Memories of the Canteen, by Lynne

During our four years at MMHS, the Wagon Wheel Canteen in the Community Gym was a big part of our week-end social scene. I vaguely recall painting something, as I was handy with a paint brush (still am) during a summer renovation. If anyone can explain where the "Wagon Wheel" name came from, I'd surely like to know. If I knew, I have forgotten (imagine that!). I have also forgotten the membership cost. I do remember going to the re-opening though, and that is (photo and Index article below) Francine K in the patterned skirt with her arm on Priscilla D and deep in a conversation with Nancy L right in back of Priscilla. Although the photo is fuzzy I think in the background is Bob O, Joyce S and Pat F on the right, and possibly Jean M and Greeley M over on the left.

I do remember the music. Not long after the re-opening, the Lamb Theater had a coming attraction for the movie, "The Glenn Miller Story," and not long after his music made its way to the canteen record player. I have Glenn Miller music on my I-Pod to this day. How that music has endured is nothing short of amazing!

In one issue of the Mt. Morris Index I read about a canteen sponsored dance, "the music, in part, by Noel McInnis and his Modern Music Manglers." I had to laugh out loud. It reminded me of a dance at NIU right after high school and my young date excitedly explaining that at this St. Patrick's day green pig dance, the music would be provided by "Oink" Henderson and the Squealers. I am not making this up! As much as I wanted to laugh, I remembered the Modern Music Manglers from high school and thought, why not? Both of these dances were fun.

The canteen was an after game stop--win or lose--and if you had a Friday or Saturday night date, sometimes the couples would pop in before heading home. Pop corn was sold and I can't recall what else, and there was a pool table and a shuffleboard game. Most parents enforced the 11:30 PM, "be home by" time. Often parents chaperoned and I always winced when by parents took a turn.

In this same 1954 issue of the Index, the Clara Warden Apparel Shop, 5 S. Wesley Ave., later to become the Smart Wear, ran an ad for a dress, "Snow Glitter" by Vicky Vaughn, $7.99, with eyelet snowflakes from yoke to hip, banded with daisy trim and a full swinging skirt in ice blue, parfait pink or white. Wing Song perfume was selling at $2.00 for 2 oz. down the street at the Mt. Morris Dress Shop. Nine out of 10 high school girls smelled of Wing Song at the canteen re-opening I am sure.

Anyone have canteen stories they'd like to share?


Click to enlarge

A 50's Fashion Story by Lynne

I begged my Mom to buy me two wool scarves--one pink and one yellow--it was the BIG fashion of the moment. I promised to have them dry cleaned at season's end (remember Cratty's on Main Street?). The first year I did, but by year two, I figured dry cleaning was killing my allowance (I had my 8th grade navy slacks pressed every Thursday for wearing on Friday. Our school colors were navy and orange.) So. . . I washed the scarves. Well, I had to give them over to my little sister for her dolls--they were the size of pocket hankies!!! I still don't trust a label that says "wool--washable." Ya, right--if it's wool, it's the dry cleaners.

The lower photo shows the jeans of the 50s. I wore boys jeans early on and there is the Ship & Shore white blouse and the mandatory neck scarf and saddle shoes. In the backgroun is the "new" Mt. Morris VFW--no trees yet or paved drive, so it was early 50s. I was enroute to the apple orchard in back of the VFW, so I think it was a warm fall day.

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.

We'll take a cup of kindness yet. . .

Christmas Party 1954
Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.
Robert Burns
Photo submitted by Nancy L., who is taking the photo, and I'm not sure whose mom was hosting this, Lynne's I think. Back row, Fran K., Sara Y., Tina K., Norma C., Salley O.; front foreground Deb P., then behind her Lynne F., Nancy G., Kay A., Priscilla D., and Marion D.

Lynne writes about this photo: "Always lots of great food at our parties after football and basketball games. No matter where we met--brownies, popcorn, French fries, and cokes--supplied by the mothers. One birthday party for Marion D. was celebrated at Lake Ripley at the Plum summer home. We swam, pretended to fish and looked for boys! Notice the saddle shoes, white shirts, rolled up jeans, the shiny, many colored aluminum glasses. Some Mamie Eisenhower bangs--it was 1954 and everyone liked Ike. Christmases have come and gone and I look forward to the Christmas greetings from these friends and remember that long ago Christmas when life was fresh and unfolding."

Memories of the Mt. Morris Dress Shop

By Lynne Fleming Wilburn, December 2006

Some things never change. . .teenage girls are still interested in clothes. Mt. Morris in the 1950s was lucky enough to have Fran Mischler and the Mt. Morris Dress Shop, aka The Corner Dress Shop, or just Fran's Dress Shop. Whatever you called it, girls spent a lot of time there, looking through boxes of scarves, stacks of Ship 'n Shore blouses, racks of Bobbie Brooks coordinates, Catalina sweaters and White Stag sportswear, testing frangrances such as Summer Shower and Wind Song. And when the allowance and babysitting money would allow, Pendleton.

Alas, Fran retired in the early 70s and moved back to Columbus, OH, her hometown. Ownership passed to Lenora Walker, mother of classmate Tom Walker. By the late 70s, she went out of business, going the way of most small town retailers. It was a sad day for "the girls."

But in the 50s, Fran's Dress Shop prevailed. At Christmas, she jotted down wish lists, and shoppers could get an idea of what you'd like, plus size and color. She wrapped with enormous bows--you could spot her packages under your tree at a glance. Classmate Sara Yoder Davidson worked there our junior and senior years, and on Saturday I'd finish my chores around the house and dash up to spend an hour or so just looking and gabbing with Sara.
The Women's Club put on wonderful Spring and Fall Style Shows and I modeled in several over my four years in MMHS. A delightful learning experience. Fran gave me lessons on posture; she taught me how to descend a flight of stairs; would remind me to put my shoulders back. (It makes you taller, and at 5' 5 1/2" I wanted to be tall like my friend, Nancy Lamm.)

And she would say, "Smile, you're young."

A note about the photo and clothing brands: The dress in the photo was blue and gray plaid, the shoes were gray suede, and the collar and cuffs were white angora.

Ship 'n Shore blouses are currently available in the Vermont Country Store catalog; Bobbie Brooks and White Stag are at Wal-Mart and far inferior to the 50s quality. I haven't seen Catalina anywhere, but then I don't get out much! I doubt these items are even made in the U.S. anymore. Pendleton, however, endures and is still a quality product. One of my Pendletons is 45 years old and I must remember to find that jacket next fall. Like the 1957 class members, it is still around.

Thanks, Fran, for the memories.

Slumber Parties in the 1950s

We girls had some great slumber parties in the 1950s. The one that most vividly sticks in my mind was a "French-fry Slumber Party" at Fran's house. We each brought a few potatoes, someone had a deep fryer, and we ate all night. Lots of screaming and yelling of course, and we played music. I don't think anyone knew how to dance, but if they did, we did that too. This photo seems to be a morning after shot, but was taken at my house in 1956--before Mom redecorated to more neutral tones. Left to right is Francine K., Marian D., Sara Y., Kay A., Mary Lou S. (deceased), and Diane B.; Lynne F. in the front.

There are items in this photo that just scream 1950s: pin curls tied up with a scarf (no one had hair dryers); bermuda shorts with knee socks; hard sided over night cases; scarves tied under the collar of a neatly pressed white blouse; big print wall paper in the living room; book club novels in the bookcase; hair cuts by Mom; and home permanents we gave each other.