Revisiting the halls of McCook High School in 1947

Life events often draw us to go back and try to imagine what life was like at that time. This week with the 75th Anniversary of D-Day plus some personal losses, I was curious about what life was like after the war ended and before I was born so I grabbed the 1947 MHS Annual to look back.

In the Board of Education was studying a design to build a new high school. The proposed design was displayed on the page showing the members of the board which included: Dr. E. F. Leininger, E. L. Bradshaw, H. M. Krogh, H. G. Lofton, V. V. Gregg and Mannie Reynolds. Looking at the pencil drawing, the first thing I noticed was that no barrel roofed gymnasium was designed, and the school was drawn in a Z type formation. O The students and faculty were no doubt eager to move to a new building from the old school sitting where Central Elementary is now, but the final product didn’t resemble the drawing at all.

R. G. Brooks was the Superintendent, later to become Governor of Nebraska. Philip M. Johnston was the Principal and his secretarial duties were fulfilled by Lee Koler. Of the faculty, Louise Acker, Merle Confer, Leo Kelly, Frank Weiland, Hope Rees, Al Kuper, and Sarah Jane Cunningham stand out in my mind. Mrs. Rees and Miss Acker were both still teaching 20 years later.

In those days it was common for the seniors to produce a Class Will. Here are a few examples of their wittiness: Mary Margaret Butler: Will my typing ability to Eldon Shepherd. Kenneth Bollerup: Gladly will my harem to anyone who thinks they can handle them. Dorothy Baker: Will my size 4 shoe to Shirley Rutt. Howard Fletcher: Will my personal magnetism to Jerry McClain and good luck buddy! Bob Wallen: Will my plaid shirts to Carollee, who wears them anyway! Allen Strunk: Will my oneriness to the entire Junior Class; I have enough for all of them.

MHS had a tumbling team in 1947 consisting of Jackie Patrick, Bill and Bonnie Fitzpatrick, Lydelle Cross, Richard Morris, Tony Ortiz, Rosalie Teel, Rita Leiss, Grace Zimmerman and Nancy Hubert. I wish the annual would have mentioned when and where they performed but I’m going to assume at sporting events.

The Girls Athletic Association was organized to “guide and promote organized and unorganized athletic activities, and to promote good sportsmanship among the girls of MHS”. During their meetings on Monday nights they practiced the fundamentals of volleyball, basketball, softball, track, soccer, badminton and tumbling which culminated with tournaments between the classes. Miss Cunningham was the sponsor for the group, which held the only organized sports for women in the high school.

The Bison Boosters listed in the final pages gives a glimpse of the services and shops available in McCook in 1947. Many names are familiar, but most are gone from the landscape today. I’m always taken back by how many grocers existed but then most people shopped at the stores closest to home. Families were lucky to have one car in the driveway and typically, as in my family’s case, mom didn’t have a car to drive unless she took dad to work. None of these grocery stores remain today: Anton’s Grocery,(Clarence Anton), B & B Grocery, (Bud Harmon), D & S Market, (J.E. Decker & H. E. Stinnette), DeForest Market, (Chas & Truman DeForest), G Street Market (Un-named), Hillcrest Grocery, (Pat Catch), Klein’s Market, (Sam Klein), Loper’s IGA, (G. LeRoy Loper), Moore’s IGA, (Thos. & Mrs. Barbara Moore), Wagner’s Grocery, (Chas. J. Wagner), White House Grocery, (Un-named), Fred’s Market, (Mrs. Etta Boehm).

SWNGS has many exciting things going on at their library, soon to be announced, that are quite impressive for a small burg genealogical society to achieve. Small but mighty might be an appropriate moniker for our group. Open library exists on Tuesday & Thursday, 1-4 PM, 110 West C, Suite M-3. There is an elevator for those who need the assistance.