Big Sandy High School - Pioneer Yearbook (Big Sandy, MT)

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Field. The trip was very educational as many had never visited these places before. The total school enrollment from grades one through twelve was 323 the year we were freshmen. The next year it was 308 and then 318 the following year. By the time we were seniors it had dropped to 301. The high school enrollment also showed a decline from 109 to 95, then 100, and finally 97 during our senior year. The number of graduating seniors decreased dramatically from 31 in 1942 to 21, up to 24, and then down to 16 with our class. The war years when we were in high school caused an unusual turnover in staff members so we had more than the usual number of teachers. The faculty members who served during our high school years and the courses they taught are listed as follows in alphabetical order: Mary Bailey, Social Science Zelda Bilile, English and Library Helen Carlson, Social Science and Phy. Ed. Cecelia Deutschman, Home Economics Orion G. Hegre, Science and Music Charles E. Hood, Superintendent, Science Esther Hood, Vocal Music George Jelinek, Social Science, Vo-Ag, Phy. Ed. Earl Julson, Vo-Ag and Shop Clifford Knapp, Band Fay Machgan, Science Francis Miley, Principal; Mathematics, Vo-Ag, Shop Margaret Muir, Commercial Science and Journalism Lucy Naegeli, Home Economics Alfred Ophus, Mathematics Margaret Hodgskiss Ray, Home Ec. and Phy. Ed. John Schulz, Social Science and Phy. Ed. Robert Schwartz, Science and Boys' Phy. Ed. Alfreda Sigg, Commercial Science and Dramatics Ramona Smith, Home Economics and Girls' Phy. Ed. Amelia Striker, Vocal Music Dale Striker, Social Science Ethel Svennungsen, Vocal Music During the war years, most of us helped gather dry animal bones for fertilizer and scrap metal to remelt to build war machines. We all participated in meatless days and planted Victory gardens. Many new recipes were sugarless, meatless and possibly tasteless! We were all proud to be part of the patriotic community. We heard about blackouts in the cities and opaque window shades were available for that purpose. Miss Bilile had all the English classes write letters to the 9

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Of the ten girls in the graduating class, eight sang in the Girls Glee Club and nine were in the Home Economics Club. Exactly half the graduating members played an instrument in the Pep Band. Half of the class also got the mumps at some time during a two-month period in the spring of their senior year. In September, 1941, twenty-nine freshmen were initiated by the seniors. We dressed like Christmas trees with tin cans as ornaments. The seniors felt themselves superior and made us bow to them, or else? I?!? In the evening, we were the Stars ?? of the program. The Carnival was a great event for we operated novelty games to raise money for class and school-wide expenses. The Carnival Queen candidate for our class was Frances Henderson. In our Sophomore year, the girls cooked and served the Athletic Banquet. About twenty-five boys were present at the Banquet, which was served in the Home Economics room. Because of the war we felt it would be unpatriotic to have a Carnival. We changed this event into a Victory Night, and sold War Stamps and Bonds for admittance. Victory Belles were chosen by placing the ballot from the Bonds or Stamps bought in the box for the Belle of your choice. Our candidate for this year was Margaret Keller. In our Junior year, the major activities started with Victory Night. Delores Goecks, our candidate for Victory Belle, was crowned at 12:00. The class play, Double Exposure , was presented shortly after Victory Night. In the spring, we planned the Junior-Senior Prom. We carried out the theme of Moonlight and Roses. The tables were arranged in a large V in the center of the hall. For the Prom banquet, the mothers of the Juniors brought food and cooked the meal in the Hot-Lunch-Kitchen in the Community Hall. Some of us Juniors helped prepare the meal and set the tables until it was time to get dressed for the banquet. George Jelinek served as banquet toastmaster, and Chouteau County Superintendent of Schools Margarethe Kleinschmidt attended and spoke to the graduates. The last day of school, the class went to Beaver Creek Park in the Bears Paw Mountains on a picnic. In the evening we attended a show in Havre. Being Seniors, it was our privilege to have the Bingo Booth on Victory Night. We were fortunate to make $97.50 which helped to pay for the curtain for the stage in the gymnasium. This curtain was presented to the school by the classes of 1 944 and 1945. Violet Lanik, our candidate, was crowned Victory Belle. Instead of having a play, we had a Senior Dance. Preceding the dance, there was a Band Concert and a movie, Combat America. The dance was not financially as successful as a play would have been. For our Sneak Day , we went on a trip to Great Falls. While there, we visited Giant Springs, the Mausoleum, the Coca Cola Bottling Works, The Paris Department Store, Radio Station KFBB, The Tribune office, and Gore Air 8

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Service men. We had letters answered and many continued to write even after the war ended. Some of us wrote to more than one. The letters indicated that the service men really appreciated hearing from home. Our high school years were war years. We had war rations and books of stamps to be used when we purchased our allotted amount of sugar, gas, shoes, and other necessities. War bonds were sold at school. Classes competed for who bought the most stamps. Big Sandy had a USO down town for the soldiers who were stationed south of town as part of the practice bombing range. Lunches were served and dancing was part of the evening. One of the most traumatic things that happened was when a B-17 training plane with 8 men crashed east of town. All were killed. Not much was said about it and the area was cordoned off and no civilians were allowed there. It was a very quiet, sad day at school. Some of our classmates who came in to high school from the country lived at the dormitories. These dorms at Big Sandy were among the first to be established in the state in the early 1920's. They took care of about 35 students during each term. They were operated on a cost basis by the school. There were two buildings that housed the boys and girls separately. Mr. Miley, school principal, was in charge of the boys in one building. Mrs. Rose Cushman was the cook and dorm mother in charge of the girls in the main building. In this building was the dining hall, kitchen, matron's quarters, furnace for heating and rooms upstairs for the girls. Two girls shared a small room with 3-4 girls sharing the larger rooms. About 16 girls shared one bathroom!! Sometimes we were allowed to use Mrs. Cushman s bath facilities, too. There were no showers. It took respect, consideration, planning and a sense of humor on everyone's part to make life work at the dorm. Board had to be paid each month plus giving a certain number of ration stamps during the war years. Three meals a day were provided for the students. Students had to take turns with the K.P. work of doing dishes, serving, preparing food and cleaning. Some got a little pay for jobs such as stoking the furnace, cleaning and some other odd jobs. Most students headed for home in the country on Friday after school — returning Sunday evening or early Monday morning. The dorm kids provided a family away from home for each other. They shared a special closeness and many good times together. During our high school years, we started out with twenty-nine. We gained three new students, but graduated with only sixteen! Of those who were with us, twelve served with Uncle Sam. Walter 10