PHS History Comes Alive
One of the benefits of answering emails and phone calls in the Alumni Office is getting to know our history and how it has evolved over the years from our Alumni. One such contact asked me about a picture. Although the picture was very old, it somehow intrigued me to investigate a little further. The first picture had to do with an alumnus that we had believed graduated somewhere around the turn of the century. Ms Susan Renée Dumont had sent the photo of her grandfather Allen Andrew Roberts, Class of 1910. We were not quite sure if Allen was a 1910 graduate at this juncture. The original was quite faded. Through the magic of artificial intelligence (AI), Susan had brought the photo back to life. Absolutely amazing to see a PHS football player clearly in a photograph from that time period. The before and after are stunning. Take a look!
Original Photo
AI enhanced photo
That was not the end of the story. Susan must have gone through more treasures from her grandfather as I received another photo that began to help us narrow down the year he graduated from PHS. This time the photo was from the PHS Basketball team from that era. As I examined the photo closely, I began to go back into the old Opinion's (back then the Crest). Susan thought maybe 1910-15 may be the class range. The basketball photo resembled the same layout as the first Illinois State Basketball Championship Team in 1908. So I began looking from 1908 onward. Allen may have witnessed that 1908 game. I struck pay dirt at 1910-11 and found Allen Roberts name mentioned. Susan took the photo and had the AI work accomplished on this photo. The results were phenomenal. They are below. Allen seemed to have come back to life to ensure the message got out to what kind of athlete he was back in the day. From everything I could find, he was quite the athlete. He was on the ground floor where PHS was beginning to build a rich tradition in Football, Basketball and Baseball. Thank you to Susan for allowing me to put this story out for all of our great alumni to enjoy. We all have a great story to tell about PHS. What is your story?
Original Image 1910-11 PHS Basketball Team
1910 Team Line-up handwritten by Allen Roberts Class of 1910
AI enhanced photo PHS 1910-11 Basketball Team
Allen Roberts back row, 2nd from left
Comments from the 1910-11 Opinion
Comments from the 1910-11 Opinion
