Proctor, Minnesota
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Proctor is a city in St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 2,852 at the 2000 census. The city is named after J. Proctor Knott, former Governor of Kentucky (1883-1887). He became famous for delivering the speech The Untold Delights of Duluth to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Proctor is the home of the South St. Louis County Fairgrounds, located on Boundary Avenue.
The South St. Louis County Fair takes place annually the second week of August. Some of the events at the Fair include karaoke contests, a teen dance, car show, petting zoo, pony rides, bull riding, carnival rides, 4-H exhibits, horse shows, lumberjack show, and stock car racing.
Auto Racing at the Proctor Speedway also takes place at this same location on Sundays from May to October.
The Proctor Hoghead Festival also takes places every August. Hoghead celebrates Proctor's railroad heritage - the world's largest inland iron ore sorting facilities. Railroad oriented events include hand car races, spike driving contests, golden spike treasure hunt, parade, fireworks, mile run (prizes for beating state record), food & craft vendors, games, car show, pet parade, rib cook-off, street dance, softball & golf tourneys, Ecumenical church service, community picnic, and kids games.
Proctor's welcome sign on U.S. Highway 2 boasts "You have a place in Proctor."
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[edit] Geography
Proctor is located beside the Bayview Heights neighborhood of Duluth, with which it forms something of a contiguous community unit due to Bayview Heights' topographical separation (the hill) from adjacent West Duluth. It is bounded by school rival Hermantown to the north, Midway Township to the west, Duluth's Bayview Heights neighborhood to the east, and a mostly undeveloped area of Duluth (officially in the Riverside neighborhood) to the south.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.8 km² (3.0 mi²), all land.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 2,852 people, 1,196 households, and 772 families residing in the city. The population density was 363.4/km² (942.8/mi²). There were 1,246 housing units at an average density of 158.8/km² (411.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.49% White, 0.14% African American, 1.16% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.28% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.74% of the population.
There were 1,196 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 86.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,322, and the median income for a family was $49,875. Males had a median income of $33,583 versus $22,035 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,851. About 3.2% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Education
Proctor's school district is ISD 704 (Proctor Public Schools), currently headed by superintendent Diane Rauschenfels. The district encompasses not only the city of Proctor, but also the Bayview Heights neighborhood of Duluth, and the townships of Canosia, Grand Lake, Midway, and Solway. There are three elementary schools (Bay View Heights, Caribou Lake, and Pike Lake), Jedlicka Middle School and (Proctor High School).
Proctor High School's first graduating class was 1912. The first graduates were Mayme Nelson, Belle Simkin, Leona Paulu-Salutatorian, Margaret Bomier-Valedictorian and Vernie Clark.
Proctor High School atheltic teams are called the Rails. The Mascot “Rails”.
The first picture of a “Rail” was found in the 1920 Proctorian yearbook. This simple drawing was located in the first pages of that book and depicted a “fast moving engine”. It was drawn by Harry MacKenzie. Harry MacKenzie was Proctor’s first state level athlete. He won the first athletic competition Proctor ever participated in by winning the cross-country race in against a combined Duluth schools team in Duluth fall of 1917. He went on and in the spring of 1918 won the state track meet in the 1/2 mile and second place in the mile race. Harry not only excelled in sports but also in the classroom. Harry drew much of the art work for the early Proctorians until his graduation in 1921.
The next location of an engine was found on The Mallet-school paper established in 1925. The staff used the Duluth Missabe and Northern #208 and placed it on the front page of the 1926 issue. The 208 was one of two original “Mallets” purchased by the DM&N. The students said it “represented the spirit behind the students of Proctor...strength and determination”. In 1943 The Mallet used an engine that was to become the standard for the next 50 plus years. There was a search for an engine that would be the Pride of Proctor. The selection was made to honor the first engine to Proctor. The engine was the Duluth Missabe and Northern # 15. The #15 was used to transport the first iron ore through Proctor on July 22, 1893. The #15 was a 4-6-0 type of engine built in 1893 and was used until 1933. This engine was an engraving of the engine #15
This engraving became “the symbol” of the Proctor Rails. It respresented the proud, dignified and strong image of the rich tradition of this great school district created by the foresight and dedication of the people of the district, the students and the leadership of A. I. Jedlicka.
The engraving was received via John Benson at the Proctor Journal.
The School Colors are “Missabe” Green and “Class of 1912 White”.
The Proctor school colors have a “colorful” history. The Duluth Missabe and Northern Railway built and maintained the original West Side School (Proctor High School). The wood on the original West Side School1 (Proctor High School) was painted Duluth Missabe and Northern green. Since this dark green paint was in abundance on the railroad, it was the color used on the passenger cars. Therefore, it was only natural that this color be used on the “railroad’s high school” as well.
In 1918, upon the arrival of the students into the “new” high school on the east side of town, the student body selected to use the dark green of the “old” building and the white. The white came from the class of 1912 graduates use of white, while receiving their diplomas in their “official” graduation photo. This was to be a sign of commitment, lasting recognition and deep appreciation for the faith the students took in the opportunity to stay in Proctor2 for their high school years from 1908-1917. Dark green was selected as the official school color along with white.
These school colors have been consistent in each of the three Proctor High School buildings.
1Immanuel Lutheran Church is standing on the original site. 2 Most Proctor High School aged students attended and graduated from either Duluth Central or Duluth Denfeld during this period of time.
The Proctorian
The first volume of the Proctorian yearbook was published in 1918. The advisor was Mr. D. W. Hiestand, Principal. This year also marked the first year in the new east side high school building. The new building allowed many new ideas to be used by the students including inter-scholastic athletics.
The name Proctorian was selected for the yearbook in a student contest. The judges were Mr. W. F. Morong, Mr. C. B. Gilbert and Mr. H. H. Peyton. The winning student was Charles Bouschor, class of 1922.
Volume One of the Proctorian states, “This is the first publication of the senior annual of Proctor High School. This issue should be prized above all others as it marks the founding of a new enterprise” It is also dedicated to Principal Dwight W. Hiestand, “A faithful advisor and friend.” The cover of this book was designed by Harry Mac Kenzie. The cost was 75 cents and 150 were published.
The Proctorian was not published in 1919 as Mr. E. C. Grubbs, Superintendent of Proctor Public Schools placed the school district into a financial debt. The State of Minnesota removed Mr. Grubbs and sent Mr. A. I. Jedlicka to put the district on a firm foundation. Sadly, this financial debt, the loss of Mr. Hiestand-(Principal and the founder of Proctor inter-scholastic athletics) to Aurora HS, not too mention that the school year did not start until Nov. 25 due to the Spanish influenza-Proctor High School was used as a hospital, did not allow the class of 1919 to publish their annual. The Proctorian continued from 1920 through 1923. There was not a Proctorian from 1924 - 1941. The Proctorian was again published in 1942 and has continued in this proud tradition till this day.
A unique quality of the first Proctorian is that each member of the class held a position as yearbook staff: William Harrison, Editor-in-Chief; Werl Smith, Assistant Editor; Henry Eiler, Business Manager; Royal Bouschor, Athletic Editor; Ruby McTaggart, Cartoonist; Ruth Barncard, Art Editor; Ruth Carlson, Social Editor; Brenda Stewart, Assistant Social Editor; Hilda Ferguson Treasurer.
The Mallet
The Proctor High School newspaper received its start in the fall of 1925 by the faculty of the high school. “The newspaper, according to the the tentative plan was to be published twice a month and deal with the activities of the students and faculty of the Proctor schools.”
A Board of Faculty Advisors composed of Superintendent A. I. Jedlicka, Miss Auman, and Miss VanHoeson was put in place to make this paper possible.
“ A great many of the High Schools in the State publish a weekly paper,” Mr. Jedlicka said, “and this paper is the result of a great deal of punch on the part of both the students and faculty which groups have both wanted the paper.”
“The Mallet” was first published on Oct. 9th 1925 as the official publication of the Proctor public schools. Miss Helen Tormoen is the editor-in-chief and Sammy Spurbeck is the business manager in 1925. The paper consisted of four pages, 9 X12 inches and is entirely edited by high school students. The cost was eight cents each.
“The mission of the paper is principally to encourage interest in the school and its activities, especially the athletic department. A school letter can now be won by intellectual prowess as well as athletic.”
The name “Mallet” was selected as it reflected strength and determination of the nature of the students and citizens of Proctor.
(From 1928, through the mid 1940’s, the Mallet was printed in the Proctor Journal and not as an independent paper.)
Items of Interest
Mr. I. A. Jedlicka was the longest tenured superintendent in state history and Mr. Spencer was the longest tenured principal in state history.
The first use of academic, scholastic and tournament “patches” were first seen on Proctor letter jackets.
Proctor was the first school in Minnesota, to transport non-resident students in 1925.
Proctor High School was used as a hospital in the fall of 1918 as a result of the Spanish Influenza and the Fire of 1918, for 7 weeks. School was not started until November 25, 1918.
Between 1919 and 1921, the Proctor girls’ basketball team played the Duluth Teacher’s College three times. The Proctor girls won all three games. As a result, the college team would no longer play them. (Nor would the high school team from Coleraine.)
The first interscholastic athletic competition was a cross-country meet against a combined team from Duluth. In 1917, a school Cross Country Team composed of William Harrison, Henry Eiler, Royal Bouschor, Walter Long, Theodore Stark, Harry McKenzie, Kermit Davis, and Roy Carson was organized and competed in an out-door run with the Men’s Department of the Duluth Y.M.C.A. The Proctor boys won this meet and Harry McKenzie finished in first place by a long distance. This marked the first important athletic event in which Proctor High School contested with an outside rival.
Proctor High School was the first school to use “pomp pomp” girls in northeastern Minnesota. This was the result of the Band trip to Pasadena in 1948.
A Tribute to Mr. A. I. Jedlicka
It is difficult for us to put into words how much we, the Board of Education, feel the loss of Mr. Jedlicka.
He was truly among the greatest and will long be remembered and respected by many for his contributions to education and his interest in our community. He worked tirelessly to better education in this entire state and for this we shall always be very grateful. It has been a rich experience merely to be associated with him. Our lives and our children’s lives will benefit from his efforts for many years to come. The Board will do its utmost to carry on his policies and meet our obligations to the people of our district as he has done in the past.
Mr. Jedlicka’s achievements have been many. Our Creator certainly blest him with knowledge and ability far beyond the realm of the average human being. The last few words of our Lord while on this earth, “It is Finished” also apply to him for he realized all his ambitions; consolidation of the rural and Bay View areas into our district, acquired Klang Memorial Park for recreational purposes, obtained buildings and necessary facilities for all areas second to none, raised educational standards in the railroad districts in the nation, University of Minnesota, Duluth, is well established largely by his efforts, introduced transportation for rural students, established the hot lunch program and there are many others.
He was ambitious and was fortunate to realize his ambitions. He lived long, his time was well spent and his job well done.
It is our responsibility to maintain what he started. We shall be forever grateful to God for Mr. Jedlicka. Proctor Board of Education
A Few Notable Proctor Students
Dan Devine, College and Professional Coach Missouri, Arizona State, Notre Dame & Green Bay. Coach of a National Football Championship Team
Jean LemMon, Editor of the Better Homes and Garden magazine
Robert R. Laney, outstanding Proctor basketball -state single game record of 32 rebounds. Hall of Fame- Concordia College.
Dan Cox, National Geographic photographer.
Birney Quick, Founder of the Grand Marais Art Community and instructor of Minneapolis School of Art (now the Minneapolis College of Art & Design)
Loyce Johnson Houlton, Internationally known choreographer
Warren Jollymore, General Motors Director of Public Relations and national collegiate boxing champion.
Andy Anderson, Blue Angels.
William Tester, President of the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists
L. H. Holstrand, Author of “Trouble at Turtle Bay”
Royal Bouschor, Northwestern University, NCAA Men's All-Time Champions pole vault 12 ft.- 4in.
Garry Bjorklund, runner, State of Minnesota holder of the record for the mile, marathon runner, Olympic runner.
Scott Jurek, runner. Six-time defending champion of the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run, ultra running's premiere 100 Mile event.
Terry Egerdahl- “All American” in football at UMD.
[edit] Youth Sports
Proctor has a variety of sports for the youth athlete.
Hockey - Proctor Amateur Hockey Association works to promote a fun, fair, and safe environment that maximizes participation and improves players' skills while developing sportsmanship, teamwork, and self-confidence.
[edit] External links
