Over 80 years ago three brothers from Morrisonville named Henry, Selmer and John Hatlem received an invitation in the mail inviting them to a school dance called Junior Prom. It cost the men $1.25 per ticket to enter the prom on a Friday night. It was proper for the men to wear a suit, tie and hat to the dance. A tie clip could be added to the tie and cufflinks to the cuffs of the shirts instead of buttons. To attend the dance the brothers needed to ask a lady to accompany them as a date. Ladies could not ask the gentlemen. The gentlemen picked up the ladies in either a car or a horse drawn carriage, depending on what was available to them. Limousines did not exist at this time in DeForest.

The ladies wore a long dress with gloves and high heel shoes. A jeweled clip might have been added to the shoes. Ears were not pierced in the early 1900s so earrings were held onto the earlobe with a screw. The dance could be very hot so it was common for a lady to bring a hand fan like the one in the case made of ostrich feathers. Air conditioning did not exist.

Once the couple arrived to the dance they could see what was being served. In 1917 salted nuts, olives and buttered rolls were served. Can you see what else was served that night on the menu? The school gymnasium is where the Prom was held. It was beautifully decorated with colorful crepe paper, balloons and special lighting. A band played for those who wanted to dance. In the early 1900s disc jockeys (djs) did not exist.

The Junior Prom was a night to remember.