Aspen History: Class of 1902

“Class of 1902- fourteen handsome young ladies graduate with high honors and receive diplomas last evening at the Opera House,” announced the Aspen Daily Times on May 30, 1902. “The Wheeler Opera house was crowded to overflowing last evening with Aspenites loyal to education and the city schools. The opera house was elaborately decorated for the occasion. There was enacted the closing scene in school life for fourteen of the brightest and sweetest girls ever graduated from High School. There also was enacted the ‘commencement’ of new life, the beginning of that broader and nobler career for which they have worked so hard and so long. In the culmination of their highest hopes and aspirations last evening, the large audience saw them happy, their bright faces animated with feelings of pleasure and just pride in what they had accomplished. Never in the history of the city has a more deserving class been graduated and it is not presuming too much to say a more lovely one. Arrayed in spotless white, carrying the dainty fragrant wild rose, the class flower, they vied with this sweet creation of natures alchemy in radiant beauty. All Aspen was proud of these young girls who had be persistent endeavor surmounted the difficulties that beset the paths of those who labor for knowledge. Proud of them because they had won the fight and proud of them for the example they set others longing to climb the steep path way of knowledge.” This image above shows Aspen High School’s graduating class of 1902.