Smith, Bernice Aleta 1895-2004

SMITH, BRADLEY

Posted By: Geo Clinton (email)
Date: 8/4/2016 at 08:54:07

January 29, 2004 - Humboldt Independent - One of Humboldt's most knowledgeable historians died on Jan. 21 at the age of 108. Bernice Smith had been a resident of Humboldt Care Center North of recent years, but had lived on her own well past turning 100.

From records of the Congregational Church in Humboldt, Bernice Bradley was born October 3, 1895. She was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. E.O. Bradley, who operated a dry goods and grocery store about 519 Sumner Avenue. Her mother was a native of Norway. Her early years were spent living in the corner house at 201 5th Street South (the blue one).

Her favorite teacher was Mabel Fuller, and early playmates included Velma, Ruth and Muriel Rogers. "The Rogers family lived across the street from us in a house south of Bill Verbrugge's, and we grew up together. Muriel once told me that her grandfather, T.T. Rogers, led a group wanting to replace main street's wooden sidewalks with cement ones. The A.D. Bicknell group thought the wooden ones were good enough. The fight caused enemies and the Rogers group won.

'Twas ever thus hospital, courthouse, waterworks, Sumner Avenue Bridge, schools, library, etc., etc. I guess fighting pro and con is better than indifference — one of the worst human failings," Bernice said.

When she was eight-years old Bernice watched stonemasons build the Congregational Church. "The contract for the new stone building was awarded to L.A. Barrett, a local contractor, for $8,000. Mr. Barrett hired four experienced stone cutters to dig and design the stone from underneath the building to be. The entire block was a stone quarry. The men were Fred Mayer, his two sons known as the Mayer Brothers, Chris Christensen, and an apprentice, Nathan Berkhimer (who was father of Genevieve Miller, Maxine Dwyer and Mrs. Maurice Callahan). The Rev. M.D. Reed, who lived in the parsonage, spent time every day helping.

Bernice remembers children would stop on their way to school to watch the men, who wore large canvas white mason aprons as they carved and chipped in front of tables. "We were always fascinated by the way those men cold hew and design stones to go around the window frames of all sizes, Gothic and round. Every stone in the church is hand-hewn except the cornerstone and name plate. We children didn't know that we were watching real artists whose work would last more than 100 years. We salute them," Bernice said.

Bernice joined the Congregational Church in 1911 and was a member of the church choir. She was a member of the Humboldt High School class of 1913. She named the Humboldt High School yearbook "The Nokomis" in a contest in 1912, noting in those days there weren't any cars and most of their social life revolved around Lake Nokomis. She became the first Nokomis editor.

After graduation, Bernice received the David White Scholarship from the Congregational Church to attend Grinnell College. She graduated from Grinnell in 1917 and was awarded the W.J. Kennedy Medal. It was given to a person in each graduating class for "being of greatest service to the college during four years as a student."

She did her post graduate work at the University of Chicago. Bernice taught in Nashua, Aberdeen, SD, and Algona.

On September 26, 1923, she married Kenneth J. Smith, Humboldt County Engineer. He was a graduate of Iowa State College and a lieutenant in World War I. As County Engineer, he oversaw the building of the Sumner Avenue Bridge.

Bernice began teaching in Humboldt in January of 1924, filling in a vacancy. She taught English until 1935. During her husband's long illness (1935-42), Bernice was a correspondent for the Fort Dodge Messenger and the Associated Press, and was the interviewer for the Gallup Polls for the county and was a substitute teacher.

After Mr. Smith's death on Oct. 30, 1942, Bernice became a regular member of the Humboldt school faculty and remained until retirement in 1957. In 1958, Bernice cared for her teenage niece and nephew, Margaret and John Bradley, who lost their mother, Audrey "Pat" (Mrs. Evenor) Bradley, to cancer. Mr. Bradley was the Humboldt County Sheriff.

According to an article by Marilyn Dodgen, Bernice spent a lot of time in the courthouse (where the Sheriff and his family lived) helping out before and after her young sister-in-law died.

"That was a sad time for the family. Margaret was 12 and John had just started college. I particularly remember taking care of the juvenile cell when it needed cleaning," Bernice said. Dodgen wrote that Bernice basically came in and became a substitute mother to finish raising her brother's children. She had always been close to them and helped while their mother was sick and dying. Although she never had children of her own, these two became her "children" and continued to look after her interests until she died.

Bernice was initiated into Chapter BV P.E.O. in 1923, and later helped start the OA Chapter in 1984, becoming one of the charter members. She served as President of the Congregational Women's Fellowship, helped replace the church pipe organ, helped replace light fixtures in the church, served as Sunday School Superintendent, taught the senior high church school class, served as church clerk, helped organize the church library and worked on the church centennial committee.

Bernice was past president of the Business and Professional Women's Club, P.E.O., Legion Auxiliary, The Women's Club, and the city Library Board. She served on the Hospital Steering Committee before Humboldt County Memorial Hospital was built, and was on the planning committee for the 1963 Humboldt Centennial. In 1976, Junior Troop 265 Girl Scouts, awarded her a plaque as a "Hidden Heroine" for her contributions to the community. She was named "Friend of Education" by the Humboldt Education Association in 1982, and was also a past recipient of the AAUW "Woman of the Year" award. She was an avid letter writer and reader, and also enjoyed writing for the Humboldt Independent Newspaper.

Much of the above information was provided from research and interviews done by Pat Baker. Friends of Bernice are invited to write their memories of Bernice and send them as Letters to the Editor to the Humboldt Independent. It is hoped those memories can be shared as part of a memorial service in the coming months.