First Grade: 1924-25
My memory of the first few years of school is very vague and dim. Mrs. LaVerne Crandell was my teacher and Dr. Jay N. Heywood was the principal. I’m sure I wasn’t the outstanding student in the class so I suppose school work rested very lightly on my shoulders. I do remember how disappointed I was not to have received a little book like some of the other students for perfect attendance. Also I remember the mortal fear we all had of Dr. Heywood and his “rubber hose”—even to see him on the grounds struck fear into my heart.
November 22 nd, 1929 (from mother’s journal)
President Heber J. Grant’s birthday. He was in Snowflake and the stake had a big celebration for him. Roscoe was a little boy and President Grant said “when you get to be a man tell your children you sat on President Heber J. Grant’s lap.” He was 73 years old. President Grant was accompanied by David O. McKay, Marion’s mission Pres. He also stayed at our home.
2 nd Grade
I remember very little of my second grade. My Aunt Thora was my teacher, and I’m sure she was kind and good to me, maybe more so than I deserved. I liked to visit and talk—a trait I still try to overcome—so this may have been a trial to her.
3 rd Grade
Miss Thalia Kartchner was my teacher, and I shall never forget my third grade. I didn’t do well in arithmetic, and as a result she did not pass me this year. I shall never forget the shame, the tears, the heartache as a result. I cried for weeks, and to remember it still brings a lump in my throat and tears to my eyes. She wrote the following note home to my parents:
Dear Marion and Leonora:
You will perhaps think it strange that I am passing Louise and keeping Bessie, but arithmetic is really the only thing which Louise is exceptionally low. Her other subjects average up to 73% while Bessie’s is 69%. She is very young, and Louise’s age, I think, warrants passing her on. Bessie can do more steady, creditable work another year, I am sure.
Sincerely,
Thalia Kartchner
My final grades in the other subjects were: Language C+, Writing B-, Spelling 83,
Reading B-, Deportment B.
This was such a blow to my moral and I was so crushed to have my friends go on without me, when I knew I had done as well as many of them, that I persuaded my mother to teach me at home. For two summers I worked in her bedroom—doing advanced work—then at the end of the fifth grade—I was skipped to the seventh grade without taking the sixth grade.
Letter from Miss Thalia when I was 38
Years later on Oct. 6 th, 1956 before the birth of my daughter MaryAnn, when I was 38 years old, I received the following letter from Miss Thalia:
“Dear Bessie:
I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t get the right chance, how very happy I am for your prospects for a new little one. I am so very sorry your health makes it a precarious situation for you, that our whole 2 nd Ward are hoping and praying you may carry through successfully. I have wished for so many years to tell you the serious regret I have had, that I got a mistaken idea and let Dr. Heywood carry it further, --when I had you and Louise both in my class. It was suggested that Louise would be better to go on, without your help,--I feel like crying now, in recalling my not passing you with the class, so Louise could go on ahead. I have been grateful that you forgave me, I guess, and have been sweet and fine to me each summer when we’ve gone home for vacation. Maybe it taught me something, --and I hope it helped dear Louise. I have loved you so very well, and hope you continue to get along well now for the wonderful event. May our Heavenly Father bless you with good health, strength and success, and a happy birthday.
Very Sincerely,
Miss Thalia
Kindest regards to Bishop Ericksen and Jimmy
(this was a very heart-warming note and one I will always cherish)
4th and 5 th Grade
Miss Maud Isaccon (later Mrs. Glenn Pace) was my next year’s third-grade teacher, and my memories of her were filled with love for me. How I appreciated her love and protection that year against the “sneers” of the other children who did not understand. In the 4 th grade Miss Thalia was my teacher again. I have very few memories of that year. However, the “jolt” to my pride had made me very serious and conscientious
Wrestle with Rosalyn Miller
When I was in about the 4 th grade I was persuaded to have a real wrestle (fight) with Rosalyn Miller. She was very masculine and could do things well. At recess we met at the drinking fountain and fought. The girls cheered for me and the boys cheered for Rosalyn. I was terribly frightened of her, but fought with all my strength, and won.
Prize Won
In the 5 th grade Mr. Schnebly was my teacher. One outstanding event stands out in my mind during that year. He offered a prize to the student who improved the most in handwriting during the year. I won the prize. It was $1.00 (silver dollar). I was so tickled I hoarded that $1.00 trying to find something worthy of the prize to spend it for. Finally a program came into town (I don’t remember exactly what it was) but it was supposed to be a real cultural event in town, and that was where my prize money was spent.
6 th and 7 th grade
All during the summer after the 5 th grade I studied with Mother’s help. I had a little table in one corner of her bedroom where I worked. Every so often during the morning Mother would stop her work and come in to check on my progress.
Skipped the 6 th Grade
When school started again I only went to the 6 th grade a few weeks then I was advanced into the 7 th grade (again with my class). I remember how shy I felt when I went in the room. Mr. McNiel, a big man in stature, was the teacher and he was extremely kind and good to me. He gave me every opportunity to over-come my self-consciousness. I remember the long arithmetic problems he had us do at the black board—I was so afraid of them that I could hardly think, but I remember I stacked up on the % chart as well as my classmates.
Members of the class who grew up with me and attended school with me were: Marion & Maria Smith, Luella Ballard, Rosalyn Miller, Guida Smith, Thelma Rogers, Varena Fish, Lorenzo Smith, Van Smith, Max Butler, Fast Flake, Rex Gibson, Flake Rogers, Louise Willis, France Willis…
Beginning of the Milk Route: Sept. 16, 1932 (from Mother’s Journal)
“ Marion began a milk route into Winslow. Before this Pat Miller had been selling a small amount along with vegetables during the summer. He bought the milk from Smith-Heywood Dairy and hauled it down in the back of our Buick car. The back seat out also he hauled vegetables, eggs, and butter. It was a God send to us when a few extra nickels and dimes came into the home we could start paying debts.”
8 th Grade
A new family had come into our town, the Eldon Cook family. Mr. Cook was the school principal and his daughter, Zelda, was soon one of our “gang” girls.
The Cook Family
She had a brother older, Shirl, and a brother younger than she, Ted. It was a fine intelligent family and they lived in Snowflake for a good many years before moving back to Idaho ( Montpelier). They built the home which is now owned by Elwood Peterson. At the time that was considered “way up on the hill,” and there were scarcely any houses up there. Guida lived next door to the Cooks, so she and Zelda became close, good friends.
1931-1932
Mayola went to Brigham Young University. First two years only had $15.00 per month.
Graduation
Our class graduated from Grade school on May 1932. I remember my graduation dress—a made-over hand-me-down from my sister Mayola. It was a gorgeous lavender chiffon. It must have fit me like a sack. But I thought it was beautiful.
The graduation itself is rather vague in my mind.
Grandma Roger’s Death: Dec. 28, 1932 (see page 38 for further details)
I remember the sadness at the death of dear Grandma Rogers. She died at Mesa. Grandpa Rogers brought her home to bury her. I remember watching Grandpa coming up the walk of the old home alone, how sad it seemed. The funeral was small—it was held in the old Stake House. It was cold and a little snow on the ground.
From Mother’s journal (I was a junior this year at high school)
May 10-11, 1935: “Finished Louise and Bessie’s Seminary Graduation dresses (mine was a lavender chiffon—made-over from one Mayola had).
May 12, 1935: Seminary Graduation—the class presented the pageant “Life of Moses”. I didn’t have a very prominent part—mostly helped with the chorus. William C. Smith directed it—his wife Fern did so much on scenery and costumes.
May 23, 1935: The High School Senior Class presented a Pageant at the Sinks—Directed by Jos. Peterson. More than 1300 people attended.