TLC #112: October 23, 2008
Dear Hearts &
Gentle People:
This installment has a table
of contents. First, Hurricane Ike (not our Ike); the Krazy Kats; then
Reunions (those Gueguens, the Blue Birds girls' baseball team, the classes
from the early 50s, the LHS class of 1958); and finally, everyone's
favorite, Miscellaneous.
She had sent a full report on
Hurricane Ike, but Barbara Tabb '55 Jarman didn't want me to print it
all. This came in shortly after the storm. Of the report:
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It's too long, and I sent it to all on my
e-mail list, but it's probably not of much interest to TLC
readers. It still looks like a war zone down here, but it's also
amazing how much has been done. I sure feel for those folks without
electricity because the hot humid weather is back after a cool
spell. Take care - always look forward to TLC and hearing the
news. Here are some good pictures taken after hurricane Ike:
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/09/the_short_but_eventful_life_of.html
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I was also concerned about Jerry Mischon '56 and sent off
a plea for news, telling him we were worried. Did I hear back? NO! But later
Bill Tempel '56 wrote the following: "You okay?" and got back this
report:
Yes. Minor damage
from losing some shingles and small drips through the roof because of
that. No power for the first 9 days, but I got a generator on the
second day which kept the refrig and lights going.
I missed the rest of it
as I went to Egypt for 11 days and my power came
back on before I got home. Quite a trip.
Things are still a
little wild with a lot of homes still without power after 2+
weeks. Thanks
for asking.
Do we have anyone else living
in the Houston/Galveston area?
If so, please send a
report.
And now a note from Earlene
Hancock '57 Edwards:
I was in Lexington for our
softball reunion, but only for a very short time on a Saturday. My
daughter lives in Kansas City, KS so she drove me to Lexington. My time
was very short there. We had a small get together at Bonnie Burnett
Hoeppner's home. There were about ten of us in
attendance. And when I
inquired: There was no softball game - I think we all are a
little too old to even try to play a game (smile).
I sent you all a flyer about
the Krazy Kats appearance in Lexington. They have a mighty big following, and a
lot of locals showed up too. If you like 50s music, it was the place to be. I am
not exaggerating when I say that for every single song, the dance floor was
full.
Tom Campbell '57
remembered them:
Thanks for sharing this information
with me. Brings back memories !!! I believe the leader of the
band was a Lee Dresser. I met him
after his years playing in Lexington at the University of Missouri. He was
playing in Columbia and I think he was in school as well.
We had some nice visits about his performances at good old
Lexington. As I recall, he was going to California to make some records
and play in that area. Again thanks for now...I wish I
could be there for the occasion but we already have plans for that weekend in
Waterloo.
Don't forget me when its time for
the TLC news. I enjoy reading about the news in Lexington and also
remembering
the people
mentioned.
Lee Dresser and his two
compatriots (they were briefly called The Dresserettes!) love Lexington and have
fond memories of all the dances they played for at the auditorium. It was a
sentimental journey for many.
Mary Ann Mullen '57 Lane
waxed nostalgic:
The info about the Krazy Kats concert
brought to mind an old cheer that I wrote during my tenure on the cheerleading
squad. It was during basketball season, and of course, Paul Fenner was one
of the starting team members. It went like this with a clap, a finger
snap, and a sing song style:
There's some crazy cats on the Lexington
team
These boys can't help but be on the
beam.
They got a real cool daddy Coach Charlie
Neiss
With him a-pushing pep just can't
cease
So won't you join us while we give a
cheer
For the hip cat team a-playing
here.
Rah (clap) Rah (clap) rah rah
rah
Well, Mary Ann, I'm sure that's
in the Cheer Hall of Fame. Thanks for sharing.
On the same night we were
jitterbugging in the auditorium, the Class of 1958 was down the street
at the Carriage House celebrating 50 years. They had a grand time, and a few
wrote to me about it. This from Mary Kay Wilcoxon '58
Gooseman:
We had a fantastic reunion and everyone really enjoyed
themselves, which was our goal as well as having as many in attendance as we
did. We had 57 reservations (classmates) and 3 weren't able to make it at
the last minute, so had 54 classmates for a total head count of
around 95. If memory serves me correctly, this is the largest turnout
of any of the other 50th reunions thus far, which was 'my
personal goal' to achieve. We couldn't have asked for better weather and
was the 'typical' weather we usually have this particular weekend in October,
For many it was the first time back in many, many years. We had a total of
54 classmates that being the reason we chose this weekend. It appeared you had a good turnout for the "Kats" Saturday
night as well, from looks of parking along Franklin.
There was a hot time in the old
town that night.
Rumor has it that the early 50s LHS group who
reunited earlier in the fall also had a grand time. But no one wrote to me about
it. Perhaps we'll get a report AND some pictures.
There are photos from the '58 reunion, and
also pictures of the Gueguen family reunion. They had about as many as the '58
people did! Remember when you look at that crowd, that it all began with the
"four queens and a jack" - and not all of them were present!!!
And now for Miscellaneous:
Jim O'Malley '49 offered this
up:
Do you think anyone would like to read
about the old Eagle Theatre on Block 42? I spent many an evening there
when I was a pup.
Of course! Everyone would. Write
on.
Sharon
Shurmantine '65 McGinness brought back another memory from Fall in
Lexington:
I don't remember reading any other comments about it,
but I remember how wonderful the Fall Festival was. In my mind's eye,
it was like a miniature Rose Bowl Parade - dozens of floats and, of course, the
Fall Festival Queen, along with her attendants and other
contestants. What a wonderful fall event that used to
be. Along with the parade and the Fall Festival Queen, there was the
carnival, with ferris wheel, the tilt-a-whirl, lots of popcorn and cotton
candy. That was a glorious time and is a special memory.
Sharon, your memory is much like mine,
although I preceded you by a few years. Many of us cringe to recall traipsing
across the auditorium stage in bathing suits and high heels!!!! There may
be a photo of that in the TLC archives.
As for other activities, the past weekend was
the Historic Homes Tour. All of the houses were antebellum (meaning: before the
bellum), and all beautiful but different from each other. The newspaper said 550
attended, and the weather could not have been nicer. Many out-of-town people
made a point of saying how much they enjoyed it.
Just two few weeks before that, the
Apples, Arts & Antiques Festival was held. Again, the weather was
wonderful, the town was full, and it was a nice boost to the local
economy.
This weekend the Friends of the Anderson
House will be conducting tours of Machpelah Cemetery. Perfect for Halloween
week, because visitors will be introduced to the actual people residing there.
The FOAH do a great job. If you are nearby, come for it. You won't be
disappointed. There is quite a lot of entertainment in this town for a modest
price.
TLC is apolitical, but do remember to vote!
And please write to us with your memories of the Fall Festival...and of
Block 42.
Many of you know that Slick and Sharron
Jenkins '57 Heathman lost their house in a recent fire. Please send some
memories of them, and we can help them rebuild that area.
Your devoted scribe,
Susan
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