This week’s trivia is about Edwardsburg High School. EHS just held its 124th graduation ceremony.
The first high school graduation was held in the Presbyterian Church, with five receiving their diplomas: Laura Snyder, Bertha Thompson, Ida Harwood, Jennie Hanson and Merta Miller. After 124 years, descendants of these five ladies can still be found in Edwardsburg. Laura Snyder’s High School diploma is on display in the Edwardsburg Museum.
In 1881, there were 28 students enrolled in the high school. The school building was built in 1861 and was on Church Street.
Last Sunday, the high school graduated 185 students, possibly the largest class to graduate from Edwardsburg High School. There were early years when there were no graduates at all.
Here are those promised trivia facts: The first yearbook in 1946 was called Eddies Diary and then the next year was changed to the Yearling. Why? No one seems to know. The name continued until 1957 when the name was changed to the Futura and the book was turned on its side. That lasted one year when it returned back to the Yearling. Then in the 1960-61 school year a “Name the Annual Contest” was held, and Karen Peo won with the name “Echo,” as it remains today.
The first proms were held in different locations. Sometimes the high school gym, or at the Four Lakes Country Club, Four Flags Hotel in Niles and the Elkhart Hotel in Elkhart.
Senior trips were popular when the classes weren’t so large.  Many classes went to Niagara Falls or Washington D.C.
Sports were added as the school grew. In the ‘40s, girls’ basketball was added, and in the ‘50s, the first football game was played on the field behind the primary school. Lights were added by a volunteer group of men so that night games could be played. Golf was added as a sport. Cross country and track were added later.
Now for two added notes: Mrs. Boepple was a fourth-grade teacher in the 1950s. No, not this Mrs. Boepple, but my mother-in-law, Mrs. Mildred Boepple, and the second note, in 1955 girls in the eighth-grade were allowed to wear lipstick to school. And you thought wearing shorts caused a controversy.
Congratulation to the Class of 2012. What legacy have you left behind for history?