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Ethel Christenson: Class of 1934
"Miss Church, the sewing teacher, had a rule that if you left the room without putting your work away and putting the machine down, you were punished by
having to work on that darn white machine, a peddle machine where the wheel went backwards. I had gone to orchestra practice and came back and there was
my machine, the only one up in the room! All I could say was that darn white machine cause I just hated it. And what do you know, after I was married I didn't
have a machine of my own because I hadn't earned enough to have bought one for myself. My husband came home one day with this machine and what kind do you think
it was? The white peddle machine! He paid $10 for it. I wouldn't sew on it."
"I enjoyed the cottages very much. We had to cook our meals. We had to do all the cleaning and we did the laundry for the cottages, the sheets and
everything. There were certain types of dinners we had to serve. We had to invite faculty members. I smoked at that time. And three or four of us were smoking
in the living room and Miss Allen came down the stairs and she stood in the doorway and said, 'I don't like the smell of your house.' That was all she said
though. I remember putting my cigarette out and shoving the ashtray under the davenport when I heard her coming down the stairs. At that time you didn't
realize that if you lit a cigarette in one part of the house you could smell it all over the house. Cigarettes were only 10 cents a pack."
Mrs. Katherine (Wiggins) Zyc: Class of 1934
Age 91 on October 5, 2002
Now widowed, lives in a retirement village in Dousman, WI
Mrs. Zyc came to Central State Teachers College because she wanted to become a Home Economics teacher and Point was closer to her home town of Lake Geneva than Stout. She lived
in Nelson Hall and spent a semester in Sims Cottage with three other women who became life-long friends. Mrs. Zyc was very involved with the GAA (Girls' Athletic Association) while
at Central State. The "purpose of the organization was to promote clean sportsmanship and a higher standard in women's athletics." (The 1934 Iris) The major sports at that time
were hockey, basketball, volleyball land baseball, with minor sports in tap-dancing, tumbling, archery and tennis. Many girls also found pleasure in ice skating and horseback
riding, where a special class was offered in the fundamentals of riding.
Mrs. Zyc recalled in a recent phone conversation, the day that Thryza Iverson went out to the tennis courts wearing shorts, only to be called into Bertha Hussey's office (the Dean of
Women) and given a strong talking-to about her shocking attire.
Mr. Zyc who died earlier this year, wrote recently about his wife of 62 years:
"Recently after these many years, she (Mrs. Zyc) received letters from two of her former students. She still remembers both girls. Both of the letters speak well of the
training and teaching of the subject they received. Also reflecting the good training she herself acquired at Stevens Point. Both she and I are physically unable to
attend the celebration but thought that her learning experience at S.P. paid off."
From these two letters we quote:
"Every time I've been sitting at my sewing machine you are in my thoughts. You taught me well. The reason for this letter is to tell you a big THANK YOU for coming to
our home on the farm in Schaumburg, talking, encouraging me to go to High School. My Mom and Dad wanted me to go, and I knew I should go, but coming from a one room
school I had concerns about so many teachers and room (class) changes all day. I went, graduated and was so happy you don't know how many times in my quiet way I've
been so thankful to you."
Alice Gerschefske Wochnick, Dec. 9, 2001
"I have always thought that god really blessed me when I enrolled in your Home Economics classes. You were not only a teacher who lived and demonstrated the highest
standards and moral values, but you were also a true mentor to me and have influenced my life in many ways throughout these passing years even though our direct
relationship ended on that Graduation Day in June of 1946. Because of you and the positive attitudes you shared with 'your girls', about life, marriage, home-making,
and motherhood I thoroughly enjoyed those times in my life. I worked from the time I was fourteen years old until I retired in January of 1989 so faced many of the
problems I hear mothers discussing today�only I believe that I could handle the stresses better because of the love of family and life teachings that we received from
you. You really did radiate this love and in my heart still do... I just wanted you to know that throughout these years you have remained in my thoughts and I continue
to be grateful that I had the opportunity to be your student and good friend. I want to thank you again for the devoted teacher you were. I remember very well the
stresses you were under while Ray was in the Navy during Would War II... but you never let those worries interfere with your good humor as a teacher. You were...
are... a very special lady!"
Jan Talbot Rosen, March 27, 2001
Violet (Malesevich) Bachhuber: Class of 1936
"My parents were immigrants from Yugoslavia who built a bakery/grocery business in Mayville, Wisconsin. I
would come back from school and work in the store with my family. I went to college to learn to be a good
mother and to learn how to sew and cook."
"I came to Stevens Point because I took home economics in high school and my friends convinced me that I should
go on to college instead of secretarial school. I found a place to live where I could help with childcare in
exchange for room, board, and tuition, so it was affordable. I remember living with the Wysocki family and I
became very close to them. I was on the basketball team and I dated Ralph Abrahamsen. I recall Bessie May
Allen and the home management house and the teachers that taught cooking and sewing. Later, I did a lot of
sewing for my daughters and myself. I didn't know how to make a bed or do anything coming from Yugoslavia. I
had to learn the names of dishes and many other items."
"After college, I came back home. It was during war times and my parents needed me to work in the bakery and
store. I raised two daughters, Sarah and Susie. Nobody can ever take my education away from me. It probably
changed my life."
LaNore Oleson Lang: Class of 1939
"I graduated from Point in June 1939. I majored in Home Ec and minored in Social Studies. I met Leo, my husband, in my junior year. He graduated the same day
I did. Leo was in WW II while I lived in Wausau. We spend many years in Campbellsport where he was superintendent for 32 years. We have five children."
"I have been very active in girl scouting, receiving the highest award a woman can receive. I also worked with hospice , our church, and Federated Women's Clubs."
"1939 was during the depression time and we had few in school; our class was only 7 members. I got all except one to come to our 50th reunion in 1989.
And I will be at the home economics centennial!"
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