By DICK SHEARER
For The Reporter
As more than a thousand North Penn High School seniors line up to receive their diplomas this week, let’s look back to the very first commencement held in the former Lansdale School District.
There was no sea of blue caps and gowns or the need for a facility the size of Crawford Stadium back in 1888 when four students — that’s right, four — were rewarded for successfully completing 12 years of public school education.
W, Y. Young, D. Brower Longaker, Harvey H. Godshall and M. May Ramsey received their diplomas not on a football field or in an auditorium but in the school hall which was about the size of a double classroom.
Humble setting notwithstanding, the accomplishments of these pioneer grads were matter of community pride for the people of Lansdale. The ceremony was conducted on a small stage with the students gathered in the center and their teachers and school officials standing nearby. The county superintendent of schools showed up for the event as did two clergymen, and of course, the proud parents came early for a good view of the proceedings. Even the Lansdale Orchestra was on hand to play a few selections.
With only four students in the class each one was required to present a speech about their school experiences or what they expected to encounter in the future. In true small-town fashion each of their presentations was critiqued by the editor of the Lansdale Reporter. In fact, he went so far as to comment on their physical appearance.
The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the diplomas by school board President Isaac Heebner. Then an endurance contest began as the county superintendent delivered a rambling 45-minute speech which he cut short to catch a train. There was yet another speaker but he graciously discarded most of his prepared remarks so those attending could head home by 6 p.m., ending a long but historic afternoon. 
The following year (1889) eight students received diplomas. This time the proceedings were moved to the newly-opened Music Hall Theater, which accommodated a full house of more than 600 onlookers.
One thing didn’t change was the length of the ceremony. Once again, the proceedings dragged on for hours, prompting some in the audience to leave early and others to create a rowdy disturbance near the entrance.
Apparently they didn’t have beach balls to bounce around in those days.
Dick Shearer is president of the Lansdale Historical Society.
Photo courtesy of the Lasndale Historical Society.

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