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1927 yearbook brings back memories for 99-year-old Lloyd Dresser
By Mary Sue Chatfield/For MVM News Network
MONTROSE - The first Montrose High School year book, The Anchor, was published in 1927, more than 80 years ago. Reading through its pages reveals many things of interest, things of which most of us living today have no personal knowledge.
The Class of 1927 was comprised of 10 students, five boys and five girls. They had entered Montrose High School as freshmen in a class of 16.
Over the intervening years, some moved away, others went into Keokuk to attend school, and a few just quit. The 10 who graduated had been together all four years.
The 58 total students enrolled in the high school that year were taught by a faculty of four, including both the superintendent and principal. Three of the four were graduates of Parsons College in Fairfield.
The students could choose to participate in the following activities: Anchor staff, basketball, track, Letter Club, Caesar Literary Society and Declamation. Basketball and track were limited to the male students.
The Letter Club was formed in September 1926, with its purpose to foster better sportsmanship and create a keener interest in athletics and all other school activities. The five charter members included three senior boys and two junior boys.
A section titled Alumni lists the members of each graduating class, beginning with three girls in the Class of 1887. The Class of 1925 seems to have been the largest with 20 members.
The current location, occupation and married names of the girls also were given for each graduate.
The most common occupations seem to have been housewife, farmer and stenographer. One of the most unusual was a woman from the class of 1888, Nellie (Williamson) Hough, who was listed as an undertaker in Lawrence, Kan.
The final section of The Anchor consisted of advertisements, mostly from businesses located in Montrose, Keokuk and Fort Madison. Interspersed among the advertisements are jokes or humor as they called it.
An example: “Have any of your childhood hopes been realized?” “Yes. When mother used to comb my hair I wished I didn't have any.”
And, “Some questions that a freshman can't answer:
1. When was the War of 1812?
2. For what state in the Union was the battleship ‘Iowa' named?
3. How much does a 6 lb. shell weigh?
4. Who rode the horse in Paul Revere's ride?”
All of the above can be gleaned from the pages of the yearbook, but what about the personal stories that bring these names, facts, statistics, and photos to life? Some local residents may have had family members in school at this time. If so, there are stories that have been passed down through the years.
In addition, an interview with a member of the Class of 1927 has provided additional enlightenment. Lloyd Dresser was born on July 7, 1909, the son of James and Florence (Bassett) Dresser. He lives in Ames with his wife, Lorraine. However, during the school year of 1926-27 he was living with his family on Middle Road south of Montrose.
The record shows Dresser participated in most school activities. He had the honor of being named editor-in-chief of this first yearbook.
In addition to serving as a class officer three years, he also played basketball and went out for track all four years. In basketball, Dresser scored the second highest number of points, 76, following Ivor Fowler, who scored 108. To put that into perspective, the whole Montrose team scored a total of 255 points during the season. In track he held the school record in high jump with a distance of 5 feet 4 inches, and in pole vault at 9 feet 9 inches. He also competed in shot put, discus, broad jump and javelin.
He was one of the senior members of the newly formed Letter Club, serving as president.
Dresser relates that in those days, high jumping was done with a rigid bamboo pole about two inches in diameter and the landing was made in a sand box. Considering the equipment, his record seems quite impressive and the fact that he never received a serious injury is remarkable.
His dad never saw him participate in an athletic event, saying he was afraid his son would be hurt and he didn't want to witness it.
The record doesn't show what a good friend Dresser was to a fellow basketball player. Because of four large building support posts in the basement floor of the school, basketball games were played at the Pastime, which was located on the north side of Main Street between what is now Smurf's and Ron Wagner's.
One night during a game, a scramble for the ball found Byron Boyd on the bottom of the pile. That wouldn't normally be a big problem, but the pile up happened to land on top of a large heat register in the floor. While the boys were getting untangled and back on their feet, Boyd received a burn on his upper leg, leaving the imprint of the register burned into his skin.
Another team member, Harry Scott, had an older sister who was a nurse. Unable to walk home to the country after the game, Boyd stayed in town, with Harry Scott's sister taking care of the burn.
After several days, it was decided that Boyd would try to walk home.
The story of that trip is well remembered by Boyd's younger sister, Olive (Boyd) Megchelsen. It was a winter day and there was snow on the path up over the bluff leading to their farm home, she recalled. Dresser, being a good friend, offered to help them get home.
Megchelsen, seven years younger than her brother, was a student in the lower elementary grades. She remembers Dresser carrying her up a section of the hill, then going back down to help her brother up.
This procedure was repeated several times before they finally reached the Boyd home.
Dresser then had to walk over a mile more before reaching his home on Middle Road.
Walking to school was a daily way of life for students living in the country at that time. The Boyd kids usually cut down over the bluff and across fields, while the Dresser kids followed the road down through Stoney Hollow, a distance of more than two miles.
Transportation to away basketball games was made in private cars. In coming home from Argyle one night, Ambrosia Lane became impassable because of the mud (no gravel roads in those days). The team spent the night sleeping in the haymow of a farmer's barn.
When the team played at Nauvoo, Ill., they went back and forth across the river on the ferry.
While in high school, Dresser had raised pigs on the family farm. After graduation he sold those pigs to raise money to further his education at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant.
He continued participating in athletics while in college and raised his high jump record to 12 feet 6 inches. In addition to taking classes in education and participating in sports, he worked at various part time jobs.
Graduation found Dresser accepting a job teaching and coaching in Sibley. It was said at the time that he got the best job of any in his graduating class. Sibley is where he met his wife Lorraine. They went on to raise three children while he continued working in the field of education.
Now, just six months short of celebrating his 100th birthday, Dresser continues to lead a fairly active life, still going to coffee with friends most mornings.
He is always happy to share memories of his high school years.
Montrose Riverfront, Inc. is making a collection of old yearbooks from Montrose High School to be placed in the Hunold Heritage Center where they can be enjoyed by the public. In addition to the 1927 Anchor, the group also has one from 1930.
Sometime between 1930 and 1948 the name was changed to The Mohawk. Mohawks donated are for the years 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, and 1961 - the last Mohawk published before Montrose High School consolidated with Argyle and Donnellson and became Central Lee.
Questions remaining to be answered are: Was The Anchor published any other times than 1927 and 1930? When did the name change from The Anchor to The Mohawk? Were yearbooks published between 1930 and 1948? If you can answer any of these questions, contact MRI. Or, if you have an old Montrose yearbook lying around gathering dust, consider donating it to help complete the collection.
The Class of 1927 was comprised of 10 students, five boys and five girls. They had entered Montrose High School as freshmen in a class of 16.
Over the intervening years, some moved away, others went into Keokuk to attend school, and a few just quit. The 10 who graduated had been together all four years.
The 58 total students enrolled in the high school that year were taught by a faculty of four, including both the superintendent and principal. Three of the four were graduates of Parsons College in Fairfield.
The students could choose to participate in the following activities: Anchor staff, basketball, track, Letter Club, Caesar Literary Society and Declamation. Basketball and track were limited to the male students.
The Letter Club was formed in September 1926, with its purpose to foster better sportsmanship and create a keener interest in athletics and all other school activities. The five charter members included three senior boys and two junior boys.
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The current location, occupation and married names of the girls also were given for each graduate.
The most common occupations seem to have been housewife, farmer and stenographer. One of the most unusual was a woman from the class of 1888, Nellie (Williamson) Hough, who was listed as an undertaker in Lawrence, Kan.
The final section of The Anchor consisted of advertisements, mostly from businesses located in Montrose, Keokuk and Fort Madison. Interspersed among the advertisements are jokes or humor as they called it.
An example: “Have any of your childhood hopes been realized?” “Yes. When mother used to comb my hair I wished I didn't have any.”
And, “Some questions that a freshman can't answer:
1. When was the War of 1812?
2. For what state in the Union was the battleship ‘Iowa' named?
3. How much does a 6 lb. shell weigh?
4. Who rode the horse in Paul Revere's ride?”
All of the above can be gleaned from the pages of the yearbook, but what about the personal stories that bring these names, facts, statistics, and photos to life? Some local residents may have had family members in school at this time. If so, there are stories that have been passed down through the years.
In addition, an interview with a member of the Class of 1927 has provided additional enlightenment. Lloyd Dresser was born on July 7, 1909, the son of James and Florence (Bassett) Dresser. He lives in Ames with his wife, Lorraine. However, during the school year of 1926-27 he was living with his family on Middle Road south of Montrose.
The record shows Dresser participated in most school activities. He had the honor of being named editor-in-chief of this first yearbook.
In addition to serving as a class officer three years, he also played basketball and went out for track all four years. In basketball, Dresser scored the second highest number of points, 76, following Ivor Fowler, who scored 108. To put that into perspective, the whole Montrose team scored a total of 255 points during the season. In track he held the school record in high jump with a distance of 5 feet 4 inches, and in pole vault at 9 feet 9 inches. He also competed in shot put, discus, broad jump and javelin.
He was one of the senior members of the newly formed Letter Club, serving as president.
Dresser relates that in those days, high jumping was done with a rigid bamboo pole about two inches in diameter and the landing was made in a sand box. Considering the equipment, his record seems quite impressive and the fact that he never received a serious injury is remarkable.
His dad never saw him participate in an athletic event, saying he was afraid his son would be hurt and he didn't want to witness it.
The record doesn't show what a good friend Dresser was to a fellow basketball player. Because of four large building support posts in the basement floor of the school, basketball games were played at the Pastime, which was located on the north side of Main Street between what is now Smurf's and Ron Wagner's.
One night during a game, a scramble for the ball found Byron Boyd on the bottom of the pile. That wouldn't normally be a big problem, but the pile up happened to land on top of a large heat register in the floor. While the boys were getting untangled and back on their feet, Boyd received a burn on his upper leg, leaving the imprint of the register burned into his skin.
Another team member, Harry Scott, had an older sister who was a nurse. Unable to walk home to the country after the game, Boyd stayed in town, with Harry Scott's sister taking care of the burn.
After several days, it was decided that Boyd would try to walk home.
The story of that trip is well remembered by Boyd's younger sister, Olive (Boyd) Megchelsen. It was a winter day and there was snow on the path up over the bluff leading to their farm home, she recalled. Dresser, being a good friend, offered to help them get home.
Megchelsen, seven years younger than her brother, was a student in the lower elementary grades. She remembers Dresser carrying her up a section of the hill, then going back down to help her brother up.
This procedure was repeated several times before they finally reached the Boyd home.
Dresser then had to walk over a mile more before reaching his home on Middle Road.
Walking to school was a daily way of life for students living in the country at that time. The Boyd kids usually cut down over the bluff and across fields, while the Dresser kids followed the road down through Stoney Hollow, a distance of more than two miles.
Transportation to away basketball games was made in private cars. In coming home from Argyle one night, Ambrosia Lane became impassable because of the mud (no gravel roads in those days). The team spent the night sleeping in the haymow of a farmer's barn.
When the team played at Nauvoo, Ill., they went back and forth across the river on the ferry.
While in high school, Dresser had raised pigs on the family farm. After graduation he sold those pigs to raise money to further his education at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant.
He continued participating in athletics while in college and raised his high jump record to 12 feet 6 inches. In addition to taking classes in education and participating in sports, he worked at various part time jobs.
Graduation found Dresser accepting a job teaching and coaching in Sibley. It was said at the time that he got the best job of any in his graduating class. Sibley is where he met his wife Lorraine. They went on to raise three children while he continued working in the field of education.
Now, just six months short of celebrating his 100th birthday, Dresser continues to lead a fairly active life, still going to coffee with friends most mornings.
He is always happy to share memories of his high school years.
Montrose Riverfront, Inc. is making a collection of old yearbooks from Montrose High School to be placed in the Hunold Heritage Center where they can be enjoyed by the public. In addition to the 1927 Anchor, the group also has one from 1930.
Sometime between 1930 and 1948 the name was changed to The Mohawk. Mohawks donated are for the years 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, and 1961 - the last Mohawk published before Montrose High School consolidated with Argyle and Donnellson and became Central Lee.
Questions remaining to be answered are: Was The Anchor published any other times than 1927 and 1930? When did the name change from The Anchor to The Mohawk? Were yearbooks published between 1930 and 1948? If you can answer any of these questions, contact MRI. Or, if you have an old Montrose yearbook lying around gathering dust, consider donating it to help complete the collection.
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