My most memorable events at the Auditorium are of activities on the lower level—Teen Town.  The most fun I had there, I think, were the square dances.  (I wasn’t good at any other kind of dancing.) Virtually all of the stage performances in my high school years (that I can recall) occurred in the dear old LHS auditorium. Others were in the WMA gym. Sorry I can’t provide much about the downtown Auditorium.  

Webmaster Bob '58 Ball sent a comment on the Auditorium:    

Thoroughly enjoyed #124.  I don't have any memories of the Auditorium that would be of use in preserving it, I fear.  But I can't imagine the Lexington of my childhood and youth without it.  I remember the Explorer's Club had its meetings there (I was bored to tears, of course, but my parents went so I went, too).  And there were concerts that took place there.  The Fall Festival Queen Pageants were there.  Boy Scout Troop 318 met in the basement, as did some Army unit (National Guard or Army Reserves?).  I think it would be a real shame to lose it and its associations. And literally almost impossible to replace it.  I hope it can be saved.

Jim O'Malley had other memories which will ring a bell with many of us:

In the summer of 1955 I was singing in the Singing Chorus at Starlight Theatre in Kansas City.  This was my second season at Starlight and I was having the time of my life.  I turned 24 that summer and was about to start my teaching career at Braymer High School in Braymer, MO teaching social studies in all four grades. Thought you'd like to see these old pictures I found today.  Aren't 
the Ballet dancers cute!  And I got paid, too!!!!

Memories of the old Post Office.  I must have gone there once or twice a week to mail things—to pen pals (one was a girl in England) and relatives—or writing away for additions to stamp and map collections.  As soon as you entered the door, its unique “smell” became evident.  No building I’ve ever been in had that “old Post Office smell” (probably the combination of mustiness and the equipment and inks used by the employees).  Who was that faithful person in the postwar years?  There must be a list somewhere of Lexington’s postmasters and postmistresses.

Mr. Seaton?

My humble suggestion is for the present owner to simply take it as a tax write-off and GIVE it to the historical society for expansion.  It would make a perfect museum.  I always wondered why a post office needed such a “vast” even majestic structure—as it seemed to me in early teens.  It was always so clean and well-kept.  It radiated a sense of permanence and stability.  Does it still have its unique tiny-tile floor?

Yes. The R-V School District owns it and cannot afford to give it away. Neither can the Historical Association afford to own it, what with little income and much maintenance of the current Museum home (the old library building). These are difficult times for small towns and small organizations. We're doing what we can to keep it alive.

Memories of Mischon’s Market, south side of Main between 11^th and 12^th (next door to Jinx’s Barber Shop—Jinx Holman.  Memories of that, too!)  Since Dutch Mischon was our Uncle by marriage to Aunt ‘Net (Jeanette Gueguen) we often visited, mainly when we were “uptown” of a Saturday evening.  On really hot and humid days, Uncle Dutch permitted us to stand inside his meat locker for less than a minute to cool off—the first air conditioning we ever experienced.  (Mainstreet Theater might have been the second so endowed—another old landmark razed, by the way.)  The most memorable item in the Market was a huge metallic set of moveable “pages” that contained bills. Everybody must simply have said “charge it” when they bought something from Uncle Dutch (as our family certainly did).  Also memorable, as closing time approached Sat. night, Raymond (I think) would throw sawdust on the wooden floor before sweeping it with a pushbroom.

As for the Barber Shop, that’s where I got my first haircut (age 3 or 4?) and every subsequent one whenever in Lexington. It was said that as a little boy I enjoyed identifying every make and model automobile that passed outside while I was in the chair.  Interesting, in that I’ve never owned a car, and was never much of a driver.  (In Driver Education class with Mr. Grechus, I nearly killed everyone at least on one occasion—by drowning in the river, down by Myrick station.)  On Sat. nights, I often joined other kids sitting in front of the big plate-glass window (on the inside) listening to conversations and “watching haircuts” while the rest of the family window-shopped.  We seldom had any money to buy things uptown on Sat. evenings.  Most mortifying experience in Jinx’s:  the time I realized I hadn’t brought any money with me as I sat in the chair “having my ears lowered.”

Local historian Roger Slusher sends a special invitation:

Since Russell, Majors & Waddell had their headquarters in Lexington, your readers might find this interesting.  Of course that firm also founded the Pony Express, and since this is the 150th anniversary of that, they might want to visit our exhibit on it and them at the Lexington Historical Museum this summer. (To you Old Timers, that's the former Lexington Library on 13th near Main.)

And so we come to the close of another walk down Memory Lane. Keep writing, folks. You have no idea how much it means to many people. Meanwhile, I remain

Your Devoted Scribe,

Susan