ALBION HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1923

Each year at this time we feature the Albion High School class of 100 years ago. The Class of 1923 was the first to use the new high school wing addition to the Central School complex. The wing was dedicated on May 9, 1923 a month before graduation.

The class of 1923 had 98 students, which was the largest sized class to every graduate up to that time. The class motto was "Honor Before Honors." Valedictorian was Eleanor Scribner; the salutatorian was Norman Reed. Class president was Harold Wilson. The 46th AHS Commencement ceremonies were held on Friday, June 8 at the Methodist Church on E. Erie St., customary of those times. Special speaker for the event was Dr. Robert Williams, dean of men at Albion College who spoke on the topic of "Education and Ideals." Principal William F. Head presented the diplomas to the graduating seniors.

In looking through the list of class members, the most prominent name which stands out is Harry Williams (1904-1978) who became a long-time teacher and later served as principal of Albion High School from 1955 to 1966. Another person, Pauline Baskevich (1904-1982), who came to America from Lithuania in 1911, served as AHS school secretary the late 1920s.

Here is the list of members of the Albion High School Class of 1923. Do you remember any of them? Elaine Abbott, Gladys Albaugh, Ruby Aldrich, Lavera Andrews, Pauline Baskevich, Gladys Bauer, Helen Baum, Lela Beck [African-American]; Hilbert Behling, Clarence Boldt, Louise Boldt, Josephine Boyd, George Briggs, Lawrence Burden, Marguerite Burroughs, Modest Butts [African-American. Yes, that was her name], Halsted Clapp, Frank Cole, Russell Courtright, Florence Davenport, Beatrice Davis, Kenneth Delbridge, Cleo Dopp, Rachel Dunn, Thelma Ellis, Gladys Finley, Mary Findley, Irma Fox, Ellen Furey, Richard Gibbons, Melford Gilbert, Carl Glady, Clara Glenn, Robert Groby, Edith Grundeman, Irma Haeske, Clarence Hagerman, George Heels, Gordon Herrick, Norman Herrick, Mernice Hicks, Mildred Hickey, Gertrude Hoag, Naomi Kimmer, Clyde Lampman, Mary Lane, Olive Lines, Mildred Ludlow, Charles McCreedy, Josephine Marsh, Hazel Marvin, Floyd Millard, Leona Miller, Louise Miller, Vira Miller, Edith Mitz, Marguerite Mollica, Kenneth Moore, Ralph Morehouse, Edward Nass, Hazel Osmun, Eleanor Pahl, Florence Powers, Floyd Quigg, Donald Radee, Howard Rarick, Melvin Reed, Norman Reed, Charles Rogers, Harold Romans, Wilhelmina Sailer, Audra Schneider, Eva Schultz, Eleanor Scribner, Hugh Sebastian, Katherine Semon, Luke Smith, Howard Smith, Mary Stewart, Marjorie Surryhne, Mildred Swan, Helen Teller, Donald Thurow, Harry Williams, Victor Williams, Edwin Williamson, Harold Wilson, and Dorothy Winchell.

From our Historical Notebook this week we present a page from the 1923 Breeze Annual yearbook featuring the artwork of class member Beatrice Davis entitled "Seniors," to introduce the section featuring individual photographs of the graduates.

	Frank Passic — Albion Historian An Albion native and 1971 graduate of Albion High School, Frank Passic has been researching and writing Albion history since 1976. He is the creator of the Albion Historical Notebook, with hundreds of articles appearing weekly in the Morning Star and The Recorder. Frank maintains an extensive personal archive including Riverside Cemetery records, family surname files, genealogies, photographs, city directories, and high school yearbooks. Support his 2026 research at the Historic Albion Michigan Facebook page. Historical Notebook \| From the Archives \| Subject List \| 100 Years Ago \| Alphabetical Index \| Frank Passic Home Page \| Albion History Books \| Contact Frank
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