Welcome back Grand County students! Let’s take a moment to look back and reflect on schools of Grand County’s past. This week we dive into the Museum’s Collection to feature a few photos from Moab’s early days up through recent times.
Helen M. Knight was the coach for the women’s basketball team (as well as her job as English teacher). Shown here with their new basketball uniforms which replaced white blouses and black satin pants. On long out-of-town trips in the winter, rocks were heated and placed under the bus seats. Identification of the players was done by Erma Taylor and Deone Skewes. Bottom row from left: Ruby Oliver/Ruth Moore?, Dolores Winbourne (Overson), Verle Taylor (Wese), Claire Johnson (Dickson), Nedra Dalton (Weitzel), Clyde Beach (Goudelock) and Madge Skewes (Duncan); top row from left: LaPreal Dalton (Burg), Marilee “Toots” Walker (Wright-McDougald), Zella Woodruff, Elizabeth Knight, Erma Knight (Taylor), True Zufelt, Lois McConkie, Helen Ray/Dora Wise?, Pearl Negley. [Moab Museum Collection, 1931 or 1933]Moab – Gr. Co. High School interior 1918, Vol 5, #MM-3.jpg Caption 2: Interior view of high school which housed students in grades 9-12. The partition at the back of the room opened into the auditorium. Some identified students: third from left in front row: R.L. “Buck” Kirk; behind him: Marge Christianson and Leaming Shafter; fourth student in third row of seats (in overalls): Rulon Somerville; second student in fourth row of seats: Jessie Cecil Clark (with headband). [Moab Museum Collection, 1918]One of the first schools in Moab. Location may have been on Center St. between 200 and 300 E., which later became the site for an adobe structure to serve east-side students, or on the east side of 100 W. just north of Center Street on the Wilson homestead. Early schools were of log construction. The first (which may be the structure in this picture) is recorded to have been 24 by 30 feet and also served as a meeting house. [Moab Museum Collection, 1883]Moab – Gr. Co. High School State Football Champions, Vol. 5, #45-1.jpg Caption 3: At one point, football was taken out of the school curriculum because it was so dangerous (note limited protective padding). Shown here are Utah State Champions: first row, left to right: Merle Winbourn, Dan Winbourn, Ed Cooly; second row, left to right: Homer Robertson, Bun Titus, H.B. Evans (coach). [Moab Museum collection, n.d.]
As you step into a new school year, the Museum is thrilled to continue being a part of your learning journey. We’re here to help you dive deep into the rich history of the Moab Valley, southeast Utah, and the Colorado Plateau. Stop on in for any project or paper to browse the Collection, tens of thousands of historic photographs, and an abundance of oral histories from Moab residents of old. We can’t wait to see you and explore together this year!
The Moab Museum is dedicated to sharing stories of the natural and human history of the Moab area. To explore more of Moab’s stories and artifacts, find out about upcoming programs, and become a member, visit www.moabmuseum.org.
