PAST TENSE: Men on 1924 Milan High School basketball team left information about their lives
Team picture of the basketball players at Milan High School in 1924. Seated from left: Louis “Pete” McMullen, Theral “Dutch” Kanitz, William Wesley Taylor with basketball, Coach Varn D. Paddock wearing a dark suit; unknown; and Mr. Shelton. Standing: Elmer Trimm, three unknown players, and Clair Wanty, far right. Their shirts have a large “M” on the front, which is hard to see because red showed up as black on photos of that time.
When the men’s basketball team posed for a photo in 1926, the economy was going great. Frank and Pearl Draper opened their popular restaurant, Grandma’s Pantry, in the Stimpson Hotel, later known as the Danube German Restaurant.
The basketball players probably met at the high school on Hurd and Ferman, the red brick building with the arch on the front door. A new high school was under construction that year on Hurd Street just west of the other building, at a cost of $135,000.
In 1926, some people were still using horses, but most families had switched to the Ford Model T or similar gasoline-powered vehicles. That year, the village of Milan adopted an ordinance requiring every property owner along the sewer line to remove their outhouses, or the village would do it for them.
Old habits die hard.
While having their picture taken, these young men had no concerns about any economic collapse or banking disaster. The Great Depression did not hit the nation until about the 1930s.
Many of the people in today’s photo are identified, thanks to the sharp eye of Linda Squires, who donated the photo, and her mother Joanne McGovern, among others. McGovern’s father, Louis “Pete” McGovern, is seated on the left.
Louis was born in1904. His school friends gave him the nickname “Pete.” He had three children, including Richard McMullen, a well-known poet in Milan who taught English at Ann Arbor High. I was one of Richard McMullen’s worst students.
Theral Kanitz was born in 1907, the ninth son in the family. He had eight older brothers and no sisters. Somehow he managed to grow into a productive adult, graduating from Milan High School and then the University of Michigan where he played on the basketball team.
Kanitz taught school for 42 years in both Iowa and Michigan. He coached football, basketball and track. While teaching in Traverse City, he took his football team to championships three times. He lived to the age of 91, out living all eight of his brothers.
Bill Taylor, the team captain, married his high school sweetheart, Lucille Auten. Taylor ran a grain elevator on the end of First Street. Mike Gauntlett is Bill Taylor’s grandson. Gauntlett says Taylor and “Dutch” Kanitz were first cousins.
The basketball players probably met at the high school on Hurd and Ferman, the red brick building with the arch on the front door. A new high school was under construction that year on Hurd Street just west of the other building, at a cost of $135,000.
In 1926, some people were still using horses, but most families had switched to the Ford Model T or similar gasoline-powered vehicles. That year, the village of Milan adopted an ordinance requiring every property owner along the sewer line to remove their outhouses, or the village would do it for them.
Old habits die hard.
While having their picture taken, these young men had no concerns about any economic collapse or banking disaster. The Great Depression did not hit the nation until about the 1930s.
Many of the people in today’s photo are identified, thanks to the sharp eye of Linda Squires, who donated the photo, and her mother Joanne McGovern, among others. McGovern’s father, Louis “Pete” McGovern, is seated on the left.
Louis was born in1904. His school friends gave him the nickname “Pete.” He had three children, including Richard McMullen, a well-known poet in Milan who taught English at Ann Arbor High. I was one of Richard McMullen’s worst students.
Theral Kanitz was born in 1907, the ninth son in the family. He had eight older brothers and no sisters. Somehow he managed to grow into a productive adult, graduating from Milan High School and then the University of Michigan where he played on the basketball team.
Kanitz taught school for 42 years in both Iowa and Michigan. He coached football, basketball and track. While teaching in Traverse City, he took his football team to championships three times. He lived to the age of 91, out living all eight of his brothers.
Bill Taylor, the team captain, married his high school sweetheart, Lucille Auten. Taylor ran a grain elevator on the end of First Street. Mike Gauntlett is Bill Taylor’s grandson. Gauntlett says Taylor and “Dutch” Kanitz were first cousins.
Varn D. Paddock, born in 1893, taught physics and chemistry at Milan High School. He loved to coach sports. By the time this picture was taken, he was the high school principal. Paddock Elementary School is named after him.
Elmer Trimm was the son of a steamship captain. Elmer made his mark in Milan operating a taxi service out of a small office on Wabash near Main Street. He also delivered newspapers on a large scale.
Clair Wanty was born in Whitaker but grew up at 805 North Street, just outside the village limits. He married Gladys Landon in 1927.
My information came from Bill Dennison, Mike Gauntlett, Harold Wanty, Richard Trimm, Milan Public Library, Monroe Historical Library, Find-A-Grave, school records, and many other sources.
Elmer Trimm was the son of a steamship captain. Elmer made his mark in Milan operating a taxi service out of a small office on Wabash near Main Street. He also delivered newspapers on a large scale.
Clair Wanty was born in Whitaker but grew up at 805 North Street, just outside the village limits. He married Gladys Landon in 1927.
My information came from Bill Dennison, Mike Gauntlett, Harold Wanty, Richard Trimm, Milan Public Library, Monroe Historical Library, Find-A-Grave, school records, and many other sources.
When the men’s basketball team posed for a photo in 1926, the economy was going great. Frank and Pearl Draper opened their popular restaurant, Grandma’s Pantry, in the Stimpson Hotel, later known as the Danube German Restaurant.
The basketball players probably met at the high school on Hurd and Ferman, the red brick building with the arch on the front door. A new high school was under construction that year on Hurd Street just west of the other building, at a cost of $135,000.
In 1926, some people were still using horses, but most families had switched to the Ford Model T or similar gasoline-powered vehicles. That year, the village of Milan adopted an ordinance requiring every property owner along the sewer line to remove their outhouses, or the village would do it for them.
Old habits die hard.
While having their picture taken, these young men had no concerns about any economic collapse or banking disaster. The Great Depression did not hit the nation until about the 1930s.
Many of the people in today’s photo are identified, thanks to the sharp eye of Linda Squires, who donated the photo, and her mother Joanne McGovern, among others. McGovern’s father, Louis “Pete” McGovern, is seated on the left.
Louis was born in1904. His school friends gave him the nickname “Pete.” He had three children, including Richard McMullen, a well-known poet in Milan who taught English at Ann Arbor High. I was one of Richard McMullen’s worst students.
Theral Kanitz was born in 1907, the ninth son in the family. He had eight older brothers and no sisters. Somehow he managed to grow into a productive adult, graduating from Milan High School and then the University of Michigan where he played on the basketball team.
Kanitz taught school for 42 years in both Iowa and Michigan. He coached football, basketball and track. While teaching in Traverse City, he took his football team to championships three times. He lived to the age of 91, out living all eight of his brothers.
Bill Taylor, the team captain, married his high school sweetheart, Lucille Auten. Taylor ran a grain elevator on the end of First Street. Mike Gauntlett is Bill Taylor’s grandson. Gauntlett says Taylor and “Dutch” Kanitz were first cousins.
Varn D. Paddock, born in 1893, taught physics and chemistry at Milan High School. He loved to coach sports. By the time this picture was taken, he was the high school principal. Paddock Elementary School is named after him.
Elmer Trimm was the son of a steamship captain. Elmer made his mark in Milan operating a taxi service out of a small office on Wabash near Main Street. He also delivered newspapers on a large scale.
Clair Wanty was born in Whitaker but grew up at 805 North Street, just outside the village limits. He married Gladys Landon in 1927.
My information came from Bill Dennison, Mike Gauntlett, Harold Wanty, Richard Trimm, Milan Public Library, Monroe Historical Library, Find-A-Grave, school records, and many other sources
The basketball players probably met at the high school on Hurd and Ferman, the red brick building with the arch on the front door. A new high school was under construction that year on Hurd Street just west of the other building, at a cost of $135,000.
In 1926, some people were still using horses, but most families had switched to the Ford Model T or similar gasoline-powered vehicles. That year, the village of Milan adopted an ordinance requiring every property owner along the sewer line to remove their outhouses, or the village would do it for them.
Old habits die hard.
While having their picture taken, these young men had no concerns about any economic collapse or banking disaster. The Great Depression did not hit the nation until about the 1930s.
Many of the people in today’s photo are identified, thanks to the sharp eye of Linda Squires, who donated the photo, and her mother Joanne McGovern, among others. McGovern’s father, Louis “Pete” McGovern, is seated on the left.
Louis was born in1904. His school friends gave him the nickname “Pete.” He had three children, including Richard McMullen, a well-known poet in Milan who taught English at Ann Arbor High. I was one of Richard McMullen’s worst students.
Theral Kanitz was born in 1907, the ninth son in the family. He had eight older brothers and no sisters. Somehow he managed to grow into a productive adult, graduating from Milan High School and then the University of Michigan where he played on the basketball team.
Kanitz taught school for 42 years in both Iowa and Michigan. He coached football, basketball and track. While teaching in Traverse City, he took his football team to championships three times. He lived to the age of 91, out living all eight of his brothers.
Bill Taylor, the team captain, married his high school sweetheart, Lucille Auten. Taylor ran a grain elevator on the end of First Street. Mike Gauntlett is Bill Taylor’s grandson. Gauntlett says Taylor and “Dutch” Kanitz were first cousins.
Varn D. Paddock, born in 1893, taught physics and chemistry at Milan High School. He loved to coach sports. By the time this picture was taken, he was the high school principal. Paddock Elementary School is named after him.
Elmer Trimm was the son of a steamship captain. Elmer made his mark in Milan operating a taxi service out of a small office on Wabash near Main Street. He also delivered newspapers on a large scale.
Clair Wanty was born in Whitaker but grew up at 805 North Street, just outside the village limits. He married Gladys Landon in 1927.
My information came from Bill Dennison, Mike Gauntlett, Harold Wanty, Richard Trimm, Milan Public Library, Monroe Historical Library, Find-A-Grave, school records, and many other sources
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