LUTHER L. WRIGHT HIGH SCHOOL

"RED DEVILS"

The Goudie sisters, two of IHS's most beloved teachers

Excerpt from the Upper Peninsula Sunday Times, February 11, 1979

By RAY MAURIN

Potentially, more than 11,000 former students could return for the event. Practicallv speaking, probably far fewer will show up. But the idea of inviting all who have graduated since the school opened in 1890 could lead to some interesting situations such as some education comparisons between the class of 1979 and the class of 1913, the earliest class to have members acknowledge invitations.

It all started with a letter addressed to former graduates and non-graduates of Ironwood High School stating, "Have you ever wondered what it would be like if all the graduates and former students of IHS would return to town for a grand all-class reunion?"

The first all-class reunion will take place during the Summer Heritage Festival, July 6-8.

Activities planned for the gigantic get-together include special tours of schools and the area, a parade, smorgasbord, dance, social activities, and a picnic Ironwood grads who have not been contacted may write to Charles E. Best, 101 Norrie St., Ironwood, MI 49938. He also needs addresses of those who have graduated and the names of corresponding secretaries of those not yet contacted.

Bill Hyry, IHS principal since 1970, said that the 89th graduating class will be conducted in 1979. So far, 11,526 students have graduated from L.L. Wright

Reunion co-chairmen Percy Smith ('61) and Anarew Bednar ('31) say that questionnaires were sent to nearly 5,000 graduates, or nearly 50 percent of those who graduated since IHS' inception in 1890. Others participating in the endeavor are Alma Nelson ('29), secretary; Charles Best ('41), treasurer; and Dr. R.E. Dear ('51), steering committee members.

The earliest class members from 1913 responded and will attend. Mary Amundsen ('29) replied, "The all-class reunion sounds like a lot of fun and a chance to get reacquainted. There are ten in our family - all but one graduated from L.L. Wright."

"This is a fantastic idea," said Leon Sopko ('31). "I am sure this will draw an overwhelming response."

And, Ardale Truscott ('29) says, "Our 1929 classmates have the sweet memory of being the first 9th graders to enter the new high school - how happy we were. The school had a high scholastic standard for its teachers and pupils. The building and equipment were modern. It made us proud."

From the school yearbook Bicentennial issue of 1976, the following history was recorded:

1921: The school board contracted with Peter J. Nickel for the construction of a new high school behind the existing L.L. Wright H.S., which would be torn down, as being too small to accommodate the increase in high school students.

1923: The architectural firm for the new school was the firm of Croft and Boener of Minneapolis. The budget was set at $916,000 April 2.

1924: Mr. Sleight threw out the first shovels of dirt on the site.

August 1925: the new high school was completed.

Feb. 5, 1926: the new L.L.W.H.S. was dedicated exactly 26 years from the day the first L.L. Wright had been dedicated.

Today, in the main entrance hall stands two plaques, the first dedicated by the classes of 1892-1920 which says, "Ironwood High School Honor Roll - dedicated by the alumni to those graduates who offered their lives in humanity's defense in the Great War of the Nations, 1914-18, in the memory of those indicated her by Gold Stars who gave their last full measure of devotion."

The other plaque is situated above the cornerstone of the original high school . . .

"This tablet below was removed from the original school which was constructed on the site in 1900 A.D.

At that time, Ironwood's schools were under the supervision of Luther L. Wright.""Wright came to Ironwood in 1887 and continued in this service until 1909. During this period, the school system grew from a one-room building housing 100 students to a system requiring 10 buildings to care for 2,751 pupils."

"Aside from the physical growth, the development of school work in the system during Mr. Wright's regime activated statewide attention. In 1909, he left Ironwood to become Michigan's superintendent of Public Instruction..."

John M. Longyear, former Marquette Historical president and former member of board of control of Michigan College of Mines, donated the athletic field, which is named in his honor. The former iron mining pioneer died on May 28, 1922.

Iron mining was also instrumental in the naming of the annual class yearbook. First published in 1911, the title "Hematite" was chosen to honor "the valuable ore of iron mined in Ironwood and Gogebic Range ... the red hematite is every and is commented upon with admiration . . . rainy days they would see blood-red rivulets and gory pools that are everywhere conspicuous," some in the first yearbook.

The first annual also listed all of the Ironwood School alumni since its organization in 1890 when it had five graduates.

Rhinehart Thalner also wrote in the same issue of 1911:

"The school term opened for 1910 as usual. A good football team was looked for. There was plenty of material for the making of a very strong team but there was no coach. The boys were out alone for two weeks. Finally, Mr. Redner, who played on the team in 1899 and later starred on the UM team offered his services as coach. The boys worked and as a reward were victorious in seven out of games played . . ."Only Escanaba beat them, and while all points gained by the opponents was 14, Ironwood claimed 134!"

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