Remebering Mrs Price was like thinking back lask week, She was the one who opened up my eyes and made Me understand that I could accomplish anything "if u put your mind in that FRAME", she always taught us that. Her words made me feel like I was important, after graduating in 1985, I made it a point to visit her until her retireing. She was a blessing to me.

Class Of 2012 '' We Live On A Legacy''

The day I walked in in class, I said to myself this isn't going to be easy. I realized my teachers aren't my enemies, but they're my family. When ever you need help their always there. So this note or letter is dedicated to my wonderful teachers that have pushed me to be the best that I can be. Thank-You Mr. Andrew O'malley, Ms. Sharon Eskridge, Ms. Cailborne, Mr. Willie Williamson, Ms. Octavia Lord, Mrs. Essie Jones, Ms. T, Mr. John Butler, and many more. But I can't forget my A.P. Mrs. Linta Carter, and Principal. Ms. Denise Gilliespie. You have turn me into phenomenal, intelligent, young lady!!!!!

I was a student at Alcott from Kindergarten (spring of 1959) until 4th Grade (spring of 1963) after which we moved

from Chicago to the suburbs.  I was curious and stumbled on the LMA CHICAGO webpage for nostalgic reasons.

I hope someone can help me with the following: during my last year at Alcott, a talented teacher named Miss

Kusack (or, something like that) wrote a SCHOOL SONG and all of us students at Alcott had to memorize it and

sing it during our meetings in the assembly hall. I vaguely remember the words of the first lines, but the melody

is clear in my mind. It went like this:

                                                  "Of all the schools there are,

                                                   there's one that's best by far,

                                                   "Alcott is it's name..."

                                                   "No matter where we go,

                                                   our honor we will show,

                                                   and try to bring her fame...

                                                   "In all our work and play,

                                                   we'll strive in every way...

                                                    to ...  _    _    _. (forgot this part!)

                                                    _     _     _    _       _.

                                                   Alcott school is GO... GO... GO..._ Yeah,

                                                  Alcott school is GO... GO... GO!!!

If someone can remember or has the words to this song, please write me and share this with me.

The last time I visited Alcott was when I graduated the American Academy of Art in downtown Chicago,

in the spring of 1982! I visited with the then School Principal, Miss McManus and School Secretary Miss Allen.

I also visited with a Mr. Fleischmann who was our Gym Teacher! No one could remember who I was, but I

remember them all well! This "reunion" really fascinated me and my compliments to our Dear Principal

almost made her swoon_ (I was after all, a 28 year old man)! So please, if possible, feel free to contact

me if you can relate to this at all. My E-Mail adress is a.riewe@att.net.

                                                                                                                           Sincerly,

                                                                                                                                      Arno Riewe

I first attended the main buliding for KG (fall 47) and 1st grade. Then the portable as it was called in those days. Two years in the same classroom with same teacher. Just changed rows every half year (B/A). Back to main building for 4 - 8. Wow, was amazed to have a gym and auditorium! Graduated February 1957.

This is me now. Last one on the left.

carole borges

I have so many wonderful memories of this school. My father taught me to ride a bike in it's schoolyard. I lived at 243 Englewood Ave. only a block away and from the time I could peek over my 3rd floor apartment window sill, I longed to go inside that school. I remember on the first day how enormous the stairway looked, lighted by a shaft of sunlight, it looked like it was rising into heaven, and how the smell of the milk that came in small glass jars floated in the air. I remember the coatrooms behind the blackboards that would retract and come down. The desks were so old fasioned they had ink wells, but we just used pencils. Everything back in those days was provided free, books, crayons, and a nice pencil case. I had a teacher that looked just like the Old Maid in the card game for kindergarten. It was so much fun. I can't rmember many of the teachers names. At 70 thngs get a little blurry sometimes, but I do remember Miss Watson. Miss Day (I think that was her name) had some kind of heart condition. Her skin was actually blue. and there was one male teacher. Recess was tough in the winter. You had to stay outside, so we'd spend all our time hanging on the wrought iron fence while we slid our feet back and forth to make ice. All the teachers were nice and the school smelled clean and the floors were all shiny. To me Lewis-Champlain was a warm friendly home away from home. Things got a little awkward when all our white neighb ors fled to the suburbs. My father thought that was stupid, so we stayed.  In my 6th grade picture I am the only white girl. At first I didn't make friends, and I learned about prejudice when no one would invite me to their birthday parties and I heard the name Honky, but eventually I did find people who were colorblind enough to play with me. It was a very enriching time for me culturally. I'm glad I had the chance to live in a black community. Today I  work for an African American newspaper. Lewis Champlain taught me that school was a place to hae fun, and I learned so much. It prepared me to go on in life with an A student attitude.  

My name is Ida, i attended Cooper from 1975 to 1982.  My favorite memories are when we use to sing Christmas songs in the gym.  My favorite teachers were Mrs. Thompson and Mr. Demeter

Ms. Socha was my fifth grade teacher. She was the most memorable teacher . She made learning fun!

These were my favorite teachers Ms. Karchi (2nd grade), Mr. Franco (3rd grade), Ms. Reed (5th grade) and Mr. McGuire (7th grade).

I too remeber Ms Coffey, Ms. Anderson, Mr. George, and many more.  Mr. George and Mr. Scott was my inspiration.  I remember people like Ricky White, Pamela Walker, Zina Thomas.  The bestmemories I have is the time I spent at Willard.

Rose Klowden was such a great teacher. She could care less about how much money your parents had; just that you could learn the English language. She always made me feel wanted and I truly loved that woman. I had a Mr. Hunter too, but I cannot remember his first name. He wasa strong disciplinarian which I needed. I played for the Mohawks but was a terrible player. Poochie, Donald, Carl, and Lee were awesome. I taught AP biology in high school for 30 years and I believe Kenwood had a lot to do with my career as a teacher. Tracy Temple was also a student during my time.

My favorite teachers were Mr. Robinson and Mr. Hall.

Mrs. Foxwell and Ms. Locallo - Thank you for your committment!  Without doubt, I credit my experiences in the gifted program to my current academic and professional success.  If either of you remain active with CPS, I encourage you conduct PD (professional development) sessions - in hopes that others can follow in your footsteps and provide the unforgettable learning experiences you offered me (and so many like me).  With sincerity, THANKYOU!! 

I taught at Birney School from 1962 to 1968 when I moved to Colorado. I was Audrey Thornton then. I enjoyed working with the students and faculty. One student I remember was Verdine White of Earth, Wind and Fire. I was invited backstage to the "Green" room after one of the concerts in Denver, Colorado. Birney had Assemblies often. There was one teacher that played guitar. I can't remember his name. Others teachers were Mrs. Aguilar, Ms. Foster and many others.

I lived in Colorado for 40 yrs and then moved to Western North Caroline (in the mountains) a town called Sylva. Hope to hear from you.

Audrey Lindsay (on Facebook)

aalindsay@juno.com

Mrs. Snobel our French teacher was a  school favorite.  Then of course there was Mr. Daniels who all the girls thought was adorable with his styllish long hair and mustache. 

Mr. Stinson (Leonard M. Stinson, deceased) was my 5th grade teacher way back in 1966-67. He was a tall irishman with a great sense of humor and a fiery temper if you didn't get your homework in on time. He taught subjects in a most unique way, using his love of hobbies to bring reality to what we were being being taught. His classroom was full of plastic models that students before us had built. This was exciting to me as I had been making model airplanes since 3rd grade. My entire school year was based on planes, ships and autmobiles. He tied math, english, art and other subjects to these methods of transport. during our ships period, we visted Navy Pier and witnessed a ship being off loaded. we painted pictures of ships and racing boats.

The highlight of the period was when he put us in groups of 4, then plopped a plastic model ship onto our tables and we built them. Afterwards, we had to write a report on the model we built. Our group had built the USS Constitution, Old Ironsides. Noting my talents for buiding, he gave me an extra project, making the Lindberg kit of the Monitor and the Merrimack civil war ironclads!

When we did cars, we went to the auto show at McCormick Place, and we went to O'Hare to see airliners during our airplane period, when I was made aware of Amerlia Earhart. While he was a strict teacher with discpline, he made our school life fun. He had the whole class star as "The Dancing Molecules" during our school science fair. He made me feel like I mattered when the other kids were putting me down, making aware of how advanced I was in reading when the snarky girl classmate made fun of my math abilities. He pushed me to the point of fright in making me do my assigments. When I visited him in 1971, he told me I was a kid with talents he didn't want to see fall throught the cracks of inner city Chicago.

He left tons of National Geographic magazines laying about, and other publications of the time such as LIFE and their specials. How could you NOT learn to read??? I have an abiding appreciation for Rogers and Hammerstein thanks to his playing The King and I and other musical LPs in the background during a class day

I can say that I owe my present success to him and the other CPS teachers of the era. They don't make teachers like him anymore. Maybe they do, but they are probably shackled with No Child Left Behind and can't be as creative anymore. I pay him foward by volunteering in the schools of my town, teaching kids model rocketry and making it match what they are learning. Thank you for caring, Mr. Stinson, God's blessings upon you. Oh, and Debra Crook, if you ever read this, Hi, and I still love you, my 5th grade crush :)

Revell Walker

Lancaster California 

I remember in 3rd or 4th grade our teacher wanted to introduce to us the West Side Story Musical without the movie, I remember her or him playing the music on a tape recorder and the impact it had on us without the visual, later when I grew up and was able to see the movie, it became my favorite movie due to this experience. And the movie always takes me back to Stewart School and the experience that my teacher convay in us. Wow never forget that and the school which to this day miss dearly!

ihave been looking for these teacher for so long   thanks to Birney teachers im a good student to this day 40yrs later i would lover to meet them again  thank you Ms. Agular, Mr  & Ms. Blackburn  Mr. & Ms Lovelace &b the library teacher i cant remember all those teacher name but God bless all the teacher of Birney school  you were wonderful I know it was hell messing with all those project kids you all had such a mark in my life

I too remember the art teacher, Mrs. Brenenn.  On St Patricks day she would wear a corsage made from a bag of spinich. I am looking for some classmates, if there is a way to do this will someone let me know.

I have my autograph book too.

Ill never forget the day i walked in this school. After getting kicked out of my other school i had stomach aches and everything seemed so fake. I new most of the staff because my sisters attended this school. Everyone greeded me and were very kind. As years when by I got very close to 4 girls in which we decided to go to our 8th grade dance drunk. I do admit that i regret it. We all got a 10 day suspencion and had to attend a saturday school. We burly even made it to graduate on stage. After that day everyone thought me and my friends were crazy and we would always get into alot of trouble!! Our teachers were Mr Fragoso and Ms Maldonado who were awsome!!!!! although i do remember always getting in trouble with Ms maldonado!

I had Mrs. Micari for two years, I liked her so much:( actually I was a prankster in  6th grade, we went to the museum of natural history, and my best friend Robert Serono was walking on the the wishing pond ledge, and I bumped him by accident:)  and he fell in the the pool. Back in those days the penalty for misbehaving was sitting in the seperate coat room we had on the floor by your self. I learned early, that for every action there is a reaction, I failed 6th grade for the sunt I pulled. Robert Serono returned the favor, Mrs. Micari left the room for one minute one day and Robert went into coat room took my brand new heavy winter coat put it in the sink that was located in the coat room, and filled sink to brim with cold water:( yes it was -2 below zero that day. Rest in peace Robert, God Bless.

Steven R. Niemczyk

My mother, Norma Fleischer Phillips, was a member of the class of 1940.  This photo was taken at the 40 year reunion in 1980.  She is on the far right.  I don't know who anyone else is in the photo.  Any ideas? 

my favorite teacher is ms.barbara she is the best teacher in the wrold  she teach is us alot she smart and a good teacher

Photo Day at Gray School November 1963, Mrs. Mueller's Class, Room 210

Friday, November 22, 1963, was the day President Kennedy was assassinated. This photo was taken in the same month. A moment etched in my memory. A moment each of us remembers exactly where we were, what we were doing, and how the adults around us responded. I was home sick. My best friend Kristine told me that our teacher Mrs. Mueller cried in class that day. Thirty three students, all dressed in their finest.  Prepared for photo day. 

The photo attached to this document includes the following students.

Left to right bottom row:  Ronald Bigger, Larry Lindberg, Bobby Bishop, Danny Bresnen, Larry Murphy

Left to right 2nd row:  Gail Krueger, Louise Lundeen, Susan Zander, Cheryl Clarke, Debbie Nelson, Donna Tmmerman, Wendy Daly

Left to right 3rd row from bottom:  Jeffrey Jur, Dennis Pokorney, David DePaul, Richard Esberner, Peter Jensen, Larry Moriello, Victor S., Mike Nichols, James Balfanz, Randy Stockwell

Left to right top row:  Cindy Zientek, Dawn Ladendorf, Donna Dahlstrom , Debbie Haskell, Lisa Peters, Diane, Kristine Schneider, Dorothy, Christine Garrard, Patty Motz, Steven Petros

I have tried to name those pictured, if you would like to add or amend  my list please feel free to message me.   How many shots did the photograher take for this photo?

I remember being selected along with Danny Creed to recieve the L Cup in 1974. I was captain of the swim team but I never viewed my accomplishments as anything major. It was swimming you know not basketball or football so you can imagine how shock I was when they called my name. I still have the trophy to this day and view it as one of the major accomplishments of my life.  Peace and Love to all you Eagles Barry Lee class of 1974

I remember being honored with the L Cup award 1974 along with Danny Creed. I remember how shocked I was to be honored for my athletic activities. I was the captain of the swim team but I never viewed the sport I participated in as a major sport like football or basketball. I still have the trophy and consider it to one of the major achievements in my life. Just thought Id share a moment in time during my years at Lindblom.  Peace to all you Eagles Barry Lee

I remember that on special occasions mrs Robichaux would bring the entire school ICE CREAM boy that was neat.........

Also I remember that we had a real fire.......and that we ate in the gym/lunchroom  we were walked over from FT DEARBORN  that had a serious over crowding problem I was in 5th grade and was a helper for the kindergarten class MR POSEY was my teacher ... one year the teachers were sure to go on strike towards the end of the school year and our books were collected and we ALL assumed that we were going to have a longer summer break and a few boys EGGED MR POSEY car HOWEVER they did not strike and he made them wash his car the next day........... I became MR POSEY daughters teacher and reminded him when he came to check on his daughters progress ......what a memory

I remember the long smoke stack(chimney) and the scary boilerroom..... where the bad boys and girls went  for spankings......giggle

MS SWEET N LOW AND SEXY

MY NAME IS MS ANGELA PRYOR, I AM AN COLLINS GRADUATE C/O 1987, MY GREATEST MOMENT WAS I WAS ALWAYS QUITE AND NERVOUS AND SHY THAT WAS THET DAY THAT I GOT  WITH MR JESSE THOMPSON HE TURN MY WORLD AROUND, IWAS ONLY ABOUT 105 PNDS YOU CAN SEE THAT I'VE MATURED AND A MOTHER OF 4 AND A GRANDMOTHER I'M VERY SUCCESSFUL  I LOST MY BEST FRIEND GLANNON BOLDEN SHE WAS MY MENTOR , I REALLY THANK GOD FOR THE TEACHERS THAT HELP US ALONG THE WAY. MY FAVORITE TEACHER WAS MR TEAGUES HE WAS GREAT HE TAUGHT US THE DIFFERNET ETHNIC STUDIES.

I had a wonderful teacher who taught me how to be a good person as well as student she was my 4th grade teacher and then was also my 8th grade teacher her name was Mrs. Baker I wish I could see her now and thank her for being such a great teacher

i lived on clark belmont building i had to give the speech at graduation and i was nervous as hell lagetuta wasnt too happy with my perf! mrs greenspan was also my fav teacher i am a teacher in pr was the new shool torn down too?

hi i was only there for one year 4 or 5th grade my teachers name was ms morris i believe she was beautiful!

One more photo from the class of June 1940 --- from the Silver Streak yearbook!!

I remember when I first enrolled at Brentano in 1946 and my teachers were Ms Koterski a cute music teacher and Miss Selig a tough old gal who scared the bejesus out of me and everyone else, Wish I had a picture of them but I don't. I remember once a teacher thought I talked too much so she made me wear a long paper mache red tongue taped to my chin and made me sit in the corner with it and wear it to recess! Don't recall her name. I went on to graduate and win the American Legion Award for top male student voted on by the teachers. Nice. 

Mrs. Jacqueline Mundy - by far the best teacher I had all through grammar school.  Room 204.  Almost all I ever needed to learn, I learned here.  That's me, seated, 1st girl on the left.  That's my best friend, Beverly seated next to me.  I think this is the only time we were ever seated next to each other.

First grade - Jessimona Brandon.  I thought she was sharp - even back then.  We began the year in room 101, but moved about halfway through out to on of the "Willis Wagons" or trailers which sat on the southernmost end of the school grounds - what was then known as the "girls' playground."  Anybody remember those trailers?  The best thing about them was that there was airconditioning when it was hot.  I'm on the top row - 4th from the left.

That's me - top row, 6th from the left or the right - smack dab in the middle.

I have several favorite teachers: Mrs. Kilpatrick, Ms. Markovich (6th grade), Mrs. Woods (7th grade) Mrs. Davis (7th grade), Mrs. Vines (7th grade), Mrs. Ross (8th grade), Mrs. Potter (8th grade), Mrs. Wright (Librarian), Mr Thornhill (Gym Teacher), Mr. Evans (Vice Principal), Mr. McCartney (Principal). I have another favorite teacher from the 3rd grade but I am having a complete blackout of her name. She was the first teacher I had at Price and I graduated from her class in the 3rd grade, she reminded me of Diana Ross. We made coffee mugs in her class and everybody got to take theirs home but I never received mine but I will have to go through some old photos because I did take a picture holding my mug. Good memories!!!

Hi name is yesenia i went to henry d. lloyd school from Kindergadern till my 4th grade year  during the time i was in this school i met wonderful teacher's  that left a mark in my life but there;s  always that one scpecial teacher that i always remember that is MS. Irma Grimaldo she was my 3rd grade teacher i hope that anyone out there that has any infomation about her willl let me know i will really hope to know how she is doing!!

I am reminded of the parades that we had at almost every holiday. I am also reminded of the choir that was directed by Ms. Poelintz.

Hi all! I'm writing as both a graduate ('98) and current Bell teacher.  I received a request from a parent on the Friends of Bell board and thought I'd pass it along to all of you.

They are in the midst of planning a large fundraiser for the school to celebrate its 95th birthday and are seeking a volunteer to head up our alumni association.  If you or anyone you know is interested in lending your efforts, please contact volunteer coordinator Michelle Daut at michelle@dautnet.com.

Thanks!

Lauren Berger

lcberger@cps.edu

I rememer having the most fun at this school. From writing to gym. Never a dull day of class even when the work as completely boring.

I made the best friends ever, who i still talk to till this day and its been years since we've seen each other. The school brought kids together from different race, beliefs, culture and backgrounds. The teachers told ust hat anything was possible and that we could be whatever we wanted as long as we tried and wanted too.

Going to this school was the building blocks to my life now. The start of everything and helped me be the person I am today.

Principal Thomas Trotter is looking to fill the halls of Hyde Park Academy on the first day of school, Tuesday September 6th, with men and women who will greet the students, welcome them back to school and offer them words of encouragement. Please consider being a part of this worthy cause.

Mr. Eli Okman and Mr. Mark Fine were my favorite teachers.  They both taught language arts.  Mr. Okman was a no nonsense teacher who encouraged me to excel, and Mr. Mark Fine was a friendly teacher who I wanted to be proud of me.  They were both so encouraging that I developed a real love of the English language.  They were each other's friend and collaborated to make certain that things went well for me despite some difficult times I was having navigating through adolescence.

i went victor herbert from 1970 to 1978 i miss all my old friend some are sill  hear an some are past .on my name is dwight humphrey aka bodilly. this me  n my durther

I never forgot my time at Beidler, it was great. The teachers who were there at the time appeared to be really concerned about our education and home life. My 4th and 5th grade teacher, Ms. Sharon Frazier was my absolute favorite, but I liked them all. Great appreciation for Ms.  Johnson, 1st grade; Ms. Nichols, 2nd grade; Ms. Hale, 3rd grade; Ms. Frazier 4th and 5th. I have a good memory but I forgot the kindergarten teacher. You shaped my appreciation of life.

D. Caffey, class of 1969

I am interested in class photos from the years 1957 through 1964.   Any graduation year programs ( I was the designer of the cover for the program for 1964)

AL RAY  FAVORITE TEACHER  AT HESS UPPER CENTER  HE WAS THE LEADER FOR TEACHERS FOR QUALITY EDUCATION AND THE  CCCO  I RECALL LATER MEETING HIM AGAIN AT AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL WHEN  THE BLACK STUDENTS MARCH DOWN TOWN  AL WAS AND WILL ALWAYS BE MY HERO I JUST WISH THE REST OF AMERICA WILL HONOR HIM FOR THE WORK HE DID WAKE UP BET AND USA TO AL AND FAMILY THANKS WITH LOVE A GREAT MAN FOREVER

I remember taking gym class.  Mr. Fann was my teacher...one of my favorites.  The gym, back when I attended, was also the auditorium.  We had to change clothes behind the curtains.

We moved to Elston Ave in winter 1961.  This is where I finished third grade.  We moved to the "burbs" that summer.  I thought someone might find this photo interesting.

I only went to Canty for half the 1960-61 school year.  Here's a photo for those who are looking.

We moved from California in 1959, and I went to McPherson for 2nd Grade.  I thought someone out there might enjoy this 2nd Grade photo from October, 1959.

MR. SAMUEL NATHEN WAS MY 6TH GRADE TEACHER.  HE WAS HIGHLY ENGAGED WITH HIS STUDENTS. HE WAS

RATHER CHALLENGED AS A MALE TEACHER IN A VASTLY FEMALE SCHOOL.  I REMEMBER HIS ENCOURAGEMENT OF MY

STUDIES AND INTEREST IN SCIENCE.

I remember we were in Mrs. Woods 7th grade math class room 304. Christa McCauliffe was going to be the first teacher in space. Ther was a huge deal surrounding it because if iI remember right she hailed from Illinois. For this specail event Dr. Barbara H. Valerious Phd. (Pricipal) decided to broadcast the launch over the schools intercom system. We were all so excited as we able to close those math books and just listen. Then the count down began "5, 4, 3, 2, 1, main engine start and we have lift off as the first teacher Christa McCaullife is lifted to outerspace".  The classroom erupted into cheers and a short time later maybe 90 seconds I cant remember "Oh know  somthing has just gone terribly wrong, it appears that Shuttle Challenger had just exploded" then it was cut off the intercom system as a 13 year old my class room was mortified girls in tears, thats the way I remembered it how about you? 

I was a student at Hinton Elementary from Headstart until part of 4th grade when my family moved from Chicago in1970 so I began there in 1965.  I remember some of my teachers by last name only:  Ms. Johnson, my kindergarten teacher, Ms. Cotton( I believe my first or second grade teacher), Ms. Adams, third grade and Ms.Anderson 4th grade.  If anyone else remembers these teachers or were in my grades, please feel free to comment. 

I remember as a little girl attending W.A. Hinton Elementary School the cookies we had at lunch time.  I believe they were shortbread type with red/pinkish lines.  Those were the best cookies I ever tasted!  Along with the peanut butter.  I want to know if they still make those there?  My two older sisters and I talk about them all the time when ever we get together and reminisce.

High School Graduation Picture

Mrs. Wright was my favorite teacher.

Ms Stewart was also a great mentor

Greetings.  I'm looking for students, colleagues, stories and pictures of Mr. Perry Riley.  He taught at West Pullman in the late 70's and Hibbard since the 80's.  He is finally retiring from teaching after nearly 40 years and any stories, photos, or even guests for the celebration are very welcome.  Please contact me if you would like to contribute.

Hello Alumni!  My name is Janine.    I have an amazing supervisor named Regina.  When she attended your school her name was Regina Roberson.  She shared with me a story about her time at Crispus Attucks elementary.

Regina had a best friend named Bobbie McDonald.  She said they were inseparable..even to the point where Bobbie was allowed to stay at the school even though her family had moved out of the area at the time.

In the summer of 1976, Regina's mother passed away and Regina was sent to live with relatives in another state and did not return to your school.  She has never forgotten her friend and would LOVE to find her.   At the time the ladies would have been about 11 years old.

I am hoping there is someone that remembers these two best friends that can help me to find Bobbie for Regina.

Any help would be appreciated.  You can email me at : fotobug1966@yahoo.com

Thanks for any assistance!   Janine Wilson

Does anyone remember an Algebra teacher named Mr. Melody?  He was great, with a good sense of humor.  Of course I went to Harper in the "Flower Child" era..........he would say, "Are you going to San Francisco?  I see you have a flower in your hair!" (IT was a song of the time, if you are from this era, you will rememer the song.  Guess you had to be there.......

What can I say, my favorite teacher when I look back had to be Mr. Fackler, he was the one who really cared about his students and pushed his students to excell, he was one of the best teachers I ever had in my life, was alot of fun having him as a teacher, in the class room, and on field trips, plus how he was a fan of Scottie Pippen, how besides school work we would talk sports, whats funny is how he told me he saw a sports announcer in me, since I knew sports like the back of my hand, like I say good teacher that actually cared about his students, cause later on in my life I saw teachers that didn't care one bit, just their for the money, but not Mr. Fackler, he knew if u were failing or something he would say hey get in gear and pick it up..

My favorite teacher was Mrs. Brooks. She was a very smart lady and always gave her best to the class. Her classroom always had structure in it. Each time frame you knew what to do. Mrs. Brooks had of the Littlejohn children in her class and we all respected her and learned. Thanks for all you did for Herman Raster students. Smile, pray, and live.

Ms. Jimmie Wade was my favorite teacher at Herman Raster. She was my 6th grade teacher. Yes, dark and lovely ! Ms. Wade class had structure and she didn't miss a day of work. I learned alot and enjoy being in her. Some of my best buddies were in her class and we graduate and always compared her classes to other. Well, Ms. Wade was simply the "BEST". Again , thank you for all you did at Herman Raster. Houses A,B,C,D, The guys I attended Herman Raster with are Stanley Harrison, Darrly Dunn, Keith Jackson, Darren Harrison, Myron Nicklas, Travis Smith, William Baldwin#1, Charlie, Dogan, Bristol Channey, all all the houses, A.B.C.D. but the best one House B(est).

Both of you guys are Great Humans/ Teachers. I model my classroom based on what I experience in your classroom. Love and mIss you both.. Go Raster!  Let us all SMILE, PRAY AND LIVE.

I was the top ten in my class the year i graduated. along with Stan the Man. I forgot his last name.LOL

WOW. so glad i found this site. i remeber being this lil scared girl in a new school and the only teacher i knew that was so caring and made my years there special was Ms Kruger... SHe was the best teacher ever.. i remember her driving a yellow Bug. Man those years was priceless..

can't recall having a favorite teacher; but when I was attending I had the most fulfilling experiences talking and bonding with other teen moms during lunch period. we used to watch soap operas in the cafeteria while having lunch... so cliche!!!!

I remember our principal's name was Mr. McGee, and Miss Berry was my very 1st school teacher. I was in a.m. kindergarten. my least favorite was Mrs.Pearson...boy was she mean and she exercised that ruler 4 discipline too!!!!

I went to the Alexander Graham Bell School in 1969 to 1973, If anyone of you did go there in my classmate or anyone of you know who were they? Please let me know. I would like to know who were they. I still remember the names but I am not sure. 

David Hayes

I am the girl  sitting on the left hand side in the first row.

Nancy Weisz

Cheryl J. Howell - January Class 1963

Misters: Dixon, Duncan, Robt. Johnson, Randal Johnson, Ingersoll, Coach Taylor & Travis; Mrs.': Clinkscale, 8th gr. Mongtomery and 5th gr Mr. Isaac Clark.  I attended Phillips Elem. also.

I attended Lewis Champlain on and off from K through 8th Grade from 1047 through 1056 My earlier friend was Bobby Leeny, In later years, my friends were Aurther Chapin, Charles Bremmer, and Carl Jones. The main teachers I remember were Miss Vanderpoel in Kg, Miss Guinan in 1st grade, and Miss Oswald in 8th Grade. the Prinicipal was Miss Shea. My Boy Scout troop was at a church at 64th and Stewart.

Mr. Bates was great he made gym glass fun.

I attended Trumbull Elementary from Kindergarten to Graduation- 1941-1950. Back in those days, Trumbull was a forbidding looking building- mostly gray granite. It dominated the corner of Foster and Ashland and when my mother brought me to the front door on the first day of Kindergarten, I was a little overwhelmed and hesitant to be left there alone. Once inside,I knew I was in a good place. The teacher was friendly and welcoming and soon the class was having fun and  we forgot about how cold the school looked on the outside.

Trumbull was a wonderful school.I remember many of the  teachers- all "Miss" as women teachers were, for the most part, unmarried. the only men in the school were the janitor and the principal, Mr. Herr. There was, Miss May, Miss Periolet( we  called her Miss Perculator  behind her back because we had trouble with her name) Miss McConnell, Miss Devareaux, Miss Kiley and Miss Lund. My favorite teacher was the Librarian, Miss Hannell. She was like a grandmother to us- snow white hair and a kind wrinkled face. We went to the library once a week for story time. She would read from various books and tell us about the authors. We learned to love reading and to appreciate how words could create imagination and emotions. She always took time to help us find books that would interest us and taught us how to locate them on our own. I am an avid reader today because of her and I'm sure that is true of all the students who were privileged to be in her library.

Across from the school on the South-West corner was the school store.It was filled with supplies, trinkets and candy.We still were using pen and ink back then so we could buy either stright pens or fountain pens along with Squibb ink in black  or blue. Candies were plentiful from buttons on a paper to wax lips and licorice sticks.

 It was the first place we went after school so we could have a treat to eat on the way home. Most of us walked to and fro regardless of the weather.In the Winter, we all had snowsuits, galoshes, mufflers and mittens. We were so bundled up that we could barely see. The heavy snow suits and leggings made us all walk like penguins on ice.

Each  home class room had a cloak room at the back. We'd get to school and start to peel off the heavy layers and hang them on the hooks at the back wall. The last arrivals closed the doors. About an hour later, the aisles between the seats  would begin to look like small streams as the snow melted from our clothes and streamed into the room. Those in the back rows could smell the odor of wet wool. What a great memory! The janitor would come and mop and it would start all over again after recess and lunch.

Trumbull did not have a cafeteria, but a big lunchroom on the first floor. We had an hour for lunch so some ate in the lunch room, some went home, and, if we were llucky, some of us would walk North on Clark Street to Woolworth's and have a sloppy joe sandwich and drink at the counter.

My memories of Trumbull always bring me pleasure. It was an outsanding school with teachers who cared and who gave us a solid fouondation for more education. It's grat to know it is still there and still setting a hight standard for the students who walk through the doors every day.

Nancy Weisz

The honestly to God greatest teacher that i can recall was my bilingual teacher Mr. Bahamon or something like that its been a few years.Even though he really knew how to keep the students intrested and coming back to school regardless of how ugly the weather was. thats how great of a teacher he was, He really inspired me through the years to not give up on my dreams and to be more open and express myself.

I am looking for a photo of the class of 1987 from James R. Doolittle East. If anyone has it, please post

Mr. Hansen was my Jazz Band teacher when I attended Foreman and I have since attempted to locate him or find out about him.  No one seems to know anything about him or his current whereabouts.  He was one of my greatest teachers.  He was such a great influence and I do wish to know something/anything about him.   If anyone knows anything about Mr. Hansen, please let me know.

Thank you in advance.

Jackie Gonzalez-Rego

Class of '92

Mrs. Oneal made it possible for me to have virtually unrestricted use of the Chicago Branch Library that was situated across the street from Lawson.

She also introduced me to classical music

My name is James Fabris.  I never attended Andersen Elementry, but I am very much interested in talking to people who did. I am currently working on a novel that is set in that community, so I am looking for someone who can give me some historical perspective.

I've done extensive research in the archives of the Chicago Tribune on the topic.  But I feel like that is only giving me a small part of the story.  I would love to be in contact with anyone who could tell me about what it was like to grow up in the Humboldt Park and West Town neighborhoods in the 1960's and 70's.  Although I am writing fiction, it is very important to me to provide the reader with an accurate protrayal of the schools and neighborhoods at that time.

I went to a high school in the Chicago suburbs from 1978 until 1982.  I lived in West Town in the 1990's, and I worked as a substitute teacher at Roberto Clemente, Welles, Andersen and Pritzker and other school.  So I am trying to understand what life was like before I got there.

If you would be interest in helping me, please reply here, or send me an email at jamfab1@hotmail.com.

Thanks,
James Fabris

My name is James Fabris.  I never attended Columbus Elementry, but I am very much interested in talking to people who did. I am currently working on a novel that is set in that community, so I am looking for someone who can give me some historical perspective.

I've done extensive research in the archives of the Chicago Tribune on the topic.  But I feel like that is only giving me a small part of the story.  I would love to be in contact with anyone who could tell me about what it was like to grow up in the Humboldt Park and West Town neighborhoods in the 1960's and 70's.  Although I am writing fiction, it is very important to me to provide the reader with an accurate protrayal of the schools and neighborhoods at that time.

I went to a high school in the Chicago suburbs from 1978 until 1982.  I lived in West Town in the 1990's, and I worked as a substitute teacher at Roberto Clemente, Welles, Andersen and Pritzker and other school.  So I am trying to understand what life was like before I got there.

If you would be interest in helping me, please reply here, or send me an email at jamfab1@hotmail.com.

Thanks,
James Fabris

My name is James Fabris.  I never attended Chopin Elementry, but I am very much interested in talking to people who did. I am currently working on a novel that is set in that community, so I am looking for someone who can give me some historical perspective.

I've done extensive research in the archives of the Chicago Tribune on the topic.  But I feel like that is only giving me a small part of the story.  I would love to be in contact with anyone who could tell me about what it was like to grow up in the Humboldt Park and West Town neighborhoods in the 1960's and 70's.  Although I am writing fiction, it is very important to me to provide the reader with an accurate protrayal of the schools and neighborhoods at that time.

I went to a high school in the Chicago suburbs from 1978 until 1982.  I lived in West Town in the 1990's, and I worked as a substitute teacher at Roberto Clemente, Welles, Andersen and Pritzker and other school.  So I am trying to understand what life was like before I got there.

If you would be interest in helping me, please reply here, or send me an email at jamfab1@hotmail.com.

Thanks,
James Fabris

I rememeber being picked by Mr. Scott to ring the bell to signal lunch and recess. It was a very proud moment for me at Waters.

Who remembers when Ericsson burned down? It had to be in the middle 1940's.  I lived on the 2800 block of Harrison St. I do remember we were all transfered to Manly High School. I moved in 1952 and finished grammer school at Gregory.

mrs. moderhock , 6th grade teacher ;loved this lady . dr. kalzavoski , pri.  ; very kind . best friend , antonio cruz ; died in 1972 of overdose is what i was told. good memories ,thanks for those , sorry it closed

Hello, I had Mrs. Stick in 2nd grade. I had Mrs. Monty in 3rd she was a nice teacher. I remember Mrs. Brenbaum as my kindergarten teacher. We did not see much of her as she went on maternity leave. I do not remember whom I had for 1st grade? For some reason that year is a blur? I am looking for anyone who would have started kindergarten in 64-65 at Graeme Stewart and would have went thru 5th grade. I remember Mr. Conway vice principle but not the principle was a woman in the late 60s. The truant officer looked like granny from the Beverly Hillbillies and played harmonica Mr. Conway played the fiddle. Does anyone out there remember the good conduct cards my class came in second one year? I think that was in Mrs. Montys class. 

I had two classmates I would like to find Kenny May who moved to Kentucky around 69 and Earl Shaffel who was in several of my classes. Earl was about 6ft tall when we were in the 5th grade. Earl lived down by the Uptown Theater.

Email randellsenor AT yahoo DOT com

I will be submitting several class photos when I have time.

1st Grade, Mrs. Theresa Fulbright's Class Rm 108

Sharon Dunn

I remember spending an entire day in what could then be classified as "time out" for sprinkling kitchen cleanser all overthe tables and chairs in the housekeeping area.  Otherwise, kindergarten was a ball.  Mrs. Fulbright remains one of my favorite teachers.  She was always patient and kind and never yelled at us.  I was only 4 years old when I entered kindergarten (This was before the birthday rule and was allowed back then!) so I was reallly terrified.  My best friend, the late Beverly Meekins, and I remained close and in touch until her death in 2002.

Grade 2B September 1942

School Photo

I am in the last row, second from the left.

I was reading a story the other day someone had posted. As I was reading some of the teachers names they were mentioning it brought back some good memories. I loved our principal at the time, his name was Mr. Greenstein. I can't recall my 2nd grade teacher at the time. It would be nice to know. Anyway, I attended school from 1966 through 1973.  Thanks again for the memories.

I graduated in 1996 and I will never forget my Wildwood favorites: 

Mrs. Payne- taught me 7th grade and always made us laugh!!

Mrs. kalas- taught me 6th grade and never let us forget that school was serious business and we needed to be ready for highschool.

Ms. Evans- one of the nicest most caring people I ever met, hands down.

favorite teache was mr. johnson..the gym teacher.

Photo taken in August 1992 during demolition

My Dad

I found these photos taken by my Dad when the school was demolished sometime in August 1992 to build a replacement modern school. My dad told me that the building took some time to be torn down because it was solid and very thick. This building was a great place to be in during a storm.

I remember the gymnasium on the top floor which doubled as the assembly hall where it had a stage and fire exit that took us outside of the building during fire drills. I also have fond memories of the boiler room where coal was used to heat the steam radiators to provide heat during the winter and provide hot water for the school. There was also sawdust that was delivered to the school and I had no idea what that was for. However, I do remember using it for our pet mice in our classroom.

Those who remember the old school with the huge windows that you had to use the long pole with the hook to open and close the windows. Do you also remember the window washers that cleaned the windows? What about the school pendulim clocks? And the cloakroom in each classroom with all the hooks to hang your coats and where the misbehaved kids were taken to and of course they went into our coat pockets and took our personal belongings. How about the one cent cookies and 5 cent milk during snack? Remember the 18 or 26 cent lunches (or whatever the amount was)? Don't forget about the bathrooms that had the most amount of urinals and stalls. Do you also remember the cafeteria and the bench seats?

Remember we all lined up to go out the hallway and stand against the wall during the tuesday 10:30 am air raid drills? How about the hanging ceiling lamps that lit up the classroom?

These vintage buildings are the greatest and I hope they don't tear down more of these buildings but remodel them instead.

Anyone else out there remember anything else about our old building?

4th grade, 1961

I have Bateman memories that still make me laugh (or at least smile). Some of the boys in my class had an obsession with drawing army scenes and I recall the sounds the boys who sat behind me would make while deep in the acts of creation ( putttt.  crude flatulence like sound, BOOM, BOOM).  Almost everyone loved singing and we all got very excited when the teacher passed out our songbooks.  Among our favorites was Columbia the Gem of the Ocean- I still remember all the words and sing with gusto in the confiness of my car. BTW- I am the second seat third row. Would love to hear from anyone else in this picture.

Death of a President

TIMES CNN http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1919303,00.html

As a student at Crane High School during the first half of the 1960's, I was among the hip & cool, tinted green glasses and short leather jacket wearing crowd.  We were all so cool back then; and what we called "suave & debonair."   It was the beginning of Black People feeling & exercising black racial pride.  The Sun times had written an unflattering article about our studentbody with many photos of my classmates, making them appear ignorant and thuggish.  We had given them, in good faith, interviews thinking they would say kind things about us, alas they did not.  It may have helped to helped push us towards becoming some of the first folks to refuse to cite the Pledge of Allegiance in Assembly--holding that the US Flag did not represent Black Folks.  (I think this practice still exists in some places.  However, by God’s grace and at 65 years golden, I no longer hold to this concept). 

Crane’s Principal was Dr. Lorraine Sullivan, a very stately, reserved, well dressed & head held high white woman.  I recall that she appeared to be untouched by her surroundings, an almost enigma compared to Chicago’s Westside young representatives (mostly Black students).  Whenever she was in the vicinity, there was a brief hushed silence to the constant chatter we made in the hallways, at our lockers, in the lunchroom, washrooms & sometimes in the classrooms of “certain” teachers.  We were a cool, laughing & noisy bunch of kids, although there were several students who were more reserved. 

On this particular day, Dr. Sullivan advised that President Kenney had been killed.  A painfully hushed silence fell across our school.  It was so thick you could cut it with a knife.  I was wearing a green & black plaid skirt and black sweater & remember crying as was many other students.  We were dismissed early that day & there were no Black students, no White students, no Hispanic students; we were just sad folks who had gotten some very sad new about OUR President. 

There was no way for me to know at the time that I would be experiencing that same pain, only 10 times worse, 5 years & 5 months later as news of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's assassination literally spread in wild fires across the City of Chicago.  Nearly 50 years has passed since that fateful November day, but it seems like it was only yesterday.  

Me, 48 years later

My photos

I was at Peirce from 1953 to 1962. It was a time of great change. My kindergarten teacher, Mrs Warneke, taught there from when the school first opened. She retired sometime in the early '60s. Up to 7th grade, we still put on a Christmas Pageant every year showing the story of the birth of Jesus in tableau form with the choir singing Christmas hymns. (and the school was at least half Jewish!) By 8th grade, that was no longer permitted. We also had a live Christmas tree until 1959, when a fire at a Catholic school killed 93 children.
One rumor that lasted throughout my years there was that there was a swimming pool hidden behind a door that was about 4 ft above the 1st floor hall. Never did find out what that door was for.
Two of the big advances while I was there were the replacement of the old incandescent lights with "modern" fluorescent lighting, and the installation of new electric clocks in each classroom, replacing the old wind-up brass pendulum clocks.
Pierce was one of the showplaces of the Chicago Public Schools, and we regularly hosted to bras from downtown.
Had a great time there, and I hope the children that are there now enjoy it half as much

Mrs Shane was known as a tough 5th grade teacher. You kinda knew that it would be a tough year in her class. Something happened throughout the semester and she had to leave for good. We got Ms. Del or Dell. Pretty fresh out of college and an awesome newby. It was Viet Nam era and she was like a flower child. We had to sing at a school concert in the auditorium and I will never forget she taught us Born Free and Raindrops Keep Fallin on my Head. I don't think those songs were on the suggested list of school songs. She was also cute as well and so, in fifth grade that sure didnt hurt.

Anyway, Ms Del was an amazing break from the routine older style teachers. She was fanatstic and touched several kids lives, even forty years later. She was definitely my favorite teacher moment at Warren.

Warren in general for me was a learning experience beyond what many children will ever experience, even throughout their lives. I started school a few miles away and we moved into district in about 66. The neighborhoods where I lived was always very diverse but Chicago in the city during the late sixties were supercharged. My parents always taught us tolerance and acceptence first. If you're a jerk, color, race, or whatever just didn't come into play for us. We were white and jewish in a neighborhood that was changing quickly. People with less understanding or more fear started moving out fast. I witnessed discrimination from both sides of the coin. It's ugly on either side and that stayed with me throughout life. I learned how to walk in another mans shoes by living with all types of people. And I haved walked with those from near top to near bottom.

My children will never know this education I received from the south side. I cherish it like a badge of complete pride. My memories of Warren, Pill Hill, The J, The Pool, Markon's, our park on 88th & Jeffrey, the gangs, CVS, seeing some good ass-whuppings. I learned so much from that freakin neighborhood I can not tell you. Mostly I learned really that we are all the damned same inside. What I have seen overall in this life is that MANY people that never grew up with diversity have fear of what they do not know. I guess you can almost understand it as ignorance. Given the chance to experience many cultures, etc. we open our eyes to know and see more. There are good, bad, apothetic, involved, sincere, and scummy in every group. It could even be as close as family but I learned to give everyone a chance to represent to me whom they are before we rush to judgement. Just ask my old friends. I call back to 89th St to finds guys still there.

Mrs. Caroline Lee 6th grade was my very favorite teacher.  She taught the entire class how to knit.  One boy even knitted a sweater, he was an overachiever, lol. 

One cold winter day an 8th grade student came to school with nothing on his head or ears.  His ears were so red and swollen.  Mr. Lee brought him into our classroom and treated his ears and sent him on his way. 

She was an extremely kind lady, as were many of our teachers. She had beautiful white hair.   We were overall good kids who had a thirst for learning and they taught us so much about the 3 R's, about life, and so much about African American History.   I feel so sorry for kids now who are missing out on so much of what those teachers had to offer!

This is the place (Froebel School)were I first started the band "The Walking Miracles" in 1963.

We practiced in the school gym on the third floor twice a week. We were getting ready to play for the school prom.

I think the most beautiful teacher there was Ms. Rosenberg.

At this school I met Leo Wasso, Ralph Villaloboz and Gilbert Starr. My Cousin Joe Rios(14 years old)was our drummer and he attended St. Adalbert Catholic School.

Our band played at Gads Hill Community Center, Bethlehem Center, The Boys and Girls Club on 26th. Street, El Falcon Dance Hall on Ashland and 18th. Street. After the dances, we would go to eat pizza at DVD's Pizza on 18th and Ashland.

If anyone out there remembers The Walking Miracles, please post your comments on this site or e-mail me at:

dplata46@hotmail.com ith your memories of the band. 

We were playing red rover in the school's north side playlot. The year, I think it was 1972 or so. There was a large mix of all different students playing, older and younger. It was also a partial gravel partially paved area at that time. While running back and forth accross the area I tripped over one of the younger kids racing from one side to the other, fell and my left arm snapped - about half way down my forearm.

I rememeber my first words were "I broke my (expletive deleted) Arm!" I swore loud enough that Mr. Williams, who was the Principal at the time, came over to reprimand me about my behavior. When he saw my arm hanging in a V from elbow to wrist, his reaction was open mouthed astonishment!

I also distinctly remember fixing a sling for my arm myself, which the ambulance person/EMT complimented me on. Through the haze of many years, I don't even remember much pain, until the healing started and the itching of the cast nearly drove me crazy.

 AFTER GRADUATING VOLTA (1947) AND VON STEUBEN (1951), I MOVED ON. TODAY, OF COURSE, I'M RETIRED. STILL, I AM CURRENTLY CO-CHAIRMAN OF THE VON STEUBEN CLASS OF JUNE 1951 REUNION COMMITTEE. NEXT OCTOBER WE WILL BE HOLDING OUR 60TH YEAR REUNION. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 24 MEMBERS ON THE COMMITTEE. 11 ARE FROM VOLTA!!! THE REST ARE FROM PETERSON, HIBBARD AND PALMER. WE ALL LOVED THE SCHOOL. AND THE TEACHERS. AND, YES, EVEN MR LINO. MY FAVORITE TEACHER WAS MISS KATHERINE JURS. A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL WOMAN. JOHNSON, WALKER AND HINKLEY WERE ALL GOOD. ON ANY SUNDAY MORNING THERE WERE AT LEAST 3 SOFTBALL GAMES GOING ON IN THE PLAYGROUND.. I SOLD KOOL-AID TO THE PLAYERS. THE 8TH GRADERS HAD A SOFTBALL TEAM CALLED 'THE AVENGERS'. 7TH GRADER'THE ? MARKS'. THE 6TH 'THE MUSKETS'. I WAS A 5TH GRADER IN 'THE EAGLES'.

BACK IN THOSE DAYS, WE WOULD LEAVE OUR HOMES ON SATURDAY AROUND 9A.M. AND RETURN HOME AROUND 6. WE WOULD FOLLOW THE RIVER NORTHWEST AND RETURN. NOBODY LOCKED THEIR DOORS.

AT VON, I WAS A MEMBER OF THE ANACONDAS S.A.C. 18 MEMBERS: 14 GRADUATED FROM VOLTA.

WHEN I WENT TO LAW SCHOOL, I MOVED INTO MY PARENTS HOME ON AVERS. MY OLDEST SON ATTENDED THE 1ST 2 GRADES AT VOLTA. MISS JURS WAS THERE AS ASST PRINCIPAL. SHE REMEMBERED ME WHEN I WALKED IN WITH MY SON AND I TOLD HER "MISS JURS, I PUT MY BOY UNDER YOUR CARE." WE BOTH HAD TEARS IN OUR EYES. I NEVER FOUND OUT WHAT EVER BECAME OF HER. AS I SAID, A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN INSIDE AND OUT.

VOLTA FOREVER!!!!!

Typical steam regulator

Friviere, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Friviere

In the early 60's, Gresham had a courtyard in the back.  There were assigned 'monitors' that would line up the boys, who would (orderly) enter the building separately from the girls.  The courtyard entrance had a fire-escape on the wall to the left and cage/door to close off the area after hours.  In the mornings and after recess, the boys would file into the school through a door on the south side of the courtyard.  Entering the building there looked like a basement and we would walk by an open room on the left with a large steam driven machine in it where the 'engineer' worked.  I remember the building used coal for heating.  The machine was probably a blower and had a huge belt on it and a spinning regulator on top (something like this picture). 

One day when we were walking through, I remember there was talk about the Sox winning the pennant.

Earlier and Later

Jane Karen Phillips

Two of my very favorite photos of my Mom (Norma Fleischer Phillips).  On the left, her Flower Senior class photo, taken in 1940.  On the right, a church photo taken in 2000.  She never changed!

My favorite teacher was Nancy Wunderlich.  She was my teacher during my last three and most important years there.  I was in her class from 6th grade thru 8th grade.  She got me very interested in Art, Science, and History.  I spent my five years with basically the same students and by the time we graduated, we had the type of bond usually only found between siblings. And Ms. Wunderlich was like our mother.  I heard that she recently retired and I wish could have gone to her retirement party.

James Hull, former Overton student

I attended Anthony Overton Elementary for only half of a year. The year was 1962. Our teacher was a gentleman named Mr. Davis, he was replaced by another teacher whose name I do not remember.

As with everyone who remembers vividly where they are on certain dates, I will never forget coming into our classroom - which was on the northeast corner of the second floor - on November 22, 1962, and listening to the public address system as a radio broadcast of the events of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy unfolded. When the announcer said that the president was dead, it was the most shocking, sickening, devastating feeling I have ever felt, to this day.

Today, I am a writer, journalist, poet and playwright, and I believe I owe every bit of it to the brief three months I spent at Anthony Overton. In the summer of 1962, my mother decided that she and I would leave my hometown of West Point, Mississippi, and she would make a better life for us in Chicago. Things did not go well, and we eventually ended up living with friends at 111 E. 49th St., an apartment building on the southwest corner of 49th and Indiana. My mother enrolled me in Anthony Overton, which. at that time was billed as the most progressive, cutting-edge elementary school in Chicago. Rather than the customary bricks and mortar, Overton was made of steel and glass. The walls were glass, allowing the sun and light to pour in. The colors of the outside world were vivid and bright. The surroundings were so stimulating to me, that I cannot explain. The thing that I remember most was the music, which was constantly played over the PA system. To this very day, I can remember sitting and listening to the soundtracks of "Oklahoma"' "Guys and Dolls", "South Pacific" "West Side Story", "Porgy and Bess" and other Broadway musicals. It was stimulating and intellectually resourceful. As I said, I believe it is this brief exposure to the innovative and progressive offerings of Anthony Overton Elementary School that is the genesis of my spiritual, creative and intellectual growth, and which led me to become an award-winning journalist, writer, poet and playwright.

Now, here is the kicker: All of these memories come bubbling forth even though I only spent about 90 days in rhe school, and have never been back to Anthony Overton or 49th and Indiana, since December of 1962. Since walking out of that school for the last time. I have never laid eyes on it again, nor have I ever been back to the neighborhood.

Just a few weeks after the Kennedy assassination, my mother decided to move us back to Mississippi, mainly because she was afraid that the inner-city surrounding of harshness, starkness and crime would have an adverse affect on my growth and development. I believe she is right. I had rapidly become predisposed to bringing home comic books, which I couldn't explain how I obtained ( I "lifted" them from a nearby L-train newsstand), and I had started talking back, something not tolerated in the South.

So, we moved back to Mississippi, and I cried every mile of the highway back down South. I hated - hated- leaving Anthony Overton School. I don't know who will read this, or if it will even be read. But I can honestly say that if there is such a thing as a life-changing, or life-defining, or life-developing experience, mine is Anthony Overton Elementary School.

God Bless,

Rev. James L. Hull

Tupelo, Mississippi

Norma Fleischer-National Honor Soc cert-1940-Lucy Flower Tech HS

Jane Karen Phillips

I was going through some of my Mother's things last week and came across her National Honor Society certificate from 1940.  Her name was Norma Annette Fleischer. 

Lucy Flower Tech High School - 1939 Sophomores-Norma Fleischer back/center-Can anyone else identify others?

Jane Karen Phillips

Graduation Day! 1940 Lucy Flower Technical High School-Norma Fleischer back/left-Can anyone else identify others?

Jane Karen Phillips

My favorite teacher was John Reid. He was a genius with numbers. He was our math teacher. Thanks Mr. Reid for being an excellent concerned teacher.

I truly hope Hanson Park is a better school because when I went there for 2nd grade, it wasn't the best for me. I have nothing but not-so-good memories.  I'm sorry, but that's the truth.

At  the  Aggassiz  elementary  Oct. 6, 2010 pep  rally  4  officers  gave  a  Martial  Arts  demonstration  all  the  officers  train  under  Sensei  Ken  Keith  at  Takeo-Ryu  Dojo. They  are  Joe  Fiorentino, Lee  Hudson, and Virginia.

My Favorite teachers were Mrs. hall, Mrs. Myka,Mrs. williams both of them,Mrs. dusea,but definately Ms. Sarrows.

   This school made me who I'am today a wonderful mother of four.

My favorite teacher at Schmid School was Ms. McDonald - she was my first teacher in kindergarten.  She was absolutely awesome.  My second favorite teacher was Mrs. Downey.  I remember sitting in reading circle with my reader - See Spot Go! Run Spot Run!  Awesome memories.  Great School!

One of my favorite teachers at Faraday was my third grade teacher, Mrs. (Barbara) Griffin.  She was a young progressive teacher that encouraged us to do our best.  She was very committed to her students and allowed some of us to even get a glimpse into her personal family life outside of the school walls.  I was one of those fortunate students she took a personal interest in.  One weekend 3 fellow students and myself were invited to Mrs. Griffin's house and while there she fixed us a great dinner with strawberry shortcake for dessert.  This was my first time ever tasting strawberry shortcake and it was delicious!  The only problem with this great weekend was that I broke out with red bumps all over my body from the strawberries!  It was the first and last time I ate strawberries until about 25 years later when I discovered I had outgrown my allergy and again could enjoy strawberry shortcake without the worry of any outbreaks. Yes, Mrs. Griffin was a great teacher and a good cook! 

I loved ALL my teachers at Locke! They were all amazing! Mrs. Kritikos Mrs. Bialk were one of my very first teachers at Locke & have nothing but awesome memories. ALL my  8th teachers helped me reach where I am today ... One way or the other. They really tried to help and teach me and other students to be good and succeed in 8th grade for graduation. Some of my non-homeroom teachers were the best as well- Mr. Parker, Ms. Hammons, Mrs. O'Gara, Mrs. Trekas, Mr. Bermudez, Mrs. Lazarevic, Mr. Berry, and even Mr. Theil. They were all great. In Locke, they will Give you the resourses you need to make your life easier academically. Locke is by far my favorite out of the 4 schools I've attended. I hope to become a teacher at Locke when I graduate college. Class of 2010!!!!

When I came to Duprey for the 2002-2003 schoolyear, I was very nervous at first -but at the momen I walked into Ms. Kooi's room, my nervousness disappeared! My first grade teacher was Ms. Kooi and she was the most amazing teacher in the world !!! She was so dedicated an really wanted for us to Learn and pass 1st grade. Thanks to her, by the end of the year I made it to the honor roll and I won first place in the primary science fair. Even though I didn't graduate at Duprey in 2010, I cherished my time there and I will always remember and live Duprey.

mrs  bayerson kaplan

mrs willis was the best teacher that i ever had at cook because she taught me responsibility and i had her as my teacher for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade. i miss her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi, I just found this site. I was also in the first generation at Juarez, back then, it was Benito Juarez H.S. 

I often reminisce about the wonderful times—now only sweet memories—I keep of my time at Juarez.

The teachers were wonderful; they truly cared and respected our differences and us. I remember especially Mrs. Lopez and Mr. Lomeli, wonderful and “hard” teachers. Who not only gave us their best but expect the best from us as well. They truly loved their profession and it showed.

Oh! How I miss those days—metal detectors and all.  

I am so glad that I found this website..... I have longed to find how to attempt to talk to people from the school... I came to Beilder from Mississippi.... It was a hard adjustment at first, but I will never forget those teachers that made a really big impact on the person i am today.... My first teacher when i came there was Mrs. Walker... Very stern lady that did not mind make you stand up and touch your toes for a long time.... I remember one day the whole class of boys had to stand touching toes for at least twenty minutes you were glad when she called your name to sit down.... Mrs. Bryant really inspired me for two years... She got me to reading on a 6th grade level and I was just in the seventh grade.... I am very thankful for her....  When I really figured out myself was when I met... Mr. Jones.... I knew then that I wanted to be just like him.... Teach math... He pushed us to the max everyday to do our best... i sit and even laugh at some of the stuff I use to say in his class... We were on identifying right angles and this particular figure was a right angle but turned to the left so i told him it was a LEFT angle.... LMBO!  Or even when he threw an eraser at CHARLES and chalk dust was all over his face.... (Crying laughing now)... those were the good ole days..... Because of his determination for us to excel... I went to college and got my B.A. in Mathematics and teach high school math now...OH and of course can not forget about Mrs. Sues.... what an awesome teacher.... She was such a special teacher in so many ways.... very compassionate and all.... I remember one day we were in her class (On second floor across from the restrooms), she had let Lawaysha comb her hair and Lawaysha got the comb tangled up in her hair and she couldn't get it out.... that was so hilarious! Or even when we were reading the Swiss Family Cursades or Hardy Boys Adventures how we use to just fly through those books and it made us speak so articulate and all.... I remember my music teacher MR. MORRISON... he actually wrote a song that I will never forget and often sing it "I GOT TO BE ME"  because of his opening my eyes to my music gift, I am the minister of music at my church...I even miss my classmates I would not know one of them if they would walk up to me now.... I still got some of my picturs of class day pics..... LAWAYSHA, KENDRIX, WILLIAM, COURTNEY, DANIELLE, CHRISHONDA, VAUGHN, CHARLES,.... the list goes on and on..... LOVED THE BEIDLER DAYS!!! There are so many more memories.... But I will stop now.....

Well Let me start by saying that this was the first school in the U.S that I attended once I arrived from Mexico, And I will never regret it. This school had the best teachers in the city and I really mean it, I'm so proud of this teachers that really worked hard and motivated students to study and become professionals. These teachers really care about their students and that's something that I will never forget. These are some names that I remember and I hope that wherever they're now "THEY CAN BE PROUD OF ALL THE HARD WORK THEY DID".  MR. MORA, MRS. MORA, MR. PAZARAN AND MRS. RIVERA. These teachers were totally prepared each day to teach their students and will always pay attention to every single one in class. "I HAVE TO SAY YOU WERE THE BEST TEACHERS I HAVE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE"........

Joe Freelon....he was awesome, loving, powerful and engaging!

I have been terrible with names- all my life but I do remember Ms. Jackson and what a wonderful teacher and person she was. I have very fond memories of her and am wondering how she is doing today. If anyone knows, please post. Thanks!

I remember being in 5th grade wishing to be over with elementary school . Everyone is always in a rush to get over with school , with out ever taking the time to actually enjoy the simple things in life. When the day finally arrived , I wanted to hold on the moment. As we stood on stage singing our graduation song , I couldn't help but to think that it was the end of the chapter. Everyone writes " Keep in touch" in the autograph books , but no one ever does. It's sad to say that High School seperates the best of friends. Life gets so complicated as you get older. I sometimes wish I was still in 5th grade playing kickball with my classmates. I usually wish I would of appreciated being a kid . Well, for the most part - I must say that i still had the time of my life .

c/o 2000

First grade, Third grade, and Eighth grade.

I have always felt as if our class was the best class in the history of Lindblom. The spirit of our class was so unified to the point of us relating as family more than class mates. Our class sing was well-planned and remembered as one of the most tear jerking moments spent together on stage that all of us will cherish for a lifetime. We had one of the best musicians to head our Class Sing that encouraged us to stand proudly as we held each note of every touching song sang. Theotis Rogers, a noted professional pianist, was one of many great talents in our loyal, dedicated class. I now realize that previous classes as well as many more to come are just as dedicated and feel the strength of an Eagle as we soar to greater heights and excel in all areas of life having had the experience of belonging to a school of great stature. The years at the "Bloom" will forever be remembered as unforgettable, precious moments that will go down in history.

June 1969 Gray Globe

The Gray Globe was a new addition to Gray School in the late 60's.  The availability of technology that could support a school newspaper for elementary school was finally a possiblity.  The publication was managed and run by eighth grade students.  Students who were on the paper typed and created the layouts for the paper.  This was done during the school day.  The paper includes articles about school activities and creative writing from younger students. 

June 1969, Gray Globe, page 2

June 1969, Gray Globe, page 3

First Grade, Myra Bradwell, March 1966

Are you aware there is a Garvy School Song.  It was written by a student named Robert Peterson.  I'm sure I have a copy of the original manuscript if anybody is interested. 

MY FAVORITE TEACHER WAS MR.MCCULM BUT WE ALL CALLED HIM MR C HE WAS THE COOLEST TEACHER YOU WILL EVER MEET

MY FAVORITE TEACHER WAS MR.MCCULM BUT WE ALL CALLED HIM MR C HE WAS THE COOLEST TEACHER YOU WILL EVER MEET

as recalled by Robert B. Johnson  (Class of  January  1961)

In 1853 the Chicago and Northwestern Train line  (now the Union Pacific)  ended at the Canfield Station  (later to be become the Edison Park stop).  In 1854 the train line was extended to Park Ridge.

The community of Edison Park developed in and around the Chicago and Northwestern railroad tracks in the late 1800's.  In 1890 the community received the first electric street lamps.   I believe the community was one of the first to receive electrification,  henceforth the name Edison.  Similarly the Norwood Park community sprang up around the NW  railroad tracks.  In 1910 the Edison Park community was incorporated into Chicago.   With the growth of these communities grade schools opened, including Ebinger for Edison Park  and Norwood Park Elementary for said community.  The  Ebinger grade school open in 1926.  The school was named in honor of Christian Ebinger, Sr.  one of the first settlers to the Edison park area  (source:  Ebinger  School website) 

There was no high school in the general area.

William Howard Taft High School open its doors in September of  1939 (source Taft Alumni Association).

The area in around the site of Edison school lay largely undeveloped until the 1940's.

In fact there was a working farm on what was to become the site of Resurrection Girls High School. This farm was one of the last farms within the Chicago city limits.

The area west of Harlem to the Canfield and South of Devon to roughly to Higgins began to see development in the 1940's.  Part of this development was a result of an airplane factory at Orchard Place airfield (later to become O'Hare International Airport).   With the end of World War II the community saw explosive growth as new housing was needed to house the returning GI's.  New homes were constructed  in and area around the future site of Edison Elementary School.

There was a small 4 room school building at 6221  North Oriole.  When this school opened is unknown.  Because of the significant growth in the community the Chicago Public School system commissioned a new building for the growing neighborhood.  Construction started in 1948.

Thomas Alva Edison Elementary opened its doors to the thriving new community around 1950.  The principal may have been Dr. Fields. 

Even as the new school at 6220 N. Olcott opened its doors there was overcrowding.    1952 was the first beginnings of the "Baby Boom" generation.  New construction in the community continued adding additional families and taxing the facility. 

A new principal ,   Dr.  Ann V. Gale arrived at the school  in September 1952. 

By 1954 the school could no longer accommodate the growing student population.  I recall split shift classes in 1955 due to shortage of classroom space.  Some students attended school from  8:00 a.m. to noon  while the second shift went from noon to  4:00  P.M..

The small 4 room school on Oriole at west end of the school property remained and was referred to as the annex.  The students affectionately called it the "LITTLE SCHOOL".   It was reserved  for 1st and 2nd grades whereupon they entered the "BIG SCHOOL" for 3rd grade and beyond. 

To exacerbate the crowding problem,  the Edison Park Children's Home sent their students to Edison.  Until the late 1950's  the school was located on unincorporated property on the west side of Canfield Avenue.  Eventually the land became part of Park Ridge.    Today the children's home is gone.    Recently the property on which the home was located was sold and the home demolished.   Luxury homes have been constructed on the land.

In those years almost all students  walked to school.  There was no busing  and 2 car families were a luxury.  Few if any students were driven to school.  Some of the students North of  Higgins Avenue had a very long distance to walk  (~one mile).   The  Edison branch was located near  Ardmore and Ottawa Avenues. This school was used for lower grades whose younger students would find the long walk to the main building (or annex)   excessive.  In lieu of  walking  great distances  some students were allowed to ride their bike to school.  Some how we all managed to make it to school rain or shine,     snow and cold.   The term "snow day"  was not in our lexicon.   In all my years attending public school  ('52-'65)  I   recall  only one January day in '65 that school was canceled because foul weather. 

Construction of a new addition to Edison was needed  to accommodate the growing student population.   Construction started on an addition in 1954.  In 1956 the south addition consisting of  4 new class rooms,  library and kindergarten room opened.  The  outside configuration of the building has remained virtually unchanged ever since. 

During the 1950's and 60's students attend classes from 9:00 A.M. TO 3:15  PM.

There was a one hour lunch break from noon to 1:00  p.m.  There was no food service in the school.  Almost all students within reasonable walking distance went home for lunch.

Those students who lived far away or had working parents were allowed to bring their lunches.  One classroom was reserved as a lunchroom.

How many of you recall milk service at school?   Schools contracted with milk vendors to provide milk to students.  Remember those small glass bottles?  Milk was delivered in the morning for  students to drink during morning recess or at lunch.

October 4, 1957 was a significant day in the annals of technology  (and US education).  For it was on that day the Soviet Union launched the 'Sputnik"  satellite.  Shortly there after I noted a change in our curriculum.  We began to receive more science instruction in the school.   The upper grades would gather in the library to watch the latest rocket-satellite  launch  on the one black & white television. 

I do not remember  an 'official' dress code  but there were items of clothing that were deemed inappropriate.  Boys did not wear blue jeans or exposed tee-shirt with any kind of writing.  All boys wore shirts.  Girls either wore dresses or blouses  with skirts.  In the late 50's it was a craze for girls the have their white blouses embroidered with their initials.  Pants were not allowed to be worn be girls.   Rebellion by the students was unheard .  These were the conservative Eisenhower years. 

Teachers also appeared to observe a dress code too.  Many of the women (there were few men)  wore high heeled shoes.  Once again the female teachers did not wear pants.

Classroom violence was non-existent.  There may have been a few insignificant squabbles but I don't remember any.  No one thought of bringing a gun to school,  but knives were another story.  The knives were not used for threats or fighting,  but in games in the school play yard.   Boys may have brought their knives with cub/boy scout insignia's on the handle.  It was all so innocent.  Does any one remember the game  Mumbly Peg,  played with pocket knives?   How times have changed!

December 1, 1958 was another sad day in the history of Chicago and Chicago education.  That day saw 92 chidren and 3 nuns die in the tragic Our  Lady of Angels School fire.  Soon afterward I seem to  recall special emphasis on fire drills at  the school.  A new fire alarm pull box was installed in front of the school.  In  addition to the fire drills we always had periodic air raid drills.  The 50's was the onset of the 'Cold-War' and the cloud of nuclear annihilation hung over our heads.   I believe there was even a fallout shelter in the basement of the school.

Primary subjects included, reading, grammar, handwriting spelling, arithmetic,  science, social studies.  Additional subjects included  music, art  and library.  Upon reaching 7th grade courses in home mechanics were added. All students in seventh grade learned  basic sewing and cooking skills.  Additionally,  students learned how to iron clothes.  The 8th grade boys learned plumbing, electrical and carpentry skills.   The girls continued one with more advanced sewing and cooking classes.

There were gym classes  too.  Upon reaching the 6th grade one day of the week was reserved for 'recreational gym' that included dance lessons.  Gym teacher Mr. Helfrick taught the students polka, fox trot, waltz and square dancing.  But that was about to change.  By the late 50's rock 'n' roll became the dance music choice of the students.  Students would observe the latest dances  on the  American Bandstand television  program and bring them to school.  Mr. Helfrick was able to reluctantly incorporate  this music into the school dance program.  The twist dance craze  of 1960 created some trying times.

As for extracurricular program there were none that I know.   There were no math or chess clubs as common to today.   There were no school athletic teams either.  In the winter months the gym was open on Friday evenings for dance parties.   The activity was known as "Social Center".  The boys would sit on one side while the girls sat on the opposite side.  It was now time for the students to get their fill of that "evil" rock 'n' roll music.  Looking back at the music it was all so innocent. The girls would bring in the latest 45's rpm. records to be played by DJ.   Generally the girls would be dancing to the latest  rock 'n' roll dances;  The Fly,  the Pony, the BOP.  Boys would sit quietly and observe  as they did not know the latest moves  or were to shy to ask a girl for a "Fast" dance.  When a "Slow-Dance" was played the boys would ask a girl to the dance floor.  Dance fads such as the Twist or The Stroll would bring the students to their feet.  I don't recall when the "Social Center" activity was abandoned.

I believe sometime in the late 50's the school instituted departmentalized teaching for the  upper grades.  Students would switch  classrooms to go to those teachers who had a specific expertise.  Mrs.  Hirshberg  taught music and math to 8th grade students.  Mrs. Polka taught English  while Mrs. Halbasch taught science.

Through the late 50's and on into the 60's the student population continue to grow, though there  was no expansion  of the building.  I believe the student population peaked at over 600 by the  60's.  Classroom sizes of over 40 students were not unusual.

Still, teachers were able to have decorum in the classroom.    Even with these large classes instruction did not appear to suffer. Edison and surrounding grade schools were some of the best in the Chicago Public School system.  This can be reflected in the student population of William Howard Taft High School.  From the 40's and on into the 70's was one of the best high school in the city.  Dropout rates at Taft were almost non-existent and many students went on to college.  By 1961 I had moved on to education  at Taft.

Principal Gale left the school  in 1961.  She went on to bigger and better things in the Chicago Public Schools system.   She eventually became principal of Roald Amundesen High School,  Chicago.   She was an educator of some renowned.

The new principal, James Iorio, arrived in the fall of 1961.

Up until the 1960's students whose birth date occurred around February were allowed to enter school mid-term.  Classes  were split into semesters, not by year.  To balance out class sizes dual classes generally consisted of two semesters.  Brighter students of a lower semester  tended to be paired the with slower students from the semester ahead.  Exceptional students often skipped semesters.   But that was about to change. 

In the late '50's or early 60's  the Chicago Public School systems decreed there would be no more semesters but classes would be on the year.  I believe this was to make graduations compatible with colleges whose programs were on a yearly cycle.  I don't recall the exact  procedures  but all mid-term students had to get on a year cycle. This necessitated the those  mid-term student's education  to be accelerated.    Four semester of two years were somehow compacted into 3 semesters effectively promoting the students to one semester ahead  and on to a yearly schedule.  I believe the very last mid-term graduation class from Edison was January 1963.  All graduation classes thereafter were on yearly basis.

The 1970's  and 80's saw the gentrification of the community. The parents remained only to have the children who attend Edison move out to the suburbs or out of state.

The "Little School" along Oriole  ( 6221 N. Oriole) is now a long lost memory, demolished in 1977 (?).

I remained in the community to note the deterioration of the school. I would return to the school to perform my civic duty voting in elections   Voting booths were  (and are still)  held in the school gymnasium.   Residents took pride  in their community and the school.   Residents and parents wanted  the school repaired.  I seem to recall reading in the community newspaper an effort of local activists to paint the school only to have obstacles placed before them.

As the janitors/maintenance engineers for the school system were unionized they objected to nonunion personnel providing much needed renovation -restoration of the building.  I don't recall  what became of this issue.

Finally, by the  early 1980's the school population had dwindled to a point where I believe it was no longer justified to keep the school opened.  With efforts to improve education opportunities a magnet school for gifted students was proposed by the Chicago Board of Education.  Edison was reopened as the Edison Regional Gifted  Center around 1983.

Physical improvements to the facility included new windows.  (I don't now if the school is now air conditioned  but I suspect it is). Those attending in the 60's  might recall the open windows and not being able to hear teachers with jet airplane traffic from the new O'Hare airport.   New hall and classroom lighting was installed.   The old-style globe chandeliers were removed. 

In 1991 I returned to my alma mater to present a lecture on my career whose foundation was laid at Edison. On first entering the school I observed how small everything seemed.   Of course back in the 50's as a child every thing appeared larger. 

I observed  subtle  changes in the operation of the school as well.  Students  were now bussed in from around the Chicagoland area.    As children arrived they were allowed entry in the building for preparation of their day.  A handicap ramp was added to the entrance to the school.

Long gone were the days when the students would play in the school yard,  line up into their classes  for entry  at  8:55 a.m.   Food service was now provided. I noted the food storage lockers in one of the class rooms.  I learned that student population was under 300, less than one half  during  the "Baby Boom" era.  Background music was played in the hallways.   A new generation of students was being provided a quality education. Today, the school is one of the finest in Chicago if not the state,  but it also has a previous history of providing quality education to the children of the Edison park community.

 I guess not much has changed.

The follow our my personal reminisces about my days at Edison and living in the neighborhood from 1954-83.  It almost a half a century since I began attending classes at Edison so my recollections my be some what blurred by father-time.  Readers, classmates are welcome to  share with me there reflections about the school. 

Special thanks to Anne Lunde who provided information on Edison Park community history.

Class of 70 Talent contests at Tuley High

I don't remember who took the pictures but they were also published in our year book.

We played for our classmates during the Tuley High School talent contests. They were some great memories! We also used to play regularly in the lunch room during the "sock hop" days! Wow, are we getting younger or what!? I'm the bass player on the far left. Still play but not as much.

I am seeking Debbie Miles who graduated in June, 1958. Anyone know her whereabouts?

My worst memory in elementary school was getting my hair pulled by my first grade teacher for
absolutely no good reason.

My best memory from high school was graduating.  I barely made it.

My Favorite teacher would have to be Mrs. Weems, and Mrs. Evans. They were the two most influential women, and helpful women that I may have ever come across. they helped you to understand, and made learning fun.

Mrs. Barbara Sizemore

Dr. Barbara Sizemore, is the Mother of Martin Luther King High School. Pioneering educator and school administrator Barbara Sizemore was born in Chicago, Illinois to Sylvester and Delila Lafoon. Her father died in a car accident when she was eight years old. Her mother remarried and the family moved to Evanston. Growing up in the 1930’s in the Midwest, Sizemore experienced Jim Crow whose laws were adopted and enforced. Although her elementary and middle schools were segregated, she had highly educated African-American teachers and received an excellent education.

Sizemore as a young girl

In 1944, Sizemore enrolled in Northwestern University and graduated with a degree in classical languages in 1947. She dreamed of being a translator for the United Nations but because there were few professional opportunities for black women at that time, she began teaching in Chicago public schools that led her to her life’s calling.

In 1954, Sizemore earned an M.A. in elementary education from Northwestern. She left teaching in 1963 to become the first black female to be appointed principal of a Chicago school. In 1965, she became principal of Forrestville High School and initiated efforts to turn the school from a haven for gangs into an innovative educational experiment. By 1969, she was named director and district superintendent for the Woodlawn Experimental Schools Project and instructor at Northwestern’s Center for Inner City Studies, an innovative multi-disciplinary, multi-ethnic graduate school program in Chicago’s South Side.

In 1973, Sizemore was elected as superintendent of the District of Columbia Public School System. This was the first time an African-American woman had been chosen to head a public school system in a major U.S. city. During her tenure, Sizemore tackled highly controversial and polarizing issues such as the abolishment of standardized testing whose “Anglo-Saxon bias” she believed put African American students at a disadvantage. Sizemore’s educational views challenged the more traditional views of the school system and she was fired in 1975. Her book, The Ruptured Diamond (1981), chronicles her experiences in Washington.

This interview has 
been archived in the
NVLP Collection of
African American
Oral Histories at the 
Library of Congress
American Folklife
Center

After leaving Washington, Sizemore taught at the University of Pittsburgh where she conducted research on schools that served low-income African-American children. In 1992, she assumed a professorship at DePaul University in Chicago. As dean of the School of Education, she created her School Achievement Structure (SAS) program. SAS was designed to enable black students to compete successfully on any standardized exam. This was a radical departure from her earlier belief in abandoning the tests. Sizemore now argued that integrating SAS into a school’s curriculum would help low-achieving schools in Chicago become high performers. The program is used in many school districts around the country.

Sizemore served as Professor Emerita at DePaul University. She earned a Ph.D. in educational administration from the University of Chicago as well as four honorary doctorate degrees. She was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the Urban League, NAACP and Phi Delta Kappa. In the last years of her life, she advised the Chicago public school system and continued to write and speak on educational issues.

Ms. Sizemore died from cancer in June of 2004. She was the mother of six children and had seven grandchildren.

My high school glory days.

My days as a student at Martin Luther King High School were exciting and fun. There were some days I would have rather been someplace else, but for the most part I have fond memories of my high school days. I found King High to be a school with caring staff, and teachers and counselors who actually showed an interests in you as a student.  I can't imagine having attended any other high school.

I recently became aware of the Forrestville-King site run by Valoris Woods, and reconnected with several King High School Alumni. This was an experience i will cherish forever. I found I missed seeing these people but absolutely loved catching up with them. It's only natural we alumni do all we can to preserve our school heritage. GO KING JAGUARS!!

Those were the days

Me today

I found this photo (taken 64 years ago) of my kindergarten class at Lloyd School and thought you might find it interesting.  My family moved to KY shortly after this photo was taken, and I am unable to identify anybody other than myself.

Madonna

Found this picture while clearing out my folks' house. I wish I could recall more about this time...

Here is the photo posted for tagging: LINK TO FLICKR

8th grade photo at Deneen - c. 1956

I attended Deneen for only one year, 8th grade in 1956. Then went to Parker High School for 2 years. I dont remember any very close ties at either school. But I do remember liking Deneen school very much. It was fairly new at that time and very modern in comparison to the school I attended before. My teacher was Mrs. Springs. She was a great musician. She taught use to sing in harmony. She had high expectations for us students and most of us tried hard to reach them or exceed them. It was a very good year for me.

Attached is my school picture for that year. I am in the second row in the center (with the scarf) Imagine that! 40 kids to a class. And everyone of us graduated. GREAT TEACHING!!!

my favorite teachers was mrs mary evans and mrs florida bradley

15 in Kresges

In 1969, when it was time to go onto high school, my best friend was Jack O'Connor.  We had both just had a death in the family.  His dad at age 43 and my older brother at 21.  So every morning, we'd get up when it was still dark and escape our grieving homes and run to meet up at Dunkin' Donuts.  There I'd meet Jack and he would say, "Wils....I don't think I'm going to school today."  And then I'd say, "Come ON....Let's just walk."  And I'd get him as far as White Castles and that was as far as he would go.  He would ditch school and sit in White Castles all day smoking cigarettes, drinking endless cups of coffee and talking to the girls behind the counter.  He dropped out that freshman year.  I don't remember much of that first year except for one day, the Principal had decided to have any student dressed in black to be sent down to the Administration office.  Suddenly a mob of over a hundred kids started to fill up the front lobby area.  All of us dressed in black.   From Freshmen to Seniors, male and female, we  found ourselves corralled by the front door just because we had fit the dressed in all black profile.  Once they had us all down there, the school officials couldn't quite figure out what to do with us. Yes we were all dressed in black but what might that mean?  None of the Administration had any idea so after about fifteen minutes, without any explanation we were all just sent  back to class.

It was a weird time, 1969.  The TV was airing All in the Family, Sonny & Cher & Maude.  The music was everything from Simon & Garfunkel to Blood Sweat & Tears to Led Zeppelin.  There seemed to be just two main groups of polarized kids.  The Greasers, kids w/black leather jackets, guys dressed in peg legged pants, Italian knits, slicked back pompodour hair and walking in pointy toed cuban heeled shoes out to their  fast purple muscle cars like Mustangs, Camaros and GTO's.  The Greasers definitely had the best cars.  The greaser Girls wore their hair ratted sky high, had heavy black eyeliner, chewed gum with frosted lips, wore tight sweaters, short skirts, black nylons and swung huge leather purses and strutted in black suede shoes.  And the collegiates were more or less the sports and activity kids dressed in button down shirts, plaids, vests, guys with penny loafers and girls in saddle shoes and knee socks, both with kind of All American kid next door hair, the basic look was like the predecessors to the GAP.  Within the next few years, both goups would kind of morph into a flower power 70's look but you could still see the origins of whether they were collegiate or greaser.  The whole area was predominately Irish, Italian or Polish blue collar.  Alot of our parents were cops, firemen or city workers and many of them had lived through WW11.  So we were 'the boomers'.  

It went by like a blur.  Freshman angst had been replaced by Drivers Ed and then once you got your drivers license and car, you were being asked what college you were going to or who was going with who and if you were going to Rainbow Beach in the summer to drink beer and Boone's Farm.

There were a few highlights.  Someone had spiked a particularly strict and uptight teacher named Ratcovic's punch with acid and they took her out hysterical to a waiting ambulance.   Janice Bedalow, a gorgeous girl with long beautiful blonde hair had jumped onto the trunk of a friend's exiting car one day after school and she had been thrown off and died right there in Ralph's parkinglot.  And I remember one student mass Walk-Out but funnily enough I can't remember what our grievance even was.  For the most part, we were just trying to get through it.  There was no bullying, very few fights, no cell phones, no internet, no VCR.  It was basically, your friends, your clothes, your job and your car.  And you thought  you would be  that age forever.

Now I tell people about us HAVING to swim nude at 7 in the morning in January and eating at Ralphs across the street, experimenting with drugs in my senior year and going to concerts like Pink Floyd and The Rolling Stones for five dollars and it sounds like a movie made for television.

Two funny memories.  I was a smart ass and basically 35 years later I still am.  I remember being in Senora Palermos Spanish Class.  Palermo looked like the Taco Bell chiuahua with an Ann Landers hairdo and she came in and said, "Hola Classe', Como esta'?  To be honest with you, my car is in the shop and I don't know HOW I am going to get there today."    Without looking up, I heard myself say, "Why don't you take your broom."   Dead Silence.....followed by the class falling out.  "Take my broom, huh Senor Wilson?  Ok Senor, you are going down to Mr. Kittridge's office and tell him that you're calling me a Witch!"  I was suspended for 2 days.    Another time in American History, my teacher who was strung out on cigarettes and Caffeine, screamed at me and said, "Wilson!  WHY do you turn your head away EVERYTIME I ADDRESS YOU?  What IS it?"

"It's your breath.  It stinks."  Suspended for another 2 days and not allowed to return to class until I wrote a paper on 'How I would teach American History.'  I returned with a 20 page manifesto equating his class with the Colonists original King George argument citing 'Cruel and Unusual Punnishment'.  Upon reading the paper, Kittridge told my marine father that the teacher wanted to quit teaching school.  

There were really no creative outlets at Bogan.  It was basically a business prep school.  I would've done better in maybe a writing or photography class but after butting heads with every teacher except for my English Instructors, I ended up with the other kids who held jobs after school.  We were marginalized and exiled to a trailer in the school parkinglot under the umbrella title of 'Distributive Education'.  We were basically kids who had to contribute to our family income and held jobs after school, jobs like working as tellers at United Savings & Loan or garage mechanics or selling bell bottoms at Pants a Plenty or bongs in Peacock Alley.  My job: selling shoes to old women at Goldblatts.  Somehow we received academic credit fo these jobs.  It might as well have been called 'Taking a Pie in the Face-101'.  Hardly a preparation for anything let alone College.  It was basically, 'stick the losers in a trailer and send them home at 11 am.  We're done.'   I wonder who was the Board of Education genius behind that program?

In four years, I think I had ONE teacher who actually seemed to care,  Miss Zekios.  I worked like a fiend for her, sat up in front following her rapid fire approach to Algebra and Trig.  I loved her.  I received her only A and would've married her if I could.   She hated that I had a job after school and left early to go to work.  A couple years later, when my father died at age 55 from working three jobs, Miss Zekios actually came to the wake.  She wanted me to progress and make something of myself.   I guess your lucky to ever have one of those teachers.  Well Miss Zekios, thank you wherever you are.  I never did find a use for the Pythagorean Theorem but I know you, Miss Zekios actually DID care.

I will never foget that I took pictures of all of you. You had to wear a uniform, but you all wore nice clothes under your clothes. I still have those pictures, and the gradebook I used. You were all wonderful.

Kindergarten

I just hope someone recognizes this photo and will respond. It has been a number of years, but I still have wonderful memories of my days at Willard. My kindergarten teacher was Mrs. Lewis. My first grade teacher was Mrs. Prudhomme - grade 1B.  Mrs Coffey was second grade. Mrs. Stamps for third grade. It would be wonderful to make contact with someone who knows this history. Dont wait too long.  That was  50+ years ago. We all are getting older.

Hi I attended Bryn Mawr form 1968 - 1975. I graduated from Brwn Mawr.  Bryn Mawr had four different buildings  I spent al least one grade in each building. I remember all of my teachers even the Librarian and security guards. Librarian - Ms Howell - remember the Dewey Decimal System - I'm so glad we  have computers now. Mr. Caswell was the security guard.  Ms. Ruffin was the gym teacher and she was so much fun. She taught us how to square dance and hokie pokie. 

2 grade - Ms Seals

3 grade  - Ms. Magnason

4 grade - Ms. Galvin (fired) then Ms. Ruffin

5. grade - Mr. ?  (afrocentric man in his 30's) his name escapes me. He wore dishiki's everyday. He taught us a song by the 'black poets'

 for an assembly.

6. grade - Mr. Carter (stopped teaching to become disciplinarian)  then Ms. Hardy

7 begin changing classes - Ms Shackleford , Ms Rancifer, Mr Bishop, Mr. Smith  

8. Mr. Bishop

I went  to school  since in the middle kindergarten to the 8th grade. I liked this school so much.  Those were the good days. Would like to say "Hi" to the class of 92!!

I attended Mt. Greenwood School 1971 & 72 for 7th & 8th Grade. Mrs Lynch was my 7th grade home room teacher & Mrs. Rhoads was my 8th grade home room teacher. Fond memories of that school and the teachers there. Graduated June 1972.

I went To Mt. Greenwood School 1971 & 72 for 7th & 8th Grade. My home room teacher in 7th grade was Mrs. Lynch and 8th grade was Mrs. Rhodes. I have fond memories of that school and the teachers and friends I made there. So many years ago. Art Gabel

As an adult I have to say that the years spent at Jacob Beidler have instilled values that I hold dear to me everyday. From being a Recess Leader to Partol Guard taught me to value my job and be responsible. I know as a color guard I was really serious about representing Jacob Beidler at assemblys.

I can say I had the best teachers at Beidler but one stands out the most and she was my Mom and Aunts 1st and 2nd grade teacher, her name was Ms. Sues. Oh how I miss her. She was also my Girl Scout Leader and well as my mom and aunt GS Leader. She made reading and math and phenomenal experience. Including nature, (the red squirrel that came every year to our window, nature walks to garfield park), candy and art into the curriculum made us anxious to want to learn. As a Girl Scout Leader she taught us girls how to bake, hike, and care for others. I miss here dearly. My whole generation within my family had Ms Suess as their 1st and 2nd grade teacher.

My 5th grade teacher Mrs. Goggins was an over the top theatrical, drama and eccentric teacher. I thought she was weird, but I can say she taught us about the Harlem Renaissance Movement and black history was not a once a year celebration. I can still recite the White House by Claude McKay. If it was not for her I do not think that I would have the attitude of be WHAT YOU WANT TO BE. I would be stuck in that this is the right way  attitude. With Ms. Goggins if you wanted to wear banana skirts you could as long as you can recite the lyrics to a Josphine Baker song or a poem by Langston Hughes, Claude McKay, Nikki Giovanni.

I miss the play ground that had the painted hopscotch game, the old building gym where many dodgeball games we taught by Mr. Smith, Mr. Glimmerman.

Other people/teachers that I give thanks to are The librarian Ms. Daily and the test teachers Ms. Baily and Ms Duke. Dr. Billups (principle).

I remember as a Patrol Guard I worked with Ms. Bryant on Kedzie and Walnut or Ms. Glover on Kedzie and Fulton. Ms. Glover was the patrol lady when my mom and dad were going to beidler. So you know I better go straight home because she knew my whole family and would tell if I did something or went the other way home.

Those are some of my memories compacted. I have a list of memories that extend as tall as the Sears Tower.

I remember my favorite teacher her name was Mrs. Bonita Boggan.  She was on the 2nd floor North Wing.  Room 220 for many years.  She was the "Queen of Her Classroom, she would wear this small tiara and hold her scepter."  I went to Austin to visit in 2006, she was retiring that year and I was glad to come there on business and just so happend to maneauver my way through security to see her.  Too bad I didn't get to see Coach Hendu.  Mr. Henderson he was the cool P.E. Teacher that everybody liked.  He was my driver's ed instructor at Westinghouse.  I really miss high school.

Belinda

I attended Keller School 1962-70. I loved that school and have fond memories of friends I attended school with. Some of them I am good friends with today. I remember the first day of kindergarten with Miss Huizenga. There were some great teachers there. I especially remember Miss Shannon who now looking back had such an infulence on me and pushing me to persue my artistic talents. It was because of her I am creative and love art & music. She was strict, but fair and a gifted teacher.  All of the teachers were great there Mrs. Hamlin, Mrs. Hart, Mrs. Leonardson & Miss Hines.  I have great memories of that school and the teachers.  I still live in Mt. Greenwood and when I go by there  its hard to believe it was that long ago. Fun Memories! Art Gabel

I remember i cut school one day in 8th grade and my teacher Ms. Pratt politely walked across the street to my house to personally tell my mother (1972).  I realized i lived too close for comfort and never ditched AGAIN

My teacher of teacher's was Beatrice Readus. Ms. Readus headed the VICA program, that directed students into vocational areas. Ms. Readus took an interest in my technical training, being involved in Theater Workshop and AV departments, she felt I would be good in a technical vocation. She directed me to a Dentist (Dr. Eugene Mason), he gave me training in Dental Technology. I soon repaired clients dentures, did gold work and handled a full dental lab; in less than 6 months. I did so well, Dr. Mason wanted to help me in approaching Dental School. Well, I did not do well in school.

I did go into another career, Broadcast Technology. I have been a TV Engineer for 37 years, thanks to the care and support of a Harlan H.S. teacher that saw my love of technology and gave me great support. Thank you Ms. Readus.

Morris Jones (Class of 69)

She was a petite, older lady by the time we were in her class with her soft short fine hair do.  She inspired us to write short stories.  My best memories were learning about different subjects beecause we would have to later we would have to produce a story book about what we learned of which a few of my choices to learn about were elephants, how to make tooth paste, rockets and about the "sticky haired dog" which turned about to be a lost in translation story of a dog's "tough skin" not sticky skin...because it was short and there was no penetration.  Anyway, the rocket story was my science project that was stolen the next day.  To this day when I think of the different type of Elephants:  Asian/Indian & African elephants, I think of Mrs. Weiner's class and the best story book a 2nd grader could produce with water color paint pictures.  I also remember the inclass parties and Kylie dancing about with the other 2nd graders while a few of us, sat and watched.  To think 10 years later at 17 or 18 I'd be one to have enough confidence to dance Hip Hop & Latin Dances such as Bachata, Merengue, and Salsa despite being Thai of Asian descent is a complete 180 degrees.

Miss Nakayama's 1st Grade Class -1986-1987 School Year

She was the most graceful teacher I knew with her soft spoken speech, grand style of handwriting, and the way she would conduct the national anthem.  She wore her respectful sweaters and skirts while waving her right hand around gesturing the rise and fall of the notes to the "Star Spangle Banner" to guide and conduct for our 1st grade class.  She still remembered me when I revisited her class 13 years later, in 1999, of which she had her class in the Annex.  She had remembered my father, Mr. Meesriyong as she asked about him and reminisced on how he would regularly bring in fried rice and other sorts of "delicious food" for the teachers as she informed me.  I was too young to know this and he never spoke of his kind deeds.  I was surprised she had remembered him and myself as I have changed greatly.

ms. taylor was one of the most hated but most loved teacher that ive ever known. she scolded us when we were wrong and loved us all the time. R.I.P. you will always be missed by the class of '89.

I remember Mrs. Johnson assigning (many times) a punishment to the entire class where you had to write out, in columns, math equations starting with 10,000 and then keep substracting 8.  That's 1,250 times!  It went on for pages and pages.  It was the most bizarre punishment ever, but I'll never forget it.  She'd assign it on a whim, whenever something ticked her off.  Wonder how she ever thought of that one?!

I went to Birney in the early 60's. I remember Ms, Clayton as the assist. principal, Mr. Bossy. Ms. Turner was the first teachers I had, Mrs. Flora (Brown) Aguilar was one of the best of my teachers. I use to babysit for her on weekend(her daujghter Patsy) I had Mr. Blackburn and I remember the libarian (Ms.Foster) I would like to here from someone that went to the school or taught at the school.

Veronica White

i hope someone will remember this.this was one of my favorite teachers.

i went to mulligan school in the early to mid70s/i lived about a block and ahalf from the school/ i remember i had to walk under the l train to get to school -that was scary- the school was a big part of my life as a child growing up on the north side of chicago. the teachers were great/thay had there hands full for at that time there could be as many as 30 or more kids in a single class room.as i look back on it now i am proud that i was a part of history at mulligan school- i hope there are others that remember the old school like i do. i have several class pictures that i saved/ i just wish i could find more pictures of the school/inside and out.

I'll never forget the time when I was about 7 and we were taking my sister to kindergarten at the replacement school Oscar Mayer and we passed my kindergarten alma mater Knickerbocker which was in the middle of being demolished. The whole side wall was gone and you could see the open classrooms and I saw on the top floor the wall with the blackboard with writing still on it. 

I am looking for class pictures from 1967-1970 from Ryerson Elementary.  My
parents could not afford them.  So my 5 siblings and I never did see them. If anyone out there has any class pictures, can you please post them.

Thanks,
Magda

Does anybody remember the two Mr. Newmans who taught in the 70's? Bruce Newman was my homeroom/science teacher and Howard Newman taught Math.  They were both awesome. H. Newman was quite hip and with the times. He was so much fun. B. Newman was very straight forward, but fair. I still remember writing sentences and to this day I tell my kids "We use what we do know to find what we don't."

1963 - Second Grade Class Photo

Heeren Photo

Reunited with girls from Mrs. Burroughs Kindergarten Class (of 1961) last night.  It was wonderful to catch up.  We all loved Mrs Burroughs and her kitchen play area.  Attached is our 2nd grade class photo.  Good times!

Karen (Mattson) Haglund

Canty 10_2_52.JPG:  As far as I can tell, only five kids from the 1952 second grade made it to the graduation photo.  We had a celebrity in the class at that time:  George Gobel's son, Greg was the kid seated in the first row, second from the left.

Canty 10_54.jpg:  By 1954, we had about 21 kids that would make it to the graduation picture.

Canty 10_55.JPG:  Here's our class in 1955 with some of the older kids that would graduate in February 1959.

I could look out my bedroom window into the school yard. I lived right next door in the projects at 1117 S. Throop. That school yard where I learned to ride a two wheeler, the same yard I played in during the day, I played there on the weekends and evenings. I could play basketball there. I remember my kindergarden teacher putting up the screen to watch some movie and  she fell off the little wooden chair she came down and all the sparkles from the sceen came with her which made it seem so surreal like fairy dust. The school was beatiful and huge they don't make schools like that anymore the walls where decorated with these old marvelous paintings that I can still see in my mind, I remember walking down the hall once looking at one of the pictures and walked right into a wall. The projects where new, life was new and there stood Riis School like a giant. I drove past there many times and wanted to go in and see it before they tore it down. I didn't but I suppose its best left the way I remember it.

My favorite teacher was Mrs. Goldrich, I was fortunate to have her for my fifth and eighth grades.

It was her that got me interested into Math and special Math/Logic problems.

I believe she was more responsible than any other teacher I ever had in the development of my career.

After 34 years in the Computer business (BIG IRON - MAINFRAMES) I am about ready to retire.

John Carlson

Class of '68

Anyone remember Mrs.Soble? She was my first teacher in Solomon. I love her.  I wish she didn't leave.

Mary Griffin was my home room teacher; she was tough.  I needed that.

I remember my childhood days as a student at Tennyson Upper Grade Center. Without question my favorite teachers were Mr. John Whiting and Mr. Richard Benson. Mr. Whiting was our basketball coach who also served as a youth director at "Midwest Boys Club" (now known as "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Boys Club") on Sacramento and Washington Blvd. The "Tennyson Tigers" were the talk of Westside when it came to elememtary school basketball. A few of the "playground legends" who attended Tennyson and played for Mr. Whiting were Paul Jefferson and his twin brothers Edwin and Irvin Jefferson, James Sweeney, Joe Mason, Euriel Gee, James Harmon, Emmett Collier, and Nate Williams. Nate was an "All-Area" and "All-State" performer at Crane High School. He also played for the University of Illinois at Champaign and was drafted by the Chicago Bulls. On various weekends, Mr. Whiting would host a "sleep-in" at the Club and we would spend the entire night playing basketball, ping-pong, and shooting pool. The mother of the Jefferson boys was Mrs. Nancy Jefferson a civil rights activist on the Westside who took great interest in the youth of the community. She was instrumental in helping to get Harold Washington elected as the first African American Mayor of Chicago. The Midwest Post Office located on Madison and Monroe was renamed in her honor along with Washington Blvd; an elememtary school is also named after her. She was truly a "Great Lady" and one of the finest persons I've ever met in my entire life. Everybody on the Westside knew  and respected "Mrs. Nancy." Mr. Benson was my English teacher at Tennyson who taught many of us how to play chess. We would hold tournaments in his classroom after school and he never failed to assist us in every way that he could. Finally, I remember Tennyson because of our eighth grade prom. It was held at Garfield Park in the "Golden Dome" and it was then that I met my "first love" Brenda Collins. After the prom we went to the old "Riverview Amusement Park" which was then located on Western and Belmont Avenues. Brenda was my "dream girl" and I thought I would never love another like I loved her...