Hamilton County Clerk
It is Homecoming Week, and nobody does it better than the Millers. What fun I have had researching when the first Homecoming was celebrated and some of the activities of former years. I focused on the 40s through the 70s. My reference is my Annual and Shadow collection.
Homecoming in Noblesville is very special, unlike most other places. Some things may have changed a little over the years but many of the same traditions remain.
It appears Homecoming and the parade started in the early 50s; prior to that there was mention of a Fall Festival surrounding a football game.
In the 50s and 60s, there was always a Thursday night pep rally with a bonfire and the coaches and some of the players would address the crowd. The cheerleaders would get the fans fired up with their chants and the band would play the school song. Several mentioned a Snake Dance to the Courthouse Square and a Canteen Dance on Homecoming Eve.
The Homecoming parade was led by the Marching Millers and the football team often rode on a fire truck. The parades over the years have showcased colorful floats, prepared in the wee hours of the morning during the week proceeding Homecoming by the four classes and other organizations. The Art Club seemed to have a lot of winning floats throughout the years, as you would expect.
The floats were built in garages all over town, the host family to create their classic float. Flatbed wagons, chicken wire and tissues (lots of tissues) was the foundation for many a floats. In 1958, one of the themes of the floats was Prospect Victory 23 a giant telephone. (PR, prospect was the prefix for our phone numbers in those days). In 1957, a large bear and honeycomb was titled “Our Honey Comb Millers can Bear Defeat.” Ice cream and a large soda glass was “Ice Cream for a Victory, Soda U.” In 1952, the float “Big Time Operation” featured a football field with an operating table with a patient and nurses and doctors all around. In 1960, the theme “Fine Coach, Fine Team” had a horse drawn buggy (minus the horses – no live animals in the parade.) In 1963, a large hand of cards, a 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace, set on top of the wagon with the title “Flush the Flashes”. “We’re Addin’ Up a Victory” was on the side of the wagon with a large adding machine. The Art Class had a picture of the Mona Lisa with the title “The More They Mona, The Lisa They Score.” In 1964, themes like “Coloring Book of a Victory,” “Weave a Victory, Sew it Seams” was a large sewing machine and “It’s in the Bag, Dad.” In 1965, “What’s ‘New’ Pussy Cat?” was a courtroom with a tiger on trial in front of Circuit Court Judge New, and the Art Club’s theme was “A palet-able Victory Easel-ly Won” with an artist painting a tiger. 1967 brought us a large iron with “We’ll Preth Your Panth, Thir!” and huge Winnie the Pooh said “Pooh on the Hornets.”
1968 brought a few changes to the parade, as now only the four classes would have a float and the classmates could walk behind their float. Faculty members participated in the parade riding bikes and in wagons. The Sophomores’ float theme was “Fry’em in Greece,” a large frying pan. In 1969, the Sophomore float “Street Car Named Desire” was a trolley car covered in black and gold crepe paper and was a really great float, but it came in second. The Senior float was first with “Nail Sheridan,” a large hammer pounding on a Blackhawk.
In 1970, we saw themes like “Quack Quawfordsville,” “Whipping Up a Miller Victory” and a Disney theme of “Wonderful World of Winning.” The 1971 Senior float “Sheridan Victory – Mission Impossible” and the Juniors’ “Skunk Sheridan – It makes Good Sense.” In 1972, float themes included “Toast Tipton,” “Curse You Blue Devils” and “Rome’s Burning for a Devil Defeat.”
1973 was my Senior year, and after losing our first three years on our last attempt we won first place. The float “Millers Pinball Wizard” was a large wooden pinball machine with a tiger theme. Maybe I am biased, but it was one of the best of all times. Another entry that year was a big drum, “Beat the Stripes Off the Tigers.”
I couldn’t find much on the current tradition of naming a Grand Marshal for the parade; at least they were never mentioned in the yearbook. But I did have the honor of serving once as the Grand Marshal. It was a special treat for me, since Noblesville and Homecoming mean so much to me. Anyone who knows me knows I would never miss a Homecoming!
It is a tradition that NHS Alumni come back for Homecoming. In 1966, the NHS Alumni hosted a fish fry before the game. It became a tradition for many years before it was discontinued.
Miller coaches during this time span were Paul Rockwell, Dale Swanson, Forest Page, Bill McClain, Bill Nevitt and Jim Belden.
The Millers were referred to during this time as the Mauling Millers, Mighty Millers and in the 70s as Belden’s Bombers.
Homecoming opponents were the Howe Hornets, Madison Heights Pirates, Westfield Shamrocks, Lafayette Jeff Broncos, Elwood Panthers, Sheridan Blackhawks, Crawfordsville Athenians, Franklin Central Flashes and Lebanon Tigers. The Sagamore Conference is what we were in during the 70s.
The “N” Club, made up of guys who had at least three athletic points and one major letter in sports, sponsored Homecomings for many years. In the 60s, to be in the club you had to pay dues in the amount of a dime to belong. The highlight for the “N” Club was selecting the Homecoming Queen and crowning her during the beginning of the football game or during the pep rally/bonfire on Thursday nights before the big game. They would crown the queen and give her a kiss on the cheek. In 1963, the Student Council took over the duties and the Senior Class nominated candidates, and for the first time the whole student body voted for the Queen. The Student Council also for the first time built a float for the Queens to ride on during the parade.
Homecoming Queens were crowned usually by the President of the “N” Club. In 1950, Morris Stern crowned Queen Sue Stephens; in 1951, the Queen was Mary Jane McMahon; in 1952, the Queen was Sherill Sylvester; in 1954, Larry Woods crowned Kay Baldwin Queen; in 1955, Don Roberts crowned Diane “DeeDee” Day Queen; in 1956, the Queen was Judi Shaw; in 1957, Queen Nancy Mason was crowned by Jimmy Camp; in 1958, the Queen was Ellen Lochwood; in 1959, Queen Gerry Stern was crowned by Terry Sneed; in 1960, Sam Schernekau crowned Cathi Hash as the Queen; in 1961, Mary Ann Heinzman was crowned Queen by Jim Land; in 1962, Queen Sherri Greider (Snyder) was crowned by Gary Cox; in 1963, Jim Dashiell crowned Dottie Ziess as Queen; in 1964, the Queen was Donna Powell; in 1965, Debbie Richardson was crowned Queen by Doug Johnson, Student Body President; in 1966, Jim Bray, Student Body President, crowned Marilyn Stone as Queen; in 1967, the Queen was Alice Tucker; in 1968, the Queen was Carol Chapman Ott and she was crowned by Kim Richardson; in 1969, the Queen was Carrie Merrill; in 1970, Queen Patsy Jones was escorted by Mike Chance; in 1971, the Queen was Sue Ann Randall; in 1972, Vickie Smith Brock was the Queen; in 1973, the Queen was Lezli Glover; and in 1978, Jill White was Queen.
After the game there was always a dance. If I learned anything going through the yearbooks, it’s that this generation loved to dance. In 1963, it was stated that the dance was held in the “new huge” cafeteria. That would have been in the high school building that now serves Ivy Tech.
In 1956, the Homecoming activities were moved from Friday night to Monday due to rain.
In 1943 and 1949, there was no mention of Homecoming. 1949 was a special year because that is the year the new field between Monument and Harrison and 10th and 12th was dedicated Memorial Field, named after all living and deceased soldiers who had been in the war. Much like today, the Millers would dress at the high school and walk down “Miller Street” (Harrison Street) to Memorial Field. This is one of my favorite memories of the sound of the cleats on the street as they chanted and marched to the football field.
In 1940, there was no mention of Homecoming, but there was mention of playing on Victory Field (not sure where it was) and having a bonfire on the corner lawn of the courthouse. (Can’t imagine that happening these days). In 1941, Joseph Field was mentioned and was basically where the new Boys and Girls Club stands currently off 17th Street.
Sad events relating to the Homecoming: One happened in 1944 when Richard Zeckel died suddenly during football practice. The other, which I believe was in the 60s, was a student was killed during the parade, falling off a fire truck.
In 1969, the first Homecoming was held on the new football stadium, which was named after Dale V. Swanson. This is the same field we use today, with some changes along the way. Mr. Swanson was a coach, superintendent and war hero. The bonfires were replaced with fireworks until all of the apartments were built around the field.
In 2006, when some upgrades were made and new turf was installed, the name was changed to Hare Chevrolet Field, and for the first time a paid sponsor was given naming rights to a school facility. The Hare-Cox families, all NHS graduates, have contributed to the community for many years. The field would no longer have a grass field but would have a turf finish. Another NHS graduate, Gary Wood oversaw this project in 2006 and then again in 2018. The field is now sponsored by Beaver Materials, which is another large family of NHS graduates and represents their contribution to the Noblesville community.
In 1972 at the Pep Rally, there was a contest that whoever could yell the loudest got to put a pie in Coach Belden’s face. The winner was football star Larry Ely. I’m sure it was fun at the time, but I have a feeling Coach Belden had the last laugh.
In 1978, Powder Puff football was added so the girls could show their skills on the football field in a game of flag football. Having seen some of these games over the years, the competition has been fierce in achieving the victory for their class.
Senior Cords have been a longtime tradition at Noblesville High School, from the cream color corduroy pants and skirts in the 50s to the skinny white jeans of today. They read like a diary of their days at NHS. Over the years, they had been created and worn by both the boys and the girls, but currently I think the girls are the only ones continuing the tradition. I, like some others, still have my Senior Cords, but there is not a chance I could still wear them.
Homecoming Mums were a big tradition. Over the years the “N” Club, Mill Stream, Miller Maids and FHA sold the mums for a fundraiser for their clubs. They were a large yellow or white pom-pom mum with a pipe cleaner “N” in the middle. There is evidence of me making my fair share of them during my four years of school by a picture which is in the 1974 yearbook.
We all have memories of the various forms of the Miller Man through the years. He has certainly taken on many changes in appearance. But do you know what his name is? Maxwell. In the 60s yearbooks, you can find him referred to that way several times. I may be a traditionalist, but I sure like the old Miller Man of my youthful days best. The current mascot looks a lot like Popeye – sorry, did I say that?
Painting the downtown merchants’ windows is another longtime tradition. I noticed this week those who decorated the windows did a great job. Thanks to those merchants who participated and showed your support of Noblesville Schools.
I hope you have enjoyed my trip down Homecoming memory lane. It truly is a special time in Noblesville. I am grateful the schools and the community continue to honor this long-standing tradition, and we are so excited to be celebrating Noblesville Schools’ 150th Anniversary.
Okay, Miller fans … get out your Black and Gold (or your cords or your letter sweaters) and join us at the parade and ballgame today. Let’s make this the best Homecoming yet. Good Luck Millers, beat Zionsville!