Message Forum

Jack...the lady fixing hamburgersat the dock was Mrs. Reed. She was such a sweet lady. Soft spoken but kept everyone in line. Other hangouts were Connors, the A&W RootBeer stand. That's about the only ones I remember. See if anyone else can think of any...oh yes Lake Geode was a good place in the summer.

01/13/19 08:11 PM

#958

Sandra Buckley (Matthews)

Thx Linda. Mrs Reed at the Dock! Connors Drive In and the A&W Root Beer drive in. Ah yes. Good ones. Good times.

01/14/19 07:11 AM

#959

Good grief - Jack Sears has certainly shaken up my brain with so many memories this morning - especially the Dock !!!! I LOVED those hamburgers that Mrs. Reed fixed ! When the OLD dock moved off of Avenue H to the new one built across from the Library (with Junior Achievment in the lower level), I missedd the old one at first - guess because I was so in awe of those upper classmen who "knew their way around" and were driving. But, I can honestly say that today's teens have really missed out on something great by not having a safe and fun place to just hang out, dance and be with their peers. We have a 13 year old granddaughter in Middle School in Florida and they have to have get together at each others' homes, and their school only has 2 dances a year, consequently they are texting or phoning each other ALL THE TIME !!!! At least Aila is a cheerleader and on the school Diving Team, so she has after school practices and games and meets where she can see more of her friends. We could always just go downtown (by walking) on Saturday and meet up at Wilken's Drug store for sharing french fries and a coke and go to Rempe's and listen to records - no parent needed to look out for us, because we were accountable to ALL the parents in town - our grandkids today could no more even go to a Mall to meet their friends and hang out at a Food Court - too dangerous ! We sure did grow up in a WONDERFUL small town with plenty to do - I worked at the Swimming Pool 3 summers, either in the basket room, giving swimming lessons in the morning, and then life guarding in the afternoon - so ALWAYS got to see plenty of classmates during the summer. I wouldn't change those summers for anything !!!! Thanks Jack for a trip down memory lane this AM.

01/14/19 09:51 AM

#960

Sandy is right, our social media was actually - socializing face to face together. We did not need Instagram, Facebook, Texting, Instagram, SnapChat etc. We did a fair amount of talking on the phone, true, but, some of that talk was to organize get togethers. Today, I wonder if kids actually use their expensive smart phones to actually talk to anybody?

OMG Rempes hangouts. Loved it. Big music fan then and now. Bought a lot of 45's at Rempes. Now have thousands of songs on Spotify. Instead of talking to a classmate about the latest sounds, Spotify computers suggest new tunes to me.

I liked our world too. Now the country seems more divided than ever. I wonder if part of that has to do with spending more time behind the "safety" and anonymity of social media?

I have another question: did anyone ever speed ride (no brakes) a bike down Country Club Hill with another person on the handle bars except for me and Bill Boomer? More than once? Without wiping out?

01/14/19 10:35 AM

#961

Melinda Lang (Bachman)

Reading all these comments certainly brings back many good memories. Even though we live in different states it is nice to stay in touch through the Forum and Facebook Linda I also remember Thompson's for tenderloins and playing the table juke box. My message every so often seems to be the same with traveling, going to movies, plays and spending time with my 7 year old granddaughter. I will be leaving late February to drive to Florida for the month of March as I do each year. My other grandchildren live in the UP Michigan near Marquette. Robert is 22 and working on a oil field in North Dakota, Hunter just turned 20 and Lily will be 9 Feb. 5. She was diagnosed with high functioning autism a couple years ago. I usually make a trip up in the summer or fall avoiding the winter drive. So far here in Ann Arbor, MI we have had a mild winter. We had more snow in November and very little in December and so far in January. After mild temps, it has now turned cold. Just afraid we will be hit with a big one next time. Wishing all a healthy happy 2019.

01/14/19 11:10 AM

#962

Three CHEERS to all of you for writing on the messsge forum! This is so much fun reading all these comments! Jack Sears I’m happy with my I phone 6s and I have no intention of upgrading my phone! As for all the memories from the Dock and fun places to hang out! I loved all the places mentioned! The swimming pool was a big hang out for me because I loved to swim and still love to swim! Moudy and I are here in Marco Island until April 1st so currently I feel bad for all the people who are covered in snow including 13 inches in Fort Madison!

KEEP THESE MESSAGE COMING EVERYONE AND ENCOURAGE YOUR FELLOW CLASSMATES TO FOLLOW SUIT!

01/14/19 11:13 AM

#963

P.S. Jack I recently had Steak ala Arabia at the Palms and it was awesome! I can only hope you come to our 60th reunion in 2021!

01/14/19 12:42 PM

#964

Just had my day brightened...sitting here looing out at about 13" of snow...not complaining, it's beautiful, I love snow. The phone rang & it was Cyndy!!! We visited for an hour or more, reminscing about school, jobs, oldfriends, things we used to do for fun, places in Ft. Mad. sooo many things. Really enjoyed talking with her. So nice to keep up with classmates. Not sure I'm as cheerful as Cyndy all the time. Bless your heart dear...take care of yourself till our next chat. Love you.....

01/14/19 01:15 PM

#965

Brad Wiedmann

Melinda, Since I was a west ender all my life in Ft Madison, I don't remember a Thompson's for tenderloin sandwiches. I do remember Tim's Maid-Rite with the juke box at the table. In Junior High some of us used to ride our bicycles to Tim's for lunch, play pinball, listen to the jukebox and then ride down to the river front. Sometimes racing across in front of trains.

01/14/19 01:39 PM

#966

Melinda...I remember in HS good ole Ernie would bring a used car home for the week-end. If it was a stick, I'd gett to drive...& $1.00's worth of gas would last the whole week-end. I remember a 2-door '55 Ford, we had so much fun driving all over...remember???

01/14/19 03:37 PM

#967

Was Thompson's next block down on 15th Street from to the old High School? TIm's Maid-Rite on G at 10th St?

Love me some tenderloins. Chicago area is pretty much tenderloin free zone. Closest is to order a pork schnitzel, like at Das Radler in the city & tell 'em to put it on a hamburger bun with all the fixin's.

01/14/19 03:40 PM

#968

Maid-Rites, no more stores in Illinois that I can find on-line. Only in Iowa.

01/14/19 05:43 PM

#969

Jack...Quincy still has a Maid Rite.

01/15/19 10:07 AM

#970

Jack: Thompson’s was on 18th Strrei a half a block from the high school!

Linda, how come I didn’t get to ride around town with you and Melinda?🤪😂

Thsnks again for everybody writing in!👍👍👍

01/15/19 11:11 AM

#971

Brad Wiedmann

Wow! I don't remember Thompson's at all. But, I don't remember what I had for lunch yesterday or where I put my phone or why I went into a room or what I was just going to say.............. Ain't senior life just the best?

01/15/19 12:42 PM

#972

Melinda Lang (Bachman)

Thanks Sharon for addressing where Thompson's was located. Yes Brad I understand about not always remembering called a senior moment as it happens to me as well. Linda I do remember all our riding around town having so much fun. Sharon I don't remember why you weren't along (senior moment!)

01/15/19 09:18 PM

#973

Just flipping through the channels trying to find something to watch. I have Dish & found on FOLK channel 218, Route 66 with Martin Milnew & George Maharis. Used to watch that show every Friday night in the early 60's. The old cars were really cool.

01/15/19 09:28 PM

#974

WOW! This messsge forum is now on page 39! We are making great progress thanks to all of the above postings! Keep it up!

Brad: Senior moments are the privileges of us being allowed to grow old! Some of our classmates haven’t been allowed that privilege! So don’t worry about it! Just keep letting us know about your comings and goings! Happy New Year to you!

01/16/19 09:05 AM

#975

Could not resist. The Nerd Factor was too high. Had to get the iPhone XS. My iPhone7 was just fine, but, the animated emoji’s are too much fun

01/16/19 09:09 AM

#976

Ok. Thompson’s. Got it. Walk in front door. Pinball machines on the left. Booths with jukebox thingy to the right. Played too much pinball with the “hoods”. Leather jacket crowd, pack of cigarettes rolled up in t-shirt sleeve, duck tail hair cut. Lol.

01/16/19 10:20 AM

#977

I just had to laugh out loud at you playing pool at Thompson’s with cigarette rolled up in your t-shirt! Jack we’ve missed a lot by you not attending our reunions! This is a mandate for our 60th! You must come!

Woot Woot we are now on page 49 in the message forum! Keep it up gang!

01/16/19 10:45 AM

#978

William (Bill) Patrigo

In addition to eating/entertainment places listed I recall I liked to go to the movies. I recall the Strand Theater which later became the Fox Theater (the first centrally air conditioned theater in town), the Orphium Theater which later became the State Theater (managed by Kenny Elkins), the very old Iowa Theater on Avenue H, and the drive-in theater west of town on Highway 61. The State Theater was the first theater that I attended alone when I was very young . My father left me off, and Kenny Elkins periodically checked on me in the balcony. I watched Humphrey Bogart in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Reflecting on Fort Madison, I found a YouTube video which consisted of a 30 minute drive through Fort Madison in 2013. Look for “driving through Fort Madison, IA and testing DIY camera”.

01/16/19 11:24 AM

#979

Sally Morton (Trancoso)

Speaking of theaters, when Jesse and I were dating, we went to the movies every week. The first time we walked into the State theater, he headed for the balcony. I asked him why he wanted to go there. He said "that's where they want me to sit"...all minorities were shown the balcony. I said, "well, you belong with me", and we headed down the aisle in the main seating area. I think we just integrated the State theater. You could have heard a pin drop. My, how things have changed. A long way to go though....it still happens in some other areas of life. After 55 years of marriage, we've become adjusted...not use to it, just aware that it still happens. Most of you probably don't even remember that being the case. We've been blessed in so many ways, however...a beautiful, smart daughter, a lovely home, good health, and so many wonderful memories. Life is good.

01/16/19 12:28 PM

#980