History's Echoes
Alumni Association
By SHARON BAUMBAUGH

An enthusiastic meeting of graduates of Greencastle High School met in the auditorium in May 1921 to organize with the election of officers - President, Max Lowman; 1st vice president, Grace Eby; 2nd vice president, Cordora Hawbaker; secretary, Fred Ziegler Jr.; treasurer, B.S. Whitmore; and assistant secretary, Helen Snively. Areunion of the school's alumni as part of that year's graduating exercises was planned by those attending. Announcements were to be sent to graduates of the school inviting and urging them to attend the gathering that would include a banquet in the auditorium of the school building on South Washington Street. Chicken and waffles was on the menu along with other food and entertainment. Graduation exercises were held and just few days later members of the graduating class and faculty, along with students of the school, went on an automobile picnic to Franklin Furnace. The June afternoon proved to be a delight, bringing a close to the school activities for the year.

By September the schools would reopen following the students' vacation. Greencastle's public schools opened with the attendance in all grades very large, especially in the first primary and the high school. First Primary had 58 pupils; second primary, 36; third grade, 41; fourth grade, 45; fifth grade, 44; sixth grade, 42; seventh grade, 27; eighth grade, 39; and the high school, 131, for a total of 473 students. Antrim Township's school opened too. In Shady Grove the enrollment was reported at 42 in the grammar school. taught by the Rev. Samuel Gearhart; and 25 in the primary, taught by Miss Mary Minnich. While at Brown's Mill, grading of the grounds around the new consolidated building was to be completed.

The program was printed in 1974 for the 25th triennial Old Home Week celebration and to mark the 100th anniversary of the public schools in Greencastle and Antrim. (A peculiar aspect of this program is that the front and back are in one direction while pages 2 and 3 are in the opposite direction - meaning it was probably among the first off the job press, until the mistake was righted.) The inside gives a brief history of high school education from 1875 through 1974 - during that time it was figured, through records, that 4,431 graduates had received diplomas. It also states that the first alumni organization was formed in 1888 followed by a second attempt in 1892. The 1921 attempted lasted until World War II, then was discontinued, adding, "Since 1950, alumni reunions have been a part of each Old Home Week program…"

By December of that first year for this newly formed High School Alumni Association (others had started in earlier years but did not last), arrangements were being made for a Community Christmas Service. The program would be held Christmas Eve in the high school auditorium. It was a Christmas Carol service opening with a welcome from Max Lowman. Adults and children appreciated the community gathering.

A number of holiday entertainments were given during that Christmas week by the schools of Greencastle and the "immediate neighborhood." The high school literary society gave a program; pupils of Prospect Hill School, east of town, taught by Mrs. Jennie Elliott, entertained guests; and the young people of the Cemetery Hill School, west of town, taught by Mrs. Lillian P. Cutchall, rehearsed and presented a Christmas program.

In January 1922, the nominating committee for the Greencastle High School Alumni Association re-nominated the president and other officers for the coming year. By March the organization wrote of the swelling population of the "new" school building, constructed in 1916. The building, at a cost of $40,000, seemed large enough to meet requirements for years to come. A surprise, they wrote in the local paper, was that in just six years' time, the building was full to such an extent that even at the time all pupils who wanted to enroll, could not be accommodated. By the next fall, it was felt, the existing space in the South Washington Street building, would not be enough for the young people of the borough, and beyond that, the student who wanted to attend high school who made their home in the township. They went on to ask the consideration of local taxpayers in providing for the education of the community.

In June the secretary of the association sent out invitations to all graduates of the high school, announcing plans for the annual banquet to be held in the "spacious new dining room" of Hotel McLaughlin (now the Antrim House). The committee in charge of arrangements was preparing to handle from 100 to 150 guests.

At the same time, it was announced that the largest graduating class, with 21 seniors, would receive their diplomas in the Gem Theater. The Class of 1922 students, eight girls and 13 boys, faculty, family and friends filled the theater seats and left little room for those who had to stand during the graduation ceremony. Miss Anna Conrow, daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. L.M. Conrow of South Washington Street, was the valedictorian; Fred Pentz, son of George W. Pentz, earned second honors; and others honored in the class were: Catherine Martin, Earl Shank, Edith Patton and Christie Hager.

The next school opening would begin with an assembly in the high school auditorium for first time students entering the high school on a Saturday morning in August. W. Morgan Cross, supervising principal, was in charge.

Prof. B.S. Whitmore of the high school faculty, was elected first vice president of the GHS Alumni Association and would serve as acting president for the fiscal year that began May 1, 1923, in place of Chalmers P. Omwake, president elect, who resigned because he felt he would not have the time to devote to the office. Other members of the executive committee were: Margaret Fletcher, first vice president; Nora Gilland, secretary; Mary Carbaugh, assistant secretary; and John Jacob Carl, treasurer. That year, Lena Harbaugh, a student from Antrim Township, was named valedictorian of the graduating class, and Gail Weagley as salutatorian. (There will be more on this group of graduates, alumni, at another time.)