Mr. Knurr took photos of us during 7th grade. Later that year there was a photo exhibition
in the area where we had our homeroom. Each of the photos was printed in a large format
and mounted on black foam board. I cannot imagine the time that was spent developing, printing
and presenting these amazing photos. I have 4 photos in my possession. This is one of them.


We were fitted for instruments during 5th grade. I remember Mr. Ridgely coming to Donges Bay
and setting up a room near the art room. He had with him a variety of brass and woodwind
instruments. We tried out an instrument of choice. Afterward he rinsed the mouthpiece in
the sink and dipped it in Listerine. If the fit seemed right we got a letter home with some
instructions on where to buy or rent an instrument. I don't recall practicing individually
in 5th grade. I also do not recall having a band rehearsal area at Donges Bay. At Range Line
we practiced during 6th grade in the school auditorium. Again I believe this was mostly
small group instruction where each section came down separately. My first recollection of
playing together as a complete band was in 7th and 8th grade at Lakeshore Middle School.
Here I am together with Mark Christopher in the band room. The wooden instrument rack is in the
background. Mark was my best friend in 7th grade. His father was a Methodist minister and the
family moved a lot from congregation to congregation. He left Mequon after 7th or 8th grade.
Around his neck you see a locker key. We all had small wooden lockers that were stained
dark brown. The lockers formed partitions between the classrooms. We were part of an
experimental program to test open work spaces. Most kids kept their locker key on a shoelace
around their neck. Kid with lockers up high often needed a boost to get in or stood on chairs.
I am not sure what would happen if you forgot your key. Perhaps the teachers had master keys.
In 1980 I came back to Mequon to visit and I stopped in at Lakeshore to speak with Miss Davies.
She said that the open classrooms were abandoned shortly after we graduated.