Mary Howe and Florence Anderson 1880’s – 1950’s
For many years there was a tradition at Brattleboro High School which included the reading of student essays during commencement ceremonies. All twelfth graders were expected to research and write an essay as part of their senior program. Top essays were chosen by faculty and their authors read the essays to the assembled audience at graduation exercises. At the 1951 graduation ceremony Florence Anderson’s essay was the first featured reading. Florence enjoyed singing and researched a local hero of hers, internationally-renowned singer Mary Howe. Here is an excerpt from her essay… “The heading, ‘local girl who made good,’ could be attributed to the operatic soprano, Mary Howe, as she pursued her musical career on the concert stages of Europe just before the turn of the century. This local star was born in 1867. Her musical talent showed itself in her earliest childhood and had the advantage of careful training from the first. Her father and […]