The article about Miss Granger made me smile. A little tidbit: My brother and I both attended the kindergarten at the same time, in the fall of 1955.  We were terrors (Miss Granger’s words to my mom).  One Friday mom pinned the weekly fees to each of us when she dropped us

off. Miss Granger ran out the door stopping mom, returning the fees and asked that we not come back.  I think Billy & I were the only kids ever expelled from the school.  This made it impossible for my sister Diane to attend.  Diane still brings that up every now and then.  My mom was so embarrassed to have to explain to the mothers why we were expelled.

With that being said when Billy & I entered the first grade.  Miss Granger’s notes must have followed us, because the first thing the enrollment teacher told mom, was the school was going to separate us.  Under no circumstances were we to be in the same class (We both entered school the same year). I love the articles!

-From Carolyn Dean, Environmental/GIS Specialist for the City of Zephyrhills

I have some memories of Granger’s school.  I was originally left handed, writing and such. Miss Granger used to pass me when I was writing with my left hand and smartly wrap my hand with a wooden stick with a marble attached to the end…ouch! I do have a sloppy handwriting (I write with my right hand) due to her “conditioning” of my hand to not write with the left hand. I choose to believe I have been fortunate in that because of that, I am ambidextrous. I use both hands for a lot.

Another memory I have is that her little bathroom was outside the classroom in a white lattice covered room that had a toilet and a sink (only with cold water) and you only could be out there for a few minutes or she would come and get you. I personally got in trouble one time because someone had thrown their “snack” (a handful of Trix cereal) into the toilet and I got blamed with it… I got in trouble and got smacked with that stupid marble on a stick again.

She was a very forbidding looking woman who always dressed in dark clothes and rarely smiled at us. I figured she was going to always look like an old fashioned “teacher”.  I did learn ABC’s and learned to read at an early age. I just remember being afraid of her. I saw her handle a lot of boys by pulling their ears.

Remember, this was before the days of having fun in kindergarten. And she was very old to me. She might have been only in her 50’s at the time, but she always looked old to me.

-From Phyllis (Jarrett) Denney, Class of 1973

Clereen, Sam Surratt and I have a secret organization called “Granger’s Rangers”. There are only two members! We are looking for more. We sit around once in awhile and talk about Miss Granger. She ruled with an iron fist. Just; ask Jerry Pricher or Randy Jordan or Doug Kirk who use to run away every time she released him for playtime (which was not often). The refreshment was a cup of kool aid that held 2 ounces. I learned from Debbie Forbes how to write to a hundred, it took a couple of days copying! The playground was not great.  I loved being a Granger Ranger!

-From Terry Linville

Countdown to Centennial By Madonna Jervis Wise and Clereen Morrill Brunty of the 100th Anniversary Committee, ZHS. Article originally appeared in the Zephyrhills News on June 18, 2009. All rights reserved. Photos © Madonna Jervis Wise