John Ross Pope

Absolutely fantastic production!

John Ross Pope

Letter submitted to the St. Louis Post Dispatch newspaper on August 4, 2021

In 1899, Willard Duncan Vandiver, a U.S. Congressman from Missouri, made a speech in which he is quote to have said that he said: “I come from a state that raises corn and cotton and cockleburs and Democrats, and frothy eloquence neither convince nor satisfies me. I am from Missouri.  You have to show me.”

Now, the Show-Me State once again shows the world in global breaking news how stupid is as stupid does.

The State’s republican Governor has pardoned the Saint Louis couple of worldwide notoriety who pointed guns at Black Lives Matter protesters, who were convicted of misdemeanor fourth-degree assault and harassment, given a symbolic fine, and set scot-free – when the vast general public wanted to see the couple penalized at least with Community Service, maybe cleaning bathrooms in local public grade schools.

The sentenced couple, lawyers and Republicans, have been harshly criticized by the Democrats and praised by the Republicans.

Now the perpetrator Mark McCloskey has supposedly announced plans to run for a US Senate seat in the State. 

Once again the Show-Me State is showing the world that besides Ferguson, the pandemic, and social unrest the “stupid is as stupid does”.

John Ross Pope

The Pandemic Diary, Chapter 17, August 2021

August 5

On the inside of my closet door,  years ago past carpenters had dimensioned a rack upon which the supposed master of the house would orderly hang by design or color or fabric his ties. It has now become -- since the very few tie which still exist for weddings or funerals have been neatly rolled up as to not to crease, housed with the unused calf-high “dress” socks, and carefully lodged together in two abandoned tailor made double breasted  light English wool suites out of the way -- the place where I hang my monthly-weekly-daily calendar.

It is used to mark down important “do not forget” events for the month like doctor appointments, birthday parties, prescription renewal dates…or to keep track of events which must be maintained on schedule like watering the bonsais. On the top of this August 2021 page I have written the number 17 – 17 months since the beginning of the Covid 19 confinement.

17 months of the new reality and we have adapted well.  The “we” is us here in our own bubble, following the rules, being careful, learning well how to live within it. I sometime feel that we have already been incarnated onto a different cosmic plain and have immense difficulty in understanding the whys and wherefores of what continues to erode mankind.

I am pathetically distraught by collective continued social and cultural death and destruction: Afghanistan, blatant child starvation in Africa, the plight of the immigrant, political upheaval, the laisse-faire attitude of the general population regarding the virus, the blind eye to climate change as the planet is ravished by fire and flood, and drought.

There has been an ex-senior official of the US government who publicly described Haiti, El Salvador, and the African nations as “shithole countries”, who ignores the fact and the plight of the “tired, the poor, the huddle masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse, homeless…

A Florida government official who has blamed the current US President for the explosion of the virus in this sunshine state, not because the sunshine population refuses to adhere to the rules and regulations of the pandemic, but because of the “contaminated” immigrants which the nation’s government has allowed to enter into the country.

I am now also beginning to add a new and unpleasing qualification to my being -- the adjective “embarrassed”. This sense of shame extends, in a general perception, to all “non-concerned” global inhabitants and, when more specifically, to mankind’s collective ignorant, for too many of which who are (and need not be named) in positions of absolute power in the world.

I am not sure if being embarrassed is the same as having something “burn my butt” but when I see on the BBC World News Report that the buba governor of the state of Missouri is going to pardon the McCloskey’s for pulling their guns on peaceful protesters I cringed that stupidity is bliss. My dislike was such that I was motivated for the first time ever to write a letter to the St. Louis newspaper:

Letter submitted to the St. Louis Post Dispatch newspaper on August 4, 2021

In 1899, Willard Duncan Vandiver, a U.S. Congressman from Missouri, made a speech in which he is quote to have said that he said: “I come from a state that raises corn and cotton and cockleburs and Democrats, and frothy eloquence neither convince nor satisfies me. I am from Missouri.  You have to show me.”

Now, the Show-Me State once again shows the world in global breaking news how stupid is as stupid does.

The State’s republican Governor has pardoned the Saint Louis couple of worldwide notoriety who pointed guns at Black Lives Matter protesters, who were convicted of misdemeanor fourth-degree assault and harassment, given a symbolic fine, and set scot-free – when the vast general public wanted to see the couple penalized at least with Community Service, maybe cleaning bathrooms in local public grade schools.

The sentenced couple, lawyers and Republicans, have been harshly criticized by the Democrats and praised by the Republicans.

Now the perpetrator Mark McCloskey has supposedly announced plans to run for a US Senate seat in the State. 

Once again the Show-Me State is showing the world that besides Ferguson, the pandemic, and social unrest the “stupid is as stupid does”.

Sometimes you can also define “embarrassed” on a more human level, like that silent yet powerful little fart which just sneaks out while in church. That is the kind of embarrassment which I have felt watching for the first time the CBS 1966 production “16 in Webster Groves”: archive.org/details/sixteeninwebstergroves.

“OMG”, I said to myself.  “Had it really been like that?” I could not fathom that this was my HS and basically my class, friends, neighbors… MY LIFE???? had been so (how would you politely put it?) screwed up, controlled, pretentious?  I mean, I do remember the dance lessons, Fortnightly, inbred predigest, the pseudo nouveau riche, the destruction of the mother of a friend when her son got someone “not of our class dearie” with child.

I loved seeing one of the fathers sitting there in a suit and short socks. The dinner table conversations. The jocks and social queens and shop boys.

Thank God I escaped and really do cringe with the thought that this could have been my life if I had stayed and that I could have brought up my children like that.  OMG!

I wonder if thing have changed much since then? Hopefully yes!  Someone ought to revisit WG and reinterview the students from 1966 to see if all their “dreams” came to fruition.

“16 in Webster Groves” will be shared as a historical social statement. Go Statesmen!

Sue Ginn (Grigsby)

What happened to no political posts on this page? I must have seen a different riot than John saw at the McCloskey residence in St. Louis. They broke down a metal gate to the street and did not look at all peaceful to me. Only after calling their neighborhood security and police and getting no response, did they use guns to protect their residence. They may be Republicans(gasp) but Mr. McCloskey had defended BLM members in the past so I'm thining they might not be racists. 

Jerre Wright (May)

Thank  you Sue G. -

To All:

please do not use our WGHS website for the type of discussion John Pope has entered - let's be fair - I was highly reprimanded on a post about housing so have ceased putting any external thoughts on this site - please extend the same curtesy to all.  Jerre

John Ross Pope

The weather is fine, the birds are singing, the flowers are blooming...oh, so lucky to be alive and well.

Mike Huston

Your sarcasm is duly noted John. I hope our friend Jerre does not take it personally. She has a kind heart and gentle spirit. She has given so much of herself over the years to benefit literally everyone in our graduating class. I and many others are thankful for that. I stand with her in the face of any criticism and snarky remarks she has received from our classmates, especially since they should know better.

We are lucky to be alive indeed, with Jerre as our friend.

Eric Bacon

Just for clarification the insepid ads , and I agree they are annoying; reduce the cost of running the website and page. Happy to remove them if the class wants to take up a collection to privatize the site. This is not me being ornery rather the server space and resources are not inexpensive. Happy to discuss, wanted to offer an explanation 

Lyn Whiston

After being in the Chicago area since 1971, and in the same house for 28 years, Debbie and I have moved to Virginia to have less snow, lower taxes, and a one floor home. Our new house in Palmyra (about 20 minutes SE of Charlottesville) should be completed in mid-October. In the meantime we are in a Charlottesville one bedroom apartment with our three dogs.

We are happy with our decision. We are in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains. Lots of good restaurants and stores including a downtown pedestrian mall. We have found a good doctor and a dog groomer and are in the process of finding all the other connections we need. Temperature has been in the 90's everyday since we arrived a month ago. That's the trade-off for moving out of the snow belt. September thru June are supposed to be moderate.

Karen Bernard (Wegmann)

Dear classmates, this is a first post for me. Was last in Webster for our fifteenth....a LONG time ago! Just wanted to say "Hello " to all and to thank Jeremy so much for all the hard work and effort on our behalf. My aloha, Karen Bernard Wegmann

Karen Bernard (Wegmann)

My Apologies Jerre, I see my system self corrected your name...Maybe am not ready for Message Forum! Karen

Jerre Wright (May)

Please take a look at the new page named "Living Well: and send in your thoughts and suggestions to recognize your fellow classmates.

Jerre

Bernard (Bernie) Machen

Hello classmates!  First time messenger.  Yesterday I helped my wife of 54 years Zoom with 5 h.s. Classmates from Ursuline Academy, Kirkwood, Mo.  They have kept in touch all these years and I realized I have no connection to Class '62 W.G.  My fault and want to try connecting.  Retired in Gainesville, Fla after 11 yrs at UF. Glad to be in warmer (58degrees) clime than most but still cold!  Hope to get returns .  Thanks to Jerre for keeping the line open.  Hope she enjoys retirement.    Bernie Machen

Linda Bemis (Hofman)

Bernie, I understand you and Chris plan to come to the Reunion in September...it will be great to see you!  Our 8 Zooming Reunion Committee members, we are really enjoying our time together.  We have been very encouraged by the early sign-ups, approximately 40, and we expect there will be a good number more in the coming months.  The Saturday night party at the 55th had about 60 people...seemed like there were more, that sure permitted us to get around and have fun catching up with everybody there.  If you have never looked at the section to the left here. "Photos - 55th, do check it out.       I am among the people who like Florida a lot, since we used to visit my in-laws in St. Augustine every winter.  You guys are in a good place, hope you are well and totally enjoying retirement.  See you soon!   Linda (Bemis) Hofman    Tillamook, OR

Jerre Wright (May)

This is a message I received from Dave Gibson -

When I was ten, all of the "big kids" in the neighborhood were enthralled by the movie Rebel Without a Cause.  I saw it much later, and I did not like it at all.  It seemed to me like the cast had been filmed during a class in dramatics, and someone decided to use parts of different  takes for a movie.

It helped make James Dean, with his "method acting",  into a legend, and we saw Salvatore Mineo Junior and Natalie Wood in some decent scenes.

The juvenile delinquent/misunderstood youth theme became a "thing", in movies and in specials on programs like Playhouse 90, and later, in West Side Story.

I  recently stumbled upon another:  Crime in the Streets, from 1956, which was based on a play directed by the never equaled Sidney Lumet.

Sal was in this one, too.

Black and white, old NYC skylines, a credible storyline, competent scriptwriting without cliches, good acting, and good set design--what's not to like?

Some of the cast later became famous directors.

I  recommend it.

Your mileage may vary.

David Gibson

On birthdays: On 25 August, I sent the note below to some friends.  One or two details are peuliar to yesterday, but I thought it might interest others from 1944.

Some young correspondents have responded with wonder and amazement about the description of those thrilling days of yesteryear.

Another Old 78

David Gibson

I would guess that most of our classmates have heard something about the high water that occurred in places in  Webster, Rock Hill, Warson Woods and other places around here some weeks ago.

I sent a note to some friends about it.  Perhaps you will find it interesting.

Don Hiller, to whom I referred, married a WGHS English teacher named Joan, whose maiden name I have forgotten.  Some people who were in the Class of 1959 will remember her.

If the Creek Don't Rise

My late friend Don Hiller used to use that old slang expression all the time.

"Will we meet again on this tomorrow?"  "If the creek don't rise."

The saying has taken on new meaning in the St. Louis area.

We have had three largely unpredicted rains in the last couple of weeks that drove creeks out of their banks and flooded homes and businesses.

Deer Creek, a tributary of the River des Peres, flows  through Webster Groves.  It has been notorious for flooding over the years, but the prior floods have never been as serious or as frequent as these recent ones.

The Train Wreck Saloon on Manchester road in Rock Hill was forced to close three times in several days by water from Deer Creek.  They have shoveled a lot of mud out of it.

We have more than one way to get over to Kirkham Road  to head north from here.  One is Marshall road.  We know to not try it after heavy rain: it floods easily just beyond where it goes under the Union Pacific tracks.

The culprit, again, is Deer Creek, which Kirkham crosses just after Marshall runs into Kirkham.

This last series of rains made me realize that I do not really know my creeks very well at all.

Maybe a mile south of Marshall, there is a creek that runs along Kirkham Rd.  It was recently out of its banks.  Kirkham Road has sometimes looked like the Current River in high water.  I've seen cars washed away with the current before.

I had always thought that that was part of Deer Creek, too.  It slips underground and goes under some industrial properties as it flows norh before it gets to Marshall.  I did not really know where it reappeared--or how it ever flooded the Train Wreck.

This last series of deluges led me to study the map more closely.    I zoomed in, I zoomed out, I moved it all about....

duckduckgo.com/?q=webster+groves+mo&atb=v314-1&ia=web&iaxm=about&iax=images

To my surprise,Ii learned, after all these years, that that creek that runs along Kirkham is called Shady Grove Creek.  It goes under ground, goes under the road, reemerges, and runs into Deer Creek upstream from the Kirkham-Marshall intersection.

Deer Creek comes down from north of Manchester Road.

I feel rather stupid, having lived here all of my life.

The map screen on our Subaru shows blue lines for creeks and rivers.  It causes one to notice little railings at creeks that one might never have noticed before.

I now see that one little blue line that we follow when we drive though Ladue is...Deer Creek.

One of the nondescript little creeks that we cross here and there is in nearby Warson Woods.  We had never really paid any attention to it before.  It is called...Warson Woods Creek.

We had never heard of Warson Woods Creek.

The other day, Warson Woods Creek caused severe flooding in a number of homes.  The residents who were interviewed on TV had never known it to flood.  The video of the flow reminded me of the foaming rush of the Fall River in Rocky Mountain National Park.  I kid you not.

A friend of ours has an office building near where Crestwood Plaza used to be.  It was flooded by that unpredicted Thursday night downpour.  They went over at night and took care of things--and then, before dawn, a second cloudburst filled the place with mud.

Best I can tell, the culprit is Gravois Creek.  I  have noticed a creek in Kirkwood on the Subaru map.  It's the one. These places are great--if the creek don't rise.

**************

I have long been a map junkie, and I pay attention to roads, rivers, dams, lakes, railroads, bridges, airports, and power-plants whenever I look out the window of a plane.

This is the first time I have ever really studied the creeks in town.

William Hoss

David,

The creek along Kirkham is Shady Creek.  It like Deer Creek it suffers flash flooding more often than in past years due to more intese urbanisation of their watersheds.  More turf lawns, more hard surfaces from parking lots, roads and driveways equal faster runoff than previously.  I don't know where the headwaters of Shady Creek are, probably Glendale or Kirkwood.  Another feeder to Deer Creek contributing to flash flooding is Black Creek which comes south from the U City area - which also had severe flooding. It joins Deer Creek at Hanley and Manchester Road.   I feel for the people on N Forest and Pacific avenues and I wish there could be some sort of buyout of these properties.  It is not likely that things are going to get better anytime sone

Bill

David Tieman

Interesting to put names to the creeks.  As someone who grew up in Rock Hill near the branch of Deer Creek that runs along Des Peres Ave, crosses RH Rd near 'the Chatterbox' and continues along the 'bluff' just north of Steger Jr HS, it was always just "the creek".  I remember tad polls and crayfish, but never flooding.  My brother and I now scan, from afar, the online StL news and wonder whether the old neighborhood has been affected.  The pictures of River Des Peres with rushing torrents, rather than a trickle  in a concrete basin, have certainly been impressive.

From the banks of an unnamed (AFAIK) branch of the Lisha Kill,

Dave Tieman

David Gibson

Rock Hill Creek, according to the map.  

Jeff Reuter

I grew up in Rock Hill before we moved to Webster in 1958---I think.  While in Rock Hill, I would fish with a few neighbor kids in what I knew as Deer Creek.  The creek was near Rock Hill Quarry.  There was another small quarry nearby that, according to local legend, struck a spring while drilling and began to fill rather quickly before equipment could be removed.  There was a lumber yard near the creek that flooded with storm water before passing under Manchester Rd.  Rock Hill Quarry was just about spent and closed.  Sometime before that, it filled completely with storm water reaching  Litzinger Rd.  When Pruit-Igoe was demolished, the waste was hauled to Rock Hill Quarry.

Someone may want to fact-check this account.

Susan Toft (Everson)

Greetings to all.  I look forward to seeing so many of you in a few weeks.  Susan

Susan Reheis (Laccarino)

Does anyone know the whereabouts of Linda Smith?

John Ross Pope

Tengo información de contacto de John Purcell si es necesario. Saludos a todos

David Gibson

Here's a book recommendation for St. Louisans our age and  older.

St. Louis during the Depression, the setting of a novel penned by a man who was here.

Newsboys selling the St. Louis Post Dispatch. The mention of dozens of St. Louis streets, intersections, and trolley stops, and the Eads Bridge.

The Muny, the tennis courts in Forest Park, old movie theaters.

An old apartment building on Lindell that is still there.....

A Hooverville by the river.  One washed tin dinner plates with water piped from the river, but drinking water came from the city supply.  The camp had showers.

Gangsters driving a Marmon.

Eating places on The Hill. A killing or two,  and the St. Louis heat.

A good plot.

Easy to read, and easy to pick up and put down.  The book is The Amazing adventures of Aaron Broom.  It is the last book wtitten by St. Louis editor A. E Hotchner.

"Hotch" was a friend of Ernest Hemingway.  He was also a friend of Paul Newman, and with Paul, he co-founded Newman's Own.  I used to like their salad dressing.

Recommended.