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!)