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

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Monson, one of the graduates, received his call for the Army before school was out. One of our former classmates had preceded us to the Great Beyond. Kenneth King, a good student and a good friend was taken while serving his country. Four of the girls in our class married before they finished school. Several of the boys had to quit because of the shortage of help on the farm, and some just didn't like school. In conclusion, members of the Class of 1945 did FINISH TO BEGIN their adult life styles. World War II ended with VE and VJ days. New elementary, high school and sports complexes have been built since we graduated. Rural schools have closed and children are now bused to school in town. Our children are now graduates of BSHS. Many changes have occurred in these 50 years. This history is but a moment in the flow of eternity. --Muriel Lund Silvan --Erma Buchholz Reichelt --Violet Lanik Drga HIGH SCHOOL BAND When we were in the sixth grade and Miss Erfle was our teacher, many of us were selected by Mr. Clarence F. Boess, to take part in a pilot program in instrumental music. This ambitious program would eventually lead us into the high school band program. Our band had grown and flourished since band director Oren Henning had wielded the baton. The Big Sandy High School Band had gained an enviable reputation, statewide, and all incoming members of the band were aware of the responsibilities they assumed when joining the band. It is difficult to recall exactly how often we received instructions during the week. In 1938 the sixth graders began practicing with the goal of performing as a member of the High School Band. Mid-year found all those who took part in the pilot program placed in the band. Most of us were totally unaware of the up-coming appearances and were tremendously excited and thrilled just to perform with the high school students. SHOW BOY and FOOTLIFTER were the first two marches we were to master before our first rehearsal with the full band. That was a glorious moment in our young lives. WHAT A SOUND...WOW! . That first rehearsal left most of us with a sense of wonderment and dedication to go home and practice, for however long it may take, to be able to sound as many musical spots as possible. Remember AMERICAN PATROL, 1812 OVERTURE, MORNING NOON AND NIGHT, STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER, GOD BLESS AMERICA, DREAM CASTLES, 1 1

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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

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PAVANNE and LOHENGRIN? There were many other wonderful selections along with those mentioned here. However, these stood out as works which demanded a great deal of time and concentration, ultimately receiving great appreciation from our faithful concert audiences. Incidentally, the audience was not all parents. As one recalls, many of our citizens who normally didn't attend school functions came to hear us perform and show their interest and appreciation. Our audiences were overwhelming and continued to make us all proud of our accomplishments over the years. Our drum major was Nora Berg, a senior who played baritone in the band. We practiced marching on the street and on the football field. Many sessions with drums only while rank members carried 2x4's behind the small of their backs. This, we thought was all part of preparing for the Havre Music Festival in May. Why are we forming this huge airplane, complete with low brass engine sounds? Little did we know that we were to perform for the King and Queen of England and an enthusiastic Canadian audience inside a covered stadium in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. The year was 1939. The Royal couple was obviously impressed with this 54 piece concert and marching band from the colonies . How proud we were when they stopped in front of the band and met and visited a few minutes with Mr. Boess and Nora. This moment is vividly recalled by each and every one of us that had the good fortune to be in that band. Remember playing POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE as the King and Queen stepped from that beautiful blue, gold, and whatever other color locomotives are? They walked so stately, and on that royal blue carpet....not red, but blue. The driving force behind our Canadian tour was our Superintendent, Mr. Elmer Skeie (Shay). He also was responsible for our performances for the Montana State Legislature and Carroll College in Helena. Gordon Lippard, from Fort Benton, was our representative in the legislature at the time and it was his great honor to introduce the Big Sandy High School Band to the other lawmakers of the state. We were given very little space in which to perform, but we managed and actually were able to hear other instrumental parts more distinctly. The Havre Music Festival was always a very special occasion. An opportunity to hear many other bands and, yes, make comparisons. May generally afforded good weather where sun glasses and sun burns were included as part of the uniform of the day. The final massed bands concert was presented by all participating bands. This was much fun but not really musically sound. As a matter of fact, many students took this occasion to play their parts up one or two octaves, consequently drawing daggers from guest conductors. SWEET SIXTEEN was the name of the march book that bands were supposed to be prepared to perform. Needless to say, many (from other schools) saw this music for the first time....THEN AND THERE. We had prepared! 12