It was the late Fifties--a time of Rock and Roll, cars with fins on the tail, basketball state tournaments, and over four hundred students in the 1957 West High School graduating class, the largest ever. The graduation ceremony was so big the Coronado Theater was rented to hand out Diplomas, and even then the number of guest that could be accommodated was limited.
The truth is that while Rock and Roll was King and Elvis was coming on strong, we still enjoyed slow moving Waltzes, Big Band, and even a taste of the Symphonic on occasion. Even so, it was a time of change! The soon to be desired '57 Chevy with its sleek styling and tail fins was still in the Show Room, out of reach for nearly all of us. Many students had to rely on the bus for transport to and from school or to part-time jobs, either that or walking and bike riding. Sure, a few had their own cars, but they were generally older fix-ups.
The year 1957 was a time of challenge for Seniors in other ways, too. Academics were important, of course, especially for high achievers, and there were many ways to become involved in Student Life--studies, music, speech, athletics, ROTC, organizations, publications, and parties. Certainly not all students were so involved; after all, many had priorities at home. Some worked part-time to help out at home or to put money aside for that first car, the Senior Prom, or higher education. We were young, simply trying to establish goals in who or what we wanted to be in the future.
And thanks to the foundation established in those high school years, we did change, learning to accept what we had no control over, and to eventually improve upon the life and conditions in which we found ourselves. On the other hand, we did not change how we viewed the friendships formed at that time. Today, Joe (or Jane) is pretty much the same old Joe he was in high school.
That's kind of nice to know!
The truth is that while Rock and Roll was King and Elvis was coming on strong, we still enjoyed slow moving Waltzes, Big Band, and even a taste of the Symphonic on occasion. Even so, it was a time of change! The soon to be desired '57 Chevy with its sleek styling and tail fins was still in the Show Room, out of reach for nearly all of us. Many students had to rely on the bus for transport to and from school or to part-time jobs, either that or walking and bike riding. Sure, a few had their own cars, but they were generally older fix-ups.
The year 1957 was a time of challenge for Seniors in other ways, too. Academics were important, of course, especially for high achievers, and there were many ways to become involved in Student Life--studies, music, speech, athletics, ROTC, organizations, publications, and parties. Certainly not all students were so involved; after all, many had priorities at home. Some worked part-time to help out at home or to put money aside for that first car, the Senior Prom, or higher education. We were young, simply trying to establish goals in who or what we wanted to be in the future.
And thanks to the foundation established in those high school years, we did change, learning to accept what we had no control over, and to eventually improve upon the life and conditions in which we found ourselves. On the other hand, we did not change how we viewed the friendships formed at that time. Today, Joe (or Jane) is pretty much the same old Joe he was in high school.
That's kind of nice to know!
Official website for the West High School
Class of 1957 Reunion Committee
Class of 1957 Reunion Committee
Produced by:
WHS Class of 1957
Reunion Committee
172 Old Meadow Ln.
Rockton, IL 61072
WHS Class of 1957
Reunion Committee
172 Old Meadow Ln.
Rockton, IL 61072
1957 Warrior Button
VISITOR NUMBER
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