School fundraisers represent an important part of the student experience — from the boys basketball team’s annual pie auction to the productions that are put on by performing arts groups.
One-hundred years ago this week in 1923, Philomath High School students were involved in a fundraiser to benefit athletics and the science department. In this particular fundraiser, students were selling subscriptions to The Country Gentleman, an agricultural magazine that was published from 1852 until 1955. In its final year of existence, the magazine was purchased by and merged into Farm Journal, another agricultural magazine with a somewhat larger circulation.
Selling magazine subscriptions was a common fundraiser in schools for decades.
The following story about a Philomath High fundraiser was published March 12, 1923 in the Corvallis Gazette-Times:
“The Philomath high school was offered an opportunity to raise funds for the athletic and domestic science departments by securing subscriptions for the Country Gentlemen for which they received fifty per cent of each subscription obtained. The school was divided into two teams, “The Maggies” and “The Jiggs.” Ruth Vicary was major of the former and Justina Newton major of the latter; the losing team to give a party in honor of the winning team. The contest ended with “The Jiggs” in the lead, having a total of sixty-nine subscriptions, while “The Maggies” subscriptions numbered thirty-two. The boys and the girl handing in the most subscriptions were awarded gold pencils by the Curtis Publishing Co. The pencils arrived Friday and were presented to Miss Elsie Brown, a senior, who had a total of fourteen subscriptions, and Mr. Cecil Rickard, a sophomore, the honor student of the school with eighteen subscriptions. Both of the winners were “Jiggs.” Now, the “Jiggs” are only waiting for the party that the “Maggies” owe them.”
150 years ago
1873
Philomath College: The examination of the students of Philomath College for present quarter will be held the 19th and 20th of this month. The “Literary Exercises” will be in the afternoon of Friday 21st, commencing at 2 o’clock. The exercises will be entirely original — consisting of orations and essays, vocal and instrumental music furnished. In the evening of the 21st, by the request of many citizens of the place and vicinity, the Concert given on the 22d of Feb will be repeated, with some change in the programme. (Published March 8, 1873, in the Corvallis Gazette).
125 years ago
1898
Baseball game: Tomorrow the OAC baseballists play the Philomath nine in this city. It will be no disgrace for the college lads to suffer defeat at the hands of the Philomathites, for the smaller burg has some very good players. Tom Medley will not umpire. (Published March 11, 1898, in the Corvallis Gazette).
100 years ago
1923
City council: The city council is working on a new charter which will likely be submitted to the people for adoption at a special election to be held in the near future. Philomath has long since felt the need of a new charter. The city has outgrown the charter which served a good purpose when the city was a baby, and now it is important that something better be adopted. (Published March 9, 1923, in the Corvallis Gazette-Times).
75 years ago
1948
Police chief: Floyd Graber, who until this week was a member of the Albany city police force, has been appointed chief of police at Philomath, it was learned here today. He will assume his duties immediately, taking charge of a force which is composed of two additional men. (Published March 13, 1948, in the Albany Democrat-Herald).
50 years ago
1973
Boys basketball: The 1972-73 Philomath basketball team might have been great had it been an offensive threat. The Warriors allowed only 51.5 points per game and harassed the enemy into shooting only .355 from the field. But they had a 10-12 record. The Warriors were members of the tough Emerald League, and they couldn’t get by on defense alone. Ken Noble, a 6-3 junior, was the Warriors’ leading scorer, tallying 219 in 20 games, an average of 10.8. (Published March 14, 1973, in the Corvallis Gazette-Times).