School Safety Patrol

            Do you remember the school safety patrol? This was in the 1940’s-50’s when

5^th & 6^th graders (usually) were charged with the task of stopping traffic to allow groups of younger children to safely cross the street. They wore white safety patrol belts complete with badge. Many schools in the state had this program. An article in the Dec. 8, 1947 copy of The Millinocket Journal (complete with two photos on the front page) tells of the origin of the safety patrol in Millinocket.

            “The new school patrol is sponsored by the Donald V. Henry Post #80, American Legion with Francis Galvin and Pat Comeau serving as the Patrol Committee. The article states that the patrol has been doing an outstanding job and deserves a great deal of credit for directing the school children across the busy roads near the schools.” The idea was approved by the Selectmen, Police Chief, School Board and the Superintendent of Schools.

One of the photos in this newspaper shows the following patrol boys.  Katahdin Avenue School, David Larlee, Wayne Nice, Robert Guptill, John Spruce, John Hale (Capt.); Parochial School, Gerald Burke (Capt.), Herman Morrow, Billy Rush, Llewellyn Baron; Aroostook Avenue School, Dale Smart (Capt.), Terry Healey, Frank McDade, Jerry Bearce, Charles Davis, Joe Gagliardi, Jr. and Barney Morrison. The second photo depicts a group of children crossing with the help of the patrol boy.

The museum has a Millinocket patrol belt complete with shiny badge on display. It is one of six used at Aroostook Avenue School and donated by the school at the time of that building’s closing.

Were you a Safety Patrol kid in elementary school? I was, as a fifth and sixth grader at my school not too many miles from Millinocket. Safety Patrol students were given the task that today is done by crossing guards. Each day at dismissal, these students strapped on the white belt with the shiny badge and guided younger students across a nearby street (probably in the 1950’s-1970’s. Did Millinocket have any girls on the Safety Patrol?

            A photo of Granite Street School soon after its opening in 1955 is displayed. It shows a student wearing a Patrol belt. Stop in…we need an ID on this boy!

            The museum has on display other school items that will bring back memories of days gone by! They include: ink wells and ink bottles (some original SHS) and a globe (rescued from the attic of Aroostook Ave. School. We have a student desk from each elementary school and a chalkboard eraser cleaner from Miss Griffin’s 1930’s classroom. The master clock from SHS is seen as you walk in the door of the museum. A few still remember Miss Garcelon’s famous paddle used to instill discipline in all students under her watch (as teacher & principal). Many memories of schools past!