Class Reunion

This is the final entry for the Class of 57 blog--a gift to all the classmates from Lynne. See you all on July 2!

The Lamb Theater

This looks a bit murky and dim, but it's a spot we all recognize. I've been looking for my little sophomore diary in which I listed all the movies I'd seen--about one a week. But can't find it. Mrs. Bearman sold tickets. I think we paid $.50 after age 13, maybe $.10 before. There were a few double seats. Very popular. Popcorn was good. There were cowboy series, cartoon series, and maybe horror shows? I think this is Barb H.'s photo. Any memorable movies you remember? Didn't they give away junker cars one year? What was that called?

May 17, 1957--The Prom

The following article is taken from the final issue of the Hilltopper, our school newspaper, May 31, 1957. It was written by Joyce Knowles and submitted here by Carol Samsel. Photos from Mounder 1957.

"The annual Junior-Senior Prom, Mexican Promenade, was enjoyed by approximately 50 couples this year. The dance took place in a Mexican market square containing a cafe, with an outdoor hacienda, a cantina, a band shell and numerous shops.

Many people believe this has been the most original theme in many years. Every thing used was authentic from the big Mexican sombreros to the little hand tooled shoes and hand painted vases. Even the band shell was copied from one in Mexico.


After the "senoritas and senors" enjoyed their Mexican Promenade, they journeyed to "El Lamb" where they watched a horror show entitled THEM. Following the show, a fiesta was held by the senior mothers at the Moose Club.

A prom wouldn't be perfect without a picnic however, so the "night owls and early birds" were up early Saturday morning picnicking at the Pines.

Neither would a dance be perfect without a nice long siesta. So, if there are still some senior stragglers here Wednesday, wake them up; school is out.

Entertainment at the prom banquet on Friday night, May 17, included the Mello-Tones who were directed and accompanied on the piano by Mrs. Helen Lou Kelsey. For the Mexican theme the group selected "Serenade of the Bells" and "Sorta on the Border." The latter number was highlighted by a cornet solo by Salley Olsen and the accompaniment of a rhythm section consisting of Steve Covin, maracas, Jim Graf, castanet, and Connie Frey, claves.

Senior Class Will and Prophecy

In the final issue of the Hilltopper, the senior class will and prophecy were posted. Also departing plans. I won't list them all, especially if, well, you know. . .some were mean. Kids!

Myron B. leaves his safe driving to Mr. Harvey.

Diane B. leaves her ability to talk to Joan K.

Duane B. leaves his Model A to next year's driver training class.

Steve B. leaves the Canteen--at last!

Barbara E. leaves her mother with Martha.

Lynne F. leaves her neatness to Neal J.

Priscilla D. leaves Mr. Worley to the juniors.

Glen O. leaves the lab windows--clean.

Glenn R. leaves his golf ability to Mr. Burstrom.

Ken Z. leaves his money-making ideas to Steve C.

Marv M. left.

Junior class supplied the prophecy.

Diane B. is going to be a gossip columnist for the New York Times.

Norman G. is famous for his imitations of Hollywood stars.

Glen O. is a circus barker, and Melvin K. has trained his beagle to be in Glen's circus.

Francine K. is in the 1960 Olympic games for hammer throwing.

Sharon R. is queen of the Rose Bowl of 1960.

Judy T. makes letters for alphabet soup and Sylvia T. is her proof reader.

Dick Z. is no. 1 caddy for Mr. Burstrom.

Greely M. is Mrs. Price's bodyguard.

Norma C. is writing an advice column.

Some plans for the future for the seniors.

Mary Jane F. planned to drive a chevy.

Carol K. planned to go to college.

Pat B. planned to work and get married.

Lynne F. planned to work, work, work, work.

Nancy L. planned to go to Florida.

Judy T. wouldn't tell.

Jerry T. planned to work and enter the service.

Dick Z. planned to have a ball.

Daisy W. planned to go to school in Nebraska.

Donna B. planned to get married.

Dwayne Z. planned to farm with Mary Jane.

Trips to Chicago

On May 11, 1957, the senior members of the National Honor Society--Sara Y., Sharon R., Norma C., Sylvia T., Sharon G., and Nelson P. went to Chicago with their advisor, Mr. Harvey, to see a play, "The apple cart," by George Bernard Shaw, and the Cinerama production, "The Seven Wonders of the World." Two guests, Mr. Yoder, and Mike B. accompanied the group as guests. I've been wondering about this event which was reported in the final issue of the Hilltopper. Why don't I have any memory of going? Although I do remember going to the play J.B. in Chicago with some group from school. Nor do I know why Mike B. was the only classmate invited as a guest, unless it was to protect Nelson from all those girls. Mr. Yoder probably drove a car, because even with the huge sedans we had in those days, all of us wouldn't fit in one car. But if you had asked me before today if I'd ever seen a Bernard Shaw play, I'd have said no. Nelson P. was the Editor of the Hilltopper, so I'm going to assume he wrote the article because it is mentioned that the comedy was a social protest, which would have gone right over my head.

Then on June 3, 1957, the FHA (Future Homemakers of America) went to Chicago to visit the Merchandise Mart, with lunch at Sears Roebuck. Thus inspired, they went shopping, then relaxed at a nice restaurant for dinner (there was a typo in the Hilltopper that referred to them as "sinners"). In the evening they split into two groups, one to see "The Ten Commandments" and the other to see, "Around the World in 80 Days." They would drive back to Mt. Morris around midnight. The article doesn't provide names, and we can't be sure who went (seniors had already graduated by then), but seniors in that organization were Pat B., Nancy G., Barb E., Mary Lou S., Debora P., Daisy W., Donna B., Lynne F., Judy T., Diane B., Dorothy R., Bonnie W., Nancy S., Carol K., Sharon R., Francine K., Priscilla D., and Nancy L.

The way we were in 1972

Click to enlarge

Upper left are Mike B., class president confering with Warren Burstrom, who with his wife, our 8th grade teacher, were our guests that night, July 1, 1972 at Emerald Hills.

Upper right counter clockwise are Duane B. (barely visible), Norma C., empty chair for my husband taking the photo, Lynne F., Ron D. and wife, Jean M., Bob C. and guest, and Norman G.

Lower left: Dave S. and Sylvia T., Sally O. and her husband Phil W. (not a class member), Ebba L., and Dwayne Z.

Lower right: Sally O. and Sharon R., Mike B. in background.

Breakfast cookout--senior girls

It is my hope that we've all improved our cooking skills since May 1957 when some of the senior girls gathered for a breakfast cookout. We were not like today's students who would probably stop by a Starbucks or McDonald's. No, we had bacon, eggs, o.j., milk, and someone probably figured out how to make toast on an open fire. I'm trying to remember what the occasion was, but the only thing I can remember is that we were allowed (or flaunted the rules) to wear casual clothes to school, so we combined that with a breakfast. It must have been a chilly day--we're all bundled up.

Upper left is Lynne F. pouring orange juice; upper right (that is not smoke, just a bad exposure) are Sylvia T. warming her hands, Darlene H. watching, and Nancy L. wondering if she should blow on the fire; then lower left is Francine K. stirring the eggs and Darlene trying to take the spoon (or is that a rake?); Then lower right is Nancy blowing on the fire (her mother was our Girl Scout leader), with Frannie laughing (surprise!) and Nancy's back to the camera. I don't know who that is in the white Illinois sweat shirt with loafers and white socks, but she's in 3 of the photos (possibly Pat B?). The picnic tables look like we were at the White Pines State Park, but the shelter house in the back ground doesn't seem right, unless it was the one right at the entrance.

Center School

At least five of our classmates of 1957 attended Center School as first graders, located one mile east of Mt. Morris Road on West Grove, according to Sylvia T. who submitted this photo and an article to Farm Focus, March 24, 2005. The photo was taken in 1946 and in the front row are Richard S., Barbara H., Judy T., Sylvia T. and Glenn R.

Sylvia was the third generation of her family to attend Center School and she remembers the playground games like Peggy-move-up and the swing sets and teeter-totter. They also had out-houses and hand pumped water for drinking. The day started, according to her article, with the Pledge of Allegiance and singing. The school had special productions for the holidays with drama, singing and recitation. Parents, grandparents, neighbors and friends would pack the house making the children feel special about their accomplishments.

As all children who attended rural schools, the younger ones listened as the older kids had their lessons--not such a bad idea--and they looked forward to the time they too would be doing those things. On Friday afternoons the studies were put away and they had craft time which produced "pumpkins, snowflakes, Easter bunnies etc., which would carefully be mounted around the room and on the windows." Sylvia remembers her teacher, Pauline Hagemann, as "a classy lady, impeccably dressed" with perfect penmanship who never had to raise her voice to discipline.

According to the county history, Center School was located in Trot Town on the S. Nally property. The early Brethren Colony met in Pine Creek, Salem, West Branch and northwest of Mt. Morris at Center School until the congregation built a church known as Silver Creek, quarried from native limestone just east of the school in 1868. Trot Town grew up around the church and school.

Sources: "Saunders was 3rd generation to attend Center," Farm Focus, March 24 2005, p. 7.
History of Ogle County, Ogle County Board, 1976.