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| Heuer first HHS homecoming queen |
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| Question: When was the first homecoming queen elected at Harrison High School? |
| Answer: The answer to this question was obtained from a Harrison High School
Goblin newspaper dated November 17, 1939. Way back in 1929 it was definitely decided to elect a queen to rule over the tournament of blood and broken bones commonly known as football. Votes were
cast by selling tickets and Helen Heuer was honored as being the first queen ever to
preside in Harrison High. The first homecoming was rather a quiet affair with no
bonfires or snake dances where every kid on the block tried to out-yell his neighbor.
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| In 1930 Martha Parker, one of the beauties of the day, was elected as ruler.
Next followed Kathryn Flannery and Mildred Hathcoat in the years 1931 and 1932,
respectively. In 1933, the year Anna Belle Crawford was queen, the schedule for
the day was somewhat altered. The queen for the first time, spoke to the crowd
through a loud speaker and presented the captain of the opposing team with
flowers.
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| The following year, Anna Jane Fowler was elected queen. She was the pride
and joy of the Junior Class whose untiring efforts to make her queen were rewarded
with success. Mary Jo Wilson, sovereign of the 1935 homecoming was honored with
perhaps the most gala festivities of any of the previous Homecoming queens. The
game was played in the afternoon and was preceded by a parade in the forenoon
and a pep meeting the previous night. The victim of the day was Alma. There was
a top heavy score favoring Harrison.
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| Elizabeth Baker, queen in 1937, was elected by penny vote. She wore a
beautiful crown - but "nary hide nor hair" can be found as to the size, shape,
color or fashion of that crown. Hero of that day's game was Dean Rogers, who was
slightly injured near the latter part of the game. Harrison emerged victorious after
a hard fought game.
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| The next year, 1938, the queen was elected by the football squad. Virginia
Hudson was the receiver of the honor and took over the reign as queen. Even as
the game had progressed, so had homecoming. In the forenoon, a large parade
was organized and paraded around the square. Every class and organization
entered a float and the band furnished music. The freshman class won first for
having the best float and were given a cash award.
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| The queen wore a crown of chrysanthemums and was heralded as one of
the popular queens in high school history. The opposition was furnished by
Conway. At the half, the band played and marched. The "Goblins" emerged
victorious by a small margin.
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 This article ends with the year 1939, when Mary Frank Baker (pictured at left), daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Baker, was selected by the Harrison High School football
squad. Many preparations were made to make this one of the greatest homecoming
events in the history of Harrison High School.
The School Room of the Heritage Museum is filled with memorabilia from
various school in the county, with many old copies of the Harrison Goblin
newspaper that chronicle the history of Harrison High School homecomings.
The Heritage Museum, located on the corner of South Cherry Street
and Central Avenue, is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
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| This column appears Fridays in the Harrison Daily Times. Mail questions to Boone County Heritage Museum, P. O. Box 1094, Harrison, AR 72601. Marilyn Smith can be contacted at bchm@alltel.net |
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