As a kid, I would dream of the day that I would get to attend my first prom. I envisioned going to stores and trying on “the dress.” I looked forward to taking funny pictures with my friends and making those memories that we would remember for the rest of our lives. Prom, like a fairy tale, would be this perfect thing. Now that I’m actually able to be involved with prom, I have found out that there are a lot of people that put in a ton of time making sure that prom is a special night for the student body.
In general, the origin of prom first started out as a Debutante Ball. A Debutante Ball was meant to present teen girls to society, helping them to meet their future husband. Dating in the 19th century was very unheard of. As a result, the Ball was a way for girls to get to meet eligible bachelors and transition into adulthood. Debutante Balls continue to take place in the United States today; however, marriage is not the primary focus. Nowadays, they are used for young women to not only make long lasting friendships, but to also give back to the community and celebrate adulthood.
The first official prom came to Kansas in 1907 and was hosted by the University of Kansas. Proms at that time were held by colleges and soon transitioned to high schools in the 1920’s. For Osborne, the earliest prom on record that I could find was in 1959. I talked with Adelia (Bliss) Grieve, class of 1949, and she remembers that dancing was frowned upon, so the seniors put on a play instead of having a prom. I asked Betty (Roberts) Farless, class of 1959, about what prom was like when she went to high school, and she remembers that the Home Economics class made a candlelit dinner for them. Her favorite part was the whole week leading up to prom because of all the excitement that everyone had.
The anticipation of prom calls for intense planning. Tammy (Strahm) Spears, class of 1977, recalled that getting to decorate and set everything up was by far the best part. Many weeks in advance, they had to start planning because the juniors had to come up with themes. Deciding the perfect theme and getting the decor based on that theme took some time. Some of the people that I visited recalled that their themes were Hawaiian, Western, and Tequila Sunrise. Also, for many years, the junior moms made the meal. The juniors also had to choreograph a dance for the sophomore servers. In earlier years, a band came to play music, but now a deejay comes to play the music. For decades, prom was held in the old gym, then it moved to the Parish Hall. Now, it is being held in the Sims Event Center.
The countdown for prom meant that girls were on the hunt for the perfect dress. For some, like Betty and Tammy, this meant that their mom made their dress, and for others, it was shopping for “the one.” Theresa (Reif) Boxum, class of 1969, said that her dress was yellow and silk. Rebecca (Hahn) McNeal, class of 1997, wore black, long, sparkly dresses both years that she went to prom, and Chelsie Becker’s, class of 2007, was a long, black halter style. Along with the dress, they had to think about flowers for the corsages and boutonnieres to match their dresses. Many of the girls did their hair on their own. More currently, many girls get their hair, nails, and makeup done professionally.
This year's theme was Neon. The decor matched the theme perfectly and some girls had dresses to fit the theme also. The meal was catered by Bethany Knoll and served by the sophomore servers. The meal included chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, corn or green beans, and rolls. For dessert, there were ice cream sundaes with choice toppings. The After Prom festivities were held in the new gym and included bouncy houses, games, and, of course, prizes. Page Vines, class of 2024, said that she looked forward to seeing everyone in their dresses, and After Prom because of the games and prizes.
Prom was exactly what I dreamed of as a kid; the laughter, dancing, and much more. For many years, the community has come together to help our school put on something so magical, whether it be with the food, the venue, or After Prom. The many hours that the parents and students put into the planning and setting up for prom is totally worth it in the end, and I want to let everyone know how much we have appreciated their help over the years.
