The hang-outs

You'll probably remember a few of these spots--places a youngster could hang out with friends. First, there was the Townview Dairy. Great place to stop for an ice cream cone. I remember stopping there during band concerts in the summer.


The next photo has a few classics in it. The Ogle Cafe, next door to Redding's Furniture store which sold all the latest records teenagers wanted, across from the Lamb Theater where we went for movies (for 50 cents), with a 1956 pink and white Ford owned by Delbert Spickler, Barb H.'s brother-in-law. Wonder what that car would be worth today?



We had two drug stores (pharmacies), Zickuhr's and Felker's, both with lunch counters and booths. Both were teen hangouts. I worked at Zickuhr's both in high school and one summer when I was home from college. It was owned by the parents of our class member, Dick Z. Alice's homemade sandwich filling and Mrs. Felker's coffee cake kept the customers coming back. We kids liked the cherry cokes and green rivers (what was in those?).

Zickuhr's was originally (1937) at the corner of Main and Wesley, and after they built a new building a few doors to the east, Fran's Dress Shop moved into that space, and that really became a hangout--at least for the girls. See Lynne's story.


Downtown looked like this when we were teens.



Thanks to Nancy S. for the photos.

The old elementary school

served the town well--just a little over 100 years. You can't see it from this angle, but remember the fire escape on the other side. Woo woo! What fun! Originally this building with four rooms educated both elementary and high school. There was an addition added on the west side in 1886, and then another one in the 1950s (is it still there?) But does anyone know when the addition on the southeast side was built? Obviously, it was before 1951, because the next photo shows part of our 6th grade class with Mrs. Withers in that upper classroom. Look! Nancy and Moe are sitting together! Is this where it started?


I've forgotten some names. Who is sitting behind Dorothy R. in the back? Who's behind Betty L. in the back? Who is the girl behind Darlene H. in the back? Can you pick out your cartoon drawing on the wall? Mine is Trigger right next to Woody Woodpecker. I only knew how to draw horses. For having no art curriculum in the school, I'd say we did quite well, wouldn't you?

Here's one of the eighth grade classes--Mrs. Burstrom who also directed the senior play when we were in high school. The only names I don't know are the two girls on either side of Barb H. Everyone else was in. . .the other 8th grade. . .was that Mr. Rahn? Or was he 7th grade? Where did Mr. Appler come in?

Thanks to Nancy S. who sent the clipping about the demolition of the school in 1970.

I would like to post some photos of the country schools. These are the names in the county history, but I don't know who may have attended or when they were closed. I know Glen O. and Bonnie W. went to Victory School. There was a Center School of Trot Town, and I'm guessing the Thomas girls went there; Coon Creek which closed in 1956; Union School east of town; Cedar Bluff auctioned in 1950; Fairview School; Maple Grove; New Junction.

The way we were

This is our 1987 class reunion. I may have to rescan it. Nancy sent it to me and it only had 1 dpi. Friends of the class of 1957: the next time we have a photo taken, please take off your glasses if they change to dark in the sunlight! We look like a group of bumblebees!

That was my very favorite dress of my adult life--worst year, but best dress. Fashion went down hill in the 90s, and really hasn't recovered.

As American as apple pie

The Snodgrass family farm was on the road to Oregon (if you were driving to Rockford it came out north of Oregon along the Rock River), and the house is a classic American Four Square, or Prairie Box, popular from about 1890-1930. Although I don't know when this was built (maybe Nancy or Don know), those little side porches were designed for rainy weather--you could drive the carriage or car up to the house, and not mess up the living room. If you grew up anywhere in the midwest, you knew this house--comfortable, airy, and perfect for families. They worked just as well in the cities as they did in the country.

And here's one of the main attractions at the Snodgrass farm--Flicka and her owner Nancy. I think the whole class knew Flicka, and of course, we all thank Nancy for her many years of calling us back home in the summer for our reunions.

As I remember it, Flicka was much nicer than my horse. And did you know my horse originally belonged to the Orrs? I wouldn't claim that Ordy taught this horse bad habits, but I remember Sara Y. and I riding double on him south of Mt. Morris, when the saddle slipped sideways and we both tumbled off, each hanging on to the other. The old puff-out-your-belly-trick when they tighten the cinch. Just one of the many dangerous things you never told your parents!

Red House Mystery, the Senior Class Play

Lynne F. writes her memories of the senior class play, April 12, 1957. Photos by Nancy L.

Mt. Morris High School traditionally had an annual junior play in the fall and senior play in the spring. We also had a very active drama club which went by various names during our high school years (see the Thespian story), and our English teachers encouraged participation in the arts--acting, writing and set design.

I think half of our class was in our senior play, The Red House Mystery, either in the cast or the production crew. Some of us doubled as actors and production staff.

left to right: Lynne F., Glen O., Sharon R., Carol K.
The play was based on the book by A.A. Milne, the author of House at Pooh Corner and Now we are Six, so enjoyed by generations of children, my sisters and me included. Adapted for the stage in three acts by Ruth Perry, it is still being performed by schools and community groups. It's a relief to know it survived the class of 1957 which performed it 50 years ago this month.

The plot is complicated with sibling rivalry, house guests, a murder and even a ghost, and is set in an English manor house. Darlene H. played the actress Ruth Norris and wore a sheet to be a convincing ghost. David S. and Duane B. were Inspectors Birch and Turner, trying to investigate the murder of the master of the manor. Jon M. and Nancy L. were Antony and Angela, an engaged couple. Myron B. played Cayley the foster son (and murderer) who is killed by Inspector Turner (Duane). Sharon G. was the housekeeper and Mary Lou S. and I were maids. Glenn O. played a retired Army officer and put his whole heart and soul into his scenes and was the only one who could be heard in the back of the auditorium. Other cast and crew members were Priscilla D., Carolyn M., Carol K., Pat B., Mike B. and Nelson P.; please add names that I've missed--and parts if you remember.

Mary Lou S., Lynne F., Dave S., Sharon G. (?)
Our director was the wonderful and patient Mrs. Burstrom (she was also 8th grade teacher for many in the class), and I can't say enough about how hard she worked with us to get our lines right. One phrase, "They quarrelled" kept coming out as "The squirelled" by the time it was heard in the back. We had a great time during rehearsals and poor Mrs. Burstrom was in tears more than once, as we could not remember our lines. Opening night came and went and we managed to get through our three acts with parents, sisters, brothers, aunts and uncles all assembled and applauding dutifully.


Priscilla D. and Jon M. making pop-corn at rehearsal
Diane B. hosted our cast party following the play and she and her mother were wonderful hostesses with much food and drink and a huge cake. We presented our beleaguered director with a thank you gift from everyone in the cast and crew and a card signed by everyone. I presented the gift to her and once again she cried. She was a wonderful person and a great teacher.

Memories, a poem

Lynne F. submitted a prose poem for the blog about memories, and I looked through Nancy's photos and thought this one of some of us looking in the distance might fit. We are actually watching a spring baseball game (March 1953), and it must have been muddy so we're standing on a board. Look at those white shoes! I sort of like the far away look, like we're trying to figure out what will happen. Tina, who is now a great grandmother, looks right at the camera and smiles; Lynne, who grew into a real sports fan, is looking somewhere else.


Left to right: Lynne (back turned), Sylvia H., Carol S. (class of 58), Priscilla D., Norma C., Marion D. (partially hidden), Francine K., Sara Y. and Tina K.

". . . but memories remain forever. Real memories of happier, more innocent days before we came to know the world. But they are always with us, running parallel to the present, shining like stars in a cup of water, as some poet said, lighting up our path, and never going out." by Lynne Fleming Wilburn, 2002