Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 June 1887 — An Alumni Association. [ARTICLE]

An Alumni Association.

And a I’lensant Festive Occasion. An institution lias just come hito'existcnco in Rensselaer which, we hope, is destined to live anti flourish as long as the town endures It is an Association of the Alumni of the Rensselaer High School. Victor Loughridge is the president, Miss Mary Washburn, vice president, Miss Ella Ryan secrelra-y and Arthur Hopkins, treasurer. The organization of this association-will jnake- apf ropiint 'a few v.oi-d.-i of li trospect lagarding the Rensselaer high school and its graduates. The high,., school was first organized iu‘ 1877, with G. W. Allen, of Van Wert, Ohio, as principal. lie retained control of the school for three, years, and in 1880 the first graduating exercises occurred. The elas <-of that , year was the largest in point of numbers, ci any tlir.t bar yst graduated fom th:.' school. The l>resent names of the graduates are Mesdames Ora Thonip.-on Ross, M at tie 31 cCoy Rinehart, Lola Moss I'atton, Belle Alter Watson, Hattie Coen Ferguson and Miss Arilla Cotton and Ml -srs. Delos Thompson, Victor Loughridge, E. L. Hollingsworth. Chas. C. Warner mid Elmer Dwigoihs. Death has not yet invaded ilie ranks of this class, but the Angel of Matrimony fins’made sad havde with its mumbers. Five of its female and one of its niaio m are are already married, ard judging from indications, several others ■'' ill go the same way.before many seasons have pass.'d. {Three members ci‘ this class have since graduated from Michigan ..University, and sevend others hav 1 “attended that or some other high collegiate institution for greater or less periods of tirite. Four of them now have their homes elsewhere than in Rensselaer.

Owing to a change in the course of study there were no more graduates until 1883, when, under the superin tendency of Wm. De a\L ; Hooper, Mrsdames Nellie Spirfer Learning, Ella Ilkoads- Henbelt. '.Lillie Alt or K.fr£ and 1 Ryan graduated. Thres of theme four ladies, as their nemos indicate', liaye'married since receiving their diplomas. They e.ll live in Rensselaer. The next commencement was in ’So when Misses Al try WaGiburn; Etta Spider and Messrs, .bred Chilcote and Eugene Spitler took their diplomas with high honuis The class of ’BG sasi-also I'oai in nrinber, namely, Miss Bena Peacock and Messrs. B. F. Fendig, Albert Hopkins and Arthur HopThe class of’B7 was eight in number and their names are given in the report of the graduating excrciiks r published else where. On Friday evening the alumni gave a bamp.ie'. and icceptmr. a: tiio Makeevcr Mouse, in hohbit - i the class of ’B7. All the latter were present, and all of the above mentioned alumni, with five or six exceptions.' The wives and husbands of the married ones were also hearty all pi. sent, together with a limited number of invited guests. The total number who partook of ’lie elegant and bountiful repast, served up in the most I graceful manner by Landlord -Blue and his fair assistants, was fortyfour. After the cloSe ot the banquet, but before the guests arose i from the table, the president of i the association, Mr. Loughridge, 1 arose and gave a brief but appro- ; priate welcoming address, after ! which’ toasts were responded to in a very happj and satisfactory mannor as follows: ‘Our Responsibilities,” Prof. F. W. Reubelt, “The Alumni,” E. L. Hollingsworth; “The Alumni Boys,” Mrs. Nellie Learning; “The Alumni Girls,’’ Miss Alary (Washburn; “The Ci as of ’B7,’’ Gaylord H. Chilcote. The evening was spent very pleasantly in social con-vcrse, music Ac. An agreeable fcipure .of. the evening was a serenade by the Rensselaer Coinet Band.