HISTORY OF ZEPHYRHILLS HIGH SCHOOLThe Decade of the 1930s
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“We started with the saddle-shoe craze last spring, and we liked them so well, we decided to keep right on wearing them through the winter. So when we wore one pair out, if we could go through those thick soles, we went out and bought another pair. A sort of compromise was affected in barges, which were essentially square-toed-crepe-soled and clumsier than an oversized muc-seow on the Sahara. For color we adopted plaids and stripes in as many startling colors as we could combine in one piece of apparel.” |
In regard to recreation, many accounts detail
beach parties at Sunset Beach at Lake Pasadena and reported of wiener
roasts. Parties often involved parlor games and board games.
Often the parties and social events discussed in the newspaper stated
that the group had refreshments, socialized and then played checkers,
dominoes, or put together a puzzle. Big bands were
significant. Music was a treat in all types and local musicians
were popular. The school had a Glee Club and often presented not
only at school events but in the community.
Franklin Roosevelt influenced popular culture
through his Fireside Chats and this is the timeframe of Will
Rogers’ homespun philosophy which is reflected in plays and
writings at ZHS. Class Night was a culmination of the
year’s activities for seniors and occurred at the Zephyr Hotel as
the “event of the year,” and included clever recitations,
toasts and musical duets and solos as well as place cards, decorations
and hometown elegance as an important rite of passage for high school
seniors who are said almost every year to have voted the event
“the most worthwhile of their high school career.”
Class Plays were also an enormous social event for the Zephyrhills
community and reflected the folksy warmth of Rogers and the era.
Typically the Junior and Senior class presented the play and they were
often comedies and definitely reflected the Will Rogers type of
humor. Examples included Harvest Queen in 1939, The Indian
Princess in 1938, Black Eyed Susan in 1935; Fickle Fortune Comedy in
three acts in 1932.
Graduations featured the granting of the
“Steven’s Cup” to the most “worthwhile
student.” This cup was donated by the tourist club of
Zephyrhills and was presented annually as one of the star community
awards; a few winners in the 30’s were Pearl Snider in 1939 and
Sarah Parsons in 1935. In 1938, the News said, “the highest
award is the Steven’s Cup, given to the most worthwhile”
senior. This cup is awarded by the vote of the faculty on the basis of
character, service and leadership in the school and community,
participating in worthwhile activities and achievements, scholarships
in the school and community…”
Principals and teachers during this period
were selected somewhat informally by the local trustees of the school
in a nomination process. The discussion of the appointment of Burch
Cornelius in 1939 goes through the process. Community input is
very significant and the principal is expected to be a community leader
and get-along with all factions. The principal also taught
classes. One news article discusses Principal C. D. Johnson
teaching a business class and taking the students on a field trip to
the then Tampa Times where they saw the Associated Press Tickers and
watched the printing of the newspaper. Principals changed
frequently during this decade with six principals in the ten year span.
In sports, Pre-Title IX, the boys and girls
basketball teams traveled and games were played at the location by the
girls and then the boys. For example, an article in the Free
Press from 1938 says, “Zephyr boys and Pasco Hi of Dade City
started the game, the work of both teams was slow until the last
quarter, when the Zephyrs got going and won 15 to 10 with good team
work….Evening games started by Zephyr girls against Brandon and
it was a good game and close most of the way with Coach Mounts worried
until the cowbell was rung at close, when Zephyr girls had 21 to
Brandon’s 16.” Note that the team was called the
Zephyrs, not the Bulldogs in this decade. The games which were played
were not only with a few local schools but also games were played with
college groups and sometimes the town team verses the school team
around 1930
Commencement was a very important event.
Speakers at commencement tended to be state-wide leaders including
religious and political leaders as well as college presidents and
deans. For example in 1938: Dr. W. T. Watson, President of
Florida Bible College; 1939: Dr. John Sherman, President of the
University of Tampa, 1937: Professor Barnett of Southern College; and
the entire community was invited to attend these speaking engagements
which often addressed social or cultural issues of timely importance.
Technology was changing during the 1930’s and the depression was a time of struggle. Review the newspaper accounts and other archives from the decade of the 1930s….posted in order from most recent to earliest….1939-1930!