OUR CLASS, OUR HISTORY

This site has had a minor  change on 

A very abbreviated version

High School life in the early 1970's was not just based on our life within the school. The influences of the surrounding community, political climate, technology, and social values impacted our perception of life. 

Throughout this site are small samples of the events, elements, technologies, and activities that molded our lives. Individually, these samples may not seem connected, but they have impacted our lives and the perspective of what was waiting for us in the world. 

Music was one form of expression. Just separated from the "Protest" era, Rock was looking to develop a new identity. A cross of Pop, Instrumental, Folk, and Country, it struck out on a course to find that one formula to bring in the millions (more dollars than listeners), to the fold.  An example of this was a song titled "The Cover of the Rolling Stone" by Dr. Hook. The stinger in the lyrics came in the line, "And we sing about beauty, And we sing about truth, at ten thousand dollars a show!"  It was the time of "Album Rock!

Performers like Elton John (Crocodile Rock, Rocket Man, Daniel), Chicago (25 or 6 to 4, Beginnings, Saturday In The Park), Jim Croce (Time In A Bottle, You Don't Mess Around With Jim), John Denver (Rock Mountain High), and Grand Funk Railroad (who recorded their hits in Northern Ohio at Suma Recording), would focus on styles that would become both their success & trademarks. It was also a time for many "One-Hit-Wonders" such as the Assembled Multitude's version of "The Overture from Tommy", SugarLoaf (Green Eyed Lady), and the overplayed "Sugar, Sugar" by the Archies.  Middle-of-the-road (MOR) format stations would call 1972 "The Year of Nostalgia" for the remaking of such '50's hits as "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", and "Do You Want To Dance."* WMMS was the powerhouse of Album Rock, lead by the aggressive strategy of John Gorman (now consulting to media companies).

But never the less, it was music, styles, and personalities that became anthems and leaders for a more innocent time. Much to our relief, we can happily say "our" music came prior to the repetitive two-beat of Disco. 

As you examine the WIXY-1260 Top 100, you'll see the list of songs that made up the wide and diverse arena that was then called "Rock". For those of you in the Class of '73, break out your old vinyl collection. (And for those of you younger, check out the "old" music through your local public library.)

Politics are interesting today, yet somehow they were a little more interesting in our days. 

There was the '72 Presidential Election, or what I often refer to as the "Shoot ourselves in the foot" election. President Richard M. Nixon (R) was running for re-election to the office against George McGovern (D). Our generation affectionately knew him as "Tricky Dick." A former Vice-President, failed candidate in 1960, and (most notoriously known for) chairing the Committee on Un-American Activities prior to Senator Joseph McCarthy.

He won the '72 election based on the vote of the conservative adult population via the electoral college. For us, it was our first election where we were part of the process, and our first exposure to "government-by-the-people." And although he was the first president to visit China and begin relations with that nation, we would later see the fruits of his labor when he became the only U.S. president to resign, under pressure of impeachment proceedings related to the Watergate scandal.

As a side note: The November 8th, 2004 USA Today snapshot (tm) confirmed our generations involvement in the election process, as we were the first generation of 18 year olds that could vote. The snapshot graphically indicated what we felt all along. The 1972 elections had the highest percentage of young voters; 45% of all eligible 18 to 24 year olds. (The next closest election was 20 years later in 1992. The George H. W. Bush - Bill Clinton Election with 40.7%.)*

Local business held on to traditional ways. Retail was still based on a balance of local, regional, & national firms who trenched in to their "niche" markets. Jaye & Jaye Hobbies, Euclid Provisions, Euclid Race Dairy, and the Talk Shop, were local businesses we came to trust.

  Discount stores sold much of the contemporary goods, while Five & Dimes like F. W. Woolworth's, W. T. Grant, S.S. Kressge, and Federal Department Stores would slowly disappear with the changing times. The one exception of the group was Kressge's, which began the transformation into the KMart Corporation in the late 60's. 

Mergers were not common occurrences, but did make news on occasion. Tandy Corporation (Radio Shack) bought Allied Radio in 1970, merged the two companies into Allied Radio Shack in 1971, then broke the two apart in 1972, and dissolving the  Allied Radio retail operation in 1973 but kept the commercial Allied Electronics unit intact.

For finances and investments, (before the consolidation and merger-happy acquisition period by banks), the current generation has never heard of Euclid National Bank, Central National Bank, Union Savings, United Savings, Cleveland Trust, or Lake County National Bank. Interest on accounts was between 2 and 4%, with 6 to 7% on long term loans*. But the important thing to remember is that competition kept customer service charges low. And you actually had to deal with a real live person at the inside and drive-up teller windows. No ATM's or electronic systems then, and the corporate headquarters for each was actually in Northern Ohio.

Our chief rival in sports was St. Joseph High School, (now Villa Angela-St. Joseph.) Each year, the "Big" football game always came down to Euclid & St. Joe's, (and of course in our senior year...we lost.) Other high schools would come to challenge Euclid, such as the comments reported in the Euclid Journal from Collinwood's track coach that "We can beat Euclid!" Yet outstanding seasons came for the tennis & baseball teams.

The Euclid High School Marching Band was under the direction of Mr. Dale Harper. He retired in 1972, and in the 1972-73 school year Mr. Art Sydow took charge of the over 120+ member band. Performances would consist of 15 minute programs with the typical variation of old and new music placed in themed shows. (There were many rumors about how we drove Mr. Harper to retirement, but none of them can be proven true.)

Then there was a mysterious prankster who threw off the fire alarm so many time that I firmly believe the administration didn't have to find them. We were so fed up with it, we would have turned them in to the local police ourselves! 

The classrooms, busy with the sounds of lecturing teachers, instructional movies, chalk tapping the boards, pages turned in sync, and bells followed by the voices and sounds of youth. Business and Distributed Ed. classes were located in the southeast section of the third floor. The bookstore was located on the second floor at the south junction, with the computer center (with the IBM mainframe) located in the south corridor of the third floor, and English classes were on the second floor-west corridor. Shop, Mechanics, Automotive, & Electronics were in the East corridor of the first floor, and Home Economics on the Second floor. Finally, the "E Room" was (and still is), at the southeast corner of the first floor.

Now imagine how difficult it was when that period bell rang, having 3,000 students (from all grades) hitting the corridors at the same time. It was like a cross between Los Angeles  & New York City traffic, only without the cars!  

But what is the most important thing to keep in mind is the fact that these are the memories that came to be, in this specific, once in a lifetime combination. Memories that are uniquely our own.

Well that may not be how the lyrics go, but we're still looking for our missing classmates. Click the link on the left to see the list. Please let us know if you find any of our missing class via an email to the webmaster.

Have you ever wondered what our class pictures would be like with 21st century caption? Click the link to the left to see, and then click the second link to see what you would give to some "special" yearbook pictures.

  Euclid High School OnlineDirectory located at http://www.ehsgrads.com/