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ZANESVILLE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Embracing Our Past. . . Empowering Our Future
COMUS
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/343407_2e0d7264d05c4459a8236a56acd20ed1~mv2_d_2593_3489_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_202,h_271,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/343407_2e0d7264d05c4459a8236a56acd20ed1~mv2_d_2593_3489_s_4_2.jpg)
Zella Harris
Comus was one of the traditions that originated in the second Zanesville High School building. Miss Zella Harris of the class of 1897 visited friends in Toledo.
There she saw a school paper. She presented her suggestion for a school magazine to the senior class. Corydon Haddox moved that the class adopt the idea.
Comus was one of the traditions that originated in the second Zanesville High School building. Miss Zella Harris of the class of 1897 visited friends in Toledo. There she saw a school paper. She presented her suggestion for a school magazine to the senior class. Corydon Haddox moved that the class adopt the idea.
Who named the magazine? Many years ago Roy Jordan, Sr., the first business manager of Comus, was asked that question. He thought that David Leroy Ferguson selected the name. David, a black boy, was admitted to membership in the St. James Episcopal Church and became a minister. He was located around 1943 in Boston, where he was pastor of a church. Rev. Ferguson could not remember naming Comus. But he did recall that he had written a poem entitled "Comus" for an early number.
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At that time and for many years later, a book entitled Milton's Minor Poems was required reading. It contained "Comus, a masque." Comus was the god of revelry. The first issue was published by the senior class in December 1896. Later, Comus became a literary monthly with some news and humor. The art department made cover designs for each issue.
![COMUS 1967](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/343407_c20ed13c0432489b8e8489442884cecb~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_195,h_258,al_c,q_80,enc_auto/343407_c20ed13c0432489b8e8489442884cecb~mv2.jpg)
COMUS 1967
![COMUS 1974](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/343407_e3e738d1f82d458c9c92b71177d313bc~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_124,h_171,al_c,q_80,enc_auto/343407_e3e738d1f82d458c9c92b71177d313bc~mv2.jpg)
COMUS 1974
![COMUS 1965](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/343407_94ac97da5d5c4ab4901b2e6fffe3cd12~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_124,h_161,al_c,q_80,enc_auto/343407_94ac97da5d5c4ab4901b2e6fffe3cd12~mv2.jpg)
COMUS 1965
![COMUS 1967](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/343407_c20ed13c0432489b8e8489442884cecb~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_195,h_258,al_c,q_80,enc_auto/343407_c20ed13c0432489b8e8489442884cecb~mv2.jpg)
COMUS 1967
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The Alumni Association is building a collection of Zanesville High School’s yearbooks. The collection is housed in the Alumni Center at the Zanesville City School District Administrative Center, located at 956 Moxahala Avenue. The collection is already extensive, stretching back to 1896, but there are more issues needed to complete the collection. You may drop off any yearbooks at the Zanesville Administration Center, located at 956 Moxahala Avenue. The Alumni Association is willing to pick up donated issues for the collection. For more information on how to donate or purchase a Comus, contact Denise Francis-Primel at 740-868-8129 or email Denise at denise.primel@hotmail.com or Sharlene Ward at 740-704-5979 or ward@zanesville.k12.oh.us.
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