Tampico Township High School's First Graduating Class

It's that time of year where many are thinking about graduation. Here is an article found in our Tampico Tornado newspaper regarding the first graduating class.
TAMPICO TORNADO June 12, 1919
TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES FIRST CLASS Tampico Township High School Graduates Its First Class Last Week The first class from Tampico Township’s new High School was graduated last week Thursday evening at Burden’s Opera House with appropriate exercises. The class of 1919 consisted of four young ladies and two young men: Misses Blanche Adams, Evadne Hellier, Doris Howland, Bernice McKenzie; Dyson Kepner and Wayne Lutyens who occupied places of honor on the stage which was nicely decorated with cut flowers, potted plants and the national colors. All of the members of the class of 1919 gave essays or readings. Blanche Adams gave a reading on “How Spud Drove Old Ironsides” and rendered it in a pleasing manner. Dyson Kepner gave an essay on the much-needed reforms in our legal system, Bernice McKenzie set forth in her essay the needs and demands of community service, Doris Howland gave a very interesting reading entitled How the La Rue Stakes Were Lost,” Wayne Lutyens showed in his essay the many evils in our present taxing system and the need for reform there. The class prophecy was given by Evadne Hellier whose glimpses into the future placed Dyson Kepner in Congress, Wayne Lutyens as a professional auto racer, Blanche Adams as a home keeper, Bernice McKenzie in luxury in New York City, and Doris Howland in an office. The class received their diplomas from the hands of F. A. Brewer, president of the Board of Education who made some fitting remarks. The musical part of the program consisted of selections by the Tampico orchestra, and two selections by a double quartette consisting of Mesdames Amy Denison, Bertha Hellier, Cora Brewer, Clum, Isherwood and Miss Forsythe, Rev. Ray Barber gave the invocation and Rev. H. C. Brown pronounced the benediction. The opera house was completely filled with patrons of the school who manifested much interest in the graduation and also extended their hearty congratulations to Tampico Township High School’s first class.

A Little History

Tampico is located in Whiteside County, Illinois. It is located in the NW section of the state. Pronounced "TAMpico," unlike the city in Tampico, Mexico, which accents the last syllable. I believe there are a total of 4 cities/villages with the name of Tampico in the United States, plus one in Tampico, Mexico. The 2010 census claims about 770 +/- people, but I suspect that is counting the cows as well! (little humor, there) The village was founded by J. W. GLASSBURN and after the railroad came through in 1871, Tampico was incorporated as a village in 1875. It is the birthplace of many significant people, most notably Rear Admiral Joseph Mason REEVES & President Ronald REAGAN. Train Buffs may be familiar with the HY&T railway, which ran through - "Hooppole, Yorktown & Tampico." It was often referred to as the "Dummy" and was the shortest commuter train in the country. It ran so slowly that many stories are told of how the menfolk would ride on the train with their shotguns, shoot their prey (rabbits, squirrels, etc.), hop off the train and retrieve their kill and hop back on the train. All the while, the train never stopped.

Tampico is fortunate enough to have two museums. The first is the Ronald Reagan Birthplace & Museum. Visit their webpage http://www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com/R_Reagan_Birthplace_Museum.html

The other museum is the Tampico Area Historical Society, which archives ALL of the history of this mighty little town. Visit their website: www.tampicohistoricalsociety.com and click on the Table of Contents for thousands of pages of historical and genealogical information. There is a site search box on the Home page.This is a two-level museum. The upstairs houses the Family History Library & Research Center, where the old Tampico Tornado newspapers are archived. The paper was published from 1876-1966. Denise McLoughlin is the Family History Coordinator for the Library/Research Center. tampicohistoricalsociety@gmail.com. Joan Johnson is the president of the Tampico Area Historical Society as well as the Curator for the Ronald REAGAN Birthplace & Museum. reaganbirthplace@thewisp.net or 815-622-8705.