Richard Center

Happy Thanksgiving to all.  Thank you so much Barbara for keeping this site up and running so good.

I check often for postings from classmates and I remember so many of my classmates with fond memories.

The postings of old buildings sure bring back Bloomington of old back to life again.  

Barbara Kincaid (Menken)

Happy Birthday Carol Dunn Fisher!!!!

Susie Dowell (Emery)

A while ago, Barbara and I were talking about the fact that we both accompanied the eighth grade mixed choruses. I played for Washington, and Barbara, which junior high did you play for?   We were hoping to hear from those of you who sang in those choruses. I played "Climb Every Mountain."

Barbara Kincaid (Menken)

Susie I played for Irving School and I was terrified I'd fall getting to the piano and I'd be so nervous I wouldn't be able to play but I survived.  That auditorium seemed so huge but I imagine if we went into it today it probably has shrunk.  I remember the chorus was really big but for the life of me I can't remember what song I accompanied them with.

Barbara Kincaid (Menken)

Remember the bridge in Forrest Park, you can no longer drive over it, as a matter of fact I think they've closed some of the roads in there and it's kind of lost some of its charm.

Barbara Kincaid (Menken)

Remember the fire escapes?  We had one at Irving and I was terrified of that thing, I hoped every day during the spring and fall we wouldn't have a fire drill, it was like jumping into a black hole and praying you'd come out.

Ron Williams

Thanks for the trip down memory lane.  I worked at Champion/Bloomington Federal in the 70 and 80s in Ad Services in Mail and Supplly,  later in Loan Approval.  I  saw it go from 30 branches to the banking  crisis of the late 80s, with loss of branches to downsizing.  Sad.  When Craig Hart, the Pres,, retired to Colorado, and no more free donuts from Dennys I knew it was over.    

Ron Williams Class of 62. 

Love the old pictures.

Barbara Kincaid (Menken)

Ron Williams,  I want to know if you knew or worked with Martha Langdon.  In my job at the Title Company I had to deal with her a lot and it was not always a wonderful experience, she scared the heck out of me.

Ron Williams

I remember Martha.  I believe she was head Legal sec for Louie Williams and Doug Williams. I was in Appraisal and did property inspections for her. I got along with her.  The secret was drop everthing and do what she wanted ASAP.

We had the fire escapes at Edwards school.  I recall voluntering to clean them.  The teacher would give you a large piece of carpeting .  You then slid down the tunnel on top of the carpetiing.  Great fun.  Recall all the yelling and screaming and giving the "all clear" from your floor.

Ron

Karen Johnson (Hostetler)

Barb, I went to Emerson and like you I was petrified of those fire escapes.  I've been claustrophobic for as long as I can remember.  I always thought when I made the curve, I would go back up and not out.  Silly, I know.  But when you're 9, 10, and 11,  your mind plays a lot of tricks on you.

Susie Dowell (Emery)

Karen and Ron, I went to Edwards school for a few years while Oakland  School was being built. That's the main thing that I remember about Edward school is that scary but exciting ride down the fire escape!!

Allan Mapel

I went to Emerson School and I always wanted to be the first to go down fire escape.  Ron's right the first sliders use a piece of carpet to clean dust and debris so grils did't get there cloths dirty.  Being first you got to kick the doors open.  It was even better when we got to slide from second floor.

Janice Scott (Vitton)

Barbara Kincaid (Menken)

Happy Birthday Marty Fugate Kusmaul!!!!

Marty Fugate (Kusmaul)

Thanks, it's been a hoot so far. Since I started counting backwards at 50, I am now 24 and probably pregnant.

Barbara Kincaid (Menken)

This is a clipping Susie Dowell Emery found in some old papers.  Earlier she had talked of being on State Farm's swimming team and here's the proof!

Barbara Kincaid (Menken)

I've decided I must live in a bubble because I wasn't aware that most of the grade schools from our time are gone.  They were such grand buildings and when you were a little kid very imposing.  Washington and Bent are about the only two of that style left.  Here is a picture of Emerson School.

Susie Dowell (Emery)

Emerson looks very stately, like an old castle. I don't  remember, but I imagine most of  those old schools looked like that. Thanks for the memories, Barbara.

Barbara Kincaid (Menken)

Happy Birthday Frank Bailen!!!!

Barbara Kincaid (Menken)

Happy Birthday Stephen Thompson!!!!

Barbara Kincaid (Menken)

This is a picture of Franklin School and for the life of me I can't remember where it was located.

This is a picture of Edwards School and it looks like it took up a whole block because of its size.

Dan Shickle

Edwards did take uip a whole block, the Mt. Pisga Church does the same on Market Street.   The other school on Clinton and Bell had play ground accross the street East of the school, think the playground is still there. The school was on the Eastern side of the block, it was a combined area between Clinton Street and Clayton Street and between E Wood and Bell.

.  

Barbara Kincaid (Menken)

Where the heck was Franklin School?  I used to go to Dr. Tinervin the Dentist and I'd sit in his dental chair and look at a big school right across from his office but I don't remember what street he was on, wonder if that was Franklin School.

Dan Shickle

Barb, I thought it was close to the old BHS.  I seem to remember going to him as a child and I think it was in downtown bloomington.

Jim Crusius

Hi Barb,

Franklin School was on the North East corner of Empire St and Park. It was right across from where Mikes Market used to be. Empire St was to the South, Graham St was to the North, Park was to the West and McClean was to the East. Phillip Hershey, Frank Bailen, Wayne Smith were among the noticible students who went there. Of course, it is just a parking lot now. 

Jim Crusius (also a student there)