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1921 yearbook shows not much has changed
Fredericksburg High School annual from 1921 provides a glimpse of life in a different era
Date published: 3/18/2008 By Rob Hedelt THOUGH it provides a glimpse of a different era, a Fredericksburg High School 1921 yearbook shows that some things never change. The football team, made up The senior photos, complete with artistic boxing, show graduates dressed far better than they ever looked at school. And the same silly sense of humor that gives us the term "sophomoric" was present then, too. Take this, from the "Jokes" section. "Miss Rhea: Grafton, do you know about Shakespeare?" "Grafton: Is he a senior?" Or this cheer, which makes as much sense to me now as many "Riggity, iggity, shaggety town! Who can pull old Fredericksburg down?" And for pure pluck, you gotta love this one: "Boomalaca! Boomalaca! Bow! Wow! Wow! Chicalaca! Chicalaca! Chow! Chow! Chow!" These and much more were in the annual, shared with me last week by former Fredericksburg Superintendent Richard Garnett. It came to him and his wife, Ann, from her father, Arthur Schwartz, a teacher at the city's James Monroe High School for more than 30 years. "Rapahanoc 1921" chronicles the adventures of the first graduating class at the Fredericksburg High School facility that opened in 1920 at what later became known as Maury School. Today, the football stadium adjacent to the former school, at Hanover Street and Kenmore Avenue, is still known as Maury Stadium. The building has been converted into condominiums. But back in 1921, it was a high school that graduated 34 seniors, with names like Rowe, Curtis, Goldman, Houston, Ninde, Purks, Stearns and others still found in these parts. Flipping through the annual, it was hard not to smile at how much fun they seem to have had--both at school and creating the yearbook. Each senior got their own description, like this one for Mabel Virginia King. "Oh girls, have you heard the latest news? We don't need a newspaper when Mabel is around." It continues, "although she likes to talk, she always stands at the head of her class, and her classmates always come to her for advice and information when they are tackling a difficult subject."
Date published: 3/18/2008
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