1970 WMS Echo Yearbook Scanned

My first attempt at using a new scanner, the CZUR Aura Pro, has been completed. I choose to scan the 1970 Wayne Middle School Echo yearbook, as I promised some classmates I would do it, and it is a relatively small yearbook. This was the first Echo yearbook from the Wayne Middle School, which consisted of the classes of 1974, 1975, and 1976, in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades at the time.

It can be found and downloaded here.

Scanner Saga

I was somewhat disappointed in the image quality of the scanner and the software. Though the CZUR Aura Pro is one of their “mid-price range” units, the software has some bugs, and the image quality is way behind my 15 year old Canon flat-bed scanner. It is probably OK for just text, and it is much quicker to scan books, but when trying to reproduce photos within a book, it is falls amazingly short. I am still working on trying to come up with a process that will allow me to scan more yearbooks that are acceptable quality, but still having some issues with having even exposure across a page. This scanner has built-in LED lights, but at least with glossy pages, one light produces glare, and the others don’t get enough light to the bottom of pages. I may need to use additional lighting to make it work. Many yearbooks in the 1960s and 1970s did not use glossy paper. They might reproduce more effectively.

Wayne Wrestling History

Unfortunately, the Wayne Wrestling website that had been around 20 years or so, has went away. It wasn’t being updated maybe the last 7 years, but I was able to get a little info before it went away, from what was called the Hall of Fame page of that site. Some old team photos I was unable to get, but many I can eventually get or scan. I did have a few.

What I was able to gather is linked under the Sports menu – Wayne Wrestling.

If you have any info about inductees into the Hall of Fame, Sectional Champs, State Champs, 100 wins, since 2014. please pass it along.

Registration for Alumni Directory Available Again

Some effort has been made to re-enable a registration system again for the website, and also create an alumni directory display similar to what we had previously. An improved registration form has been created to help with this, as the one tried a few years ago was lacking.

Unfortunately, for the 50 or so people who registered a few years ago, you probably received an email (I did) saying your account was deleted. It was necessary as we had to change the database. You will need to re-register if you want to be in the directory.

Hopefully methods to help avoid spam will work. If not, there might be additional steps that can be taken.

More Updates

  • To take advantage of a more recent WordPress feature and a new plug-in, most photo pages are now a gallery type page, such that when you click on a thumbnail image, the “full” size image displays, along with navigation arrows for forwards and backwards. This avoids having to keep going back to the thumbnail page to select another image. So underclassmen photos, reunion photos, etc. should now work better.
  • Some of the photos have been replaced with larger sizes (if available).
  • Restored additional 70s Random photos that disappeared a few years ago.

1975 Underclassmen Photos Added

These had existed in the complete 1975 Wayne Eagle PDF, but the quality was not as good. I went through the original scans and improved brightness, contrast, and graininess. Most now are actually better than the actual yearbook pics.

Sorry I couldn’t include the names. Some were off to the side, or too close to the binding such that they were cutoff. Maybe one day I can add them.

See them here.