  The Victoria Advocate Friday, November 29, 1996 MEMENTOS GIVE GLIMPSE OF BYGONE SCHOOL DAYS The Associated Press Denison - Little did Larada Fuller know that her yearbook and scrapbook from 1916 would be viewed and enjoyed 80 years later by students of her alma mater, Denison High School. The books were given to the school library recently by a relative who found them in an attic after the death of Larada, who was living in Illinois. The yearbook is in excellent condition, showing much care by Larada, as is the leather scrapbook that holds many mementos of her high school years - snapshots, cards, notes, sayings and programs.   The yearbook was dedicated to B. McDaniel, of whom Larada wrote: "A real good principal...so nice to the girls (with some exceptions), jolly and good humored with the boys. But in my freshman year, I was scared crazy when he looked at me." The class motto: "We pass this way but once." The school yell: "1-2-3-4-5-6-7, the Denison High will go to Heaven When they get there they will yell, 1916 Well! Well! Well!" The signatures throughout her yearbook indicate she was popular and busy. She belonged to the Girls Glee Club and Home Economics Club. She participated in music festivals, the Senior Class, a minstrel concert, and the commencement program. Looking at the book and its writings bring a feeling of "being there," and the excitement she must have had at the time, her dance cards all filled with young men's names for the many events she attended. Some were held at the school while others took place at the Denison Rod and Gun Club or the Woodlake Casino. She mentioned several young admirers who gave Valentines, wrote notes and escorted her to parties. On Class Day she wrote: "Rah! Rah! Rah! Class 1916! School bells tolled 16 times. Our day is here! There were tooting of horns, convoy to Rod and Gun Club in autos, where we spent the day. The principal amusements at the club were...boating and dancing, a mock wedding, picnic lunch. (There were visiting boys! Hurrah!") "Hours were spent playing games, telling jokes and relating humourous stories. At 9 p.m. the party repaired to the home of Mary Kiker on 400 East Hull street where we were entertained with vocal and instrumental selections. En route to home we visited the Mirror Theater and a little hand holding. "The Senior boys were host to a dance at K.C. Hall with delightful music. About 15 of us (couples) were noticed dancing. "One evening we had a most delightful dance at the home of Dr. and Mrs. James who opened their home to the class who responded gladly. The Victrola furnished appropriate music for the occasion and a most hilarious time ensued," she wrote. The scrapbook held tales of happenings of best friends whom Larada described using nicknames and saying such things as: "She is the biggest Tom Boy in the class...but she's everybody's friend,"..."she is my oldest and best-loved schoolmates...she's little but loud,"..."Skinny Mae Brown - - - I've gone to school with her for years. She's gay, rather quick to criticize, but she's alright just the same." Among the mementos are love letters, friendship letters, and yearbook notes: "I have braved many things beneath the sky, but to leave you nearly makes me cry," sighed John. Reminiscing about a dance near the close of the school year, Larada writes: "We used to have more fun at these little informal dances. There is a thing of the past now though. The night I went with Dick W. Well, that's another story and too long for such little space." Her dance card was filled. Wonder about Dick W. though. A cigarette was glued to one page with the words, "The Last One." "It was the last Graham had and I hated to take it," she writes. "However, another monstrosity for my book meant more to me than a smoke for Graham. One was given to me - - - but I'm not that kind. My mama taught me better." Report cards show a smart girl, but not at the head of her class. She wrote, "Now I sit me down to cram, I pray thee give a mild exam. If I should flunk before I'm through, 'twill be no more than others do." Reading about Baccalaureate service, one can almost picture her: "We had a class meeting and decided to wear tailored white or light dresses. My dress for this occasion was a white serge skirt, flesh colored georgette crepe waist, a milam straw hat with black drop stitch, host and black kid pumps. Also white silk gloves and white crepe de chin kerchief. I received orders on how to act before I left home as if I'd never been to church before or wasn't a high school graduate." For commencement Larada must have been striking - - - she wore her hair down with a big white bow. She said her dress of georgette crepe over net was trimmed with bands of satin-striped ribbon, worn with white hose and white kid pumps, of course. "I was to walk in with Dick W. but he failed so I walked by myself. I was scared. I almost cried coming out - - - no one seemed sorry that they were leaving. It doesn't seem as if it really happened, just only a dream, but I guess it did. I'm sorry." Her memories will be shared by students of Denison High School over and over again.  Denison High School History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |
