Neillsville High School
~~Main Room, 1920~~
Neillsville, Clark County, WI
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The right half of the Main Room of Neillsville High School, 1920. Florence Bradford is in the center front row. The second fellow in the second row a Gallagher. There is a Sontag, sone of Jules Sontag. Also Melvin Vine, Isadore Svirnoff and Art Lastofka (somewhere in the photo). If you know and can identify anyone else, let us know. Photo provided by Ken Olson. |
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The left half of the Main Room is shown in this photo. 1. E. J. McKean who was principle at that time. 2. Sally (Olson) Schwarze. 3. Robert Olson. 4. Kenneth Ruddock (the 6'4 basketball center). 5. Barbara (Olson) Daniel. Photo provided by Ken Olson. |
These two photos were taken in the Main Room or Assembly Room of Neillsville High School in 1920. The main room of high schools in that era had various purposes. It was used for study hall when students had a free hour from class room studies. Also, some classes were held in that room, as the photo shows a full length blackboard on two sides.
Whenever an announcement had to be made (the days before intercom) to the entire student body, the teachers would tell their classes to meet in the Main Room or assembly at a set time. So, often that room was referred to as the assembly room as it was usually large enough to have seating room and desks for the entire four classes.
As we think back, we can probably remember such things as notes passing and little pranks that went on during study hall. After all, how could any teacher in charge of over-seeing study hall possibly see all that was going on in such a large room? Of course, there were some who had designated desks located around the teacher's desk to avoid the temptation of trouble.
In viewing the photos, note how the students were dressed. The young fellows wearing dress shirts, neckties and sometimes suits. The young ladies in blouses, skirts or dresses. They are a nice looking group. There were no blue jeans allowed at that time. When I was in high school, I remember a classmate coming to school one day wearing bib overalls and being sent home because of improper attire. We, the classmates, thought he didn't want to be at school that day and knew he would be sent home if he wore overalls. His scheme worked.
Source, Clark Co. Press Jun. 4, 1992