Clinton High School - Builder Yearbook (Clinton, MN)

Page 11 text:

THE EUHLUERQS many locul declamatory contests since then and taken part in many sub-dis- trict, district and regional contests. Due to an increased interest in mu- sic, the board of education then add- ed a certified music teacher in the fall of 1934. Miss Helna Rude was our first certified music teacher. Miss Juanita Erickson, Albert Matteson, Vera Day and Margaret Dorwin fol- lowed in succession. Our school has belonged to the Minnesota Public School Music League for many years. The instructor has charge of all the music in the school from the first grade through the high shcool. Much good work has been done in this de- partment. The various musical organ- izations have taken part in many dis- trict contests and festivals and have acquitted themselves in a highly sat- isfactory manner to the credit of the school and community. This depart- ment has also sponsored many local concerts and operettas. In the fall of 1935 our district es- tablished the first rural transporta- tion route for the purpose of trans- porting rural school graduates. One bus body was purchased by the dis- trict. The first route was known as the West Route or route no. 1. Mr. W. A. Peterson was selected the first bus driver and he has served our dis- trict very efficiently ever since on this route. In the summer of 1935 a delegation from Johnson asked if we would con- sent to transport their high school pupils to the Clinton school. After in- vestigating the feasibility of this move it was decided to do this. Mr. F. A. Mathison of Fairmont, N. D., was elected bus driver for this route which also included most of the terri- tory east of Clinton. This route was known as Route no. 2. Two more routes were established, one serving the north and the other the south- east and south. Later the routes were reduced to just two, Richard Nelson is now driver on the East route and W. A. Peterson is driver on the West route. The Clinton high school area is now composed of the following rural school districts: Numbers 4, 6, 7, part of 8, 10, 12, 19, 21, 27, 28, 31, part of 35, 39, 44, and 57. We trust that the Clinton high school will always merit the confidence of these rural districts and continue to serve their high school needs. Our school qualified for the Six-Six Classification in 1936-37 and we have operated under this plan ever since and have found this plan of school organization a distinct step in edu- cational advancement. In the fall of 1935, we organized our first eleven man football team and have had a team each year since. Last fall, 1939, the smaller schools in our sub-district organized six-man foot- ball teams and of course Clinton be- longs to this group. We find this type of football the most satisfactory. We have also encouraged track and field sports and have entered various sub- district, district and invitational meets. During 1934-35, 36, 37 we spon- sored joint track and field meets be- tween the Clinton and -Graceville high schools, in which every pupil from the 7th through 12th grades were encouraged to take part. These meets proved to be very interesting and profitable. In the fall of 1936 certified teachers of physical and health education for the boys and girls were elected in or- der that this important phase of ed- ucation might be more systematically emphasized. The agriculture department has al- ways encouraged judging teams of various kinds which have taken part in several district and state contests with considerable credit to themselves and their instructor. In the late fall of 1930 the first Parents' and Teachers' Association was organized. This organization, we feel, has been a distinct asset to the school during its existence. Many problems of mutual importance to home and school have been discussed. Such organizations as 4-H clubs Boy Scouts, and Girls' Camp Fire have been promoted and encouraged for many years. The senior and junior class plays and junior-senior banquets have been traditional events in the school for many years. One of the worst misfortunes that ever struck our community, probably next to the tornado of 1908, was the fire that destroyed the first brick building and addition in 1939. A total loss, estimated at S100,000. The cause of the fire is still unknown but it is thought that some defective wiring in the old building may have been re- sponsible ior starting this fire. School was held, for the remainder of the year, in various places in town. The same had to be done for the school year 1939-40 also. Immediately after the fire plans

Page 10 text:

THE EUHLUERX E. Wittrup, Mrs. Mable Wittrup, Oscar Bergstrom, J. L. Smith, Jas. Blair, Will Chase, J. H. Black. J. H. Erickson, Mrs. J. H Erickson, Olai Steen, Mrs. Olai Steen, A. K. Olson, Mrs. A. K. Olson. F. A. Struck, Mrs. F. A. Struck, Carl Olson, Mrs. Carl Olson, Mrs. Mabel Beaty, Mrs. G. M. Johnson, Theo. Condit, A. C. Sherman, and O. T. Har- rison. After the ballots were counted, the results showed 23 dyes and none no, The results of the election were immediately sent to the county audi- tor by the district clerk. It now became necessary to elect six members to the board of educa- tion. Up until this time there were just three members on the board. A special election was -called for Aug. 21, 1928. At this meeting Olai Steen, Mrs. Cora Bergan, Carl Olson, A. C. Sherman, O. T. Harrison and H. G. Kurrasch were elected to the first board of education of the newly created independent school district. Shortly after this A. C Sherman and H. G. Kurrasch left Clinton, thereby creating two vacancies on the board. These vacancies were filled by the ap- pointment of Mrs. Rhoda Plummer and Dr. Elmer Olmam. Mr. George A. Bornemann who had served as principal of the -common school district since 1923 automatical- ly became the first official superin- tendent of the independent district. He served one year and resigned to take a similar position at Plainview, Minnesota. Thorsten Lund succeeded him. Mr. Lund served during the year 1929-30. He resigned to do graduate work at the University of Minnesota. From 1929-40 the following teachers have served the district: Thorsten Lund, Superintendent and science, Laura C. Anderson, principal, mathe- matics and social studies, Helen Ramstad, English, music, Dorothy DeBow, lst and 2nd grades, Josie Ol- son, 3rd and 4th grades, Lottie Flet- cher, 5th and 6th grades, Gertrude Jones, 7th and 8th grades, Stanley Johnson, history, mathematics and coach, Benj. Hofstad, Superinten- dent, science and mathematics, Nor- man Tangen, history and Latin, Dor- othy Wallace, English, music and dramatics, Judith Johnson, history, Marion Niles, English, dramatics and Latin, Helna Rude, English and music, Juanita Erickson, music and English, Bertha Sando, lst and 2nd grades, Mrs. Maida Rosen- lund, 7th and 8th grades, Wayne Han- son, agriculture and science, Gladys Mays, commercial, Carol Forsberg, 5th and 6.h grade, Lloyd Hollings- worth, history, coach and physical ed- ucation. Hope Ornberg, English and dramatics, Roy Johnson, agriculture and science, Margaret Johnson, 1st and 2nd grades, Irene Anderson, 5th and 6th grades, Albert Matteson, mu- sic and English, Leighton Long, his- tory, coach and physical education, Vera Day, music and English, Lyda Hanson, 1st and 2nd grades, Evelyn Jamieson, commercial, Ethel Gotaas, English and dramatics: Gladys Beng- tson, commercial, Helen Miller, 5th and 6th grades, David McDowell, ag- riculture and science, Margaret Dor- win, music and English, and Harold Meyer, history, coach and physical education. As stated before in this history two special departments, agriculture and home economics were introduced back in 1916, shortly after building the first brick building. Because of in- creased enrollment and scarcity of space these departments were discon- tinued. Agriculture was discontinued in 1921 and home economics in 1928. Manual training was introduced in 1922 but was discontinued after a very short existence. Due to a steady increase in enroll- ment, especially in the high school, it became clear that Clinton would have to build additional room again. An additinn was completed in the fall of 1935, giving the school a splen- did auditorium and several class- rooms. This addition was made possi- ble by bonding the district again for eighteen thousand dollars and float- ing warrants to the sum of about eleven thousand dollars together with help from CWA, SERA and WPA. The estimated value of the new addition was approximately forty-five thou- sand dollars. O. T. Harrison, Olai Steen, R, F. Ross, H. C. Krook, Mrs. Cora Bergan, and Mrs. Rhoda Plum- mer constituted the board during this building program. With added room two special de- partments were added, commercial and agriculture. Gladys Mays was our first commercial teacher and Wayne Hanson was the first agriculture teacher under the new set up. In the fall of 1930 our school joined the Minnesota State High School League for the promotion of more and better extra-curricular activities. Declamation was introduced for the purpose of creating more interest in better speech and our school has had

Page 12 text:

Clijitlif Elrl?llilQi3ER6ieg were made to rebuild. It was decided that the new building was going to be fire proof. Application was made for a WPA project. The board of ed- ucation selected Frank Jackson of St. Cloud as architect. Mr. Jackson sub- mitted several plans for a new build- ing and after careful study and delib- eration one was selected. WPA selected Anton Sando of Isle, Minnesota, as superintendent, Oscar F. Nelson, foreman, of Clinton, and George Bottge of Ortonville as time keeper on the project. Actual construction got under way about the first of June, 1939. The building will be entirely completed for occupancy in September, 1940, at an estimated cost of S135,000. Of this amount, our district will contribute S'73,000, WPA S55,000, and SERA 5B7,000. This project has been outstanding in many respects and is considered one of the best in the state of Minne- sota. The cooperation given us by dis- trict, area and state WPA officials has been most excellent. The same can be said for our architect, superin- tendent and all the other workers. The members of the board of edu- cation who served during this build- ing project are Mrs. Cora Bergan, Mrs. Rhoda Plummer, A. K. Olson, Thos. Schlimme. S. P. Steen, and E. L. Wil- liams. They have devoted much of their time and energy in making it possible for Independent School Dis- trict No. 50 to again have a school building that any community can well be proud of. They deserve our thanks and appreciation. This also holds true for any other board member of the past. We feel that it would be interesting for the future history of Clinton if the officials and workers of this WPA project were officially listed. They are as follows: S. L. Stolte, State WPA Administrator, Harry Phinny, Direct- or, Dist. No. 53 Holman I. Pearl, En- gineer, Dist. No. 5g E. W. Edwards, Engineer, Area No. 23, Anton Sando, Project Superintendentg Oscar F. Nel- son, Assistant Foremang George Bott- ge, Timekeeperg Workers, Theodore Anderson, Robert Arndt, Arthur Arndt, Vernie Adolphson, Louis Brever, Fred M. Beaty, George- Barton, Karl Beaty, Charles Bentz, Carl Cooper, John Church. William Crowley, Sam- uel Clouet, Roy Carlson, Henry Court- right, Loren Drake, Alvin Davids. My- ron Dalseth, Marlow Finberg, Walter Fletcher, Ervin Fredrickson, James Green, Carl Hagen, Harold Hensley, Bernard Hudson, Walter Johnson, Nate Jaspers, James Johnson, Edwin Johnson, Gustav Kohl, Claude Ken- nedy, Walter King, Edward Larkin, Jr., Joseph Lewis, Robert Moore, Martin Martinson, Mark Martinson, George Prador, Anthony Paulsen, Henry Rod- engen. Vernon Saulsbury. Orlow Sho- quist, Ludwig Schibel, William Steven- son, Mark Sullivan, George Van Hale, Ralph Winters, Mickey Zuerlein, Jess Watson. It has been said, If standards are to be raised in a community it must be done in a positive manner by in- stitutions and organizations that are constructive forces. A good school in a community is such a force. What the Clinton school has meant to this community can never be measured in dollars and cents. We must acknowledge that this his- tory could be much more complete. However, we have tried to give you the high lights of the Clinton public school during the fifty-two years of its history. We trust this institution will always be a Builder,' in this community. f -J A N., 1 X51. XY X -Q.-X Cq it ,X 3. 1 X X ,xii sl' .211 A H