Summary of the events of 1948-1949

Again, it is not the goal of this site to include a summary of events on a year to year basis. However, these early years were very memorable in that DHS witnessed many changes in just a few short years: the planning for a new building; a variety of new course offerings; the establishment of many new clubs and activities, and a rapidly growing student body which well reflected the growth and prosperity that the town of Dryden was experiencing at the time.

• The subject of the Argosy editorial was the most important need of the student body, a new school. In September 1947, enrollment at DHS was 206 students housed in six classrooms (three of which were in the main Van Horne building, and three in the temporary annex ). Projected enrollment for the next year was at least 300 pupils. The high school only offered academic courses that lead to post secondary studies. There were no courses in the shops, business, home economics. Physical education classes were conducted at the Youth Center (teen canteen), and there was no auditorium for school plays and concerts (they were held at the mill hall in downtown Dryden)
• 1947-1948 was the second successful year for student council. The student council coordinated the Freshman Initiation, Commencement Exercises, the annual Field Day, and the Oratorical (public speaking) Contest. For that year, student council collected funds from the school play and received a grant from the School Board. Disbursement of funds included grants to subsidize transportation costs for students to the Initiation Party and the Commencement Exercises; support for boys' basketball and curling teams, and financial aid to the school orchestra
• The first school band (then called school orchestra) was started at DHS. Instruments played by the students were the trumpet, piano, drums, and fiddle.
• Second annual Oratorical contest was held with Reg Skene as Junior winner and Bernice Euler as Senior winner
• The school play for the year was "Mrs. Tubbs of Shanty Town" directed by then teacher Miss Kincade (who also played the lead role of Mrs. Tubbs).
• DHS curling team was the Northwestern Ontario Junior champs, and participated in the Dominion Championships at Edmonton. Click here to read more about DHS' curling accomplishments
• "The 1948-49 school term saw, for the first time in the history of DHS, a school bowling league", is how the Argosy describes the first bowling league at the school. A total of five teams with seven players met every Friday afternoon from 4:00 until 6:00 at the local bowling alley. (The local bowling alley at the time was located near the mill hall, which today is close to present day Wilson's). Team names were the "Blowers", "Headpinners", "Dumbbells", "Rookies" and the "Crackpots".
• The boys' basketball team, under the capable coaching of Mr. McMaster, played the first inter-school basketball game against the Kenora "Grads". The Dryden "All Stars", defeated the "Grads" in a score of 52-42. A few weeks later, the Kenora squad hosted the Dryden team and defeated the "All Stars" in a score of 31-25. The Dryden team was at a definite disadvatage playing in Kenora, as the team was not accustomed to playing on a regulation size basketball court.
• The full tackle rugby season was expanded to include more teams and players. Imagine the fitness required to play full tackle football, with no equipment, on a team with only eight team members. Here is a description, as written in the Argosy, of the determination displayed by the rugby freshman:
  
  
  "At the beginning of the season the younger boys did not seem to be able to stop the older and heavier boys. Consequently, the older boys on the teams had to do most of the blocking and tackling. The Freshman tried hard, but when one of them tried to throw a tackle, the others would stand back and see how he made out. Thus, the heavier ball-carrier was able to shake off his smaller adversary. The boys were not to be daunted however, and soon learned to follow their beach head and bring down the ball-carrier by sheer force of numbers. This represents team work at its finest and it does something to you to watch these little Terriers defeat the Great Danes"
  
  Throughout the winter months, Mr. McMaster had shown the players many instruction films on ball handling, blocking and tackling.