Castle
Report
Volume 2 Number 3
September, 1999


Tess Herman and Ben Conkey - Married at the Castle

Best Wishes to Tess and Ben!


The Castle on the Hill was the setting for a wedding on July 24, 1999. Tess Herman and Ben Conkey were united in marriage during a ceremony, which took place on the stage of the auditorium.

Tess was in the audience when West high band held a concert in the auditorium last May. As she looked around she decided this was where she wanted to have her wedding. She knew it would be a tremendous task to prepare the auditorium for the wedding but she pictured how it would look after all the hard work had been completed. The auditorium had been vacant for 27 years with only four or five activities scheduled with very little maintenance performed during that time.

Members of the two families, moms and dads, Ben and Tess, along with grandfather, began the huge task of scrapping paint in preparation for a new coat of paint for the auditorium.

After three weekends and a few evenings, the walls were ready to receive their first coat of paint in over 40 years. These two families painted the entire auditorium including the balcony. Also the east hallway by the auditorium and the two stairways on Jackson street side were given a new coat of paint. The first section floor was scrubbed, aisles and hallway scrubbed and waxed.

At last, after weeks of back breaking work, the auditorium was ready to have its first wedding. These two families, Herman and Conkey, have transformed the auditorium into a beautiful place with their labor of love. Ben's father, Frank Conkey, was the "super" on the job and did whatever had to be done to get the auditorium ready for the wedding.

Castle on the Hill Association will always be indebted to these two families for their dedicated devotion in completing this huge task.

We wish Tess and Ben the best.



County Sheriff's Department Provides Manpower

The Woodbury County Sheriff's department supplied manpower to beautify the campus grounds around the Castle on the Hill. Twelve men, who were to perform community service, trimmed bushes, removed overgrown tree stumps, and raked old grass clippings on the ground. They also scraped and painted the administrative offices on second floor along with the ceiling and surrounding hallways. Sioux City Paint and Decorating donated the paint that was used in the project.

Castle Association is grateful to the City of Sioux City who furnished lawn refuse bins and transportation for the removal of the lawn waste.

Sheriff's deputy, Mike Ingram, supervised the days' activity at the Castle.

Mike Ingram has rescheduled another work day for September 18 and 19.


Trophies Come Home

Paul Reinert, a 1982 graduate of West high school, has located and returned approximately 100 trophies that were stored at West High School since Central closed in 1972. He and Jeritt Munch are working to refurbish the neglected trophies. These will then be placed on display in the former Principal's Office area which is in the process of being refurbished.

1940 Class Reunion Gives Check to COHA

Joyce Torgerson has reported that the members of the 1940 class have contributed $1,033.30 to the Castle on the Hill Association preservation and restoration fund.

At their 59th reunion in June of this year, class members collected $250. Another check was delivered to the Castle office for $783.30. COHA board members are very thankful for this contribution to the Castle and hope other class reunions will take up the challenge when they gather to renew old acquaintances.


IMPORTANT NOTICE

If you have recently moved, please forward your new address to:
The COHA Office
610-13th Street
Sioux City, IA 51105.

In our mailings, if we have the wrong address we are charged for each piece of returned mail.

Thank you for helping in this matter.








Castle on the Hill Association Enters Replica of Central in City's Parade



Parade

COHA board members Linda Olsen and Don Jensen assumed responsibility of building a float for the 36th annual Rivercade Parade in Sioux City. Linda's husband Gary and Paul Reinert assisted with their carpentry skills. While two young boys, Brian Kunze and Brandon Hicks performed tasks, which helped in completing the float.

A masonite replica of the Castle was mounted atop a trailer with a white fringe around each side. The theme of the parade was "Surfin' the Century after which we added 1892. Three old wooden desks in front of the Castle displayed our theme. On the first desk was a set of books representing education early 1900. A manual typewriter was placed on the second desk implying the mid-1900s. Ending the century, we placed a computer on the third desk. A large sign hung on the tailgate of the trailer which displayed the revised mission statement of the Castle. It read 'Preserving the Past, Protecting the Present and Preparing for Posterity."

Castle association members riding within the Castle were Owen and Joy Peters, Millie and Don Jensen, Teresa DenHartog, Sandra Fry, Josh Olsen, and Tim Hale.

Over 2,000 free tour tickets were printed and six young people ran alongside the float handing out tickets to the parade watchers. It was estimated that approximately 15,000 spectators viewed the parade while thousands watched the parade on TV.

Our goal in doing this project was to get more public exposure and let the people of Siouxland know that the Castle Association is still active.


Castle Is Site for AmeriCorps Workshop
Held in July Focused on Domestic Abuse


Crystal Pocan, outreach director for the Council on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence in Sioux City, coordinated the event at the Castle's Julie Goodson Hall, also know as the dungeon.

Some 50 AmeriCorps volunteers and domestic abuse counselors from across the state attended the two-day workshop.

AmeriCorps was the creation of President bill Clinton during his first term of office as national volunteer organization. Patterned after the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program of the Kennedy administration of the 1960's.AmericCorps involves young Americans aiding fellow citizens struggling with education, poverty, and abuse issues.

Richard Lundy, domestic abuse counselor from Macy, Nebraska and teacher at Nebraska Indian College, was the main speaker at the Cultural Sensitivity and Outreach to Native Americans workshop






Castle Honor Roll
Continues to Grow

Castle on the Hill Association's Ladies and Knights Honor Roll continues to add new members each month.

Last March, Castle's Honor Roll was launched to assist in meeting small expenses during a month.

As of this date, 49 members have united in this endeavor. Each month a $10 check is mailed to the association. Some Knights and Ladies have contributed for the entire 12 months.

Memberships become due at different times during the year, thus causing a cash flow problem with incidental expenses. Knights and Ladies have been a real help in meeting these expenditures and your efforts are greatly appreciated by the Castle.



COHA Receives Grant from MWW Insurance

July 4th, not only celebrated our country's anniversary, but also a landmark celebration for the Castle on the Hill Association. On that date, Central's 1959 class reunion members performed an outstanding contribution.

Board members Bev Kolbe and George C. Zeitner and Jean Ashmore of Moderne Woodmen of the World spearheaded a drive to match funds.

Two events combined to raise funds for the Castle Association. At their banquet Saturday evening, a challenge was given to the members to participate by giving an amount to the Castle. Sunday morning members of 1959 and 1969 classes attended a pancake breakfast to help raise money. The public was also invited to attend.

When the final tally was in, the class had raised $2,500. This amount combined with an equal amount from the Modern Woodmen of America camp members totaled $ 5,000. A check was presented to the Castle Association on July 26th.

1959 class members plan to renovate a room in the class name. They are challenging other classes to do the same.


Please read this--

We have been updating our membership files to a computer database. If your information is not correct, print all the information on a post card and mail it to:
Castle on the Hill Association
P.0 Box 1776
Sioux City, IA. 51102

We apologize for any errors that may have occurred and appreciate your assistance.

If do not want to receive this newsletter, please send a card informing us of your decision.

Thank you for your assistance.

Association Applies for
Grant Assistance

Castle on the Hill Association has applied to the Powell Foundation for assistance in remodeling a portion of the old auto shop.

Linda Olsen, board recording secretary, took on the task of writing this particular grant. Not being familiar with grant writing, Linda began researching information on grant writing. Powell Foundation furnished data sheets that needed to be completed with specific information.

Board president, Owen Peters and Linda first measured the room for square footage and decided what was to be included in the bids.

After receiving each bid from the contractors, Linda began formulating a narrative as to the purpose of this project along with the information requested by the Powell Foundation.

Many hours were spent on rewording phrases, then retyping them into the computer. Finally, when all the information was in proper sequence, along with a detailed financial repot the grant was ready to be mailed.

If the grant is approved, part of the old auto shop will be converted into a multi-purpose room. We have three organizations that are interested in renting the available space for their meetings.

Estimated cost of the remodeling project is $73,000.

Linda is now working on another grant


Summer Activities at Castle Require Plans

Reunions, tours, and class breakfasts required much time from volunteers at the Castle this past summer.

In June the class of 1954 held their 45th reunion and toured the Castle on Saturday morning with about 75 members participating. They also toured the sites of the city in a transit bus.

July 4th was a busy weekend also. Members of the 1969 class enjoyed a catered dinner at the city convention center on Saturday evening. Sunday morning they joined the members of the 1959 class for a pancake breakfast held in the old dungeon.

Sunday morning, September 5, members of the 1944 class enjoyed a catered breakfast by HyVee Food Store. After the breakfast, Richard Semple treated the gathering to a slide show in the dungeon. The group also toured the building and the gift shop.

This past summer has been busy with tours through the building. A group of South Sioux City high school students toured the building and came back later to help clean some of the rooms. Some out-of-town guests came by just to get a look at this magnificent building as they were driving by.






Happenings at the Castle ...

In this article, we will attempt to bring the latest happenings at the Castle to you, our readers and loyal supporters.

These past days many things have been happening here at the Castle. As reported in another story in this newsletter, a $73,000 grant had been applied for, and if approved would do a major remodeling program in part of the old auto shop. This would be converted into a multipurpose room and made available for outside organizations to rent.

Linda Olsen, our official grant writer, is now in the process of applying for a state historical grant, totaling $90,000. This grant would provide for a handicap and passenger elevator in the south entryway that would serve four floors. This is necessary in order to make use of the auditorium on a regular basis. We are getting more requests for rental of the auditorium and city building code requires that the auditorium be handicap accessible. She is also investigating other grants that might pay for operating and office costs.

Castle's Goodson Hall (dungeon, old gym) will be rented to the YMCA for indoor roller blade hockey. Yes, that is right. The Castle has the only cement floor in Sioux City. YM will rent the gym one and a half days each week for five months.

A church youth group is interested in renting the Castle's auditorium. Also a room adjacent to the auditorium for a game room.

Now, to make sure all this comes together in one gigantic undertaking, the Castle board is seeking out a retired architect to supervise and work out a long range plan for the building.

LATE BREAKING NEWS - Castle on the Hill will soon have a fantastic Web Page. Three people have been working on the web page for the past two months. John Haviland, '57, has taken over the leadership in preparing the WebPages. Preparations are being finalized and the page should be ready in a couple of weeks. Watch for the initial start up.

Friday, September 3, Don Jensen attended a meeting at the local Wal-Mart store. This purpose of this meeting was to give a $500 check to the Castle on the Hill Association. Six non-profit organizations in the Siouxland area were nominated to receive a $500 grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation. Employees of the Sioux City store contributed to the grants that were received.


IMPORTANT NOTICE

Recently a mailing was sent out with the heading "2nd Renewal Notice." A few members were disturbed at this reminder that indicated they were delinquent in their dues, when in fact, some had not been notified of the first renewal. Castle on the Hill Association regrets any inconvenience this may have caused.

In this instance, a note of explanation is necessary for those who had been inadvertently overlooked or letters had been mis-sent. We know your loyalty is strong and desire the best for the Castle on the Hill.

Please forgive any reminders and we look forward to hearing from you for your continued strong interest. We realize that everyone has a busy schedule and sometimes it is difficult to remember every renewal date for the Castle. Please check your records and determine if you have mailed in your membership dues. If not, we would appreciate your check at your earliest convenience.

We are attempting to rearrange our schedule, which will result in a one-time mailing. This will eliminate duplicate reminders for members. We do appreciate your patience and understanding.

Did you know that...

The original cost to rehabilitate Castle on the Hill would be approximately $1.8 million.

John Schmidt, a former assistant principal and guidance counselor at Central and Sioux City's best-known local historian led the campaign to save the Castle on the Hill.

Julie Goodson was his second in command.

John Schmidt said that Castle on the Hill has been on the National Registry of Historic Landmarks since July, 1973.

John Schmidt said that Castle is architecturally and historically important, and it's had more influence on people than any other building in town.

John Schmidt suggested a plan to save the building by selling a square foot for $10 which would raise a total of $900,000.

Castle on the Hill when it opened its doors in 1893 there were 290 pupils enrolled.

Sioux City High School was changed to Central High School in 1924.

Castle on the Hill had already won the distinction of being the one of the first high schools in the state to have electrically lighted classrooms.

Castle on the Hill was one of the few schools in Iowa to have a gymnasium.

The Castle on the Hill was the first school in Iowa to have a school lunchroom.

The Castle on the Hill had a heating system installed was so perfect that it would keep the temperature within two degrees in a twenty-four hour period. WOW! In 1893! (an excerpt from Central's 1893 Record)

Web Page Is a go!

Just received word from John Haviland that all is set and ready to go. Castle Web Page is now on-line. Our site and name is:

Castle on the Web - CastleWeb http://www.globalindex.com/ CastleWeb/

We encourage members and friends to visit the site and provide us with recommendations and suggestions by filling out the "Alumni Survey." Also, be sure to register for the "Alumni Directory."

We need to get the word out that the Castle now has WebPages.

The page contains a vast amount of information about the Castle and efforts of the Castle on the Hill Association.

By using the Internet, COHA can contact members of upcoming events, reunions, purchase items from the Gift Shop, register on-line for upcoming central reunions, and much more.



DONT FORGET

Be sure to pass on the address of the CastleWeb site to friends, family, and classmates who might be interested in the Castle.

http://www.globalindex.com/CastleWeb/









Intersted in joining the Castle on the Hill Association?

Select and "Print" the form below, and mail it in to COHA.






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