WSHS 1970s - Student Life

Because West Springfield was so young, the 1970s provided the school and students with the opportunity to solidify their traditions and culture. In the 1970s, students at West Springfield enjoyed many fun activities and traditions that are no longer observed today. For example: the Sadie Hawkins dance each fall, a large bonfire during homecoming week, and a fundraising event in which students rode donkeys while playing basketball on the school’s court.

Black and white photograph of a group of smiling students at the 1971 annual Sadie Hawkins dance.
Sadie Hawkins Dance, 1971-72. The dance was sponsored by West Springfield's Key Club and Keyettes.
Black and white photograph depicting many male students adding firewood to the annual school bonfire.
Kirk Mortimer and Jeff Jeremiah make their contributions to the bonfire, 1971-72.
Students wearing football helmets can be seen dragging a donkey across the school basketball court, basketball in hand.
Donkey Basketball Game, 1973-74. Doug Wessen's donkey wouldn't budge.

Although, some of these activities have been discontinued for current students at West Springfield High School, some traditions still remain. One of these traditions is the school’s annual homecoming parade where the students nominated to the homecoming court and the members of the fall sports teams make their way through the surrounding neighborhoods. These valued traditions were, and still are, an important aspect of student life at West Springfield High School.

Photograph of the 1978 senior float for the school's annual homecoming parade. The float is decorated with orange and blue, and has been painted to look like a train.
The Senior Float, 1978-79. The Class of '79 claimed victory for the best float in the homecoming parade.
The homecoming king and queen from the 1970 annual homecoming dance pose with their flowers. The photograph is heart-shaped.
1970-71 Homecoming Queen Denise Grownwald and her escort Doug Trosper.

Explore more student life from the 1970s.

The traditional spaghetti dinner started by West Springfield’s first graduating class continued into the 1970s. Pictured are Sam Carter, Doug Sachs, and Sallie Bechtel, 1970-71.

The traditional spaghetti dinner started by West Springfield’s first graduating class continued into the 1970s. Pictured are Sam Carter, Doug Sachs, and Sallie Bechtel, 1970-71.

Debbie Johnson waited tables during the 1970-71 spaghetti dinner.

Debbie Johnson waited tables during the 1970-71 spaghetti dinner.

Spaghetti dinner, 1970-71.

Spaghetti dinner, 1970-71.

Sparta Week, as homecoming week was traditionally called, included a bonfire on Thursday night before the big game.

Sparta Week, as homecoming week was traditionally called, included a bonfire on Thursday night before the big game.

The bonfire continued as a popular tradition throughout the 1970s, as pictured here in 1973-74.

The bonfire continued as a popular tradition throughout the 1970s, as pictured here in 1973-74.

The Sadie Hawkins Dance was an annual tradition that began with West Springfield’s first graduating class.

The Sadie Hawkins Dance was an annual tradition that began with West Springfield’s first graduating class.

Held in the fall, Sadie Hawkins typically had a harvest theme.

Held in the fall, Sadie Hawkins typically had a harvest theme.

Students gather around the wishing well at the Sadie Hawkins Dance in 1973-74.

Students gather around the wishing well at the Sadie Hawkins Dance in 1973-74.

The Sadie Hawkins Dance broke with tradition because the girls were expected to ask the boys to the dance.

The Sadie Hawkins Dance broke with tradition because the girls were expected to ask the boys to the dance.

From interracial dating to the creation of smoking lounges at West Springfield, back issues of the Oracle provide a fascinating glimpse into student life in the 1970s.

From interracial dating to the creation of smoking lounges at West Springfield, back issues of the Oracle provide a fascinating glimpse into student life in the 1970s.

Based on the popular television show, The Dating Game was an annual fall favorite at West Springfield.

Based on the popular television show, The Dating Game was an annual fall favorite at West Springfield.

In the 1970s, at least nine types of school dances were held at West Springfield: The Christmas Dance, Homecoming, Junior and Senior Prom, Sadie Hawkins, the Snowball Dance (replaced Toy), Sparta Dance (became Homecoming), the Toy Dance (replaced Christmas), and the Sweetheart Dance, pictured here in 1973-74.

In the 1970s, at least nine types of school dances were held at West Springfield: The Christmas Dance, Homecoming, Junior and Senior Prom, Sadie Hawkins, the Snowball Dance (replaced Toy), Sparta Dance (became Homecoming), the Toy Dance (replaced Christmas), and the Sweetheart Dance, pictured here in 1973-74.

Donkey Basketball was an annual fundraising event at West Springfield. These pictures are from the 1973-74 school year.

Donkey Basketball was an annual fundraising event at West Springfield. These pictures are from the 1973-74 school year.

The donkeys had their own ideas about how the game should be played.

The donkeys had their own ideas about how the game should be played.

Lynn Rusch shoots for two points, 1973-74.

Lynn Rusch shoots for two points, 1973-74.

In the 1970s, 18-year-olds were legally permitted to purchase and drink alcoholic beverages. This meant that some seniors at West Springfield were of legal drinking age. West Springfield Homecoming Parade, 1978-79.

In the 1970s, 18-year-olds were legally permitted to purchase and drink alcoholic beverages. This meant that some seniors at West Springfield were of legal drinking age. West Springfield Homecoming Parade, 1978-79.

Drunk driving was a serious concern in the 1970s, particularly when students had much easier access to alcohol, as evidenced by this editorial in the Oracle.

Drunk driving was a serious concern in the 1970s, particularly when students had much easier access to alcohol, as evidenced by this editorial in the Oracle.