Postpartum Reunion Syndrome sets in!

After 6 months of reunion preparation, which required over 250 hours of machine time for 8 Lithopane Lamp Awards, 1 Diamond Engraved Lantern Award, 16 Class Award Plaques, 28 Table centerpieces and 45 Reunion Souvenir plaques, I suddenly find the lack of tight scheduling to get the job done has been a shock to my usual daily regimen for these many months. Once I am able to again approach some sort of normalcy, I will once again resume the many projects that were put on hold once the reunion preparation started. Elaine and Jean are going through the same withdrawals!

The Blog has been a very time consuming but worthwhile project. A blog is very labor intensive and posting a single picture may take 30 minutes or more. First you must download the picture and scan it into a file. Then the picture is examined and determined if it is good enough to appear once it is posted on the blog. If not, it is then ushered into Photoshop to make the necessary changes. Many of the pictures posted required quite a bit if time to restore them. I mention this to illustrate the time for each picture that was posted on the blog and there are well over a hundred or more.

I'm happy to have had the chance to gather all the historical data and pictures about Berkeley and BHS and consolidate these facts for future reference when we are all gone. I also thank the many classmates who contributed material and pictures to make it interesting. Without your help, much wouldn't have appeared on our Blog and I thank you all again for your input.

I am posting pictures of the Reunion on the Reunion Pictures tab and if you have any you want posted, send them to me preferably via email.

The "Last Hurrah" Reunion was a great affair and hope you enjoyed it as much as I have. All the many preparation hours were worth every bit of the time spent. And most of all...seeing all you wonderful classmates again was such a thrill. I think we could say...

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!

Thank you all for your many cards, letters and emails. They will be saved in my memorabilia scrapbook as treasures. 

Finally, thanks to all for such a great turnout! 

Check the REUNION PHOTOS tab...

I have just started to post pictures taken at the "Last Hurrah" Reunion and it will take some time to get them all onto the Reunion Photos tab. I wasn't able to get some names, as things moved too fast for me to keep up. Therefore, I ask for your help to identify unnamed individuals in posted photos via email and I can then post their name with their picture.

Thanks to all for coming to our LAST HURRAH REUNION!

Many thanks for the support and attendance at the Red School House & Berkeley High School Reunion. What a great turnout and I hope all had a great time. It was such a heartwarming gathering to see so many old friends that we haven't seen for so long.

A separate TAB will soon be added to display pictures taken at the reunion. If you have any you want to be added...send them to me via email or Snail Mail and I will add them. Please include a list of names or class years to identify the picture/pictures. 

Thanks again,

Joe H. Sowders

Report on Reunion Reservations!

As of today, May 10, 2012...we have received 203 reservations for "The Last Hurrah" reunion. This has exceeded our wildest estimate almost two fold and we thank all Classmates for your support to this Reunion.  We have worked long and hard with the intent to make this Reunion one of the best! We will have representatives of all classes from 1943 to 1960. Many of us haven't seen each other for 60+ Years. It will be great to see everybody again and hopefully all in attendance will have a great time. Thanks again for your support! See you in two weeks...(May 27, 2012)

Class of 1955 Class Will and Prophecy

Check out THE 1955 Class Will and Prophecy as to the accuracy of the prognostication...
                                   Click on SCHOOL DAY MEMORIES TAB 
             This should generate some interesting conversation at the reunion!

Check Out the Classmates Photos Tab

Here is a little teaser of what Bob Hampton sent to Mel Walls who forwarded them to me for posting.
Shirley Wilkins also submitted a nice 50Th. Reunion Picture of the Class of '58 

Class of 1941

Berkeley Elementary School

(Bob Hampton is in the middle of bottom row with arms crossed.)

An annotated picture is posted on the Classmates PhotosTab

Class Representatives needed!

We will be presenting each class year a Memorial Plaque and would like to have someone from each class to become the custodian of this memorial for the future. If possible, please give some planning to this as to who will become the custodian or it can be a spontaneous decision at that time. Just a small token of our appreciation for such great class response. So far it looks like we will have representatives of each class from 1943 through 1960.    

Reservations are now closed!

Reservations are now closed and as of April 20th, we are approaching the 200 head count estimated a few weeks ago.  This is going to be a great Reunion and the Reunion Committee is looking forward to seeing you all again. Final plans are being made next week for the planning of the Reunion and the facilities will be reviewed for the layout arrangements. A lot of work is finally beginning to coalesce for a fun afternoon and evening. 


Registration begins as 2:00 PM and closes at 3:00PM. The program will start promptly at 3:00 PM as we have a lot to fit in during the few hours available. The Buffet Dinner will probably be around 4:30 (Depending on how the program progresses). We will break (1) Hour for Dinner then resume for the remainder of the program with time to renew old friendships. Were going to have a great time!


(Note) Open seating, so if  you wish to assemble in a group, I suggest you arrive early and stake out your table seating arrangements. 

A few more Berkeley Historical Facts posted!

Click on the Berkeley Historical Facts Tab to view a few more interesting events that took place in Berkeley.

Check out the new post of 1951 Classmates yearbook photos.

Click on the CLASSMATES PHOTOS Tab to see the Class of 1951 individual photos scanned from their yearbook. Unfortunately, the ravages of age (61 years to be exact)have taken a toll on the picture quality and the condition of the yearbook. If you want to enlarge any of the pictures, hold down the
 Ctrl key and tap the + key to enlarge the picture. Multiple taps to the + key enlarges it with each tap.

Email from Classmate of 1951 sends his best wishes to all!

Doug Huston sent the below email extolling the awaking of many good memories from growing up in Berkeley. The blog served it's purpose and brought back memories of his family and their community service to Berkeley. His Father was the Municipal Judge for many years and his Mother worked with the City Clerk Department. Doug obtained his Doctorate in Bio Physics and enjoyed teaching until his retirement. Berkeley High School had two graduates who obtained their Doctorate degrees and both were in the Class of 1951. Hats off to Douglas Huston and Neil Finley. (Neil passed away in 1997 and was my brother in law ) His email was much appreciated and  you will enjoy his comments. 


                                                         (COPY OF DOUG'S EMAIL
     (If you want to enlarge text, hold down your Ctrl key and tap the + key to enlarge type)

Joe:
  Late one evening this past week, I received a phone call from my brother, Denis Huston, BHS Class of 1958. After chatting several minutes about family matters he gave me some information about a web site available through the internet; thought I might find it interesting. He gave me no clues about the purpose or content of the site; he just said that I would find it interesting. The following afternoon I brought up the web site on my computer, and when the image of the home page came up on the screen I must have blinked several times. "The Red Schoolhouse" and memories of my "youth" came rushing into my mind.
  The trolley car ride from Carsonville, pass Ramona Lake, to Kinloch Junction was an exciting and harrowing experience. It was as thrilling as many amusement park roller coaster rides. Even the feet of the motorman would leave the deck on occasion as we rocketed down toward the junction. The "dinky line": a more sedate but never-the-less an exciting ride. There were Sundays we didn't have the price of a movie ticket so we would take our nickels and dimes and ride the "DINKY for an hour or so. I have memories of ice skating on Koenig's pond, and if the ice was good, an occasional game of broom hockey would break out. On warm humid summer evenings when windows were open, we listen for hours to gospel music coming from churches in Kinloch Park. It was a great and beautiful sound. Some Sundays we would cheer for the local baseball team. (American) Legion Ball was the game, played on a muddy diamond next to city hall. Grass was rare.
  These and many other memories come to mind.
  My parents had deep roots in Berkeley. Mother worked in City Hall for several years, working with Dorothy Wilson, who I believe was the City Clerk. Mother left that postion  to follow her true love...Books. She was the buyer/manager for the book department of Stix, Baer & Fuller and later for Famous Barr. Father served for a time as the Parks/Recreation Commissioner (or at least I believe that was his title). Later he would serve as the Municipal Court Judge of Berkeley, a position he held for many years.
  However, my memories are confined to a ten year period, 1942 to 1952. My parents and brothers moved to Berkeley in late spring of 1942 and I entered the fourth grade of the Red Schoolhouse in the fall of the same year,1942. I left Berkeley (and the St. Louis area) in the fall of 1952, returning infrequently and only for short visits with my parents. Indeed, I have not been to St. Louis or Berkeley since 1983. What information I have of Berkeley, schools, classmates, etc., is very limited.  My brother has passed on to me snippets of rumors, third and fourth-hand gossip, but nothing of substance. I have tried the "Classmates" site on the internet. After three years I haven't found that site to be useful, let alone informative. I did talk to Coach Schnell for a minute or two sometime ago. He and brother Denis were attending a former teacher's funeral. Denis called me on his cellphone and then put coach on the phone. We talked for a few minutes. How does one catch up on 60 years of one's life in a few minutes?
  So your Blog is greatly appreciated by me.  I have spent hours looking at the content of the tabs, examining pictures, reading all the comments, trying to consume as much as possible. I am now on my second  passage through the tabs (just in case I missed something the first time around). It has been lots of fun and I thank you for the time and effort you (and you crew) have put into the site.  I look forward to more.
  I have already made commitments to events and family activities taking place the week end before Memorial Day. My attemptd at arranging a travel schedule that would make possible for me to attend Reunion and fulfill my commitments here at home have failed. Regrettably I will not be able to join you at Reunion.
  However, I would ask you to please pass along my greetings and best wishes to everyone attending, especially to members of the Class of 1951 and to Coach Schnell and his family. Life has been good to me; I am well, retired and just as busy as ever.
  (Gads, has it really been sixty years?)

  Finally, Joe, will there be any post Reunion postings on your Reunion Web Site?

  Thanks again,
  Doug Huston . . . BHS Class of 1951

Video of the reunion...Do we have anybody who would volunteer?

The thought of a Video recording of our reunion is an intriguing idea and I am wondering if any of our Classmates have the equipment for such a project and would be willing to volunteer for that undertaking?

Any takers? If so drop me an email and we can chat about it! We don't have the funds to hire it done so maybe we might be able to get it recorded on "The Cheap" for posterity. I hope to have a sample Book of this Blog at the reunion for all to look at. Boy, the time is flying by and we have a lot more to do before May 27, 2012. In behalf of the Reunion Committee, I want to thank all of you who have made your reservations. Only 3 days left to get your name in the pot! We are going to have a great reunion.

Berkeley's First City Hall and other "Firsts" Circa 1976...

When I first looked at this Publication of the Berkeley City 1976 Bicentennial Calendar (again, submitted by Laverne and Azlee Bean) I was reminded of how little they knew about the genesis of Berkeley City. The center of the picture below states this was the "First" city hall. Actually, the first City Hall was cobbled up from the residue of the Jim Aubuchon's "Frog Pond" Tavern. The City Hall shown was after the remodeling of Jim Aubuchon's "Frog Pond" Tavern. The "Frog Pond" and Pfitzinger 's Tavern were the two "Watering Holes" to slake a parched throat after a hard days work. 

The Sign located in the center of the First City Hall Picture is actually the WW II Memorial for all the boys who were in the military service to our country. One Gold Star I remember was the loss of one of the Spirz Brothers...If my memory is correct I think his name was Irvin Spirz (A Paratrooper) . He was the first  Berkeley Soldier to lose his life in WW II.  The tragedy of  progress is the loss of this Memorial to our Boys who served in WW II. It was destroyed and no memorial of their sacrifices exists. What a shame! 

The top left picture illustrates the next error of omission for lack of knowledge about Berkeley's first Civic Center . It had long been forgotten the first civic center was the  "Community Hall" which later became Vedders Hardware and Machine Shop. 

Next take a look at the top Right picture showing the first Police Station. Wrong again!

The first Police Station was at 6049 Berkeley Drive...my Folks home!  In 1938, our front room and dining room served dual purpose. On many occasions, Police court or Incarcerating a local drunk took place in my home. From there, they were transported to Clayton to the County Jail (AKA the Tank). Since my Father was the first Chief of Police, Berkeley was so poor, they had to use whatever facilities available and that was our domicile...This was in the middle of the "Hard Time Thirties" and the fledgling city of Berkeley struggled through with whatever could be utilized. 

Next, the lower right hand picture shows the first Fire Station. Wrong again! The first Fire Station was a WW II war surplus Army Pumper of 500 Gallons of water capacity still in the Olive Drab paint until paint was found to paint it red. A make shift shed furnished by Art Vedder was the first Fire Station. Before this fledgling Fire department, Berkeley had fire protection furnished by the Florissant Volunteer Fire District which requires each household to purchase a "Fire Tag" that had to be displayed conspicuously so the Firemen could see that you had paid your Fire tag dues or ...tough Stuff! No Tag... no Fireman! They would let the fire burn to the ground. 

If this sounds like an Old Man rambling about the "Lost History" of Berkeley..So Be it! I just want the real facts to never be forgotten. I have many of these omissions stored away in my feeble memory cells for future reference. 

Again, Kinloch, Nuroad and Berkeley was a great place to have grown up as it truly was 'The Good 'Ol Days" that are gone forever.  You will have a chance to visit with some of us 'Ol Geezers at the reunion and hear their reflection of these by-gone days, if you are prepared for some shaggy dog stories!

I-170, Airport Expansion and the downhill slide of Berkeley!

Thanks to the Bean Sisters (Leverne and Azlee) they have provide two publications about Berkeley. The first being the Annual Report of 1968. In this publication is a graphic map of the Inner-belt (I-170) that started the downhill slide of Berkeley due to the many intersecting highways and Airport expansion that sliced the city into smithereens. 


First the road called "Middleway" replaced the old streetcar line, then it later late became Hanley. Then the Inner-belt plowed down many, many homes of long established families and cleared the heart of Berkeley's business district. Next came more "Progress"...The Airport expansion destroyed three of our School Houses. Berkeley was then boxed in by I-70 on the south side and I-270 on the North side with a slice down the middle by I-170. So, you can see how Berkeley was "Quartered and Drawn" by all this "Progress" We had a name for this is the Army...we called it a "Retrograde movement to the Rear" or in civilian parlance...Retreat!  Berkeley didn't have a chance once all this "Progress" started via Eminent Domain proceedings. 


Today, if you drive through our old stomping grounds, you might have a hard time envisioning the landmarks you once knew as many reference points are GONE!


The map below gives you the big picture for the Death Knell of Berkeley! Our Icon...Berkeley High School  was left to rot before our very eyes until the Airport finally cleared the entire area of what we all loved. Progress?...that's debatable!


On the positive side, those of us who lived here before this degradation have a lot  to be thankful for as we live in Berkeley in "The Good 'Ol Days"!

BHS has provided several Major and Minor league Baseball Players!

It seems BHS has had a propensity for creating good Baseball Players. Jimmy Bohning was a very good pitcher and made it to the Minors. His pitching style was a bit wild and after awhile he was let go. It seemed the batters and the catchers were afraid of him because they never knew which direction the ball may be coming. We had another classmate, Forrest Evans who made it to the Major Leagues but WW II shut down baseball and his career.


Several others were successful. Jake Thies signed with the Detroit Tigers and had a great career. George Martak and Elmer Boston made it to the minors but gave it up to pursue other ventures. Jack Netzeband, Class of '53 was signed to the Cardinal Baseball System but an injury to his right shoulder unfortunately sidelined his baseball career.  He was elected  to the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame. So you can see, Berkeley High School's classmates have certainly made their mark in baseball.


I can remember many Sunday baseball games being played on the weedy Baseball field on the corner of Airport Road and Dowling Avenue. In those days, the winner won a barrel of beer and proceeded to empty it in site. Those were fun times and we will see several of our baseball players of the past at the reunion, (Jake Thies, George Martak, Elmer Boston and Jack Netzeband). I'm sure they would be glad to reminisce about those days of their baseball career. Check 'em out!

OK, I'm back...I had scanner problems!

My scanner decided to go South on me so I haven't been able until now to once again add to the Blog. A new HP printer is now replacing to sick one. So...I will now start loading some of my latest discoveries.

1955 S.T.O.P.G. DRAMA CLUB PROGRAM

The BHS S.T.O.P.G . Program (Front Page) for their 1955 Drama Production is listed below

(Be sure To check School Day Memories Tab for more Programs posted today).

Inside of Program

                                                S.T.O.P.G. Staff and their objective...

New Class Picture of 1947 posted in School Day Memories Tab.

Check out the Class Picture of 1947 courtesy of Azlee (Bean) Tucker. Click on School Day Memories Tab. If you want to enlarge the picture, hold down the Ctrl Key and then hit the + key to enlarge the picture. 

Want to get Sentimental about our beloved BHS?

Check out the new post on the School Day Memories Tab...

Check BHS Reunion Information for Program Schedule...

The program schedule is posted on the BHS Reunion Information Tab. The Reunion registration will be from 2:00 to 3:00 PM. The Reunion Program will start promptly at 3:00 PM and will break no later than 4:30 for the Buffet Supper.  Seating will be first come - first serve. If you want to have your classmates in a group,  I suggest you get there early and stake your claim as it is open seating. Please feel free to bring any Class Signs to mark your territory. The tables will seat 10 people each. See 'ya soon as time is flying by! If you know of anybody who would like to come, tell them reservations must be in by April 15, 2012.

They can send their Check to: Mrs. Elaine Noble,  2920 Isleview Lane, St. Charles, MO 63303. $ 25.00 per person. 

Another Question about Berkeley!

When the tracks were removed upon the termination of our beloved "Dinky" Streetcar the track bed was used by us as a cut through to Ramona Hills. It was just a Cinder road left after the tracks were removed Eventually, the City of Berkeley decided to make it a dedicated roadbed and made it into a paved roadway. There was much consternation as to what was going to be it's new name.  After much wrangling it was named "Middleway".  It later became Hanley Road.

 Does anybody remember why it was named "Middleway"? The first one who comes up with the answer will get a reward at the reunion! Send your answer to joesow@gmail.com.

Do You Remember McGuire... better known as "Mr.Dinky" the streetcar motorman?

I would venture a guess that McGuire was the best known individual in Berkeley. When I was growing up in Berkeley, the only  Motorman I knew was McGuire. The "Dinky" seemed to only run right when he was at the helm. It took a certain type of individual who would want to run back and forth ,day after day, year after year hearing the same repetitious clickety-clack of the rails on the run from the Junction to Wabash Avenue. At each end of the line, he had to get out and change the trolley arm to the other end to reverse motion and head back in the opposite direction. I think each run took about 12  to 15 minutes and this went on from morning to night. What a challenging job! McGuire always talked about returning to his native Ireland when he retired. Well, when he retired, he never was able to fulfill his dream...  McGuire passed away 6 months after retirement. 
                         

                                     Mr. "Dinky" McGuire standing guard at the end of the his run !                   
                                                            (submitted by Helen (Daugherty) Barnes


I'd be willing to bet, if one was to stand along Hanley Road (Where the streetcars tracks once were) on a dark quiet night one might be able to hear McGuire swearing at the pranksters who laid in wait to knock the trolley off the wire.  Poor 'Ol McGuire would have to fumble around in the dark to get back in operation. You probably would hear some well placed cursing with an Irish brogue blessing whoever did the prank. 
                                                   Mr. McGuire we all loved you! Say Hello to Mrs. Calabash.

Question of the day? Does anybody know the answer...

Most if not all of us remember the "Dinky" Streetcar... What happened to it when it finished it's last run for the night? Did is hook up to the Kirkwood-Ferguson car via towbar and head for the Car Barn? Surely it didn't remain parked at the Junction as it wouldn't have any copper wiring, wheels or seats left by morning! And..did it return in the morning the same way and resume the back and forth journey each day? Funny...this questioned never entered my mind until tonight after I received a picture of McGuire standing outside of his "Dinky".  That Irishman sure could swear a blue streak when someone knocked his trolly off while passing the Stella Stop late at night. 

If anybody comes up with the answer...who knows, there might just be a prize at the reunion for their answer!  If you know...send me the answer via email to joesow@gmail.com.

Only 15 days left for Reservations!

As of April 1st, we have 108 paid reservations... Thanks to all who have sent their reservations. Lets see if we can break 150 or more by the cut off date if April 15. It's going to be a great reunion for all and it will be here before we know it!  We have plenty of room for a lot more Classmates!
                                                    (And this is not an April Fool's Day Spoof)

Ancient BHS Document found on the Mayflower during restoration!

During the restoration of the sailing ship Mayflower, a deckhand discovered a rare copy of a BHS document which later proved to be the Class of '45 Graduation Program. It had weathered many storms and was delivered to me to add to our blog collection. It was apparent that times were tough as WW II was still raging and  there were few facilities for production of a first rate program for this graduation. Not having a Gutenberg press handy, they resorted to the ever faithful Memeograph machine for the Spartan reproduction of this rare edition. Picasso hadn't reached his fame yet and they had to depend on somebody who wrote graffiti on the side of the Dinky Streetcar to draw up the front page illustration for this sacred document.

I was there to see this Graduation program being held and will always remember Jack Schaffner singing "Without a Song". His Mother was in the audience and was very ill. She passed away shortly thereafter. It was his Swansong to his Mother and left an indelible mark in my memory. This Graduation Program awakened my memory and I can still hear Jack singing that song so beautifully knowing it will probably be the last time his Mother will hear his vocal talent.  This took place in the basement room (Often called the Music Room) located below the upstairs Library room of BHS. Even though it was a spartan publication, it represented the determination we had at that time to do with whatever we had.  I also remember the booming voice of Mr. Schnatzmeyer (The local Pillar of the Berkeley Presbyterian Church) giving the Invocation and Benediction. And  last, the ever faithful Mr. Holman and Mr. Spindler officiating at the presentation of Diploma's to the proud graduates of 1945. My cousin Bill Sowders was in that class and there were two more Sowders to follow in the upcoming years at BHS... (Classes of '49 & '50) . Thanks to Adobe Photoshop, I was able to restore it to a legible rendition for your perusal. 

 I have saved the best for the last... the  Cover Page of this '45 Graduation Program!

Someday it may get it's proper place and be displayed at  the Louvre to allow the world to recognize the artistic talent of Modern art in the 20Th Century from Berkeley High School. Move over Renoir! (Just in case somebody from Rio Linda reads this blog...it is pronounced "Ren-waa")  

(Submitted by Charles William Sowders '45)

THERE IT IS FOLKS...IN ALL OF IT'S REGAL SPLENDOR

This should be placed in a Mayonnaise Jar and buried under the front porch of Funk and Wagnalls for posterity!  

Think about your reservations - Time is running out...

March is about gone and soon... April will vanish like a flash! Next it will be May 27 before you know it. Our reservation count is at 84 Classmates (as of 3/24/12) and counting. I predict we will approach 125 or more in attendance at our Last Hurrah Reunion. A lot of planning is happening and I know you will enjoy the reunion. There are quite a few who are coming from far away locations. (Kansas, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Arkansas, to list a few). The Fairfield Inn  (636-946-1900) is located next door and is just a few steps away if you need accommodations. A lot of Attendance Prizes and Awards will go home with many Classmates. Hopefully you can be one of them as the odds are far better than the local Casino's!


You can send your reservations ($25 per person) to the address below...
Please make check payable to:
Mrs. Elaine Noble
2920 Isleview Lane
St. Charles, MO 63303
Memo on check: "Berkeley Reunion"
The Reservation Cut Off date is April 15, 2012  Don't  miss it !


                              Two out of three '51 Classmates in this picture will be there!

The two young fellows, Bill Wilson and Blaine Kohler are coming. Pat (Combs) Hornaday is bogged down with family functions and time constraints. Oh well...two out of three "Ain't" bad !

Check out new information in the Berkeley Historical Facts Tab...

Thanks to Deann Deimeke, who sent me a 1957 20Th Berkeley Anniversary Edition of the Public News, this clipping gives incite about the men who were responsible for the founding of the City of Berkeley.
 I remember it well as many later meetings took place in my home which served as the Police Station since my Father was the first Chief of Police. It also served as Police Court until a City Hall was available. If jail facilities were needed, the offender was hauled to Clayton for incarceration. The "Sandy Pig"  tavern in Ramona Park furnished quite a few Friday night inebriated individuals that required an overnight visit to "The Tank" in Clayton to sober up!


More has been added...
Check out the Memorial to BERKELEY from the 1957 20th Berkeley anniversary edition of the Public News. 

Take a look at a rare copy of the 1942 TROUBADOUR...

Click on the Classmates Photos Tab and take a look at the early days of BHS. By today's standards, it would be can considered "Early Neanderthal". We had a Basketball team who did not have any practice facilities and only two basketballs. They practiced during the game with the local rivals and did quite well considering what they had to work with. Luckily, they had the BANGERT BROTHERS and a few more "Big Boys" to even the odds. Ferguson High School was one of our favorite rivals and often a few fists were thrown after the game. This was the last TROUBADOUR to be published due to WW II.                                              
                                                    Publication resumed in 1947...                                                                

Check put the 1954 TROUBADOUR remnants salvaged from a damaged copy

Thanks to Shirley (Strassner) Wikins, I was able to salvage some of what's left of a very damaged 1954 TROUBADOUR. Click on the CLASSMATES PHOTOS tab to see what was salvaged. I will try to scan more pages if I can get them in a readable condition. 

And... I will pick up a copy of the only known copy of a 1942 TROUBADOUR tomorrow.... I'm looking forward to sharing this valuable find with all.

More Phil Chew History !

Phil Chew was well connected in St. Louis as he was instrumental not only in promoting the Kinloch Park area (Which eventually became Berkeley) but was well known and obtusely connected to prominent people in St. Louis. Somehow the Lindell's and the Chew's became related and from that some prominent streets in St. Louis received their names. 


Pat (Combs) Hornaday has discovered in her research more about 'Ol Pete! An excerpt from "The Streets of St. Louis" book gives an interesting incite about these streets we all know . His great, great grandson, Lindell Chew is a professor at  UMSL and has filled in a few blank spots that are listed in previous posts. 


Below is a section from this book:

I am attaching the whole page which has other interesting information that you might find interesting about how some streets of St. Louis City proper were named.

(submitted by Patsy (Combs) Hornaday)

I haven't drifted off the our area history but am attempting to give the larger picture of the progression of how the Kinloch, Nuroad and finally Berkeley evolved. Peter Chew with his Sunday real estate promotional trips to the area via the Wabash train caused the "Wealthy Folks" to consider escaping the city  for some "Country Living". (Seddon,  Fordyce, Champ,  Funck, to name a few of them!)

We now know more of how St. Louis streets where named. Berkeley streets were named after some of our Presidents!  

A Class Roster of 1960 found!

Check it out on the Classmates Photo Tab. Does anybody have a copy of a Class Picture for the blog? If so, let me know so we can publish it...

Class of '56 Roster found!

Check out Classmates Photos Tab to see the Class of '56 original roster!

Berkeley High School's PIANO VIRTUOSO!

BHS PIANO VIRTUOSO!

Pictured below is a picture of Marcella Janis and Patsy Combs at a Forest Park Hotel wedding in 1951. Marcella is one of those gifted with the ability of "If you can Hum it, I can Play it" on the piano. Her friends and classmates always enjoyed her "Tickling the Ivories" at their parties and gatherings. 

Another Home Grown Talent to add to Berkeley High School's outstanding classmates.

  

L to R: Marcella Janis and Patsy Combs. 

Patsy (Combs) Hornaday found "Chewing" on Berkeley History

Phil Chew's Berkeley Estate in early 1900's

Pat has unearthed more history concerning Mr. Phil Chew's involvement in the development of our beloved City of Berkeley. Through a search she found that he has a great grandson who is a Professor at The University of Missouri (UMSL) and is the great grandson of Mr. Phil Chew. I have attached the Email sent to Pat elaborating some more historic facts about his Great Grandfather.
                                                                  * * * * *
                                                            (Attached Email)
Dear Patsy,

Thank you for your inquiry about Phil Chew.

I am familiar with the Community of Berkley while growing up in Normandy (1948-63) and returned to St. Louis after greduate school (1971).

Phil Chew was my great grandfather. He also owned the land at Lucas Hunt and Natural Bridge which later became Glen Echo Country Club. The area where the old TWA building (Cypress/Natural Bridge) at Lambert Field was also part of his real estate holdings

My father, PHIL SMITH CHEW, jr (deceased 2003), was his grandson. His son, also, Phil Chew passed away in the late 1950's and was a physician in Summersville,  Missouri.

Most of the CHEW/ LINDELL family from that era are buried in Bellefountain Cemetery, St. Louis.

This is the extent of the historic detail that I am aware of, but will share you inquiry with other family members and if  they have any updates/insights, I will pass along the information.

Best wishes.

Lindell

                                                                    * * * * * 

                                          

More "Berkeley Historic Facts"

Courtesy of George Tayloe, we now have a copy of a 1975 Berkeley City Calendar which was found in his mother's memorabilia. Mrs. Florence Tayloe was a pillar of the church, community and school and was always there to assist when needed. Thanks George, for this historic information!

(Be sure to click on the Berkeley Historic Facts tab to review this great find!) 

The history of the Champ "Goodwood" farm on Brown Road...

Many of use grew up knowing there was a pond that we had access summer and winter. This was located on the Champ 300 acre estate and was purchased in 1913 from Joe Lucas by Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Champ. The Lucus's raised horses here and even had a small  race track where they trained their horses and raced them on the old Kinloch race track.  (Lucus & Hunt road was named with Joe Lucus in mind).

 Mr C.E. Champ, founder of Champ Spring Company in St. Louis originally bought the *Goodwood  farm  and began Champ Dairy as a hobby. After his death in 1933, his Son, Norman Champ became a prominent citizen and one of Berkeley's first Alderman. 

The original home contained many beautiful furnishings, antiques and souvenirs collected while traveling around the world. Sadly, this beautiful home burned to the ground in 1917. Norman Champ rebuilt the 20 room home we remember to replace the home that burned. The elder Mr. Champ put up the money to connect a road from Natural Bridge road to St. Charles Rock Road known as Brown Road. He also paid to have water piped from Carsonville to use at his dairy operation. He allowed local residents to attach to this water line so they could have "city water". I had the honor of visiting this beautiful home several times with my father when they had city business to discuss. 

Many of us have fond memories of "skinny dipping", fishing and ice skating on Camps Pond. Mr. Champ never chased us while using his pond and it was just a place we felt we were welcome to use. Some times we had to nudge a few cows out of the way and hope the Ol' Bull wouldn't get bent out of shape and chase us away at full speed. It was a great time and town to grow up with the laid back country living atmosphere we now treasure. 

And how many remember the "Double Curve" in front of the Champ Home? It was local sport to see how fast you could drive your car around this double curve without rolling over. More than one didn't make the right speed calculation and ended up with four wheels in the air. (My personal speed record was 35 MPH while remaining on all  four wheels.) The other favorite spots for attempting to defy the laws of gravity were Long Road in Bridgeton and later the "Hump" on Airport road shortly before it was closed for the airport expansion. A BHS daredevil named Biff Bell decided during one lunch hour to see how high he could fly his fathers new car on this "Hump" and several of my classmates accompanied him on this ill fated world record and luckily came out with just a few bumps and bruises. Biff Bell never made Guinness's book of records that day but I'm sure his father wasn't a very happy camper when he saw what his son had done to his new auto.      

*The name "Goodwood" came from an English Manor House the Champs encountered in their travels. 

 Freida Patterson and Elaine Combs were about to trip the "Light Fantastic" on Champs pond in 1949. It was later reported that they only "tripped"!

Two BHS Classmates working out on Champs pond for the Ice Capades!

I have unearthed some more interesting history about the Champ "Goodwood" Farm which was on Brown road across from Country Day School. Many of us enjoyed access to this well known Pond both summer and winter. Shown below are two of BHS's Debutantes about to make their Ice Capade performance on Champ's Pond in 1949.

(Freida Patterson and Elaine Combs) 

Today all these memories are buried by the questionable expansion of Lambert-International Airport.

The brick pillars remnants of the Chew Family's acreage still remain...

Despite the degradation of Berkeley, if you squint your eyes while passing the corner of Evergreen and Airport Road you will find a small vestige of the brick pillars that remain today of the Chew home from the late 1800's. Phil Chew was a real estate promoter and in the late 1800's sponsored visits via the Wabash train to the area hoping  "City Folks" would buy his real estate offerings. He had a 3 acre estate on this corner and erected the brick pillared entrance to his home.

This later became the home of the C.C. Miller family and I remember the beautiful brick pillars which greeted me when I visited the Miller family. I always wondered about the brick pillars and just recently found out the above facts as to who was responsible for them.

Mr. & Mrs. Miller provided five students to our school system. (Ruth, Laddie, Don, Joan and Jean). Mr. Miller served on the School Board for many years. Joan (AKA Red Miller) and I started our education in 1938 under the tutelage of Mrs. Barker and we graduated in 1950 along with 24 other classmates (including my bride of 60 years) who completed all 12 grades together. Jean (AKA Wee) is scouring her memorabilia files in the hope of finding a picture of these pillars to remind all of us who glanced at them in passing and never gave them the proper respect they deserved.

Berkeley is replete with many historic events and with the help of many who are furnishing me this valuable information, I will endeavor to post it as quickly as I can. Deann Deimeke sent me a commemorative issue of the 1957 Public News special edition marking twenty years of Berkeley's progress.  It is chocked full of historic data that I will post. The paper is a bit degraded by age and requires a bit of eyestrain to properly record it's valuable historic information. I  am also indebted to Shirley Wilkins, The Bean sisters, (Leverne and Azlee) Jean Miller and the Combs sisters for all their historic facts and data they have provided. (and a thank you to all others if I have forgotten you).   Keep checking, there is a "whole bunch" more coming!

Eureka! In the 1957 Public News, I found the picture below of what Phil Chew's Estate entrance looked like in it's heyday.  From what I see in this picture, the house on the left appears to be the home the Millers lived in. The home near the entrance had been replaced with the Miller's large garage during my time. Today, only a few bricks remain of the Pillared entrance.   

Lt. Col. David Spotswood's Father instrumental in the founding of Berkeley's Zion Baptist Church

Check out Classmate Photo's tab for Class of 1955 50th Reunion Book!

Thanks to Leverne (Bean) Hahn and Aslee (Bean) Tucker I was able to download a copy of the Class of 1955's Mini Book of Memories of their 50th Reunion. Also check out Berkeley Historical Facts tab to find out how Berkeley got it's name! 

And be sure to scroll down and read about Lt. Col. David T. Spotswood  (Class of '48).

Check out the new information in the School Day Memories tab!

I received a warning from the ASPCA  for not remembering our BHS Mascot on the blog. It's been so long ago since I last scratched his back that I forgot his name. Does anybody remember our mascots name?

(Photo submitted by Lavern (Bean) Hahn)

I have added the Class of 1947 and 1955 Graduations Programs on the School Day Memories tab which have been furnished by Azlee (Bean) Tucker and Leverne (Bean) Hahn. Check this page often as I have much more to add!

Hometown pride for one of our classmates (Class of '48)

I grew up with this classmate as we both lived nearby. He had a consuming interest in aviation and had his Pilots License in his sophomore year (1946) at BHS. I was two class years behind him and I had my student pilots license when I was a freshman.  He became a member of  the Missouri National Air Guard and later joined the United States Air Force. This progressed into being a pilot in the US Air Force which gave him a front row seat in the Korean war. During the Korean war, he served and flew with General Benjamin O. Davis in the 51th Fighter Wing and piloted B-26 Light Attack Bombers of the 13th Bomb Squadron. General Davis was commander of "The Tuskeege Airmen", the famous "Red Tail Devils" who gave our WW II enemies a lot of "Hurt" with this superior piloting skills. Our classmate later tested new types of parachutes (6511 Parachute Development & Test Group). The next assignment was maintaining 10 RB-36 H Heavy Reconnaissance Bombers in the 5th Bomb Wing at Travis Air Force Base (AFB) then 15 B-52G Heavy Jet Bombers at Beale AFB in California. His next assignment was the 1st Strategic Recon Squadron and then the "Piece de Resistance"...the SR-71 Blackbird off and on for 10 years. After that assignment, he then was assigned to the Titan and Titan II program. His final assignment before retirement was flying a Desk! General MacArthur said, "Old Soldiers never die, they just fade away". When your retire from the Air Force, you just drop your landing gear for the last time, set the parking brakes and walk away into the wild blue yonder. This Officer and Gentleman is:

Lt. Col. David T. Spotswood

But this not the end of this biography, as you have to know what David flew to really get a feel for what he flew. He piloted the famed SR-71 Blackbird. The SR-71 was affectionately referred to by it's pilots as the "Sled".  This aircraft was an still is the fastest "Air-breathing Aircraft" ever flown. It had a design center speed of Mach 3.2  (Which is 3.2 times the speed of sound which roughly equals over 2,200 MPH).  When you fly an aircraft that fast, the airframe skin temperature would reach over 500 Degrees F. and the inside of the windshield would reach 250 Degrees F. requiring a robust coolant system. This was achieved with an air conditioner that used a heat exchanger to dump heat from the cockpit into the fuel prior to combustion. Two thirds of the fuselage and half the wing space was devoted to 84,180 pounds of  fuel (JP-7) which weighed in as 12,200 gallons of fuel. This fuel supply helped to regulate the plane's center of gravity as well as provide cooling for the aircraft.

Talk about skill... how would you like to "Gas up" at 500 + MPH?

"Fill 'er up with 3,500 gallons of Premium JP-7 and try not to spill any on my windshield!"

Now the scary part of this story is this aircraft flew at 80,000 feet above the Earth which required pressurization for the pilots survival. If the pilot would have to eject at this altitude and speed he would be subjected to temperatures over 450 Degrees F and a blast that would make a sledge hammer blow feel like a tap on the shoulder. Very special  pressurized suits were worn with a oxygen supply and a parachute that would open at 15,000 feet after a free fall from 75,000 to 80,000 feet. (Even if the pilot was unconscious ). David had to undergo Altitude Chamber training which would attempt to mimic these "Punch Out" conditions should he ever have to encounter this condition.

The SR-71 had two Pratt & Whitney J58-P4 engines which each produced 37,500 pounds of thrust static dry weight and 57,000 pounds of thrust each on afterburner. A rough rule of thumb, I believe is a direct conversion of one pound of thrust equals approximately 3/4 horsepower. If my rule holds water, David as astraddle a 100,000 Horse Power beast flying at Mach 3.2 +  and was surrounded with heat high enough to roast a Turkey in the cockpit for lunch if he had room for it. His takeoff weight was in the range of 100,000 to 120,000 pounds because of fuel leakage. Once airborne, the first thing he did after heating up the airframe was look for a "Big Gulp" tanker for a long drink. Once the airframe heated up, the fuel tank quit leaking. What an experience it must have been to fly this airborne miracle of design and engineering. David said the in-flight refueling was a stressful experience.

This refueling procedure had two variables in the equation. The Tanker was flying almost full bore at approx .9 Mach and the SR-71 had to slow down to .9 Mach to "Thread the needle" with the fuel connection into his refueling port. The match up of speed for this refueling must have been a nail biter.

The Blackbird was retired by the U.S. Air Force in 1990 after 25 years of service. I have had the chance to see Blackbird # 61-7976 (it's serial number) at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Museum in  Dayton, Ohio. I was in awe just standing along side of it and touching it's wings now at room temperature who's Titanium wing surface had many times reached over 1,000 Degrees F on the leading edges of the wings. This aircraft is one of the most unique airplanes ever built. It leaked fuel on the ground and had to be refueled after taking off because the fuselage panels had to be fitted loosely on the ground and became properly aligned and expanded once the aircraft's operating temperature was reached. When this happened, the fuel tanks quit leaking! The airframe of the SR-71 expanded several inches during this transition from take off temperature to operating temperature once cruising altitude and speed were reached.

 I could go on and on about this aircraft and the pilots who flew them as they were heroes each and ever time they took flight in this "Animal" ... The  Sled! This airplane demand the best and I am proud to say I know a boy from Berkeley who attained this degree of courage and skill to master the art of flying a SR-71 Blackbird. 

In closing, I will give you an idea of how fast this aircraft flew:

New York to London                                   1 hr., 54 min., 56.4 sec.

London to Los Angeles                              3 hr., 47 min., 20 sec.

West Coast to east Coast U.S.A.               1 hr., 7 min., 54 sec.

St. Louis to Cincinnati                                8 minutes

Kansas City to Washington D.C.              26 minutes

Lt. Col. David T. Spotswood we are very, very proud of you and your service to our country! We will have the pleasure to seeing David again at our reunion and I look forward snapping him a proud salute.

(David, I am proud of your piloting achievements and those of us who have piloted an aircraft realize the tremendous skill and coordination it took to master that aircraft. Consider me your number  #1 admirer!  -  Joe  H. Sowders)

                                   

Aviation influenced your life in Berkeley...

Whether you believe it or not...living in Berkeley gave you a daily dose of aviation! Remember the airplane engines droning on landing and take offs. Or, the airplanes being tested on the firing range of McDonnell Aircraft. When the jet age arrived, we heard a new level of noise especially when they kicked in the after burners on take off. This practice was later restricted because of the extreme noise level. I remember the rattle of the .50 caliber machine guns and 20 MM Cannons being tested for aim which was a regular occurrence and could happen day or night.

The busy time of the Airline traffic was in the morning and evening with the cacophony at times making conversation difficult of not impossible until it abated. I remember many times being on the telephone and telling somebody to hold on until the airplane noise stops. Despite the noise, we became acclimated to it and it seems to be a subliminal aggravation that we tuned out.

During WW II, each warplane had a distinctive engine note that made it easy to identify without even  looking to the sky. I could tell by their exhaust sound whether it was a P-40, P-39, P-51, P47, AT-10 AT-6 , DC-3, B-25, B-17, B-29, B-36 and on and on... The jet age took that identity factor away as most jet engines sound alike...loud! I use to listen for the pilot to change the prop pitch once he got airborne. My love of aviation was further enriched by working at Lambert Field all during my High School years. If I wasn't working there I spend my off hours there just soaking up the activities and the characters that made Lambert Field tick like Carl Hempel, "Pappy" Downs, Ed Tayloe, Bob Turner, George Martak, Aaron Spotswood, David Spotswood (licensed pilot in his sophomore year) and myself at age 14 learning to fly.

We also had several close calls with plane crashes. In 1941 a P-40 fighter crashed just a few feet off the BHS schoolyard which was about 500 yards from my home. I remember running up to find the pilot dead and covered with blood and mud when he plowed into the ground. Joan (Miller) Weber had a jet crash that nearly took her roof off. I remember a DC-3 crashing just off Natural Bridge road in mid Bridgeton and it was very close to Bill Lambert's home. But...the crash that was the most tragic was the glider crash in August of 1943.
 
In this glider crash were ten people including the Mayor of St. Louis ( William D. Becker), William N. Dysart (Pres. of the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce, Max H. Doyne (Dir. of Public Utilities), Charles L. Cunningham (Deputy Controller), Henry L. Mueller ( Presiding Judge -County Court), Major William B. Robertson, Veteran Aviation enthusiast and President of Robertson Aircraft Corporation who made the glider that crashed), Capt. Milton C. Klugh (71st Troop carrier Command and pilot of the glider), Lt. Col Paul H. Hazelton (US Airforce), Harold A. Krueger-VP of Mfg. & Gen.Manager of Robertson Aircraft Corp.) and PFC J.M. Davis attached to the 71th Troop Carrier Command.

This glider had made a flight prior to the second flight which had the above dignitaries aboard. A moment after being released from the tow plane, the right wing buckled and fell from the fuselage. The glider disintegrated and plummeted to the ground before the spectators at Lambert Field with bodies and parts of the glider bouncing 50 feet in to the air and scattering pieces of debris all over the field. It was later found that a defective part that attached the wing to the fuselage was the cause of the crash.

Finally...a photo of the Red School House Cornerstone laid 110 years ago

Thanks to Art  McClusky, we now have a good, clear photo of the Red School House Cornerstone laid in August of 1902 with the names of the School Board members and the Architect . Art's Mother still lives in the Airport Road and Evergreen area. I can't thank him enough as we have been trying to get a good picture of the Cornerstone and finally out of the blue, Art McClusky saved the day. I hope to have more on Art's bio and reflections of his school days in Berkeley. Again...Thanks Art!

Be sure to click on the Red School House tab as this Corner Stone awakened some more of my memory's of an alligator running wild in Berkeley!  I've got a lot more "stuff" to put on our blog so check it often...