Posted: 9/12/07
Meet the Class of 1947
Kilroy was here
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By MaryHelen Swanson
In the 1947 Redite, there's a page with an interesting list: Remember the days when....it goes.
The first phrase on the list is "Kilroy wasn't here."
The folks gathered at the NB American Legion last Friday remember exactly when Kilroy was here.
It was the Class of 1947, come together once again for good food, conversation and a remembrance celebration.
Sporting buttons with their senior class pictures on them, they greeted each other with hearty handshakes and hugs.
Sixty being quite a milestone, once again, the editor of this paper dug out the old volumes to learn more about this class of Î47.
Class officers were president James Gray, vice president Norton Johnson and sec/treas Myrle Lee Klund.
On the Student Council was Charles Bloom, president, and Gerald Erickson and Barbara Lundberg.
Class Valedictorian was Marjorie Ogren, who attended last week's reunion and gave an eloquent prayer before lunch, asking the Lord to say hello to classmates who have passed on and at the end, asking for blessings not only for her classmates, but for the whole world.
Salutatorian was Carroll Peterson.
The Class flower was the red rose and their colors were red and white.
Their Class motto was "We build the ladder by which we climb."
They graduated on Tuesday, May 27. As NBHS celebrates Homecoming this week, it is interesting to look back at the school festivities of 60 years ago.
Ethel Tunberg was Homecoming Queen and her escort was Charles Bloom. Flower girl was Sandra Hals and crown bearer was Duane Samuelson.
Ushers were James Gray, Bernard Lees, Wayne Colliander and James Tell.
Attendants were Myrle Klund, Marion Paulson, Marjorie Ogren and Mary Ann Jonason.
At the Homecoming dance it was noted that everyone had fun and "the soda bar has rushing business."
Back to that "Remember the days when" list, other items included:
ð We won a football game
ð Competition was known only as an economic term
ð Town kids got to school on time
ð There were only 2 to a seat on the Harris bus
ð NB didn't have a bowling alley ... and many more
In the pages of the North Branch Review, these tidbits about the class were discovered.
Eleven seniors learned on March 13, 1947, that they were honor students.
Supt. Orwoll "pointed out the fact that the primary reason for attending high school is to obtain knowledge and training. One should not be satisfied with receiving D's and just passing. Effort must be put forth in order to make satisfactory gain."
On March 11, the high school students were lectured by a Joel B. Grien who discussed "the foundation of America's power and influence among nations, and the probable effect of these on international problems today."
A school menu during the week of March 13 included a vegetable plate, hard cooked eggs, bread, butter, milk and fruit.
In the school news it was noted that: "It's a sure sign that spring is around the corner when the grade children begin playing marbles. Every spare moment is spent in this game of skill."
There was also a notice that Mantoux tests were to be taken.
A school report on April 3 read: "It looks as if the flu epidemic has quieted down once again and school attendance is back to normal." The greatest number absent on any one day was 75.
At the end of the report was this bit of wisdom, "And just in case no one's told you, there is no such thing as a perfect day, because every day starts by breaking."
Coca-Cola was 5 cents.
At Anderson Fairway in NB, corn flakes were 2 boxes for 25 cents.
At Johnson Radio service, folks could buy a 1947 Emerson radio for $19.95 or buy a used Philco Electric for $8.
The place to go dancing? Melody Ballroom in Forest Lake.
You could buy a bright, red steel scooter at Our Own Hardware for $3.75.
On May 8 that year, the NB school board set staff salaries as follows:
Principal $2900
Coach $2900
Manual Arts $2800
English and phy ed $2300
Home Ec $2600
A grade school teacher received around $2000.
Supt. Orwoll $4300, but only after significant discussion.
The Senior Class Play was "Where's Laurie" and tickets were 10 cents.
NB took second at the St. John's track meet on May 3. On May 21, it was the first time in history there was a track meet under the lights.
And these words were shared with classmates: "It looks like we're really going to have to do some cramming these last few weeks to get all our work completed. We have only 12 days left now until exams. Jeepers!"
The Redite cost $2, and was sold with this note: "This Redite will be the perfect souvenir of high school days that you will want to keep for years."
The movie "It's a Wonderful Life" came out that May and was showing in NB, followed by "The Plainsman" with Gary Cooper.
Reported on May 15: "Mr. Orwoll's American Problems class was really glad when they were told they would not have to write anymore 500 word themes.
Fifty-one grads attended the May 16 banquet which had a "Far North" theme and the gym was transformed into a giant igloo.
May 23 was Class Night when the valedictorian and salutatorian gave their speeches.
May 25 was baccalaureate.
The 12th graders surpassed the national median on the Current Events test that year.
Students who showed positive reaction to the Mantoux tests were taken to Rush City for x-rays.
Marjorie Ogren was the only senior who had perfect attendance all four years of high school.
Finally, Radiant Roast coffee was selling for 47 cents a pound in a tin or jar.
The advertisement read: "This label assures you 60 brimming cups of fine, rich mellow coffee per pound."
That's one good cup of java for every year these fine folks have been out of high school.
Class members who are gone include: Mary Anne (Jonason) Solle, Lorraine (Swenson) Hall, Elaine (Nelson) Anderson, Patricia (Stephan) Seitz, Philip Peterson, Durriel Colliander, Ethel (Tunberg) Harris, Helen (Nelson) Lundgren, Betty (Stolberg) Knutson, Lottie Mae (Ide) Knutson, Charles Bloom, Dolores (Abrahamson) Carlson, Roger O. Johnson, Wayne H. Colliander, Louise (Pohl) Burkland, Norton W. Johnson and Norton J. Pearson.
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