Brewer Chronicles - Salem High School

I WAS FINALLY IN HIGH SCHOOL! It was easier than normal to get up at 5 AM to feed the pigs and cattle before school. After the cows were milked, we returned them to the pasture (a routine that they understood well). A quick wash down preceded my mom’s standard biscuits, bacon, eggs, and gravy breakfast. A quick change into my new clothes was followed by a last minute audit of the books and supplies.

By the time the school bus picked me up for the high school route, many of the kids had already been on the bus for over half an hour.  The bus ride lasted approximately an hour more since we had to stop at the Monroe School to pick up the students from Haleysburg. We made silly faces at the Monroe kids as we picked them up. Many of the kids napped on the trip to town (especially during the planting and harvesting seasons).

In September 1956, my freshmen class was the first class to START in the new high school. The school was new to all classes, and it was AWESOME. It even had a ‘moat’ in the front that ran under a hallway between the two buildings! (a required destination for the freshmen boys)

Riding the bus up into the arc in front of this amazing structure was very intimidating. Going to our ‘home room’, we received instructions that included our class schedules plus our locker assignment. Finding our locker was the first test for whether you are ready for high school. I have this fear that some of my fellow students are STILL looking for their locker.

The first thing that I notice is that there are two distinct groups of students – ‘kids from within the city limits’ and ‘other’. Both are great people, but they tend to group with their kind. Bridging this divide was powerful for everyone. I can say that all of my classmates were wonderful people that I love still today.

No matter what your academic prowess, Salem High School is an excellent school. In addition to the facilities, the faculty was amazing. The principal, Mr. Cooke, intimidated the hell out of me, but I respected him so much. I was blessed to have my farm biology insight enhanced by the eminent Effie Mae Phillips. My excellent skills at diagramming sentences were honed by the famous Miss Myrtle Esther Bush.

While the girls were devising menus in Home Economics, I was lucky to experience wood shop (Mr. Holstine – compulsive about us NOT sawing our fingers off) and metal shop (Mr. McConnell – “always watch where you are pointing your torch!”).

I really enjoyed algebra with Mr. ‘Sleepy’ Sears (we found out that he wasn’t REALLY sleeping). My geometry class was one of the few that experienced Mr. Flowers (AKA “Mr. Peepers” after the TV show). Mr. Edelman introduced me to chemistry and other really neat sciences. Mr. Smith gave me a desire for higher math and physics (I subsequently got my BS in Physics). Study hall was definitely a misnomer, but since it was in the library, it exposed me to so many more facets of our world. If we were lucky, we would go to the projection room to watch some very enlightening movie.

Lunch was usually in the cafeteria. Those that drove to school would do a Le Mans exit from the parking lot (filled with various pickups, 50 Fords, Chevys, and Monty Williams' Minneapolis-Moline tractor). Others would walk (very fast) to a couple of close restaurants (I often opted for the Skelton’s chili) then walk (very fast) to beat the last bell.

Since this was the first year that the school was open, the gymnasium was not completed yet. For our gym hour, we walked (very fast) to the bowling alley to bowl a quick game then walk (very fast) back to the school. I have to admit that I was initially depressed when the gym opened. This was offset when we shared the classes with the girls (“DO NOT cross the center line!”).

The day ended with the city kids staying after school for sports and band while the other kids got on the bus for the ride to the hinterlands. I usually napped on the way home since I had a few hours of chores waiting. Those naps were usually accompanied by a smile on my face. I was truly blessed.



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