Football Team
Lindsay Marshall, Executive Director of the Scott County Historical Society, chose this candid photograph of a football team from their collection in MDL:
Background
This photograph shows the 1914 Belle Plaine High School Football Team in a classroom in various casual poses, instead of a formal team portrait. The football is inscribed: "BPHS'14." Another boy at the blackboard is writing various slogans: "B.P. Football Team," "After the game," and "Champions of Minn. Valley."
The people identified in the photo include: Lorenz Woods, Bill Crahan, Emmett O'Neill, James McDevitt, Martin Donovan, George Brown, Mike Pendy, Tom Sheehan, Leo Pendy, Herman Beutow, Bob White and John Weibeler.
Significance
I think this photograph is important as it shows the emotional bonds between this group of friends, especially since many (if not all) of them will soon be going to fight in World War I a few years later.
Why is it one of your favorites?
One of my favorite things about this photograph is just that it portrays a group of teenagers having a good time. It's fun, it doesn't have people looking directly at the camera, and people are smiling - something that isn't super common for that time. If you look closely you can see the way the one guy with his bandaged head is bandaging up another player, the props being used, the writing on the chalk board, and so much more.
About the Scott County Historical Society
The Scott County Historical Society seeks to “search, save, and share" the history and cultural heritage of Scott County, Minnesota. Located in downtown Shakopee since its founding in 1969, SCHS serves the entire community by preserving information and making it available through professional collection practices, engaging exhibits and educational outreach programs for people of all ages. It has a diverse collection of artifacts, photographs, newspapers and archival materials that document the history of Scott County from its foundation in 1853 to the present.
Browse the Scott County Historical Society collection in MDL.
See more favorites using the page links below.