Ain't it funny, how time slips away. Seems I had just
written a TLC, and turns out it was in July. And now the old hometown is
slipping into its fall colors. Everything looks good here, and we just completed
a very successful Apples, Arts & Antiques Festival. There were over 80
vendors, and the downtown was full of people, despite some chill in the air
on Saturday.
We had such a mild summer - and so much moisture - that our lawns
are still green. And we're still mowing! Lately we have put together a
string of gorgeous days. Don't tell anyone - they'll all want to move to
Missouri.
Once again, I must be the bearer of sad tidings. We recently
lost two members of the TLC "family." First was JoAnn Sullivan
'62 Burnine, who lived in Texas, I believe. And this past week we
received word of the sudden death of Gary Price. His parents are Carol Jo
Rank '55 Hazlett and Sonny Price, also '55. Our sincere condolences
to all of their families and friends.
TLC #119 dealt with memories of Lexington buildings, particularly
schools. The mail brought comments.
This from Conrad '56 Pitz:
I saw a copy of "The Pictorial History of Lexington Missouri" a couple of
Sundays ago, (WOW what a book). As I was looking at it I noticed some very good
pictures of Mittieville and their owners in it. Just thought I would let
you know in case you could get it to the interested party that you mentioned in
the TLC. Looking at this book sure brought back some memories from when I
was young and that has been a long, long time ago.
We unintentionally overlooked the Catholic
School, and Jack '51 Gueguen filled the
void:
These insights into Arnold and Central fill a void in my memory, as
they were "distant" from personal experience in our family. We felt
privileged and sort of "looked down" on you guys! Being objective (of course) I
think Douglass and Catholic schools deserve more attention with regard to
quality education. In both cases, the students were almost as good as
"home schooled"--lots of individual attention, small classes, plenty of study
time in between. Yes, over on Main St. between 18th and
19th we had a fine playground (no cinders, that I recall), big enough
for anything that went on at recess and after school. We used Central College Park too, for special
events.
I recall some kind of "competition" arranged by the
Public and Catholic schools in town (not athletic, but academic). My
recollection is that Catholic School won at all grade levels. When
we moved on to Jr-Sr High in 9th grade, we all did very well.
Our teachers (dedicated nuns) were competent and inspiring. Of
course, they had their favorites (I was one). I especially liked the world
geography class, where we met youngsters our age from Baffin Island to the
Congo, and learned all about their
lives. Penmanship was helpful, too.
The discipline was strict and enforced. And if
something went awry, we got the ruler on the palm of the hand, and a note went
home with us, so that another spanking followed there. The only really bad
thing I was guilty of was dipping the long, beautiful blond hair of Mary
Lilyan Frost in the ink well on my desk. She was sitting just in front
of me, and that hair was irresistible. It must have been around
5th or 6th grade.
Enough from me. Thanks for the memories.
Mary Lilyan, where are you? And other '47 classmates: Angela
Schreiner, Bibiana
Zeller, Lorraine Mike and Catherine Nicola. Is she still around? Are any of
them still around? Mike McDonald and I (the
only guys) do a pretty good job of staying in touch. I think we've only
lost one so far: Mary Jo Farrow Hammontree, my
cousin.
There was a photo display about 20 years ago when the parish celebrated
an anniversary, and surely they were kept on file.
That would be good material for a future
TLC!
Norma Wilson '54 Gadt sent her memories from those
days:
I attended Arnold School 2nd grade, and Central School
3rd & 4th. I remember Ms. Conger was my 2nd grade teacher's
name. Ms. Torrence was 3rd grade and Ms. Baird was 4th. I
loved those two teachers. In later years I was re-acquainted with Ms.
Baird, and she had not changed one bit. Does anyone know where Ms.
Torrence went? I remember I was somewhat frightened of Mrs. Rush and Miss
Margaret (They both looked like they could smack any kid that came in their
way). Therefore, I was a "good" little girl.
Yes, Janis Ray Beretta '54 and her cousin Ann
Beretta '55 Powell did do quite a dance in the Minstrel, which was
quite enjoyable. Thanks for the memories, Susan.
The ever-amusing Bette Phipps
Thomas sent her thoughts from then and from now:
Very interesting Part I; thanks. Reading it evoked the
following questions/comments which I leave to your discretion to include in a
future edition or merely reply to moi:
1. So did Central School burn down
because of a big fire in March 1964? And, subsequently, another building was
built? (Been awhile since I've been "back home" so has it been a PO all those
years since?)
Yes - the post office was built on
the site of Central School. It remains in operation
today.
2. Re:
Gen. Jo Shelby & Waverly, is/was there a "statue" or a "statute?"
3.
As a lifetime (or so it seemed back then) attendee of Central School, I read
about the big gym and couldn't recall it. However, I do recall being in one or
more performances in a big room at Central, so figure it must have been the gym.
I was the Statue of Liberty with some lines in maybe a 3rd or 4th grade play, in
which some fellow pupils (Bonnie Gerhardt, Gene Hinton? and
others) were dancers in what must have been Colonial Era costumes. Boy, was I
jealous; I had to wear tin foil or something and as a statue couldn't dance!
Naturally, I figured my role was punishment for not being cool enough to dance
in those great costumes.
4. Not too long ago, while rehearsing with my
singing group in Pacifica, CA, I mentioned how I'd so longed to be in a Minstrel
Show, having seen the LHS performances as well as some done by Lexington's
Business & Professional Women. I was so disappointed to learn that they were
to be replaced by a Variety Show (yes, this was at the time of integration) but
as it turned out, I loved being in the Variety Show, directed I believe, by good
old Miss Mautino. One of my friends in the singing group, an African-American
woman from Michigan, took it all (stories of Lexington's Minstrel shows) in good
part and had lots of jokes at my expense, making very pointed, very funny and
very relevant comments about the way it used to be!
5. Farms--in
Berkeley??? (this may be from a local San Francisco Bay Area TV ad.) Milk
machines--in Central School? I think my sister, Mary Lou Phipps, was in
Gary Miller's grade, and if so, although I was several grades ahead, we'd
have been at Central at the same time for a few years. I don't ever recall this
mythical machine which also dispensed an orange-colored liquid. But then I quit
drinking milk (when it was delivered to us, I think at our desks) because I
decided I hated milk; and coincidentally, I was always the last one to finish
drinking my milk, not that that had anything to do with my
decision.
TLC #120 October 5, 2009