Stanhope High School History

publication you are now holding would not have been possible. I am deeply grateful to Mr. Runkle for his article, and to those with foresight in maintaining the pictures that FOREWORD has made this publication possible. Wayne A. Romp Class of 1957 Now let me think, just when did he/she graduate? Who all was in that class? Did he/she graduate before or after. . . . How many were in that class? How many times have you asked any of these questions? The first part of this history was originally published in Volume V, Number 39 of the STANHOPE OBSERVER. Fred C. Runkle, Editor and Publisher of Stanhope’s own newspaper, compiled a history and listing of graduates up to and including the Class of 1939. This was printed in his May 18th edition of that year. We have reprinted his article here and added pictures of all the graduating classes that we had access to. The closing remarks were reprinted from my own personal experience, recollection and observations. We trust you will enjoy the results of our efforts. The first time I put together a History of Stanhope High School, (1988), I had access only to the names of those who had graduated. I was given permission by the Alumni Board in 2006 to go ahead and copy all of the class pictures in the big book located in the Stanhope Library. This book was assembled from the framed class pictures that hung in the former high school building. Duane and In approximately 1893, this was the new Stanhope Norma Engelby along with Mervyn and Maxine Dick were School building, located in the 400 block of Main Street. two couples instrumental in preserving these pictures, In 1902, permission was granted to use space in this facility assembling and building the book to hold them for display. to offer a one year high school course. Concern has been expressed about the possibility of losing this book (we had a fire in the community building in 1965). Without the efforts of those dedicated to the preserving of school history in our community, the this commencement a success. The church was Stanhope High School packed with people who came to see the graduation of Stanhope’s first High school class. The famous History old quartet composed of Frank Ristrim, L.E. Morris, As written & published by Oscar Brewer and Ned Parker furnished the music, Fred Runkle, May 18, 1939 and Rev. L.E. Follanbee of Des Moines, Iowa a popular Lyceum and Chatauqua lecturer of that first class of the school consisting of two girls with one The history of Stanhope High School had its year of high school work were the schools first beginning in 1902. That fall, a young man came graduate. from Winterset, Iowa to be principal of the school. Pearl Brewer later finished her high school They were called principals in those days, but now work at Webster City and then completed her are known as superintendents. At the opening of college work at Drake. She was the wife of Rev. M. the school, he found four pupils who had completed Bayard Pringle, pastor of the Church of Christ., at the eighth grade and were in need of some high Council Bluffs, Iowa. Mrs. Pringle is also an school education. The board then consisted of Iver ordained minister of the church. Johnson, President, H.E. Fardal, G.F. Kepler, C.S. Ida Iverson attended school at Sioux Falls, Brewer, and Grant Kent, who gave permission to S.D., and Chicago, and became a supervisor of organize a first year high school course. The school music. For several years she was music supervisor then consisted of three rooms, with three teachers, at Centerville. Her pupils won many honors in the Fred C. Runkle, Pearl Watson, and Belle Iverson. state music contest. This class consisted of one boy and three girls. A The class of 1904 was composed of Evelyn few days after school started, the boy, Imbert Ferguson, (Mrs. Nels Hendrickson) who became a Johnson, was appointed rural carrier on one of the teacher. Alma Lavine became Mrs. D.R. Knight, first of three mail routes then established out of she died years ago. Maude Sandal married George Stanhope. He accepted a route and carried the mail Nelson and now lives at Greene. Myron S. until his retirement thirty years afterward. One of Anderson continued his schooling. He graduated the girls, Miss Nellie Bute was taken ill in the from Simpson College, earned his Masters Degree spring and returned the next year to graduate. Pearl in chemistry at Iowa State, and acquired a PhD from Brewer and Ida Iverson were the only members left. Washington University. He is assistant chief of The first commencement was held at the Methodist staff in Soil Research Chemistry, Bureau of Soils church on Thursday evening, June 18. The Division of Agriculture at Washington, D.C. Floyd community showed much interest and cooperation Watson was the other boy in the class. The last in doing everything that could be done in making known of him he was living in San Francisco. Ferbia Ferguson graduated later from Nellie Bute, long employed in Kansas City, is now the University of Wyoming and when last heard of, Mrs. Carl Weaver of that city. Olive Lavine is Mrs. she was managing a large ranch in Wyoming. Henry Jacobson of Stanhope; Lola Ferguson Celestial Bute married Dr. B.F. Ward and lives at became a teacher and is now Mrs. George Fisher of Anthon. Jenny Welty left for Wyoming with her Nasua, Mont. parents, became a teacher, and is now Mrs. Lutzkie There was no Class in 1905. of Chugwater, Wyoming.

The site for the graduation of the Class of 1908 was this setting in the Fardal Opera House, all decorated for the event held on June 5. This stage was in the former Wade Hatchery, later the Maples Farm Store. Today, in 2008, the building is The Class of 1906 was composed of Leo owned by Thomas Alexander. Dick, who graduated from chemistry from Iowa * * * * University and was a famous halfback on the The course of study was increased to a two football team there. William Johnson attended the year high school and the first two year class, that of school of dentistry at Iowa with Dick, graduated at 1908, was composed of Eva May Riley (Mrs. Carl the same time and has practiced dentistry in Adams), Webster City; Jessie Smith, (Mrs. L.L. Stanhope since his graduation. Elvin Bute has lived Lyle)Webster City; Ethyl Davis (Mrs. Leo Dick) for many years at Waterloo and has been a railroad Oakland; and Eunice Bute (Mrs. A.W. Miller) of conductor with the Illinois Central R.R. for years. Stanhope. Eunice returned to school later and Emma Sandal is Mrs. Vern Bergland of Stratford. completed the four year high school course. The Class of 1910 was composed of two girls, Carrie Peterson (Mrs. Nels Tolstrup), Kamrar, and Ruth Kent (Mrs. Clyde Buechler), Boone. The Class of 1911: Mildred Swanson (Mrs. Cook), Guthrie, Okla., Carrie Sandal (Mrs. George Seimsen), Stanhope; and Agnes Snyder (Mrs. Clarence Tjernagel); Mt. Vernon, Washington. The Class of 1912: Clarence Johnson, welfare administrator at Manchester; John E. Bute, head of a department, men’s furnishings, Washington D.C.; Jullian J. (I think it should have been noted by Mr. Runkle Fardal, farmer and stockman, Stanhope, and Clarence E. that an eight room brick building was constructed Dick, deceased. in 1914. Incidentally, the bell from the original It would be interesting to continue a record of all schoolhouse was installed in the then new brick the classes, their address and occupations, but space would structure. Today, (2008) this bell is at the corner of not permit, so only rolls of the various classes will be the Stanhope City Park, and the original school is a continued. In 1928, ‘29, and ‘30, the school maintained a private home located at 545 Alfred Street). school orchestra that won both state and national attention. During those years the orchestra won the Class C contests The Class of 1917 was the first four year each year, and in 1930 competed at Lincoln, Nebr., in and class to graduate. Class members included: Hazel won the national championship. Trophies in the possession Satre, M. Eugene Fardal, Arthur N. Fardal, and of the high school attest to the success of this orchestra. Inger Hanson. (Currently, in 2008 located at the Stanhope Library). The Class of 1918: Nelson Dick, Audley To resume the list of classes we find the classes Kent, Helen Mathre, Vera M. Trotter, Lillian following in regular successions. Nelson, and Julian McFarland. The Class of 1913: Bessie Kepler, Irene Sogard, The Class of 1919: Marvin East, Gertrude Hazel Riley, Mabel Dick, Alice Peterson, N.H. Nelson, Fardal, Marie Hove, and Alice Nelson. Harry Read, Severt Mathre, and Hazel Snyder. The Class of 1920: John E. Fardal, Claire The Class of 1914: Arthur Bockwoldt, Irene Davis, Groves, Leslie Hove, Veda Morris, and Wilma East. M.R. Smith, J. Elmer Mathre, Evan K. Philp, Arthur M. The Class of 1921: Olive Hill, Clarence Anderson, Erma Philp, Dewey Kepler, and Everett Stark. Nelson, Helen Olson, and Ruth Schweppe. The Class of 1922: Wayne Dick, Herman Hanson, William Parker, Lila Kent, Helen Kepler, Della Hamilton, Edna East, Pearl Schmidt, Eunice M. Bute, and Marie Fosberg. The Class of 1923: Beryl Cottington, Ferman Carlson, Ransom Carlson, Marie Carlson, Donald Hamilton, Merle Hamilton, Russell Van Note, Ruth Van Note, Mary Harvey, Martin Anderson, Marvin Snyder, and Elmer Malmberg.

We were unable to locate pictures for the following classes:

The Class of 1903 Ida Iverson and Pearl Brewer

The Class of 1904 Alma Levine, Myron Anderson Evelyn Ferguson, Mrs. Maude Nelson, Floyd Watson, Nellie Bute, and Lola Ferguson In 1923, four classrooms and a gymnasium were added to the original brick building. The The Class of 1910: Carrie Peterson and Ruth Kent class of 1923 was the first to graduate using the gymnasium for the ceremonies. The Class of 1911: Mildred Swanson, Carrie Sandal and Agnes Snyder * * * * * * * * * * The Class of 1912: Clarence Johnson, Julian Fardal, Clarence E Dick and John E Bute Further Reflections

sent to Randall, leaving the first four grades in Stanhope. The classes of 1960, 1961, and 1962 were Finally, the school board voted to close the buildings in graduates of the newly formed South Hamilton Stanhope and at Ellsworth, then eventually the Randall School who graduated from the Stanhope Center. center. Starting in 1963, graduates from the four centers of In May of 1977, the Low-Cost Housing Committee Jewell, Ellsworth, Randall, and Stanhope were members were busy trying to raise funds for the purchase graduates of South Hamilton. The Class of 1962 of a lot or lots in order to proceed with badly needed low- was the last class to graduate under the name of cost housing within the community. That same month, in Stanhope High School, the last to publish the response to an article in the South Hamilton Record/News I VIKING yearbook, and witnesses with us to the end wrote a Letter to the Editor to suggest that the housing of an era. That class dedicated their yearbook to the committee, the city mayor and council, and the South Stanhope High School “for the wonderful years we Hamilton School Board get together and perhaps with have spent there. We are proud to have graduated community support, the school site might one day become from Stanhope High School, rich in its traditions the location for the apartments. A similar situation existed and memories”. In reading their class history, I in Duncombe at this same time. Their school site was found it interesting that in their second year of given to the City of Duncombe, and the property made school, one of their best remembered events was available to a low-cost housing committee there. Before when this class moved into the then new $45,000 long, I found myself as Mayor of Stanhope meeting with grade school addition. “We were the first class to the low-cost Housing Committee and the South Hamilton move, and what a thrill it was! “New desks, a coat School Board. In 1978, both the City of Stanhope and the room, and new everything.” I was always proud City of Ellsworth accepted from the school board, the that we had wisely spent funds for additional respective buildings in each community. I can state as classrooms when in retrospect, I’m sure there must Mayor, I bought the Stanhope High School building for one have been pressure put on the Board of Education to dollar. build a bigger and better gymnasium as was done at I was just as sad to see the building being torn other nearby school systems. down as were many others, but keenly aware of what The Stanhope School continued to house happens when buildings stand empty. We are very proud classes up thru the ninth grades until 1968-69 when of our Stanhope Housing group for the very fine apartments the junior and senior high school was combined at which they constructed on the site. Jewell. The fifth and sixth graders were eventually - - - - Wayne A. Romp