Ypsilanti High School math teacher Carrie Hardy, whose 1919 diary is being serialized on this blog, appears in the 1922 YHS yearbook in several photos and bits of text. This photo in particular haunts me a bit. I find an abstracted and distant quality in her gaze, not without a touch of grim sadness or even anger.
(Click on any image for a larger view).
The front cover of the 1922 yearbook. 
Here is the YHS in 1922 where Carrie taught--now Cross Street Village.It's a bit hard to tell, but if you look on the extreme right side of the photo, it appears as though the school building ends under the clock tower. Today, of course, the building extends in equal measure on either side of the clock tower. Was there an eastern addition built some time after 1922? Dusty D does not know, but would be grateful to learn if someone else knows more about this.
Here is Carrie Hardy pictured in her math classroom, on one of the yearbook's "Faculty" pages.
In 1922, Carrie Hardy also advised the Student Council. You can see her at the bottom of this group photo. Carrie is also mentioned in the "Senior Class Will." "To the class of 1923 we give, devise, and bequeath our most beloved session room [I *think* this was a sort of homeroom], with the understanding that this room be at all times treated with reverence and respect which is due to the last home of our noble class. The same silence and order which we have maintained at roll call is to be continued by our successors. Also with this toom goes all special privileges that belong exclusively to Seniors, such as the right to have private banquets, wear corduroy pants and brilliant dresses, and to establish the class banner in said room. The greatest privilege which the class has to present is that of having Miss Hardy for session room teacher and a guardian for the erring ones.
The last mention of Carrie in the yearbook is as the stage manager of the senior play "Green Stockings." "Miss Hardy selected the staff to assist in getting things ready, and due to her wise selections, the immense task of getting furniture, settings, costumes, properties, and effects to transform the barren stage into the proper scenes was very efficiently accomplished. Few realize what a job it is to advertise and sell tickets for such an undertaking as the Senior play, and great credit is due those who had part in the managerial and financial end of the production."It's a bit sad to reflect that the last actor stepped off that stage 87 years ago, and that Miss Hardy, and likely all of her students, are dead now.
But Carrie continues to gaze out from that first portrait, little guessing in her day that almost nine decades later, a whole new "classroom" would be reading her diary and pondering her enigmatic gaze.
Yes, it does appear as though the building stops at that point. Here's a more modern pic, from the opposite side:
ReplyDeletehttp://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/8000704.jpg
The clock tower was not added to the building until 1929. What you see at the far end of the building is the old high school building. This was built many years before and stood after fire, lightening and thousands of students running through the halls. Years ago I knew a woman who could remember being a child in the school. She said she held the banister as she was a frightened Little girl.
ReplyDeleteJames: Ah hah! There we go! You are referring to the Seminary building. For years the YHS paper was called the "Sem," in honor of the building right across the street from the HS. Thank you for pointing out that it's the SEMINARY building's tower!
ReplyDeleteIt's scary how easy it is to make wrong conclusions! But at least I learned something.
Aunt Carrie had interesting stories told about her by Robert, her nephew and my grandfather. After grandpa Hardy sister Cathrine died (1920) I believe that a rift came up between Carrie and her Brother Rob. Don't know why, however I knew it was there. So maybe that is why Carrie had that look in her eyes. However I know that Hardy stubborn look and that is it. I have a older picture of Carrie that I could email to you if you want?
ReplyDeleteMs. Redfern: I just love hearing comments like that, from an actual family member! Thank you for adding such valuable insights to the blog!
ReplyDeleteI would love to see the older pic of Carrie!
ReplyDelete(I'm glad she's looking so well, incidentally, three years after the calomel poisoning that she's describing in 1919.)
ReplyDeleteLisele: If it was calomel poisoning, of course. :) I *do* have an older pic of her, from the naughty oughties, right when she started at YHS--AND I found some later pix of her too! And I'm also on the track of hunting down her pic from when she was a student. I'll post all of these when I've got 'em all nailed down.
ReplyDeleteYou can still see that proud girl in that face -- but I bet she hated having that long long hair. As a practical mathematician, I know she breathed a sigh of relief when she was able to hack it all off.
ReplyDeleteLisele: You're right, the exact same expression is still in her face. I find it self-possessed, strong personality, very introverted or self-protective, and as Ms. Redfern said, stubborn. So expressive!
ReplyDeleteHello Dusty, I am Jenny Redferns mother Martha Hardy Redern. Robert Hardys Daughter and i just love reading your writeings from Great Aunt Carries diary. We did get to copy her 1919 diary and i am wondering if they don't have more of her diarys or anything from the hardy family i did do some family research and came to museum about 11 years ago and got some stuff but i think they may have more, like the picture of aunt carrie when she was 16 i have never seen it before and i would love to get a copy of it to show my brother and sisters.I have some pictures i could also show you at the museum.
ReplyDeleteDear Ms. Redfern,
ReplyDeleteHow nice of you to stop by. Yes, the Archives would be glad to make copies of photographs and anything else for you.
I've only seen the 1 diary there. But her "young" photo is in the photo albums, and if you ask at the front desk, the gentleman there will be glad to search the index for any additional items pertaining to Carrie Hardy.
The Archives are open 2-5 Tues.-Sun. I hope to see you there!