Zephyrhills 100th Anniversary: New Years

By , 8 December, 2009, 1 Comment

Zephyrhills is celebrating the centennial of the schools in the city of Zephyrhills in 2010. At the end of the 1909-10 school term, the one room school houses in the area closed (Independence School, Childers School and Union School) and in September of 1910, a state-of-the-art school building was opened at the corner of Seventh Avenue and Sixth Street in Zephyrhills which housed all grades.

As a commemoration of this school which opened with 61 students, a committee composed of community members, alumni and current staff members are organizing an  event to celebrate the many years of wonderful education in the community.  Our goal is to publish a weekly ‘tidbit’ or remembrance about the school’s history which often reflects the community.  We invite you to share stories, photos and information with us as you read the weekly articles.  You may reach us at: Madonna Wise (mwise {at} hughes(.)net) or 813 782 0246 or Clereen Brunty at: (clereen {at} tampabay.rr(.)com) or (813) 782-8763.

In honor of this festive time of the year when we celebrate the beginning of a new year, we reviewed the archives of Zephyrhills School history that mentioned the celebration of a “New Year” and came up with some fun remembrances.  We found New Year’s events with educational focuses mentioned in five articles in the Zephyrhills News (Colonist) archives.  See if any of these jog your memory?

JANUARY 1, 1920: The Zephyrhills Colonist (the Zephyrhills News’s previous name) reported an exciting New Year’s Day basketball game in 1920.  “Our local basketball team has secured a game with the St. Petersburg boys for New Years Day, to be played here.  This is expected to be one of the best and fastest games of the season as both sides are lining up for a hard fight and everyone is invited to come out and see some snappy playing.”

JANUARY 1, 1931: “The graduating classes of ZHS for the years 1928, 1929 and 1930 with a few invited guests enjoyed a social at Sunset Beach on Lake Pasadena the evening of January 1st.  The merry-makers began to gather at 8 o’clock and continued to arrive until 9. Uncle Frank Tousey, the genial proprietor and manager of Sunset Beach was at the door to welcome each arrival with his smiles and best wishes for the New Year.

Music for the occasion was furnished by the radio and Uncle Frank’s famous one-man band. Pool-golf claimed the attending of a few while others played bridge and many were dancing.

Uncle Frank started the game by calling Paul Jones which led to many others. Refreshments of sandwiches—all kinds—cake and hot chocolate were served.

Those present of the different classes were: 1930 class—Sadie Turner, Althia Guy, Cecil McGavern, Charlie Slater, Owen Gall and Fred Gill; 1929 class—Celia Linkey, Angie LeHeup, John Pennington, John Loomis, Robert Sibley, and Arthur Austin; 1928 class—Edith Plank, Tillie Reutimann, Lucile McGavern, Robert Campbell, James Campbell, Nelson Nabor, Clarence Darby and Bob Gill.  Guests were: Mrs. Fred Gill, Mr. and Mrs. Clifton Craig, Miss Esther Plank, A.N. Black of New Port Richey and Sam McGavern.

(Note that the modern-day alumni group was born out of the class of 1950.   Jaynell LeHeup was responsible for the modern-day Alumni movement which continues to thrive.)

JANUARY 1, 1972: The New Year’s holiday was the occasion for a reunion of 16 members of the ZHS class of 1958, who were guests of the Sunland Restaurant, New Year’s Day.  A portable TV set was provided by Dale’s Firestone Center in order that bowl games could be viewed. The 15-year picnic reunion in the summer of 1973 has been tentatively planned. Pictures in the photo were: Margaret Nelson Cherry, Darlene Wilson Bamberger, Mildred Smith Carter, Clara Mae Adams Fowler, Barbara Peeples, Ruthie King Kennedy,  and Gloria Lewis Jones.  Also attending were Brantley Smith, Murray Thomas, Marion Nesbitt, Ralph Massey, Donnie Nelson and Larry Bassell.  Class Sponsor John Clements, Harold Hunt, Roger Sibley, Jr., Charles Bloom, Bamberger, and Kennedy arranged the reunion.

JANUARY 1, 1931: Mrs. Vogel entertained the seventh and eighth grades and their teacher, Mrs. Guy, to a New Year’s picnic for her daughter, Frances, at her home north of the city. Games, basketball, football and contests were greatly enjoyed by the following: Alberta Corbin, Isabelle Austin, Rita Spellman, Helen Grant, Ruth McCoy, Margarite Reutimann, Eva West, Dorothy Boyer, Ruth Higginson, Delma Harrell, Pearl Baldwin, Elma Ryals, Mary Spellman, Sarah Parsons, Anlee Cripe, Laura Rogers, Audrey Fulgham of Tampa and Frances Vogel as well as Ernest Linkey, Horace Williford, Emil Reutimann, Donald Plank, Glenn McDowell, James Mott, Athel Thomas, Robert Seaberg, Clifford Wilson, Reggie Clark, Robert Cook, Jack Parsons, Richard Gaskins and Louis Gall.  The hostess was assisted by Mrs. Claude Cook, Mrs. Ed Seaberg, Mrs. J.T. Fulgham and Miss Edith Parrish of Tampa.

Countdown to Centennial

Countdown to Centennial
By Madonna Jervis Wise and Clereen Morrill Brunty of the 100th Anniversary Committee, ZHS. Article originally appeared in the Zephyrhills News on January 8, 2009.

All rights reserved. Photos © Madonna Jervis Wise

1 Response {#}

{Comments are closed}