Jerseys, uniforms and jackets added to district’s history wall
August 16, 2019
The historical display about Moorhead Area Public Schools in the lobby of the Performing Arts Center at Horizon Middle School has expanded this summer to include more than a dozen jerseys, uniforms and jackets that span eight decades of Spud history. Inspiration for the project came from the hockey jersey display at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
Dean Atchison’s father was a 1945 MHS graduate and his black letter sweater is the earliest clothing item featured on the wall.
“My dad was always a proud Spud graduate and a diehard Spud fan his whole life,” Atchison said. “I’m certain he would be very proud to have his letter sweater included in this great historical display.”
This past winter a call for Spud clothing went out via social media. Dozens of Spud alums and families reached out to donate or loan their items to the project. Hardware was installed on the brick facade by the Horizon Performing Arts Center to hang mannequin forms to display items in chronological order.
Lynne Erickson Anderson donated her father’s letter sweater to the display.
“The Floyd Erickson family was pleased to share our family Spud history with the greater Spud community,” she said.
Clothing items on the history wall include: a 1940s black letter sweater donated by the family of Dean Atchison Sr. (MHS Class of 1945), a 1950s orange letter sweater donated by the family of Floyd Erickson (MHS Class of 1951), a 1960s creamsicle letter jacket donated by Anthony Karppinen (MHS Class of 1965), a 1960s student cheering section sweatshirt donated by Lornie Palmgren (MHS Class of 1966), a 1960s black letter jacket donated by Chris Nelson (MHS Class of 1968), a 1970s marching band uniform donated by Jay Kopita (MHS Class of 1986), a 1970s girls letter jacket donated by Pam Wiisanen Gronbeck (MHS Class of 1975), a 1970s boys hockey jersey on loan from Tony Kunka (MHS Class of 1990), a 1970s coach’s jacket donated by longtime Spud wrestling coach Ron Gadberry, a 1980s football jersey donated by Pete Seljevold (MHS Class of 1980), a 1980s girls basketball jersey donated by Kari Stattelman (MHS Class of 1999), a 1980s pep band jacket donated by Darla Haugen Krause (MHS Class of 1999), and a 1990s cheerleader uniform donated by Andrea Hovland Manston (MHS Class of 1992).
Roger Kjos, a 1966 Spud graduate who was involved in helping to curate the exhibit, said, “The letter jackets and uniforms are a marvelous addition. They really add, literally and figuratively, another dimension to the entire museum.”
Members of the Class of 1969 recently visited the display as part of their 50th class reunion events. Kim Watson, son of legendary Spud hockey coach Chuck Watson, enjoyed looking at the various uniforms.
“It shows the opportunities for student participation in school,” Watson said. “And it may make current young students strive to do something extra in school, to be able to wear a uniform like those on the display.”
Funding for the project was provided by a generous gift from Eventide Living Communities to the Moorhead Schools Legacy Foundation. Community members interested in viewing the exhibit or parties with items can contact
spudhistory@moorheadschools.org
to schedule a visit.
Photo:
More than a dozen jerseys, uniforms and jackets that span eight decades of Spud history were added to the district’s history wall at Horizon Middle School.
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