Details about early McCook High revealed from 1912 school journal

Sometimes you just must be in the right place at the right time, and today was jackpot day for me at the McCook Public Library. I had stopped by to talk business with Jody Crocker, Library Director, when she presented me with a Commencement Journal written by Agnes H. Clark, daughter of Lottie (Viola) and William T. Clark, for use in the Southwest Nebraska Genealogical Society library. The journal, written during Miss Clark’s senior year, covers 1912/1913 activities, teachers, classes and many, many names of her classmates and underclassmen.

Here is her description of what was then the new McCook High School built on the site now occupied by Central Elementary: “McCook had three school buildings. On West 4th street is the Old Frame Building, the first of McCook. It is now occupied by the Kindergarten and Primary rooms. On East 5th Street is the Old Brick Building or East Ward. It was built in 1888 for a High School Building, but in 1908 it was taken for the intermediate grades. The High School building was built in 1907 and 1908 on West 1st Street on the site first chosen for the frame building. The building is built of pressed brick with a red brick foundation. It was occupied in January of 1908. The first floor was occupied by the Grammar rooms at that time. In 1913-1914, rooms were fitted up for a History recitation room and a Domestic Science room on that floor. The 2nd floor is occupied exclusively by the High School, and contains the assembly room, seating about 180 persons and is 40 by 90 foot, a laboratory, a Math recitation room, a German recitation room, an English recitation room and a Commercial Room. The superintendent’s office is also on this floor and is separated from the assembly room by a wide corridor.”

Miss Claire C. Thursby was the Principle of the High School and an instructor in Latin, organizing the Latin Club in 1911. Her sister, Helen, was the instructor of History. Lena May Williams had graduated from the University of Nebraska and taught English as well as coached the Senior Class Play “At the End of the Rainbow” which was given on May 28, 1913. Miss Lois M. Thompson also graduated from the University of Nebraska and taught German. Agnes’s personal note on Miss Thompson included this: “Her brown eyes are always laughing, and she has a smile for everyone.” It was one of the male teachers that elicited a tongue in cheek comment from Agnes when she noted that Mr. Wm Aten: “is Science Instructor and Athletic Coach. He also had a book-keeping class the last semester this year. He is a better instructor than football coach.” She goes on to list all the instructors she had during her high school years, the years they taught and what classes they had.

She describes her graduation ceremonies with detail including the fact that Superintendent W. T. Davis: “suggested the wearing of the cap and gown on commencement and did all he could to push the matter.” Apparently, he was successful because she tells of wearing gray caps and gowns to the Temple Theater where the commencement exercises were held. Julia Barnes was the Salutatorian and Helen O’Brien, with an average grade of 95.70 was the Valedictorian of the Class.

Agnes married George H. Young in 1923 and spent most of her life in Denver. She passed away shortly after George’s death on Feb. 13, 1973.