TLC logo TLC #85:  February 15, 2006


Dear Hearts & Gentle People:
 
The news keeps accumulating - things you may be interested in, at least - so I'd better get an edition out before it becomes too long to wade through.
 
We are having an extremely mild winter in the old hometown. I do not remember a February this gentle (hope I'm not speaking too soon - and so do my daffodils which are already up about 4-5 inches). Some local gardeners are getting premature urges to get their fingers in the dirt. Thus we may be up to our eyeballs in snow on St. Patrick's Day.
 
Last issue I mentioned prominent properties that are for sale, and I forgot to add the Wentworth House to the list. Some may remember it as the Ball house, and some may remember it because it was across the street from the now-just-a-memory LHS. It is on the southwest corner of 16th & Main.
 
WMA purchased the house for the superintendent's home since it had belonged to Stephen G. Wentworth, founder of the Academy. Now I believe the plan is for the superintendent to live on campus, in the house on the east part of the campus. Therefore, they will part with the grand old house on Main. The sale is not to be construed as a result of monetary strain, but one of practicality.
 
Another piece of news I forgot to include was an interesting note from Wayne Tabb. Keep in mind it was written over two months ago:
 
Hi Susan and TLC staff and contributors.  I just could not pass the opportunity to tell everyone that I am spending the winter in Kiev, Ukraine. I spent most of the summer and liked it so well that I decided to return and try it in the winter. I will be here until the first week in March. The visit here is not what I am really writing about. It is the weather. The first thing I recall in this issue of TLC (#83) is the weather report. Ten degrees and snowing. Today in Kiev, it is 25 degrees and NO SNOW, and I spent a month's worth of money preparing for those deep snows and Siberian winters that the Old Russian Empire is famous for. Everyone have a good Christmas and Happy, Safe, New Year.
 
The trip is really interesting, but what caught my eye is TLC staff. Staff?? I have a staff???? Send 'em on over.
 
Wayne wrote again recently, with a serious request. I hope we can help:

I looked at the picture that Conrad Pitz sent to you. There is one name in there that I have wondered about for years. He and I were good friends, even to the point of allowing him to drive my dad's truck..and he wrecked it.  I had the truck out of town against my dad's direct order of NOT to leave town. (He didn't say which town to not leave.)  Anyway, the name Clayton Gaffin. Would you put out a tracer through TLC to see if anyone knows where he is or what has become of him? He was such a nice young man or boy. Thank you, Susan. I know this is an imposition so I apologize for it.
 
No imposition at all. I hope someone out there knows the answer.
 
Speaking of that Cub Scouts photo, some corrections arrived from Jan Jiovenale '57 Tubiolo:

As always, the TLC takes me back to 'those good 'ol days' and memories start flooding in.

Dad told me about Sam Baker's passing; thanks for the interesting tiny peak into Mr. Baker's life.  Dad says he's now the oldest man, both at church and at the Senior Center - I expect him to make it to 95 too, at the rate he's going.

Like Joyce Gueguen '55 Ramsey, I mourn the demolition of LHS (the one we remember!).  What a setting for "Live! in Lexington" it could have been.....

I just loved the picture of the cub scouts!  A big thanks to Conrad for sharing it.  How amazing that their features remained the same throughout life...I'm sure the present-day 'cubs' will treasure the memory.

A small correction on the names of two of them:  Middle row - end are Jerry Siglock (Jerry was in my class at  Central School) and Eddie McKean (my cousin). 

It's a great TLC startup for '06.

Thanks, Jan, for pointing out the errors. I'll have to chastise my staff.

A couple of brief notes have come in from Mel Fisher:

Could you put Howard Hoffman on your mailing list.? Howard was also a Superintendent of the Highway Patrol and is from Napoleon. He graduated from LHS in 1945, and Dan Ginow was the bus driver he remembers best.  He also tries to keep up on Lexington news. I  hope everything is going well with you, and I appreciate your efforts to keep us old timers informed.
 
My staff and I are glad to do it, Mel.
 
Del Scharnhorst '55 will blush when he sees I'm including a note I'm sure he meant just for me:
 
Yesterday, I played golf with Ronnie Peterson, Al Block and Ed Schumacher; the temperature was in the low 60's, and guess what!!! I aced hole number 16 at Shirkey's. That's the par 3, 123 yards, with a pitching wedge. It only took me about 45 years of trying. Well, maybe 48, but who's counting. Needless to say, I'm still in shock.
 
I doubt if he'd want this to get around, so don't tell anyone.
 
Another item arrived via cyberspace, but I'm going to make you wait for it. Jim O'Malley has written a great memory called "The Sounds of Lexington." I am not printing it now because it will be unveiled at the next Tall Tales & Short Stories of Lexington, which is held here every 4th Tuesday, 6:00 p.m., at The Brewery. We gather to share, uh, Tall Tales and Short Stories. It's great fun, and if you are ever able to be in attendance, I'm sure you will enjoy it. Next issue I'll print the story.
 
Jim was one of several people who delivered the sad news that Billy Don Baker died 2/11 after a 3-year bout with cancer. I'm sure many of you remember what a great personality he had and how entertaining he was.
 
Faithful correspondent Mary Pat Gueguen '58 Miller sends news:
 
For TLC #85.  Got a call from Ellie Lewis (aka Mrs. Carroll Lewis, our former band director's P.R. person) the other day telling me that Mr. Lewis was inducted into the Missouri Music Educators Association Hall of Fame during the last week of January, at Lake Tantara in the Ozarks.  Another professional musician friend of mine had a call, too, and says it is a great honor.  They don't have inductees every year.  Thought all of you old band members would want to know.  His "official" name is Dr. Carroll Carson Lewis, address, 10208 E. 57th St.,  Raytown, MO. 64133.  I know he would love to hear from you. I intend to pass the info on to the Lexington News Editor and maybe something will appear. 
 
As to my "older" sister's comments about our old house on 16th Street, it has been bought by a family man who lives right next door and intends to "fix it up" for sale.  (When we sold it at auction, we were told that, too, and it just fell into greater disrepair.)  He said we might be interested in taking a look at it around May.  Not that anyone in the family is interested in buying it; all along we only hoped that we could have a "happy, healthy closure" and turn it over in good shape to a wonderful family who would enjoy it.  I've often thought that someone should think about "reviving" 16th Street as the prestigious street it once was, and this will help, but that hole at the corner where the high school used to be is not a great step in that direction. Our Gueguen reunion in Mystic, CT. last year was quite impersonal and not everyone could attend.  I'm pushing for the next one in a couple of years to be in Lexington before someone dies and/or the 19 grandchildren are too old to care.
 
I think that's all the mail, but please note that I have a new email address:  skworth@cebridge.net  I certainly don't want to lose any letters, so please update my address.   Last issue I went on at length about our new 4-Life Center, and now you can see it yourselves.
 
Your devoted scribe,
Susan (& Staff)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 


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