The Principal's Secret Bride: A School Closing Reveal in Franklin
Charles Wetherbee introduced his assistant as 'Miss Lathrum'—then told the astonished room she had been Mrs. Wetherbee since Easter.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The Franklin public schools closed with an entertainment on Friday, June 1, under the direction of Principal Charles Wetherbee and his assistant, 'Miss Sadie Lathrum' (the quotation points are used advisedly, as will be explained below). At the close of a long programme the principal called upon Superintendent of the time, Mr. William Taylor Ramsay; Rev. H. T. Shepard, Rev. Cal M. Williams, Rev. J. Collins and Dr. J. J. Smith for remarks. All spoke in high terms of the school and its teachers.
Mr. Wetherbee, the principal, then said that he had a few words to add, and after thanking the pupils and friends for their co-operation in his work, he presented to the audience his assistant, who was supposed by all present to be Miss Lathrum, introducing her as Mrs. Wetherbee, and informing his astonished friends and pupils that the marriage took place on Easter Sunday. The room at once became a scene of highest mirth, and the surprised assembly rushed forward with congratulations for the couple. Mr. and Mrs. Wetherbee have been engaged to teach at Franklin for another year.
“The room at once became a scene of highest mirth, and the surprised assembly rushed forward with congratulations for the couple.”
In a small coal-town school, a principal and his assistant kept their Easter marriage quiet until the term ended—then turned the closing exercises into a surprise party. The episode captures a moment when teachers' private lives could become public news, and a community's delight in a harmless twist.
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