Frost on the Punkin

Hi Will,

I have enjoyed looking at the grade school pictures that classmates sent in to the blog. One of my most lasting memories of Dubois grade school is when our teacher, Miss Florence Davis, read to us every fall (we had her for 6th, 7th and 8th grade) the poem by James Whitcomb Riley, "When the Frost is on the Punkin." She always read it to us after the first hard frost.

For years now, when we have the first frost, I call Carolyn Quinlan and say, "The frost is on the punkin and the corn is in the shock", remembering those words read to us by Miss Davis. Well, I never remembered the rest of the poem, so yesterday I looked it up online and read it several times, and I just loved it. It so describes fall here in the Midwest--and probably in many other areas of the country, too, but James Whitcomb Riley was from Indiana, so I think he was depicting the Midwest.

Judy Vicars Van Hagen

Classes in '56

Fifty years is long ago, until you browse in an old Capitoline. Today I was looking at 1956 and found some pictures of our Sophomore selves. I don't recognize everyone, so please fill in the blanks with a comment. (Click on the pictures to see enlargements.)

Above is a Latin II class, led by Margaret Ihlenfeldt. Check out those little statues!

• Board: all Unknown.
• Row 1: Elizabeth Tinsley, Pat Dowling, Steve Dilts, Unknown.
• Row 2: Nancy Guy, Janet Beardsley, Dennis Carroll, John Harrison, Unknown.
• Row 3: Lewis Striebeck, Stan Thomas, Sandra Murphy.

And here is a World History class, taught by Ray Page.

• Far left: Bob Brunsman, Arlene Jacobs, Alan Kennedy, Dale Jeffers
• Checked shirt: Bill Profrock
• Board: Janet Beardsley, explaining the Universe.

Veterans Day

When we were in grade school, they called it Armistice Day, and some of us knew veterans of that First World War, fought in 1914-18. We knew even more vets from the Second World War, which ended in September of 1945, the month we entered kindergarten.

In June of 1954, just before we entered SHS, they changed the name to Veterans Day, and so it has been ever since on November 11. It's a day to reflect on the fact that since our lives began in 1940, 149 wars have rocked the world and presently 22 are ongoing.

To mark Veteran's day, SHS has awarded its Hall of Fame honor to Brigadier General Alex W. Talmant, a much-decorated veteran of several wars and retired commander of the 47th Air Division in California. The son of a Lithuanian coal miner, he grew up near the old Pillsbury plant in Springfield. At SHS he visited several history classes and told stories. In a showcase outside the main office is a display honoring 32 SHS graduates now serving in the armed forces.

Harvest

We are now deep into harvest time, just two weeks till Thanksgiving, and the still life photos of Jo Meiers Leggett may help us to reflect a little on the meaning of that season.

These two images suggest the poles of her geography: jicama beans (above) for the West and corn silk (below) for the Midwest.


Harvest is a season to gather, save, and store. And to give thanks for what has come to pass.

Oops. And I promised not to get political!

On the Road Again

Over the last few months, Al and Diane Urbanckas have been "bopping around here and there and enjoying retirement."

Here we see them at Branson, the Silver Dollar City in southwestern Missouri. Known as "family-friendly Las Vegas," Branson has three amusement parks and a host of live theaters, featuring Country music.

In October, Diane headed with three friends to the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis to view glass sculptures by Dale Chihuly. He has pieces on exhibit throughout the world and their value has risen to staggering heights.


On an earlier trip to Madison, WI, Diane took a picture from atop the Museum of Contemporary Art. "It brought back memories, mostly of long ago in Springfield, IL."

Thanks to Diane for the pictures, and please keep bopping around!

Happy Halloween

Tonight, will you put on a porch light and wait for goblins and ghosts to show at the door? Do you have a supply of bad goodies for their teeth? Will you ooh and aah at their costumes, direct from Wal-Mart?

I have good memories of Halloween. We went out in small groups, cruising the streets and scooping up bags of sweet loot. Nobody ever pulled any vandalism, other than soap on windows and TP in the trees. Later we got too old for that stuff and began to hold costume parties and dances.

Today's kids face many Halloween hazards, according to this bulletin from the Illinois Department of Health. Traffic, mean dogs, and sickos who hand out tainted candy; it's enough to make a kid stay at home!

Hope you have an enjoyable evening. And . . . BOO!

The Cardinals Lament

More Caddie

The Caddie Woodlawn picture stirred Barbara Edmiston Mitchell to go rummaging in her scrap albums, and up came two more shots of the Hay-Edwards 8th grade play. (Click on the pictures to enlarge.)

Above, left to right: Margaret Stanford, Nancy McBrian, Jim Rollman, Beverly Scott, Connie King, Ray Defrates, Mary Houghton, and Sandra Lott.

Above, left to right: Jim Rollman, Ray Defrates, Margaret Stanford, Connie King, Judy McCoy, Charles Lutes, Beverly Scott, Mary Houghton and Sandra Lott.

Several members of the school orchestra are watching avidly. Only allowed in a dress rehearsal? Thanks to Barbara for the pictures and names.

Caddie Woodlawn

That recent photo from Warren Haake shook loose another Hay-Edwards memory, this time from Janet Bailey Kerner. Above you see the cast of "Caddie Woodlawn," the 8th grade play for Hay-Edwards in early 1954: from left to right, Beverly Blue, Sue Jacobs, Dana Furry, Ruth Lance, Janet Bailey, and Suzanne Lee. (click on the picture to enlarge it)

Ruth played Caddie and Janet was Minnie, Caddie's younger sister. The play was adapted from a 1935 novel by Caroline Woodhouse, depicting the girlhood of her grandmother, Carol Ryrie Brink. The Brinks moved from Boston to Dunn County, Wisconsin, in 1857. Their farmhouse is still open to the public, spring through fall, at Caddie Woodlawn Historical Park.

According to Janet, this picture is moments after Ruth was dancing and lost her light blonde wig. "Miss Mullett was furious, so she took Ruth to the back of the stage and actually 'glued' the wiglet back on to Ruth's hair."

Janet recalls that everyone helped to paint the set, and in that process her head got doused by a bucket of red paint. Mr. Morris, the principal, became agitated and raved about the kids "pulling antics and not getting the job done."

Janet ran home to her mother, who first thought her child had a serious head wound! She cleaned her up and sent her back to school. Janet still can't remember who spilled that paint, but suspects it may have been Bob DeFrates or Robert Wright. (Fess up, guys.)

SHS Needs Help

I recently heard from Ann Hamilton, who is PTO Teacher Liaison for SHS. She writes that the school budget is severely constrained these days, and that often teachers cannot provide students with "classroom needs" to enhance the learning experience.

These include books, projectors, or transparencies for copiers. Some classes lack maps, dictionaries, and even pencils. Bigger-ticket items, like notebook computers or electronic whiteboards, are also needed urgently

Ann asked if the Class of '58 might wish to contribute. I checked with our Reunion Committee, who gave its approval to this announcement.

If you want to learn more, I've posted three files that you may download. One is an overview of the problem, and the others list needs for English, Languages, and Art. (Files are in MS Word: let me know if you need another format)

To contribute to the classroom needs fund, mail your checks to PTO, c/o Springfield High School, 101 South Lewis Street, Springfield IL 62704. Donations are tax-deductible.

For more information, please call Ann Hamilton at (217) 546-5035. And many thanks!

Warren Haake

Warren Haake sent in this picture from 1951, the year Bobby Thompson hit his famous homer. The teacher was Mrs. Bernice King, and she was enough of a baseball fan to let her class listen to that game. (To see a larger view of faces and names, click on the picture)

Warren and I played ball on the Mack Stephenson Redbirds, a Pony League team in Washington Park in 1953-55. Other team members were Mike Stephenson, Ron Wilson, Gary Oline, Bill Downing, Champ Davis, John Vass, Bob Hamende, and Lee Leonard. (If I left anyone out, please comment below.)

Warren was at SHS with our class but graduated in 1959. He's now in the class directory, e-mail address and all, and he plans to attend the 50th reunion. He and his wife, Gwendolyn Nagle, live in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Warren is a retired insurance adjuster and Gwen is a professor of theatre at Western Michigan University.

Reunion in Ventura

In August, Judy and Denny Wollan spent two weeks on the beach at Ventura, CA, where they had a surprise visit from Susan Ervin, Fred Hoffman, Charlie Adams, and Arnold (Sonny) Meyerstein.

Fred, Denny, Charlie, Sonny

Fresh from the Los Angeles wedding of Sonny's daughter, they staged a mini-reunion of the SHS classes of '58 and '59. (Fred, Denny, and Judy are '59)

Sue, Fred, Charlie, and Sonny grew up on or near Park Avenue, just south of Washington Park, and Charlie's house was a popular place to congregate in the Butler School years.

Thanks to Judy Brothers Wollan for the pictures and story. You all look great!

Denny, Sue

Judy, Sue

The Harmony Boys: 5

Charlie as Nashville recording artist, 1968

1996: Charlie works at the office of the Sangamon County Circuit Clerk, managing the phone center and handling calls on legal cases. Over the years he plays with various groups, including the Tom Blasko Trio Plus 2 and 2nd Tyme Around.

1998: He organizes a revival concert of Springfield bands, a 5-hour music marathon captured on video. In 1999 he faces severe liver damage from hepatitis but his general good health permits a successful transplant operation.

2006: Charlie retires to Ashland, but he still makes guest appearances and retains a deep knowledge of rock history—as we learned in the trivia contest at our 45th reunion.

Where are the Harmony Boys today? Ben Harmony has a upholstery business in Springfield and provides music at his church. Ray Dippel works at Bunn-O-Matic and has been slowed by health problems.

Gordon Jones spent his career in insurance and risk management. In the early 1980s he was Arizona State Director of Occupational Safety & Health (OSHA), handling over 20,000 investigations. Now retired, he still owns the drum set he got for Christmas in 1946.

Perhaps we can persuade the Harmony Boys to play at our 50th reunion?

Tom Blasko Trio Plus 2, 1969

Thanks to Charlie Harmony and Gordon Jones for their pictures and memories.

The Harmony Boys: 4

Charlie and Ben: Bobbin Records Postcard, 1959

1962: in August the Harmony Boys record a last release: (A) "Lock on the Old Back Door" and (B) "Remember Me." The A side has a Twist beat and the B side is a Stuart Hamblen country tune, rearranged with a bluesy sax solo. To everyone's surprise, "Remember Me" climbs up the Top 40 charts. In 1964 Dean Martin does a version that reaches the top 10.

1963: Charlie serves two years in the Army, based in Alaska, and then rejoins the band, as does Gordon in 1966 before heading for Arizona. Charlie leaves the band in 1967 and Ben continues as The Ben Harmony Combo until the late 1970s.

1967: Charlie takes a job at the McFarland Center in Springfield and works with emotionally disturbed children. He creates a music therapy program and studies in this field at Southern Illinois. In 1973 he takes a course in England on music therapy. He remains at McFarland until 1978.

1969: He signs as a songwriter-artist with Cedarwood Publishing in Nashville, which leads to a 3-year contract with Mercury Records. During that time he releases a single on the JED label: (A) "Never Let Me Go" and (B) "Knock Around Sneakers."

1980: Charlie provides music therapy and programs in woodworking and ceramics at Aid to Retarded Citizens in Springfield. In 1983 he opens a ceramics shop in Ashland, IL, and over the next two decades he writes articles, teaches, and travels widely to demonstrate sculpting and painting techniques. [to be concluded]

Charlie meets Frankie Avalon, 1959

The Harmony Boys: 3

With JA (Jim Austin) at Teenland, 1958

1958: Gordon leaves for college. Bill Waldmire replaces him on drums and Tom Blasko joins on accordion and later key boards. More appearances, one with teen idol Fabian, lead to audition tapes and a contract with Bobbin Records, an R&B label from St. Louis.

1959: on their early records, Ben writes the A sides and Charlie the B sides. The first Bobbin release is (A) "Baby Tonight" and (B) "You Don't Care." The band then plays on "Shower of Stars," a series of live performances with recording artists like Johnny and the Hurricanes, Jerry Lee Lewis, Frankie Avalon, and Annette Funicello.

1960: the second Bobbin release is (A) "Don't Be Cold" and (B) "Saturday Night Bop." They make many personal appearances on Hop shows (similar to American Bandstand) in Illinois and Missouri, as offers to buy their contract arrive from record companies.

1961: the band adds a sax player, Jerry Black. Bill Waldmire departs to raise a family and Gary Turley joins on drums. Their early theme song, "Raunchy," is a Bill Justis tune adapted from "Backwoods," a Southern blues riff. [To be continued]

With Jim McKinney, WCVS, 1958

(click links to hear the songs)

The Harmony Boys: 2

At Big Earl's Hop, 1958

1956: Gordon Jones and Ray Dippel join the brothers and form the Harmony Boys band. They practice in the Jones living room and soon play at a few square dances. Their early style is country-western, but after Elvis emerges they shift full-time to rock 'n roll.

They put together stage outfits: bright red pants, peppermint socks, white bucks, white shirts, and red ties with a little tinfoil sparkle. For beach dates they wear red swim suits and on formal affairs put on tux shirts, black jackets, and black hats.

1957: they play Teenland, Big Earl's Hop (near the airport), the Jim McKinney radio show and Teenage Rage, a live TV show on channel 20. Other appearances are meetings and dances in Lincoln, Taylorville, and St. Louis. They travel in Ben's 1955 Ford, a light-brown job with bar grille, long tail lights, and on the rear a Harmony Boys plaque.

Their play list covers the top 40 rock hits, thanks to radio DJs like "JA" (Jim Austin), who broadcasts a live show from Teenland. Stations give them recordings; Charlie copies the lyrics and Ben, Ray, and Gordon create arrangements by ear.

1958: at a telethon in the Abe Lincoln Hotel, a "Battle of the Bands" pits The Harmony Boys against Hobie Henson's Red Devils. The match is even until Gordon's drum solo: he jumps up and dances around his white Slingerland drum set, twirling sticks in the air and not missing a beat. This act astonishes the band and brings the house down. [to be continued]

At Jerome Village Hall, 1958

The Harmony Boys: 1

The date is June 14, 1958, the place is Teenland out near the Fair grounds, and here are The Harmony Boys: (left to right) Ray Dippel on lead guitar, Benny Harmony, Charlie Harmony, and Gordon Jones on drums.

In 1956-62, The Harmony Boys lived an American dream by going from obscurity to teen fame, with girl fans screaming in a frenzy and mobbing the band offstage. Into the crowds vanished many a shoelace, along with combs, guitar picks, and drum sticks.

The first rock and roll band in Springfield, for a decade they had record contracts, appearances with rock stars, and songs on the top 40 charts. Thanks to our '58 classmates, Charlie and Gordon, I've assembled in 5 parts this brief history of those golden years.

1950: Ben and Charlie Harmony live on South MacArthur Boulevard and attend West Grand School. They begin singing as The Harmony Brothers at talent shows, annual meetings, and live radio shows in central Illinois. They often parody country-western tunes, with Charlie working as the comedian.

1955: the brothers appear on Uncle Tom's Barn Dance, a show telecast live on Mondays from Decatur. The producer adds a Saturday show featuring rock-and-roll music, and the brothers play as a rock act, backed by local musicians. [to be continued]

Pictures from Gordon Jones & Charlie Harmony
Click on them to enlarge

Swimming

Sorry to be missing of late, but I've spent a lot of time in the water. This summer I rediscovered swimming. It happened because a neighbor was away for several months, and she asked me to "watch over" her pool. That meant I could swim there any time, so in the hot days of July I got in the habit of going over afternoons or nights for a dip.

Swimming can get monotonous, so to stay alert I started counting laps. First I did 10, then 20, and before long I reached 50 laps, or a half-mile. Every visit to the pool, I swam a half mile, which dropped from 90 to 70 minutes and seems stuck right there.

I'm not setting any speed limits, and with chronic reflux I have to swim breast or back stroke rather than the crawl. But that's OK, because the crawl always bored me, which is why I lost interest in swimming long ago. How long ago and where did I start? At the old YMCA, on 7th Street? At Memorial Pool on North 9th? In Lake Springfield? (Do you remember?)

Now that summer is past, I continue to swim at a nearby fitness center. That pool is much longer and only 36 laps make a half-mile. The first time up and down those long lanes was a effort, but after a while it got to feel normal.

The water temp this morning was 81 degrees. Outside it was rainy and raw, as Storm Ernesto blew by. I'll go there several times a week from now until next July, when my neighbor's pool may once more beckon.

My point: if you don't like the way you look or feel, try swimming. The Mayo Clinic says it's the best exercise for people over 65, regardless of our condition. It strenghtens joints and muscles, burns fat, tones up flab, and improves cardio and brain function. It's not the Fountain of Youth.....but remember those swimming scenes in Cocoon?

If you want to learn more, visit the US Masters Swimming page, which has information on the benefits of swimming for seniors. And in 2008 I'll see you at Lake Springfield, rain or shine.

State Fairs

Once again, the Illinois State Fair has come to Springfield. Last August many '58s sent in their memories about this annual institution. The prevailing view was that we recall the Fair fondly and assume it will endure.

Today a story in the New York Times reports that Midwest state fairs are in deep financial trouble. They have lost money steadily, because city folk no longer care about farming (fairs began as agricultural expositions) and they can find more sophisticated entertainment at the flick of a switch.

What can we say? Folks no longer want a carnival ride, soft-ice cream, or a lemon shake-up? Before we all mutter about cultural decline, take a look at this other story in the Times: food competitions at fairs are thriving, but now the contests are over bagels, biscotti, and ostrich burgers.

If you plan to attend, here's some advice in the SJR on how to eat wisely, as befits our senior years. Your comments are welcome!

Leslie and Ann

Now here's a good-looking quartet, left to right: Bob and Leslie Sandlin, with Ann and Dick Hart. In '58 we knew the ladies as Leslie Heinicke and Ann Tobin. Leslie sent me the picture, taken at our 45th Reunion in 2003. She's looking forward to the 50th and sends thanks to our Reunion Committee for all their hard work.

Leslie and Ann both attended Butler Grade School, and their families were prominent in local business. Tobin Jewelers and Heinicke & Company greatly contributed to local employment and commerce. The Tobin company is still active, but sadly, Leslie reports that "the lawn mower factory building on South 8th Street (there since 1902) was a victim of the April tornado."

Leslie and Bob now live in Savannah, while Ann and Dick are in Springfield. Both are active in the Elijah Iles House Foundation and Dick is the current president of the Abraham Lincoln Association.