Jennifer Runyon

Hi everyone.  Nice to see your comments in the forum.  As a Clevelander and frequent visitor to Berea my I say to all of those that have left the roost, embrace your memories.  Many things have changed in Berea and Cleveland -- some for the better -- some for the worse.  I still remember the hustling bustling Berea that I grew up with and cherished.  Though many things have improved, I miss the old town.  Once in a while I take a trip to Medina square (which reminds me somewhat of old Berea) and Chagrin Falls (absolutely gorgeous at Christmas).  However, Berea will always be home no matter where I end up.  I've lived in Cleveland proper for many years now, within walking distance of Lake Erie.  In the morning on my way to work I ride down the shoreway past Edgewater Park (which is now owned and managed by the Metroparks) and it is so beautiful.  It prepares me for my busy day.  Downtown Cleveland has changed in many ways.  Like Berea, it is no longer an everyday hustling bustling city like it once was.  However, on occasion it fills up for special events.  We like going to Playhouse Square, which now boasts the only crystal chandelier in the world that hangs in the middle of the street with gold arches in every corner.  You ought to see it when it is lit at night and all of the theatre marquis are lit.  Oh, and of course the new 1920's style VERY LARGE Playhouse Square sign.  Putting all that aside however, we boast all of the new broadway shows as they make their way accross the nation.  Playhouse Square is alive and well.  Well, Cleveland is getting ready for the 2016 RNC, which will fill up every hotel and restaurant we have.  It will certainly be hustling and bustling then.  The old warehouse district is now all restaurants, bars, night clubs, etc.  I drive through on my way downtown sometimes and it's fascinating to see what they did with those old warehouses.  We also are re-doing the East and West side of the Cuyahoga River, which is turning out to be very beautiful.  There is talk about one of those large ferris wheels going up and lake boats to Canada and back, but neither of those have got off the ground yet.  Still, I long for the days of old in little Berea where I used to ride my bike and weave through the college buildings to end up on a large green in the center of the college and listen to singers and muscians play folk music.  I will say, though, the quarry area behind the police station is vastly improved and I love the improvements.  During the 4th of July celebration they set up a carnival back there and shoot off the fireworks.  It really is beautiful.  Oh, before I go, let us not forget the Cuyahoga County Fair.  It still thrives and is a blessing to the town.  One last thing -- I recently took the Cuyahoga Valley steam train ride, which only happens once a year for a period of 4 days.  It was so nice!  I grew up with those and it was like being young again.  God Bless everyone and have a great day and for all of those that recently had birthdays -- HAPPY BIRTHDAY!.  Jen

John Farner

Delores Brown (Gardner )

We made it back to Berea about 3 years ago and it was the same, but different.  My memories sure were nothing like I saw - drove down Baldwin Dr and couldn't believe how narrow the street was and how small the houses.  The downtown, so different, altho we walked into Whitey's for memories and into Dick's for the cookies!  That's why I don't like to see a movie about a book I have read, because I like what's in my memory and my mind (what's left of it) more.  Reality never fits and you can't really go back..

Becky, I've been in Fort Pierce since 1985.  My son and his wife are in Orlando.  My daughter and her hubby just moved to Columbus, so we'll be heading up there from the 26th to the 31st of Dec.  NOT looking forward to freezing, but I miss her so much, it'll be worth it...

Love hearing comments from all of you!

dj

Karl Anderson

Becky Bowman

It is nice to see all the comments, and yes the quarry now looks great too!  It is hard to see things missing, but the next time you feel bad just think about me here in Orlando, where our way of life is TITABANO (Tear It Down And Build A New One).  I made that expression up in the early 1980's and it still holds true today!  lol

DJ,  I did know you were in Florida, but had forgotten what part.  Sometime when you are in Orlando give me a call, (or anyone else for that matter).  My cell is 407-595-2449. 

I did get to see Playhouse Square and the huge chandelier at night, it was quite different from the way I remembered it when I used to cut through the Bulkley Building back in the 70's to get to work at G-98.

Orlando just opened the new Dr. Philips Peforming Arts Center downtown near the Amway Center, which I HOPE will bring some of that culture down here to us, we sure need a little. ha ha

Take care everybody!
Becky Bowman

Delores Brown (Gardner )

Karl - I enjoyed working at the Hospitality Inn that summer.  Sure has changed since then.. As everything has.

Becky, I don't get to Orlando often.  Too much traffic for me - I tell me kids to come to Ft. Pierce instead.  We're the same way here - a new building will go up right next to a perfectly good vacant building.  I don't get that mentality, but it is what it is.

well busy Monday - gotta run...

I love reading these posts and reminiscing.... :-)

Arthur Rohlik

07 December 2015 I got a little automated reminder to "keep current" at this site, so...
We approach another year's end with a music party next Saturday. The Shelton Yacht Club members decorate boats and motor about the bay, visible from our house. Each year we invite musicians for a pot luck (or hosted) dinner. meet make music and laugh and nibble and nosh and take a break to watch the parade. After that, more playing and laughter. That is how we assume the boat owners are behaving. The boats circle the bay and then motor up the inlet, returning with much festive noise making. Horns are sounding loudly and often. One year a brass trio or quartet or quintet aboard one of the boats played festive songs of the season; formerly known as Christmas Carols. I still call them Christmas Carols and I even have the audacity to wish folks a Merry Christmas. Just because it is all about the $$$$$ does not mean I have to make it all about the $$$$$. I still love the lights and the songs and the seasonal decorations. I miss the feeling I used to get when I saw the first BIG department store window displays each year.

When I lived in Denver, I had a multi year employment at THE DENVER DRY GOODS CO. I had jobs as diverse as putting up the two flags every morning, to electrician's helper, to building engineer. I never "worked the floor" as they say, never dealt with Christmas Season as the frantic $$$$$ making times. The expression "BLACK FRIDAY" was coined by retail workers who dread the mania of day-after shopping. Now that epithet has been converted to Advertising Theme, as you are most certainly aware. ANYWAY...

I told you that so that you would have an opportunity to remember the big ole happy Christmas feeling of seeing the HALLE BROS store windows. I miss that kid stuff. Maybe this Santa will bring to me a train...

Speaking of trains. Marcia and I made reservations to go by rail to Grand Junction for Ma's 90th birthday. January 2015 is right around the corner. The Rocky Mountains may be wearing an overcoat of glistening white snow. Looking forward to it? YOU BET!

Merry Christmas To All and To All A Good Night!
God Rest Ye, Merry.
Doc           

Jennifer Runyon

Sounds like you are having lots of fun.  I love trains too.  I'm glad you are helping to support the continued effort of passenger railroads to stay alive.  So many have went to the wayside.  You mentioned the Halle Building in your post -- just wanted to let you know that the Halle Building was recently sold and will be turned into condos.  Sad!  However, on another note -- The Higbee Building (which is now the Horshoe Casino) still keeps the Christmas season alive by decorating (with original decorations) their huge display windows on public square and around the building.  It's the only thing left of the old days, but at least they are still allowing the window dressing tradition to keep going.

Nice to see your post Art.  Have a wonderful Christmas and Blessed New Year!

Jen

John Nobu Naylor (Akagi)

Aloha Arthur and Jennifer,

It's a mystery why our experiences during our adolescence holds such a captivating nostalgic value. Yup, I remember Halles/ Mr. Jingling and the big Christmas tree at Sterling Linder. For me, it was cutting school with the likes of Ed Zelask, Alvin Sutherland, Larry Gustavson, and maybe Steve Fisher, Mark Bedford, etc. onset of dimentia affect my memory banks now. In any case, cutting school was one of my fovorite activities raising hell down town Cleveland.  Taking the rapids to the termial tower seemed like such a wonderfully stimulating adventure then vs. later when I made the same mundane daily trek to an office job. Now that I am a high school teacher, wouldn't you know that I am critical of the same troublesome kids that we used to be. I understand how karma works truly.

Jon Bittinger

Arthur Rohlik

Jah, now that you have mentioned it, I remember GORMAN'S' user operated Christmas show window. I think that I would like to see such a shop, somewhere. Photo gear ( I still cannot decide if I like the smell of photo processing chemicals. Nostalgia? Sure. But was that a pleasing smell? ) and plastic model kits, "build your own steam engine" ( I bought one preassembled. Now what do I do with it?!?! I built things out of erector set pieces and the engine whirled them about at great speed. That was about it...) I do believe that if I had apprenticed myself to some adult who worked with:

1) steam engines 2) tractors 3) restoring or preserving vintage machines or 4) building amusement park trains   

My life would have offered a very different path and I might well have followed that path. Little did I know then that such a life was an option. I wonder, my forum friends, has your life been firmly steered from experience to experience? Did you have a chosen path? Was it the path you took?

Me, no. I drifted as if in the wind, life moving me more by the negative choices that I made "I ain't doin' THAT s__t" and ended more jobs with "I quit" than "here is my respectful two weeks notice". Had my military lottery number been lower, I would probably have just gone along with the whole evil thing, serving my sentence overseas and likely dieing by violence. Resistance would have been too hard. Taking refuge beyond a border too uncertain and requiring too much planning. Drifting in the winds of chance and easy opportunities, that has been me. Not competing for wealth or fame, kinda like the way I played tennis. I had the aptitude for it, but the urge to win was then -and remains to this day- poorly developed in my psyche.  Doc

Steven Rowsey

John Nobu-- I never knew you were one of the bad boys! Shocked I am, just shocked.....

Jon Bittinger

Art: Hey man...you can play the guitar and sing...I still haven't figured out how to sing whilst playing the trumpet.

The get-togethers out there that you've described sound beyond wonderful...adding your personal brand of musicality on top of the whole shebang is another level of fun...for all involved.

So, I wouldn't look back with too much regret...sounds like you've got a lot to offer going forward...which should make you and those around you happy. Yes..?

Stephen VAN Wye

Hi all - it's great reading Berea memories!  Wow..

Hey Nobu(JOHN NOBU NAYLOR AKAGI)

btw, you were not one of the bad ones. it was only a front.

- But, Nobu, do you remember the curve on Beeler Drive on a friday night our Junior year- listening Iron Butterfly- In a gadda da vida - loudly on an 8-track being chased (after a basketball game) by what we thought was a car full of opposing team's classmates that wanted to fight?  At the curve - with rear studded snow tires I lossed control - and rearended into a large tree - so much for a newly painted 1965 Chevy Impala... then we found out the next day at lunch that is was Doug Hall chasing us?  That hurt soooo bad... my 1st accident and all.  But it's really good that we were not injured. I paid $$$ for "loss of control" - and the rest of the year without a car.

Also, John Farner - can you believe that I still have your picture from 8th grade (St. Adelberts) and your comment on the back to me - "Most Wanted" !!!  3-4 years ago, Barb (Voisinet class of 72) found this old picture and wanted to know the meaning.  I met Barb when going to a so-called 71 graduation party, that turned out to be a hoax. She's been "THE BEST WIFE EVER" - to me, since 2/17/73.

Barb and I sometimes talk about the high school years - We've enjoyed having the Griffiths as very close friends to this day (Albert & Nicki)  -Albert has shared many funny and interesting memories of those times.

Best to all,

-steve

Jon Bittinger

Stephen:  The first day after I got my Driver's License, while backing into a parking space at (the now defunct) Riverside Golf Course, I put a small dent in my Dad's '67 Camaro. Later at home, while I was debating how to break the news to him...he saw the dent from our Family Room despite all the raindrops now covering the car (he was a WWII Marine Sharpshooter, $ still had pretty good vision)

Safe to say, I had "lots of 'splaining' to do"...and suspension of driving privileges (except to get to work-which I made sure to do a lot)

Not as dramatic as running for your life...spinning into a tree...but same basic effect. For some reason I still always back into spaces (my girls are forever annoyed by this habit)...learned about that rear blindside though...some 45 years ago.

Best.

Stephen VAN Wye

Hey Scott - when first married we lived right on Riverside GC - on Greenview Drive.  Whatever happened to the GC and the future of the property? 

John Farner - where in FL do you live?  As snowbirds -we go to Pensacola Beach 2 months out of the year. Remember TACKLE football at St. Adalberls. for an hour lunch in the parking lot... in our school clothes -in the snow?  -M. Terrwood, Ken Krisco, John Cecilick, Ed Zelaski, Andy Havanic, Randy Mishler, Johnny Orviz, etc. Of course  those were PRE- high school years at St. Adalberts.

Those were the days my friend...

Yak sie mash!!! 

John Nobu Naylor (Akagi)

Aloha Steve and Steve

If I had the bad boy image, then so be it. Perception is reality. At least it appears I left an inprint/legacy of some sort, good or bad/real or fictional, with my class mates. I think that contrasts with my eventual career as a police officer and took many people by surprise at some class reunions.

For the record, I still go by Nobu (my middle name). John is but a convenience. When people can pronounce some of these long Hawaiian names here, pronouncing "Nobu" ain't nothin'.

SVW, ya I remember that crash when you spun out on Beeler. That tree on the tree lawn wasn't that big but your car just wrapped around it and sure did a lot of damage. I must say with gratitude that the Berea Police officer that drove us home was hip and lit up a cigar to mask the smell of alcohol. We certainly had our fill of mischief.  My kids became friends with Frank Wargo's son when they were attending Lake Ridge Academy and Mr. Wargo (Pic'n Pay) apparently told my boys how wild we were when we were in high school, totally blowing my cover as a respectable father...so I had to resort to "do as I say, not as I do" approach. They turned out fine, as I did....I think.

Stephen VAN Wye

Nobu, I remember the "cigar" gesture - but I also remember having to drive the Impala home too. It was drivable, but the insurance company wanted to "total" it - leaving without a car for the rest of the year.  Did the Berea cop drive you home? I don't remember... anyway, it's really good to hear from you... How did your house turn out that you were building on the big isle? 

ALOHA!

John Farner

John Nobu Naylor (Akagi)

Aloha Steve

I finished the first house which was built by an old crater and rain forest. Found a network of caves there, very interesting terrain, but ended up selling it. Built another one by the ocean by an ancient fishing village site. Stacked stone structures lends an interesting archeological mystique. We have a nice guest room for you. Next time you visit, make sure you stay for a few days. Love to give you the tour.

So I heard from you, Kevin McCarthy, Jamie Alexikos, Mark Bedford about going to the last class reunion. Told Ed Zelask we had to go and he agreed to be my biatch date....so where were you guys? Gotta make the next one for sure, raise some hell for old time sake. I'll make sure I bring extra depends diapers so I can drink lots of beer.

Juliana Savino

Hi, dear friends,

to be frank, dearer as time passes. I loved high school so much I managed to leave after 11th grade but for government in summer school and Mr Habinek's driver's ed in the fall.  Jennifer, you look marvelous.  Nobu, I remember you and Zelaski ribbing me when you had the chance, and, Nobu, I remember you were always the artist.  Glad to read about you then and now.

I see a few train lovers here. Count me in.  I get to NYC once or twice a year, taking the Capitol Ltd and Pennsylvanian to get there, and the Lakeshore (aka "Late for Sure") Limited with its beautiful views of the Hudson River, to get home.

Still in the Heights. The house on Barrett Road is still in the family.  I don't cross the Cuyahoga often enough.

Cheers!

Jan Thompson (McCumbers )

You guys are having too much fun here!  It warms my soul to hear all these names again. So many bring back a fond memory.  I've been away from Berea since 1996.  I thought I would live there forever, and didn't leave under the best of circumstances (divorce :-( )  I went back over the years to visit my parents, and then help take care of them before they passed.  I thank you all for reminding me that there were a lot of good times back in the 'hood.  Happy Holidays to All! And please continue to keep those good old times alive with your posts.

And Nobu, if you think you had it bad with your kids and Frank Wargo-  when my daughter started going to BHS, Mr. Skalski was still there and told my daughter that he used call me Wild Woman when I was in school.  When I went in for her first parent-teacher conference, he just laughed at me.  I had to beg him to tone it down a bit.

Jon Bittinger

Nobu: Did you get to see that Big Island lava flow a few months ago..? My girls (wife + 2 daughters) and I visited Maui this summer. Had a great time...I was blown away at the desolate and arid "lava fields" while driving the alternate road to Hana. Impressive.

Stephen VAN Wye

For 1971 - I found these stats pretty interesting... especially the price of gas!

Average Cost of new house $25,250.00 
Average Income per year $10,600.00 
Average Monthly Rent $150.00 

Cost of a gallon of Gas 40 cents 

Datsun 1200 Sports Coupe $1,866.00 
United States postage Stamp 8 cents 
Ladies 2 piece knit suits $9.98 
Movie Ticket $1.50 

Nobu - thanks for the offer - yes, we hope to visit again sometime in the future - not sure when, as we are somewhat locked into a situation of being here for both my parents and Barb's.  Also, I wanted to tell you how we are sorry that we missed the reunion- I can't remember, but I think a family situation prevented us from attending. Do you know if a 45th is being planned?   We just got back from Orange Walk Belize, to visit our youngest daughter, who has lived there for about a year. So, how much do you miss the snow? All for now.

Aloha!

Juliana Savino

Stephen, back in 1975, in grad school (rent $75/mo for an efficieny apt) and starting to take auditions, I remember thinking, "If I could make ten thousand dollas a year I would be happy for the rest of my life."  Imagine!