Recently Jane Lashier Harter, posted the above photo of the legendary "log swing" in the playground of the old school on the Facebook group, "If you grew up in Odebolt you remember". So of course, I had to try to find more information!
I ran a search for "log swing" on the newspaper archive site and this is what I found. The log swing was first placed on the playground in the fall of 1930.
- Barb (Girvan) Horak
ALL OF THE BELOW ARE FROM THE ODEBOLT CHRONICLE AT VARIOUS DATES
Thursday, October 30th, 1930
SCHOOL NOTES
Mr. Adams Gives Grade Pupils New Swing - A unique swing, like one Mr. W.P. Adams saw the children of the Philippines enjoying, has been set up for pupils of the public schools. The swing is perhaps unlike any that one has ever seen. It is a huge log suspended from a framework of steel. The pupils are truly elated over it, and are showing their gratitude to the donor by their enthusiasm.
Thursday, October 30, 1930
NEW SWING MADE FOR KIDDIES
A new swing which is decidedly unique has been provided at the new school grounds through the kindness and generosity of a friend who asked permission of the school board to install one for the pleasure of Odebolt kiddies.
The frame work of the swing is constructed of heavy galvanized pipe, very strongly braced at each corner with inch cable and to this frame work a highly polished cypress log has been hung on swiveled pipe, which allows the log to swing backward and forward end-ways. Upon this log the little tots are supposed to ride and the polished surface of the log make the feat difficult enough to put in the proper amount of kick to the entertainment.
We are not so sure that we won't slip up there some dark night and try a little ride for ourselves, and we know that the children will offer a vote of thanks to the donor for his kindheartedness.
Thursday, April 1, 1937
W.P. Adams
Several years ago, while traveling through an island on the south seas, Mr. Adams noticed a novel swing made from a rough log suspended from a crude framework. He saw little native children playing on it and enjoying themselves to the utmost. When he returned to Iowa, he had a similar swing constructed with a steel frame and presented it to the Odebolt public school. It now stands at the southwest corner of the school grounds.
Thursday, October 31st, 1940
TEN YEARS AGO (1930) - A kind and generous friend donated a cypress log swing to be used on the local school grounds.
Thursday, November 1st, 1945
FIFTEEN YEARS AGO (1930)
A new swing has been placed on the school grounds for the children (the log swing)
Thursday, September 26th, 1946
ACCIDENTS WILL HAPPEN - Thursday night after school on the school ground, an accident occurred which made the students vow to be more careful. Lawrence Hoefling, a freshman, broke his arm while playing on the log swing.
Thursday, September 3rd, 1987
THIRTY YEARS AGO (September 5, 1957) - Work began last week on the new Odebolt school building. The old log swing will be removed and put on the new school playground.
MEMORIES
Jane's post brought out a lot of comments from people that remembered the log swing.
Judy Pudenz
That log swing had to be the most dangerous swing ever. The senior boys would line up on it, standing, and got that log to swing back and forth as far as it would go.
Zola Jean Kelly
My first year in the new building was in 1st grade, which I believe was in 58/59. That log swing was moved to the new playground and I remember it well. I think it was there until I went to Arthur in 6th grade.
Charles Lashier
(Once it was moved to the new school playground) ... It was on the northwest corner of the playground just south of the elementary wing.
Jim Girvan
I remember the log swing. It was reinstalled when I was in grade school and sat at the southwest corner of the elementary wing. I think everyone knew if they walked in front of it when it was swinging it would probably kill them.
Sandi Lickteig
The log swing, terrifying especially when Kent Ogden got it going so fast that you slid back and forth with nothing to hold on to but it was always the first thing we were on. So many memories! Does anyone else remember when Bob Brower took the dare and stuck his
tongue on the frozen monkey bars? I remember the teachers herded us all
back into the school while someone "unstuck" him. Ouch!
Jennifer (Sellman) Shipman
I think that playground was my second home and needless to say, so close to our home. I remember that log so well. Roger Peters, Linda's brother would get us on it and get it going as fast as it could and we were scared to jump off.
..... (another post) love these old pictures and I saw so many people ride that log since it was directly across the street from our home on the corner.
Judy Frey-Hemphill
I remember when they were tearing down the old school building. My cousins Dennis & Danny McFarland and I had a lemonade stand across the street where Martha Kennedy use to live. We made enough money that we all went to Singers store and bought new bathing suits.
On moving to the new school
Bloyce Johnson
I remember volunteering to move the books from the old school library to the newer one. Quite a line up and it took us a while. Then two years? of using the bus barn for school lunches, band rehearsals, and maybe some classes, too.
OTHER CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
(If you have photos of the log swing, please send to our email address on the right column!)
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I found the above photo in the on-line archive of Odebolt school yearbooks. It is from 1946. If someone has this yearbook and can get a better scan, please send it to me!
This photo is from Mike Peterson and shows Dan Griffin and Mike on their first day of school, September 4th, 1956.
Note the school buses in the background.
From the right are: Dave McDonough, Daryl Hoefling, Bruce Hokanson, Scott Bergren, Steve Loger, Myron Siebrecht, Kerm Ziegmann, Carl Moberg, Roland Schmidt & unknown on the far left.
