TLC logo TLC #12:  May 25, 2001


 
 
Happy Memorial Day Weekend from the ol' hometown!
 
You are receiving another TLC so soon because we had good and interesting responses to #11. So, sit back, relax, and get ready for another stroll down Memory Lane. 
 
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From Jack Gueguen the Faithful:
 
Yesterday (May 23) was the 50th anniv. of the graduation of LHS class of '51.  I "celebrated" here at the university residence (Urbana, Illinois) where I am chief sage and mentor to mostly grad students from around the country and the world.  After dinner last night and a brief visit to our chapel, we gathered in the living room for our customary "get-together" before people get into their evening activities.  I passed around the 1951 Minuteman (annual) so they could see what "real folks" looked like back then.  They were most amused at the greetings and salutations from classmates and teachers which we used to have people write on the blank pages.  Among other things they noted that our word for "cool" was "swell."  Then they got me to telling stories about classmates, stories which have no doubt become "enhanced" with age and repeated tellings.  It was a rather low key "celebration," as celebrations go, but I found it most fulfilling--and they gained a little perspective.
 
From Shirley Briggle the Regular:

About the piece below:

I always take the blame for what I do, but I simply will not take the credit for anything I do NOT do. And I didn't write this "old one from Shirley Briggle."
I never heard of Missouri Life Magazine, although I heard a lot about the brothels from my father:  "Don't EVER walk or drive down the streets that go North from downtown!"  I wasn't sure what would happen (was it contagious?), but I stayed on Main Street, just in case.
 
(Scribe: Sorry. And I too received those warnings, especially about the south side of Main between 10th & 9th. I was convinced one would simply vanish and never be heard from again. Sold into white slavery, or the like.)
 
ALSO: I, too, enjoyed the stories about the Odessa ice cream store and have an addition. The summer the Gueguens were hired to run the store, the Briggles applied for the same responsibility.  It was understood that the entire family would work, my father at night because he was daily engaged at Lake City, or perhaps it was Jack Mason's Chevrolet at that time.  So when the decision was made, we were all disappointed, but I have laughed ever after at the explanation:  We had only three kids and the Gueguens had more.  Thank God. That's just what I needed -- all-you-can-eat ice cream.

AND...As you know, and your mother remembers even now, I, too, worked for your father.  It began with a column while in high school ("High School Happenings") and continued the summer after graduation, before I went to Missouri, also with a free subscription.  For the high school column, I was paid by the inch.  And that, unfortunately, is when I learned to be wordy.
 
(Scribe: I too wrote a column one summer: the Kool Katz Korner. Don't laugh.
When I run out of good material to forward, I'll include some of the letters I received - some of them from some of you! Don't worry, though, I will protect your identity. Wish someone would protect mine.)
 
And now, we at TLC proudly present a new feature:
 
RECOLLECTIONS FROM THE OLD FOGEY
By Harry Dunford
    Thank you Susan for inviting me to drop a few words into The Lexington Connection. Although I view the good old days as the 30's and 40's rather than the 50's as most of your readers, I can not pass up to write a few words for publication.
    Your readers remember the Odessa Ice Cream Shop at its location in 1500 block of Franklin where the China House is now located. I well remember a smaller building located in the 1300 block of Franklin, at what now is the east corner of the building which formerly housed Mattingly Bros. Office (me too, Harry! S.) or, if you prefer, directly across the street from the educational building of the Trinity United Church of Christ at 1312 Franklin.
    About 1938 this Odessa Ice Cream Shop, owned by Mr. Shyrock of Odessa was managed by a Mrs. Moore and her son Donald. I worked there as a soda jerk. The building was small, only had room for the soda fountain and 3 tables. There was a small back utility room. However, the primary business came from "curb service." 
    The prices were wonderful, 5 cents for a double dip cone, ten cents for a sundae and 15 cents for a soda. On Saturday nights we would often begin to run out of ice cream and the Odessa store would bring us more. We would stay open until 1 a.m. at times.
    Later on this Odessa Ice Cream Shop was managed by Mrs. Bowers and her two sons Jimmy and F.J.  She lived to a ripe old age, having died just this past year and was into her 90's. Jimmy is also deceased; F.J. is living and well.
    I also was soda jerk at Marsh Drug Store in downtown Lexington. The location was at the former location of the Goodyear store just west of Entines. This was in 1940. The building is now an antique store.
    Here are some names from the past you may or may not remember: Arlie Schenewerk, Mose Butler, Little Mac McFadden, Minerva, Kelly. (I remember them all, and I'll bet the rest of TLC does too. S.)
    Your reader mentioned Bruna McGuire. It was my pleasure to know her slightly as I was editor of The Advertiser-News for a while after the Shades bought it from John Shea. It is my understanding that her Model A is still in existence and is owned by Swafford Motor Co. at Richmond. It is still driven in parades.
    One of my favorite recollections of Lexington is in the spring of 1946. The war had been over for some time and many veterans were on the streets about the time the flag was taken down at the court house. At that time they played a recording of "retreat," and for three blocks up and down Main Street you would see those men who had served their country in war time but were now civilians come to attention until the flag was retrieved.
    My nephew, Owen C. Davis, has a website: www:lafayettecountymo.com. which your readers may want to check out. I have a number of "Our Lexington Columns" on it and a memoir of my Aunt Maree Barron in which she recalls her memory of a Chautauqua held at the corner of 20th and South Street which was next door to my grandmothers home.
    Also on the site if you care to check are some "bon mots" entitled, strangely, "H-Bums" which I wrote for the Advertiser-News over a period of years.
                                                 -30-    
From Scribe:
     
Regarding Bruna McGuire. I thought Ann Beretta and I were the only ones who read her column! We would (literally) wait for the paper to arrive on the day she was published and simply devour it!
 
Also...someone who shall remain nameless has promised to write about her adventures with Minerva. I do not remember a Model A, but I certainly remember an (Army?) jeep she careened around town in.
 
And to the rest of you...you've promised to write. And I'm taking names.
Hugs to everyone. Till next time,
 
Your Scribe
Susan
 




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