LIVE Post #1 - The Eve of Watermelon Day

(Above) This is a picture of the Stanhope School from way back in the day. Source: Stanhope Website

First Update: Stanhope Alumni Banquet

Our first update makes a stop through Ellsworth. I wonder if the "bunch who beat Ellsworth 3-2" were there. Tonight the alumni of Stanhope High School gather for their annual banquet. This event always kicks off the Watermelon Day Festivities.

This correspondent was on his way back from the Stanhope State Extention office in Des Moines. So I decided just swing by and gage what kind of crowd they were having tonight. Although I didn't go in (we didn't want to crash the event), from this Watermelon Warriors' estimate, it had to be a full house. Cars and pickups were lined up and down the street, plus the parking area was packed.

Now this Watermelon Warrior wasn't even born when graduating classes were roming the halls of Stanhope High, but I have been told a little history. To make sure I got my facts straight, I checked the history section on the Stanhope Website and here's what i found:

In 1893 the first school in town limits was erected. It first employed Miss Belle Iverson as teacher and Mrs. Olmstead as the first principal. Mr. Fred Runkle came in 1902 as superintendent. He expanded the curriculum to include the first year of high school. There were three teachers by that time: Mr. Runkle, superintendent and higher grades; Pearl Watson, intermediate grades; and Belle Iverson, primary grades. In 1914 an eight-room brick building was constructed on school grounds. In 1923 four more classrooms and a gymnasium were added. Then again in 1952 four more rooms were added.

In 1958, the school districts of Ellsworth, Randal, Stanhope, and Jewell were combined into the present South Hamilton School District in Jewell, Iowa. The last graduating class in the Stanhope Community School was in 1962. Ultimately, the brick school building and gymnasium was torn down and the Park View Apartments were constructed on the old school grounds.

Additionally, they were known as the Stanhope Vikings. Largely because of the the majority of the first Stanhopeans came from Norway and Sweden. The school colors were blue and white. We'll try to get some pictures of some vintage Stanhope High gear this weekend.

The sources used for the historical background on the Stanhope website are by Ed Nass from Webster City. He has a GREAT website on the history Hamilton County, Iowa. Here's the link: click here

Do you have memories and stories to share about the Stanhope School? Post a comment at the bottom of this post.

More updates coming soon!