At 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 5, 1907 — one-hundred and ten years ago today — school hall on the third floor of Norwalk High School was crowded with students, parents, and friends. The occasion? Class Day of the Norwalk High School Class of 1907.

The evening began with a “witty, well-worded, and well-delivered farewell speech to the Juniors” by future United States Senator Stephen M. Young, Jr.

The Junior Class responded with their class yell. What was the class yell? Unfortunately, the article in the Norwalk Daily Reflector did not say. [1]

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As we saw a few weeks ago in the post Oratorical Contest for a Future U.S. Senator, Stephen M. Young’s public speaking skills had earned him fourth place at an oratorical contest in Bowling Green, Ohio the previous month. Now it had given him the honor of keynote speaker at Class Day. That talent for public speaking would lead to a life as a lawyer, soldier, and politician, a career more illustrious than any of his classmates.

Stephen also knew where he would be going after graduation: he was headed to Case University in Cleveland. These days, it is not unusual for high schools of the caliber of Norwalk High School in 1907 to see the majority of their students pursue higher education. But only four of Stephen Young’s classmates were heading to university that fall. [2]

Some students would continue studying at Norwalk High School: Harriott Wickham (my grandmother) for instance. In diary of 1908-09, she wrote: Graduated in 1907, but took 2 courses with class of 1908 — History & chemistry — botany 1/2 year. Harriott also prepared to take an examination to become a teacher, which led to her teaching in a one-room school house 1908-1909. Then she got her big break: her great uncle Louis Severance sent her to Wooster College, where she graduated in 1914. She was the only girl in her class afforded that opportunity; in those days young women rarely were allowed to pursue higher education. [3]

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Enough of that. Back to Class Day at Norwalk High School! The Class of 1907 had a treat for their audience: A play. We’ll see how well they pulled that off in my next post: Bachelor Hall.

Footnotes:

[1] “Brilliant Success,” The Norwalk Daily Reflector, June 6, 1907, page 1, column 3.

[2] Stephen Young’s classmates that attended college that fall were Arthur Young, Harry Holiday, Homer Beattie and Robert Venus.

[3] Oil Magnate Louis Severance married Fanny Benedict, sister of Harriott’s grandfather David Benedict. After Doctor Benedict’s death, Louis established a trust fund for his nieces and paid for the college educations of many of their children.

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