St Peter High School - Peterian Yearbook (Peter, MN)

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In an old log-house church at Red Wing, pop- ularly known as the Swedish Barn , Gustavus Adolphus College had its origin with one lone stu- dent. Eight years later this entire Christian col- lege of learning was moved to Caver county, and within a few years it was pe rmanently located at St. Peter. Under the guidance of inspired leaders, Gustavus has risen high in college standings. St. Peter has always been proud of its five governors. The first governor to represent us was Willis Gorman, a lawyer statesman, and veteran of many battles. Because of his leadership in the St. Peter Company and work toward removing the capital from St. Paul, Gorman Park now stands as his memorial. During the civil war, Henry Swift assumed the responsibilitie s of governorship. Com- ing from the east, Horace Austin won recognition as a fine politician and became one of Minnesota's chief executives. The first superintendent of schools, Andrew Gill, graduated to the ranks of governor, also. When death claimed St. Peter's most illustrious citizen, John A. Johnson, he was nationally known, not only as a governor, but as a prospect for president of the United States. Aside from the private school kept by the mis- sionaries at Traverse de Sioux, the first school in St. Peter was taught in the summer of 1855 in a small shanty near the residence of Captain Dodd. Two years later a frame building was erected for the purpose of education at the expense of the city. Later this building was sold to the Roman Catholic church where parochial school was conducted. In these days it was not uncommon for students to sit on rough, flat benches, use soft-maple, ink, poor pens, borrow each others books, and try to solve their examples on rough plaster blackboards. Flog- gings were often used as a disciplinary action, be- cause teachers believed that was the way to bring up children. Then came the long hot months of sum- mer and with it the privilege of going with a com- panion pupil to some distant farm house, creek, or spring, with the old wooden pail with its rusty hoops, for a fresh supply of water for the school. At the age of seven, pupils were transferred from the crude small shanties to Central, built in 1870, where the student earned a desk by mastering the multiplication tables. To accommodate the increas- ing number of grade school children, Washington was built in 1897 and Lincoln rebuilt in 1920 after a fire. Another step in our building program was taken in 1907, with the building of the high school, situated on the original lot set aside for the pri- mary purpose of educational buildings. Although our forefathers had visions of an in- dustrious capital, we are satisfied with our peace- loving historical, and educational city and are at the same time looking forward to its continued growth.

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Dedication Through the past years there has been a group of teachers building our way of life into a stable structure. This founda- tion of our live s, fir st laid in the elementary grades, has been and always will be im- portant. Building up from the foundation, guidance and knowledge have helped us mold a substantial life. So, to all of our past teache rs, some of whose face s may be forgotten, but not their influence, we the class of '55 dedicate this Peterian. 6

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ROBERT ADOLPHSON: Saints Club, 3,4; Basketball, 1,2,3; Tennis, 2,3,4; Jr. Ro- tarian. CARLTON ANDERSON: Audio-Visual, 3,4. MYRNA ANDERSON: G.A.A., 1,2,3,4; Jr. Cl. Play; Pep Club, 3,4; Peter Patter, 4; Lib. Club, 1; Cheerleader, 3, 4. WILLARD ANDERSON: F.F.A.,2,3.4; Sw.Band,2,3,4; Band. 2,3,4; Pep Band, 4; I-murals, 1,2,3; Clar. Quarts., 3,4; Jr. Cl. Play; Pep Club, 3; Track, 3,4; Peter Patter, 3; Prom Server; Jr. Rotarian. KATHLEEN BAKER: Chorus, 1,2,3.4; Girls Oct., 3; Pep Club, 3,4; Peter Patter, 4. BARBARA BARKLOW; Band ,2,3,4; Pep Band, 3,4; Jr. Cl. Play; Pep Club, 2,3; Lib. Club, 2; Declam, 2. GERALD BARTLETT: BEVERLY BOYS: Band,2,3,4; Jr. Cl. Play; Pep Club, 3; G.A.A., 1. FRANK BOYS: O.T. Band; Band, 1,2,3,4;'Football, 1; Baseball, 1,2,3,4; Stud. Council, 3; Cl. Off. 3; HomecomingComm. ,2,3. DAVID BOYUM: Debate, 1; Peterian, 4; Prom Ser- ver; Jr. Rotarian. 8