Page 114 - 2020 LP Yearbook

Yearbook History

Bob Lepak 25 april 2020

Early in the history of Lake Placid High School, small yearbooks were compiled by the seniors and published at
irregular intervals. They may have had various titles, such as, the Placid High Annual, or, the Class Log, for 1926.
They dealt with the seniors themselves and included accomplishments, activities, stories, humor, and other
material. In the spring of 1930, for the first time, the senior class took on the task of assembling a more elaborate,
large format, yearbook under the leadership of Editor-in-chief Eugene Shea. It was dedicated to Mr. Harold R.
Thompson, a member of the board of education. The yearbook was entitled “1930 Leaves of Lake Placid High
School,” commonly referred to as “Leaves.” This first volume had 92 pages and a flexible blue cover with the
senior emblem stamped on it in gold. Photos were provided by Pierson Studios and printing was done by LaMoy
Print Shop, both of Lake Placid. Photos included board of education members, faculty, individual graduating
seniors with their activities, class groups by graduation year, as well as those for clubs and sports. It also contained
a photo of the school “high on a hill” that opened in 1922. There were written contributions, too. Examples
included addresses by the valedictorian and salutatorian, the president’s address, senior wills, class prophecies,
awards, and many others. Historically, it also contained the names of principals and members of the board of
education from 1895 through 1930, and a list of dozens of alumni at the time. At the end there were ads bought by
local businesses in support of the yearbook, some of which still exist today. While it may seem standard now, this
was very novel for its time and set the framework for future yearbooks. A second “Leaves,” with a different cover,
was published in 1931 using a similar format. After that, it seems that the production of yearbooks stopped for a
long time.

The modern era of yearbooks began in 1960 with the publication of the first Olympian. The format focused mainly
on numerous photos of students, faculty, staff, clubs, and sports teams. It had a blue reinforced soft cover with the
words “The Olympian 1960” embossed on it in gold. The first group photo of seniors was in the 1962 yearbook.
For decades photos were mostly black and white. The 1968 yearbook debuted with the first color photos, those
being 19 pictures involving sports, a play, and a festive view of 11 sharply dressed students on the foyer steps. The
very first of those photos shows Gerry Reid catching a pass on the football field. The first color picture of seniors
as a group appeared on two pages in the 1980 yearbook and the first individual color photos of seniors appeared in
the 2005 yearbook. Beginning in the 1990s, more photos appeared as many were miniaturized. Designs became
more elaborate and eye catching. The first yearbook in all color came out in 2006. Candid shots were present in all
yearbooks and served to break up some of the other parts. Sections detailing the photos and accomplishments of
seniors were always a priority, being placed anywhere from the front to the back, depending on the year. The
greatest number of graduates numbered 92 in 1975. The least known number was just 2 in 1901, the very first
graduates of the high school.

114