04-04-2009
( Reply#: 2939 ) |
Pro2am |
Paddy,
I think the train just reinforced the wanderlust. Take it from a dyed-in-the-wool railfan who rode it more than a few times. :)
Mike Rapchak Jr.
==============================================
quote:
Originally posted by Paddy
My early memories of Wicker Park go back to the late 1940's. On Labor Day, the union locals would host family picnics and free rides at Wicker's amusement park.
Labor Day at Wicker Park became an annual pilgrimage for us. We didn't own a car. Getting to the picnic involved packing the seven of us and our food onto a bus going downtown, where we would transfer to one heading south on Hohman and east on Ridge Road.
Grills were spaced throughout the picnic area, and we always managed to find a spot where we shared a grill with other families. All I know is that I never wanted for hot dogs. Those grilled beauties kept coming my way until I was stuffed.
There were adult festivities, of course, such as martial music and political speeches, but I have no memory of that. The amusement rides, however, still stand out.
The amusement park was kid-oriented, and the miniature train was my "primo" ride. For one thing, it lasted longer than the other rides. For another, it made you feel like you were traveling somewhere as it circled the vast expanse around the amusement rides.
If those train rides didn't create the wanderlust that I have to this day, they certainly reinforced the wanderlust that I was born with. Wicker Park holds many good memories for me.
|
04-06-2009
( Reply#: 2945 ) |
Paddy |
quote:
Originally posted by Pro2am
Paddy,
I think the train just reinforced the wanderlust. Take it from a dyed-in-the-wool railfan who rode it more than a few times. :)
Mike Rapchak Jr.
I agree, Mike. My wanderlust has taken me to lots of places and shown me wondrous things, but it all began in Hammond. My roots are planted deeply in the town and its surrounds, and Hammond will always be my spiritual center. |
04-06-2009
( Reply#: 2946 ) |
duane |
My memories of Wicker Park don't go back that far, but they do go back to the 1960's. I think some of the rides were still there, and I remember the American Legion Picnic, which was held in August.
Each family would get several tickets for each of their kids and the tickets were used to get food. They always had big metal bins (livestock tanks, really) in which they would boil hundreds of ears of corn, and then slather them in butter. They also had ice cream and candy by the truckfull.
There were lots of games for parents (horseshoes, bingo) and for kids (potato sack races...in the sticker patch, or course) and wheelbarrow games, three legged race, etc.
All in all, it was a wonderous day for young kids. We'd always find our way down to the Wicker Park Creek where we would play, much to our parents horror! |
04-07-2009
( Reply#: 2948 ) |
Bill Bucko |
My family took me to Wicker Park a few times in the '50s. I don't remember the occasion, but I certainly do remember the pony rides, train ride, roller coaster, etc.
In the early '50s I was at a company or union picnic at a place somewhere out in the country nicknamed the Clay Hole. Races for the kids, skeet shooting for the adults, and a shallow lake with crayfish lurking in the rocks around the shore, waiting for a chance to pinch kids' fingers. Can anyone tell me where the Clay Hole was, and if that was its real name?
Bill
Warren G. Harding Class of '63 |
04-07-2009
( Reply#: 2951 ) |
Tom J |
quote:
Originally posted by Bill Bucko
My family took me to Wicker Park a few times in the '50s. I don't remember the occasion, but I certainly do remember the pony rides, train ride, roller coaster, etc.
In the early '50s I was at a company or union picnic at a place somewhere out in the country nicknamed the Clay Hole. Races for the kids, skeet shooting for the adults, and a shallow lake with crayfish lurking in the rocks around the shore, waiting for a chance to pinch kids' fingers. Can anyone tell me where the Clay Hole was, and if that was its real name?
Bill
Warren G. Harding Class of '63
Bill:
I found a few REAL old references in the Hammond Times archives for a place called the Clay Hole in the Forest Preserves at Torrence and 159th St in Calumet City. Sounds like the "official" name was Green Lake. Does that sound like it might be the place you are thinking of?
At least one article mentioned that Boy Scouts used the place for some of their outings.
Tom
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG] |
04-08-2009
( Reply#: 2953 ) |
Bill Bucko |
Thanks, Tom! That's most likely it, since I doubt if there would be more than one place called the Clay Hole.
Bill
Warren G. Harding Class of '63 |
04-08-2009
( Reply#: 2954 ) |
Dave |
Actually, there are lots of places called "Clay"-something or "Brick"-something. There was lots of very good clay deposits amongs the dunes and swales. Chicagoland bricks were (and to some extent, still are) a very desirable commodity. I do not think that there are any active clay pits / brickyards any more. Now the market is for used bricks, salvaged from demolition. But brickyards were once common throughout the south suburbs.
Clay Hole Woods is right across the street from River Oaks mall, Green Lake is part of it. (There is a rumor of a locomotive at the bottom of Green Lake. Probably not true.) Green Lake is one of those abandoned clay pits. I doubt that there ever was skeet shooting there (but, maybe, before the Forest Preserve bought it). Your story sounds more like Optimist park, just south of I-80 on Kennedy Avenue. It is gone now, but the lake is still there (I think).
|
04-09-2009
( Reply#: 2955 ) |
tom w |
Dave and all. I remember that there was a clay hole in Dalton too. I scuba dove it a few times. The one by River Oaks was where we went as Boy Scouts to earn our merit badges for all kinds of stuff. I do remember the rumors too. One was the locomotive, one was that it was bottomless, (always wondered about that one, lots of people drowned there and they always were found) and the rumor about the old guy that ran around in there at night with a machette. Anyone who says that youth is wasted on the young needs to read these forums. lol Take care. Tom W Hammond Tech 55-58 |
04-10-2009
( Reply#: 2958 ) |
Bill Bucko |
I just googled "Clay Hole" + "Calumet City" and got this:
http://www.fpdcc.com/tier3.php?content_id=55
"GREEN LAKE FAMILY AQUATIC CENTER
Torrence Avenue and 159th Street, Calumet City. ...
The original Green Lake Pool was designed and built as “Clay Hole Pool” because it was contiguous with and obtained it water supply from a deep clay pit excavated to obtain clay for making brick. There was an inclined railway track to bring cars loaded with clay out of the pit, and it is believed that one or more “dinky” locomotive remain on the bottom."
I don't think I was ever at Optimist Park. The Clay Hole I went to definitely did have skeet shooting.
Bill
Warren G. Harding Class of '63 |
04-10-2009
( Reply#: 2959 ) |
S C Jones |
Hey Guys,
Check out this article: Brickyards Backbone of Early Region Times
http://www.lakenetnwi.net/index.php?option=com_mtree&task=viewlink&link_id=29215&Itemid=2
|
04-10-2009
( Reply#: 2960 ) |
tom w |
S. C. Jones
WOW, thanks for the amazing link! That sure ties up a lot of loose ends for me and my memory. Facinating article. There was also a brickyard right on Calumet Ave. south of Munster. There was an old steam shovel out front and at one time there was a motorcycle with a V-8 engine sitting close by. We used to hang around behind the brickyard on weekends. Take care. Tom W. Hammond Tech 55-58 |
04-10-2009
( Reply#: 2961 ) |
Tom J |
quote:
Originally posted by tom w
S. C. Jones
WOW, thanks for the amazing link! That sure ties up a lot of loose ends for me and my memory. Facinating article. There was also a brickyard right on Calumet Ave. south of Munster. There was an old steam shovel out front and at one time there was a motorcycle with a V-8 engine sitting close by. We used to hang around behind the brickyard on weekends. Take care. Tom W. Hammond Tech 55-58
I second that! Thanks, S.C.!
Tom
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG] |
04-10-2009
( Reply#: 2962 ) |
Bill Bucko |
I followed the link, read about the brickyards without any particular emotion ... till, close to the end, I got to "Lansing Sportsman's Club." THAT sure stirred something long forgotten! I bet dollars to donuts THAT'S the "Clay Hole" I visited as a 5 year old! They did a lot of skeet shooting--which would make sense, at a Sportsman's club.
Thanks!
Bill
Warren G. Harding Class of '63 |
04-10-2009
( Reply#: 2963 ) |
Tom J |
quote:
Originally posted by Bill Bucko
I followed the link, read about the brickyards without any particular emotion ... till, close to the end, I got to "Lansing Sportsman's Club." THAT sure stirred something long forgotten! I bet dollars to donuts THAT'S the "Clay Hole" I visited as a 5 year old! They did a lot of skeet shooting--which would make sense, at a Sportsman's club.
Thanks!
Bill
Warren G. Harding Class of '63
Same here, Bill. My dad belonged to that club, and he took me fishing there a few times.
I remember attending at least one meeting with Dad at the Civic Center. We were watching some kind of wildlife movie, and a guy sitting immediately behind us passed gas rather loudly. I turned around and looked at him, and he told me to watch the movie. [:)]
Was that the club that sponsored the annual "Turkey Shoots?" I remember going with dad to a couple of those. Dad competed in the trap shooting, but I just did the stationary targets, where the winner was whoever got a pellet closest to the center cross hair on the target. The winner got a frozen turkey, if I remember correctly. Guess that's why they called them "Turkey Shoots," huh?
I'm going to look up "Lansing Sportsmans Club" in the Hammond Times archives! If I find anything good, I will share it.
Tom
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG] |
04-12-2009
( Reply#: 2968 ) |
Dave |
It would be interesting to hear from anyone who remembers seeing the steamshovel and/or locomotives at the bottom of Green Lake (as mentioned in the article). I cannot believe that the water was ever that clear. As I remember it (1970s and later), the water was what you would expect from a clay pit--muddy brown w/no visibility.
|
09-10-2009
( Reply#: 3766 ) |
BobK |
I have photos of me in a train but I don't know if it was Wicker Park or Sauzer's Kiddyland. I would say it was very last forties or early fifties.
I remember taking the bus to the Wicker Park pool. I can't remember if it was the #2 or #5.
Bob
[img]http://home.comcast.net/~rkekeis/Bob1.jpg[/img] |
06-27-2010
( Reply#: 5775 ) |
HassoBenSoba |
Since we're heading into the middle of summer, I thought I'd post a group of photos of those great old days that we used to spend in Wicker Park----those glorious old times when the amusement park was in full swing.
I especially remember the magic of Wicker Park at NIGHT; imagine having a real merry-go-round cranking away right in the middle of the grove of trees, surrounded by crowds of happy families. It's almost impossible to believe that such a time existed here in the Region. Another big part of the experience was Janssen's produce market right across the street on Ridge Road; a real, old-fashioned rural produce stand that was a common sight in the area back then, before the modernization and commericalizing wiped it all out. I remember the strings of light-bulbs, the heavy wooden crates and baskets filled with summer produce and most of all the SMELL of peaches, apples, watermelon, etc in the humid night air....and you'd turn back and look across Ridge Road and there were the lights and the festive sounds of that amusement park filtering through the trees. That was real magic.
Check out the rides in these pics!
[IMG]http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af12/HassoBenSoba/WickerPark20002.jpg[/IMG]
My big brother Mike in a mellow, summertime mood (July, 1955)
[IMG]http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af12/HassoBenSoba/WickerPark40001.jpg[/IMG]
That's me with the shades- June 22, 1954
[IMG]http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af12/HassoBenSoba/WickerPark20001.jpg[/IMG]
My sister Nancy (me in next boat)-- July 1959
[IMG]http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af12/HassoBenSoba/WickerPark10001.jpg[/IMG]
Mike again, in 1959. |
06-28-2010
( Reply#: 5776 ) |
Tom J |
Oh, Larry, thanks so much for those pics and for your comments. Please post more messages and more pictures. Take us all back to those carefree times of our lives!
Tom |
06-28-2010
( Reply#: 5777 ) |
Bill Bucko |
Yes, thanks, Larry! Those photos sure do bring back memories!
Bill
Warren G. Harding Class of '63 |
06-28-2010
( Reply#: 5780 ) |
Jim Plummer |
Larry, the background of those shots also brought back memmories! Got any More??
Nobody could have had better childhoods than we had in the region! |
06-28-2010
( Reply#: 5781 ) |
Jim Plummer |
Larry can you tell us something of your sister. I think it's the first mention of her. |
06-29-2010
( Reply#: 5782 ) |
HassoBenSoba |
Here's 3 more great old shots of Wicker Park (most of these are pretty much the same as the previous ones in terms of the rides, background, etc).
[IMG]http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af12/HassoBenSoba/WickerPark540001.jpg[/IMG]
This is my favorite-- my brother Mike (June 22, 1954), already in a mellow summer mood a year earlier than the previous pic. You can almost feel the heat and smell the canvas in this scene.
[IMG]http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af12/HassoBenSoba/WickPk540001.jpg[/IMG]
Here he is again; that magical, wooded background is something I'd like to escape back to, right about now....
[IMG]http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af12/HassoBenSoba/WickerPK540001.jpg[/IMG]
Here's me (left),Mike, and our mother relaxing (check the glow on my face from the sun & cotton candy---hey....do you think cotton candy might have been radioactive in the 50's??!!). My mom is still with us, and lives in Highland.
I have ABSOLUTLEY no regrets being the age I am---since I was able to experience growing up in the 1950's. You couldn't ask for a better time to be a kid.
Jim-- my sister Nancy (in the color boat photo in the previous post), was born in Dec 1954; the three of us, Mike, me and Nancy, grew up very close, even though Mike and I used to annoy the heck out of her quite often. She left home immediately after high school, lived in Chicago working bars and clubs, then moved to New York City in 1983; she's been there ever since. Somewhat of a "rebel", she made her name as a DJ in the progressive rock scene, doing quite well until Giuliani started cleaning up the place and driving the riff-raff out of town; this--- the "yuppy-izing" of NYC--- coupled with the advent of CDs, radically changed an already radical music scene, essentially putting it out of business. She's still in NY, doing odd-jobs. She's a very senstitive, intelligent gal, who shares our fond memories of growing up at 6912 Magoun Street in Hammond. |
06-29-2010
( Reply#: 5783 ) |
tom w |
Larry;
Just out of curiosity, is Nancy aware of these postings? I mentioned them to my sister but have no indication that she has read any yet. Although she has a great intrest in our family tree despite the fact that I am the absolute end of our family name on this planet. I think that she would much rather talk on the phone than read. Tom W |
06-29-2010
( Reply#: 5784 ) |
Jim Plummer |
Tom, I guessing these postings, like the stooges, are a guy thing. I've mentioned this site to several women I know and none seem very interested. I only know of one woman who posts on here and she hasn't said much lately! |
06-29-2010
( Reply#: 5785 ) |
Jim Plummer |
Larry, thanks for the update on your sister.
What is wicker park like today, anybody been there recently? |
06-29-2010
( Reply#: 5786 ) |
HassoBenSoba |
Guys---
I have told my sister Nancy a number of times about Sheptalk. She's interested, but she's still using a dial-up connection, and it would take her computer an hour to load this Wicker Park thread.
Wicker Park is still a lovely place---the town of Highland really maintains it very well. The grove/picnic area still looks like it does in these pics---except there's no amusement park, or Janssen's across the street. The old-style swing sets you see in these pics are long-gone; they've been replaced with those soft plastic slides and things (in bright colors)-- you know, the "child-friendly" stuff that we never would have tolerated in the '50's. These new things are now located right on the spot where the old amusement park once stood.
Incidentally, my old childhood stomping grounds, Baring Parkway (in the Woodmar area, between 171st and 173rd, a few blocks east of Indy Blvd) looks exactly as it did 50 years ago, with the exception of new "retro" street lamps that have been installed on the edge of the grass along the street. |
06-30-2010
( Reply#: 5787 ) |
Joel357 |
Larry,
Those pictures of Wicker Park took me back to when Grandma Miner used to take us there. It was a nice little amusement park and she used that to apease us as what we really wanted to do was to go to Riverview. We never made it to Riverview, so all you people who made it to Riverview I am jealous!(LOL)
Joel |
06-30-2010
( Reply#: 5788 ) |
duane |
Tom - I remember you made reference to a series of videos about Hammond in the 1950's a year or so back. I have one of those and they have film of kids swimming at the Wicker Park pool and jumping and diving off the boards. Looking south, there is no shopper's world or Topps across Indy Blvd. Here's a youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrwUXly6OPs
Also some time in the 1980's I believe, they removed the Crucifix at the intersection of Rt 6 and 41 and replaced it with an "eternal flame" which represents absolutely nothing (except perhaps a waste of energy and release of CO2). But at least we are politically correct! |
07-01-2010
( Reply#: 5789 ) |
tom w |
Progress!!! Tom W |
07-01-2010
( Reply#: 5790 ) |
Bill Bucko |
quote:
Originally posted by tom w
Progress!!! Tom W
Yes, it was progress. Wicker Park is not just for Christians, you know. As someone once said, "Here's a deal. Don't try to force your religion on me; and I won't go think in your church."
Bill
Warren G. Harding Class of '63 |
07-01-2010
( Reply#: 5791 ) |
Tom J |
Might be best to get off of this subject in order to maintain the harmony that we all enjoy here. Religion and politics are two subjects that are best discussed privately, unless we want another NWI Times message board.
Tomster |
07-01-2010
( Reply#: 5792 ) |
Jim Plummer |
Well said Tom, my hackels were already starting to rise.
RIVERVIEW- what a grand and glorius place that was. Once a year because of my paper route we got free passes. My mother and her friend,Mary Dowling, would take us boys to Riverview. It was summer and we got to stay all day. I think we were given $10 each and it would last all day. I still have the Cowboy and Baseball cards that came out of vending machines for .02 cents each. I was amazed to learn later, that Riverview was one of John Dillenger's favorite places back in the 30's. |
07-01-2010
( Reply#: 5793 ) |
tom w |
Tom; I sent you an e-mail. Lemmie know if you get it. Thanx, Tom |
07-01-2010
( Reply#: 5794 ) |
Tom J |
Tom, got your email and replied.
Tomster |
07-01-2010
( Reply#: 5795 ) |
duane |
I've got the VHS of this Riverview film, but I see it is now on DVD (although the quality is still not great, I bet). Still, I watch it about once a year...brings back great memories.
http://www.amusementparkmemories.com/riverviewpark.htm
"Come to Riverview and Laugh your troubles away" |
07-02-2010
( Reply#: 5796 ) |
Jim Plummer |
Duane can you tell us a little about the Riverview disc? Running time, what it consists of. I gather the quality is not very good. Can you tell when the footage was shot? |
07-02-2010
( Reply#: 5797 ) |
Dave |
I think that Jansen's Produce still exists. On Ridge Road and Ripley in Lake Station/Hobart/Potage. (HAve not been there for a year or two.) |
07-06-2010
( Reply#: 5813 ) |
HassoBenSoba |
FYI---
The Midwest Heritage Preservation Society, which sells copies of old home movies made in the region (which used to be shown continuously on our local channel 21 until a few years ago), has a video with old footage of Kiddieland (Route 30 & 41). HOWEVER, as I pointed out to the guy who compiled the film, half of what's on that film is actually footage of WICKER PARK'S amusement park, shot in the late 50's. He just assumed that it was all filmed at Kiddieland, until I pointed out the Wicker Park rides, etc. Bottom line: there IS old film footage of Wicker Park in existence and available for viewing.
LR |
07-06-2010
( Reply#: 5815 ) |
duane |
quote:
Originally posted by Jim Plummer
Duane can you tell us a little about the Riverview disc? Running time, what it consists of. I gather the quality is not very good. Can you tell when the footage was shot?
I've not watched it in a while. From what I remember, there is film and still photos that go back to the very beginning of the park (the horse race coaster) right up to 1967 and the actual destruction of the coasters. Much of the 1960's film is in color. It was filmed by Clarence Hintze and George Berbert between 1956 and 1967. I'd say most of the film is from the 1960's as they show and talk about the remodel of the Bobs after the front entrance was re-done, and I think they reference the Fireball as well (and that was a re-done coaster only a few years before Riverview shut down for good.) If I recall correctly, I think I originally bought the VHS at Marshall Fields Chicago store. I believe that it runs about 45 minutes to an hour. |
07-07-2010
( Reply#: 5816 ) |
Jim Plummer |
Any thoughts on how or where one can get copies of these films if we live outside the region? |
07-07-2010
( Reply#: 5817 ) |
Tom J |
quote:
Originally posted by Jim Plummer
Any thoughts on how or where one can get copies of these films if we live outside the region?
Check out this site, Jim.
http://www.mahpfoundation.org/
Tom |
07-08-2010
( Reply#: 5829 ) |
duane |
quote:
Originally posted by Jim Plummer
Any thoughts on how or where one can get copies of these films if we live outside the region?
You prompted me into watching the Riverview video last night. It is about 35 minutes long, and the quality is actually better than what I remembered. Perhaps on DVD it may even be somewhat better still. A very good history and synopsis of the rides through the years. Also there is a great book called Riverview - Gone but not forgotten. Don't know if the book is in print.
As for the video, I don't think they care where you live...as long as your money's good!
http://www.amusementparkmemories.com/riverviewpark.htm
|
07-09-2010
( Reply#: 5831 ) |
Jim Plummer |
Thanks Tom J. and Duane. I'll start saving my money right away.
Did they ever do anything with the Riverview property? It seems to me, I drove by there in the early 70's and other than being overgrown with weeds and some semi's being parked, there was nothing. |
07-09-2010
( Reply#: 5832 ) |
Terry |
More Wicker Park memories (and I got the girl)
Reading about Wicker Park and Riverview brought back a lot of memories. The photos are really interesting and, as we have all heard before, a picture is worth lots of words.
When I was about 11-14 (that's a guess), which would have been 1952 to 1955, I worked summer weekends for my uncle and aunt Horvath, who had the pony rides. The pony ride circle was much larger than what you typically see today. The circle was double-fenced and there were often ponies grazing in the inner circle. My job included walking the ponies around the circle with the young riders (very few riders were allowed to go around on their own). The hours were long, but the time passed quickly and I really enjoyed the experience.
My uncle and aunt were nice folks and interesting people. As did most adults in those days, they each smoked (Camels and Lucky Strikes, as I recall). Even though I do not smoke, it is not unusual for the smell of cigarette smoke to bring back fond memories of working with Uncle Hap and Aunt Mary.
My uncle and aunt also took ponies to the the U.S. 41 Drive-in and the Ridge Road Drive-in. These drive-ins offered free pony rides to the kids before the movie and at intermission. There were other places and special events as well (one such place was near a huge quarry that may have been mentioned in an earlier post; as I recall the quarry was across the state line in Illinois and I believe that it can be seen from the expressway.....actually, the expressway goes over it).
Like other members, I used to take a Shoreline bus to the Wicker Park pool. I remember well that the high dive was really high, especially when you were on the divingboard looking down at the bottom of the pool.
When I was an older teenager, the park was an easy drive from Hammond and a nice place to park with your sweetheart.
And I got the girl (or "It's a small world.")
My wife, Jeri, sometimes worked summers at Wicker Park when she was 20-23. This would have been 1958-1961+/-. She was going to nursing school at the time and had a job at Saint Catheren's Hospital as well. She sold cotton candy. Our paths did not cross at Wicker Park, however, we knew some of the same people. She knew Julius Silogy and Paul Horvath (who may have been my uncle's brother or cousin). She worked for a lady by the name of Marge. Jeri told me that it was an all-day job, but that it didn't seem like a long day; "It was fun."
It was 22+/- years later that her brother and his wife introduced Jeri to me. She had been in California for many years and returned to visit. We have been married for over 24 years now. After we were married, we remained in Indiana for about 14 years; I worked at Calumet National Bank and Jeri worked at the Hammond Clinic. We have been here, on the California Central Coast, for almost 11 years.
As many of you have said in the past, how very fortunate we were to have lived where and when we did. Hammond was a great place for a kid to grow up.
Does anyone remember "Farrell's Erie Lunch" on the corner of Douglas and Oakly near the Erie Railroad yards?
As always, I appreciate Sheptalk and the opportunity to look back.
Terry
|
07-09-2010
( Reply#: 5833 ) |
duane |
quote:
Originally posted by Jim Plummer
Thanks Tom J. and Duane. I'll start saving my money right away.
Did they ever do anything with the Riverview property? It seems to me, I drove by there in the early 70's and other than being overgrown with weeds and some semi's being parked, there was nothing.
It actually sat vacant for quite some time. About 15 years ago I decided to visit the area. If I recall correctly, I think part of the property is now a DeVrie Institute, part of it is a strip shopping mall, and parts of it are just abandoned land. I recall a program on WTTW TV around 10 years or more ago that had someone visitng the property and pointing out old foundations in the woods that showed where the Chute the Chutes was, etc. |
07-09-2010
( Reply#: 5835 ) |
duane |
And welcome to Terry - we appreciate your memories! |
07-09-2010
( Reply#: 5836 ) |
BobK |
Terry, can you tell if this was Wicker Park or Sauzer's? It was in 1946-48.
http://my.opera.com/rkekeis/albums/showpic.dml?album=850165&picture=55814612
http://my.opera.com/rkekeis/albums/showpic.dml?album=850165&picture=55814622
Bob
[img]http://home.comcast.net/~rkekeis/Bob1.jpg[/img] |
07-09-2010
( Reply#: 5837 ) |
Terry |
Bob,
In response to your question about the two photos; they were taken at Wicker Park. It looks like the same area where the large double-fenced ring was built at a later date. The man on the left is my Uncle Happy and the boy on the right is my cousin, Bob Greenwell. I do not recognize the boy on the pony or the pony. Do you have a year on the photos?
Terry
P.S. Uncle Happy eventually moved to California and he was in charge of the horses at Disneyland (I remember seeing a postcard of him driving a wagon). My cousin, Bob, went with my uncle and aunt to California, became a fire captain and was injured in an indistrial fire, passing away from his injury. |
07-10-2010
( Reply#: 5839 ) |
BobK |
Thanks for the location Terry. The boy on the pony is me and the slides weren't dated so I'm guessing 1946 or 47.
Bob
[img]http://home.comcast.net/~rkekeis/Bob1.jpg[/img] |
07-11-2010
( Reply#: 5845 ) |
tom w |
Bob. Forgive me if I asked you this before. Was your homeroom teacher at Irving a guy named Bill Volk? He and Miss Gligor were the only senior teachers there. Tom W. By the way, I sent you an e-mail last week. You are the same age as me. Tom W |
07-12-2010
( Reply#: 5852 ) |
Jim Plummer |
ok so how old ARE you guys? |
07-12-2010
( Reply#: 5853 ) |
Tom J |
The Tomster just turned 61 last month.
McKinley school in E.C. 1954-1955
Wallace Elementary 1955-1961
Washington Jr. High 1961-1963
Hammond High 1963-1967
Purdue Calumet 1967-1968
Purdue W. Lafayette 1968-1971 |
07-12-2010
( Reply#: 5854 ) |
Jim R |
I'm 56.
Warren G. Harding 1959 - 1967
O.P. Morton Middle 1967 - 1968
O.P. Morton High 1968 - 1972
Harding K thru 7
Morton 8 thru 12
Class of 1972 |
07-12-2010
( Reply#: 5855 ) |
Tom J |
Well, Jim, you're just a wet nosed kid! [:D] |
07-12-2010
( Reply#: 5856 ) |
tom w |
68 Tom W |
07-12-2010
( Reply#: 5857 ) |
BobK |
68
Bob
[img]http://home.comcast.net/~rkekeis/Bob1.jpg[/img] |
07-12-2010
( Reply#: 5858 ) |
Joel357 |
Well Tom, I am afraid of what you're going to call me.
I was 53 in March:
James B Eads Elementary School 1962 - 1968
Frank H Hammond 1968-1969 (Munster Schools shipped 6th graders to the new elementary school for one year)
Wilbur Wright Junior High School 1969 to 1971
Munster High School 1971 to 1975
Purdue University Calumet 1975 to 1981(I was on the 6 year plan and paid my way through school)
Ok Tomster, I am ready for your abuse,you old codger(LOL)
Joel |
07-12-2010
( Reply#: 5859 ) |
Tom J |
No abuse, Joel. You would just tell your mother on me. [:D] |
07-13-2010
( Reply#: 5861 ) |
Jim Plummer |
Gee guys at 65 I feel right in the middle of things. Wouldn't it be boring if we were all Morton class of 62 or over at Purdue extension after that for a couple of years? |
07-13-2010
( Reply#: 5862 ) |
Jim Plummer |
Gee guys at 65 I feel right in the middle of things. Wouldn't it be boring if we were all Morton class of 62 or over at Purdue extension after that for a couple of years? |
07-13-2010
( Reply#: 5863 ) |
wvcogs |
67 (68 in October)
Morton - 1960
IU Bloomington 1964 and 1965
Ken |
07-13-2010
( Reply#: 5864 ) |
Roger D |
66
Lincoln Elementry'51 thru'56 1st-6th
Clark Jr. High '57 7th
Morton High '58 thru Feb.'63 (grad mid term)
Inland Steel Feb.'63-Sept.'93 Now they are paying me to stay home. I LIKE IT, I LIKE IT!!!!!!! |
07-13-2010
( Reply#: 5865 ) |
tom w |
Jim; You are repeating yourself. Thats a bad sign. LOL Tom W |
07-13-2010
( Reply#: 5866 ) |
HassoBenSoba |
Turned 59 on May 7th.
OLPH - 1957-65
Noll - 65- 67
Morton - Class of '69
Cleveland Institute of Mucus - '73 |
07-15-2010
( Reply#: 5868 ) |
duane |
quote:
Originally posted by HassoBenSoba
Cleveland Institute of Mucus - '73
Cleveland Institute of Mucus?????[?] |
07-15-2010
( Reply#: 5869 ) |
Tom J |
quote:
Originally posted by duane
quote:
Originally posted by HassoBenSoba
Cleveland Institute of Mucus - '73
Cleveland Institute of Mucus?????[?]
My guess is "Mucus" = "Music." [:D] |
07-15-2010
( Reply#: 5870 ) |
Joel357 |
I see that the Three Stooges does have an influence on Larry.(LOL)Sounds like something Moe, Larry and Curley would say they went to school
Joel |
07-16-2010
( Reply#: 5871 ) |
HassoBenSoba |
Just wanted to see if you guys were paying attention.
LR |
07-16-2010
( Reply#: 5872 ) |
Roger D |
We are to broke to "Pay" attention. |
07-20-2010
( Reply#: 5890 ) |
Jim Plummer |
Sorry about the repetition, I just got back from a western film convention in Winston-Salem, NC. Five days of b-westerns and serials! I had a ball. These things are just like five days of Christmas when you were a kid!!! |
07-21-2010
( Reply#: 5898 ) |
LegulusQ |
Age 58
Morton Elementary KG (Miss Jane!): 1957-1958
OLPH: 1958-1966
Morton HS: 1966-1970
Indiana University: 1970-1973
IU School of Optometry: 1973-1977
Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine: 1981-1985
Internship in Detroit: 1985-1986
Ophthalmology residency in Chicago: 1986-1989
Retina Fellowship Univ. of Nebraska MC Omaha 1989-1990.
(Professional Student!) [8D]
Craig
LegulusQ |
07-22-2010
( Reply#: 5899 ) |
Jim Plummer |
Hey Roger D. Since we were at Morton at about the same time, did we know each other? |
07-22-2010
( Reply#: 5900 ) |
Tom J |
I'm sure Roger will reply for himself, but he told me Monday that he remembers you from Morton.
I had taken my wife, Georgeann, for her radiation treatment in Owensboro, KY, and we stopped at the Dairy Freeze in Island, KY, for a hamburger on the way home. The Island Dairy Freeze is famous for their great burgers. It's one of those places where you either eat in your car, take the food home, or sit at one of the covered picnic tables.
I had parked the car and was heading for the window to order our burgers when I heard someone shout "Hey, Tom!" It was Roger and his wife, Ann.
That was cool to run into them like that. They had placed their order but had not picked it up yet, so the timing was just about perfect.
Roger's mom and mine were in the same birthday club in Hammond. They were both from this area down here in KY where Roger and I live now.
Tom |
07-22-2010
( Reply#: 5901 ) |
Roger D |
Ooops. I will Try again. Server could not find web page. |
07-22-2010
( Reply#: 5902 ) |
Roger D |
Good morning Jim. I do remember you from school. You were not in any of my clases that I know of. We ran with a different group of people.
Jack Campbell, Frank Yates,and Randy Callison were good friends of mine. Jack and Frank have passed but Randy is alive and well living in Tennesse about forty miles from me.
You may remember my sister Marsha. I graduated in Feb. '63 and she in June '63. I failed an English class and Keith McClellen's world history class. History was my best subject but McClellen and I didn't get along. He thought he was a college prof. all he did was lecture, didn't use the text book. |
07-23-2010
( Reply#: 5903 ) |
Jim Plummer |
Roger,seconds after sending you the e-mail, I fiqured out who you had to be. I'll be honest about this, my favorite subject was history and still is but, I hated Keith McClellan. He struck me as being very full of himself. He belonged in College. I was not sad when he died. I did pass his class but I can't say I enjoyed it.
Did you ever have Jack Geogas for world history? He was a teacher I learned a lot from. The day before a test he would go through it and give us all the answers and still people would fail the next day(true or false). His one quirk was that he would stick his hands in his pants with the two thumbs sticking out of the top. This would drive the girls nuts! |
07-23-2010
( Reply#: 5904 ) |
Jim Plummer |
Tom J., What part of KY. are you guys in? What was a birthday club? Did they all have the same birthday or? I over did it at Comic-Con in San Diego yesterday and the brain is a little slow today. In case you're wondering, I picked up a couple of 1954 Tarzan comics with Lex Barker on the cover and three Shadow pulp reprints! |
07-24-2010
( Reply#: 5906 ) |
Roger D |
History was also my favorite subject, and still is. I agree with you about McClellan. I did have Georges for history and enjoyed every day in his class. I was working at the Serenade drive-in that year and US History was my first period class. I slept through a lot of his classes and still made As and Bs.
Tom and I live in west central Ky. We are about 35 miles east north east of Hopkinsville (Ft. Campbell). 40 miles south of Owensboro and 40 miles west of Bowling Green. |
07-24-2010
( Reply#: 5907 ) |
Roger D |
Jim- Now the birthday club. This was a group of ladies that met once a month for lunch to celebrate the birthday of the lady/ladies who had a birthday that month. Thay had "secret pals" who bought one another Christmas gifts, etc. They met at a members home each month but in the summer when the kids were out of school they met at Riverside Park.
Tom may know more details than I do. |
07-25-2010
( Reply#: 5912 ) |
Jim Plummer |
I guess that points out a difference between men and women. While I think that the Birthday Club is a fun idea, I can't see a bunch of guys doing that sort of thing. The closest we will get is something like this forum and yet as we've commented before there seems to be little interest on the part of women to take part in it. |
07-25-2010
( Reply#: 5914 ) |
Tom J |
quote:
Originally posted by Roger D
Jim- Now the birthday club. This was a group of ladies that met once a month for lunch to celebrate the birthday of the lady/ladies who had a birthday that month. Thay had "secret pals" who bought one another Christmas gifts, etc. They met at a members home each month but in the summer when the kids were out of school they met at Riverside Park.
Tom may know more details than I do.
Not much more that I can add about the "Sunshine Birthday Club," Roger.
It was just a group of maybe 15 to 18 ladies who met once a month to celebrate the birthdays of any members who were having birthdays that month. I guess they still met if no one was having a birthday during a particular month.
Most of the ladies were originally from Kentucky, but several were native to The Region.
Let's see if I can remember some of the members.
Alice Johnson (my mom) (KY)
Tillie Dukes (Roger's mom)(KY)
Pauline Doss (KY)
Mary Nell Gregory (KY)
Marge Grigsby (KY)
Myrtle Hendrix (KY)
Laura Mae Howard (Region)
Wow, there were at least that many more members, but I cannot come up with their names.
Tom
|
07-26-2010
( Reply#: 5919 ) |
Roger D |
I remember a few more:
Linda Dukes, cousin (Ky)
Dorothy Bell, neighbor (region)
Modell Barker, aunt (Ky)
|
07-26-2010
( Reply#: 5920 ) |
Tom J |
quote:
Originally posted by Roger D
I remember a few more:
Linda Dukes, cousin (Ky)
Dorothy Bell, neighbor (region)
Modell Barker, aunt (Ky)
Good job, Roger. Keep trying to think of more members.
Tom |
07-28-2010
( Reply#: 5927 ) |
Roger D |
Hey Tom, Two more club members, Juanita Comer, Modell's sis-in-law and Gloria Sweet a neighbor.
You may remember Gloria Sweet's sons, Bill and Greg. Greg is the one who went to prison for murder and robbery in Illinois. |
07-28-2010
( Reply#: 5928 ) |
Tom J |
No, Roger, I don't remember either of these last two.
I left Hammond in 1971, and I wouldn't have known people who joined the club after that. I probably wouldn't even know people who joined after 1967, my senior year at HHS.
If these folks were in the club before 1967, I guess I have forgotten them.
Tom |
07-29-2010
( Reply#: 5935 ) |
Roger D |
These last two joined in the mid to late 50's. Of the dozen we have listed only three are still living. The youngest of these is a cousin of mine who just turned 72. |
08-11-2010
( Reply#: 6011 ) |
Tom J |
Hey, I thought of another member... Wanda Billingsley.
Tom |
08-11-2010
( Reply#: 6012 ) |
Roger D |
Hey Tom, my cousin, Linda, goes to church where you go. She should know several of the ladies. |
08-11-2010
( Reply#: 6013 ) |
Tom J |
quote:
Originally posted by Roger D
Hey Tom, my cousin, Linda, goes to church where you go. She should know several of the ladies.
I think she goes to the 11:00 AM service, but I go to the 8:30 AM service.
I have met Linda before. She's nice.
Tom |
09-16-2010
( Reply#: 6085 ) |
Tom J |
One more name for the birthday club: Gerine Coleman.
She was the mother in law of "Homer" (Henry Haynes) of Homer and Jethro.
Tom |
09-18-2010
( Reply#: 6086 ) |
Paddy |
I turned 69 on July 30th. I left Hammond at age 18 to join the USMC, and returned home to attend Purdue Calumet in 1963. After graduating in 1967, I moved to Minnesota and now live in Kansas. I have never forgotten my formative years in Hammond, and look forward to sharing those memories with you.
Paddy |
