Old Yearbooks-1933

Was going to look more closely at some of the old yearbooks.  It seems, though, that the site that has them for viewing has changed their policy somewhat.  The pages had been displayed so that they could be rather easily read.  Now, though, the size of the page has been cut down, so it is almost possible for an old codger like me to discern anything of importance in that small print.  Will keep trying to see if this difficulty can be overcome.

You may have noticed that one of our new followers has had some wonderful posts.  What a refreshing respite from the boring, hum-drum, babblings that have been the norm.  We are pleased that he has joined us, and encourage any others to contribute little-known, well-known, or long-forgotten tales and sagas that might be pertinent.  It's easy to comment, too, on these posts.  If you feel that there is some misinformation, or that you can enhance and clarify some important points, please do so.  Memories can get distorted over the years.

Was able to enlarge the print of the 1933 Bobcat (http://www.classmates.com/yearbooks/Brookings-High-School/230664?page=0).  The school board had five members.  The president was I. J. Bibby, a familiar name to many of us.  His daughter Mary Ellen was a senior that year.  Also on the board was E. R. Bartling, owner of Bartling's Furniture.  His son Lawrence, too, was a senior, and would be on the the school board some 20 years later in the 50's.   In the back of the yearbook are some pages devoted to humor.  One such joke concerns Lawrence, or, as he was generally known around Brookings, Lorne. In order to get the humor of this story, it needs to be remembered that  furniture stores were usually the funeral parlors because they would make the caskets.  The joke is in the form of a conversation.

        "Now I want Lawrence to have a thoroughly modern
         and up-to-date education," said Mrs. Bartling,
        "including Latin."
        "Yes, of course," said the headmaster, "though Latin,
         as you know, is a dead language."
        "Well, all the better," said Mrs. Bartling.  "He is going
         to be an undertaker."

In addition to Lawrence Bartling and Mary Ellen Bibby, some of the other seniors that may have some familiarity with us are Sadie Bortnem, Dan Finn, Bob Flittie, Anna Gunsalus, Helga Hegg, Charlotte Kabrud, Herbert Lakeman, Robert Lombard, Lemuel Melcher, Cecil Sanderson, and George Sterud.  Cecil Sanderson was the father of a number of Sandersons, including Laun, class of 68, and Jan, class of 70 (http://eidsnessfuneralhome.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=338670).  Herbert Lakeman was the father of Doug, class of 63, and Patty, class of 68.  The Lakemans were our next-door neighbors for about 10 years.  Both he and my father worked for the same company, James Wholesale, as did Lemuel "Sox" Melcher (http://rudesfuneralhome.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=341256).    Wasn't there a Wendy Melcher a year ahead of us when we were in Jr. Hi.?

Bobcat Day in 1932 was on Nov. 11.  Unfortunately, the weather then must have been similar to the weather we are having presently, as the football game with Huron was cancelled due to the stormy conditions.

An interesting entry was the mention of an all-school dance, which was initiated the previous year.  The student organizations listed were Latin club, Drama club, GAA, French club, Student Council, Broboca, Senior Sports Society, Monogram club (which only began in 1931), FFA, Commercial Department, and Debate.  There were three plays:  a Jr.-Sr. class play, a Jr. class play, and a Sr. class play. There was also an operetta.  The basketball team finished runners-up to Marion in the state tournament (there was only one class at that time), losing 30-28.  Lorne Bartling was an all-state player.  Lorne had some younger brothers who also were talented athletes.  The track record board listed Kabrud as a member of the half-mile relay team that set the standard in 1932.  This must be Harley, our 7th grade geography teacher and father of Chip, class of 68.  Also on that team was Wayne Albright, holder of the school record in the 220 yard dash.  Would Bill Albright of the class of 68 be his son? Any relation to Carmen, also of the class of 68, and her brother Gerry of our class?  One event that is no longer contested is the football throw.  Don Loban holds the record at 166' 2 1/2".  That's a little over half the length of the field.  How would that stack up today?