I have many good memories of dear old SMA. I began as a border in the fall of 1941 and graduated in May of 44'. We had many more restrictions than the children do today. We wore black uniforms with white blouses every day. Our pep club uniforms were red pleated skirts and white blouses and when at a game we sat in perfect rows on the benches and could not leave without permission.

As a boarder, my brother, sister and I had to work for our room and board. My brother helped Con (the janitor and caretaker) with milking the cows and such jobs, as the barn and garden were where St. Anthony's Hospital now sits. My sister and I had such chores as cleaning classrooms, dusting the golden stairs, which no one could use, and helping in the kitchen and dining room. We could only go home once a month, since we had to work.

My senior year, I was elected as perfect of the Sodality whose one job was to help new boarders when they came. Mother Virginia met me when I arrived for school and said, "I'm sure glad you're here. Can you believe someone asked where the smoker is?" This girl was immediately sent back to Omaha.

I believe those were the "Good old Days".

Margaret Engler Straka

Class of 1944