I'm playing a lot of memorable Christmas songs this Christmas.
When "White Christmas" by Irving Berlin first came out I was about nine years old. After going to the movies to see Bing Crosby perform it my cousins and I would act it out using the stairs as theater seats in that cold hallway of the house on Center Street. It was in that house there came a new baby sister and the next Christmas K and I got to go to sleep under the Christmas tree.
One of those Christmases, in that rented house, mom's niece, Betty Jean Peterson got us the new "Nutcracker" record album by Spike Jones (our introduction to the classics). We never got over it.!
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
I spent alot of Christmases working at Marge's as a live in "Nanny" type babysitter. When the grown-ups went out to parties it was ok for Glen to come over and help. A fun memory was the year they had all blue lights on the tree and a new Christmas Album by The Four Freshman. Our favorite song was "Blue Christmas". Little did we know one of the artists on that record would be our good friend when we were in our late twenties.
When we were dating Glen told me about his family get - togethers where he and his cousin Norma Lee would sing "Winter Wonderland" with slightly different words; Later on we'll perspire, while we dream by the fire". Makes sense to me however unromantic.
The first Christmas album Glen and I bought was" Christmas with Conniff". We played it every Christmas morning. Of course I still do.
When we were dating Glen told me about his family get - togethers where he and his cousin Norma Lee would sing "Winter Wonderland" with slightly different words; Later on we'll perspire, while we dream by the fire". Makes sense to me however unromantic.
The first Christmas album Glen and I bought was" Christmas with Conniff". We played it every Christmas morning. Of course I still do.
Friday, October 28, 2016
My old computer would do everything but create a new post. The hoops I had to jump through to write this on my even older laptop: next to impossible !!
Went to Enhanced Fitness this morning for a good Fri. morning activity.
The Cubs are playing in the World Series at Wrigley field tonight. This is something my dad dreamed of every year. Hope his spirit is there.
This is a very warm Halloween weekend. The last day of October promises to be glorious. When the kids were out of the house I compiled all the recipes they seemed to enjoy growing up. Brown October Stew was one of my faves and with age they warmed to it and actually forgave the fact that it was named stew. Here is a copy of my version.
Brown October Stew
One or two of our darlings did not care for the brown part of this recipe. Stew gets a bad rap from institutions that serve anything sloppy with gristly meat and call it stew.
I'm sure I found this hearty soup waiting for Glen to come home from work, after putting the kids to bed in their twin beds up in their little room with the cherry wood floor at Murtaughs.
3 lbs. of lean chuck chunks devoid of fat and gristle. 3 T flour.
one large onion chopped 1/4 t ea. salt and pepper
one small stick cinnamon 1/4 t ginger
4 large scrubbed carrots, quartered
Brown meat after dusting with flour, salt and pepper
4 cups V8 or vegetable juice
Put all in crock pot and cook on low all day or medium three and one half hours.
You may add vegies( squash ) and lemon slices half way through the cooking.
Went to Enhanced Fitness this morning for a good Fri. morning activity.
The Cubs are playing in the World Series at Wrigley field tonight. This is something my dad dreamed of every year. Hope his spirit is there.
This is a very warm Halloween weekend. The last day of October promises to be glorious. When the kids were out of the house I compiled all the recipes they seemed to enjoy growing up. Brown October Stew was one of my faves and with age they warmed to it and actually forgave the fact that it was named stew. Here is a copy of my version.
Brown October Stew
One or two of our darlings did not care for the brown part of this recipe. Stew gets a bad rap from institutions that serve anything sloppy with gristly meat and call it stew.
I'm sure I found this hearty soup waiting for Glen to come home from work, after putting the kids to bed in their twin beds up in their little room with the cherry wood floor at Murtaughs.
3 lbs. of lean chuck chunks devoid of fat and gristle. 3 T flour.
one large onion chopped 1/4 t ea. salt and pepper
one small stick cinnamon 1/4 t ginger
4 large scrubbed carrots, quartered
Brown meat after dusting with flour, salt and pepper
4 cups V8 or vegetable juice
Put all in crock pot and cook on low all day or medium three and one half hours.
You may add vegies( squash ) and lemon slices half way through the cooking.
Saturday, September 3, 2016
Here I am dressed in all yellow, sitting in the yellow room which is all lit up with the sunset. Just a co-inke-dinky, as dad would say. I am typing between PBS Downton Abby Marathon sessions. Not quite the same as the MD Telethon of yesteryear, but some would say" for a good-educational cause." Waiting for the franks and beans to settle before I have a little ice cream.
Friday, September 2, 2016
Well, I didn't mention the side effect all the salt of
those olives in the sandwich , yesterday, caused because I was not sure. I got a severe migraine with all the whirligigs ect. Ruling out everything else it had to be that. If I was going to make that yummy sandwich, the olives would be rinsed and probably cream cheese would be spread on the bread for a buffer. Also that would make it stay together better.
I'm trying to ramp up my exertion stamina because the Y is offering a 10:30 class that sounds fun. Today I used everything: Stability ball, bike, treadmill, and Pilates machine. Hope it works.!
those olives in the sandwich , yesterday, caused because I was not sure. I got a severe migraine with all the whirligigs ect. Ruling out everything else it had to be that. If I was going to make that yummy sandwich, the olives would be rinsed and probably cream cheese would be spread on the bread for a buffer. Also that would make it stay together better.
I'm trying to ramp up my exertion stamina because the Y is offering a 10:30 class that sounds fun. Today I used everything: Stability ball, bike, treadmill, and Pilates machine. Hope it works.!
Thursday, September 1, 2016
Ah. September Morn"- as" Arfy Garfy" used to say on the radio at the beginning of every September in Hap"s childhood. Sadly, we lost Hap August 18th , this year, but he will remain a treasure in our memories.
Hap was my brother: my father's second son. He has so many colorful stories of his life adventures that they would be impossible to recount now, Perhaps a few will trickle out, one by one, later when the grief is not so sharp. Arfy Garfy was Hap's name, then, for Arthur Godfrey who was a popular radio personality of the era. Of course we continued to call him that like I still love to use Grace's ( my youngest child), "gocy tore and Chimsy tee" for grocery store and Christmas tree although she can join AARP now.
Our sister , Kerry, took me to Goshen today... seems we went there alot when we were kids. We ate lunch at the venerable old corner candy kitchen where dad took us sometimes. It resembles the corner candy kitchen that we loved in Warsaw . It was also run by a nice Greek family who really knew how to make stuff. I had an olive nut sandwich. I would certainly do that again! Yum!
Monday, June 20, 2016
Angleton
My Grandma Grace Anglin wrote a piece about Angleton for the family book in 1968. A part of it is copied here for you.
Angleton Store and Post Office - A Fond Memory
When Millwood was in its infancy, Isaac Anglin settled on what is now the Lester Gay farm. He, also, owned a section of land, which he divided among his four children, one of whom was W.B. Anglin, who was born there.
In 1871 W.B. Anglin was married to Ellen Rusher. They lived east of Clunette on the Elam Anglin farm, later moving back to the Millwood farm. This part of the country was new. Roads were corduroy and impassable. Buggies were not in use. People walked to small towns for groceries. So W.B. Anglin started a grocery store in one room of his log house in order to meet the emergency of the times.
Later on he built a new home and the store which was known as "Angleton " . In 1877 he enlarged his store and made it into a General Store.
The early settlers braided hats of wheat straw and sold them at the store. They also brought produce such as eggs, butter and potatoes to exchange them for groceries and dry goods. Beef hides and old rags were, also, brought to the store for exchange.
Sugar, crackers, and salt were kept in barrels. The store carried dried staples such as fruits, beans, dried pork, dried beef, rice, cracked corn, rolled oats, raisins, prunes, and English currents.
The store carried patent medicines and many ailments were taken care of ( thus cheating the doctor of a dollar). Shoes and boots were sold along with many other necessities. It also served as a post office.
A Star route from Warsaw served offices at Monouquet, Clunette. Angleton and Millwood. W.B. Anglin was appointed postmaster at Angleton. At first the mail was carried by mule wagon, driven by Conrand Hinkle and his stepsons, Ed and Will Herschberger .
Picture in your mind the mule team lazily moving along the road.
As they came near a dwelling where children were watching them, Will Herschberger, who had a sense of humor, would yell " Over the hills to the poor house, and the mules would break into a run.
This amused the children and gave Will a thrill. Later the mail wagon was drawn by two black horses.
The post office was discontinued about 1898, and free mail delivery took it's place. It was a rare treat to have the mail daily after having it ,only,once or twice a week.
A little before that, in 1897, W.B. Anglin bought a stock of groceries from a mister Newman at Clunette and operated a store there. This venture did not prove to be profitable, so in a short time the stock was taken to the Angleton store. For several years two Huckster Wagons were run from the store.
As the roads became improved, people went to town to shop and country stores did not thrive. The Angleton store was closed in 1902. The old store building was moved back from the road and used for implements and a , later, garage.
When W.B. Anglin died in 1923, the home was retained by Washington Irving Anglin, who had a family of eight sons.
Angleton Store and Post Office - A Fond Memory
When Millwood was in its infancy, Isaac Anglin settled on what is now the Lester Gay farm. He, also, owned a section of land, which he divided among his four children, one of whom was W.B. Anglin, who was born there.
In 1871 W.B. Anglin was married to Ellen Rusher. They lived east of Clunette on the Elam Anglin farm, later moving back to the Millwood farm. This part of the country was new. Roads were corduroy and impassable. Buggies were not in use. People walked to small towns for groceries. So W.B. Anglin started a grocery store in one room of his log house in order to meet the emergency of the times.
Later on he built a new home and the store which was known as "Angleton " . In 1877 he enlarged his store and made it into a General Store.
The early settlers braided hats of wheat straw and sold them at the store. They also brought produce such as eggs, butter and potatoes to exchange them for groceries and dry goods. Beef hides and old rags were, also, brought to the store for exchange.
Sugar, crackers, and salt were kept in barrels. The store carried dried staples such as fruits, beans, dried pork, dried beef, rice, cracked corn, rolled oats, raisins, prunes, and English currents.
The store carried patent medicines and many ailments were taken care of ( thus cheating the doctor of a dollar). Shoes and boots were sold along with many other necessities. It also served as a post office.
A Star route from Warsaw served offices at Monouquet, Clunette. Angleton and Millwood. W.B. Anglin was appointed postmaster at Angleton. At first the mail was carried by mule wagon, driven by Conrand Hinkle and his stepsons, Ed and Will Herschberger .
Picture in your mind the mule team lazily moving along the road.
As they came near a dwelling where children were watching them, Will Herschberger, who had a sense of humor, would yell " Over the hills to the poor house, and the mules would break into a run.
This amused the children and gave Will a thrill. Later the mail wagon was drawn by two black horses.
The post office was discontinued about 1898, and free mail delivery took it's place. It was a rare treat to have the mail daily after having it ,only,once or twice a week.
A little before that, in 1897, W.B. Anglin bought a stock of groceries from a mister Newman at Clunette and operated a store there. This venture did not prove to be profitable, so in a short time the stock was taken to the Angleton store. For several years two Huckster Wagons were run from the store.
As the roads became improved, people went to town to shop and country stores did not thrive. The Angleton store was closed in 1902. The old store building was moved back from the road and used for implements and a , later, garage.
When W.B. Anglin died in 1923, the home was retained by Washington Irving Anglin, who had a family of eight sons.
Summer. It really is summer. Out my front window, across the park, is a view of the city beach already populated by sun bathers and swimmers at eleven o'clock in the morning. In a few minutes (around 11:30) I will walk out into my herb garden and gather herbs that I can use in my protein shake. The oils in the herbs are at their height at this time and, therefore, they smell and taste better. Because drinking a green shake is not appealing to me but I need more spinach in my diet; I fool myself by using fresh mint. A mint shake is supposed to be green-right? Now it is very yummy!!
Today is a great day for the Anglin family. Uncle Jack is being interviewed by WFYI , an Indianapolis tv station, for their special on Indiana's Bicentennial which will be aired in July. He was a teen when electricity came to us. He said my grandmother was afraid that the "juice" coming through the wires would drip out so she placed pans at the outlets. I lived there, at Angleton, for a time as a three and four year old. Suppers by coal-oil lamp is one of my treasured memories.
Today is a great day for the Anglin family. Uncle Jack is being interviewed by WFYI , an Indianapolis tv station, for their special on Indiana's Bicentennial which will be aired in July. He was a teen when electricity came to us. He said my grandmother was afraid that the "juice" coming through the wires would drip out so she placed pans at the outlets. I lived there, at Angleton, for a time as a three and four year old. Suppers by coal-oil lamp is one of my treasured memories.
Sunday, June 5, 2016
When I first became aware of my husband's family being descendants of a man that came to "the new world" on the Mayflower I thought it was a hoax. As the lady on the phone was asking me questions about my children's names and birth dates, visions of those fake family crests came to mind. I don't think I hung up on her (she said she lived here), but I am sure I cut her off without any answers.
We had been married almost 20 years and no one in the Long family had clued me in about this fact. Apparently,they knew Edward Doty was on the Mayflower but he was not a Pilgrim or a member of the crew: he was a lowly indentured servant. Plus he got in typical teenage trouble with the "law" after they landed. So no big deal?
After a bit of research I was appalled that he was so disregarded. He helped construct most of the buildings in the settlement. Lived through that horrific first winter helping bury half of the population. Became an outstanding member of the community and his daughter Desire married Miles Standish's son Alexander.
Here is the timeline from the Mayflower to the Long family here in Indiana.
1620 Edward Doty(1) on the Mayflower, lands close to what is later called Plymouth Plantation.He does sign the Mayflower Compact.
1678 Edward's son, Samuel,(2) moves from the original settlement to Piscataway( now N.J.) He has joined the militia and marries Jane Harmon.
1740 After two generations ; Samuel(2) and his son, Samuel (3), then John (4), who is the fifth child of third generation Samuel, is born there in Piscataway, grows up and signs a lease for 300 acres at Basking Ridge, N.J. , 1739-40. Then John is recorded living in Morris N.J. 1746. There are reports of John being scalped while fighting Indians.
1790 In that year's census for Westmorland Co.Pa. John's son , Sam(5)appears along with his kin, Daniel and Johnathan.
1810 Sam(5) is in the Vandango Co. Pa. census.
1829 His son ,Sam(6) has moved to Butler Co. Oh. Other members of that migration group include son Joseph(7) who was born in Pa. Both Sams live out their lives there in Ohio along with Joseph,s mom, Ketura ,who is reported to have lived to the age of 110 there .
1837 Joseph Doty (7), having married Effie (Euphima),Thompson in Butler county, Oh. Then pays 200.00 for 40 acres in Warren Co. In. , around the town of Independence In.
1868 After Joseph's(7) daughter, Euphamia(8) is married to Henry Harrison Gerrard, April 16, 1861. They move over the state line to Iroquois, Ill., where they have 3 children, including our own Zillah Euphamia(9). They move back to Indiana where Zillah(9) grows to womanhood and marries John Long.
1904 Zillah Euphamia(9) has a son Gaylord Washington Long(10) who grows up in Morroco, In.. He joins Gast Construction road crew, moves to Warsaw In. on a job,where he meets and marries Martha Hoover from Syracuse. In. They settle here and have 3 children including Glen Gaylord Long(11) born in 1932. He grew up and married me, Janice Diane Anglin.
We had been married almost 20 years and no one in the Long family had clued me in about this fact. Apparently,they knew Edward Doty was on the Mayflower but he was not a Pilgrim or a member of the crew: he was a lowly indentured servant. Plus he got in typical teenage trouble with the "law" after they landed. So no big deal?
After a bit of research I was appalled that he was so disregarded. He helped construct most of the buildings in the settlement. Lived through that horrific first winter helping bury half of the population. Became an outstanding member of the community and his daughter Desire married Miles Standish's son Alexander.
Here is the timeline from the Mayflower to the Long family here in Indiana.
1620 Edward Doty(1) on the Mayflower, lands close to what is later called Plymouth Plantation.He does sign the Mayflower Compact.
1678 Edward's son, Samuel,(2) moves from the original settlement to Piscataway( now N.J.) He has joined the militia and marries Jane Harmon.
1740 After two generations ; Samuel(2) and his son, Samuel (3), then John (4), who is the fifth child of third generation Samuel, is born there in Piscataway, grows up and signs a lease for 300 acres at Basking Ridge, N.J. , 1739-40. Then John is recorded living in Morris N.J. 1746. There are reports of John being scalped while fighting Indians.
1790 In that year's census for Westmorland Co.Pa. John's son , Sam(5)appears along with his kin, Daniel and Johnathan.
1810 Sam(5) is in the Vandango Co. Pa. census.
1829 His son ,Sam(6) has moved to Butler Co. Oh. Other members of that migration group include son Joseph(7) who was born in Pa. Both Sams live out their lives there in Ohio along with Joseph,s mom, Ketura ,who is reported to have lived to the age of 110 there .
1837 Joseph Doty (7), having married Effie (Euphima),Thompson in Butler county, Oh. Then pays 200.00 for 40 acres in Warren Co. In. , around the town of Independence In.
1868 After Joseph's(7) daughter, Euphamia(8) is married to Henry Harrison Gerrard, April 16, 1861. They move over the state line to Iroquois, Ill., where they have 3 children, including our own Zillah Euphamia(9). They move back to Indiana where Zillah(9) grows to womanhood and marries John Long.
1904 Zillah Euphamia(9) has a son Gaylord Washington Long(10) who grows up in Morroco, In.. He joins Gast Construction road crew, moves to Warsaw In. on a job,where he meets and marries Martha Hoover from Syracuse. In. They settle here and have 3 children including Glen Gaylord Long(11) born in 1932. He grew up and married me, Janice Diane Anglin.
Saturday, June 4, 2016
Aunt Anna Rapp, at 17, wrote about a teenage similar to mine. No tv, no cell phones, no computers, no electric dishwashers (except in resturants). We read, listened to the radio, went to movies, cruised around in cars, went to dances, ect. Here is her recounting of this day on June 4 , 1941. She was out of school working for my uncle Herm (her older brother)as a live in baby sitter:
Dear Diary. Up at 7:00 Breakfast. Read until David got up. Cleaned up the house. Helped get dinner (they called lunch dinner)Done dishes. (She always used done instead of did.)Listened to radio stories. Mowed the lawn -Liz and I. ( Liz was Herm's really pretty wife). We played catch. Done chores. Got supper. Ate. Stacked dishes.
Heard Fred Allen, Glen Miller,Kay Kiser and other good programs. Played with David . To bed at 9:15.
I was seldom allowed to stack the supper dishes. The daytime radio was mostly soap opras like "Our gal Sunday" and Stella Dallas.
Dear Diary. Up at 7:00 Breakfast. Read until David got up. Cleaned up the house. Helped get dinner (they called lunch dinner)Done dishes. (She always used done instead of did.)Listened to radio stories. Mowed the lawn -Liz and I. ( Liz was Herm's really pretty wife). We played catch. Done chores. Got supper. Ate. Stacked dishes.
Heard Fred Allen, Glen Miller,Kay Kiser and other good programs. Played with David . To bed at 9:15.
I was seldom allowed to stack the supper dishes. The daytime radio was mostly soap opras like "Our gal Sunday" and Stella Dallas.
Junes I Remember
There are the usual reasons a school age girl would be thrilled when June arrived; end of school ect. For me it was especially happy because I got to stay at my Grandparents farm where I spent most of my preschool years.
Dewy Sunday mornings at "Angleton" included visiting the fragrant pink rose bush just off the front porch. I was allowed to pick one or two blossoms to pin to my dress or hair after an inspection by Grandma Grace. Then a clean handkerchief had a nickle tied into the corner for Sunday school offering. These are comforting memories. When my daughter who is mother of school aged kids wonders if she is "getting through" she should know she has great powers.
One of the biggest events of Junes on the farm was the annual strawberry fest. Picking, baking, and ice cream making is all written about in my June 20, 2011 post.
There are the usual reasons a school age girl would be thrilled when June arrived; end of school ect. For me it was especially happy because I got to stay at my Grandparents farm where I spent most of my preschool years.
Dewy Sunday mornings at "Angleton" included visiting the fragrant pink rose bush just off the front porch. I was allowed to pick one or two blossoms to pin to my dress or hair after an inspection by Grandma Grace. Then a clean handkerchief had a nickle tied into the corner for Sunday school offering. These are comforting memories. When my daughter who is mother of school aged kids wonders if she is "getting through" she should know she has great powers.
One of the biggest events of Junes on the farm was the annual strawberry fest. Picking, baking, and ice cream making is all written about in my June 20, 2011 post.
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Well, it is already June ...Hard to believe. It was great to have Grace and Nick here to do the Stonypoint visit Sunday, and go to Leesburg next morning to watch the parade. We always finish that occasion by toasting my world war two uncles with our favorite beverages at The Keg. I thank God every day that my Uncle Jack is still with us and treasure early childhood memories of my wonderful Uncle Bill who was killed in France; reference video posted Sunday, May 24, 2009 for Grace's reading of those details.
An early hazy memory is, being picked up by uncle Bill in G. Grace's kitchen. The little blue satin dress I was wearing was new and I was admonished not to get it dirty. That is when uncle Bill gave me a chocolate ice cream cone someone handed him. Because he was still holding me when G. Grace came into the room, he was the one who got scolded. At that time in the world, if you stained a fabric like satin, you would just throw it away.
An early hazy memory is, being picked up by uncle Bill in G. Grace's kitchen. The little blue satin dress I was wearing was new and I was admonished not to get it dirty. That is when uncle Bill gave me a chocolate ice cream cone someone handed him. Because he was still holding me when G. Grace came into the room, he was the one who got scolded. At that time in the world, if you stained a fabric like satin, you would just throw it away.
Sunday, February 7, 2016
This is Superbowl Sunday. I went with Jen and Chris to Clunette church. They always have a soup lunch after and Chris took his widely acclaimed big taste chili. It was great!!
Had a much better night because Jen fixed my bed. She is alot stronger than she looks.
Yesterday was my wedding anniversary. I was thinking of all the great celebrations of that event. Had Glen lived 2 more months we would have celebrated our 50th.
An outstanding surprise was on our 20th when Chris, having taken cooking in a "bachelor living" high school class, felt equal to the task of preparing a candlelight dinner for us. It included steak, baked potato, salad and dessert; also wine served with a tea towel over his arm. While we were eating he played our Lowery organ (dinner music). What a guy!!!
Had a much better night because Jen fixed my bed. She is alot stronger than she looks.
Yesterday was my wedding anniversary. I was thinking of all the great celebrations of that event. Had Glen lived 2 more months we would have celebrated our 50th.
An outstanding surprise was on our 20th when Chris, having taken cooking in a "bachelor living" high school class, felt equal to the task of preparing a candlelight dinner for us. It included steak, baked potato, salad and dessert; also wine served with a tea towel over his arm. While we were eating he played our Lowery organ (dinner music). What a guy!!!
Sunday, January 31, 2016
This is East Wayne school circa 1939 when my husband (Glen Long, third row up second in from the right), was in second grade there. Early in the school year he got caught talking when the boy behind him taped him on the back and asked him a question.
The teacher said " You boys need to get up in front of the class and sing a song" So after a short conference they decided on a popular song of the day. It was named "Pistol Packin' Mama";starts out with "drinkin' beer in a cabaret and was I havin' fun! Then one night she caught me right and now I'm on the run!" Everyone in the room was amused except his teacher.
I so wish I had asked him to write all his classmates and teachers names.
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Koscuisko County Indiana Schools 1835-1965 (continued)
After school jobs ( continued )
I got paid once in a while for helping my brother with his paper route.
I started babysitting when I was thirteen.
Got a job at Stephenson's, (they still have one in Elkhart I think) when I was buying my wedding trouseau. Bought the dress Diana wore to my wedding there. I made my sister Kerry's dress.
My favorite job was working for Marge Gast. I was a live-in babysitter part of the time after school and most summers. This helped me learn so many things: cooking ,sewing, first aid, child care, cleaning and on and on.
Even after I was married , Glen and I would stay with the kids when Marge and Bob had to go out of town.
After school jobs ( continued )
I got paid once in a while for helping my brother with his paper route.
I started babysitting when I was thirteen.
Got a job at Stephenson's, (they still have one in Elkhart I think) when I was buying my wedding trouseau. Bought the dress Diana wore to my wedding there. I made my sister Kerry's dress.
My favorite job was working for Marge Gast. I was a live-in babysitter part of the time after school and most summers. This helped me learn so many things: cooking ,sewing, first aid, child care, cleaning and on and on.
Even after I was married , Glen and I would stay with the kids when Marge and Bob had to go out of town.
What transportation was provided?
The county country kids were provided buses but we city kids walked. I remember walking down the middle of N. Washington St. after a big snow storm in January on the way to school ( only three blocks). Wires and limbs were down in the street. We just stayed away from them.
Was there a national event that occurred during your school years?
The second world war was still in progress in my early elementary years. I remember the scrap metal drives -huge mounds of cans ect. on the courthouse lawn. We had a good Victory garden. Every week at school we would buy stamps (a dime would buy one stamp) to be collected in a bond book. They would be turned. into War Bonds. Leather rationing was so bad that I have hammer toes from wearing shoes that were too small as I was growing.
Did you have after school jobs.
In grade school after school, once a week, I would take out my next door neighbor's "garbage" . After that I would take several books and a list of books she wanted to the library two blocks away and get her books.I loved this because I got to visit the upstairs where kids were not that welcome.
The county country kids were provided buses but we city kids walked. I remember walking down the middle of N. Washington St. after a big snow storm in January on the way to school ( only three blocks). Wires and limbs were down in the street. We just stayed away from them.
Was there a national event that occurred during your school years?
The second world war was still in progress in my early elementary years. I remember the scrap metal drives -huge mounds of cans ect. on the courthouse lawn. We had a good Victory garden. Every week at school we would buy stamps (a dime would buy one stamp) to be collected in a bond book. They would be turned. into War Bonds. Leather rationing was so bad that I have hammer toes from wearing shoes that were too small as I was growing.
Did you have after school jobs.
In grade school after school, once a week, I would take out my next door neighbor's "garbage" . After that I would take several books and a list of books she wanted to the library two blocks away and get her books.I loved this because I got to visit the upstairs where kids were not that welcome.
Did you participate in extra activities?:
When I was in 2nd or 3rd grade there was a May Fest performed in the armory/ gym next to Center Ward school
our class, along with several other same age classes, was enlisted to learn "The Sailor's Hornpipe", a classic tap number of the day. I don't know where they got all the bell bottom pants. We made the collars , ties and gob hats in art. Anyway we filled most of the gym floor and felt almost Busby Berkeley like. It probably looked great from the high bleacher seats. Toward the end they had an actual Maypole ceremony and I believe Katey Ann Kintzle ( don't remember her maiden name) was crowned May Queen.
I would have won the 6th grade spelling bee except that the girl who became our class valdictorian senior year beat me.
In my teens Miss Virol had me sing a solo on a radio broadcast. WRSW had not been in existence that long.
I went to lots of Saturday speech and vocal contests. Later I was asked to judge speech contests. Ooew those miserable bus rides to other schools.
The real speech prizes in my family went to my sister and my future sister in law years later. They were in the same class, went to state and excelled.
Tell about recess, school yard or games?
All the usual school yard "why am I the last one to be picked?'games were popular. There was dodge ball , Red Rover-Red Rover, shooting hoops was called Horse. I liked to find a cozy corner of the building out of the wind and skip rope or practice yells.
If weather was too bad for outside, the teacher would organize birthday party like games. I would have been happier reading a book.
In teen years occasionally I would go with friends to Walter's Drug Store , on Center St. a couple doors from Breading's Cigar store, after school for a "nickle coke". There were two other drugstores in town (Dufer's and Knight's) but Walter's was the hang-out.
Sometimes the "crowd " got a little loud. On one afternoon the owner came out from behind the counter and told the bigger kids in the group that it was time we either order more stuff or leave. One of the senior girls was so humiliated that she organized the rest of us (mostly younger kids) into a protest parade that marched around the Courthouse and straight to Knight's drugstore. We had already spent our nickle at Walters so Mr. Knight was not all that pleased to see us either.
When I was in 2nd or 3rd grade there was a May Fest performed in the armory/ gym next to Center Ward school
our class, along with several other same age classes, was enlisted to learn "The Sailor's Hornpipe", a classic tap number of the day. I don't know where they got all the bell bottom pants. We made the collars , ties and gob hats in art. Anyway we filled most of the gym floor and felt almost Busby Berkeley like. It probably looked great from the high bleacher seats. Toward the end they had an actual Maypole ceremony and I believe Katey Ann Kintzle ( don't remember her maiden name) was crowned May Queen.
I would have won the 6th grade spelling bee except that the girl who became our class valdictorian senior year beat me.
In my teens Miss Virol had me sing a solo on a radio broadcast. WRSW had not been in existence that long.
I went to lots of Saturday speech and vocal contests. Later I was asked to judge speech contests. Ooew those miserable bus rides to other schools.
The real speech prizes in my family went to my sister and my future sister in law years later. They were in the same class, went to state and excelled.
Tell about recess, school yard or games?
All the usual school yard "why am I the last one to be picked?'games were popular. There was dodge ball , Red Rover-Red Rover, shooting hoops was called Horse. I liked to find a cozy corner of the building out of the wind and skip rope or practice yells.
If weather was too bad for outside, the teacher would organize birthday party like games. I would have been happier reading a book.
In teen years occasionally I would go with friends to Walter's Drug Store , on Center St. a couple doors from Breading's Cigar store, after school for a "nickle coke". There were two other drugstores in town (Dufer's and Knight's) but Walter's was the hang-out.
Sometimes the "crowd " got a little loud. On one afternoon the owner came out from behind the counter and told the bigger kids in the group that it was time we either order more stuff or leave. One of the senior girls was so humiliated that she organized the rest of us (mostly younger kids) into a protest parade that marched around the Courthouse and straight to Knight's drugstore. We had already spent our nickle at Walters so Mr. Knight was not all that pleased to see us either.
Saturday, January 23, 2016
What is your favorite memory?:
As so often happens my favorite school memory was kind of a fluke. It happened right in the middle of my freshman year still in the Center Ward building which was right next to the Armory that housed our County Gym (you can see it in the back of my 6th grade picture).
Anyway. one of the cheer teem made a poor choice of activity after a big basketball game and was eliminated as what we, then, called a "yell leader".
The powers that be decided there would be try-outs in the gym and the entire student body would elect a replacement. I was sitting up in the bleachers with my friends and we were all encouraging / daring each other to try-out. I gave in and joined the line of candidates. Second to last I gave it my best effort using "Grrrrawh Tigers". Then we all filed into the consessions hall so that we could be voted on. I felt so inferior to the mostly older kids that I went to the end of the line and was last to run on to the gym floor. Each one was cheered when they appeared - I was afraid they would boo. Suddenly it was my turn. When I entered the gym the entire student body rose and cheered! I looked behind me in disbelief. But it really was me- a lowly freshman on the varsity cheer teem.
That lasted out the year; then when they chose again the next fall I was replaced by an acrobatic dancer from Chicago.
What are some fun or funny stories?:
In my high school junior year after home basketball games there was a cake walk. That was where students walked one direction, in a circle around a blindfolded student until the music stopped. Who ever was standing where the center pointer was pointing, won the cake. I was dating a college boy who worked nights in a factory to pay tuition. He very generously bought tickets for us. Just before the music stopped he gave me a little nudge that landed me directly in front of the pointer-so I won the cake. It was a gorgeous double layer with full filling and frosting. I was happy but disappointed that he had to leave right away and go to work. Just then a group of older "popular kids" came up and invited me to a party a few blocks away. My date said it was ok for me to take the cake and go. You can guess what happened. They almost demolished the cake. Then they started pairing up and going into dark rooms. I was left to walk home (three blocks) with the leftovers.
Yes. I did marry that college guy.
As so often happens my favorite school memory was kind of a fluke. It happened right in the middle of my freshman year still in the Center Ward building which was right next to the Armory that housed our County Gym (you can see it in the back of my 6th grade picture).
Anyway. one of the cheer teem made a poor choice of activity after a big basketball game and was eliminated as what we, then, called a "yell leader".
The powers that be decided there would be try-outs in the gym and the entire student body would elect a replacement. I was sitting up in the bleachers with my friends and we were all encouraging / daring each other to try-out. I gave in and joined the line of candidates. Second to last I gave it my best effort using "Grrrrawh Tigers". Then we all filed into the consessions hall so that we could be voted on. I felt so inferior to the mostly older kids that I went to the end of the line and was last to run on to the gym floor. Each one was cheered when they appeared - I was afraid they would boo. Suddenly it was my turn. When I entered the gym the entire student body rose and cheered! I looked behind me in disbelief. But it really was me- a lowly freshman on the varsity cheer teem.
That lasted out the year; then when they chose again the next fall I was replaced by an acrobatic dancer from Chicago.
What are some fun or funny stories?:
In my high school junior year after home basketball games there was a cake walk. That was where students walked one direction, in a circle around a blindfolded student until the music stopped. Who ever was standing where the center pointer was pointing, won the cake. I was dating a college boy who worked nights in a factory to pay tuition. He very generously bought tickets for us. Just before the music stopped he gave me a little nudge that landed me directly in front of the pointer-so I won the cake. It was a gorgeous double layer with full filling and frosting. I was happy but disappointed that he had to leave right away and go to work. Just then a group of older "popular kids" came up and invited me to a party a few blocks away. My date said it was ok for me to take the cake and go. You can guess what happened. They almost demolished the cake. Then they started pairing up and going into dark rooms. I was left to walk home (three blocks) with the leftovers.
Yes. I did marry that college guy.
I am writing this on my blog because I can print it out for a second use at the Koscuisko County Historical Society Museum.
At the museum we have a large project depicting schools in the county along with pictures. It will become a book called "Koscuisko County Indiana Schools 1835 -1965".
Our geneaology library director gave me a list of questions that I will use as an outline for this dissertation.
What schools did you attend?: West Ward stood at west end of Main street where Madison school was and now Gateway . When we moved two blocks from Center Ward school I went there and stayed in that double building through ninth grade.
It was so great that my favorite place, the Warsaw Public Library, was right across the street. I attended high school at the high school building three years because ninth grade was in the Center Ward location. Warsaw High on Main street is now Retired Tigers.
I did attend the old grade school at Claypool one day.
Shortly after Dad got remarried we moved to this old farmhouse with a big porch and a dumb waiter. More about that in a later blog post. Anyway, my brother was 6 so ready to go to school on the bus. I was just barely 5 and envious that he got to go somewhere with a bunch of kids on a bus. Thinking like 5 year olds do ( not thinking it out), I sneeked on to the bus with him. Good thing it was still warm 'cause, I only had on a play dress and shoes. K., my brother seemed ok with it so I just followed him into his class and sat near him. The teacher caught on pretty quickly but she was nice about the situation. They could not call my parents because there was no phone in the old house. I just remember going uptown to get a loaf of bread and lunch meat with K. for lunch. Somehow they worked it out that I would just go home on the bus at the proper time. They probably made it clear that I would not return until next year.
s
What subjects did you take? Why? Favorite class?:
In addition to the usual reading and math we had classical handwriting classes. Of course it was writing in cursive. Star stickered examples were chosen to hang on the walls out in the hall.
Later favorite classes were American Literature, Speech, Choir and Art.
Who were your teachers?:
Mrs. Lower was a patient and kind first grade teacher at West Ward. Mrs Mendel made me feel welcome in second grade Center Ward. My very favorite teacher and principal was Mr. Russell Harmon. He was a firm but fair educator. When we were struggling with parts of speech he stopped the progression and made sure that we all "got " what was important. We really benefited from that when we entered Mrs. Braddock's senior English class.
At the museum we have a large project depicting schools in the county along with pictures. It will become a book called "Koscuisko County Indiana Schools 1835 -1965".
Our geneaology library director gave me a list of questions that I will use as an outline for this dissertation.
What schools did you attend?: West Ward stood at west end of Main street where Madison school was and now Gateway . When we moved two blocks from Center Ward school I went there and stayed in that double building through ninth grade.
It was so great that my favorite place, the Warsaw Public Library, was right across the street. I attended high school at the high school building three years because ninth grade was in the Center Ward location. Warsaw High on Main street is now Retired Tigers.
I did attend the old grade school at Claypool one day.
Shortly after Dad got remarried we moved to this old farmhouse with a big porch and a dumb waiter. More about that in a later blog post. Anyway, my brother was 6 so ready to go to school on the bus. I was just barely 5 and envious that he got to go somewhere with a bunch of kids on a bus. Thinking like 5 year olds do ( not thinking it out), I sneeked on to the bus with him. Good thing it was still warm 'cause, I only had on a play dress and shoes. K., my brother seemed ok with it so I just followed him into his class and sat near him. The teacher caught on pretty quickly but she was nice about the situation. They could not call my parents because there was no phone in the old house. I just remember going uptown to get a loaf of bread and lunch meat with K. for lunch. Somehow they worked it out that I would just go home on the bus at the proper time. They probably made it clear that I would not return until next year.
s
What subjects did you take? Why? Favorite class?:
In addition to the usual reading and math we had classical handwriting classes. Of course it was writing in cursive. Star stickered examples were chosen to hang on the walls out in the hall.
Later favorite classes were American Literature, Speech, Choir and Art.
Who were your teachers?:
Mrs. Lower was a patient and kind first grade teacher at West Ward. Mrs Mendel made me feel welcome in second grade Center Ward. My very favorite teacher and principal was Mr. Russell Harmon. He was a firm but fair educator. When we were struggling with parts of speech he stopped the progression and made sure that we all "got " what was important. We really benefited from that when we entered Mrs. Braddock's senior English class.
Friday, January 22, 2016
Sixth Grade Center Ward Mid 1940s
Eddie Hatfield, Kay Mc Coy, Allen Hartman, Leo Grow, Ralph Neer, Marlene Kelly, Deon Himes, Vallory Wyman, Carolyn Shole, Harold Sheppler, Clara Bell Grow, Rodney Lowman, Garnet Hyde, Martha Neer.
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