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)