Skip to content

High school yearbooks provide social history - James Fortin

bottom James Fortin TREASURES It is the time of year that our secondary school students both love and hate. Exams and the prospect of graduation are close upon them.
bottom
James Fortin
TREASURES
It is the time of year that our secondary school students both love and hate. Exams and the prospect of graduation are close upon them. The City of Greater Sudbury Museums has just received a donation of Wolf Howls, the Sudbury Mining and Technical School yearbooks, for 1928, 1929 and 1930.

The school had been opened in 1921 and offered industrial courses as well as a home-making and commercial course. The plum of the academics offered was the four-year mining course that was open to all boys who have passed the entrance exam.

The 1928 edition was published under the auspices of the S.H.T.S. Literary Society, and led by editor-in-chief, Mary Ainslie. As with today?s yearbooks, the Wolf Howl features articles reviewing the highlights of the school year, articles by students and photographs of various teams and societies as well as academic scholarship and medal winners.

Students could win the Mond Nickel Scholarship Award for the highest standing in the various ?forms?. The award was parceled out in $40 to $20 amounts. The Struthers Gold Medal was awarded for the highest standing in the Junior Matriculation.
bottom
The 1928 Sudbury Mining and Technical School, boys? basketball team. Standing: F. Bilinskey, D. Haight, A. Crossgrove, L. Brownlee. Kneeling: H. Magder, L. McCue, C. Scott, G. Pernu. Absent. F. Bull.

The Peter O? Gorman Medal was awarded to the student with the highest standing in the graduating mining class. In 1928, the award went to Louis Fabbro.

Among the many awards was the W.J. Bell Scholarship for the highest standing at Queen?s (University) in honour matriculation. The award went to Louis Prete.

Under the alumni section, many familiar names attracted my attention. I found that Ina Manning was teaching school near Worthington, Edward Cecchetto was working for his father, Arnold Ritari was working in the forestry department in Sudbury, and Jack Kilpatrick and Earl Mumford were in school at Queen?s.

Among the many articles showcasing the student?s abilities, was a short story about a day on the ski trails, written by Frank Destefano.

G. Dulmage contributed tips on the Procedure for Capture of a White Elephant. The trick was to hang the white elephant?s favourite food, (gingersnaps) just out of his reach, when he turned black with rage, just follow the regular procedure for capturing black elephants.

The Wolf Howl was generously sponsored by the many advertisers. Among the advertisers, Muirhead?s Bookstore was featured on the inside cover. On the back page, the TECO Store operated by the T. Eaton Company, offered ?thrift and economy? in good wearing things for men, women and children.

James Fortin is the curator for City of Greater Sudbury Heritage Museum. He can be reached at [email protected] or 705-692-4448.

Comments

Verified reader

If you would like to apply to become a verified commenter, please fill out this form.