EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first in a series examining “Laker Lore”: stories from Spring Lake High School’s past. With librarian Laurie Draeger as our trusted source, we will open a window to the legendary legacies and forgotten traditions from the school’s 60-year history.
For the first edition of our new series, “Laker Lore,” we chose to investigate the 1966 “Senior Prophecy.” When given a box of old Spring Lake Schools memorabilia by our beloved high school librarian, Laurie Draeger, the Anchor staff were immediately drawn to the bright pink booklet entitled “Senior Prophecy.”
Draeger, a member of the second-ever graduating class, said that this was an attempt to create a new tradition in the brand new district. By leaving things of importance behind to the new generation of seniors, they could have a legacy left behind at their high school.
The 1966 Student Council, including Draeger and her brother, Ted, developed the idea. She reminisced on the fact that the student council of the time and the high school faculty often worked closely together to ensure that student voices were being heard.
This tradition was not all serious, either. Many students chose to add their own sense of humor into the booklet. Some left their cars to “Joe’s” – the local junkyard, as well as others passing down their charismatic traits to underclassmen who they stated “could use them.”
Multiple bequeaths included “my star gazed look,” while other students passed down features including “saddle sores” and “strawberry blonde locks,” and qualities including “my way with women” and “my mystery sailor charm.” One student bequeathed “my trips to the Hackley Library to anyone talented enough to forge an I. D. card.”
The book contains Draeger’s own prophecy: “(I) bequeath the old convertible to anyone who wants to lose in the drags.” She recalled the iconic 1955 Buick that was white with a black top and red interior, which was extremely important to her and her family. The convertible was the only one of its kind in the area and was also known for being very fast, hence her statement that it could win at the drags. The irony, however, was that her parents were both teachers in the district and very involved in the community which meant she could not get away with much around here.
The document includes a three-page narrative of the tradition, ending in a warning: “Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. If names have been omitted or feelings hurt, sue the Spring Lake High School prophecy committee and then just try to collect.”
This tradition remained at Spring Lake up until the last decade, when the then-named “Senior Will” had slowly died in popularity among students. Similar traditions still stand within certain groups of students, specifically the band and theater programs, which still do passdowns as students approach graduation.
