More on the 1918 "Bomb"

While browsing through the 1918 BHS yearbook "The Bomb" (http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~sdbrook2/Index.htm), some names jumped out at me.  The post below contains a little bit of history and reflection on some of those names.  Today's post will continue in that vein.

Some of the names that rang a bell were Coulter, Gamble,   Matson, Mitchell, Mix, Moberg, Nelson, Odegaard, Olson, Otteson, Oyloe,  Pittenger, Peterson, Rishoi, and Solberg.

There was a Dale Coulter who was a year ahead of us.  He is is pictured in the 1967, annual, but not in the 1968 one.   I believe he lived near Southside Park.  If memory serves right, he had a mohawk when we were probably in grade school.  Would he be a relative of Zaida Coulter, a graduating senior at BHS in 1918?

One of the juniors listed is Dale Gamble, who had enlisted in the service.  The Gamble family was rather rather well-known when we were growing up.  The father William was, I believe, an electrical engineering professor at the college, and active in local government.  His wife was a local columnist for the Register.  Their youngest son Bill was a junior on the 1962 state "A" championship basketball team.  Although he was not a starter, he played a key role, especially in the championship game.  He may even have made the all-tourney team because of his play.  Isn't it amazing what internet searches can do?  (http://www.ancestry.com/1940-census/usa/South-Dakota/William-H-Gamble_3tcpmm and http://www.brookingsregister.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&story_id=6193&page=80).

As an aside, William Gamble, who graduated from SDSU (SDSC at that time) was honored as a distinguished alumnus  in 1971.  While browsing through that list, there were many other notables who have been honored over the years. Their names are followed by their graduation and year of induction.  Orville Bentley, 42, and 67; Art Vandall , 39 and 71;  Pete Retzlaff, 53 and 74;  John Bibby, 42 and 75; Bob Durland, 53 and 76; Jim O'Connell, 35 and 77; Dave Pearson, 39 and 78; Lyle Derscheid, 43 and 78; Stan Marshall, 50 and 81; B.H. Schaphorst, 12 and 81; Mel Henrichsen, 38 and 82; Jim Marking, 50 and 85; LaVerne Kortan, 42 and 86; Deb McDermott (nee Kneip), 76 and 2000; Adam Vinatieri, 95 and 2006.  

Orville Bentley was the father of Craig, who was a year ahead of us.  Mr. Bentley accepted a federal government position in mid-60's, so they moved there after Craig's freshman year.  Art Vandall, Jim O'Connell, Lyle Derschied, Stan Marshall, and LaVerne Kortan are the fathers of classmates Scotty, Kevin, Craig, Mike, and Jim respectively.  Pete Retzlaff was an outstanding football for the Philadelphia Eagles.  Some of us met him when our Teener baseball team went to Hershey, PA for the National Teener Tournament in 1965.  Dave Pearson is the father of Dave, who was also a year ahead of us in school.  Another son Dick was a year behind us.  B.H. Schaphorst was a long-time lawyer in town.  Mark Bortnem's mother was a secretary for him (http://classof69bhs.blogspot.com/2011/04/mark-bortnems-passes-away.html).  From 1926 until 1979, Mr. Schaphorst had an office upstairs at 326 1/2 Main, just above Matson's Drug, which is mentioned in the next paragraph.  Mel Henrichsen ran the campus bookstore for a long time.  Jim Marking was a fiery, exciting, and enthusiastic basketball coach at SDSU when we were in high school and college.  Deb Kneip was a couple of years behind us during our school years in Brookings.  Adam Vinatieri has no direct connection with us, other than he graduated from SDSU and has helped his football teams win some Super Bowl Chamionships. 

There are a two Matsons listed,one a freshman and one in the service.  Were they part of the family that started Matson Brothers Drug Store in 1926?  According to this website (http://www.sdstate.edu/sdsuarchives/collections/upload/Brookings-Businesses-Avenues.pdf), the drugstore was located at 326 Main, about two blocks west of the old high school.  Kendall's was just across 4th street to the north, the Northwest bank was across on Main, and Ray's Corner was kitty-corner.   They sold out to Moriarty's in 1965.  Incidentally, a Chuck Matson graduated from BHS that year.  Would he have been a relative, a son perhaps?

It seems curious that there were two Don Mitchells, one of whom was in the service.  In addition, there is a third Mitchell, Kathryn.  There was a Mitchell that was a publisher of the Brookikngs Register for a number of years.  Any connection?  About all I could find was this link:  http://www.eidsnessfuneralhome.com/sitemaker/sites/Eidsne1/obit.cgi?user=1252_ERonshaugen203  There were three Mitchells (two boys and a girl) who were about the age of some of my older siblings.  If memory serves right, one (or maybe both) was/were (a) little league baseball coach(es) for a few years.  Mary Kay Mitchell was a cheerleader for that 1962 championship basketball team, and also homecoming Lady her senior year.

There was Mix Cleaners about a block and one-half block west of the old high school.  There was also a Mix Market.  Do these business have any connection with the Philo Mix in the 1918 Bomb?

A number of years ago, so I have been told, the south edge of town between Main and Medary was partly bordered by the Moberg Orchards.  Would  Lyman Moberg be a part of this family?

Nelson, Odegaard, Olson, and Peterson are not rare names, considering the Scandinavian ancestry of this area.  Otteson is not a very common name, but do any of these have a connection with our classmates?

One name that is somewhat significant to me is Oyloe.  Franny Dolan started teaching in Brookings in the 40's.  He once told me about a boy named Turner Oyloe.  According to Franny, he was an early maturer, and was practically fully grown before he came to high school.  His father was photographer.  It appears that the family business was photography (http://boards.ancestry.com/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=263&p=localities.northam.usa.states.southdakota.counties.brookings).  What an interesting site!  There are a number of Oyloes who have their final resting in the First Lutheran Cemetery in Brookings (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gsr&GSln=Oyloe&GSiman=1&GScnty=2363&).  According to this site (http://www.sdstate.edu/sdsuarchives/collections/upload/Brookings-Businesses-Year.pdf), Oyloe Photography started in 1890.  Anyway, Turner Oyloe went to SDSC, and later earned a Ph.D. in Ag Economics from the University of Minnesota.  According to this website, he must have had an important role in the international world (http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/washingtonpost/obituary.aspx?pid=164205864).  He was a BHS graduate of 1950.

Some other names that figure prominently are Pittenger, Rishoi, and Solberg,   One of the ministers when we were growing was Richard Pittenger.  I believe he was a Methodist clergyman.

 There was a Stan Rishhoi that graduated in 1952.  Another Stan Rishoi graduated in 1928 (father-son,  uncle-nephew, cousins?).  He was one of the early inductees into the Brookings High School Hall of Fame.  Here is a picture of last year's inductees, including our own Jim Kortan.(http://brookings.k12.sd.us/education/components/whatsnew/default.php?sectiondetailid=1561&)  Jim joins Lee Colburn in the "Veterans" category.  Also in that category are some athletes with whom we might be familiar:  Stan Whitmore, Jan Sanderson, and Mike Redmond.  Jerry Martinson will be added to that list soon.  It will actually be tomorrow night, Sept. 5, at halftime of the football game.  In the pioneer category, there are three Bartling brothers, and Tom Bozied's father-in-law Bud Billings.  There are some coaches that have may have special meaning to some of us.  First is Bob Coffey, who was the inspiration for the name "Bobcats" (Bob's Cats).  Ralph Ginn, who was a long-time football coach at the college, coached at BHS in the late 40's.  Mr. Gibbons and Mr. Tlustos were also honored for their commitments, not only to  Bobcat athletics, but also for their influence on the students of Brookings High School.  Skip Webster, who coached some of us before he became an insurance agent, was honored for his generous support of the athletic programs at BHS. 

The name Solberg is associated with SDSU.  Solberg Hall is the oldest building on campus that is still in use. Many aspiring engineers took classes there. It has been recently renovated, as it was deteriorating rather badly and was condemned in 1998 (http://www.sdbor.edu/mediapubs/pressreleases/2003/101003Solberg.htm)  Mr. Solberg must have lived all of his adult life in Brooking, as he is buried in Greenwood Cemetery (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=105877222).  One of his nephews was Conrad Solberg, who graduated from BHS in 1954.  Would Conrad's mother have been the Mrs. Solberg who taught at Central Elementary, maybe 5th grade?


Is is amazing what can be found on the internet.  This website, affiliated with Classmates.com, may be familiar to some of you (http://www.classmates.com/places/school/Brookings-High-School/9192).  Roughly in the middle of the screen, a little towards the bottom, is a link to BHS yearbooks of various years.  There are previews of 29 yearbooks covering the years 1931, 32, 33, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 51, 52, 53, 54, 59, 60, 62, 63, 64, 65, 67, 68, 70, 71. 90, and 95.  If you have some time, it might prove interesting to browse through these and see how BHS has changed over the years. Some of the administration, faculty, and staff were there for a long time.