Who remebers when the boiler blew up below our 4th Grade Classroom and we had to temporarily move to a new classroom?

I remember that. Fortunately it happened on a weekend, otherwise we would have been toast. I specifically remember the awful smell of smoke.

Rick

That's for sure Rick! I remember we were in the midst of one of our fund raising campaigns for the starving kids in Africa or something (and they're still starving after all these years, hhhmmm....!). I'd brought in this little metal safe with a combination lock on it to store the money in and it got burnt up! We WERE really lucky we didn't get wasted!

I'd forgotten you were a St. T'er Rick! But I see you in the middle of the first row of our First Communion picture! Hey all you other St. T'ers, check in and say hello - and tell us your St. T stories! We should have a sub-reunion! So, whatever happened to Bob Wilbus? Is he in prison somewhere? And how about Frank Concatelli (sp?), he was a great guy? Kathy Dorsch, where are YOU? Next to my being the only kid with his tie hanging out in that picture, you take the prize for the scarriest look! Check this photo out if any of you have it - what a blast! I think half the boys and several of the girls ended up staying back a grade - guess maybe that's why my parents finally took me and my sister out and sent us to public school? I'll try and get this photo scanned and post it here so you can all have a good chuckle!

Yo paul,( and all), yes, who can forget when the boiler blew. It was a 1927 vintage boiler that would have killed some kids it it would have happened during school hours. Wilbus lives near Marengo. Started his own business a long time ago. Zabasearch.com him up and you wll see his house. Such good memories at St. Thomas- except when my mother died when I was in 8th grade (Dec of1964). As the oldest of 5 kids I grew up in a hurry helping my dad out. I remember the football games and practices. Coach Feffer (son Bill Feffer). We has fun. However I still don't know how those old nuns could kneel so straight and still during mass. All they had to do was give us "the look" if we rested our rears on the seat. Remember how we went outside no matter how cold it got? We had a blast playing ball n such.

Hey Paul,

I know the picture you're talking about. I do look scared.

Mike, for some reason I remember when your Mom died. I know I remember really feeling bad that happened when you were so young.

I'm pretty sure there would have been some deaths from that accident but the weird thing is, I remember there didn't seem to be any concern about that possibility.

Also, I thought I read that Bob Wilbus passed away earlier this year.

Now how the heck do you know the boiler vintage Mike, you're amazing! Oh my gosh, Bob Wilbus became a business owner - what business - contract killing? I was really afraid of that guy - he was just mean! He used to pick on me and others terribly at St. T! Glad to here he straightened out? Or did he? 

I left St. T in 8th grade so never knew about your mother Mike. That had to be hard at that age - particularly being the oldest sibling!

So, what happened to these guys like Bill Feffer and Frank Concatelli? Do you know where all those people in our 1st Communion picture are Mike? Rick? Others?

Yes I remember going out in the cold - and getting to go WAY down to that lower "playground" which was a city park. Great memories - not the nuns so much! Some of those gals were just downright mean! But then there was Sr. Judella and Sr. Ann Patrick!

Yeah Rick, I have that same memory that it was no big deal! But I was ticked about losing my bank! Somehow Richard Foydl always comes to my mind when I think of that incident - and Peggy Odell? They must have sat next to me?

Remember when Patty Keller fell off the fire escape after getting sick from the incense? The nuns went crazy with that one? That had to hurt? I remember her having a scar on her chin from it but she's lucky she lived! That was a long fall onto concrete! Ouch!

I just had a recent memory rekindled. When cooking with Vermouth, the smell of that was just deeply etched into my subconscious. I finally figured out what it was - that was what we used to put in the cruets and the priests drank during the Eucharist! Anyone remember getting into that stuff? No wonder I like to cook with it now?

How could I not remember....but I don't remember the boiler incident. I was SO sheltered!!

Would love to reconnect with some old (and I say that nicely) St. Thomas friends that moved away.....Janie Von Harz, Joan Terry, Julie Haberstick....does anyone know where they are??

I remember in first grade my best friend was this darling little girl named Vivian Rizzio. I remember sitting on the curb crying my eyes out the day she moved away. She gave me a little charm when she left and believe it or not...I still have it.

Does anyone know what happened to the Moccia family? Remember their Mom died and there were a bunch of kids and they lived in the white house behind the Congregational Church. Went there to play one day after school...it was so sad not having a Mom there at the end of the day.

Lots and lots of St. Thomas memories...singing at Mass and Funerals...cleaning up after St. Patrick's Day dinner (ask Tom Higgins and Elly Henry about that one), our Mom's making our cheerleading uniforms....go St. Thomas Trojans!! Loved Sr. Mary Carla  (our Choir director) I think she's still alive the last I heard.

That's it for now.

Oh Susie, you ARE the St. T Memory Queen! And I know you haven't even started yet!

I think there were two 4th grade classes so you might not have been in the one that got obliterated!

I have no idea about where these people are! But I sure remember them and many more with whom we've lost touch - even Vivian Rizzo! What a great memory of her with the charm! And of course most of us St. T'ers all remember the Moccia's and several of them lived with my family and others for awhile.

And Sr. Mary Carla - what a great memory I'd forgotten. She was awesome - like a Whoopi Goldberg character in "Sister Act" where she played an under cover nun!

Keep the memories coming! And lets get some going from other schools too!

OK all you St. Thomas grade schoolers, as promised, here's our First Communion photo for your enjoyment!

Who are all these people? I've taken a stab at the names below but need your help to complete. (I think you can just click "edit message" at the bottom of this message to add or change names?) Susie Covey, you're the St. Thomas guru - and are familiar with my rotten memory but I did pretty good with this huh? 31 out of 48 names - 65% - Wow! So, what say you and all you others about the missing names? (If you right click the photo and save it onto your Desktop, you can then open it and enlarge it in photo management software so you can see the faces better.)

Row 1: John Costello, Paul Fruin, Francis ???, ???. Ron ?, Rick Larson, ???, Buddy Smith, Larry Forbes, Mark? ???, Frank Schmidt, David Olszak

Row 2: Laura McCall, Judy Hugelet, Kathy Riehl, Nina Canizarro, Susie Wallens, Patty McKernan, Debbie Svejcar, Janie Von Harz, Julie Haberstick, Patty Egan, ???, Kathy Holek

Row 3: Mike Moriarity, Tom Shulfer, Steve Lapinski, Tim Tichenor, John Jacobs, Father Bedoes, ???, ???, Tom Farrell, Mike McGough, Terry McDonough, Frank Concotelli

Row 4: Linda ???, Kathy Dorsch, ???, Sandy Plodzien, Barb Bacon, Donna Hutchins, Nancy Kieffer, Teresa Pruchniak, Janet Baumann, ???, Peggy Devereuz, Vicki Danielson, Kathy Moccia

 Paul,

 I'm going to sic Mary Jo on this. I think she has a better copy of the photo and does remember some names.

 TF

Please add as I can't do it from here...I have to find my big picture as I knew most when I had it out a while ago....

From what I can see with these old eyes.....

Row #1 of the boys.... 4th from right is Larry Forbes and the last one on the right is Dave Olszak?

Between me and Deb Svejcar is Patty McKernan

Row #4 the first girls name was Linda something.

Last  row, 3rd from right...Peggy Devereaux?

Next to Mike Moriarty is Tom Schulffer (spelling?)

Although I didn't attend St Thomas school; there are a lot of St. Thomas catechism students out there as well.

The memories I had of those nuns are really scary.   Meryl Streep comes to mind.  She really fits the bill in her role in the movie "DOUBT".  I did attend a Catholic school (St. Norbert's) in the first grade in Northbrook.  When we moved to CL in 1958; I was soooo glad I went to North Elementary instead.  I do not think I would have survived 7 more years of parochial (sp) school.  Esp with all the trouble I used to get myself in at North.  One time, I told a fib to Brad Miller before school started for the day and told him Mr. Cherry (principal) wanted him to come to the principal's office IMMEDIATELY!  Anyone knowing Brad back then; knew he was a good egg and he looked scared s***less wondering what he did wrong.  Don't know what possessed me to say that to him (the devil made me do it); but I got in trouble for that stunt though I thought it funny at the time.  You can imagine what the nuns would have done to me for telling that fib.  40 whacks with a ruler to start with; God knows how many "Acts of Contributions", "Our Fathers" and "Hail Marys". . .

It's amazing that the old school is still standing!    I dreaded all those Sunday mornings of having to go to catechism. 

Loved seeing your first communion photo.  Here's one of the part-timers. 

FRONT ROW:  Katrina Nies, Janice Deutschman, Colleen Drayer, ???,  ???, Donna Yazel, ???
ROW 2:  ???, ???, ???, ???, ???, John Yazel, ??? ,???, ???, ???
ROW 3: ???, ???, ???, Joan Terry,  Fr. Beddoes, Jeanne Hrodey, Diane Bocek, Linda Ugorek?, ???
LAST ROW: ???, ???, ???, Billy Thorn (?) Tom Schulz?, ???, Wade Drayer, ???, ???

Sorry; but my memory is not quite what it used to be.  But then again, some of these kids I only saw once a week..  Others I saw every day at North Elementary.  I'm sure most of them went to CLCHS.  Wheeee!  More guessing games!

I so enjoy your stories of St. Thomas!   Now to relive the scary Catholic school days; see DOUBT!

P.S. My 17 yr old son just asked why I was the only one not smiling.  I said probably Father Beddoes probably had just pinched me to get me to stop figetting! LOL

Susie Wallens Covey wrote:

Tom Shulfer is the name.  What a hoot to see what he looked like then.  He's now married to my late husband's first wife.  Small world...

Also, isn't Bonnie McNalis in your photo.  She ended up going to Marian Central but she was (and still is) good friends with Judy Hueglet (sp)

Hey Paul,

Now I am going to have to find my picture - I should be in there as well as Keller....or maybe that's kindergarden???????

Candy

OK, I'll reply to several of you at once!

Tom, I have another one too and it's pristine. I didn't use it for a lunch wrapper like Susie did this one!

Susie - thanks for at least not getting mayonaise all over it! And thanks for filling in many of the names. (I've added them to above post so everyone can see)

Jeanne - Those memories pretty much match mine - except I was with the nuns all the time and I guess they got less scary the more you got whacked by them. But many were very gentle wonderful people too. We tend to forget about them given secular television and movies portrayal of wicked beasts! I hear the "old school" (we even called it that back then!) and the"new school" are looking pretty grim? Thanks for the part timers photo!

OTHER CLASSMATES - PLEASE HELP US FILL IN THE NAMES on this photo as well. And this is as much an exercise  for non - St. T'ers  as these classmates probably went to YOUR schools - and many of them on to CLCHS! Can anyone else help identify Bonnie McNallis in that photo?

Candy - Yes, you are notably missing! As are Keller and Mike Schepers. And what about you Rich Foydl? Shouldnt you have been there that day?

Thanks for all your memories. I'll relay a personal First Communion story with MY own daughter - and maybe this will explain why some of YOU may not be in the picture! The day of my daughters First Communion was also the day we changed from Standard to Daylight time - and thus set our clocks forward! Yes, you guessed it! It was the only time in my life that I forgot to set my clocks forward - or back! So, we arrived in the middle of the ceremony and had to walk Whitney down the isle with all of us embarrased as heck!

OK, here's a challenge for the rest of the class. Tell us YOUR memories too! This is not just a St. Thomas Blog - it's for ALL school memories! Please join us!

Ok....this is REALLY going to make you sick (I know....my memory.....) I don't remember

what I  did last week but I remember this stuff. Isn't that onset Alzheimers???????

We made our First HOLY Communion on December 14, 1958. Don't ask me how I remember that

but I do. Soooo much preparation. Remember my first Confession as well....fought with my brother

2000 times and on and on.                                                                                                                                     Came home, Mom wanted me to pray (obviously) I was naughty (Not me!!) I remember

being sent to my room for silent prayer and repentence!!

It was truly a spiritual day seriously. I remember us going up to the altar railing, kneeling and

receiving Communion. Was very very memorable to me. Party at Mom and Dad's afterwards didnt hurt!!

Yes, you ARE sick Susie - who remembers things liek that - and why would they have First Communion in the dead of winter two weks before Christmas (although I guess if my daughter's class had had theirs then, it would have saved me a lot of embarassment!)

Yes, preparation - always lots of preparation. Although they didn't keep my attention for Confrimation prep as I didn't discover until three years ago that that was the sacrament where I was baptized in the Holy Spirit! And I never learned about accepting Jesus as my Savior, let alone my Lord - where did I miss that one? 

Lots of parties too yes - we always had lots of good parties - and carnivals - those were good too! But church, never did much for me then - or now. Though I never knew Jesus then, He's all I need now!

But I DID like the Vermouth they served as wine. But that was an alterboy thing not a church thing!

Ok now you guys are really scaring me.  All these memories.  In the catecism picture I think I'm the one in the front row second from the left.  I think Diane Bocek is second to the right of Fr. Bedeos with her head cocked.  Also Lenore Marsh should be in the St. Thomas group as well, but I couldn't tell which one is Lenore.  I hate to say it, but we all look pretty similar . . . maybe it's my eyes.   Here's what happened just recently with my Catholic upbringing - my son played Lucifer in the school Group Interp play (pretty scarry actually) then he got the part of a High Priest in the Passion Play at church.  I was so happy that he went from being a bad guy to a good guy.  Then at the Passion Play I realized he was a bad guy again.  Where have I been all these years?  What was I thinking?  I think because he was a "priest" I assumed he was good - wrong!  I do remember those carnivals.  I remember winning a cake.  What did I do with it until I went home?  My kids were confirmed in their Sophomore year.  I thought I was confirmed in 5th grade.  My memory of confirmation was wearing nylons for the first time!!! That was so cool.  I do remember being scared to death the Bishop would call on me to ask me a question.  Well thanks for sharing all your memories.

I thought we were Confirmed in 7th Grade but Mrs. Memory Susie will tell us for sure! I wasn't too hot on wearing nylons back then - guys just didn't do those things in those days! But I DO remember being terrified that I'd be called on - the nuns made sure of that!  

And as for the High Priest, they were the "Pharisee's" whom Jesus railed against - just as He would today if He was here to see what we've allowed our churches to become! Nothing resembling the Acts church of the days follwing Jesus first coming!  

 Ok...sorry...here we go again....Confirmation class was on April lst...don't remember what year but it was 5th or 6th grade. Yes..we were all terrified when the Bishop came he would pick one of us to answer the questions he asked walking up and down the aisle. I remember the date because he was late for some reason and we kept saying it was an April fools day joke.

Yes...first pair of nylons for the special occasion. Got them at Don and Lu's. No pantyhose then...garter belts as well. Very grown up. Sure the guys wish those days were back.

That's it for today!!

OK, equal time for Marty's kids...Martin Luther, that is. I went to the Lutheran School up to 6th grade and then had to bail. Let's just say that school had certain limitations. I transferred to Central Junior High for 7th & 8th grade. So, I had to go to Confirmation Class with the rest of the public school Luggies every friggin' Saturday morning for two years! Hated it!! Our confirmation day was truly memorable, though. It was Palm Sunday, 1965...when the tornado hit. I'll never foget that day.

I'll look for the group picture taken of our class and add it later. I especially remember Buddy Foster being in our class. He used to pass me love letters...he was such a little devil! Does anyone remember climbing up the fire escape at Lutheran School and getting caught by the janitor Mr. Gumprecht? He was a giant of a man, at least it seemed like it when we were kids.

Way to go Ginny! This was never intended to be just a St. Thomas blog! And yes, I remember crawling up that fire escape lots but I never got caught! What a blast it was to slide down that baby! Always jealous the Lutherans had such a cool fire escape!

Now that we broke the ice and added other schools to this blog, I went to South Elementary with Karen Morgan and  Suzie Elsner among others. We  were all also confirmed at the First Congregational Church. We could walk across the park (right down by the lake...it now has ball fields on it) to get to the church which none of us looked forward too!!!. That was one of the longest classes I have ever had to endure. We did get confirmed but not without a lot of cursing about it! I too slid down the fire escape at Lutheran and wasn't caught. But then I didn't live right down the street like Ginny did, so I didn't have as many chances to get caught as she did.

Hi - boy what memories!  I had the worst crush on Johnny Costello in first grade.   And - I think I was in first grade when I told patrol girl Kathy Egen to shutup on the playground and then went home at lunchtime.  I was afraid to go back so I told my mother I was sick - she put my me in her bed with some pudding and comic books  - then came the call from Sister Mary Leonard.  I was in big trouble.  And I had to get out of bed and go back to face the music.

Paul Fruin - I have to tell this story because I'll always remember it.  I don't know if it was first, second or third grade - but you handed out your valentines on Valentine's Day and had written "I love you" on the one you gave me.  I was so thrilled!  Then I saw some of the others - you'd written "I love you" on ALL the girls' valentines!  Ha!!  That's a good one, no?

Does anyone remember that huge merry go round on the playground? 

I remember the merry go round (had forgotten all about it)

I remember (we were already in the New school) and we all got some sort of shots at school. I remember almost getting sick from the alcohol smell. Do you remember when we all got flouride treatments at school and we were all puking outside??

Does anyone remember Kenny Smith?? He gave me his mother's jewelry box for a present one day (I think it was him) Needless to say...box and jewels returned promptly. But it was such a lovely gesture

Great storeis Kathy! John lives on Bainbridge Island in the Seattle area now and assures me he WILL come on the site! He'll love your story - as I did! Of course I don't remember the Valentines cards but as I always tell Susie, I was in love with all you "sweet li'l thangs"! You know I had four sisters so they probably told me to do that!

Don't remember the merry go round, the shots at school (really?) or the flouride treatments (double really??) but I do remember Ken Smith - that little thief! What a great mischievous smile he had - and he was deserving of it! Does anyone remember Buddy Blumenthal? He lived in the country out by Prarie Grove school and the farm he lived on backed up to the one I lived on! And what ever happened to Franck Concatelli? He was a cool kid!

Ginny- you think confirmation class was bad at the Luthern Church- Johnso and I had Mrs. Dalrymple (the minister's wife) for our classes.  I remember she took out her hearing aids on morning and I turned them off prior to her putting them back in - that was funny- she keep yelling WHAT??? I signed my confirmation test Malcolm X and had to go see the Minister for a long lecture and my Mom got called in - at this point all she did was roll her eyes and ask me how I even knew who Malcolm X was. 

The Congregational Church was pretty laid back though- I remember one of our sunday school teachers sent me over to by donuts at the bakery on hwy 14 and a Sunday paper and then we would chow down and read the funnies for the rest of class. 

Mary Nan - too funny.  You had some guts!  Risking your salvation that way. 

I remember when St. THomas had that mean rent-a-priest to hear confessions - he was irish and yelled at everyone in the confessional.   He gave me five rosaries for stealing a dime out of my sister's wallet.  I left the confessional pale and nearly in tears - started on my rosaries and then figured, screw it, I'll just leave.  So I did.

It was always fun waiting in line for confession when Butchie Pierson was making his - he always yelled his confession out and we could all hear it.

I went to South , and then to North elementary,,, and then to South JR High.... Some of my most vivid memories of school are not of school but of the bus ride to and fro!  I don't know if we just had a rough bus, but , not to pick on you boys, but that bus ride was terrifying sometimes.  Boys would snap our bras, and in case we weren't at the bra stage, that was even more mortifying.... and some of the names they called girls they didn't like... I heard douch b----, and had no idea what that meant, except that it was BAD! I always wished I could have walked to school!!

Aw Linda!  I'm sorry! My biggest problem with riding the bus was I was the first one on and the last one off which made for a Loooooooooooong ride each day.

Linda Skinner's dad was my busdriver most of the years. He was so nice. I guess I was polite and always said thank you because much later when I took my kids to his carnivals, he remembered that and let my kids ride the rides for free. Thanks Mom for instilling in me to say "thanks"

The only sad memory was of a boy named Herbie. I just remember he got teased a lot. Does anyone remember a boy named Herbie? And...why he was always being teased? I've never forgotten it.

Don't remember Herbie Susie but you weren't the last one off the bus in grade school, I and my sisters were close to the last off and Bill Feffer, I think, and Buddy Blumenthal were after us!

I had an aunt that was a nun, Sister mary John Bosco,  she became mother superior back in her diocese in Rochester NY.  But I tell you, when she came to visit, you had better be on your best behavior,  She had a way to grab the back of your neck, and without leaving a mark, bring you to your knees.

Back to the St. Thomas First Communion picture way up above! Tom Farrell, you were going to sic Mary Jo on filling in the names and finding a better copy of the picture (Susie was using the one I posted as her lunch wrapper for 20 years!) Candy, you were going to see if you could find "the other First Communion photo"? There must have been two classes because there are 62 kids in the 8th Grade photo but only 48 in that First Communion photo I posted. Here's the 8th Grade group.You'll have to copy it, save it to your computer then blow it up so you can read the names.

Also, can anyone fill in the names on the photo Jeanne posted of the public school kids who made their First Communion?

I know so many of the nuns were pretty mean.  But, remember - many of them were still teenagers themselves - they were not trained to be educators, suffered through PMS, PMDD and menopause.  They were not paid, either.  Sister Mary Lorraine - she was such a little thing, but always SO unhappy, frowning all the time.  And, imagine what it was like for one woman to have a class of 30 (or more?) kids.  Year after year, during a time when Catholic families were really BIG, they'd have a kid each year from the same families.  If one sib was a troublemaker, he/she would be promoted to the next grade  - then along comes another sib.  It couldn't have been easy for them.  But, I'm not sure the convent, generally speaking, back then was a placed for well balanced people - the priesthood, either - so now we know.  Sad.

Yes, I think we altar boys really lucked out Kathy! Hearing all the stories of priest abuse coming out, our priests really could have had a hey day given their access to all of us. But I sure didn't experience any abuse from them - just exposure to some marginal Vermouth! I loved being an altarboy!

Okay, Paul, I should be in that First Communion photo, too.  It's hard to tell cause of the crinkled paper and small faces, but I may be on the top row, center, just to the right of the priest's head as you look at the photo.  I think you identified that person as Nancy Kiefer, which could be, but then where am I???  Lost somewhere with Candy K.

Sister Mary Carla was my favorite nun.  I remember I got in trouble one lunch recess with some other girls--the one and only time I think cause I was always afraid of going to hell if I ever did anything wrong and I never wanted to displease the nuns.  Anyway around 6th grade we girls always played jump rope.  I was trying to be friends with a particular group of girls at this time; and they were being mean to all the other girls--jumping into their jump rope games and other bullying things (so different than bullying in schools today).  So all the girls being picked on went to the nun on duty and she turned us in to Sister Mary Carla.  Our class was on the second floor of the old school; main doors were locked, and we had to climb all the fire escape steps  to the classroom.  I was mortified.  Sister Mary Carla got after the main group of girls, and then she turned to me and said something of the nature, "And you, Pam, I would of never expected this of you..."  I was so ashamed.

Eighth grade there were two classes--but a wierd cut.  Thirteen of us were in a split class of 7/8 grade students because of the overall size of the class with Sister Mary Geraldine (I think)--she was a little thing.  Me, Linda Ugorek, Jim Keller, David Rampey, ?--So Sister had a hard time handling this class, she was always teaching the 7th graders and the 13 of us were left on our own quite a bit.

I do remember one day when we actually were receiving instruction, David Rampey and few others were up at the chalk board.  The 7th graders started acting up and Sister turned her attention to them.  David and the others up at the board started throwing chalk at those us in our seats behind her back.  Sister turned around just as David threw his piece, she grabbed his ear and pulled, yanked, and dragged him back to his seat by his ear while yelling at him the whole time.  I never saw an ear so red and sore in my life--I still can picture it to this day.  I wonder how his hearing is today?

We were always doing stuff--since the mere 13 of us couldn't fit in the classroom with the rest of the class, we supposedly were picked out as students who would work well on their own.  So were given some privileges  like going to the restroom one girl/one boy at a time on our honor.  So one boy and one girl would leave.  Then another pair would go, and so on till all 13 of us were out of the room.  Sister never seemed to notice we were gone!

Pam Fruhauff

I was in the split class as well... Sr. Mary Edwardine...she has passed away.Saw Dave Rampe at breakfast one morning. I didn't realize his folks transferred him out of Central and I think he went to Military School. Gave him the Reunion site and invited him and asked him to join up.Nothing yet...once again..it's up to the individuals. I sat behind 8th grader, Doug Thillman who I had a major crush on. He made me do his Civics homework for him.

Sr. Edwardine slapped me out of my desk once for crossing my legs (so naughty!!) She really picked mostly, on Tom Moccia...who's Mom passed away. He acted out terribly, but I truly feel, looking back it was for the attention he wasn't getting at home.

I was also in the split class as an 8th grader. The same thing that happened to Dave, happened to me. A girl sitting in front of me dropped her pencil & me, being the nice guy that I was, picked it up.The rest is history......my mom was so upset she called the school. Of course, nothing happened.

I remember Dave was called to the front of the class after the tornado to talk about his experience because his house had been damaged. He gets up there & says "well, I wasn't home". Dave ended up going to Marmion Military. He was a cool kid.

I think Sister Mary Edwardine was the basis for Cheech & Chongs Sister Mary Elephant character

Susie, thanks for remembering Sister Mary Edwardine's name. It's funny you mentioned civics.  Thanks about the only thing I remember doing in that 8th grade class.  Civics, civics, civics on our own.  We had to pass that test to go on to high school didn't we?  

Pam, that's definitely Donna Hutchins to the right and above Father Bedoes. I don't see you in there anywhere! Candy, have YOU found your picture yet? There HAS to be another group!

No wonder my parents took me out of there for 8th Grade. Sounds like it was a good move on their part! I think I told my horrible first grade story here somewhere, having to hold two big books out, in front of the 8th grade class, like I was being crucified! Those nuns could be pretty nasty! And I think Sister Edwardine may have been the perpetrator of that torture! But some were wonderful too. Loved Sister Judella and Sister Ann Patrick - but that was in firsst and second grade, I think! They probably didn't hate "little" boys!

Yes, David Rampe, He WAS a cool kid. We've got to hget him here if anyone knows him! Also, I'll mention Frank Concotelli again - he was a great kid - whatever happened to him? And Bill Feffer? And Rick, who was that guy on your right in the First Communion picture? He was a really nice kid too - had some problem with one of his eyes. And John Jacob, another cool kid! We had lots of cool kids in our St. T classes!

And lots of wonderful girls to have crushes on too! Other than Susie and Debbie, of course, there was Peggy (Margaret!) Devereux! What happened to her? And Jane Junroe? She was a really nice gal. Where did all these kids go? And who was that blonde haired girl in the First Communion to the right of Peggy - she was adorable!

How did we lose touch with so many when we moved on to high school? And since high school! Guess we all have "capacity" for only so many people in our lives. But that's what makes this site so great - we can at least keep in touch in some small way! 

Jane Junroe is local. She married Rich Hager from our class.

Did Jane go to Marion Central? We need to get her on here as a guest, she'd probably enjoy it? And how come Rich isn't on? 

I have a St. Thomas memory:

Sister Karla was my 5th grade teacher. I loved her. She was my favorite teacher in gradeschool. She was great at jumprope...I remember those rosery beads 'just a flyin'. One day she called me to her desk and since I was the oldest one in grade school of my 5 younger siblings I was always called on if one of them was sick or upset etc. to sooth or call Mom or whatever. Well this "desk calling" was different. Since I was the oldest one in gradeschool at the time I was told that our tuition had not been paid and I was to go home and tell my Father that if I didn't have the tuition the next day that I and my siblings would not get our report cards. My Dad was the keeper of the grounds of the convent and rectory at that time which helped defray the cost of tuition (5 kids in private school at the time was quite a bit and 5 before that) Welllll.....that night I went home and with great anxiety went up to my Dad after supper while he was reading his newspaper and said "Dad....Sister Karla said that I need to bring the tuition to school tomorrow or we won't get our report cards."  My Dad lowered his paper and looked at me over the top of his glasses and said " Then you tell her to keep her damn report card." My parents never swore infront of us and I was shocked and thought 'for sure he's goin to hell for that one.'  I had a sleepless night and the next day I went to school and PRAYED that she would forget but ...no...I got another "desk calling" and she asked "did you bring your tuition?"  "No Sister" "did you tell your father?"  "Yes Sister" "What did he tell you" ......silence....."Vivian..what did your father say?" (again the lump in my throat)  silence....."Vivian...what did your father say?"  (ok..here goes) "He said to keep your damn report card."  She just looked at me for a minute and said "you may sit down" and as I went back to my desk I'm thinking 'I'm for sure going to hell WITH my Dad now' ...Long story short.....I and my siblings got our report cards and nothing more was said. GO DAD!!!!!!!! Can you just imagine the stories the nuns had at the dinner table each night.

Oh Vivian, what a heart renching story! But yes, yeah Dad! I think we might have been in the same boat! I'll have to ask my Mom about that quickly!  We had five kids in at once but my younger sister and I were taken out when I was going into 8th grade and she was going into 7th! My Mom was a public school teacher and I think I remember the reason being that she didn't thnk we were getting as a good an education in private school - that would be a switch compared to today if it was true. And I think it may have been because I loved changing to Central Junior High - and it was only a couple blocks to walk to school instead of what, a couple miles?

There are indeed two First Holy Communion pictures, because Tom and I were never in the same class at St. Thomas.  I had Sr. Thomas Clare for second grade.  He's not in my picture!  I'll find it and try to figure out who's who and scan and post it. 

Hi Viv - I loved Sr. Mary Karla, too.  I was sure I had a vocation to the religious life back in those days - lord, I was always drawing pictures of dominican nuns and going to those vocational fairs.  I think it was because I was just so damn lonely then and needed something to belong to.  Now, I think I was just plain weird.  BUT - Sister Mary Karla let me hold her rosary beads one day after lunch during rosary time because she got called out of the room.  Oh, but was I thrilled.  Problem was that the rosary was so big I had it in knots and all jumbled up by the time she got back.  She never scolded me, though.  She was the choir teacher as well.