Memories of Lowry School
April 24, 1994
Many years have passed since I was enrolled in Lowry Public Schools, now in my 80th year, I shall try to recall accurately.
I entered fourth grade when we moved to Lowry and Mildred Distad was my teacher. She also taught a class in Ballet Dancing, in which class I was also a student. Years were 1923-24.
1925-26 entering 5th grade meant moving upstairs to the south room where our teacher was a chubby Mrs. Murphy. Her big achievement was assigning many selections of poetry for our memorization. We learned so many and I can still recite a portion of many of them.
My classmates in these grades were Ethel Lidstrom, Florence Engebretson, Christine Shermak, Robert Shermak, and Frank Chermak. Sixth grade we had the same room and same teacher. And much more poetry became real to us by memorization.
Years 1927-28 were 7th and 8th grades when Miss Signe Erdahl (later she became Mrs. Harold Eastlund) was our teacher. She was much firmer with us, insisting we stood straight and sat up tall. We grew to appreciate the special interest she showed in her students.
I think her chief delight was announcing: “Today we are going to have penmanship class!” Out came the Palmer Method books, our pens and ink. Down the rows of desks the proper sheets of ink paper were passed out, and we began the rhythm of “push pulls” and the “ovals.” How we hated these exercises! Big sighs were heard all around the room as our attempts toward at least a passing likeness was achieved. Bigger sighs of relief when we were through. A few of us were awarded a huge “Palmer Method Certificate of Achievement” for our work, suitable for framing. I was lucky enough to find one with my name on it, of which I am truly proud!
Mrs. Erdahl taught music and many students excelled in this field. She also stressed extra library reading, with awards for handed in lists of completed readings. She presented such an interesting study of South America that we actually felt we were visiting this country, and wished we could. Without a doubt she was the teacher that affected me more than any other. She never showed partiality, could be smiling, warm, and friendly. She was always proper and quick to correct our mistakes, so we could adjust our ways.
1928-29 our 8th grade graduation exercises meant an evening service at Lowry Town Hall, an annual event. (May 31, 1928).
Following this we were back at Lowry School for our 9th and 10th years (I and II of High School). Our teacher was Miss Haugen, and the Superintendent was a Mr. Selmer Braaten. Class members remained as in previous grades. Year I we took English I, Latin I, algebra and general science. Year II we took English II, Latin II, geometry and social science.
One class began right after the noon hour and our class went to a basement classroom for this. I believe it was our English class. On very nice days our steps led us out on the square cement outside the door, just big enough for us to stand awhile, waste time, enjoy the beautiful day, and vex our teacher sorely. This happened time and time again, to our delight. It lasted only a very few minutes, but certainly was a long, long way from our class subject interest.
After enduring our second year in Lowry’s High School a new “era” began. Busses were bought in to transfer us to Glenwood High School and these classes were phased out in Lowry. We graduated, then, from Glenwood High School in 1932. Exercises for our graduation were held in the McCauley Opera House – known as “The Theater.”
The Robieson family (8 out of 9 graduated) made up the largest family for many, many years at Lowry School. Our years there included 1923-1944.
Ruby Robieson Bennett
1994
Ruby Robieson Bennett
1994
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