It is our birthday! On October 16th, 2024, The Pel Mel turned 100 years old. Volume 1, Issue 1 of “PELMEL”, as it was originally named, was published by the Pelham Memorial High School Journalism Club. The staff was led by Editor-in-Chief Clare Gerry, Business Manager Maxwell Bogardus and Faculty Advisor E. Earl Newsom. The front page of the paper highlighted the football team’s home opener, which was a 14-0 victory over Bronxville High, which was described as “trouncing” them. It was also announced that the class of 1925’s Richard Mann was elected football captain to replace Robert Cremins after playing three years of varsity football and winning his letter twice in track and football. Next to articles about football, the September Honor Roll is mentioned with Harold Fairchild, Sonia Gulbenkian, Muriel Mackintosh, Carlyn Miller and Barbara Rose being honored. 

The second page includes the creed of the editors which states “We believe absolutely in Memorial High-her students, her faculty, her SPIRIT. We merely hope to mirror that spirit in this sheet.” There is also a mention of successful and important alumni such as “Hank” Harris, a student in the class of 1923, who was studying engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as well as William J. Griffin, in the class of 1921, who was elected president of the Press Club at Dartmouth College. 

The third page features a satire section named “A Bit of Wit” which includes jokes such as “John Wilson – “I don’t think I should get Zero on that paper.” Teacher – ”Well, I don’t either, but it’s the lowest I could give you.” This page also includes a “School Chat” section which talks about there being 304 students at the school at this time as well as a fascinating lecture from a man named Richard Dilly who showed Freshman English classes his bow and arrow. The fourth and final page, features advertisements from Pelham businesses such as the Pel-Town Garage, The Model Barber Shop and B. Subitsky Hardware and House Furnishings. 

Now that The Pel Mel is a century old, these articles present us with primary sources of our past. People who are no longer physically with us, but once graced these halls, the library, the auditorium, and our classrooms can be brought back on these pages if we read through them. These were the pioneers who have left us a fascinating time capsule to what life was like as a student at Pelham Memorial High School and America through so many important events. This Anniversary Edition of the Pel Mel features a glimpse from our issues of the past. There are ads for War Bonds featuring Louis Zamperini during World War II, articles of students discussing Charles Lindbergh’s first solo flight across the Atlantic, a student who witnessed the attack on Pearl Harbor, or another who was in Korea during the Korean War.  Additionally, our staff dug up Pelham student opinions on the Vietnam War in 1968, the explosion of Disco onto the music scene, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and sadly even the reaction to 9/11 and the Columbine tragedy.  The Pel Mel staff hopes to share more of these historic Pelham articles with the student body throughout the year.