Fernald High School - Echo Yearbook (Fernald, IA)

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finally the climax was reached when the champion dog of the nation was to be named. The Master of Ceremonies blared forth, The winner is Duke lll, a Labrador Retriever from Abbie 's Kennels , located on the banks of the Mississippi River near Erie, lllinois, owned and operated by Nr. cnd Mrs. Albert Miller . Mrs. Cumming appeared thunderstruck. lt surely wasn't the same Millers who had taught at the Fernald Consolidated School in i952-53-54. However, to find out, she and her husband went quickly to the winner's platform where, sure enough, they found the Millers hovering over the prize winning Retriever. After the introductions had taken place md the four foot trophy was shined and placed in the Miller's traveling trophy case, the Cumming' and Miller's went out for a late dinner. During the meal they refreshed their mem- ories of the bygone school days at F. H. S. After a ioyous evening, the former teachers bade each other adieu and proceeded on their different ways. And so they ioumeyed on across Nebraska, crossed the North Platte River and entered Wyoming. They stopped at Cheyenne for the night and the next moming went shopping. While walking down the street they heard two small boys arguing about a coming sports event to be held at the new Cheyenne Coliseum, which would seat 200,000 people. During the argument the words Globemasters , World Champs , and Famous Players flew freely. Wondering what the coming event was, Mu Cummings asked the boys, What is this great attraction that you're talking about? Well, said one of them, The world famous Globemastersp you know, that baseball team that made the whirlwind performmce lest year in Europe, well, they're going to play the Maior League All Stars tonight, and we were trying to decide who is going to win. Gary popped up. Say, Dad, that would be a great game to see. Why don't we spend the evening at the Coliseum '? Okay, was the elder's reply. So the Cumming' were off to the ball game. The stands were packed in the lighted arena as the famous players were announced. First came the All Stars and their manager the great Casey Stengel. Next the Globemastels , the most sensational sporting attraction since the famous Globetrotters Basketball Team. First the players were introduced and then the announcer gave recognition to The Greatest Personality in the sporting world today, the famous manager of the Globemasters, the marvelous Donald Begg . As the crowd thundered their ovation through the stcnds, Mr. and Mrs. Cumming md Gary looked at each other in astonishment. lt couldn't be! No, not the Donald Begg who had been superintendent of the Fernald Schools in their teaching days. But after the game, in the runway to the lockers, they met him as true to life as ever with hat cocked on one side of his head, pipe in his mouth, and with a grin a mile wide on this face ithey had won the game 6- 21. He didn't recognize them at first but as Mrs. Cummings remarked, How are Ginger and Helen? he got a funny far away look on his face as he stopped stock still. Mrs, Cumming, is it you? Yes. Really? And so another evening was spent reminiscing over past memories. However, all pleasant things must end, so, with the saying of good-byes, the Cummings' left them to move on toward the western horizon. After leaving Cheyenne, they again headed toward the Great Northwest and what might lay before them. Unfortunately, they could not foresee the excitement and thrills awaiting 19

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The fall of 1953 found us at the final step of our golden school days. Nr. Begg retumed as superintendent, as did Mr. Miller as coach, Ms. Miller as music teacher, and Ms. Cumming as business teacher. Among the numerous events of our senior year were: Picture Day in Ames, Skip Day in Des Moines, a lovely banquet at the Airport in Des Moines, md our class play Out of the Mist . Francis Miller moved during the summer of '53, so there were eight of us to receive our diplomas on May 17, 1954. lncluded in this number were three girls who had started together cmd gone to school at Fernald for thirteen years. They were Lois Ann Picht, Mary Lou Wise, and Gladys Fincham. The other five were Gerald Klonglan, Gerald Hitchings, Lee Dadismm, Marilyn McNatton, and Marilyn Black. Senior Class Prophecy The spring of 1964 blossomed down upon the growing city of Fernald, Iowa. l ernald, lowa, richest city - richest agricultural community in the world. lt was a bright, sunny day, filled with the fragrant odor of lilacs fa day in which the marvels of mother nature were at work de- veloping the green of our trees, the young of our animals, a day which was the beginning of a beautiful new lowa summeri. It was on this day that a mcn, his wife, and teenage son came down the steps of a vine covered building on the comer of 127th Street md Happiness Avenue. Who are they? Well, maybe the inscription engraved on the building would clarify their signi- ficance to our story. The inscription read Cummings Combined Music and Business Education Schools . Yes, Nr. and Ms. Cummings, after having taught at the Fernald Public Schools for a period of four years, had decided to establish their own school in the flourishing suburbm area of the Fernald Community. So, after building their school md acquiring stemdards of the utmost quality, they had decided to take a long deferred trip to the For West, and also to the lands of ice and snow, Alaska md Canada. And so we ioin them as they bid their school md students good-bye. Their new 1964 Buick Car King stood with magtificent grace md beauty on the street as they came with their touring equipment to embark on their summer-long trip. They were soon prepared to leave and with the press of Mr. Cummings' foot on the accelerator of the car, the Cummings' were off to follow the setting sun, leaving the fertile fields of lowa, which they called home, behind them. From lowa, across the Missouri River into Nebraska, their wheels kept rolling. While iour- neying along they noticed numerous road-side sigws advertising the National Dog Show being held at North Platte, Nebraska. Since Gary, the Cummings' son, was quite interested in the showing and hmdling of dogs, they decided to attend the even ing session of the show at which time the grcnd champion was to be announced. The even ing's events proceeded rapidly md 18

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them on their trip over the rugged Rockies. They spent a ioyous week climbing the mountains and then started the downward path. They slowly descended down upon the foothills of westem lddwo. Driving along the scenic pathways they suddenly were confronted by a sign pointing out across the low lying hills. lt read Picht's Peachy Pines - Famous Tourist Resort-60 miles. That name sounds very familiar, said Mrs. Cummings' to her husband. l wonder if that could be the girl whom ltaught back in F. H.S. They drive on when suddenly, sputter, sputter, choke, sputter went the car. Oh, no, momed Nh. Cummings, l knew we should have filled up at that last gas station. Suddenly Gary called to his folks from the back seat, Hey, is that a light over there ? Sure enough they saw the glow of many colored lights off to the left. l wonder how far it is to those lights? said Gary. Suddenly car lights loomed up behind them md an old prospector in an old Model T got out md asked if they were in trouble. Mu Cumming re- lated the happening and asked him what the lights were up ahead. l le told them it wm Picht's Peachy Pines the best eatin' ioint in the far west. After finally getting some gas, they de- scended upon the Peachy Pines to spend the night. They went to the office md found a yomg lady sitting at a desk. Mrs. Cummings asked for reservations and when she told the girl what her name was,on astonished look crossed the face of Lois Ann as she recogrized Ms. Cummings, her fonner teacher at F. H. S. They talked of the many things that had happened in their years together in high school and then as it was getting late, they went to bed to get some rest. After spending a week of relaxation here, the tourists again set out for the Pacific Coast where they planned to take a boat to Aslcska. After a beautiful trip across the rolling hills of Oregon, they at last arrived in Astoria, a quiet seaport town overlooking the blue expcnse of the Pacific. They were excited as they stopped the car in front of the office where they were to buy their tickets for their ocean trip to Anchorage, Alaska. The boat was leaving at 2 o'clock that aftemoon of a beautiful summer day. The tourists then boarded the boat and, after getting their car stationed on board, took their luggage md at once proceeded to their cabin. The whistle blew its note mnouncing the beginning of the voyage md with it came the demmding calls of the ship's captain. Man the ropes, pull the mchor, tum the wheels . The voice sounded familiar - yet it seemed odd to be heard here on this ship, especially her voice. But when Mrs. Cummings spied the blue clad figure in high hat md starstudded vest, it was who they had expected. Yes, Gladys Fincham another member of the graduating clcss of i954, who was now captain of the steamer The Oregon Belle . During the ocean trip northward, many hours were spent discussing the happenings of each during Gladys' high school days'cnd the years intervening. Arriving at .Anchorage they left the boat and found a quiet lodge at which to spend the night. Early the next morning they begm their ioumey to Mt. McKinley where they were to be taken on a guided tour. One of the high points of the tour was actually seeing a way- station and learning the purpose of one. They were preparing to leave after thoroughly look- ing the station over when a group of mountain climbers came into the station. Mr. Cummings 20