TLC #127 November 26, 2010
Dear Hearts and Gentle
People:
Happy Thanksgiving to you
all!
Do you remember me?
When last I wrote, we were just entering
summer, so I should certainly wish you all a Merry Christmas...just in
case.
All I can do is plead insanity,
or whatever will get me off the hook. As I said before, Life
intruded.
Many things prompted #127, but
several asked me to inform you of the recent death of Eileen Mischon
Carpenter. Her funeral will be held tomorrow.
Eileen
Claire (Mischon) Carpenter, 75, of Kansas City, Mo. passed away Wed., Nov. 17,
2010. A
celebration of life will be Fri., Nov. 26 at 1:00
p.m. at
White Chapel Funeral Home, 6600 N.E. Antioch
Rd.,
Gladstone, Mo.
Eileen
was a giving, vivacious, lovely person. She lived life to the fullest as long as
she could. She is in a better place where she is no longer a prisoner of her
body. Her grace and beauty are free and her spirit will remain with all who knew
her. She was born in Lexington, Mo., a lifelong resident of
Missouri and an avid Mizzou Tigers Fan. She
was a member of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church. Survivors include her husband,
Herb Carpenter; sons, Jeff and Greg Carpenter; five granddaughters; one great
grandson; and one brother. In lieu of flowers, family suggests contributions to
Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 9555 N. Oak Tfwy.,
Kansas City, MO 64155. Fond memories and condolences may
be left at www.dwnwhitechapel.com.
(Arr: White Chapel, 816-452-8419)
Unfortunately, there are other
losses to report also. To their family and friends, I am very sorry I didn't
print them until now.
Mike McDonald wrote:
We lost Bobbie due to complications from kidney
cancer. She died at home with family all around her. Services were
July 12.
In August from Charlie Pieper '56:
Just wanted to let everyone know we lost another
classmate, Gerry Helm, married to Lawrence Bersano. She had been in
a nursing home.
John Rostine:
My good friend and football teammate Gene
Emke, who also played one the 1946 champion ship team, passed away this
year.
Wanda Harrington '57 LeMay
reported:
My sister Lois, Class of '52, passed
away on Aug. 10th.
My sister Jean and I attended her 55th reunion
on Oct 2. I think I knew almost as many attendees as she did. She has
now moved to Tennessee to be closer to her daughter and
family.
On a happier note, Sue Cousins '55 Wilmot
sent this report of the above-mentioned reunion:
Thanks
to all of the Classmates that attended the LHS 55th Year Class Reunion on
Saturday, October 2, 2010, at the Knights of Columbus Hall. We had a great
evening socializing and reminiscing. Don and Wally kept us entertained
with stories and a quiz.
Also,
the catered dinner from the Somerset Cottage was very tasty. Of course, we
wish more classmates could have attended.
Leamon Johnson (Class of ’53) took some snapshots during
the evening and the Class Picture. He sent the pictures to me on a CD,
which I received today. With Fred’s help, we will process and distribute
the Class Picture, the added Memoriam sheet, and the 4-page LHS Class of ’55
Roster. We really appreciate all the effort by the Reunion Committee,
Leamon, and Fred to make this Lexington High School 55th Year Class
Reunion a successful and fun night.
For your information, in 1955: we had 74
Graduates, 14 are deceased, with a current roster of 60
Classmates.
Eventually our webmaster will post photos from that event, along with
pictures from the Apples, Arts & Antiques Fair in October. Most of the
photos are courtesy of Wally "Snaps" Hulver, '55.
Last issue, ancient artifact that it is,
discussed the future of the Lexington Municipal Auditorium. The referendum for
restoration did not pass, but there is enough interest in preserving it that
other options are being examined. This was a good report from Abigail
Tempel:
Thank you for the information and
support you provided regarding the auditorium in the TLC publication. It
truly is appreciated. The responses from readers are wonderful and
welcomed. These help us identify events and dates for which there may be
pictures or news articles, or oral accounts. One of the Friends of the
Auditorium Commission's ideas for the renovated auditorium is to have a rotating
exhibit of these past events and stories...to bring these memories to life for
our young people and visitors.
Thought has been given to soliciting
funds from alumni and former residents....as an endowment for marketing,
programs, children's theatre, etc. Once we have the not-for-profit status
in place, we will revisit these possibilities in more detail.
The TLC readers also may be
interested to know that the Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation (also
called Missouri Preservation) on May 18 designated the Zion AME Church as one of
the state's Most Endangered Historic Buildings. We will be working with
the AME Conference trustees in Kansas City to stabilize this building at 16th
and Lafayette Streets and find viable, alternative uses for it.
Information about the building's nomination can be found on www.preservemo.org. Any memories or history your readers may have concerning this
building would be appreciated.
And we have memories! Jan Rider '52
McCoy wrote
You are very special to keep us all
informed and so hope all goes well for the Auditorium. I remember one time going
to a Magic show held there and being called on stage to assist. I was probably
about 6. The Magician gave me a Guinea Pig, and told the audience and me he was
giving it to me. When he tried to take it back I almost choked the poor little
thing I squeezed it so tight and told him a resounding "NO." I reminded him he
said I could have it. We got in this big fight on stage, and he finally was so
mad his face was red and he whispered bad things to me. He finally got it away
from me and I wasn't a very happy little girl. However, I do think the audience
enjoyed the extra show.
Another note from
John Rostine:
On the municipal auditorium, I
remember back in the late 40s and early 1950, the Dunhill Shirt Company had
their Christmas parties there. My Dad and I served the drinks for them, I hope
they can find a way to keep it there and find useful life for the
building.
Lucia Cope '59 Hulston
always has good memories. In this instance, she
asks about the Boy and Girl Scout cabins.
Are they unique
to Lexington? Are they still in use, and if so, how? When we
were in Junior High, the Girl Scout cabin was rented out for private
parties, as well as serving for GS meetings and activities. I have
many fond memories of those boy-girl dancing opportunities but none of
adult chaperones!
Shelly, Marcia and I made our annual tour of the town
when we were there for Memorial Day activities, and were very impressed
with the landscaping in Central Park, as we were with the general “looks”
of downtown - especially all the flags and the beautiful flower
pots. I was sorry to hear of the vandalism of some pots, but am
sure Ken had them all back in shape in no time.
After Mary
Elizabeth White’s funeral, Marcia and I had lunch with Fred and Abigail Tempel,
and my favorite part of our conversation was about all the “characters”
we’d known. When I moved to K.C. as an adult, when I married and
moved into a neighborhood, I started being aware of attitudes about
“characters,” which were the extreme opposite of those in Lexington.
I may be a bit naive about this, but it seemed that “characters” were
well-known and cared for and their idiosyncrasies understood and sometimes
even honored. I only knew about Miss Ann’s having dressed in red,
but Fred said that when she died the community saw to it that her casket
was lined in red satin.
What about all the ethnicities of
the population? As I recall, many Italians came to Lexington to work
in the coal mines. My great-grandmother taught Bible classes in the mining
camps, and Mother loved the gardens so many Italian families
cultivated. Some Italian patient of Daddy’s made wine and would
frequently give him a bottle of “Dago Red.” How un-PC is that?
But it was on his label. I think we grew up with a healthy
respect for the foreigners who populated the town, as they brought such a
rich heritage to our small community. Do you
remember that Miss
Mautino was frequently called upon to translate the Spanish spoken by some
Wentworth families?
Your TLC has greatly expanded my sense of Lexington
to the point of confusing my own experience of the town and I love
it. Even though I have made a conscious effort at giving up guilt, I
occasionally indulge it by wondering if we really short-changed our kids
by raising
them in the city!
Another thing that I may have
mentioned before was the whole subject of girls’ sports beyond gym class
and GAA. Mr. Cameron was the driving force during my teen years
behind such opportunities in softball and basketball.
Also, how
about some alley memories? There have to be tons!
Enough. I’m
sure you’re never short of ideas. Have a great summer, and thanks again for
keeping us informed and connected. Your dad would love
it!
My punishment is revealing how long ago
she sent this note. But perhaps this has spawned a memory that someone would
like to share?
Every once in a while we hear from a
person who loves Lexington who is not even from here. The most recent is
from Don Barrot (Jr.)
Although I did not graduate from LHS,
both my Dad (Diz Barrot) and aunt (Dorothy Barrot Ferrara)
did. I recently came across your newsletter while surfing the internet,
and did not stop reading until I covered each year's worth of newsletters from
beginning up to the present.
From a very young age until my
teens, when the last of my family was moved up to Nebraska, I spent a good deal
of each summer in Lexington. I have great memories of those
years......Maid-Rite, Dog N Suds out by Thriftway, Italian ices down at the
Dairy Creme on east Main, Mattingly's, Bing's Supermarket, Ceno's delivering
groceries, Pat's Army Store, the soda fountain at Rush's Drug Store (and
the cool elevator there-well, cool to a youngster, that is), Vacation Bible
School at First Baptist Church, the Eagles pool, the Main Street Theater (and
the diner next to it), KLEX radio, walking with my grandmother through the
garden behind Wentworth (and riding my bike all over the Wentworth grounds), my
grandmother and I wheeling her garden waste down to the holler behind the Dairy
Creme, playing on the big cannon at Wentworth (where the helicopter sits now)
across from my grandmother's house, the pesticide trucks going around town in
the summertime......with their huge clouds of skeeter poison trailing
behind, the summer in the early to mid-70s when someone predicted the
bridge would fall into the river one night, far too many more memories
to list here. And so many memorable people too, like Dr. Betty, Rev. George
Gray, Miss Angela Mautino, Keith and Norma Maring, plus Bob Jackson, Don
Savio and Cotton Trent at Commercial Bank (where I got to hold the Yankee
Commander's sword-pretty cool to a kid.....again), and hundreds more.
I always thought Lexington was the neatest place to grow
up.
It was nice to see my Dad's name listed amongst all the
great Lexington nicknames. He truly admired Dizzy Dean.
And also to see my aunt Miss Denise's name mentioned as one of the Legends
of Lexington. She really loved her job as Cashier at Commercial Bank for
all those 50+ years. It seemed everyone knew her. One of my favorite memories of
her is the Saturday night dinners at Maibs/the Victory Cafe (whichever the name
at the time). Miss Elizabeth Young and Mrs.
Anna Gibbons and Auntie would pick me up at my grandmother's house on Washington
Ave. across from Wentworth. Miss Elizabeth would be driving her blue
car, and all the ladies were dressed in their finest, complete with hats
and white gloves. And I can't remember if watching Lawrence Welk at
Miss Elizabeth's apartment was before or after the meal. Auntie was so
proud to show off her little nephew.....hope I wasn't too much of a brat on
those outings. I still have the two small ceramic dog figurines, one from Miss
Elizabeth and the other from Mrs. Gibbons, given to me those many many
years ago.
As I wrote at the top of the message, I didn't
graduate from LHS, but sure felt like I grew up in Lexington. It
seems like I have to explain this to my friends every time I call Lexington
"down home" in front of them. I am very glad to have discovered your
newsletter online and can't wait to read more.
Please add my name to the mailing
list. I enjoy reading all the good memories of Lexington. My aunt
still receives the Lexington paper (which I still call "the Advertiser" after
all these years....some habits are hard to break). Unfortunately, most of
the names we recognize these days are in the obituaries.
I
still live in Omaha, Nebraska where my Dad had settled after leaving
Lexington. HA......wish I could retire, but I am still working hard, just
not today.....I am only 48......and yes, I hung out with all the old people down
home. My aunt Dorothy lives in Wahoo, about a half-hour west of
here. She and my uncle Frank Ferrara (a Wentworth grad) are both
doing fine, both well into their 80s.
From what I remember,
Miss Elizabeth Young and Mrs. Anna Gibbons both lived in the apartment
building at 13th and South directly east across from the Post Office. They both
lived on the first floor, Miss Elizabeth on one side and Mrs. Gibbons on the
other. My aunt Denise lived in a 4-plex apartment house two houses east of
them, in the lower right apartment. I think there was a white (at the
time) house with a pillared porch between the two apartment houses. And
Auntie's apartment house was one or several houses to the west of where Joe
and Betty Barron Mussatto now live.
My grandparents lived at
413 Washington Avenue, between the Pence house and Gary and Helen (Thorson)
Bennett's. Reading Norman Thorson's comments about how Wentworth bought
and tore down Elia Thorson's house and others to build the new barracks
made me think of our old family house. I can still remember all the little
details about it, like my grandmother's rose garden. It was a neat place I
will never forget. I am pretty certain the academy has bought and torn down
those remaining houses on the lower half of Washington Avenue now.
The last time I was in Lexington I remember seeing the big old white Slusher
house up the street was now the Wentworth infirmary (I think). I am all in
favor of the Academy growing and remaining strong, but did it have to grow to
the south, why not the woods and holler to the north? Washington Avenue
homes (when I was growing up) were always well-kept and nice, whether
large or small.
There aren't many of the old family
friends left anymore in Lexington. So many have passed away this year,
including Dorothy Ann Stapleton and Laura Stephenson. I still hear
from Lucky Baker at Chirstmastime and I talk to Shari Stephenson
Kaullen several times a year. I am hoping to come down to Lexington
next fall for the battle re-enactment. I think it would be a great
experience. I sort of think I owe it to my ancestors, my great-grandfather
J.S. Camden being named for Gen. Joe Shelby of the CSA, and his future
father-in-law (my great-great-grandfather) William Minick fighting for the
USA.
Reading everyone's Lexington memories have my own coming
back to me now.
Sorry, Don that you had to wait
so long. He also commented:
I do not know the reference to "Dear
Hearts and Gentle People,"
So for Don and other
youngsters:
In the 1940s there was a song
that began: "I love those dear hearts and gentle people, who live in my home
town. Because those dear hearts and gentle people will never, ever let you
down." And so forth. I'm sure the lyrics are on the internet. Great
song.
Another new reader is Connie
Martin '76 Woodward:
I graduated in 1976, my daughter
Sarah Templeton graduated in 2000, and my youngest Amanda will graduate 2013!
Thanks for adding me to the list. Look on facebook at I Missed All the Fun at
the Shed because my parents thought I was too young. It is an interesting
page! My brother was Tom Martin and sister Darlene Martin.
It wouldn't be a true TLC
without a memory from Jim O'Malley. It was complete with a photo, but I
can't get it to reproduce here.
Everyone has seen the movie, "A
Christmas Story," about the boy who wanted a Red Ryder BB gun for
Christmas. Well, here's my own version of a similar story.
Around 1938 when I was 7, going on 8, I was a fan of the "Singing Cowboy,"
Gene Autry. One day I happened to be in the toy section of
Mattingly's five and dime store in Lexington, when my eyes widened
as I looked at a beautiful cap pistol that had just gone on sale. It
wasn't just any cap pistol, it was a GENE AUTRY cap pistol. It cost
50 cents.
I went home electrified with dreams of owning this prize.
I asked Mom if I could have it. Times were hard and pennies were
precious in 1938. 50 cents could have bought 5 loaves of
bread! After much begging Mom agreed to go to the store and
look at the gun. She
finally agreed to get it for
me. She put it on "Lay-away" and made payments on it. I don't
know if she paid it off in pennies, nickels or dimes, but by the time my
birthday rolled around I had my GENE AUTRY cap pistol!!! Hazel
Terrell O'Malley was a kind hearted woman and a wonderful, loving
mother! I googled "Gene Autry cap pistols" and found a picture
of one like mine.
Gene Autry was my favorite too. Jane Ann Whitney
'56 Hunt and I listened to his records by the hour. Jim found some wonderful
spots on the internet of Lexington "connections":
Thought you'd like to see photos of
the old train depots in Lexington, MO. They've been gone now for
sometime but lots of us remember them well. The first link is of the
Myrick depot just west of Lexington on Hwy 24. The second link is the old
Lexington, MO depot.
Please check the web pages for this TLC issue for photos and other
info of interest. If you think I have fallen into the river or been kidnapped by
aliens, you can always find the last TLC (old as it may be) on our
website.
Your devoted scribe,
Susan
Links to other pages