The Class of 1896

Bertha Briggs, Charles Brubaker

Nina McCulloch Cross, Edna Crouse

Maimee Dessinger, John Dittman, Alice Dorman

Ada Eichelberger

Margaret Fitch, Ada Flachtemeier, Malcolm Ford

Edith Grier

Florette Keeler

T. LeRoy Laird

Vera Meyer, Naomi Miller

Arthur Nieman

Myrtle Pierce

Wilbur Reitzell

Josephine Serf

Gertrude Timms, Alice Turneaure

Mabel Whiteside

Volume One of the Stella, predecessor to the Polaris, which was first published in 1905. T. LeRoy Laird was editor of The Stella. He wrote that The Stella "has continued to grow brighter and brighter until it shines forth today in all its splendor." Stella is Latin for star. Polaris is the name of the North Star, from the Latin polus, for pole.

The Freeport Board of Education in 1896.

O.E. Heard, Miss Fannie M. Stevens (Sec.), J. Kochsmeier
Smith D. Atkins, Jacob Krohn (Pres.), Martin Flanagan
D.F. Graham, Mrs. Robert H. Wiles, P.O. Stiver
Dr. J.F. Fair

Freeport High School Faculty in 1896

Miss Flora Guiteau, Prin. J. E. McGilvrey, Miss M. Lulu Clark
Miss Elizabeth Hood, Miss Frances A. Rosebrugh, Miss Ida Gray Galloway
Supt. R. S. Page, Prof. H. F. Patton

The class officers were:
President—T. LeRoy Laird
Vice President—Josephine Serf
Secretary—Maimee Dessinger
Treasurer —Margaret Fitch

R. S. Page was superintendent of schools. J. E. McGilvrey was the principal. Teachers were Miss Frances A. Rosebrugh (who was also assistant principal), Miss Flora Guiteau, H. F. Patton, Miss Ida Gray Galloway, Miss Lulu Clark, Miss Elizabeth Hood, Mr. McGilvrey and Mrs. McGilvrey.

First prize ribbon for the Pole Vault in the FHS Athletic Club's second annual Field Day on May 2, 1896.

The football schedule in the fall of 1895 included a loss to Rockford, and wins over Belvidere, Beloit and Dakota.

A card postmarked in 1896 showing the Stephenson County Courthouse.

An 1896 calendar from Farmers and Merchants Bank.

An 1896 Illinois map.

Stationery showing The Williams Hotel in Freeport, dated January 2, 1896. Steam heat and all modern conveniences. R. P. Williams, proprietor.

The Reverand Father Clemens Kalvelage of St. Joseph's Church housed some orphans in his rectory, and for a while, in the basement of St. Francis Hospital. In the spring of 1896, a house was purchased for use as an orphanage. The first child, Joseph Hanson, arrived in March. On May 25, 1896, St. Vincent's Orphan Asylum opened with 12 children.

In March of 1905, August Bergman's home was purchased and in 1911, additional lots and a 12-room brick house were added. Financial gifts from John Taylor, Dr. W. L. Caldwell and Matthew Zimmerman purchased the construction of a new building at Jefferson and Galena, dedicated on October 2, 1912.

An addition was constructed in 1922. From 1929-31 six new buildings were added, including a new power house, a baby house and nursery, an executive building, a church, an old folk's home (St. Joseph's Home for the Aged) and a gymnasium, all brick and fireproof.

The farm at Baileyville Road and the Beltline was purchased so that the children could learn farm skills. Starting after 8th grade, the boys worked with the animals and farm equipment.

In 1946, 241 children lived at St. Vincent's. In 1949, there were 230, with 86 of them less than seven years old in the baby house. In September of 1949, 400 attended the annual homecoming. Among those attending were Sister M. Raphael, one of the founders, who had been there for 52 years! Sister M. Isadora had been working there 44 years.

In 1955, a swimming pool was added. In 1966, a carrillon was donated. The farm closed in 1968. In 1970, there were 84 children living there.

St. Vincent's Orphanage closed in 1973. In 1974, the building reopened as a Community Living Facility for the developmentally disabled.

J. Anthony Spataro was born in Rockford on January 2, 1943. Tony lived at St. Vincents from 1944 through 1946, and from 1948 through 1951.

At left, Tony with his father at St. Vincents in 1949. At right, Tony played high school basketball & football.

His brother Angelo went to Aquin, and graduated in 1956. Tony graduated in 1960 from University High School in Normal, while living at the Illinois Soldiers Children School.

Tony lived in four different institutions from age one until he graduated from high school at age 17.

After a stint in the Marines, Tony earned a BS in Education, an MS in Exercise Physiology and a Ph.D in 1991 from the University of New Mexico in Cardiac Rehabilitation and Research.

Tony taught at the University of Tulsa, published two studies in peer reviewed journals including the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

His dissertation thesis was presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Meetings in New Orleans in 1992.

The article that was published in JAMA made the national wire service news under the title, "Running Can Give You A Pot Belly."

Excerpts from that article were published in six different magazines.

Tony, in shorts at age 3, with his brother Angelo on the Rockford pier in about 1946.

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