Dear Hearts & Gentle People:

Those of you with brains sharper than mine managed to notice there were two #145s. But don’t worry that you missed one – we’ll just pick up with #147. I always know when I’m overdue with an installment since people write to ask if they have been dropped from the list. Then I know it’s time to get my lazy self in gear.

MUCH activity in the old hometown! I trust Thanksgiving has not been overlooked in the Christmas preparations. First I should mention that the Municipal Auditorium, nicknamed The Lex, has made its official debut. Saturday night it opened to the public with a one-man show of “A Christmas Carol.” Amazing performance and just right to welcome the holiday season. There was a lot of oohing and ahing as people saw the renovations and additions. I truly hope you will all be able to see it soon and, in case you are so inclined, they are still accepting donations. I believe a new lighting and sound system is next on the agenda. Lex natives Jim Slusher and Jim O’Malley were in attendance, and I’m sure they had many memories of past events in the iconic building.

After we count our blessings tomorrow (and hopefully every day), the Christmas season will be in full swing here. Decorations are already in place downtown, and Saturday will be Small Business Saturday. Local merchants are preparing to tempt Christmas shoppers with Open Houses, special sales, and treats. Next weekend is the big celebration, with our Festival of Lights Parade and the Mayor’s Tree Lighting ceremony. The Fire & Rescue Coloring Contest winners will be announced. New this year is the YuleFest Holiday Celebration the following day. This includes an Ugly Sweater contest, Fruitcake Toss, Chili Dinner, late shopping AND tours of downtown historic churches in their Christmas glory. The Elks will host their annual Christmas dinner that day, and the annual Christmas bazaar and Craft Show will take place at the high school. The Anderson House Christmas event is the same day, and all of the above should get everyone into the holiday mood. If I have overlooked an event, please forgive me – there is just SO much going on that it’s like the Old Days in Lex.

Of course there have been losses too. The Victorian Peddler closed its doors last week, and efforts are being made to bring a new restaurant into the building or at least into the downtown area.

We will miss Lexington natives John William Morrison, Lee Hoeflicker, Lester Bertz and Wayne Tabb. Wayne’s sister Barbara Jarman lost a son at the same time. I’m sure all TLCers send her our deepest sympathy. Other losses include Greg Bounds, Deloris West, and  Kenny Ussery. It’s painful to deliver bad news, especially at a time of the year when joy and gratitude are supposed to be foremost. Comfort to the families and friends affected.

Along those lines, Shirley Briggle Miller suggested “It's always a good day when you can get out a TLC, even if it's bad news.  Which brings me to a suggestion.  If there is a way you can get an email address or mailing address for the families of our old friends who have died, could  you include that in your notices  Many times I have wanted to pop a note off to a friend you have mentioned, too, but don't have an email address for him/her.  I know, I know, that's just one more service we don't pay you for (!), but if it's possible, we would all appreciate it, I know. Also...I was amazed to learn that LHS has had so many champions! Shirley also said she would be happy to hear from any TLC members at shirleybmiller@yahoo.com.

 

By way of explanation, I  regard subscribers’ privacy as of utmost importance. However, I am always willing to put people in touch. If you would like to contact someone in our list, simply let me know. I will send him/her your email address, and then they can get in touch if they so desire. Fair ‘nuf?

 

You probably do not remember me, but I thank you for the very enjoyable email. In my 30 years in a town with a population of 750,000+, I have not attended as many activities as you have outlined. I'm exhausted just reading about your scheduled activities. Have fun, Linda Stone.

I do remember Linda. She visits Lexington often, owns property, and has many friends here. Modesty prevents me from printing what she wrote next, along with a nice note from Davoren (Mrs. Bill) Tempel. Don Armbruster suggested a Shout-Out: great job promoting our upcoming festival season. Thanks. Our Community Fair has been (as you probably know) headed up by Debbie Bagley & Penny Grosso (for 20+ years). Debbie has been the mainstay. She is non-stop-motion-energy. It has grown every year and is now quite a credit to our community.  Before Debbie took charge, our fair was but a shadow of what it now is.  

A note came from Allan Lee: thank you for including the reunion information in your newsletter. I will provide updates as plans develop.  He refers to the Lexington Championship Football Teams Reunion which is scheduled for September 2016. He wants people to contact him regarding this: 816-916-4416 or by email at Alee1959@sbcglobal.net.

Thanks Vicki Pena, Jane Ann Whitney Hunt, and Bob Heggestad for your notes and your interest.

Wanda Harrington LeMay wrote: I hope you are doing ok Susan. It was good to read your last posting of things going on in Lexington, especially the Homes Tour next month.I have been invited to attend the reunion of the class of '55 with my sister, Jean. She will be coming up from Tennessee and stay with me for about a week. Which made me think, are there any plans for a 60th of our class? I would really hope so - none of us are getting younger and it would be nice to touch base with classmates again. Thanks for keeping us informed of happenings and in touch with hometown events. I await the next issue.

Wanda, I have dropped a few hints around and even suggested combining with the Class of 1956 next year. It would be fun to point out to them how much older they are. People of 1956 or 1957, if you have the slightest interest in this, we’ll get it together. But let me know!

Our very own webmaster, Bob Ball, came up with an interesting topic for discussion. One item that may or may not be of use for the next TLC (#147).  I'm not sure how I got to thinking about it.  It may have been a reference that someone hereabouts made in regard to fire departments.  But stuffed somewhere in my memory -- Lord knows why! -- is a field trip that must have taken place when I was in the Fourth or Fifth Grade at Arnold.  Do you remember that sort of expedition from grade school days?  The teacher would line up the class in rows of twos, girls in front and the boys in the rear -- girls were icky and the boys wouldn't walk with a girl next to them -- and the teacher marched in the rear to keep an eye on the boys -- and we would be off to somewhere in Lexington.  Mostly, it seems to me that such trips involved marching to the High School for a play or concert or some such, but this particular trip involved walking to the City Hall and visiting the Fire Department.  

In those days, I believe the Lexington Fire Department consisted of Bill Palmer and a number of volunteers.  Chief Palmer was the only paid fire fighter.  So, at the station, as we kids stood in the open door of the Fire Department truck bay (were there one or two trucks?), the telephone in the FD office rang very loudly.  At that time, we still had telephone operators and I guess they had a particular procedure to ring the Fire Department phone when someone reported a fire.  Anyway, the phone  sounded off and, suddenly, here came Bill Palmer, sliding down the brass pole from somewhere upstairs!  He ran into the office, talked to the operator, ran out of the office and started up the (very loud!) truck.  Much excitement and enthusiasm from the Grade School students!  Of course, it was all arranged beforehand, but we thought it was great!  And then Mr. Palmer showed us the fire truck and told us all about it.  

But the sudden jogging of my memory got me to wondering:  Whatever happened to that brass pole that Bill Palmer slid down?  Is it in the Historical Society Museum?  Or is it someplace in the new Fire Station?  I looked on Street View of Lexington on Google maps and you can see where, in the old City Hall, the Fire Trucks were and the small window next to them that was the office.  Further investigation on Street View shows that the present Fire House, down on South 13th Street, is a single-story building  so I guess it's not in use there!  

Therefore I ask you:  Where is the brass pole???

Another note arrived from Joan Hurlburt Rumble. She and her sister Georgia Hurlburt love to hear your news, so please write to us.

And that concludes this issue’s correspondence, although there is one more noteworthy event being planned. It may be a surprise (so don’t mention it) but his wife Terrie tells me Mickey Dishman is entering his 80s, and there is to be a celebration on Saturday 11/28 at the Moose Lodge from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. It’s an Open House, and the family would like everyone to come congratulate Mickey. The RSVP number is 660-232-1049.

 

Also all of the past TLCs are archived on our website:  www.thelexingtonconnection.com. Until next time, I remain

 

Your devoted Scribe,

Susan