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From Jack Gueguen the Faithful:
Yesterday (May 23) was the 50th anniv. of the graduation of LHS class of
'51. I "celebrated" here at the university residence (Urbana,
Illinois) where I am chief sage and mentor to mostly grad students from around
the country and the world. After dinner last night and a brief visit to
our chapel, we gathered in the living room for our customary
"get-together" before people get into their evening activities.
I passed around the 1951 Minuteman (annual) so they could see what "real
folks" looked like back then. They were most amused at the greetings
and salutations from classmates and teachers which we used to have people write
on the blank pages. Among other things they noted that our word for
"cool" was "swell." Then they got me to telling
stories about classmates, stories which have no doubt become
"enhanced" with age and repeated tellings. It was a rather low
key "celebration," as celebrations go, but I found it most
fulfilling--and they gained a little perspective.
From Shirley Briggle the
Regular:
About the piece below:
I always take the blame for what I do,
but I simply will not take the credit for anything I do NOT do. And I didn't
write this "old one from Shirley Briggle."
I never heard of
Missouri Life Magazine, although I heard a lot about the brothels from my
father: "Don't EVER walk or drive down the streets that go North from
downtown!" I wasn't sure what would happen (was it contagious?), but
I stayed on Main Street, just in case.
(Scribe: Sorry. And I too received those warnings, especially about
the south side of Main between 10th & 9th. I was convinced one would simply
vanish and never be heard from again. Sold into white slavery, or the
like.)
ALSO: I, too, enjoyed the stories about the Odessa ice cream store and have
an addition. The summer the Gueguens were hired to run the store, the Briggles
applied for the same responsibility. It was understood that the entire
family would work, my father at night because he was daily engaged at Lake City,
or perhaps it was Jack Mason's Chevrolet at that time. So when the
decision was made, we were all disappointed, but I have laughed ever after at
the explanation: We had only three kids and the Gueguens had more.
Thank God. That's just what I needed -- all-you-can-eat ice
cream.
AND...As you know, and your mother remembers even now, I, too,
worked for your father. It began with a column while in high school
("High School Happenings") and continued the summer after graduation,
before I went to Missouri, also with a free subscription. For the high
school column, I was paid by the inch. And that, unfortunately, is when I
learned to be wordy.
(Scribe: I too wrote a column one summer: the Kool Katz Korner. Don't laugh.
When I run out of good material to forward, I'll include some of the
letters I received - some of them from some of you! Don't worry, though, I will
protect your identity. Wish someone would protect mine.)
And now, we at TLC proudly present a new feature:
RECOLLECTIONS FROM THE OLD
FOGEY
By Harry Dunford
Thank you Susan for inviting me to
drop a few words into The Lexington Connection. Although I view the good old
days as the 30's and 40's rather than the 50's as most of your readers, I can
not pass up to write a few words for publication.
Your
readers remember the Odessa Ice Cream Shop at its location in 1500 block of
Franklin where the China House is now located. I well remember a smaller
building located in the 1300 block of Franklin, at what now is the east corner
of the building which formerly housed Mattingly Bros. Office (me
too, Harry! S.) or, if you prefer, directly across the street
from the educational building of the Trinity United Church of Christ at 1312
Franklin.
About
1938 this Odessa Ice Cream Shop, owned by Mr. Shyrock of Odessa was managed by a
Mrs. Moore and her son Donald. I worked there as a soda jerk. The building was
small, only had room for the soda fountain and 3 tables. There was a small back
utility room. However, the primary business came from "curb
service."
The prices were wonderful, 5 cents for a double
dip cone, ten cents for a sundae and 15 cents for a soda. On Saturday nights we
would often begin to run out of ice cream and the Odessa store would bring us
more. We would stay open until 1 a.m. at times.
Later
on this Odessa Ice Cream Shop was managed by Mrs. Bowers and her two sons Jimmy
and F.J. She lived to a ripe old age, having died just this past year and
was into her 90's. Jimmy is also deceased; F.J. is living and
well.
I also
was soda jerk at Marsh Drug Store in downtown Lexington. The location was at the
former location of the Goodyear store just west of Entines. This was in 1940.
The building is now an antique store.
Here
are some names from the past you may or may not remember: Arlie Schenewerk, Mose
Butler, Little Mac McFadden, Minerva, Kelly. (I remember them all,
and I'll bet the rest of TLC does too. S.)
Your
reader mentioned Bruna McGuire. It was my pleasure to know her slightly as I was
editor of The Advertiser-News for a while after the Shades bought it from John
Shea. It is my understanding that her Model A is still in existence and is owned
by Swafford Motor Co. at Richmond. It is still driven in
parades.
One of
my favorite recollections of Lexington is in the spring of 1946. The war had
been over for some time and many veterans were on the streets about the time the
flag was taken down at the court house. At that time they played a recording of
"retreat," and for three blocks up and down Main Street you would see
those men who had served their country in war time but were now civilians come
to attention until the flag was retrieved.
My nephew, Owen C. Davis, has a website:
www:lafayettecountymo.com. which your readers may want to check out. I have a number of "Our
Lexington Columns" on it and a
memoir of my Aunt Maree Barron in which she recalls her memory of a Chautauqua
held at the corner of 20th and South Street which was next door to my
grandmothers home.
Also
on the site if you care to check are some "bon mots" entitled,
strangely, "H-Bums" which I wrote for the Advertiser-News over a
period of years.
-30-
From
Scribe:
Regarding Bruna McGuire. I thought Ann
Beretta and I were the only ones who read her column! We would (literally) wait
for the paper to arrive on the day she was published and simply devour
it!
Also...someone who shall remain nameless
has promised to write about her adventures with Minerva. I do not remember a
Model A, but I certainly remember an (Army?) jeep she careened around town
in.
And to the rest of you...you've promised
to write. And I'm taking names.
Hugs to everyone. Till next
time,
Your Scribe
Susan