Proctor, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...

of 2000, there were 2,852 people, 1,196 households, and 772 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...

 was 942.8 people per square mile (363.4/km²). There were 1,246 housing units at an average density of 411.9 per square mile (158.8/km²). 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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.74% of the population. 19.8% were of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....

, 17.9% Norwegian
Norwegians
Norwegians constitute both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway. They share a common culture and speak the Norwegian language. Norwegian people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in United States, Canada and Brazil.-History:Towards the end of the 3rd...

, 10.3% Swedish, 7.3% French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...

, 7.0% Finnish, 6.2% Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...

, 6.0% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...

 and 5.4% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000.

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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...

 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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...

 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.

Education

Proctor's public school district is ISD 704 (Proctor Public Schools). The district encompasses the city of Proctor, the Bayview Heights
Bayview Heights (Duluth)
Bayview Heights is a primarily residential neighborhood in Duluth, Minnesota, United States. Although it is grouped by the city with the West Duluth communities, it often functions more as a part of the city of Proctor than of Duluth, due primarily to its hilltop location rather than the...

 neighborhood of Duluth
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...

, and Canosia, Grand Lake, Midway
Midway Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota
Midway Township is a township in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,399 at the 2010 census.Midway Road, Becks Road, and Interstate Highway 35 are three of the main arterial routes in the township.-Geography:...

, and Solway townships. ISD 704 operates three elementary schools (Bayview Heights, Caribou Lake, and Pike Lake), Jedlicka Middle School, and Proctor High School
Proctor High School
Proctor High School is a secondary school located in Proctor, Minnesota, which educates students in grades nine through twelve. The school first opened in 1912....

.

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.

The Mascot "Rails"

Proctor High School athletic teams are called the 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 represented 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 Superintendent A. I. Jedlicka.

The engraving was received via John Benson at the Proctor Journal.

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 School (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 Proctor; also 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.

1. Immanuel 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. 1918 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 MacKenzie. 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
Aurora, Minnesota
Aurora is a city in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,682 at the 2010 census.State Highway 135, County Highway 100, and County Highway 110 are three of the main arterial routes in the community.-Geography:...

 High School, not to mention that the school year did not start until November 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 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 October 9, 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 X 12 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 1940s, The Mallet was printed in the Proctor Journal and not as an independent paper.)

Items of Interest

  • Mr. A. I. 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.

  • 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 outdoor 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 used as a hospital in the fall of 1918 as a result of the Spanish Influenza and the Fire of 1918
    1918 Cloquet Fire
    The 1918 Cloquet fire was a massive fire in northern Minnesota in October, 1918 caused by sparks on the local railroads and dry conditions. The fire left much of western Carlton County devastated, mostly affecting Moose Lake, Cloquet, and Kettle River. Cloquet was hit the hardest by the fires...

    , 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
    Coleraine, Minnesota
    As of the census of 2000, there were 1,110 people, 443 households, and 317 families residing in the city. The population density was 178.5 people per square mile . There were 462 housing units at an average density of 74.3 per square mile...

    .)

  • Proctor was the first school in Minnesota to transport non-resident students in 1925.

  • 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
    Pasadena, California
    Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...

     in 1948.

  • The town was the site of the 2009 motorized recliner incident
    Motorized recliner incident
    In October 2009, Dennis LeRoy Anderson of Proctor, Minnesota received wide attention for being arrested in a DWI case involving a motorized recliner. Anderson crashed into a car after leaving a local bar, where he had drunk a number of beers. The driver was convicted and the chair was confiscated...

    , where local resident Dennis LeRoy Anderson received worldwide attention for being arrested for operating a motorised recliner while under the influence of alcohol.

Amateur Baseball

The Proctor Padres Baseball Club was established in 2007 to allow baseball players from Proctor and the surrounding area an opportunity to play America's Pastime, to provide a summer hometown baseball experience for players from Proctor and the surrounding area who play baseball in college, and to promote amateur baseball in the western Lake Superior region. The Padres compete in the Upper 13 League of the Wisconsin Baseball Association.

The Padres were named after the club that existed in the 1980s that competed in the Arrowhead League of the Minnesota Baseball Association. They play their home games at Terry Egerdahl Memorial Field. In 2008, the Padres qualified for the WBA Playoffs in just the second year of the team's existence.

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.

External links


See also

  • U.S. Highway 2
    U.S. Route 2
    U.S. Route 2 is an east–west U.S. Highway spanning across the northern continental United States. US 2 consists of two segments connected by various roadways in southern Canada...

  • U.S. Highway 2 in Minnesota
    U.S. Route 2 in Minnesota
    U.S. Highway 2 is a highway in northwest and northeast Minnesota, which runs from the Red River at East Grand Forks and continues east to Duluth, where the route crosses the Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge over the Saint Louis Bay. The route connects the cities of East Grand Forks, Bemidji, Grand...

  • Interstate 35
    Interstate 35
    Interstate 35 is a north–south Interstate Highway in the central United States. I-35 stretches from Laredo, Texas, on the U.S.-Mexico border to Duluth, Minnesota, at Minnesota Highway 61 and 26th Avenue East. Many interstates used to have splits or spurs indicated with suffixed letters , but I-35...

  • Interstate 35 in Minnesota
    Interstate 35 in Minnesota
    In the U.S. state of Minnesota, Interstate 35 is a highway in southeast, east-central, and northeast Minnesota. The route runs north–south from the Iowa state line through the twin cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul; where it splits into Interstates 35E and 35W; and ends in the city of...

  • County Road 14 – Boundary Avenue
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK