Susan L. Frise

Yeah, I remember a lot of the Art Guild members.  I don't have my annual for 11th grade but that was when I was in it.  I remember Marsha Durrant (a grade older then us) who was a verrrry creative soul was in that club, Jeannie Booth, Sandy Gorman & I were in it--I think Georgia Farrington was there with Sandy & I, we three were together a lot that year; I think Jenny Beenfeldt was there too.  There must be an annual for that year floating around where you could put a photo up.

John Moore

Corrine: I think that Hilltop Jr. high was competed in our 7th grade year, about half way through the year.  Yes, I remember those dances also.  I think we used to have to go to some ballroom class to learn to dance the square dance and the fox trot??  I do remember dancing with you!!  I was a very shy little boy so my Mother  told me to find the most beautiful girl and ask her to dance.!  You were the most beautiful one there.  I don't think we talked much, as the boys were on one side of the floor and the girls on the other.  I was very little at that time of my life.  I was 4 feet 11 inches and about 85 pounds.  I grew to 5 feet 11 inches by the summer before our 10th grade year but did not gain much weight.    I always thought that you were one of best looking girls in our high school, but never had the courage to talk to you.  Seems like the girls in our grade were more interested in the older classes boys (men).  I guess the boys in our class were pretty immature, I know I was. Thanks for reminding me of that, as I have not thought of those early years for some time.  Hope all is well in your life.  I don't make it down to CV much anymore, as both of parents have passed, but I always admired those victorian houses that you lived in and built on Second Ave.  I have done a lot of remodeling in all the homes we have purchased and lived in but have never built one from the ground up.  Well thanks again and hope to see you at the 50th reunion.  Maybe we can have a dance again??

Bruce Wilson

Susan: I can't believe I overlooked Jennifer Beenfeldt. She and I and others I can't recall formed an underground  'Square Dance Club', it's documented in what she wrote in my yearbook. Obviously, it was secret, so I can say no more.

Barbara: Regarding clubs and initiations, I can recall one Friday or Saturday night following and observing the initiation of a number of girls into some of the clubs, which ones, I do not recall. It was a very messy affair to say the least. I guess they really wanted to get in andwhat they wnet through was definitely outrageous. They all occurred west of Third Avenue, so maybe they were Chula Vista High clubs

 It would be interesting to see whether there is a 2014 version of the handbook and if so compare the two..

Corrine: I remember you. You lived right down the street from me on Second Avenue, right?. You know what I remember about you winning the sixth grade footrace? I can't tell, it's secret too.

Madeline Bazzel (Hooper)

John I believe Hilltop Jr was finish in the middle of eighth grade.  I remember going half day sessions at Chula Jr in eighth grade after spending seventh grade at Castle Park Jr.

Corinne McCall

To John Moore,

Thank you for your compliments - you are too kind.  I had forgotten about those 7th grade sq dance/ fox trot dance classes, but I do remember the music they played - specifically, "The Sunny, Sunny Side of the Street." It's funny which memories stick.  Thankfully rock and roll was just around the corner....

I too was very shy during my school years, & I sincerely wish I had been more involved in school activities. I wish I had been a surfer too!   For better or worse, I guess I was caught up in a "Grease"  type of HS experience.

Thank you for the dance invitation - I am going to hold you to it.  Maybe I will try to perfect my beehive hairdo for the 50 year reunion - so that you all will recognize me.  So good to hear from you!!  Corinne 

To Bruce Wilson,

I do remember.  I had a funny deja vue experience this weekend.  My grandson Michael Rey (10 yrs) who lives in Julian with my daughter Jolie, was in a Shakespeare Festival this weekend, in Balboa Park.  It turns out that Michael Rey's best friend, who was also in the play, is the grandson of Mickey Wright & Peggy Razo (from the La Bella Pizza family).  Their daughter Erica, is the best friend of my daughter Jolie.  They all live out in Julian, and the two boys go to a small 2 room schoolhouse in Spencer Valley.  A very small world.. 

Best to you and Michele, Corinne        

Terry Lee Maple

I remember going to double sessions at CVJH in the fall of our eighth grade year. Hilltop was finished the second semester. I had the privilege of scoring the first touchdown on our new Falcon Field when we were ninth graders. I remember that play really well because it was against CVJH and Paul Hall made a superb block to spring me. Unfortunately, we lost the first game on our home field. We were already forming a deep rivalry with athletes from Chula Vista, reaching its peak in high school. As for joint meetings. I hosted one at my home on East "I" Street in 1964 on the night the Beatles first appeared on American television. As I recall it was a Key Club joint with a club in San Diego; perhaps the Pacific Beach club John mentioned. I've lost track of my good buddy John Vredenburgh. He was President of our Key Club and he would remember. John, if you are out there, please call me! When the Beatles came on, the girls completely ignored us. I remember this same response in sixth grade, the day after Elvis appeared on Ed Sullivan's Sunday show. I came to school and all the girls could talk about was Elvis. We were so jealous. In those days,kids would have dance parties at their homes. I do remember lots of slow dances with cute girls. I enjoyed a close friendship with Kathie Kamps, a new girl from Virginia. Her father was a navy pilot. I could walk her home after school and we spent a lot of time together. On one occasion Gary Baldwin wrote "TM + KK" in chalk on the wall of Hilltop Drive School (Bruce probably enabled him). When I arrived at school that Monday and learned who committed the act, I chased Gary all around the school grounds but couldn't catch him. Corrine was the fastest kid in sixth grade (and the loveliest), but Gary was faster than me. He ran 7.3 while I was 7.4 in the fifty. I was prepared to pound him but he eventually apologised and Mr. Hall made him clean off the wall, a just punishment it seemed to me. Years later, Baldy became famous for dancing the "dog" at our high school dance. He was an excellent defensive back in high school.  

Susan L. Frise

I remember my sis, Margaret Frise Hargrove, going to Castle Park JHS in her 7th grade year.  She did transfer to Hilltop for 8th grade but I looked at their webpage and it says they opened in 1959...so was that just for one class like the 9th graders???  I was at CPJS from 1958-1961, so that would have been her 7th grade year (1960-'61) which she did do at CPJHS; so maybe it opened for only the 9th graders first (?).

George Bracey Gillow

Hilltop Junior High School

Hilltop Junior High School officially began operations in September 1959.   However construction on the campus at "J" and Hilltop had not yet been completed.   So Hilltop JHS operated for half day (I recall mornings) sessions at the Chula Vista Junior High campus the first semester.  The school was shared with CVJH which also operated for half day sessions (afternoon).  The staff, principals and teachers of both schools shared classrooms and offices.   The second semester beginning in 1960 was at the new campus.

The school is now called Hilltop Middle School and is only for 7th and 8th grade.  Maribel Gavin, the current Principal, is a member of the Chula Vista Kiwanis Club, where I am also a member.  She told me that there is a display of pictures on campus of busses and students arriving on the first day of school when it opened in 1960.  I plan on going to take a look.

Michele Lynette Adney (Aldrich)

Barbara, so funny you mentioning about having to "kneel down" in order to check skirt lengths.  This past week I was talking about all the restrictions we dealt with as high-schoolers in the '60's.  One thing I told her was how we had to have skirt-length checks in P.E.  I remember a group of girls (I believe they were a year or two behind us) who got in trouble for breaking the "dress code", so when they were allowed back into school, they all came dressed exactly like Mrs. Hartsell (wasn't that the name of the girls vice principal?), including her black, tied shoes.  Needless to say, they got in trouble and got sent home again.  Couldn't win!  *-*    And of course, girls were NOT allowed to wear slacks/pants/jeans.  LOL!  What a change from today, right?

Also, I do remember going the half-days.  I took piano lessons at Thearles Music Store on Broadway, downtown San Diego.  I would ride the public bus to my lessons, then get off on 4th in Chula Vista and walk to school for afternoon classes.  Even that amazes me .... riding the bus ... alone ... downtown.  I started this when I was in the 4th grade.  My Goodness!!!!!  No way would that be okay today.  It was a different world then.  Went to the Mall of America with daughter & granddaughter this past Saturday.  There was a store called Tatyana's that only has styles from the 40's, 50's, 60's.  What a memory rush!  What fun to see my 14 year old granddaughter trying on dresses like the ones I wore "way back when".  It was great!

Bruce Wilson

All concerned and those

Always good to start off with a little trivia quiz. So in line with the HJHS trend what kind of car did Mr. Falbe drive? Anwer below.

I do recall teaching Gary how to write with chalk and we shared our first cigarette together in the drain pipe that ran under First Ave at K St.  Nasty habit, but everybody (with the help of Big Tobacco) was doing it . Anyway, as Bob Dylan used to say:

Well, I set my monkey on the log
And ordered him to do the Dog
He wagged his tail and shook his head
And he went and did the Cat instead
He’s a weird monkey, very funky

 

Funny thing about Ms. McCall, she ran right to me and we went down the Vogue for our first "date". Kind of a "went to the big apple, took a bite" Zen experience. Still remember it to this day.

I liked those double sessions because after a hard morning on the mean "paper route" streets of CV, I could go back home and get a little sleep before going to school.

Pete Vredenburgh was on the St. Rose little league team, I wonder if  the way to John might be through him.

Schools today resemble forts, not the kind we used to build as kids. They are hard to get into and you have to register, though thankfully no literacy test is required. Michele and I were even challenged when we walked into the HHS grounds on the weekend. So George, call in advance if you want to see those photos.

Right across from the southwest corner of the junior high, the area used to flood when it rained. Long before they put a school in, Gary and I spent pretty much a whole day one time building a raft and floating around like Tom Baldwin and Huckleberry Wilson. Today we'd have to go down to (a very expensively built) City Hall and get a building permit.

The drain pipe on First is now gated up, can't even get a peek to see if will left any chalk hieroglyphics in there for posterity. Speaking of pipes, did I mention the 'Contemps' smoking them all the time. Nasty Habit, though everyone .... You'd think they would have shown a little contempt.

There was a drain that ran from "The Park" (nobody ever called it Memorial Park that can recall, but that may just be olted age memory failure) under La Bella to the other side. It had a huge metal grill that took two people to lift, so I never entered it, knowing how folks would think it was funny to trap somebody in there. I sent Baldwin in my stead. He may still be in there because he never called me like I told his brother Bruce (technically Brucie) to instruct him to do. Maybe John's stuck in there too.

I have discovered other ex-HHS down in that area and helped move 'em on into better circumstances. It was reminscent of "skeezixing down a slippery slope' without a Lanette.

Mr. Falbe drove a T-Bird. If you got this far, what year was it and what kind of hat did he wear?

Bruce Wilson

Did anyone catch the 60 Minutes segment on the 90 plusers.  It will most likely show up on Youtube.

It' s where we're all heading.

OK, I'll check. Strange! It has closed captioning, but I can't hear the sound.

Susan L. Frise

This is CPJS in 1957-58 & there is Terry Maple in front of me--I'm in the 2nd row..  John Nagy is next to him on the right. Jerry Pedrotti is right in the center, one person between him & Dick Drab.  I recognize Wilbur Takishima, third from the right in that first row. Carolyn Charlston is on the end of my row--we did a paper together in 9th grade on becoming a Physical Therapist--her Mom worked at the Sunshine School in National City & took us both over to interview PT's for our paper.  I really bet she made it--her family moved to Perris, CA, after 9th grade.  Wish I'd stuck with that 9th grade goal.

George Bracey Gillow

90-Year-Old Stories

A husband and wife in their 90s went to see a doctor.  They told him that their sex life was not going as well as it had in the past.  The doctor said "Well that is to be expected as we get old.  How old are you two?"  The husband said "I am 99 and my wife is 98."   The doctor then asked when they started  having a problem.  The wife said "A couple of times last night then again this morning."

A man in his mid 90s was being interviewed by a reporter who asked what his secret was for being healthy and mentally alert at 95.   The man responded "I eat only healthy foods. I don't drink. I exercise. I don't chase women and I get plenty of sleep."   All of a sudden a large noise came from upstairs of the man's house.  The reporter asked "What is that terrible noise."  The old man replied "Oh that is my grandfather and one of his girl friends, they are drunk again." 

Bruce Wilson

C'mon Susan that's me right next to Terry. Count over four for Link and seven for Longerbone and nine for Jensen.

Who is the teacher?

Madeline Bazzel (Hooper)

Up on top I noticed Lynn Iwashita among others.

Bruce Wilson

Madeline, me too, but I had to go to an appointment.

Tom Hall's classroom (#16 as I recall) as it looks today.

Above - more photos from J Street southwest corner of campus proceeding north to gate we used to enter through.

Bruce Wilson

Madeline Bazzel (Hooper)

Nice shots Bruce.  My kids and grandkids went there also.  It's nice to see they are using that corner of the yard where it always flooded when the rain came.

Bruce Wilson

HI Madeline. I've been meaning to ask, did Duane play for the Food Basket little league team? I have a photo somewhere and I can't find it, but that was my little brother's team.

Madeline Bazzel (Hooper)

Bruce,  Duane said yes.  It was the Food Basket Red Sox.

Pamela Sue Bellevan (Selvig)

Hi all. received the flyer documents in the mail yesterday. Can anyone recommend a motel/hotel in the area of the reunion? Thanks.

Bruce Wilson

Pam:

There is a renovated hotel, El Primero,  on Third Avenue near G and folks I know who grew up in CV have stayed in it and liked it. I've talked to the owner, he's a good guy.

Looking for the hotel photo, I found this on C St., San Diego

this former Piggly Wiggly supermarket now houses Jaycee's Market. Although the building style looks older, it was supposedly built in 1940. The building on the right which houses the Golden Hill Cafe is probably from the 1940s.

Joseph Perry (Perry) Cronin

Bruce,

In answer to your question about Mr. Falbe, my best guess is he drove a 1955 model T-Bird convertible (?) and wore an Ivy League old style golf hat.

I enjoy seeing and reading your ( and everyone"s) recollections of their experiences in Chula Vista and at the various schools that we attended. 

Hope to see everyone at the reunion.  

Bruce Wilson

Trivia: Hilltop Drive Elementary School opened in November of 1951.

Perry:  I'm pretty sure you nailed it. Mr. Falbe had a bit more style than some(?) of the other teachers.  I think there was a tassle on top of the hat and he wore shades. Let's send George over to the school to see if there are any photos of him, they probably wouldn't let Michele and I in.

One day I was in the band room @HJHS (it had a lot of windows on the north side), when Dennis Evans was escorted by, coming from the shop building, with a file stuck in the top of his head. He been fooling around and it flipped out of the wooden handle did a twist and implanted itself. It wasn't too serious, but it sure looked so.

Dennis has gone the way of Vredenburgh apparently. I did go down and check out the drain in the park but none of our group was there. I did find the ubiquitous graffiti, but I swear neither Gary nor I did it.

Does anyone remember the "traveling rings" on the playground at Hilltop Elementary? My memory is fuzzy but I'm seeing one pole with a circular band at the top with rings attached. Similar to these, but different. This lady told me she could run even faster than a speeding   ....  er ... Corrine McCall. I'll believe it when I see it and though she is quite pretty she is not going to outshine our CV beauty.

Bruce Wilson

Susan:

Here is a little washed out 1962 Art Guild photo. Recognize anyone. I do. That's Cheryl Chase right next to Dickie Hanano in the front row, still pretty as ever after all these years. I don't have a 1963 YB. Who is that guy right in the middle with the glasses (behind Treasure Lee Sims and Kit Gee)?

Liz Eldridge's sister Marilyn (farthest right), Roger Williams' sister (4th over from Marilyn front row), sure looks like Mickey Wright next to Stan Kromydas in the top row.