Boy Scout Jamboree by Mike Balluff, memories from 1953

In 1953 I got about as political as I want to get. Let me tell you about it. 

There was a Boy Scout World Jamboree held in Santa Ana, California. I was chosen to be a patrol leader (yay) and my parents put me on a train early in the morning on July 9 in Rockford, Illinois. I left my folks knowing that I wouldn't see them again for 2 weeks. Separation anxiety was short as the train loaded with Boy Scouts from all over northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin left for two weeks of fun on Southern California. We sang songs, played cards, and played pranks on each other. It was fun sleeping in the Pullman bunks. The clack of the tracks, swaying of the cars easily put me to sleep. In 3 days we were in Santa Ana at the Irvine ranch with 50,000 other scouts. We swam in the ocean, cooked our own food, pitched our tents, had trading sessions where we traded things from our home town and state, and great hikes exploring the ranch. The evenings featured stage shows and entertainment by many movie stars, such as Debbie Reynolds, Jimmy Stewart, Roy Rogers , Mitzi Gaynor, Danny Kaye, and others. A bunch of us waited at the gate where the celebs came in hoping to get autographs and Richard Nixon, the USVP came in riding in a convertible limo with his bodyguards. The car stopped right in front of us and one of the bodyguards gave me a stick of Wrigley's spearmint gum. WOW I chewed that gum for 5 days, saving it overnight on the bedpost. From that time on I was a Nixon man! I knew then he didn't have any idea about Watergate!

[This memory first appeared on Mike's Facebook Wall, and is used with his permission.]

Jamboree Road now is one of the major thoroughfares in Orange County, California, running from just west of Irvine Lake, all the way south to Pacific Coast Highway.main street, but in 1953 it was a gravel road through a tent town of boy scouts.





Images are from OC Register story. Patch from Orange Co. Memories.

Here are some photos, including Nixon, from the OC Register.  I wonder if the bartering and trading are  what launched Mike's later antiques career. http://www.ocregister.com/.../webb-649572-jamboree-scouts...

http://www.octhen.com/2006/09/jamboree-road.htm

Birthday parties were big for the ladies of '57

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Can't be sure of the years, but I'm guessing the Lake Ripley event was May of 1952 or 1953,  and the party at the Olsens was 1954.  Does anyone have photos? Nowadays, everyone would have a cell phone camera and there would be 25-50 photos of each party!

Just girls hanging out--May 1953

From the left standing: Nancy L., Salley O., Norma C., Francine K., Sara Y.

Kneeling: Doree D. (class of 58) Marion D., Kay A.

This was probably lunch time based on the sun angle.

Photo from Carol S. (class of 58)

Cheerleaders, 1952-1953

Nancy S. has sent this adorable photograph of the Mt. Morris Grade School cheerleaders. Click to read the print.

Found! Another 8th grade trip photo

Nancy S. has found and scanned another photo from our wonderful 8th grade trip to Chicago. What I remember about the Spring of 1953 is that it was time to shop for "big girl" clothes. We had graduation, the trip to Chicago, and the Lutherans had confirmation. Our mothers must have gone crazy! Here's Nancy and Bonnie W. in their new duds for the trip. Nancy had to remind me that the dog collar around her ankle meant she had a steady boyfriend. I don't remember that fad, but am taking her word for it. Here are some other photos of that trip.

Eighth grade class photo on school steps

Sent by Nancy S. Can you identify everyone?

Trinity Confirmation Photo

Many members of our class were confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Mt. Morris in the Spring of 1953. Nancy S. was a member of that class and has submitted the group photo. The Library of Trinity has all the confirmation class photos, in case you needed to check on another year.

I'm going to make a stab at the names, and if I'm wrong, I hope someone will send a correction: Left to right, back row: Nelson P., Neal J., Mike B., Glen O., Pastor Stone, Carl L. (class of '56), Dave S., Dick Z., Bob C., Don H.
Left to right, front row: Larry B. (class of '56), Fran K., Priscilla D., Salley O., Judy T., Tina K., Ebba L., and Nancy S.

I just visited Trinity this Easter. What a lovely sanctuary and organ. Here's what it looks like today, much like it did 60 years ago when it was built and when these handsome young people confirmed their baptism.

Have your albums fallen apart?

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The album I made in grade school (black paper, colored photo corners, string binding) started to disintegrate about 30 years ago. I put the photos in one that is now started to go too, but worse, there was no place to write. So I don't know if this is 7th grade or 8th grade, or a mix. The snapshot is Judy, Sarah and Sharon, and I think that might be 8th grade from the length of the skirts. Wasn't Mike B. just the cutest? Is that why we elected him class president? And Francine looks like a 21 year old executive!

Where in the world is Ken Zinke?

For a guy who disappeared from view about 50 years ago, he gets a lot of attention--had his own page in the class booklet. Maybe through the miracle of the internet. . . Here's Ken as he looked in Carol Samsel's photo album. . . looks like maybe 8th grade.

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.

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

Greely and Glen

Nancy L. sent this photo taken in March 1953, so I have no idea what's going on except Greely M. is acting silly and Glen O. is helping him along--what a surprise! It looks like they were playing softball. I also can't tell what street they are on. There are parking meters, but I don't see any businesses. But didn't we have nice curbs and sidewalks in those days? Our little town was way ahead of the others. Does anyone remember when parking meters were installed? Do they still take pennies and nickels?

Eighth Grade Trip to Chicago

Early on a May morning in 1953 the whole 8th grade class boarded a yellow school bus bound for Chicago and the city sites--and as it turned out, smells as well.

It was the custom in our district in the 1950s to treat the 8th graders to a trip at the end of the school year. The destination was always Chicago, 90 miles east. First stop, Chicago Stock Yards. We were all small town kids and our village was surrounded by farms, but one whiff of the stock yards and everyone on the bus gave out with a collective P-U and windows were quickly closed.

I don't recall where we had lunch, but the afternoon was spent at the Museum of Science and Industry. It was an exciting experience--our eager young minds taking in the simulated coal mine, the vintage cars, seeing yourself on TV, so many scents, sounds and sights--the wonders of science.

Photos by Nancy L. and Norma C., memory by Lynne F.

Mike S., John Jon M. and Ken Z., possibly Glenn O. in the foreground. Might be Bob C., Jerry B., Larry S. in the background. Sara Y., Salley O. and Sylvia T. in the background. Some of our teachers on the top steps. Add a name in the comment if you recognize anyone else.

Left to right: Francine K., Norma C., and Priscilla D. "We're still all friends today," says Lynne.


Kay A., Sally O., Sara Y.
class of 1957

Halloween Party 1953

This photo was taken in the community gym, but I don't recall who sponsored the Halloween party--perhaps the youth canteen. I found seven members of the class of 1957 in this photo--but I don't know who is behind some of the masks. The non-class members I recognize are Danny, Joyce, Larry, Mary Ann, Wilma, Murray, Don, Gerry, Joyce, and Bob from Polo.

Can you find the seven members of the class of 1957 in this photo? Are you behind a mask?