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

Senior Picnic

Although I'm using a magnifying glass, I might get some names wrong.
Left to right in front: Sharon R. and Ebba L. waving; Daisy W., Darlene H., H.A. Hoff, possibly David S. sitting in the shade, Ken Z. and Norman G. with his head turned. Left to right, standing up is Nancy S., sitting Carolyn M., Judy T., Mary Jane F., then possibly either Priscilla D. or Mary Lou S. waving, and Sally O. next to Darlene. Then back to the left again, I can't tell who is next to Nancy S. behind Carolyn's head, then Barb E. and Diane B., Kay A. and Lynne F., Nancy L. and Sara Y., maybe Pat B. with her head down, next to Ron D. and would that be Darrell M. with the open shirt? His head is down--can't see the face. I'm guessing the partial head there is Mike B. Then left side again I see Dorothy R. and behind her Nelson P., Jerry T., Jerry W., maybe Glenn R., then standing with the hat might be Greely, John M. showing some leg, Melvin K. and Nancy G., Francine K., and Dave B. I don't know where everyone else is--I'm taking the photograph. Maybe we divided into two groups or were waiting for some to return from hiking. I'm betting we had more than one chaperone! It was the 50s after all!

I didn't have this identified, so I'm going to guess that this was also the Senior Picnic because of Nancy L.'s shorts, and that they are ready to get on the bus. If it is the picnic, someone has shorts on under his jeans. Left to right, Nancy L., Norman G., Steve B., Jon M., and Bob C. I'm thinking Steve got a whole lot taller after graduation, because when he said, "Hi Corby," at the 20 year reunion, I looked up and asked him his name.

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?

Who were the thespians?

Here's a group I'd forgotten about--the Thespians. According to our Freshman yearbook (1953-54) it was the school dramatic club and one became a member by trying out. I would rather have my fingernails pulled than perform or try out, so I probably never even considered this fine group and the advantages of learning to speak in front of a group. That year they gave 2 one-act plays for the public and 3 for the student body. I'm impressed! Plus they had an initiation banquet in October and attended a play as a group in May. Three members of our class were in Thespians that year--Sara Y., Mike B., and Neal J. John Ross, the English and Journalism teacher, was the adviser.

The next year's annual shows no calendar of the club's activities, but it does say they presented a short play for an assembly program, introduced the assembly programs, and attended one stage play. Our class membership expanded a bit and Carolyn M., Kay A., Sally O. were added, so our class had six. Richard Myers was the adviser (he played the organ at our wedding).

The theme of the next annual (1955-56) was a playbill using terms like directors, producers, playwrights, stars, understudies, etc., but I can't find the Thespian Club, and instead there is a small group (6) in their first year of organizing as Forensics. Neal J., and Carolyn M. were members. It picked up a number of underclassmen the next year, and for our senior year included Nancy L. and Carolyn M., but Neal J. had left us and gone to college early. Mrs. Price was the Forensics Club adviser. In 1956-57 the group presented three plays at school assemblies.

Does anyone remember the story on the name change? I see there were a number of student skits which seem to be ad hoc--not members of these groups--in our senior year a skit on proper attire (Darlene H., Sharon R., Nancy L.), a skit on courtesy, and a Christmas play that included Carolyn M., Ron D., Dwayne Z. and Duane B.

I've got some photos of the senior class play--not from the annual. Coming soon. . . The Red House Mystery.

Ladies' Breakfasts

The women of the class of 1957 have often met in July before the class reunion for breakfast. I'm a bit fuzzy on the details, although I've attended quite a few over the years, but here's the history as Lynne recalls it:

"For fifty years the ladies of our class have met for breakfast. After our graduation, some married, some went off to college and trade schools, others entered the work force. It became our custom to get together as often as we could, as many of us that could. These early breakfasts were held in my mother's kitchen or dining room depending on how many showed up. We sent out notes or called--e-mail hadn't been invented yet! All came who could. We'd catch up on boyfriends, work opportunities or college activities. The subjects changed over the years to finding jobs, finding husbands, having babies, and buying houses. Then we moved on to middle age issues (for some finding new husbands and new houses) such as the right school for the kids, and then on to aging parents, retirement and for some, widowhood."

At some point, it became a bit more formalized and we began meeting in restaurants. The first one I remember attending was around 1979 and I think it was at Maxon's. The photo below, sent by Nancy S., was taken at the restaurant in the Oregon Conover Square, and because I'm wearing glasses and had a perm, I'd date it as 1993, but she says 1990 was written on the back.


Left to right: Francine K., Diane B., Sara Y., Jean M., Sylvia T., Nancy S., Norma C.

This photo is from 2003 and the women of the class of 1957 met with those of class of 1956 at the restaurant at the White Pines State Park. Neither class was having a reunion that year, so there weren't as many people in town.


Front row left to right: Diane B., Francine K., Priscilla D., Katie Dirksen, our PE teacher in high school, Carolyn D. (56), Jane K. (56), A.J. O. (56) Sylvia T., Beverly B. (56), Phyllis G. (56). Back row, left to right: Marion D., Jean M., Norma C., Barb N. (56)

Lynne F., Sylvia T. and Norma C. in 1999
Lynne writes: "We'll all be looking forward to meeting again on June 30 (time and place tba) for the annual ladies' breakfast."

Our two high school buildings

I thought the class of 1957 was the last one to use the red brick building built in 1918, but when I checked our annual, I see that the 1955 yearbook had a large photo of the classes streaming across the street, just as I remember. So the class of 1958 must have also had classes there. The yearbook of 1956 doesn't exactly say, but it was dedicated to all the members of the community who helped get the "new" building done, beginning with a study in 1946 which projected an increase in enrollment. It says the first unit ($483,263.27) was opened in September 1952, and the second ($421,736.73) had no date given, so it must have been fall of 1955. (Yes, R. Miller left a comment here at the photo of the incomplete building.)


For some reason, I remember the layout and classrooms better in the old building than the new. Study hall. Don't even remember that in the new one, but certainly remember some funny events in the red brick building. And assemblies. We used to have some pretty good programs. And watching the teen lovers in the cars in front of the school as the boyfriends would drop off their girlfriends. It was an interesting, educational lunch time activity. Someone will have to update me on what happened to this building. I know it burned some time after it was no longer used as a classroom building.



The photos were sent by Nancy S. and much appreciated.

class of 1957

Ruth and Ralph Crowell

A number of us in the class of 1957 knew this couple who lived on Hitt Street. Ruth and Ralph Crowell had no children--except the Corbetts, Potters, Burkes, Zickhurs, Balluff, Rittenhouses and Leopold. Ralph would get down on the floor of their living room with us with the box of toys Ruth kept for that purpose. After lots of giggles there might be a cookie or two appear from the kitchen. Ralph spent time in the back yard casting his fishing line for us to chase. I still have a cloth doll that Ruth made for me. She made two, but I loved the other one to death. Sadly, Ruth died of a heart problem in the late 1940s. Ralph was a WWI veteran and served in France. So when all our fathers were gone during WWII, he enjoyed his role as a stand-in. I don't think I ever saw him without a cigarette.

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

Proud to be Girl Scouts

Every store I've been in this week has a table set aside for the Scouts selling cookies. My neighbor came by with her granddaughter to pick up the donation I'd promised instead of purchasing cookies. So here's a wonderful memory written by Lynne F. with photos submitted by Nancy L., whose mom was our leader.

Our class had a large, very active Girl Scout troop in the 50s. We hiked, biked, had camping trips, rolled back the sod, cooked our hobo stew and made S'mores. We also had one memorable trip to Chicago on the train and two nights at the Palmer House--the hotel was never the same! We girls thrived on this and we were blessed with two leaders who were very good sports, Mildred Lamm and Velda Plum. Some girls stayed on and were Senior Girl Scouts through high school. My personal motivation may have come from that Hollywood movie magazine of the 50s which said Debbie Reynolds had been a Senior Girl Scout. I like to think it was the fresh air, exercise and friendship. To this day I buy Girl Scout cookies.

Left to right: Barb E., Norma C., Sara Y. and Nancy L. ca. 1951. Photo submitted by Nancy L. Verso says: "Ready to leave on our 2 day camping trip." Norma says: All I remember of G.S. camping is the cows coming to our tents and scaring us. I think this street is Emily.

Left to right at a Girl Scout play day, Robin Hood theme, April 1952: Carolyn M., Darlene H., Sharon R., Norma C., Donna B., Sara Y., Deb P. Salley O., Fran K., unidentified, Diane B., Marion D., Kay A. Back row, left to right: Nancy L., Lynne F., Mrs. Lamm, leader, unidentified.

Lynne remembers: This photo brings back a flood of memories. One hike we all took was the back way to the White Pines State Park. The roads were gravel then and it was a hot and dusty hike. Our leader, Mrs. L. had us take interval breaks in the shade. On one such break we all flopped down but soon. Fran K. was up jumping and gyrating like nothing we'd ever seen before. She had landed on a hugh ant hill and they took exception to it! Mrs. L. had us form a semi-circle while first-aid was applied to Fran's back side. Years later while watching the 60's program Laugh In and realiized that was Fran's dance they were doing--a cross between the Funky Chicken and the Watusi. Fran survived and so did the story. Fran K ever the good sport and joy to this day.

Girl Scout Dances

Girl Scout Dance, ca. 1952
Girl Scout dances were usually held twice a year, one always for Valentine's Day. We would fuss and fret over whom to ask and hoped they would/could dance. Boys were more shy, as a rule at that age, but caught up in a hurry. We girls decorated and baked cookies and lined up parents willing to chaperone. Girls would whisper and giggle and the boys acted goofy. The experience of playing hostess, acting like ladies and using our manners would be skills we would use all our lives.

Left to right: Diane B., Barb E., Sara Y., and Kay A. Second row left to right: Glen R., Marv M., Dick Z. and Gary H.

Photo by Nancy L. Story by Lynne F.

Slumber party fashions

This photo submitted by Nancy L. was taken at Francine K's birthday party in 1953. Top of the pyramid is Sara Y., middle are Deb P. and Tina K., then Nancy L., Sharon R., and Kay A. Me (Norma) in the background checking out the interesting drapes.

This appears to be a different party, but I'm guessing from the drapes, it's Fran's house again. And those are fake cigarettes--none of us smoked. From the left is Sara Y., Marion D., Deb P., Norma, Lynne F., and Salley O. in the foreground. Photo submitted by Lynne F.

Another slumber party here.

Donald E. Hundertmark, 1938-2007

DONALD E. HUNDERTMARK, 68 MOUNT MORRIS - Donald E. Hundertmark, 68, of Mount Morris died Sunday, Jan. 28, 2007, in his home. Born March 7, 1938, in Adeline, the son of Roy and Mabel (Frawert) Hundertmark. Don attended Mount Morris High School. He married Linda L. Garkey on May 31, 1959, in Mount Morris. He was the manager of the Maintenance Department at Kable News Company for 25 years before retiring in January of 2001. He was a lifelong resident of the Mount Morris community. He was a member of Evangelical Free Church. Don was a pilot and enjoyed flying his own airplane. He also enjoyed riding motorcycles, working on his cars and spending as much time as he could with his family. Survivors include his wife, Linda; daughter, Laurie (Tim) Hough of Mount Morris; grandsons, Joshua Hough and Jacob Hough, both of Mount Morris. Predeceased by parents and stepfather, Ed Hundertmark. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31, in Evangelical Free Church, with the Rev. Tracy Singleton, pastor. Burial of cremated remains will be at a later date in Adeline Cemetery. Visitation from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30, in Finch Funeral Home. Memorials to be established.

Thanks to Murray T. for forwarding this information.

Second place trophy

Nancy L. has submitted this photo of two seventh and two eighth graders in February 1952 proudly showing off the 2nd place trophy for. . . I have no idea. Probably wasn't the spelling bee. Left to right, Dave B., Murray T., Bob H., Dick Z. Above their heads I'm guessing is a U.S. map and higher up were probably the world history maps.

The building in this photo was built in 1868 and torn down in 1970, but an addition built in 1949 while our class was still in the building remains. Some of our classmates attended "country school," and I'm hoping someone will post about that. There was Victory School near Pine Creek, Center School near Trot Town and Coon Creek, and perhaps others. Consolidation to a unit school district took place shortly after our graduation in 1957.

What else happened the year we graduated

So, it wasn't all about us, was it? Sylvia and I went into volunteer service that summer of 1957 (she to NM and me to CA), then we were off to Manchester College in September with Deb P. and Sharon R. Our little town in those days was an employment magnet in publishing, printing and distribution, and some of you took advantage of the job opportunities. Others began college at DeKalb, Knox, U. of I., Rockford and other great schools Did we even pay attention that there were other things going on? I definitely remember the Sputnik launch--it changed my life. Until I read this (at someone else's blog), I didn't know we were linked to both Dr. Seuss and Osama Bin Laden, did you?

Dwight Eisenhower is president of the US

First civil rights bill since Reconstruction to protect blacks' voting rights is approved by Congress

Hurricane "Audrey" destroys Cameron, Louisiana killing 390 people

National Guardsmen bar nine black students from entering previously all white Central High School in Little Rock

Russians launch Sputnik I, first earth orbiting satellite

The FBI arrests Jimmy Hoffa and charges him with bribery

Vanna White, Osama bin Laden, Sid Vicious, and Melanie Griffith are born

Milwaukee Brewers win World Series

Detroit Lions win NFL championship

Montreal Canadiens win Stanley Cup

On the Road by Jack Kerouac is published

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss is published

A Losing Season

[Note from Norma. This is my first attempt at a slide show--needs a little work, and I'm not real techie. I think if you click on "view all images" you can see the whole photo instead of having a head chopped off. And I'm missing a few photos. I'm working on it!]

Contributed by Lynne

The fall of 1956 in our town was typical of most small midwestern villages of the time. Trees had turned, air was chilled, school had started. We went off to our senior year expectations high. After all, our Mounders had won 'em all in '55.

However, as the record shows, '56 was a different kind of football season. We learned how to lose and I learned to love football. Football became a life long love affair. (I admit here to not fully understanding the game until the early '70's when a dear man explained it in detail--many times!) If memory serves, the worst game was against Polo in the pouring rain--40 to zip. I stood in the rain ruining a new jacket and a pair of saddle shoes, a near tragedy to a 17 year old girl.

As a older lady dedicated to physical fitness, I walk behind our old high school. The track is still there and in quite good repair. Spring, Summer and Fall will find me there and in the fall my five mile walk takes me back fifty years. All it really takes to trigger this flood of memories is a whiff of wood smoke and "my eyes have a mist of the smoke from a distant fire."

The bleachers are gone, the lights, the goal posts and the announcers booth. But, if you listen you can hear the band squeaking and squawking their way across the football field to form the "M" formation or hear Chuck Wean calling the game, the sound of a ref whistle, hearing the student body, parents and villagers as Sara Y. and Nancy G. extol us with "Rickety, Rackety Shanty Town. Who can hold those Mounders down? NOBODY!

"Though much is taken, much abides." Maybe it wasn't about winning after all.

Sit down, shut up, and pay attention

This is cross posted from my regular blog, but since Murray, a member of the class of 1956, sent it to me I thought the class of 1957 would enjoy some of the "way it used to be" thoughts. This was going around the Internet in December.

I was listening to the local (Cincinnati) talk show in the car this morning and the host Mike McConnell was talking about how over protected children are today. His plan, if he were in charge of the U.S. Dept. of Education, would be, "Sit down, shut up, and pay attention," and it wouldn't cost the tax payers a penny. This made me think of one of my high school teachers, Warren Burstrom, and I think those were his exact words to Glenn Orr and Marv Miller in Chemistry class. We all loved him and learned a lot. Murray sent me these memories of the "good old days" when we were in school. He was class of 1956. I, of course, am much younger.

Scenario: Jack pulls into school parking lot with rifle in gun rack.

1956 Vice Principal comes over, takes a look at Jack's rifle, goes to his car and gets his to show Jack.

2006 School goes into lockdown, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers.

Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.

1956 Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up best friends. Nobody goes to jail, nobody arrested, nobody expelled.

2006 Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark. Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it.

Scenario: Jeffrey won't be still in class, disrupts other students.

1956 Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by Principal. Sits still in class.

2006 Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. School gets extra money from state because Jeffrey has a disability.

Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his father's car and his Dad gives him a whipping.

1956 Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.

2006 Billy's Dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to foster care and joins a gang. Billy's sister is told by state psychologist that she remembers being abused herself and their Dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has affair with psychologist.

Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some headache medicine to school.

1956 Mark shares headache medicine with Principal out on the smoking dock.

2006 Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations. Car searched for drugs and weapons.

Scenario: Mary turns up pregnant.

1973 5 High School Boys leave town. Mary does her senior year at a special school for expectant mothers.

2006 Middle School Counselor calls Planned Parenthood, who notifies the ACLU. Mary is driven to the next state over and gets an abortion without her parent's consent or knowledge. Mary given condoms and told to be more careful next time.

Scenario: Pedro fails high school English.

1973: Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.

2006: Pedro's cause is taken up. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English banned from core curriculum. Pedro given diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he can't speak English.

Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the 4th of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant bed.

1956 Ants die.

2006 BATF, Homeland Security, FBI called. Johnny charged with domestic terrorism, FBI investigates parents, siblings removed from home, computers confiscated, Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.

Scenario: Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary, hugs him to comfort him.

1956 - In a short time Johnny feels better and goes on playing.

2006 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison.


Gimme 1956 back please!

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."