The Gladbrook School old gymnasium, far right side of the school complex, pictured in the summer of 2022 during demolition. PHOTO COURTESY OF DEAN HOPPE

GLADBROOK – Each of us has unique life stories that are worth sharing. For those of us who were educated in the Gladbrook Community School, we share memories of people and places that hold special meaning. One of those places is the school’s old gym. While the Gladbrook School complex is gone, the memories endure. The author’s intent is not to mourn the loss of the past, but to celebrate, honor and recall the times and moments we experienced in our youth.

The Old Gym

Word spread quickly on the 24th day of March in 1951, as citizens learned that there had been a fire at the Gladbrook school building. The fire resulted in significant damage to the school gymnasium and adjoining music rooms on the south end of the gym. The brick exterior was intact and the warped basketball floor was salvageable and could be retained. However, music instruments, band materials and equipment were totally destroyed.

A large spacious gym and music rooms were soon constructed, but first a word about the old gym. Built in 1916, the interior of the old gymnasium was unique. Large arched windows bathed the space with daylight and a balcony hovered over the basketball court on three sides of the building. A manually operated scoreboard was mounted on the northwest corner of the court. On the south end of the space was a stage that would be used for community and school theater productions and concerts. In the early years, local citizens performed in plays on the stage. The balcony provided attendees with a bird’s eye view of the theater production or basketball game below.

Basketball fans on the main floor were “close to the action” as two rows of bleachers nudged up close to the sidelines of the court. Fans needed to stay alert as they could be on the receiving end of an errant pass or interfere with the game action if their feet encroached on the court. Padding was in place on both ends of the court to protect players from injury. During the early years, the Panthers hosted the Garwin Roughriders, Reinbeck Rams, Dinsdale Red Devils and Traer Redhawks among others. Six-player girls’ basketball was introduced in Gladbrook in 1948. High school sports were an important contributor to the community’s identity, and fans filled the bleachers and balcony to cheer on their high school teams.

A vintage, aerial photo of the Gladbrook Community School complex in winter. The ‘old gym’ is visible on the right side of the photo. PHOTO COURTESY OF DEAN HOPPE

When the new gymnasium was completed in 1953, the old gym still played an important role in the activities of Gladbrook students. Most graduates remember the junior-senior proms held each spring. The space was elaborately decorated with themes such as “Passage to the Orient,” “Under the Sea,” “American Graffiti” and “Welcome to Hawaii.” Crepe paper streamers, pagodas, waterfalls and colorful decorations transformed the gym into a magical destination. Elementary school students were in awe as they were given tours of the decorated space. On prom night a wonderful meal was served by sophomore students. Then the floor was cleared for dancing with music provided by groups such as Armand Adams, the Don Hoy combo and Milk and Honey.

The gymnasium was the perfect venue for enjoying treats and punch served by the Music Mothers after band concerts. It was the scene of sports banquets and community events such as the Boy Scouts Pinewood Derby. The author of this article recalls the predictable ritual that would unfold during junior high dances. The shy boys would be huddled on one side of the court staring at their shoe tops with hands thrust into their pockets. On the opposite side of the court, the girls were quietly chatting and hoping that one of the boys would muster the courage to cross the divide and ask them to dance. Few boys crossed that “no man’s land;” it was another indicator of the awkwardness that accompanies those early teen years.

Through the years the old gym was where students ate a hot lunch provided by the school kitchen staff. Even after the consolidation of school districts with Reinbeck, the gymnasium was used for study halls, athletic team practices and school events.

The old gymnasium was razed in 2022 along with other buildings in the Gladbrook School complex. It was a special space that was the scene of learning and enjoyment for hundreds of students spanning eight decades and multiple generations.

If you were fortunate to have been one of those who attended Gladbrook Community School, this article may bring a smile or special memory of those formative years of your life. The author of this article thanks those who shared their memories and their stories of growing up in the Gladbrook area. Stories are important vehicles for passing on the values, traditions and history that were part of the Gladbrook experience. When the story tellers are gone, their fond memories of the past leave with them. It is important to keep those memories and stories alive.

The north side of the Gladbrook School old gym pictured on June 4, 2022, during the early stages of the demolition process. Available photos of the gym’s interior are rare or of poor quality, according to Dean Hoppe, author of the accompanying story. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Panther Pavilion

While the old gym no longer stands, there is a project underway, Panther Pavilion, to mark the former location of the Gladbrook School complex with a pavilion which would include a wall of bricks inscribed with the names of current and past residents and students. Further information regarding this project and how to contribute to its completion is available on the Gladbrook.org website.

This article was written by Dean Hoppe is a proud 1963 graduate of Gladbrook High School. The Gladbrook school district officially reorganized with Reinbeck on July 1, 1998 – becoming one-half of the present Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District. Gladbrook’s K-8 building was shuttered following the 2014-2015 school year; the entire Gladbrook School complex was demolished in 2022.