Abundant historical information gleaned from 1925 MHS annual

From the 1925 McCook High school annual comes the above photograph of teachers. From left are Edward and Helen Hoyt (he was a physical education teacher and coach and Helen, the commercial teacher), Francis Weiland (the science instructor) and his wife and Paul Stout and his wife. Paul was a teacher at the junior high. Two of the men appear to be holding box lunches. Picture by Gibson Photography

Gifts of annuals or city directories are always appreciated by the Southwest Nebraska Genealogical Society and our library has several to choose from. Our latest gifts were given by Jean (Harmon) Hallowell -- both the 1925 and 1926 McCook High School annuals. These were from relatives, Walter and Twildi (Carpenter) Aman.

Twildi Carpenter was the editor of both the school newspaper and the annual in 1925 and her staff included Freda Gordon, Eugene Gillette, Willa Belle Springer, Beryle Allen, Robert French, Helen Haddock, Dorothy Dillon, Elsie Klein, Clara Nolan, Norris Gray and Eloise Real. Acknowledgement also went to the cartoonists who contributed to the annual's designs: Eldon Gockley, Marjorie Drake, Clarence O'Connor, Herrol Skidmore, Harold Wagner and Edward Peterson.

What will really catch a researcher's attention in this annual, however, is the listing of past graduates with their location and/or job in 1925. It also gives the maiden and married name of any female alumni listed. Here are a few examples. Class of 1922: Frances Burnett-Socher, Hannibal, MO; Gladys Doyle, Hospital, Colorado Springs. Class of 1923: Velma Budig-Meyers, McCook; Frank Raine, telephone office, Holdrege; Wynona Eifert, University of Nebraska. Class of 1924: Helen McCarl, Relay office, McCook; Roy Dorwart, University of Nebraska; Thomas Rowland, McCook Hardware, McCook.

Advertisers are interesting as well! The Keystone Hotel (now rejuvenated as the Keystone Business Center) lists their European Plan room rates. Touted as "absolutely fire-proof," you can book a double room with a bath for $3.50 a night and buy Sunday dinner for 75 cents. The Keystone directory showed three other enterprises within the building: Keystone Cigar Store, McCook Cleaners and Dyers and the Keystone Barber Shoppe.

Joe Horacek's dry cleaning and tailor shop was located in the rear of the First National Bank building, now Mousel Brooks Garner & Schneider PC. Robert Drain's hardware store was at 118 West B Street and the Marquis Grocery existed at 221 West B with the People's Market located at 220 West 1st Street. Vogue Clothing advertised "Society Brand Clothes" in the current location of Peterson Jewelry.

MHS had several offerings for those students who wished to start the training for their chosen professions in high school. Among those taking "Normal (teacher) Training" were these familiar names: Elsie Groves, Beryle Allen, Flora Dutcher and Loretta Traphagan. Future teachers came from this group.

Mrs. Helen Hoyt, to whom the 1925 annual was dedicated, trained the commercial students with the claim that "the graduates of the commercial department have been in demand by the offices and the business and professional men of McCook. Some of the students who finish the work in this department secure a position before commencement time." McCook students won first place in the commercial contest in 1925 and earned MHS the designation of championship commercial school in the district. Commercial students learned stenography, typing and other office related skills.

Annuals are a great resource for genealogists who are trying to "flesh out" their family tree with pictures and antedotes about their relatives. If there are not genealogy libraries available where your ancestor lived, don't forget to check with local libraries or museums!