Times Have changed - in Junior high I got my first transistor radio.  Now IPODS are almost as small as a ruler. I use one all the time. I was looking through our desk and found Vic's slide rule from High School.  Our first computer was Radio Shack and boy was it expensive.

The first computer I programmed had input media of paper punch tape. I wired boards for a sorter.  Next we graduated to punch cards.  I was always worried that I would drop the cards and get them out of order.  That wasn't good, since I was programming the National Student Defense loan system at NIU.

Today I would probably been expelled for punching my best friend (Sybil MacIntosh) in grade school.   Oh well - things have changed.

I think we all remember when there was only one TV in a house and it was black and white w/no remotes!! Remember the great tv shows, Leave it to beaver, Father knows best, Ozzie and Harriet, Art Linklater, Ed Sullivan Show, Bonanza, Bozo, I love Lucy  and on and on.

Good TV back then. Innocent...sweet and what it should be! Too much violence and sex these days. I have 12 grandkids and the stuff that's on now ...we never would have been allowed to watch back then!

I remember if they found out at school that you watched The Untouchables, you'd be expelled! It was our generation that first thought these ideas were "prudish" and now many of us are looking around and wondering what the heck happened! WE allowed it to happen!

I remember dropping out of Typing Class because I thought I'll NEVER be a "secretary" , thus who needed to know how to type! Wasted a lot of time typing on these things before I figured it out!

I got my first transistor in Junior High. I remember listening to it under the covers when I was supposed to be asleep on school nights. My favorite memories are when I'd be listening at the beach or in my back yard while laying in the sun, working hard at advancing the aging process. The D.J's were great back then; Ron Britain, Joel Sebastian, Barney Pip...to name a few of my favorites. Remeber the Green Hairnet and Chicken Man?

I'm not sure I can remember the very first transistor radio I had - but I sure can remember trying to get a clear signal at the beach listening to what was it - WCFL?

I can also remember my dad climbing onto our roof to "adjust" the TV antenna so our picture would be clearer - mother would be yelling out the window up to him "that's better" - "no, a little the other way".

I also remember well going to the Pinemoor (my grandparents owned it) to watch Ed Sullivan in color in the bar!  I was real little then.

Yah!! The first color TV was great, even if the colors were far from what they are today.

Does anyone remember their first trip to McDonald's in Crystal Lake?  Friday night was really busy.  A coke, hamburger and small fry was the best.  Then if you got a chocolate shake, it was even better.  My family made a night of it.  After we went to McDonald's, we went grocery shopping.

How about the A&W Root Beer stand by Shell Oil.  That was a the best place for onion rings and to meet your friends.

I don't know if anyone remembers but there was a Dog N Suds as well!

Course, the best was going to "The Greeks" now called the Olympic in downtown CL.

Was on the corner of Woodstock and Williams Street. At the front of the restaurant (very dark wood

thruout) was homemade candies.

We would go in and have vanilla (or cherry) cokes and fries smothered in catsup. They had booths

in the back. I still go in periodically and have a vanilla coke. We must do that on Satuday!! I go there on Tuesday mornings after my Referral group meeting and have breakfast. Always see Judy Wilhammer.

Does anyone remember the Woolworths in downtown CL? You could sit at the soda fountain as well.

The drug store downtown had a soda fountain also.

Great memories. Was a wonderful place to grow up. Not perfect...but  all around a good place to live!

Kathy,

I used to listen to WLS...Dick Biondi and Floyd Weber (I think was h is name) Greg Brown from the class of 68 has been a DJ on the station for years. Was an old pal of mine in High School as we worked at Osco together (with Linnea Nystrom and Doug Rasmussen) Great fun. Greg always made me laugh.

WLS is now and "oldies" station. Great listening. Greg is on in the afternoons. We send emails back and forth once in a while. Biondi did my husband's 40th Reunion "sock hop"

I haven't listened to WLS since I was in College.  Back then it had the newest songs.

Now it's oldies.  What a switch.

Yes, I remember the Woolworth with the Soda Fountain and the Greeks.  The fries were great.

Does anyone remember the snow storm that we had our Freshman Year? Everything was closed down.  Diana and I walked from our house on Crystal Lake Avenue up to the store trying to get bread.  It was snow down the middle of the road downtown up to our boot tops. There were no cars anywhere.

Yes, It was a very good place to grow up.

I do so remember the Greeks,  we used to go there almost daily, for a cheeseburger and fries  (the best in town), and a cherry coke,  the ones where they would actually put the cherry juice into it.  Or maybe a Green River.  The brothers were Gus, Art, and the younger, Pete.  Gus yoused to kick me out about every 3 days, and then Art would let me back in.  I' had  the origanal doors to the phone booths , that were across from the  booths in the back.. It was really good times.

Where the heck was The Greeks? Did I live in this same town? Actually it does sound kind of familiar but I couldn't tell you where it was! 

I just had a "Mayjane" the other day in the candy jar at one of my clients offices! Anyone remember those - and those dots on paper? (I wonder how toxic the glue on those was - maybe that's where my memory's gone! But we never worried about things like that in those days!) The Maryjane brought back memories of Blondies Delicatessen just north of the train station on the main drag. Anyone else remember that place? Never went there in high school days but remember spending WAY too much time there when I was younger eating penny candy and drinking Cream Soda! Blondie was a nice little grey haired woman that ran the place. I'm sure she just salivated when she saw me coming - she made WAY too much money off me!

Yes, Blondies was just over the Railroad tracks. She had little school photos of all the kids posted up in her store, remember? She was sooooo nice to all of us!

Another place we loved was Franks Hobby Shop. Remember the train running in the middle and anything you wanted you could find in there. Great place for the boys to get their haircuts...one chair at the back of the store and he always had the Cub games on. Had pictures of all the kids as well.(my son looked forward to his haircuts!!)

The Greeks was at the very end of Williams Street (right across from the Train Station) It was on the corner of Woodstock St. and Williams St. Still there...called the Olympic now (still Greek)

Oh Franks Hobby Shop - now THAT was a great store! Wasn't it really tiny too? Had great modles and stuff - great balsa wood airplanes. Cool place.

In discussing music and radio stations, I for one am glad technology has progressed to make available the sources of media we have available now. Frankly, the commercial so-called 'oldies' stations that exist today on both AM & FM seem to have a very narrow, limited selection of music they actually play. How often can you listen to the same handful of songs again and again? Thank God for satellite radio! 

Does anybody remember the white church with the tall steeple that was located next to The Lake Theater, which later became the first Jewel Food store in C.L.?  

Ok Steve... you got my on the church and I'm pretty good at remembering stuff. Really busy tomorrow at work as I was at a funeral today but.....Jim Heisler is the guy to call as he does all the  Crystal Lake historical work (or at least he's really involved in it.) I'll try to remember to call him this week because I truly don't remember a church being there and neither does Kar (my husband)

I'll see what I can find out!!

I'm am glad you brought up Franks!  Frank Rupp was a great guy and supported CL baseball for a very long time.  Your right Paul, his shop was cool.  He also had model trains in there.

Dan T.,  That was a fun year in Babe Ruth with him coaching!

I do not remember a church downtown either.  My Uncle's place, The Pantry restaurant was down there too.  Almost next door to Dave's Sporting Goods.  

My grandfather ran the A&W drive in out on Rt. 14.  I worked there a lot when I was in junior high.

I put a call in to the Heisler's this morning. Mrs. Heisler is 91 and sharp as a tack but wasn't in. She and her son Jim are the CL historians and I left a message re: Church on Williams St. Will keep you all posted.

Dave's Sports Store was owned by my former father in law, Dave Donner. Was a wonderful store...had everything (a mini Sportmart) plus all the magazines (and racing forms!!). At one time it had a bowling alley and an archery range (and shooting range way back). First place in McHenry Co. to carry Adidas shoes (was the rage at one time!!) Even had a ski shop in the basement. Changed with the demand of the times.

Got engaged the first time in the store actually. And when Don came home from Viet Nam...he recruited for a year from the front little office.

That's it for now..will keep you posted.

Re: Church...yes, Steve...you are correct.

It was built in 1873. Was originally the Methodist/Episcopal Church (later  called

First United Methodist Church) The parsonage was across the street where Woolworth's

used to be. Windows from them are in the current Methodist church on CL Avenue.

The First Methodist Church opened in 1954 at  236 W. Crystal lake Avenue

Name changed from First Methodist Church to First United Methodist Church in 1968

Anyone from CL.....

This Sunday, June 7th......

Trolley Tour 2009 (Historical Tour)

Trolley leaves every 1/2 hour. Tickets can be purchased at Heisler's Bootery @ $10 each

I remember walking down Main Street with my transister radio playing songs.  Now they call them "oldies".

Does anyone remember the bakery by the big water tower - and the big white First Congregational Church in the square there?  Is the bakery still there?  Is the church still there?

I remember parties we had in our basement with a record player - those are has-beens.

I loved Crystal Lake.  I lost my high school ring in the bottom of that lake somewhere - never did find it.

Bakery  is gone....Church (Congregational) is still there.

I think the bakery was called the Parkview. Had wonderful macaroons!

The bakery is long gone; but the church is still standing.  The old St. Thomas church has been renovated.   nicely.  The only bakery available now is inside Jewel, Dominicks, WalMart, Sam's Club etc.  Big chain bakeries.  Miss the aroma that small bakeries emit.  It's just not the same...

The water tower  brought back memories.  My late husband boasted that he climbed it (of course, long before he met me).  He got caught and was arrested for doing so.

If you've been away from CL for awhile; it's changed a lot.  It's not quite the same; but it's ok if you like the congestion.

Remember the Czecho Lodge restaurant? My grandparents loved that restaurant and that was the only restaurant they would take us when they'd drive out here from Chicago (then purchased and renamed as John Evans Inn).  Now Walgreen's stands in that spot.

When my son was about 10 (he just graduated from CLCHS on Saturday); I drove him from point to point the path of the Infamous 1965 Palm Sunday tornado (April 11th). (we had seen the display in the CL library about the Palm Sunday tornado.  My son has a great interest in the weather and was spellbound by the story about that hit to Crystal Lake.   Lucky for our family; it swerved off and barely missed our farm house on E. Terra Cotta Ave. going over the farmland instead; only to strike in Island Lake & Wauconda.   I was standing at the kitchen sink cleaning up the kitchen(just before my grandparents were expected) when I saw it coming.  We ran down the basement after I dragged my younger brother in from the side yard where he was getting pelted with hail.  The whole house shook so bad; I thought for sure the front of it was gone (where my bedroom was).   Luckily; no major damage  (Just the bus stand tipped over and leaning on fence at end of long driveway); as well as the siding on the corn crib ripped off.  My dad was slightly injured while he was inside the barn.  Got slammed up against the wall from the wind.  Didn't realize what was going on until the cattle started bellowing. Hope we never experience anything like that again, although we've come close several times since.  Others didn't fare so well.  Colby subdivision was hardest hit.  Luckily for CLCHS or any of the schools; no damage...

Speaking of the library.  Wow; the growth we've seen since our childhood years. 

When you come back for the reunion; you'll be amazed at how spread out CL is. I do like how the downtown CL was renovated  to retain its small town charm.   Do miss Blondie's though.   Used to ride my bike from Walkup Woods on Saturdays to buy penny candy there and then head on to the movie theatre (Raue Center now) for the 10 cent movie matinee.  Kudos for the renovation at Raue Center.

Jewel Food stores has definitely gotten around over the years.  Remember when it was part of the downtown?  Since then; it has had at least three locations on the Route 14 strip; twice in the same shopping center to its present location.

I could go on and on with the transformation of CL.  It's hard to believe I've been here 51 years.   Where has the time gone?   It's going a lot faster now then when we were in high school.   Too fast for me!
THOSE WERE THE DAYS MY FRIENDS; WE THOUGHT THEY'D NEVER END...

Jeanne,

   I actually went through that tornado. I was babysitting for three little kids on McHenry Avenune..the Riley children. I had just brought the baby downstairs before it hit...I was able to get all three children under a table in the kitchen. After all was said and done, the roof was blown off and laying in a field in back of the house and all of the walls were cracked. I went upstairs and the baby's crib had a lot of debris in it. I guess we all considered ourselves very lucky that day!!!!  They actually ended up tearing down the entire house and rebuilding. I never want to go through that again. I was terrified everytime the whistle would blow for a long time after that.

I remember that tornado very well.  Our house was on Gail Court.  3 houses were on that court - our house was left standing.  My mom had opened the windows that day as she left for work.  We had mud on the living room walls of the house, but no structural damage other than that.  Many others in our neighborhood were not so lucky.  Our neighbor on the corner was found in the bathtub in their back yard holding nothing but a bar of soap.  He was alive, but in shock.  My dad couldn't get home to know if we were alive or not.  Blocks of houses were gone - with nothing left but wood splinters.  It was horrible!  That is the closest I have been to a tornado.

Living in Florida we see hurricanes that do alot of damage, but at least you have some warning.  It is true, the wind will actually blow you over!

When I get back to CL, I'll have to go find everything that I remember.  No doubt many of the businesses are gone.  It's a shame that we can't back up life some just so we can enjoy portions of it again..........but time stands still for no man.

We used to go to that bakery by the water tower every Sunday.  It's a wonder we didn't all gain 50 pounds!

I remember that tornado, we lived on Gail Court. My parents and I were in Hampshire, when the weather got really crazy, all the birds were on the ground and it just felt so bizarre that my dad said we need to go home.  My brother and grandfather were at home, and he wanted to be there. on the way home we heard of the tornado.  It had gotten really crazy in cl and back at the house the garage door was going up and down and my grandfather wanted to go out and lock it, but when the fence across the street went flying over our house , my brother grabbed my grandpa and pulled him to the stairs, at that time all the windows in the house blew out, as well as the garage and the west wall of the house, and totally demolished the house next door.  we had just got back to cl and the pd stopped us on union street, right by Miron's house and said we couldn't go in. My dad said in afew words, forget that my family is in there.  We ran through all the debri and downed power lines until we got back to the house, to thankfully find everyone ok.  It was crazy, we ran by one house that had completely come off the foundation, and there was a truck in the basement,  they say they found parts of this house in Island lake. Unbeleivable.

I know this was absolutely tragic for Louella Holter as she lost her parents and her brother in the tornado Came to a past Reunion. We talked for a while. She said she had to come back one more time and "make peace" with Crystal Lake. I've emailed her a couple times about the upcoming Reunion. I don't think she'll be coming.

Donna Brown was at my Mom and Dad's on Route 31 when it hit. The windows bowed but didn't blow in. My Mom was in the Piggly Wiggly shopping when it hit. Fortunately, she was not hurt.

A while back there was a display in the libray about it. Seems like yesterday!

Lots of classmates have recently joined the site so we just want everyone to know that there are three blog Forums currently with 14 topics having been discussed. Donna Taylor Magill (We haven't seen you here for awhile Donna!) started us out on this Topic by asking what everyone remembers about their first transistor radio and that morphed into other topics and landed on the CL Tornado - a Topic that already exists on it's own!  

Check out all the topics and post a comment if you have something to add! If you click on the Forum List at the top of the page, you can view the Forum titles. Click a title and you will see the the individual topics listed in that Forum. If you'd like to start your own topic to be discussed, click "Post New Topic" at the top of the page, name your topic and post away! Happy Blogging!