Peggy Cooke
Growing up in Spring Valley, I had the feeling that Ōsmall town educationĶ was somehow second rate, but I am sure you all have found that what we got there could stand beside any school. I started school at South Hill where Duane Peterson and I made up the first grade and, for most of the classes, they threw in the entire second grade, Kenny Jensen. After that, I went Olivet through fourth grade. I treasure the memory of going to a one room school. What was going on in the other grades was so much more interesting than what I was supposed to be doing. I always felt guilty listening in, not realizing what a great opportunity it was.
I remember that we were fortunate to have a lot of really great teachers. In seventh or eighth grade, several in our class went to the circus in Eau Claire under the condition that all homework for the next day would be done. Mine wasnÕt and I got a reprimand from Miss Crowley that changed my life.
You all can list the good teachers. I also remember freshman English and sophomore History where the teachers (unnamed to protect the guilty) never had control of the class for and entire hour at a time. Remember when we were supposed to have a test in History on a Monday and no one was ready so we had about half a dozen people with questions for the teacher on his favorite topics so we kept him talking about himself until there was not time left for the test. I think it was Bob Richardson who engineered the plan.
Driving around was one of the big entertainments. I wonder if Wayne HendricksonÕs dad ever knew how close his new car came to being destroyed after play practice one night as it slid backwards on ice down the hill as a bunch of us were doing follow the leader up the hill that now leads to the golf course. I also remember VivianÕs apple picking memory. ItÕs hard to choose the ripe ones in the dark.
The class plays, concerts, homecoming parades, drill team, football and basketball games, class picnics, dances in the gym and parties a peopleÕs houses bring back great memories. Don WilhelmÕs basement was a great place to have a party. Also Don used to provide the most up to date music for dances by recording it from WDGY on the schools reel to reel tape player. It was really high tec.
The Sunday school class at Gilman is a special memory. There were about a dozen of us in it and the unusual thing was that we kept coming to class even after confirmation. Luther League was great fun. I remember playing hide and seek in the cemetery after the meeting. A lot of us had the great experience of going on the bus trip to Montana for the Luther League Convention.
4-H just came to mind and the County Fair.
The most outstanding memory is the friendships we shared. Especially, of course, I treasure my friendship with Crystal.
I also remember that it was cold and humid, and I am happy that when I now complain about weeks of bitter cold in the winter I mean that there has be frost and the days donÕt get above 65 degrees. |
Diane Tanberg
My first memory and thoughts go back a ways to when I was around 12 years of age and started thinking about what a joy it was to be raised in a small town where everyone knows your business, but everyone was there for you in times of need because they cared. I recall having the job of taking my sister, Kathy, who was severely crippled and mentally handicapped, on walks in her reclining wheelchair after school on nice days. People would not stop and stare but would say hello to her and she would give her BIG smile back to them. Friends and neighbors were so good to her and concerned.
I remember playing in the hills and going to the root beer stand. I remember working on floats for Homecoming - and they were floats to be proud of and put the floats of today to shame. Remember the snake dances? What fun. We were lucky enough to be charter members of the Valettes and so proud of our group and our proms were really something else. Heck, phy ed classes were closed down for a couple of weeks just so that we could decorate the gym and the gym was beautiful. Since I married a teacher and have attended many proms - I have never seen a gym decorated like we use to do. Also, the town folk were also invited to our proms and it was fun. I spent many dances with my Dad as he was a much better dancer than my prom dates! And of course Syver! He was something else and we were so lucky to have him. Also remember all the demerits we got for calling Mr. Leach "Fred?" It took a long time but I think Mr. Berendsen finally realized we were calling him Fred out of love and respect. The demerits seemd to slow down.
Other things come to mind thinking of SV like Bertlesen's Drug Store and Thompson's Cafe where one could get a hot dog and scoop of mashed potatoes and drink for 25 cents. There was the rollerskating at Elmwood on Thursday nights and Rita Strom and I always seemed to find a way there. I remember going to my friend's home (Nancy Krause) who lived on a farm and couldn't believe that I had to get up at 5 AM or whatever ungodly time of day it was for breakfast. I was a "city" girl - but it was fun. We were so fortunate to be growing up in the 50's! |
Vivian Gilbertson
Spring Valley was a small town and still is, where everyone not only knew everyone, but you also knew where everyone lived, and who their relatives were. The neighbors always seemed to know what was going on in your household.
Memories include:
The Valley theatre where the Gilbertson's kids went on Sunday afternoon so the folks could rest and relax. It only cost a dime to get in and maybe had money for popcorn too.
Bertelsen's Drug store was the popular hang-out after school. The Cherry Cokes and Lime Phosphates have never been duplicated!
'Us girls" spent more than one warm Spring night helping the boys (Lee and Dick, maybe others) catch nightcrawers. I doubt that I ever touched one but I'm sure there was some of the girls that did.
Remember all the birthday parties we attended! Nothing elaborate, but we had a ball!
Not many kids had cars to drive back then, but Dick Moe had a jeep that we piled into on at least one occasion. However, we each had to chip in a dime to pay for gas!!
A bunch of us renegades tried cooning watermelon, but got scared off with gun shots.
Crystal Cave.........so many kids worked there. I did too for a short time and quit. I remember Mr Friede(?) being upset about me quiting and saying I would probably quit every job I held. (If he only knew I work for the State of Minnesota for 25 years)
I remember all the walking we did. Everywhere we walked, school, church, football field, rootbeer stand, etc. You don't see kids doing that anymore.
I remember the coldest day in SV. 52 degrees below zero! At least that was what the themometer said at our house! I think that is the only day we got a ride to school. (I wonder how my dad got the car started)
We (those who lived in town) thought it was fun to ride the bus to the out-of town games. The noise as I recall was unbearable! God must have reserveda special place for those bus drivers!!
Those were the good old days!! Good memories! |
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Those who grew up in small towns will laugh when they read this.
Those who didn't will be in disbelief and won't understand how true it is.
1) You can name everyone you graduated with.
2) You know what 4-H means.
3) You went to parties at a pasture, barn, gravel pit, or in the middle of a dirt road. On Monday you could always tell who was at the party because of the scratches on their legs from running through the woods when the party was busted. (See #5.)
4) You used to 'drag' Main .
5) You scheduled parties around the schedules of different police officers, because you knew which ones would bust you and which ones wouldn't.
6) You could never buy cigarettes because all the store clerks knew how old you were (and if you were old enough, they'd tell your parents anyhow.) Besides, where would you get the money?
7) You knew which section of the ditch you would find the beer your buyer dropped off.
8) It was cool to date somebody from the neighboring town.
9) The whole school went to the same party after graduation..
10) You didn't give directions by street names but rather by references. Turn by Nelson's house, go 2 blocks to Anderson's, and its four houses left of the track field.
11) The golf course had only 9 holes.
12) You couldn't help but date a friend's ex-boyfriend/girlfriend.
13) Your car stayed filthy because of the dirt roads, and you will never own a white vehicle for this reason.
14) The town next to you was considered 'trashy' or 'snooty,' but was actually just like your town.
15) You referred to anyone with a house newer then 1955 as the 'rich' people.
16) The people in the 'big city' dressed funny, and then you picked up the trend 2 years later.
17) Anyone you wanted could be found at the local gas station or on Main Street.
18) You saw at least one friend a week driving a tractor through town or one of your friends driving a grain truck to school occasionally.
19) The gym teacher suggested you haul hay or pick rock for the summer to get stronger.
20) Directions were given using THE stop sign as a reference.
21) When you decided to walk somewhere for exercise, 5 people would pull over and ask if you wanted a ride.
22) Your teachers called you by your older siblings' names.
23) Your teachers remembered when they taught your parents.
24) You could charge at any local store or write checks without any ID.
25) There was no McDonalds.
26) The closest mall was over an hour away.
27) It was normal to see an old man riding through town on a riding lawn mower. Wo had riding lawn movers?
28) You've peed in a wheat field.
29) Most people went by a nickname.
30) You laughed your butt off reading this because you know it is true, and you forward it to everyone who may have lived in a small town. I would not have wanted to be raised any other way!!!! Tough times don't last... Tough people do!!
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