Mom's Story Part 14

High School Teachers

J Rufus Crandell

            I won’t mention all the teachers who influenced me during that period of time for the list is long and prestigious:  Logan Brimhall, David A Butler, William C Smith, Carrie Kay, Ciecle Merkley, Lewis Monk were among the many.  Probably above all J. Rufus Crandell would stand as my most influential teacher.  He was called by many titles, but the one dubbed him from the Northern Arizona University Music Critics, “Dean of Music for Northern Arizona”, was the one I liked best.  No child escaped his attention; Rufus discovered anyone with a spark of talent.  He felt everyone could learn music, and he taught us all the notes as well as appreciation for good music.  With a fiddle under his arm, he spent his time between the High School and Grade School teaching the “do, re, mi”s.  On Friday we had the happy treat of hearing some of the great music of the world on a little tiny portable phonograph.  As a student matured he saw to it that they were started on a musical instrument.  I was no exception; he had me playing the baritone saxophone, which was almost as big as I was.  From this I learned many valuable lessons. 

            One memorable experience happened when I was asked to play a solo during the Sunday School opening exercises.  My sister accompanying me on the piano, and we had practiced diligently, and I knew the piece perfectly.  She played the introduction to “The Shepherd’s Dream”, and I started to blow, but instead of beautiful music coming from my instrument, I got an ear-shattering screech.  Mr. Crandell gave a sour look and frowned and told me to start again, but the result was the same, I heard a muffled titter in the audience as they awaited the third try.  My embarrassment was indescribable.  I had particularly wanted to make a good impression that day because the “dudes” from Airpine were attending Sunday School.  Mayola finished “The Shepherd’s Dream” as a piano solo and I sat red faced and humiliated.  It was no “dream” for me; rather it was a “nightmare”.  When I had laid the saxophone down before my number, one of the keys were slightly bent, but in my inexperience, I didn’t have any idea what the trouble was.  I never mastered the saxophone.

     Mr. Crandell discovered my most promising talent was in my singing voice.  He spent many hours helping me develop this talent.  Once a year each High School through out northern Arizona met at Flagstaff for a music Contest and usually Mr. Crandell and his students walked away with the majority of the first places and high ratings.  Still vivid in my memory was the contest in which I sang the high voice solo.  “Oh Let Night Speak of Me” was the name of the solo.  I was so nervous the night before in the Girl’s Dorm where we were housed, that I couldn’t sleep.  But as I stood in the wings of that big stage waiting for my turn, I shall always remember dear Mr. Crandell’s reassuring confidence in me.  After each contestant performed I would ask, “Can I beat her?”   And his answer was, “Yes, you can do better than her.”  But when the Flagstaff girl sang her solo, she sang like a lark; a beautiful clear voice, and Mr. Crandell said to me, “You’ll have to sing your best to beat her.”  She won first place and I placed second.  For years up until the time of his death, I sang in Brother Crandell’s choirs and ladies choruses.  Always I admired and respected him and his devotion to school and church.  When my husband became Bishop of the Second Ward, Brother Crandell was his most loyal supporter. 

When I graduated in 1936, I sang my high voice solo, “Oh Let Night Speak of Me.”  Dad gave the beautiful Baccalaureate prayer at my graduation.  Louise, my sister, graduated the same year.

Joseph Peterson taught English and I shall be forever grateful for the background and love of literature he gave us.  In my mind’s eye I can still see his beautiful white head of hair, his stately manner, and his kindly smile as he imparted his love of literature to his students.

Class of 1936 Snowflake High School

Principal Silas Fish

Silas Fish, the principal, was a strict disciplinarian.  One look or a sharp word from Principal Fish, and we quickly decided that any nonsense we were contemplating was not worth the price.  However, I saw the kindly side of the man, his wonderful sense of humor, and his love for his family.  His daughter Varena was one of my best friends, as well as my accompanist when I sang.  I was in the Fish home frequently.

Dad's Story Part 10

(Sitting on the ground, far right)

 

In the summer of 1927, I discovered the Boy Scout program.  There was a large Methodist Church on the east side of the street that led from downtown Lewiston to the south hill.  It was situated just on the brow of the hill.  One afternoon I noticed a group of boys on a large green lawn beside the church building.  They were practicing signaling with signal flags.  This attracted my attention so I stopped and watched for a long time.  I finally learned that this was a scout troop in action.  Later on that year when I had turned twelve years of age I joined the scout troop sponsored by the Congregational Church, in whose choir my Dad and Mother sang.  The candle ceremony at my being inducted into the troop and receiving my tenderfoot badge was very impressive to me.  

Baby Frances

            One of the most important things to happen in Lewiston was the birth of our one and only sister, Frances Virginia, born on Dad’s birthday, December 31, 1927.  This was the year that Charles A Lindberg had flown across the Atlantic from New York to Paris in his Ryan monoplane, the “Spirit of St Lewis”.  

            The years that we lived in Lewiston I went from the fourth through the seventh grades in school.  These elementary grades in school were very enjoyable to me.  I don’t remember ever having any difficulties or bad experiences in school.  It was a happy time for me.  An interesting custom in those days was for all the children to line up at the entrance of the school, when the bell rang for school to start and then march into the building to the strains of the military march played on a phonograph. 

Lewiston Relief Society

 The sixth and seventh grades were in the Junior High School building.  It was during my years in Junior High that I became an avid sports fan.  The Junior High was near the High School.  After school I used to watch the High School football, basketball and baseball teams practice in their respective seasons.  During those two years the High School had State champion football and basketball teams.  I didn’t miss one of their games.  In those days there were no half time shows during the half time intermissions at the basketball games.  During this intermission, the audience, which sat in the balcony, would throw pennies and nickels down onto the playing floor for the young boys to scramble after.  I usually got my share of the coins. 

            There was no branch of the Mormon Church in Lewiston when we moved there, and it wasn’t until 1927 that one was organized under the direction of the Northwestern States Mission President William R Sloan.  It was called the Lewis and Clark Branch.  In this little branch, Mother was called as Relief Society secretary and Dad installed as the Sunday School Superintendent.        

Frances and her mother (Virginia)

Frances' graduation 1945

 

J Ray and Frances Cox

The FE Ericksen family