A Silver Spoon from the HHS Cafeteria

Other fittings were also different in the 1940’s. Actual china was used, along with glass drinkware. Students and staff were expected to take their trays with dirty dishes to the designated area where the dishwashing attendants would load the dishwashers.   Every so often there would, of course, be an accident. When china or glass hit that hard tile floor, it was an event.  

Students were key to the cafeteria’s operation. When such an accident occurred, student workers bearing brooms, mops and dustpans went to work; often there was a certain amount of hooting and teasing, although it was not always clear why, and teachers soon called it down. Pretty strict decorum was expected in those days. 

The basic arrangement was that you picked up a tray, plate, etc. and then cruised along in front of the steamtables, etc., where adults (not students) dished up what you ordered. Choices were not many, and everything was individually priced. Milk came in small cartons and cost two cents. Payment was in cash. There was no free lunch. If you didn’t have lunch money, you begged or borrowed. It must be said, however, that the cash registers were run by students, and there were rumors that maybe you could call in a favor if you didn’t have lunch money one day.  

During the 1940’s and 50’s,  the cafeteria was presided over by Miss Emma. During that period there was a prominent, very affable and very fine physician in town named Dr. Schwegman. Miss Emma was Dr. Schwegman’s mom, but the affable part must have come from the doctor’s dad, because Miss Emma’s cafeteria ran on time and according to rather strict rules. Everyone suspected she had a heart of gold, but we were not about to test that out.  

As it has always been and perhaps always will be, the cafeteria was home to cliques, clans and circles, but camaraderie and mixing as well. By and large, it wasn’t a place for romance. Girls ate mostly with girls and boys with boys. Maybe about the same as now, but the silverware was nicer.     

Cafeteria, Silver Spoon, Student Life, 1940