nancs
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Post by nancs on Jun 21, 2005 10:09:17 GMT -5
Bob, what a beautiful collection of memories, and so well put. Really enjoyed it, A LOT. And I, too, will make certain that my daughters and my mom get to read it. Eloquently done!!!! Glad you posted, we are all richly blessed by your addition. Nanc
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BobLane
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Post by BobLane on Jun 24, 2005 10:13:39 GMT -5
Louise & Nancy, thanks for your comments. My hope is that others will do more on this site, and talk to their parents, g'parents, uncles, aunts, neighbors, whoever is still with us to get their memories down on paper Reguards, Bob Lane
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Post by LouiseMaple on Jun 30, 2005 18:24:52 GMT -5
There are so many memories and half/memories that it is fun to be reminded of our lives back then. I want to pass on a lot of them but find that some need some editing.
A question to put out--I wasn't quite 6 years old when THE WAR ended. I have some vague recollections. What do you remember? What were celebrations like? I recall many homes had souvenirs--especially the (to a little girl's eyes) the silk pillows. Most seemed to be red with a dragon for a design. The NewsReels at Crump really impressed my young brain. A misconception memory that I will always carry--I saw tanks being driven into the back of airplanes. The very next scene was of airplanes dropping bombs from the belly of planes. I didn't know they were different planes. I thought the tanks transformed into bombs!!! When my uncle returned he got a kick out of teaching my brothers some "hand to hand" combat. Maybe that helped Jim and Dave win in some of the fights they had. Dave loved to tell about the time Jim was "down" and turned his head to bite the "other guy" Jim bit a wart off! I think that ended everything right then. I'm sure they other guy cried "Uncle" instead of Jim.
Does anyone remember buying home made marshmallows?--Some where west of Haw Creek, could have been Third Street. Some other treats that Mom made were vanilla or banana pudding with vanilla wafers lining the bowl and sometimes crushed peanuts on top. Her Baked Alaska was a marvel to us. But best of all was a layered pie with dark chocolate on the bottom and white layer on the top. YUMM.
When I visited with Nancy I wanted to talk about another theatre besides Crump and Rio--The Mode! I didn't often go there but I had a real treat when Mom took me to the biggest 'chick flick' to hit the screen. We went to see GONE WITH THE WIND. The Ladies were dressed up in their finest...rayon navy blue dresses with white polka dots, hats with little veils, and of course they wore gloves, too. I had never seen so many gownups lined up to go to a movie. When Clark Gable came on the screen--they were all "love sick". Yes I really do remember that final scene where he carried Vivian Leigh up the stairs, two at a time. I had no idea what it meant, but the women in the Mode sure reacted. I don't think it was the swear word used for the first time on screen--"Frankly, my dear I don't give a DAMN!" The sighs were tremendous.
For this little girl's mind, the trip to Zaharako's is what I bragged about for the day! Enough for now, LouiseMaple
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nancs
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Post by nancs on Jul 1, 2005 8:48:02 GMT -5
Hi Louise, and all. And wasn't our visit fun, Louise? A special moment in time, much treasured! A couple of things that you mentioned, memories of the war----somewhere else on these boards I posted about the "blackouts" that were done. As to celebrating, and I am not a WWII buff, so dates mean nothing to me. I do remember one day of celebration, I was with my dad driving north on probably Franklin (near the Armory), but before you got to the corner-----There had been a brief shower, the sun came out, bright and clear, and at that same moment----sirens, bells etc. were sounded. It was in celebration of some important war victory. Am I just "dreaming this" or is it true? Were windows of Reeves Pulley Co. blacked out there along 7th St. so that people couldn't see in, as "something" was being made there for use in the war? I think that many times during the war, my folks went to the movies, not for the movie itself, but for the war news via the news reels. I haven't found it yet, but I know that somewhere my mom has a large booklet of copies of important war articles from the newspapers. I am making an educated guess that the booklet was compiled by the Indianapolis Star and sold after the war. My other half and I were discussing the other day----remember "The Weekly Reader" that we got in school? Am almost thinking that each child had to contribute money to receive a copy. Does that ring a bell with anyone? Who paid for this? Of course, The Weekly Reader is still out there, and now with color photos, etc., and still loved by kids, with a class subscription usually paid for by the teacher. In Jr. High, we "graduated" from The Weekly Reader to a publication called "Current Events." Know that I did save the copies of that, now the question is----did they make the move to California, and where are they today? ;D GWTW-----my all time favorite!!!! And yes, people did dress up to go to the movies, I remember that, too. AND you dressed to the nines to fly on an airplane, too, lo, not all that long ago!!! ;D Now that is one thing of the past that I do not miss-----gotta love my Levis and T-shirt, and tennies as being proper attire for a flight in 2005! ;D Have a super day---one and all. Nanc
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Post by LouiseMaple on Jul 1, 2005 14:38:51 GMT -5
I didn't know why, but yes, Reeves did have their windows blackened. But we always said they did secret things there. Could they have been blackened so that the factory could still operate during a blackout?--i.e. 24-7?
Do I remember Weekly Readers? The only time I was spanked by the teacher---yes they did!--was the first time the paper had a red title. I wished I hadn't learned how to wolf-whistle. I was so excited that I whistled really loud. Miss Linke turned around and demanded to know the culprit. She was obviously angry and I timidly held up my hand and explained. Well, she had to do something. I certainly wasn't traumatized but she demonstarted that whistling wasn't allowed. She turned me over her knee and gave me a couple of swats. Not enough to really hurt. But she couldn't back down.
Speaking of the movies. We went every week so we wouldn't miss the next serial feature, too. Especially when it was a favorite--Tarzan was one of them. Weismuller (sp?) was a hunk!
Even though it wouldn't be politically correct today we enjoed The Little Moron jokes. My favorite was "Why did The Little Moron take his spoon and bowl to the movies?" answer: "Because he heard the theater had a good cereal/serial there" LouiseMaple
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Post by LouiseMaple on Jul 3, 2005 16:37:35 GMT -5
As that memiry bank has failed from time to time I was curious about those clodhopper shoes/boots. Their name made perfect sense. That is what farmers needed to protect ankles when walking in plowed fields. While we are talking about shoes--did any one of you duck into the shoe store on Washington just to take a look at the bones in your feet in that new x-ray machine? It seemed like a Godsend to the parents who couldn't be sure if the child didn't like the shoe or if it was truely a poor fit. Remember moms always pinching the end of the shoe to see how much "growing room" was left in order to make shoes last longer? I kow it wasn't just economics. Everyone was trained to be conservative with leather for the war effort. Do you suppose that may have been the reason so many boys wore the High Top canvas shoes? What was it that we called them? Someone posted it recently--I think. LouiseMaple2
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Post by David Sechrest on Jul 5, 2005 11:16:48 GMT -5
Louise, by some chance, were those tennis shoes called "Chucks?" And Bob--thanks so much for sharing your poem. How the little things brought so much joy to us!
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Post by LouiseMaple on Jul 5, 2005 16:37:16 GMT -5
Chucks is not a term I recall.
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Post by LouiseMaple on Jul 5, 2005 16:41:59 GMT -5
I don't know whhich message board that mentioned Cummins,"car" races and the dump, but to add to it--Wasn't that where we would salvage "steelies"? They were ballbearings that were the right size for marbles...Hmmm---hoggers. They could really help win in a marbles game.
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JamesK
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Post by JamesK on Jul 5, 2005 21:15:14 GMT -5
HOW ABOUT "CHUCK TAYLORS, CONVERSE ALL-STARS." HE CAME FROM COLUMBUS AND PLAYED FOR THE BULLDOGS MANY YEARS AGO.
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nancs
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Post by nancs on Jul 8, 2005 8:17:28 GMT -5
Hi, and not quite sure why this thought popped into my head. Afterall, it is July!!!!! Anyone remember, come Christmas time, driving out, north of Donner Park, very near the park, perhaps facing the northern boundary, to the home with a huge "picture window" (is that another outdated descriptive set of words) that had a life size Santa sitting in a rocking chair? It sticks in my mind that the home belonged to the Robinsons-----parents of Joan Robinson, our beautiful 2nd grade teacher at Garfield, or to the parents of her future husband, Norm Edwards. For some reason, I put "Santa, Robinsons, Edwards" altogether with this memory. Hope that someone else can verify my thinking. Nanc
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nancs
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Post by nancs on Jul 10, 2005 9:18:24 GMT -5
Today, Sunday, July 10, 2005, the First Christian Church is celebrating its 150th anniversary. Along with the unveiling and ringing of a bell saved from the old Tabernacle. The photo below was taken Christmas 1942, in the new church. It is the Beginners Sunday School Class with Miss Dorothy (Poulton) and Miss Mildred (Maley) sharing leadership responsibilities, plus several teachers. Miss Mildred is the closet one standing, and Miss Dorothy the other. As to the teachers seated in the back, I only can name my mom, Rosanna Stevens, on the left. Front row, L - R: perhaps Claire Lambert, perhaps Mickey Meek, definitely yours truly (and I promise my daughter I will never ever joke again about her kindergarten holiday program, and not paying attention), the next two I do not recall, then Joey Cook. Row 2, L - R: Jackie Poffenberger For our Sunday School Class, we would sing together seated as in the photo. Miss Dorothy actually wrote many of the songs that we sang, and they were published by Standard Publishing, I believe. We would be "dismissed" to go to little separate tables seating about 6 or so children for the lesson taught by a teacher at each one. There was a horseshoe cloak area and on cold snowy days it was quite a 'circus' to get the right leggings onto the right child for dismissal. Favorite song: Jesus Loves Me. Nanc
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nancs
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Post by nancs on Jul 10, 2005 9:54:25 GMT -5
I thought that this photo was a fair shot of the grandstands at the fairgrounds on 25th St. in the 40s. Am guessing that it was taken when there was a horse show out there, as my dad had a number on his arm. JK, the lady on the left in the light dress, is noted to be Rosie McKain, so am guessing that was Burt McKain's wife. Also noted, the man petting my pony is Ronnie Turner's brother. This next photo is my family riding west on 25th St. "going home." In the background to the right is the building that was at the entrance to the fairgrounds. More to the left, in the background, I think you can see the horse barns. Now for a question. The big house, pretty much across from the entrance to the fairgrounds-----from "my kid viewpoint" it reminded me of a southern plantation home, with pillars across the front. For some reason, I think the home was moved to that property from somewhere else-----like a state fair or ??. In the late 40s, early 50s, I think that Sandra Houk (sp) and her family lived there. JK, she might have been another Trail Blazer, as I know she had a horse, and was critically injured when her horse reared up. Anyone have input on this house? ? Nanc
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Babs
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Post by Babs on Jul 10, 2005 12:28:35 GMT -5
Nanc, You were not paying much attention were you? Today was great at church. Yes, Barney Carr rang the old bell and it brought back lots of memories to me. Thanks for that picture; I will be sure and ask Joann Daily if they can use it in their archives. They are still asking for photos, etc. Harold Armstrong was back, as well as Mark Jones. It was great to see them but for me, I still miss T.K. Smith and Ard Hoven. They took pictures after church and were having a big get together down in the courtyard or whatever they call it now. There is no longer the reflection pool as there was when we were growing up; that has long ago been filled in and it is just a grassy area now. We didn't stay as we were busy helping my dad get out of his parking space and on his way home. Wish you could've been there as I know you would've enjoyed it. Miss Maley and Miss Poulton were great Sunday School teachers, weren't they? I am sure they had a great influence on so many young lives. Babs
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Gregg
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Post by Gregg on Jul 11, 2005 19:36:31 GMT -5
Nanc, I believe that the house in question(25th Street near Caldwell Place), was used as the North Christian Church during the 1950's and up until the time that the new one was built on National Rd. I think my mom said it was moved to Columbus from the World's Fair(or National Exposition), either in Chicago or St. Louis.
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nancs
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Post by nancs on Jul 12, 2005 9:18:36 GMT -5
Thanks, Gregg, for that info. I asked my mom, and all she said was, "Yes, I think it was moved there from somewhere else." And she did not elaborate on "the somewhere else. " Drat! I did do a little internet search, checking both St. Louis and Chicago. Think that the Chicago World's Fair (also referred to as the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, if I read it right) did have buildings that would "fit" what I can recall about that house. For example, a building furnished by the state of North Dakota. Would be interesting to actually figure out the origin of that home. Would sure appreciate any input to help us figure out this part of the puzzle. Thanks. Nanc
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Post by David Sechrest on Jul 12, 2005 10:49:20 GMT -5
Nancs, I'm not sure if you own the Volume II of the Bartholomew County History, but there's a writeup of the Caldwell Mansion inside, and what a beautiful home it was! It was located across the street from the 25th Street Fairgrounds (what is now known as FairOaks Mall), and was built by George C. Caldwell, sometime in the early 1900's. Around 1930, Walter Golden, owner(?) of Golden Foundry here in Columbus bought the home. After this, it was the Colonial Inn Tea Room, run by Effie Stofer. By the way, if you take a look at the Historic Columbus Indiana Postcard Page, compare this postcard with the 25th Street Fairgrounds, the very first PC on the page. By all indications, the pictures were taken the same day, as both include the horse and buggy. And nancs, I really enjoyed the picture of 25th Street! Thanks for posting it.
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nancs
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Post by nancs on Jul 13, 2005 7:43:13 GMT -5
Okay, and with a lot of people contributing, the "puzzle" that has been lurking in my brain is solved, regarding "that big house on 25th St." And thanks to all who helped put the pieces in place. From all that we have found, George Caldwell built the house there on 25th, modeled after the Arkansas Building that he built at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis. NOT moved there from somewhere else, as some of us thought. You might want to reference Patricia Motes brand new book on Columbus, p. 30 for more info, as well as pp. 318-319 in the Bartholomew Co. Vol. II, as David suggested. (Incidently, just got my copy of Patricia Motes' new book yesterday, definitely great, with lots of triggered memories within.) And as much as we sometimes wish for the slower pace of years gone past, you just "gotta love" what the internet offers in the way of info at your fingertips, and in the wee morning hours. ;D Check out this website for a photo of the Arkansas Building at the World's Fair. www.tlaupp.com/arkansas.htmlThanks to all for helping put the pieces in place for this puzzle. I absolutely love the things that I am learning about our hometown, plus all the contacts with friends, as a result. Nanc
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Babs
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Post by Babs on Jul 13, 2005 15:51:12 GMT -5
At one time, wasn't this same house on 25th STreet used as a B&B? I remember spending a couple of nights there in April of 1954; slept in an upstairs bedroom. I am sure it is the same house, with the pillars out front. Any idea who would've owned it at that time? Babs
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Babs
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Post by Babs on Jul 14, 2005 13:03:03 GMT -5
Changing topics here but some friends and I had lunch yesterday at Smith's Row and I just had to make a comment about that place and how much it has changed. Each time I go into Smith's Row, I think about what it used to be. I wonder how many of you remember that it used to be a "pool hall"? Yes, during the 1940's, two great uncles and my grandfather had a pool hall in that same building. Prior to their ownership, it was also a pool hall. You could look thru the windows and there were pool tables all over and card tables where the men would sit and play cards. Whenever we went to town, my brother and I usually "hit" the pool hall because our grandfather would give us candy. I am sure during the war there was not all that much candy to be had but he always managed to have some for us. From "pool hall" to a very nice restaurant; what a nice addition to our small town! Babs
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