Edina Senior Party

EDINA, October 10, 2006 -- (from 1997 Graduation Newspaper, "Cake Eater Digest")

In the spring of 1951, Edina-Morningside High School was preparing for its graduation. Spirits were running high since this was its first graduation exercise.

A few parents who were new to the area suggested that the parents might consider doing something for the high spirited graduates. "Great," was the response, but the question was what to do and who would and should do it. Forty-six years later this "something" has turned into "The Senior Party" and serves as a model for school districts across America. And it all began right here.

The first volunteers to co-chair the event were Thomas Hodsson and T. Lea Todd. They agreed to chair whatever activity was to be planned in 1951. It was suggested that "an all-night party" would be a good idea. They reasoned: "let's bring the graduates together one last time for some good clean fun, and maybe then they could avoid getting into trouble."

Parents got behind the idea, but the school offered the use of the building and nothing more. The parents quickly organized and planned the events for the evening, including entertainment, games and prizes. Apparently, a problem arose. The party would have to be held in the same room as the graduation ceremony.

There were only 112 seniors in the Class of 1951, so that was a significant problem. During the ceremony, the graduates sat on the stage while the parents sat on the floor. After the ceremony, all of the guests and graduates went into the cafeteria where the refreshments were provided by the sophomore class.

The senior parents charged into action upstairs in the school to prepare for the special event. Decorations were created to transform the halls and several classrooms into what appeared to be a French cafe. Awnings and streamers were everywhere. The atmosphere was wonderful as seniors were taken to another place and time. The Master of Ceremonies that evening, was Bob DeHaven of WCCO, perhaps the première radio personality of the day.

The Edina Morningside Cafe closed at 2:00 a.m. The graduates then attended open houses in the area. The theme the following year for the Class of 1952 was a Southern Mansion, featuring decorations including a gazebo and a Southern garden.

In 1953, the party was moved to Concord Elementary School be cause of the construction of a new gymnasium at the high school. The theme that year was a Coronation Ball and included a coronation at 2:30 a.m. After the ball, the graduates attended open houses and later everyone boarded buses and went for breakfast at Interlachen Country Club. The theme in 1954 was a French Quarter. The entire idea of a senior party began to gather attention. The New York Times Magazine sent a writer to craft a feature story on a graduation party that was used to keep young people away from liquor and out of trouble. Edina was credited by the Times with creating this great idea for a safe night. The magazine had planned to feature the Edina party on the cover but the cover art was bumped by a major event that happened at the United Nations.

Subsequent themes included a trip to Hawaii, the SS Hornet, and a Cherry Blossom Festival. By this time, the breakfasts had become a regular feature of the party, but the locations were kept secret until the graduates were on their way from the school in buses.

The party resumed at the school in 1962 following the completion of the construction projects. The party has remained at the school since then. In 1962 the theme was Plantation Daze.

Looking back over more than 40 years of graduation parties, some observations are as follows: the parents of the first graduates of Edina High School were farsighted for coming up with the idea of a senior party. For many years, calls have been received from all over the country requesting information on how to put on this now famous party idea.

And now, in 1997, senior parties are the norm. In fact, there seems to be competition from year to year to try and outdo the previous class. For a community filled with over-achievers, Edina parents have created some spectacular graduation parties over the years.

Community businesses, regularly inundated with requests for support for all kinds of events, willingly open their pockets to support this event that keeps our graduates safe from tragedy on such an important night in the lives of young men and women.

The junior class parents begin to prepare their year by observing the senior party for the previous year. Junior parents secure the party location while the senior parents are at the graduation ceremony.

The planning for the party begins in September of the senior year. A general meeting is held to outline the dates for the event and to get parents to volunteer for committees. Committee chairs are named and plans are begun. The event really gets into full swing in January as warehouses are secured and hundreds of hours of preparation begin with painting and organizing.