Hazel Horness (white 13) goes for a rebound against Sheldahl at the west end of the Milford gym in a picture taken from the balcony. The basket is actually out from the wall by about 3 feet. Milford girls won this game by 72-40. Hazel was the leading scorer for us with 29 points, a career high. That's Jurine Borton (24) (contributed 21) and the third Milford lady in the front court was either Patsy Haugland or Rita Thomas. This, however was not the Lady Bulldogs largest margin of victory as just 10 days previously- on 1 Nov 1955- they had defeated Slater by 84-26, the largest winning margin of any Milford girls' basketball team. The girls ended the 1955-'56 season with a 9 win and 10 losses with a team of the 2 seniors pictured, otherwise freshman and sophmores. See pages 110 and 156.
From a blurry copy but it's a very interesting recording of a group of Pleasant Grove area young women. Back Row; Cora Sowers, Irene Harden, Laura Sanders, Nellie Harden, Ollie Hughes. Middle Row; Mable Ferguson, Blanche Sowers, Addie Kimbal, Nina Harden. Front Row; Blanche Dodd and Geneive Minkler.
This group of eloquently dressed young ladies, from before the turn of the century, apparently had a skill at sewing and it would create the idea that these ladies had each sown their own dress. How long this group, and it's assumed that it was a Social organization as well as motivational and information sharing organization, was in existence is unknown as this is the only reference to the club that was found. Roland had their own chapter of this organization. Other clubs page 280.
It is wondered how often they met and interesting to speculate as to how they got to their meetings in such eloquent clothes. Did they drive their own buggy, and who harnessed the horse? Or did Dad have to take them to their meetings and so the men might have had a social gathering in the front room, or more likely in the kitchen, so a cup of coffee and cookies could be shared while the ladies got together in the parlor? The last eighth grade class, in June of 1920, that graduated from the rural Schools of Milford Twp before their movement to the Center site was surprisingly small. There were only three graduates from the nine Schools. From Number 4 (Milford School), Fern Iola Huntley and Clay Edward Gilreath: From Number 6, Mae L. Anderson. Two of these nine schools were closed because of a lack of students and a third because of lack of place to board the teacher.
The school year being what it was may have caused other students, who were now eligible for high school, to have graduated earlier in the year.
See other 8th grade graduates on pages 80, 85, and 314. For more information about rural schools, see pages 57+, 79, 81, 173+. And for pictures of rural school check on pages 343, 345 in the Photo Index.
A very interesting comparison
Report of the school in District No 4 of Milford Twp for the month ending 27 May. Number of pupils enrolled 15. Average daily attendance 13 3/4. Number in perfect attendance 10. Time lost by tardiness 3 hours and 3 minutes. Good deportment, Amanda Scott, Bertie Kooser, Sammy Kroser (Kooser?), Joey Scott, Frankie Scott. Teacher Ada Hall. See Page 174.
School No. 4 is the one that is two miles south of Pleasant Grove Church and, at the time, known as Milford School.
It's a bit sobering to realize that your behavior and promptness were going to be reported in the local paper for everyone to read if they had any interest.
Less than three weeks later, and less than 750 miles away, in the war zone that was southern Montana, Custer and 265 soldiers met their fate at the hands of the Dakota Sioux Indians (25 June 1876). It is a bit of comparison. Milford Township School students were having their deportment and school attendance reported in the newspaper, and other young people, perhaps a bit older, were involved in hand to hand mortal combat for their respective way of life.