Comstock High School - Annual Yearbook (Comstock, MN)

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HISTORY OE THE SCHOOL When the early settlers of the present Comstock Community homesteaded on the banks of the Red in the 1870's their first community concern was to estab- lish a place to worship, and a place to educate their children. Not much was done in the line of educating the first winter because one of the parties came over too late in the fall to build a house before winter set in so 14 people shared a one room log cabin. As additional settlers arrived they organized and a school was begun. There was no school house as yet, so the children met at the different homes. The first school house was erected the following summer, and it was located somewhere in the vicinity of the present Dahlstrom farm, as at that time Com- stock dld not exist. As the population increased another school was added. This school house was located east of S. A. Roen's. Comstock began to grow, and school was moved to a one room school in Comstock. This school was located a little west of the present Shellito Garage. This school soon became too small so a larger and better one was built south of the present grade building and to the west of the Swedish Church. This also proved to be inadequate, so in 1909 the present brick grade building was built. At one time three years of high school credit was offered. Space was at a premium so it was reduced to two. Courses in Home Economics and Industrial Arts were also offered. The teacher who taught the Domestic Science class when Miss Strand was in the first grade, later became her home economics instructor in college. ln 1929 the high school building was erected. The thought of being able to move into a new building must have been the only thing that kept some people from going crazy while trying to study with all the noise of trucks hammers, electric drills, and workmen. Q r K 4 I I F' e r 5 N A -,fr-'til .SEL

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The first class to graduate from Comstock High School has their Commence- ment on May 28, 1930. The class consisted of eight members, the same number as in our senior class of 194-7. As the school continued to expand,.it was soon evident that we did not have adequate physical education and recreation space. Basketbalrwas begun down in the play room, if you can image shooting for baskets in that low ceilinged room. This is the set up that was used. A huge circle was ,drawn at the center ol' the north and south walls. If you could toss the ball into the circle you made a basket. Once or twice a week we would drive to Christine and use their gym. We did have a few games of basketball even in those early thirties but the boys usually lost their games and the girls won theirs. Do we hear you laughing and saying that it can't be true? Well, it ls. After struggling along with makeshift courts, outdoor courts, or a chance practice at a neighboring court, the community began building a gymnasium. They saw there was need for it and they were willing to do their best to supply the equipment for our education. Comstock has made itself known through its basketball record, and we owe those victories, in part, to community for supplying us with the necessary equipment. We are very fortunate to be able to have the use of this gym. Actlon shots: action shots! that has been the cry of the photography edi- tors, but to catch this man in slow enough action was an impossibility. Thus we shall print a still of our janitor, Lester Reynolds, who ls perhaps better known as Sammy . Sammy became our janitor last fall when Si. became ill and could not continue the work. Both janitors have one characteristic in common. The minute you mention basketball their brooms are stllled and their tongues are loosed. It is Hne relaxtion for us although it means more hussling for them in order to finish on time. Sammy uses an artificial mouse trap while Si used to use a natural one. Of course we are talking about Si's protege, Freddie, the cat. Even he didn't miss a basketball game. We never have been able to decide whether Freddie craved the excitement that went with basketball or the hot dog. He didn't seem to be disappointed in either. ' i. Q px . rf fr S