***This column was written by Addison Looney, a participant of The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program, funded by the Harry Anderson Memorial Trust.
A while back, my father told me that seniors of Wethersfield High School would sneak up into the Blish attic and write their names on the wooden beams. This was so interesting to me that I had to see it for myself.
Up in the attic, I found numerous names I recognized, including the names Berlinski and Pratt.
Steve Berlinski was a student at WHS in 1977. He was later a custodian at the school for many years and he’s been a family friend of ours as well.
While on this search for names, I also came across the name Pratt, but there was something different this time. There were two Pratt names. One from 1994 and one from 2023. Our current high school math and science teacher, Mr. Pratt, had participated in this little known tradition.
According to Mr. Pratt, his father informed him about the mysterious custom and he decided to see it for himself. Once up in the attic, he decided to partake in the tradition. Even adding more interest was that it showed generations taking part in creating this history. Mr. Pratt’s son, who graduated in 2023, added his name to the beams as well.
On my expedition in the attic, I found names spanning from the 1940s to 2023. There are names in paint, Sharpie marker, and chalk with many unique and different styles of handwriting all over the wooden beams.
How or why this tradition started may never be known, but this “classified” tradition has provided a fun way for students to leave their mark behind. Who will be the next student to become a part of this hidden gem?
