The Forties
World events dominated life at east during the forties. In the beginning of the year during the fall, student had their attention to events that were happening in Europe. More young male students entered the service. When WWII started, staff and students threw themselves in to the war effort.
East was more pleasant after the the deprivation of the depression. In 1940 students could get their class rings at the Tower Store for $6.50. The English Department suprised the school when they purchased a radiophonograph.
Mr. Barrett, the football coach and Mr. Mueller, the basketball coach, both wrote sections for the Tower Times. Mr. Barrett's column was titled "Grin and Barrett" and Mr. Mueller's column was titled "On the Hardwood."
The football team shared the Big Eight title with Central High School in 1941, for the first time since 1937.
When the war began in December of 41, th
Thursday, June 21, 2007
making models for the government. The latin club started a fundraser for the servicemen by giving to them stuff like cookies, letters, books and other stuff
As the war pushed on, the school started facing shortages. So Mr. Randle formed a faculty committee to look over the curriculum and to make sure it fits the requirements of the war effort.
Many staff Members left East to join the service. They faced there first loss of the war when, James Stratus, a 1939 graduate was reported missing in the Philippines in April of 1942. The previous year East students chose "V for Victory" as there Homecoming theme. The Spring Dance that year also had a patriotic theme.
The Homecoming theme of 1944 was "Victory." Taps was played to honor the war dead. East held a service for Gold Star Mothers in memory of the sons they lost in the war on May 16, 1945. By the end of the war 74 graduates or students were dead. Twenty war veterans aged 18-27 came back to complete their education. In the late forties, school life had returned to normal.
School was dismissed early the day President Truman came to Madison to speak at the University Stock Pavilion. Three students obtained passes to hear him speak and two students managed to sneak in.
As the forties came to a close Wrestling growed in popularity, with five big Eight schools competing.
