TLC logo TLC #17:  June 16, 2001


 

 

Dear Hearts and Gentle People:
 
Hugh Hunt, Jane Ann '56 Whitney's husband, wrote that he can die happy, since he had been quoted in TLC. Now, I suppose, he can die ecstatic.
 
In response to Joyce Gueguen '55 Ramsey's request, we have received a few responses from people near flood-ravaged Houston. They're fine, but I suppose we should be concerned about the ones we did not hear back from.
 
From Jerry '56 Mischon:

As of late Tuesday, 06/12, approximately 30,000 homes have been
identified as flood damaged in Houston.  The expectation is for more to be identified in coming days.  The death toll as of 06/11 was 20.

The flooding occurred without any real notice and while many people were asleep.  It's ugly.

Fortunately, I (nor my family) suffered any flood damage. FYI, the record for rainfall in one location during a 24-hour period in Texas was 43 inches at Alvin, Texas (just south of Houston) some 15 years ago.
 
From Janet Cross '55 Bertz:

6/14/01  Just spoke to my youngest kid in Angleton, TX.  She is sitting it out, waiting for her husband (who is putting in 12-hr. days trying to get the water pumped out of sub-basement and basement) to get the power back on in the building where they both work - Baylor School of Medicine. They have only emergency power as yet, but anticipate being up and running by Monday, 6/18.  The most serious damage seems to have been in Downtown Houston, seems
the areas outside Houston faired much better than the 80 miles of  the "concrete city" circle. Those of you who are at least familiar with how Houston is built around the bayou's (that are all concrete spillways) know that a lot less rain than 25-34 inches of rain can overflow the bayou's in a heartbeat. The clincher was that all that rain fell within a phenomenally short period of time; a matter of hours 4(?).  All the people that I know in the area are fine, not even property damage for my gang.
 
From Barbara Tabb Jarman:

I just got Joyce's e-mail asking about how we in Houston fared
during the flood.  I am happy to say that we escaped any high water in our neighborhood; but, that was a real gully-washer that left Houston looking like an ocean filled with islands. I am very grateful that we got by without having the house flooded.  And, thanks for asking, Joyce.
 
I'm glad that Jim O'Malley aptly cleared up my wrong impressions of
the old pool hall.  (I am happy that he did not defend 10th Street,
however).  I think it all shows just how 'sheltered' we were in those
days, and how we grew up with certain notions because of that. But, that was the impression that a lot of us had about the pool hall - that it was no place for ladies, and thus no lady ever found out the difference.
 
Is that fair enough?  I thank Jim for the history lesson on it, and
enjoyed it very much. No beer or liquor in there - really?  I learned
something today.   I do remember all those names, except for "Turk"
Terrell.  "Toad" lived up the street from me, and I had always heard he was pretty good at billiards. I do know it was a very busy place on
Saturday nights, but at other times, too.  There was also a bowling
alley for a while, next to Pat's Army Store, I believe, or maybe in that
building - but, it was another place that seemed to be 'off limits' to
ladies.  And, yes, let's hear some more info on Block 42.  Like it or
not, we were famous all over the state for a few things other than the
Battle of Lexington. When I went to work at Hallmark Cards, a girl asked to see my class ring; and, when she saw the Minuteman on it, laughed and said, "Oh, I thought there might be a red lantern on there."  True story.  I didn't appreciate it, so I set her straight in a hurry.
 
Very few names have been mentioned in recollections that I don't
recognize and remember. I still refer to that one building as
"Liebo's".  And, I think we all regret seeing the old Mainstreet Theater
go.  I saved an old article from the Advertiser-News, and the ad on the
back of it said that Kitty Wells was to be the featured star at a
stageshow that week. That was from back in the '50s. They knew how to get to us kids, too, with those serials that left the hero on the brink of death each week - what a hook!  You just had to go back and see how they got out of it the next weekend.  My favorite was Nyoka, Queen of the Jungle - it was usually a gorilla that was about to dispatch her. (My favorite was Spider Woman, but I seem to be the only one who remembers it! - Ed.)

What was it about gorillas? King Kong scared the bejabbers out of me
when I saw it at the Eagle Theater. That old Mainstreet Theater held
many memories, and I'm sorry it was torn down. I could write a book on it.  Remember Alice Page going up and down those aisles with her
flashlight and stern look when things got too noisy?  We were as afraid of her as we were of Mose Butler, even if he never gave us any reason to be scared. Alice did - she could throw us out of 'the show'.  Maybe 'respect' would be a better word for Mose. All we needed in those days was one Mose Butler.  That was a far cry from the 4 (count them - 4) squad cars with flashing lights that pulled me and my brother over last fall when we were brash enough to drive through Lexington at night, in a car with a Texas license plate. And, trust me, we had broken no traffic laws whatsoever.  I seriously doubt that Lexington has enough crime to warrant that kind of welcome. Funny thing, though - I even thought of Mose while it was happening. I also thought of Barney Fife from Mayberry; contrast, you know. LOL (That's 'laughing out loud' for those who don't chat on the internet).  Ah - for the days of good ol' Mose!  I'm getting carried away again, so will back off and let somebody else have a go at it. I don't know why all drug stores had a soda fountain, but do know that lemon ice cream from The Odessa was the best I ever ate - bar none. Hope we get an answer on the soda fountain question.  (Someplace for customers to sit while waiting for prescriptions to be filled, and a way to make money at the same time???- my guess.)
 
And, I'll throw out a few words to tease memories: Central School;
Arnold School; "Monkey Joe"; "Annie", with her buggy; sleighriding on
those great hills; homecoming rallies at the Courthouse steps; 'kick the can'; 'the drive-in'; actually walking to and from school.  Keep 'em
coming, folks!

P.S. I don't have a webpage of my own, but a friend of mine did one on me as part of her Seniors' Talent Showcase, for a bunch of us who have become good friends through the Internet.  I just include this for those who know me well enough to want to go look at some of my 'piddling', as I call it - just things I've done over more recent years to indulge in my hobbies and love for being 'creative'. I may eventually get around to doing a webpage of my own - but, so much still to learn in this electronic age, and I haven't gotten around to that yet, or even seen a real need for it.  In the meantime, this includes a recent pic of me and part of my family, taken last Christmas. Thanks for your indulgence, those of you who couldn't be less interested. LOL. The URL is:
http://www.geocities.com/seniors_pages/showme/showme.html

Ed. - Prepare to be knocked out by the quality of her work!
 
Mary Pat Gueguen '58 Miller:
 
Susan, this is so much fun!  I'm having to print off each one:  just too
much to read in one sitting.  From the size of THE LEXINGTON NEWS, you get the feeling that things really ARE happening in our "little town by the river". Got a kick out of the "Glance at the Past" column again today:  1951 "Montgomery Ward Store was advertising cotton twill pedal pushers for misses at $1.98 per pair and ladies blouses at $1.77."  What a deal!!  Love, MP
 
And they are back in fashion too! Mary Pat's last letter addressed a note to John Cross, regarding Prom adventures. And here is the response:
 
Ouch!!   Some people just can't let a sleeping dog lie.  (Yawn)

Mary Pat, I'm sorry to see your memory failing you so.  I would had to have been a total jerk to have asked you to the prom the day before.  I'm almost certain it was two days before, ...maybe even three.
But our recollections coincide in that it was a fun time.

Do you remember the frantic preparations for the prom?   It was an oriental theme, with a small, arching bridge in the center and a crooked little tree with blossoms.  (Belated thanks and apologies to an unsuspecting farmer in the area.)  The decorations committee had strung a wire grid over the entire room at the height of the basketball rims, and rolled 2-foot wide dark-blue crepe paper over it, creating a false ceiling, in effect. Richard Seaton, Bob Ball, I believe, and one or two others were painstakingly running electrical wire and soldering connections for the dozens of Chinese lanterns hanging beneath the ceiling.  The wiring took much longer than anticipated, and they were just finishing when the first guests started to arrive.  Mr. Lloyd may have insisted on the soldered connections, for fear we would burn the place down. To the undying credit of everyone who worked on it, it looked less like a gym that evening than at any other time I ever saw it.  Almost a night-club ambiance.

Glad to hear things are well with you, Mary Pat.  I was wondering when the class of '58 would start kicking up a little dust in the TLC.  Most of the missives have been from the oldsters who preceded us at LHS (including our respective, verbose siblings).
 
And thanks for all the times you joined me in the walk to school.  I
enjoyed them.  By the way, you can stop spreading the rumor that I was smart.  It obviously got blown way out of proportion.  Sorry I ever started it.

Regards to all.    John   (Going back to sleep now.)
 
From Liz Anne White '57 Kramer

Hi Scribe-
What wonderful memories these newsletters and messages from the "old-timers" bring back. For some reason it popped in my mind when one of the first TVs came to town.  CJ and Jean Landrum owned the Davis Paint Store-close to the corner of 10th and Main.  On Saturday nights they would close the store and we would all sit in the dark and watch test patterns for awhile-then wonderful Gorgeous George show, Ted Mack, etc. At my age I thought the test patterns were the best. It was always so funny to look out the big old picture window and see all the faces looking in. Oh for the good old days.

Keep these wonderful newsletters coming-luv them all.
 
I remember my first time: (seeing TV, that is) - at Mary Lou Ely's house at 20th & Main. We also watched the test pattern! And then we saw Howdy Doody. I was, I think, 9, maybe 10, and what an event that was! - Ed.
 
The Odessa Ice Cream Parlor recollections seem to be fading now - and the new topic is the Pool Hall. Bob Warner worked there as a young kid, and he has many stories which he will tell but not write. I suppose he's concerned about incrimination or something. Anyone else work there?
 
What surprises your scribe is that no one yet has mentioned perhaps the most famous (possibly notorious) location from our youth. Extra issues to the first one who names it!!!

From Charlotte Skelton Guiberson:

I have really enjoyed every issue from you and hearing all about people in Lexington. It is wonderful that we all have such fond memories of  growing up in a small town. It makes me wonder if all small towns were as memorable as ours.
 
I doubt it.
 
Your devoted scribe,
 
 
Susan



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