Meeker County Museum at the G.A.R. Hall

Among the many scrapbooks in the Museum’s archives are two school memory books. These are printed books with headings such as “My Classmates,” “Graduation Day,” and “Photographs.” The owners would then write or paste memories and mementoes of their school days. Coincidentally, the two books at the Museum are from two classmates, both graduates of Litchfield High School in 1924!

While it doesn’t appear that Luella Nelson and Margaret Aveldson were close friends, they did know each other and made brief appearances in each other’s books. They were also members of the History Club. In the pages of their books, the young women not only saved their invitations to the club, but also identical floral napkins from a club party. Both Lue and Miggy, as they were called, were among the party’s hostesses. They served chicken sandwiches, pickles, coffee, cake, and plenty of ice cream. The 1924 yearbook called the club “one of the liveliest and most interesting organizations in school.” At the Museum, we can’t help but think this would have been the best club around!

Other identical items in the two books include dance cards with tiny pencils attached, graduation invitations, and programs for plays they attended.

Several pages in both books included messages and well-wishes from their fellow classmates. Miggy simply wrote “Forget me not” to Lue. Lue’s note to Miggy included reminiscences of their days at Lincoln School. Luella must have made quite the impression at the sophomore carnival as several of her classmates mentioned her memorable appearance as the fortune teller. Many of Margaret’s messages thank her for her help with school work and marvel at her shorthand skills. Margaret was also valedictorian, and her graduation speech is included in her book.

While both girls were interested in the school sporting events, Margaret appears to have been the more dedicated fan. In her book, she created a detailed chart for all the football and boys and girls basketball games. She included dates, teams, scores, location, and stars of the game. Several newspaper clippings about track meets are also included.

Following graduation, both girls attended business school. Luella went to the Minneapolis Business School. She would later work as the bookkeeper for the Meeker County Register of Deeds. In 1943, she was elected as the county’s Register of Deeds, a position she was continually reelected for until she retired in 1960. She married Jay Larson and died in Litchfield in 1990.

As for Margaret, she attended the Collegiate Business Institute, also in Minneapolis. She put her schooling and commendable shorthand skills to good use as a stenographer. This included work at a Naval Hospital in San Diego. She married Alfred Payette, had one son, and died in California in 1987.

There is so much more history in these pages! If you are curious to learn more, or perhaps you have a relative that might appear in these pages, stop by the Museum and ask to take a look.