Let’s Talk Clovis: December 31, 1907 Clovis High School Social Program

Clovis Union High School, October 1908. (Photo Courtesy of the Clovis Museum)

We are sharing the December 31, 1907 twelve paged program that was mimeographed and hand printed. The location of the social was not identified.

Early Clovis High Baccalaureate and Graduations were held at the First Baptist Church (NE corner of 4th and DeWitt) and we believe the event probably occurred there.

G. H. Wilkinson was principal of Clovis High from 1903-1910. His opening remarks entitled “Pupils & Alumni of C.U.H.”:

“As we celebrate this social anniversary the last hour of the Old Year passes away and a New Year begins.

I hope that 1907 has been for you, the brightest, happiest, wisest and best of your life and that kind memory will bury in oblivion all its mistakes and blunders and bring only the good things for your pleasure & comfort.

But since the best of today should be better than the best of yesterday, let us here on the threshold of this new year, highly resolve, that rising on the stepping stones of our dead selves to higher things. We’ll make 1908, for us, better, brighter, happier and wiser than all the past hath been.”

His remarks were followed by a poem signed by W.S. Smith:

“There is beauty in the sunlight.
And the soft blue heaven above.
Oh, the world is full of beauty.
When the heart is full of love.”

The attendees then proceeded to identify 26 “realistic” pictures posted throughout the school. A few of the clues given: sweet sixteen, home of burns, out of the night, the 4 seasons and the spoony couple.

Life truisms were shared: “True worth is being, not in seeming.” And “To be polite is to do and say the kindest things in the kindest way.”

Challenging puzzles were then presented: “The Greek Cross, make one of card-board then make two straight cuts so that you can form a square with the pieces.”  The answer is available at the Museum.

“Magic 9”: arrange the numbers (1-6) in the form of a triangle so that the sum of numbers on each side shall be nine.” The answer is available at the Museum.

“Queries: What part of a fish weighs the most? (Scales) Why is the wick of a candle like Athens? (In Greece) When does a cane take the place of a man’s head? (Hangs his hat on it)

Why is a popular minister like a brakeman? (Makes many couples) What is the heaviest horse on the road? (Lead horse).

What is that looks like a cat, walks like a cat and still isn’t a cat” (Kitten).

A man in jail was the son of who visited him. He replied: Brothers and sisters have I none, but that man’s father is my father’s son.” (Son).

Quote: “Reputation is what men and women think of us; Character is what God and the angels know of us.”

Another quote: “In idleness the stings of death are hidden but busy action are the spring of life.”

The back page of the program declares: “Magna est vertlas, et praevalebit”. Translated it states: “Truth is great and will prevail”.

Clovis High School district was formed (1899) when seven school districts, Red Banks, Jefferson, Garfield, Mississippi, Wolters, Temperance and Clovis  agreed to send their 9th graders to Clovis High.  They occupied the second floor of the (1892) Clovis Grammar School (west side of Pollaksy between First & second streets) until the 1902 (5th & Osmun) High School was built.

Graduation pictures from 1903 to 1965 are on display at the Clovis Museum. They are a visual reminder of the rich heritage that Clovis High has and continues to provide.

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Peg Bos is the president of the Clovis Museum on 4th and Pollasky avenues in Old Town Clovis. She not only manages the museum but she also writes her Let's Talk Clovis column in our publication which features and highlight the amazing history of our city and culture. One fun fact about Peg Bos, she was the first female mayor of Clovis from 1984-86.