Mrs. Hogan, Penmanship Teacher

            When this writer came to town to teach fourth grade at Katahdin Avenue School in 1966, I quickly learned the names of several prior Millinocket educators who were “famous” for their dedication and their style of teaching. One was Evelyn Hogan. The following information appeared in an article in the Bangor newspaper in the late 1950’s. The article was written by Mrs. Dean Chase. Following is the general information included.

            Mrs. Evelyn Hogan is described as “an example of dedication, a teacher in the truest sense who goes above and beyond the call of duty.” At the time of the article, Mrs. Hogan had been the art and penmanship teacher for Granite Street School, Aroostook Avenue School, Katahdin Avenue School and the Junior High for 20 years.

            Her day started early. Sometimes she was up at 3 A.M. sewing, knitting, or correcting papers before school time. She packed her lunch if she was teaching that day at Granite (before cafeterias, too far to walk to her apartment on Katahdin Ave.).

            Every two weeks, her schedule included 49 elementary school classes and 10 junior high classes in the Stearns HS building. She believed in exercise, so she walked back and forth to all four schools and home for lunch from the three closest.

            At Granite St. School (the newest building, 1950’s), the teachers were experimenting with team teaching in the end wing where in some rooms sliding walls opened to make one room of two. Mrs. Hogan taught as many as 93 students in one of those spaces. She used an auto-visual projector “so that all could see the work.” During the noon hour at Granite, Mrs. Hogan “corrected papers while she ate her packed lunch.

            The article continues stating Mrs. Hogan told the reporter that “teaching methods have changed. There is more to work with and more media for art and penmanship. An example in penmanship is the stressing of plain, rather than ornate letters.” She stated that children were then more world conscious (due to many having had family members overseas during WWII and much talk about space and possible trips to the moon.

            When Mrs. Hogan arrived home from school about 4:30, she always started supper and worked on her personal art projects. The articles states that she was an accomplished knitter, creating three-piece suits and pocketbooks. At the time of the article Evelyn was working on a full-length knitted coat of mohair and tweed wool yarn. She also made most of her own clothes and enjoyed creating hooked rugs.

            Mrs. Hogan had degrees from several colleges and was a graduate of the Palmer School of Penmanship in New York City. She had also taught music and arithmetic before coming to Millinocket. Her husband, John Hogan, was the machine shop instructor at Stearns High School. He also introduced the first driver-training class.

            When I came to town to teach, some previous teachers names often were mentioned in discussions…especially their experience and dedication to their jobs. Names I heard early on who have become legends were Miss Garcelon and Miss Griffin. Readers can add other names! Miss Garcelon had a wooden paddle that as principal she used walking down the school halls, banging on classroom doors as she passed. All were on alert that she was on the job! The museum has that paddle on display!