It's Happening: The Shawnee Powwow Circa. 1940
By Julie Perine on February 03, 2020 from It’s Happening
Students and graduates of Bridgeport High School are familiar with The Shawnee Powwow. Everything published in the school newspapers is so fresh, so modern.
I’m sure it has always seemed that way. I’ve been leafing through some old editions - some dated as far back as 1940. Eighty years ago, The Shawnee Powwow was reporting school news and sports, club announcements and academic endeavors.
The fragile, 
yellowed pages of the newspaper-style publication take us back to an interesting place when school pride was alive and well.
yellowed pages of the newspaper-style publication take us back to an interesting place when school pride was alive and well.
The school was then located at the top of Newton Street (also the former Bridgeport Junior High and present-day Heritage Christian School). A Dec. 27 1940 edition reports that students returned to school after Christmas break to a newly-painted and wired building, as well as some shiny new additions: Two electric sewing machines, five typewriters and a mimeograph machine.
Back in late-January of 1944, students apparently “reviewed madly for semester exams.” The article states that they rushed ‘hither and tither with worried faces and that the midnight oil burned as students studied books that had usually been ignored. Ha. That’s great.
In other school news, star athlete Bond Slussar suffered a painful tongue injury at the chemistry lab. Yes, instructor Miss Thelma Chedister reported that while attempting to sample an ammonium hydroxide solution, the red head actually burned his tongue. But it was also reported that the accident had not impeded the activity of Bond’s “ever wagging tongue.”
The newspaper included community and personal information: Engagements, illnesses, out-of-town visits/returns, 
birthdays and deaths of faculty family members. There was even a gossip column; the writer pointing out notable couples on the school dance floor and other tidbits of interest.
birthdays and deaths of faculty family members. There was even a gossip column; the writer pointing out notable couples on the school dance floor and other tidbits of interest.
The sports pages reveal that Slussar was one of the school’s “basketeers.” The Indians hoops team – under the coaching of Pat Hull, had just lost to Grafton, despite Slussar’s performance, which included “sinking two snowbirds.” The team was also referred to on occasion as “the Hullmen.” The Indians had experienced some recent bright spots, winning over Bristol, the Lost Creek Longhorns and the BHS alumni.
It was wartime and there was a lot of talk about purchasing war bonds and stamps to finance raids over Germany. In fact, competition was held between homerooms. The Jan. 28, 1944 edition announced that Robert Faris, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Faris of Brushy Fork and member of the BHS class of 1943, had been inducted into the U.S. Army. The article goes on to say that Faris was outstanding in his football endeavors and FFA work.
The newspaper included community and personal information: Engagements, illnesses, out-of-town visits/returns, birthdays and deaths of faculty family members. There was even a gossip column; the writer pointing out notable couples on the school dance floor and other tidbits of interest.
I love that they talked about fashion, asking students what fabrics and styles they preferred. Popular were jersey outfits featuring military style, wide shoulders and flared skirts. Corduroy was big for coats, jumpers and “sport wear.” Velvet and velveteen were preferred for “dress-up affairs.” Silk and powder puff muslin were also mentioned by the fashion-savvy students. Not once was a brand name mentioned.
At that time, BHS had both a Glee Club and a Hi-Y Club, the latter comprised of young men and based on a platform of clean speech, clean sports, clean scholarship and clean living. It was also reported that the school band had marched across town to the football field for Friday Night Lights and that the Bridgeport Fire Department thanked the community for its 100 percent cooperation in supporting the very first Fireman’s Fair.
The beauties pictured were candidates for the first Fireman's Fair Sweetheart, upper classes of the high school each submitting a selection.
Back in the day, the Shawnee Powwow was printed by The Salem Herald. One could purchase the school newspaper for 5 cents a copy and I would say purchasers certainly got their money’s worth.
Editor's Note: I would like to thank the family of Violet Freed, who upon her death gifted the school newspapers to me to share here on Connect-Bridgeport. Written on some of the copies is the name of her late husband Olas Freed who apparently had been a student at BHS.
