By Ray Tincher

In 1918, Lapel High School published a yearbook called “The Echo.”
It is the oldest yearbook copy the Lapel Public Library has on record.
The school superintendent was W. H. Brinson. Irvin Ellsworth was the high school principal. Mable Myers taught Latin and Domestic Science; Cecil McClintock covered math and botany; Lawrence Busby was responsible for manual training and athletics.
There were only 15 senior students in the Class of 1918, 11 girls and four boys: Elma Anderson, Bessie Bennett, Helen Busby, Murl Castor, Edith Conner, Ida Hersberger, Ruth Holmes, Audery Huffman, Lowell Huntzinger, Albert Hutton, June McClintock, Berylin Neese, Ralph Smethers, Lucile Williamson and Mary Woodward.
The following officers were elected, including what I assume to be a couple of made-up ones for fun: President — Miss Mary Woodward; Secretary — Ester Hutton; Treasurer — Mildred Woodward; Com. For Hair Curling — Lucile Williamson; Com. For Face Powders — Ruth Holmes.
In the yearbook there is a section called The Lapel News.
Reports included: “New Manager for Lapel Bottling Company. Roscoe Thomas was appointed manager according to an announcement last week. We are sure he will manage it to the best advantage, and that it cannot be other than a great success with a man so capable at its head.”

Another story featured the chief of police, Lowell Huntzinger, who issued an order prohibiting the use of roller skates on public sidewalks.
A complaint was filed by Dr. Smethers, who was injured when Donald Jerrell, the 15-year-old son of Carl Jerrell, ran into the doctor.
Several complaints of this kind had been filed before and it was reported that people were glad to have the sidewalk skating prohibited.
Other local news: Lowell Huntzinger cut his hand on a razor-back hog. Harold Jones, a local carpenter, was making repairs to Wilbur Lee’s wooden leg; Gerald Hutton’s cow, Flossie, which was the only cow in Lapel and vicinity, died Saturday night. Since the burial of the cow, the Midland Railroad has taken all cow catchers off its engines, as they are no longer needed.
Hoosiers have always been great supporters of basketball. The 1918-19 school year at Lapel High School was no different. The school started the season with a new basketball coach. Lawrence Busby graduated from LHS in 1915. He had a great interest in basketball. After high school, he took special training for coaching at Indiana University. The team and surrounding community of fans gave huge support toward his success.
Hard work and training plus good coaching really paid dividends, as the basketball team finished the season with a 20-4 record. Next came the Madison County Sectional Tournament, which was scheduled to be played in Anderson.
The Echo Yearbook reported, “Our first game was with Carmel, on Friday evening. Although it looked bad for us at first, we were able to slip a 41 to 27 score on them. Leland Woodward was our main point getter in this game.
“The next game was played with Atlanta, Saturday morning. Neese and Hutton started the scoring by shooting two long ones. The final score was Lapel 31 to Atlanta 10. Woodward and the other guards did excellent floor work and deserve praise for their efforts.
“The next and best game of the tournament was played with Pendleton, Saturday afternoon. The Anderson fans were out in full bloom rooting for us! The first half ended with an 8 to 8 tied score. Neese was the captain of the team. He had to go out of the game on account of sickness, but we were able to hold on until the last minute, when Pendleton took the lead. They defeated Lapel 19 to 16, ending a great season for Lapel’s basketball team.”
The first Lapel High School graduating class was in 1908. There were 15 students in that class as well. Three from this class went on to become teachers; four others were housekeepers; Hershell McClintlock became a farmer; Earl Roudebush became a bank cashier, and Harry Brattian, a coal dealer.
In 1909, LHS graduated 14 students: Thomas Passwater, Hazel Gwinn, Florence Graham and Bertha Fisher became teachers. In 1910, there were 24 students graduating. Earl Cascadden became a successful merchant in Lapel. Reid Huffman enlisted in the U.S. Army.
In 1911, the LHS class graduated 20 students. Charles Passwater enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Chauncey Wise went to work for Stutz Motor Co. Daniel McClintlock was hired by the Maxwell Automobile Co. at New Castle.
In 1912, there are 23 students listed as graduating from LHS. Cecil McClintlock joined the U.S. Army; Arthur Busby became a farmer.
There were 24 students in the graduating class of 1913. Ivan Castor went to work for Remy; four other students became teachers; Lester McDonald and Hershell Woodward joined the U.S. Army.
In 1914, there were 27 graduates from LHS. Howard Mills became a telegrapher; five students entered college; Sherman Fisher served in the U.S. Army.
In 1915, there were 24 students who graduated from LHS. Wilbur Montgomery became a minister; Horace Busby became a farmer; Clifton Huffman moved to Saskatchewan, Canada; and Paul Little became a carpenter.
There were only 16 students in the Class of 1916. Sylvan Devinney was hired by Corning Glass Works, and seven other students went on to become teachers.
The Class of 1917 was the largest student body to date to graduate from Lapel High School. From this class, there were seven students who became farmers. Fred Fisher entered business college, and Sarah Bennett and Julia Ralya became teachers; Olliver Castor was hired by Sefton
Manufacturing in Anderson.
Students in the 1918 senior class had to submit something about themselves for the yearbook.
Some were very enlightening, and others were humorous.
The following are some wisdom quotes for their yearbook:
Ida Hershberger — “She walks softly and says nothing.”
Bessie Bennett — “Oh please, let’s sing this morning.”
Lowell Huntzinger — “Greater men then I have lived, but I doubt it?”
Elma Anderson — “Mildest manners and gentlest ways.”
Murl Castor — “Three things doth shine — the sun, the moon and my hair.”
Albert Hutton — “No sinner nor saint perhaps. But, well — the very best of chaps.”
Helen Busby — “Still water runs deep.”
Berylin Neese — “This little body lodges a mighty mind.”
Audery Huffman — “As modest as a flower.”
Ralph Smethers — “A man of dignity, and quiet courtesy.”
June McClintlock — “Let every man enjoy his whim. What’s he to me, or I to him.”
Edith Conner — “Giggle, and the world giggles with you.”
Lucile Williamson — “Great possibilities lie dormant within.”
Ruth Holmes — “Care is an enemy of life.”
Mary Woodward — “She looks at you with a vacant stare, which seems to imply that you are not there.”
Ray Tincher attended Ball State University and retired from Indiana Department of Correction in 1997. He worked at IDOC for 30 years, serving in a variety of roles, from correctional officer to warden. At retirement, he received the Sagamore of the Wabash Award from Gov. Frank O’Bannon. He wrote several training manuals as part of his employment and is a published author: “Inmate #13225 John Herbert Dillinger (2007).” He and his wife, Marilyn, live in Lapel.