TLC - The Lexington Connection

TLC #99: June 19, 2007

Dear Hearts & Gentle People:

There'll be a hot time in the old town tonight. Not that anything special is happening, it's just beginning to be summer. I believe we are expected to reach 90 degrees for the next few days. No match for the June of 1954, if memory serves, but certainly warm enough.

Things were hopping two weekends ago, when the annual Heritage Days Festival took place. It happened (no accident) that it was also the 50th Reunion of the LHS Class of 1957. Although I claim to be much too young to be a member, I did spend four days with my old classmates (old as in "former") and must say we had a pretty durn good time. If you have any interest whatsoever, please check out the clever website devoted to the Reunion, which was created by John '57 Lefman.

We rode in the Parade, had two big parties and a wonderful farewell breakfast AND it was well-attended, despite the notable absence of some local classmates.

As for our TLC website, it is full of photos from Heritage Days - courtesy of Wally "Snaps" '55 Hulver - and some of YOU are in it!

Early July will see big changes downtown as commercial establishments move around. We have two new restaurants - Lisa's Tearoom, which is located in the Strictly Victorian antiques and gifts shop; and Edge of Town, which is operated by Mark Clark in the Lexington Inn.

I'm often surprised at what jogs certain memories and compels people to write. Certainly, one is the Gem Barbershop.

Gary '63 Miller wrote:

I remember my Dad taking me there for my haircuts. I do remember Floyd and Buzz always being very talkative and always with a smile on their faces. I also am reminded of my being very young and how long I thought it took to get my hair cut once I got in the chair. So hard to sit still, even for a haircut.

I also remember one day when I was in Floyd's chair, that the owner of the local Ford dealership (his name ?Barney? is on the tip of my tongue.....I believe he was related to Kay Ely..class of '63) - (Ed. - Barney Bernard ) - drove up and stopped in front of the Gem. He was in a new red and white 1957 Ford Retractable hardtop/convertible. He proceeded to operate the top, putting it down, then back up. I was 12 at the time and for me that was a really big deal. Of course, all barbering stopped for the demonstration out in the street.

Duncan '60 Lee remembered:

Memories of the Gem Barber Shop are fresh in mind these days, not only because of the recent TLC postings about that wonderful man's establishment, but because I recently got my hair cut like I had in high school - flat top with fenders and a DA.

Floyd Boldridge was the only barber in town in the '50's who could do a proper flat top. Buzz wasn't bad at it, but Floyd was the best.

As others have written, spending hours on a Saturday morning waiting a turn was no hardship. It was pure entertainment. First, all sports, high school through college to professional were fully discussed, rehashed, analyzed and sometimes physically demonstrated by the personable barbers. If there was a baseball game on television, you could have a very long wait for your haircut!

I can remember marveling at farmers who came to town on Saturday, market day, for a shave and a haircut. Watching a man get a proper barber shop shave is a memory I'll never lose. A steaming towel from the small sink in the middle of the floor of the small shop was wrapped around the face of the customer, completely covering his face. While this facial took place, the soap and brush were lathered up at the sink. The towel was then removed, and the rich, thick lather was brushed on the bright red skin and whiskers. While the lather softened the bristles, the straight razor was stropped on the well-worn leather strap hanging from the back of the chair. The blade properly honed, the customer's chair was then lowered so he was almost horizontal. Then, with a dead steady hand, the face was scraped with the gleaming blade. That shave would last until the next Saturday morning.

Also, a note here to Earlene Hancock, nice to hear from you in TLC. I think you played baritone saxophone in the band, sitting in front of me and my baritone horn. Sorry for all the sour notes!

I forwarded that note on to Earlene Hancock '57 Edwards, and she wrote back:

Tell Duncan he is so right. I did play baritone sax in the band. I remember him, and he didn't hit too many sour notes (smile). Thanks.

John '57 Lefman reminded me:

The Palace Hotel was on the corner of 9th and Main next to the Mule Barn Tavern.

The Mule Barn Tavern???

More commentary on various locations from Don "Frenchie" LeJeune:

As I remember, the Palace Hotel was on the corner of 9th & Main, the Eagle Building was to the left facing the buildings. The Eagle building also housed the Eagle Theater. As for as the Swartz junk yard, it was behind the old Post Office across the street from the Maid-Rite. Henry Wilson used to work for Mr. Swartz.

Would anyone know where Paul Henry Wilson is? I went to school with him and have lost track.

Also would like to know where Donna Gay Evans is? Thanks for any help anyone can give me on this. I live in Linn Creek, MO, and work at Lake Regional Hospital.

From Jim O'Malley:

Schwartz's junk yard was on the NW corner of 14th and Main (occupied about a quarter of the block--across from Goosepond and down the hill from the old post office).

Shirley Collobert Guevel also remembers:

The Palace Hotel was on the corner where the patio for Las Carretas is. It burned down a number of years ago. As I recall, they had converted part of it to a dress shop of some sort, maybe called JP's or some other initials.

And yes, the Junk Yard was across the street west of the Maid-Rite. My brother (Pierre) bought it out and cleaned it out, hauling all the old stuff away...including some things that were not really junk. That's when he started learning about "antiques" and collectibles. He sold pewter pitchers for junk, and he did not know that old silver did not always say "sterling silver." He brought me a tray and asked about it and in our discussion, I discovered what he had done. I was busy with kids and didn't even know he was cleaning it out until it was too late. That was really the beginning of his passion for "junk and stuff." I almost think that when I was a kid, the junk yard was also where the Maid-Rite is now as well as across the street. Maybe someone else will remember. (Keep reading!)

Virginia Whitley's dad sometimes tended bar at the Palace Hotel, and Virginia and I sometimes went there after school so she could get some money from him or permission to do something. I don't really remember why, but I do remember being scared to go in the place.

And yes, Angela Mautino should definitely be included in "Legends of Lexington."

More on that in a minute. From Janice Jiovenale '57 Tubiolo:

Don Stephenson's comments about the O.W. Drum family and their Phoenix connection brought back a lot of good memories. In 1961 I moved to Tempe, Arizona (Tempe is in the suburbs of Phoenix) and began work on my Ph.D. at Arizona State University. I was amazed to find that Phoenix, AZ had a "Lexington Colony" there. Several families from Lexington had moved there in the '50s and kept close contact with cookouts and other fun events. Soon after I arrived I had a call from the John Delaqua family. They invited me to dinner and shared many of their family times with me. Very soon they took me to a "Lexington Reunion" and I met many other Lexingtonians there. Among them were the families of O.W. Drumm, Joe "Scraps" Parks, Humphrey Guillou and others who have faded in my memory. Do any of you remember O.W. Sexton, who worked for Norman Vialle at the Maid-Rite? Ozzie told me that he was the nephew of O.W. Drum and was named after him.

A note to Del Scharnhorst: Del, before the Maid-Rite was built, Henry Swartz had a sprawling junkyard on both sides of 14th & Main. When WWII started Henry was able to sell much of his inventory for use in the war effort. That freed up the land where the Maid-Rite sits and he was able to sell it to Harry Bertz, who built the Maid-Rite and then sold it to Norman Vialle.

And now, a note to Our Faithful Scribe: The "Palace Hotel' Building sat on the empty lot on the corner west of the Eagle Building at 9th & Main. The name "Palace Hotel" didn't exist until the '50s. It took its name from the Palace Bar that was on the ground level of the building, at the corner of 9th & Main, that was owned by the Mitchell Fallman family.

Joe Bales operated a barber shop in the Palace Hotel building between the bar and the Eagle Building. I could write a ton about some of the people I've nominated for Legends of Lexington, but I'll leave that to others to share. How about more of you sharing those precious memories!

Harry Dunford can be counted on to keep me on the right course:

A very good edition of TLC 98. However, when in doubt about certain places and things in Old Lexington, look for an Old Person to set things straight.

(I thought I was an O.P., Harry!)

A thanks to Don Stephenson for his update of Mrs. Oswald Drumm. I did not know her very well but was well acquainted with Oswald. He worked at the Commercial Bank, present day location of Bank of America along with Cotton Trent and Mr. Bob Jackson. Mr. Jackson kept a loaded 45 on his desk at the back of the bank. He was a product of the depression and of the bank robbery days of the 30's. There were only two banks in those days and the other, The
Lexington Bank & Trust Co. was located 2 doors west of Commercial Bank. My wife worked at the bank in 1947 prior to our sojourn to Monahans, Texas to get married, 60 years ago July 3rd.

It is easy to understand why today many who were not here in the pre-war and immediate post-war days would think that the Palace Hotel was part of the Eagle Building. It was not. It was a separate 3-story building painted white, and it was in the space which now is the patio part of the Mexican restaurant. During the 30's there was a lobby on the ground floor and also Joe Bales had a barber shop in the east half of the building. Mitchell Fallman and his son, also Mitchell, owned the Palace Hotel immediately after the war and also had the Western Union franchise which was a pretty good one at the time.

My brother-in-law, Del Scharnhorst, was quite correct about the location of the junkyard. Mr. Swartz, commonly called by one and all "Old Man Swartz" had a huge pile of junk built up during the 30's and early 40's. Upon the advent of WWII the entire collection was sold off and he was a rich man. At one time there was a huge pile of newspapers on the lot which he saved. He would pay kids a few pennies or a nickel for most any kind of junk. He was a nice guy.The location was directly west of the Maid-Rite. The location now is an empty lot owned by George W. Stier and has been for sale for a long time.

I hope this is not too long for you; I just have to sit down and write when I can contribute something perhaps of value to someone.

Recently, at the Veteran's Memorial, we had a ceremony to honor some veterans who did not get to graduate as most of us did from old LHS. Most of them were working to support large families and did not get past the 8th grade and then went to war when called upon, did a spectacular job, and returned to become fine citizens and family men.

They were: Johnny Beretta, Joe Beretta, John (Doc) Stigall, William (Jack) Shroyer, W.A. Butler, Henry Luehrs, Robert Neefe, Garner Race, Ryland Sims, Johnny Willard and Ralph Wood. Only six were present for the ceremony; Mr. Neefe having died the week before and Mr. Butler having died just that morning.

The veterans deserved this honor. The honorary diplomas were courtesy of the State of Missouri and presented by Dr. James Judd, superintendent of schools. Pride was upon their faces!

Charlotte Skelton Dallman reminds us how fortunate we are and were:

It is so much fun going down memory lane every time I read TLC. I feel like I have missed so much not living in Lexington during high school. You and so many other people bring up things that happened while we we there and things that happened when we were not. Thanks to all of you for your informative contributions.

Jim O'Malley really started something with his Legends of Lexington. It will be the first topic dealt with when Tall Tales & Short Stories of Lexington resumes in September.

Some nominations for the Legends:

Bandmaster Ben Johnson and his wife Marian (cellist with a heart)

Col. James MacBrayer Sellers (loved Wentworth more than anybody; eternally optimistic)

Major Frank Brown, WMA's disciplinarian (favorite phrase to unruly cadets: "Can't have it; can't have it!").

Anna Gibbons (made WMA's cadet hospital a real home)

Jimmie Adkison (compassionate insurance man, who paid visits to homes with a big account book; knew how to allow for missed payments)

Ike Entine and his wife Stella (shoe store downtown--Red Goose)

Msgr. Charles Dibbins, twice the pastor of the Catholic Church (famous Brooklyn accent)

Helyn Beretta (faithful organist)

Miss Lena Meierer (faithful choral conductor and librarian; always in black)

Miss Bess Graves (a ruler handy, no music teacher was ever like like her!)

Elizabeth Gruber (knew how to lay the foundations for good English usage)

Ernestine Seiter (Lexington's greatest book lover)

Roy Gerhardt (proud to be from a small town and make it a large experience)

Roy Ford and Walter Rush (whether down on Franklin or up on Main, they could turn a drug store into a social experience)

Mrs. Ladd (photographer, home visits; favorite line: "Hold REAL still!")

John Shea (the voice of Lexington to all the world)

Eva Saunders (most faithful of the faithful in keeping her congregation together as a real family)

Bess Brasch (tough laundress--home delivery)

Gilda Fiora (biggest and most creative hats in town; she knew how to be human in a big way)

Howard Carter (knew how to make fishing a noble profession)

Time to fold it up for this issue. Your assignment, should you decide to accept it, is to send in more nominations for Legends of Lexington, and also we'll need DETAILS on the above - those wonderful old stories. So get busy, People, your friends are waiting! And so is...

Your devoted scribe,

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