thus was born the town of Lincoln, Thus was born our town beloved. With the growing of the city
Rose the problem, deep and puzzling, How to teach their children knowledge How to train their sons and daughters!
From ·the portals of their lodgings
Came the fathers of the city
Downward through the evening twilight
Trudged the staunch and anxious fathers
To take counsel all together
At the Board of Education.
All the night they planned and counseled
Then departed to their dwellings.
With the coming of the morning
Each went forth to do his duty
From the people of the city
Gathered they much gold and silver
For the schools so sorely needed
Then this gold they spent discreetly
On the staunchest of materials
On great piles of stone and iron.
Like to magic grew the buildings
Grew those future holds of knowledge
For the welfare · of the children.
When the buildings were completed
All the workmen ceased their labors
Great was then their satisfaction
When they gazed upon the wonder
Long their eager eyes they feasted
On the ample halls of learning
On the wondrous towering structure
Of the Whittier Junior High School! With completion of these buildings
Also grew the many problems
How to find the able teachers
Find the best in all the country,
Soon from o'er the rolling prairies
Came they in from all directions
Came to answer to the summons.
With the coming of the teachers
Rose the question of a leader
One to guard the children's welfare
One to guide their many labors
Then the Board of Education
Long held counsel all together
How to choose the best from many
How to find a man for leader.
Long they pondered, long debated Till they solved the weighty question Till of men the best was chosen. Gladly then came C. L. Culler
Noted for his kindly wisdom
One whom all could love and honor. And to aid him and to help him Came a lady wise yet merry
Miss Rousseau, the friend of maidens. When within was all made ready When the doors were set wide open Came the trooping happy children Came the youths and came the maidens, From the lower schools then came they Came with joy and exultation. Where was once the northward prairie Came the children from the Clinton, Came they eastward from the Hartley Came they westward from the Hayward Came they westward too from Bancroft Came they southward from the Bryant Came they in from ancient Elliott Belmont far, and old McKinley. So the days of sunny autumn
Slipped along to days of winter
Now these days lie all behind us
Now is come the day of sorrow
When we say farewell in sadness
To the friends so long familiar.
Yet a day of glad rejoicing
Yea, a day of exultation
For we see a happy future
In that master school before us. So, farewell to all our teachers
May report cards never grieve you So, farewell, to all our classmates
May your credits all be good ones, Till we meet again to southward. Meet again for work and laughter In the greater Senior High School.
