Susan, I don't know if you want this kind of
old photos for the new website - just thought I'd send it along. You might have
fun with it even if you don't use it. It's Central School, '44-'45, and that is
Mrs. Conger who was the teacher. I think this must have been when some were
still without front teeth, judging by the number closed lips.
I think even clothing can tell a
tale about those times - several 'military' looks there, and I can remember that
one of my very favorite articles of clothing about that time was an 'Eisenhower'
jacket that Mom made for me. I probably
discovered with it that I was
somewhat allergic to wool, but I stubbornly wore it anyhow because it was so
'unique'.
I think she used some of my
uncle's buttons from his uniform - and, I probably still have a couple of
them.
I have all the grade school
group shots except for the 6th grade, and have no idea why it is missing - maybe
it never even got taken. If anyone has one, I'd sure like to see it again. I
just don't remember ever seeing it, and would like to have a picture of Miss
Rush - was scared to death of her before getting in her class (she was the
'principal', and head honcho), but she quickly put me at ease by being one of
the best teachers I ever had.
Barbara also wondered about a girl
in the photo named Carol Wilkey. She moved from Lexington in grade school.
Anyone know what happened to her?
When you have digested that, you will
enjoy the Library of Congress website. I was remiss in not including this
earlier, because it is a real find. Thanks to Garry Shulkind, new resident of
Lexington, for telling us about it. There are photos of Lexington buildings
from the mid-to-late 1930s and early 1940s. Also the 1869 "Bird's Eye" map
of Lexington is there and can be magnified and explored. And there are
congressional records with mentions of Lexington.
I warn you, plan to spend a good bit of
time there if you have any interest in Lexington. It's
mesmerizing.
This in the Library of
Congress site. When you pull up the page, click on: Search.
When the next page comes up and it shows a 'Search for
Items' box with a search button to the right of it, in that box type,
Lexington Missouri. I'm certain there is an easier and more
direct route, but I'm still a newbie and floundering around on the
internet.
The photos of Lexington begin about page
6. Some are identified in an offhand way: "Brick house." Some of the
structures no longer exist, and some I cannot recognize. So, send
help!
Now a comment from a satisfied
user:
Jim O'Malley
Hi Susan, Thanks for the info. Ellie
looked up the Lexington map site the other day and shared it with
me. We were fascinated with the closeup views of
Lexington. At the bottom of the 1869 map is a listing of the
churches by number. Number 12 was the Catholic church and I was
surprised when Ellie zoomed in on it to see it was on Highland Ave. and Ninth
St., across the street from where Louie Mautino's house used to be. It had
twin spires on it! My father had told me that before the present church
was built in 1907 that an earlier church was located just above Irish Town Hill,
to the south of the WW I Memorial Lookout. I wonder if the church pictured
on the 1869 map was the first or second Catholic Church built in
Lexington? It's going to be fun to explore Lexington, circa 1869, "in
depth!"
Have fun everybody!
Your devoted scribe,
Susan
TLC #56: August 18, 2003