Grammar School graduation 100 years ago

 

This store at Holland St and Fairview Rd, in Crum Lynne was a school in the 1860's and early 1870's.

 

 

Grammar School graduation was a big deal 100 years ago!

 

 

 

The spacious auditorium of the St. Rose of Lima Hall was well filled last evening when the parents, friends and instructors of the graduating class of the Ridley Township Grammar Schools assembled to witness the first annual commencement.  From the opening number on the program until the orchestra had played its final strains, the audience was held in rapt attention by the excellent entertainment.  Dr. J. Linwood Elenberg, Superintendent of the Chester Public Schools, was the principal speaker of the evening and delivered an able and well-chosen address to the young members of the class of 1914 of the Leiperville and Folsom Grammar Schools.

The auditorium was beautifully decorated for the occasion with flowers and American colors.  The class insignia, gold and blue, was in thorough keeping with the scene.  The stage was impressively set with palms and potted plants and the nine pupils who received their diplomas as a token of faithful study in their respective schools left an impression of earnest youth on the minds of the gathering.

The pupils who received diplomas from County Superintendent A. G. C. Smith were:  Clara Matilda Biller, Herbert Eugene Gaskill, John Stuart Graeber, Lenore Madelyn Horn, Mary Emily McLaughlin, Russell Percy Reese, Dehlia Rosanna Schitsey, Mollie Nelle Trosino, and Ella Marion Woof.

Following the opening selection by the orchestra Rev Walter R. Alexander of Princeton University pronounced the invocation.  Rev. Thomas F. Ryan of the St. Rose of Lima Church in a brief but earnest address of welcome gave the audience a hearty greeting and in closing gave the graduates some excellent advice.  “O Festal Days” a chorus sung by the class was much applauded by the appreciative audience.

John Stuart Graeber of the Folsom Grammar School told what should be put into life and not that which should be gotten out of it in a well delivered and well composed oration entitled, “By Wanted,” “Over and over again” was the plain title of an earnest appeal given by Clara Matilda Biller to the host of listeners, that they struggle with their tasks not once but over and over again.  She preceded a pleasing orchestral selection.

The feature of the entertainment was duet of Russell Percy Reese and Dehlia Rosanna Schitsey, accompanied by the class chorus.  The number called “The Barefoot Boy” was encored to the echo.  The boy graduate, smaller than any of his class was a marvel of confidence and his smile and whistle won the admiration of the audience.  Miss Schitsey sung in fine voice for a girl of her years and many comments were heard of her vocal efforts.

Following the benediction by Rev. Thomas F. Ryan, the orchestra closed the interesting entertainment with a short selection.  At the close of the exercises the parents spoke in a favorable manner OF THE WORK OF Miss Lulu McCartney who this year was made supervisor of the schools of Ridley Township and who raised the grade of the institutions, making this the first class to graduate for entrance into the county high schools.