Bruce Wilson

Bob Wilson was a good friend of my dad. He had a house right by the Country Club. My father had a lot right next door, which was sold for the extension of "L" Street. Bob and I share the same middle name "Carlton".

My father was away being sworn into the California Bar when I was born, so I spent my first night out of the old Chula Vista Community Hospital ("G" Street) at Bob Wilson's house. I haven't been able to track it down, but Bob Wilson's house was relocated to Bonita somewhere. Anyone have a clue?

Newt:

I was in that band, remember that we marched in the parade in National City without uniforms?

George Bracey Gillow

Bob Wilson wrote and interesting book called Confessions of a Kinetic Congressman.  It is available on Amazon.com.   He discusses the Eisenhower visit and includes some pictures.  He also describes, briefly, about his days at Chula Vista Junior High and Sweetwater High. 

Bruce Wilson

More Bob Wilson books.

Bob Wilson's Barbecue Cook Book Paperback– January 1, 1961

Congressman Bob Wilson from San Diego (1952-1978) sent out these cook book to his constituents. Contains receipes from friends (Ronald Reagan, George Bush, plus many others), family, and wives of Congressmen and the Republican National Committee. Approx. 40 pages.

Barbara Sindelar (Seagren)

Chula Vista Community Hospital was on "F" Street. I worked there after high school and one of my daughters was born there. Thanks for the memories!

Bruce Wilson

Good catch Barbara. I was kind of young, couldn't tell a "G" from an "F".   :)

The one I remember more than "Ike", was Bobby Kennedy speaking right off "F" Street (or was it "G"?) by the library June 3, 1968. I must have been back from Berkeley for the summer.

Then the next day ....

Photo Credit: Craig Carlson, 1968.

Bruce Wilson

Linda L. Keating (Keating)

Hi Bruce & Michelle! Thank you so much for all your super/great posts. Yes, I remember OSCARS,,,,Cherry Cokes & French Fries & we are still here. -Amazing/Memories- Thank you for jogging our memory banks- It 's good remembering,....+ we all have so much to be continually grateful/thankful for.  -All the best-  Linda ;o)

Susan L. Frise

I remember all that too, but do you remember our Congresman Wadi Deddah?  He was responsible for getting my brother, John R. Frise, into the Naval Academy.  He graduated Bonita Vista in 1974 & was on the All-Star Basketball Team for that area.  I graduated '64.  John's now a chemist doing GMO (genetically modified organisms) research up in N. Dakota--incidentally he grows all his own veggies organically and cans for winter.

It was a 6th grade boys joke that I repeated earlier about Cook School cooking Kelloggs Rice (school) Krispies.  That is a a 6th grade boys joke--I know, I have 7 & 8 year old grandsons who crack up over that sort of humor.  Kellogg school was just opening and we had them at Cook (in the library, & everywhere) the Fall half of 1957 & then they moved over to Kelloggs (Rice Krispies--hoho(back to elementary school humor)).  Anyway I met my best friend, Sandy Gorman, then--she was a Kellogg's school transferee--who later married Rusty Alsobrook (he is actually in Wikipedia as a film maker), divorced him and became Sandy (Gorman Alsobrook) Leone (she was a Leo).  She went to school with me into senior year when she transferred to Point Loma High, but she's really a Hilltop Lancer.

I remember the Jack-in-the-Box on Third Ave.  Was that the original?  I doubt it but it must have been close to the original.

George Bracey Gillow

Wadie Deddeh was a California State Assemblyman then a State Senator representing the South Bay area.   Before that he was a political science teacher at Southwestern College.

Lionel Van Deerlin was our Congressman from 1963 until 1981.  Van Deerlin passed away a few years ago, but Wadie Deddeh is living near Mission Valley and in his 90s.   His wife--also in her 90s--was a drama teacher at Hilltop JHS in the early 1960s.

Cook school was named after Hazel Goes Cook, a long time school board member.

Kellogg school was named after Karl Kellogg one of the first medical doctors in Chula Vista and also a school board member.  He lived at 669 Del Mar Ave in a historic house called "El Nido" (still there).  He was related to the Kellogg cereal family of Battle Creek Michigan.

Rice school was named after a well know San Diego architect, Lillian Rice.  She designed the Rice school, but sadly died a few months after it opened.

George Bracey Gillow

The first Jack-in-the-Box was somewhere on El Cajon Blvd in the early 1950s.  It was started by Robert Oscar Peterson who also owned the Oscars Drive Ins (named after his middle name).  He later married San Diego Mayor, Maureen O'Connor.

Another interesting history of Chula Vista is that the late movie actor Johnny Sheffield lived on 1st Ave in the Country Club area until he died in 2010.  He was best know for the role as "Boy" in the Tarzan movies that starred Johnny Weissmuller.  (Tarzan and Jane found "Boy" in a crashed plane when he was a baby--Yea sure, we all believed that!)

San Diego TV reporter Whitney Southwick approached Sheffield about 30 years ago and tried to get an interview for the evening news.  He suggested that they sit on a tree branch for the interview. Sheffield said he would have no part in any interview. 

This is the house:

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Bruce Wilson

Susan:

Are you still in contact with Sandy? I last saw her a number of years ago at her house in Pasadena. Still had Rusty's old surfboard as I recall. She said she never hears about any of the reunion events. I neglected to get an email address for her. She also makes an appearance in the 1959 CPJHS "Shield" above, which George kindly made available to me. Recognize her and anyone else?

Linda: Hi! Long time no see. Maybe you'll know the answer below.

Jack-in-the-Box occupied the site of the former Triangle Market where we'd grab junk food, like those juice- filled wax sticks, on the way down to CVHS playing fields. Any one remember the name of those sticks?

s/b Try-Angle

I remember Wadie Deddeh substiture teaching, I think for Mr. Rice, but I'm not sure.

Photo: Gorman, Rochmes, Wilson, Link, Longerbone, Maple, Braswell, Hollenbeck, Piety, either Schweers or Seagren,  (Ms. Squires, cut in half bottom right)

Susan L. Frise

Yeah, that's me, 2nd from right (by the cut-off person) in my saddle shoes.  My Dad was a Math teacher at Castle Park, Mr. Frise, for 27 or so years.  He passed away at 86 in 2011--Mr. Snyder and he stayed in touch forever; a few other teachers from that '50's era kept in touch also.  Maybe some of you remember my Mom--she was a 2nd grade teacher at Mueller and Castle Park Elementary for a number of years.  She's still alive at almost 92.  Sadly, I lost touch with Sandy but know she was still at her house in Pasadena up 'til about 3 years ago.  She was a school teacher in English,  modeled after one of our CPJC teachers, Mrs. Jensen.  I'm sure Sandy's retired by now so don't know if she's still at her old house or has moved into something smaller.

Bruce Wilson

The best I can do on the Jack-in-Box - with my junior high buddy Roger Schmidt and the very cute Sandy Putnam. Note that we have the address and phone (after switching off the Garfield and Hancock prefixes).

Susan: OK, good enough. The real test is what was your orientation lecture topic? Mine was "hazing".

I thought Sandy G. also changed her first name. Noelle, I believe. She was into archery in those days.

I'm looking forward to hearing a bit more about your Mexico adventure some day too.

Kathleen Margaret (Kathy) Crusilla (Maloney)

The Wilson's, the Congressman's brother, owned a malt shop and a hamburger cafe, 300 blk "F" street across from the bowling alley. Their new residence was  relocated in Bonita off Otay Lakes Road, just south of Bonita Road, now behind the large commerical building. The house is still there. He owned Wilson's insurance and also ran for Congress at one time.  Kahleen Crusilla Maloney

Bruce Wilson

Kathleen: Thanks. Off-line George Gillow tracked Wilson house down. Michele and I ran over and took a look. It's been substantially enlarged and is vacant and for sale  (3232 Glen Abbey Blvd).

I do not remember the malt shop, but I do remember the bowling alley. There was a "pin-boy", very tall, who worked there named "Daddy-O". He also hung around Chub's Club and he could ride a bicycle backwards (i.e. sat on the handlebars and put his feet on the pedals).

Midget Market update. Funny thing(s), I actually remember Pinky and my friend Phil Bryant worked at the Midget Market.

New shopping center opens today at K and Broadway with three stores, Midget Market, Pop's Frosty, Broadway Launderette, built by Kuebler, grand opening will be Sept 3 with Pinky the clown ( Chula Vista Star-News, Aug. 20, 1959. )

Susan: Congrats to your brother. The HHS 1964 class had 3 go to the Naval Academy (Longerbone, Hayes, and Holmes) a very rare occurence indeed.

Bruce Wilson

Gail Nisbet (Sutherland)

All of these responses bring back so many good memories.  My family moved to Chula Vista from Phoenix area in 1949.  Sometime near my 4th or 5th birthday we moved into a house at 261 First Ave. I attended Rosebank, then Chula Vista Jr.  We moved to 81 E. Palomar Dr.( 2 houses from Hazel Goes Cook) about that time so ended up at the new Hilltop Jr. High.  I did march with the band in all those parades from 7th grade to 11th grade. Thanks for all the great pictures from those days.  

So many good memories from Jack in the Box and Oscars and remember the Space Station?  Third Ave. was always good for the Vogue and nickle cokes and later watching the guys cruise down the Ave.

My brother Bob Nisbet was the first graduating class from Hilltop after transferring from Chula Vista High. Our class was the first to attend Southwestern.

My mom, Dorothy Nisbet, taught in the CV Elementary district at the old F St. school, Vista Square and Mueller School. She retired in 1970.  My dad, Jim, worked for Convair but after the big layoff of 1964 he went back into teaching (he had taught in Az. in late 40's)and was one of the first Special Ed teachers and he retired around 1979. Unfortunately, they are both gone. Sure do miss them.

Sometime around 1991 I moved from CV to get closer to work.  Luckily, my good good  friend, Kathy Lambert (Kate Lauren) still lives there so I can get a shot of good old CV anytime I want.  I drive by our old houses from time to time.  My dad could have picked anywhere to move to but he picked CV. I will always be eternally grateful to live there as a child growing up.

I hope to see you all at our 50th reunion. 

Linda L. Keating (Keating)

Hi Bruce & Michelle,,,,Just found out on-line @ Amazon.com that today's official name for those juice-filled-wax-stick/bottles you inquired about earlier, (that we use to buy at the Triangle Market place where the Jack-In-The-Box is now located), was called: "NIK-L-NIPS".  Still am trying to remember though what our special name was for them,,,if not "NIK-L-NIPS". ??  Know someone will solve this mystery,,,

Bruce Wilson

Syrup Filled Wax Sticks: 18.5LB Case, $61.25 - Only 11 left in stock.

That's about $.20 per once - I don't hink we paid that much.

Now the real hard one. What was the proprietor's name and/or what did we call him?

Pinterest calls them "Popular Candy from the 1950's - Nik-L-Nip Wax Candy Sticks" also.

 

 

Barbara Sindelar (Seagren)

These trips down memory lane are a HOOT! Here's another one:

For me, a real date wasn't complete without crossing between San Diego and Coronado on the car ferry. We'd park below, then scoot upstairs to the top deck where we'd enjoy the skyline and moonlight (aka making out). The last night those ferries were in service, I took a harbor cruise that passed right next to the very last ferry. Our boats exchanged horn blasts and everyone onboard toasted the demise of a wonderful tradition.

Bruce Wilson

Barbara:

Oh yeah, the ferry

 A big day for us was to go down to Lane Field, the park of the  old Pacific Coast League baseball team in San DiegoI (I guess, for lack of a better term "The Real Padres") for a double header. We'd arrive early and ride the ferry back and forth (I think it was a dime) until game time. I've researched the fate of the ferry, will post it up at a later date.

Bruce Wilson

Darmageddon -> 1.4 Billion Dollars -> Some Girl -> That's about it Folks

George Bracey Gillow

Here is a fairly good YouTube video of the last of the Coronado Ferry Boats.    I have a copy of a good  booklet written about the Ferry Boats.  If anyone wants a pdf of this let me know via private message.

With fellow Hilltop classmates, Cliff Gruel, Dale Gruel, Jim Lacina (Bradley), and Larry Walton we were on the very last Ferry from San Diego to Coronado in August 1969.  When the last two boats met mid-bay horns went off and all the crew tossed their hats into the Bay.  After the ride we drove across the bridge which opened at midnight that night.

Bruce Wilson

Great find and post George. I wonder how many of those waxy juice things got dropped and melted onto the decks?

Merrie Gail: After 8th grade, I abandoned the band. So when did the uniforms arrive? I played the trumpet; wasn't quite in the class of Miles Davis. Also, I spent a significant amount of time on Third Ave., so I'm wondering where those nickel cokes were.

Gail Nisbet (Sutherland)

Bruce:  I don't recall about uniforms in Jr High. As far as the nickle cokes...there is a breezeway half between E and F on the West side that goes back to parking in the alley...there was a store (might have been a pharmacy...not sure) with a soda fountain..we would get chocolate and cherry cokes...I remember the nickle price but don't remember if it was elementary or Jr high.  I'm sure that by high school the price went up.