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December 2009
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Dear 58ers:LAST WEEK
I WAS JUST SITTING AT MY PC AND THINKING ABOUT
ALL
OF YOU AND SCHOOL DAYS AND THE THOUGHT OF MR.
THEILEN CAME
TO ME AND WAS WONDERING IF HE WAS STILL "WITH
US"?? SO I GO TO
THE PHONE BOOK AND SURE ENOUGH I FIND NANCY
THEILEN (WIFE), BUT
NO CHARLES...HMMMM, SO OF COURSE I CONCLUDED
THAT HE WAS "GONE"
(DEATH/SEPARATION). SO, I CALLED & THIS MAN
ANSWERED, AND I ASKED
FOR NANCY. HE SAID SHE WAS OUT TEACHING A
PIANO LESSON AND
WOULD BE BACK LATER THAT NIGHT. I THEN ASKED
WHO IS THIS AND HE
SAID, WELL WHO IS THIS??? I SAID, WHO IS THIS
PLEASE,( GETT'N
FUNNY BY NOW, HA) IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, HE
INFORMED ME THAT
THIS WAS HER HUSBAND, AND NOW "WHO IS
THIS???" WELL BY NOW I
RECOGNIZED HIS VOICE AND SAID.....ALICE
ALBRECHT..STURGIS HS..
MUSIC...HISTORY CLASS. THERE WAS
SILENCE.....THEN WITH A BURST
OF "THE LIGHT WENT ON" TONE, HE SAID..I WAS
ALWAYS IN LOVE WITH
YOU AND YOU HAVE A SISTER BETTY RIGHT? WELL,
TO SAY THE LEAST,
I TAKEN BACK ABIT, BUT THEN REMEMBERING THE
'FLIRT' HE WAS WITH
THE GIRLS, I WAS OK, HEE HEE.
HIS NEXT WORDS WERE..."HOW THE HELL ARE YOU,
WHERE ARE YOU?"
SO, OUR CONVERSATION STARTED AND IT WAS
AMUSING AND INFORMATIVE
TO SAY THE
LEAST.
HE AND NANCY ARE
STILL LIVING IN RC, HE'S BEEN
RETIRED 16 YRS, AND ENJOYING IT, LOTS OF
GOLFING AND "COFFEEING"
WITH OLD BUDDIES. NANCY IS STILL TEACHING
PIANO, AMAZING!!
HE SAID HE WAS TURNING 81 YRS THE NEXT WEEK,
COULDN'T BELIEVE HE
WAS STILL ALIVE, HA. SAID THAT HE AND MR.
DUBE WERE THE ONLY TWO
LEFT THAT HE KNEW OF. HE'S IN 'GOOD' HEALTH
WITH THE USUAL ACHES
AND PAINS THAT WE ARE ALL EXPERIENCING.
WE JUST HAD THE SWEETEST VISIT, REALLY
ENJOYED IT. HE COULDN'T
BELIEVE THAT I'VE BEEN SINGLE FOR 26 YRS,
THOUGHT FOR SURE THAT
SOMEONE WOULD HAVE SNATCHED ME UP (AS HE PUT
IT, HA). I QUICKLY
REASSURED HIM THAT I'VE BEEN JUST SUPER FINE
BEING ALONE, NOT TO
WORRY ON THIS ONE, HA.
SAID HE WOULD KEEP IN TOUCH WITH ME AND SAID
TO SEND HIS "HOWDIES" TO THE '58 CLASS, NICE
HUH.
ANYWAY, I THOUGHT YOU WOULD ENJOY THIS
ENCOUNTER OF
MINE WITH A "BLAST FROM THE PAST"!
Charlee
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The river crested early
on Sunday at 36.99. Our Mayor has said all long that it would crest
at 37 feet or below. The City council gave him a pretty hard time
with the reading on Monday A.M. Slow to go down so still a lot of
water out there to deal with. So far so good with the clay and
sandbag dikes. Colder today again so that helps a little bit too,
at least the sun was out. So will see what the next few days
brings. Cathy on 3/23
Was mowing the lawn today when a "small
airplane" suddenly flew over my head ... a male peacock from
the wild ones that roam this area. Had never seen a huge
male fly before! It got my attention! Must have been
8-10 feet long and not a bit afraid of me.
Ann
SEWING
I don't remember
what year it was but we were to make a gathered skirt in
Home Ec. I found some material that I really liked &
decided that I was going to make a really full skirt. I
bought 5 yards of the material & planned on putting it
all in the skirt. Miss Mesa told me that it was way too
much fabric for one skirt but let me go ahead and make
it. I struggled with getting that much fabric into the
waist band but got it done. And oh, was it ever heavy
to wear. I wouldn't admit that she had been right &
wore it to school, heavy or not. Have no idea any more
what kind of grade I got on it. Several years later I
dug it out, took it apart and made another skirt with
about half or less of the material. Mickie
Krebs, Louisa Mesa
RAPID CITY -- Louisa Mesa Krebs, was called by her
heavenly Father on Feb. 15, 2010. Lou was born June
21, 1922, at Fort Stockton, Texas, to Francisco and
Dolores (Urquidi) Mesa. She spent her childhood
years in Fort Stockton and moved to Las Cruces,
N.M., where she graduated from Las Cruces High
School and New Mexico A&M University.Upon completion
of her degree, she relocated to the state of South
Dakota in search of "change and adventure." After
teaching assignments in Tripp and Sturgis, she met
and married Ernest Krebs and moved to Rapid City,
where she enjoyed her greatest passions: her son,
Frank, and over 30 years as a home economics
educator. Louisa is survived by two brothers, Frank
Mesa of Las Cruces and Henry Mesa of El Paso, Texas;
two sisters, Eva Avalos and Ophelia Chavez, both of
Las Cruces; three sisters-in-law, Elaine Whalen,
Mary Lou Poloncic and Phyllis Krebs, all of Rapid
City; many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and
nephews and a very special family community of
neighbors and friends. She was preceded in death by
her husband, Ernest, in 1991; her son, Frank, in
1990; and a brother, Will. Visitation will be from 5
p.m. to 7 p.m., with a Christian wake service at 7
p.m. today at the Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.
Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 10 a.m.
Friday, Feb. 20, at Blessed Sacrament Church, with
the Rev. Dan Juelfs presiding. Burial will follow at
Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis. A
memorial has been established for Blessed Sacrament
Church and the Rapid City Catholic Schools.
ad: Love the new name for Home Ec...
Family and Consumers
Sciences (Home Economics)
Oh yes, I remember those skirts. Wasn't life
simple. We could go to Chase's or Penney's, buy
THREE yards of fabric, tear of 5 inches from the end
for the waist band and
...... you had a skirt! Then we made a complete
dress and even did a style show. Makes me laugh
now. My mother was an excellent seamstress and made
all of of our high school clothes and I wore them
with pride. Can you imagine today's kids doing
that.. Good memories. Phyllis B
Phyllis' mother never made any clothes for me in High
School. phil
I don't know about that but your pants always looked good.
:-) Larry B
Why do you think your mother
wouldn't sew you a dress Phil? Ron
Was it
because my legs were too skinny? I dunno. phil
Maybe she just
liked Phyllis better :)................Mickie
KNITTING
My knitting all started when
I had one of my accidents from work. I spent the first 3
months in the hospital when I fell 4 stories. I had
nothing to do. One day Mona was teasing me about
knitting. I said that was a woman's job. Well it just so
happened that the RAMs football player, ROSEY GRIER,
started to needlepoint. I said "look
at the size of him, nobody is making fun of him".
Well the next day she brought me some knitting material
and needles, and that started the whole thing. I still
have 2 complete sets of knitting needles. One set is
made from Ivory and the other one is made from aluminum.
I had so much time to kill and I really did not like reading. So I started
to knit and one thing lead to another. I knitted Mona 4
or 5 sweaters. Then I knitted myself 4 or 5 sweaters.
With all the different motorcycles and cars I knitted
ones to match them. In the hospital, the Doctor that
worked on my back, feet and knees said that he goes
skiing at Aspen Colo. and would love to have a matching
outfit to lounge around in after skiing all day. So I
made him pants, sweater and a cap. They looked great. Of
course his friends wanted them too but I said no. He
joked with me that he was not through operating on me.
When we got back into bikes,
I made matching sweaters for a bunch of couples to match
the colors of their bikes. My Vet and his
wife wanted a matching set too. Meanwhile I was making
skirts and dresses for Mona, some matching ones and some
different colors. I had gotten some sheared wool from
England to make myself a sweater. It is like a tweed,
black, silver and off white. The wool runs in
short and long thread. The store that I got the wool
from said now that it is finished, the sweater is worth
between $700 to $900 . I couldn't believe it. Anyway I
had made 10 more sweaters with all the time on my hands.
I asked Mona if she would go down to the Ski Shops and
see if they would put them on consignment. Their
sweaters were going from $150 to $300 each. I told Mona
that we would take $75 each. They were not interested in
that because they get theirs from Taiwan for $50 each
and can order 20 or 30 at a time. It would
take me about 2 to 3 weeks a sweater to knit.
I stopped knitting sweaters
last year. The last one I made was a black one. A lady
wanted one of my sweaters. I told her to wash it before
she wore it because of all my handling it. Well her lint
trap in her wash machine wasn't working, and the sweater
came out looking like a snow storm had hit it. So that
was the last one. I still have a lot of time on my hands
and have thought about making another one. Some of my
sweaters are 15 to 20 years old and they are still
looking great and holding together.
Then I think, why make more! I don't wear
the ones I have except in cold weather. The sweaters
are a doubleknit and weigh about 8 pounds. I used to
make hand gloves for the ladies in the post office and
ones to go to work with. I make them so the fingers
stick out, then they can polish their nails and let them
dry without a problem.
am sending you some pictures of my work. Frank H
SUBMARINE - USS
Robert E. Lee
For those
interested:
This is the submarine I was stationed aboard. I was on
board for some of these events but not all. The music is
a little hokey but it's been our theme for many years.
Gives you an idea of what sub living is like. We show
this video at all of our reunions.
Jim
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMLM30EcFVk
Hey Jim, pretty
interesting. Can't remember were you on the
commissioning blue crew? Wish they would have shown a
picture of the dry dock in the Holy Loch, USS AFDB 7.
The USS Proteus left shortly after we got there and the
USS Hunley was there for the rest of the time that we
were around. For those of you who may or may not know my
husband Joe was also on the USS Robert E. Lee but was on
the gold crew. Thanks for send that, I forwarded to my
kids, came at a nice time as yesterday was Joe's
birthday. Cathy
Not a Plank Owner.
When I came aboard the boat had just completed it's 4th
patrol, 2nd for the Blue Crew. I think I may have a pic
that shows the drydock in the Loch.
I had a
shipmate on the 601 that was a Plank owner and his name
was Plank. Jim B
I have a picture of
the Dry Dock with the Robert E. Lee in for repairs. It
was taken while we were there and the guys got the
picture for a Christmas present. Most of them did
appreciate it as much as Joe and I did. Also have a
picture of REL shooting one of the missiles, think it
was taken during sea trials and not the one that soaked
all the top brass. Joe did have the Plank Owners
certificate plus some of the other memorabilia from the
commissioning, still have all of it. Heard from my
daughter Patty this A.M. and she really appreciated
seeing all the information that you sent, and she was
the one that I thought wouldn't be interested in all. My
how they surprise you. She told me she want to hear more
so I will have to rack my brain. Thanks again for
digging that stuff up and sending it, I am really
enjoying it. Cathy
I probably wasn't on
board for that pic of the Lee in drydock. The only
time I can recall being in the drydock was after a
Med patrol.
On our way to the Med we
had a run in with a French trawler off the coast of
France. We hadn't heard them on our sonar being they
were dead in the water and had their engines shut
down. What are the chances that we would pass
directly beneath them and get tangled up in the
cables for their purse siene laying on the bottom of
the ocean. Well, we did and we towed the trawler for
about a half an hour before the skipper finally
decided that we had to surface (not good). Of
course, as soon as we surfaced the trawler crew cut
the cables free. One of our crew was cajon and spoke
enough French so we could communicate with the
trawler crew and they told us that they were too
scared to come on deck because they thought they'd
caught a monster. They had and it was a big black
one but not what they had expected. Anyhow, our
screw was somewhat damaged and upon completion of
the patrol we went directly into the drydock and
replaced the screw (prop to those non Navy). That
was my time in the drydock and what led up to it.
I normally wouldn't have
told the story because of classification but it
became public knowledge through a lawsuit by the
owner of the trawler to recover damages to their
lost purse siene (Cost to the Navy was $3000). I
still have the clipping my wife cut out of the
newspaper. This damage did cause us some problems
for the next two months but we remained undetected.
Story continued; When we
would return from a patrol the Commodore, Squadron
Commander, would come out and come aboard after we
had surfaced. This time had some humor, to the crew
not to the skipper. My working space was next to the
Ops compartment hatch which he and his aides would
come down and this time I saw he was carrying a
bronze plaque that depicted a fisherman in a small
boat with a submarine on his hook. Needless to say
the skipper was not happy that this incident had
made the news and probably didn't appreciate the
plaque but most likely didn't tell that to the
Commodore. We, the crew, thought it was funny but we
didn't indicate this feeling to the skipper. I don't
know the disposition of the plaque but hopefully Adm
James D Murray still has it. He was our skipper and
a Commander at the time of the incident.
Jim
I knew you guys and
Jim had run into each other in Scotland, but didn't
realize your husband had served on the same Sub. Quite a
coincidence!
Ann
It was Cathy who
made the connection. I was riding the ferry over and
back across the Firth of Clyde and chatting with a
British submariner in the lounge. Being everything, and
I mean everything, is closed from 10 to 2 for tea time
those of us who had gone to Dunoon would ride the ferry
and by the time it got back to Dunoon it would be about
2. While I was chatting a group of people came down the
ladder into the lounge and I saw this woman and thought
she looked familiar but didn't put 2 and 2 together but
Cathy did and sent her husband over to ask if I was Jim
Brown. Well, I didn't know him and he was obviously
American so I said yes and he said his wife was Cathy
Schummer. I looked and sure enough it was Cathy. What a
surprise! And what an unusual place to meet a female
classmate.
I was invited to stop by that evening which I did. Both
Cathy and Joe were leaving for the US in the morning as
I was. I won't try to describe the hangover I had the
next morning after Joe and I pretty well polished off a
good quantity of beer. Cathy can probably verify how
much because I wasn't in any shape to remember. And I
had to stand inspection that morning at the change of
command ceremony for the boat.
Even tho he can't hear me, Thanks Joe! You are not
forgotten by me. Heck of a way to remember someone but
it
is a good memory.
Jim
Yes that was quite
a night, Joe and talked about it a lot over the years.
So nothing wrong with remembering him that way. Luckily
we were only going as far as London the next day so was
a little shorter ride for us. We were in London for
about a week and then picked up a Naval transport that
was used for getting sailors and dependents back to the
States and we rode the North Atlantic for 11 days in
November. Very rough, was quite a trip and lots of sea
sick people. Not Joe and me, we couldn't get enough to
eat, the harder the ship rolled the more hungry we got,
don't know what the relationship is there but that is
the way it was. There were two baby cribs in our
stateroom, if that is what you want to call it, because
our son Joe was just two and Patty 5 months. The cribs
were tied to the steam pipes to keep them from rolling
across the room. Young Joe had to wear a harness with a
leash on it so that when we were out and about and the
ship started to roll, his Dad would have to hold him by
the harness and let him swing like a pendulum so he
wouldn't slide around on the floor. I was in charge of
Patty and would have to sit on the decking and hold her
across my lap until things calmed down. The women
dependents had to wear dresses or skirts but could only
wear tennis shoes and the guys had to wear dress
uniforms for dinner every night. Joe's Chief and his
family were also on board and we didn't see the Chief
but once during the whole 11 days and he was actually
green in color until we hit New York harbor. Oh well
enough of that. Cathy
Cathy, you're probing my
memory. You'd have been better off transiting the
Atlantic in the 601. It only took us about 4 or 5
days to make the crossing when we left Charleston,
SC.
As for seasickness,
never been there and never will. You're experience
with the rough seas is indicative of what one of my
patrols way up in the North Atlantic was like. The
main difference was it lasted for 2 months. We had a
lot of shipmates that were seasick on and off. We
had about 7 days out of 56 that were relatively
calm. The rest of the time, 24 hrs a day, we were
taking up to 15 degree rolls even tho we were
submerged. It was not a fun time and got on
everybody's nerves. There was nowhere you could go
to just relax. But it sure was better than the
alternative, getting shot at in Viet Nam and living
in terrible conditions that those personnel had to
deal with. I'll take what the seas deliver anytime
over the alternative. My hat's off to those ground
pounders.
Cathy, I've only once
seen someone actually turn green. This individual
was prone to start getting seasick as soon as the
last line was cast off. He would usually remain this
way for 2 or 3 days and then he was ok for the rest
of the patrol. We encountered rough seas right away
and he was sick and sitting on the deck watching it
move back and forth. My watch companion and I kept
telling him that he needed to get up and quit
watching the deck. He didn't listen and pretty soon
took on a green hue and let it all out in a trash
can (we had a different name for this item,
politically incorrect).
When I first came aboard
the diesel submarine USS Sirago, I was immediately
assigned as a Mess Cook. I was told by one of the
Enginemen that I would get seasick and I responded
"BS"! He kept bugging me about
this so when we headed out for my first time at sea
I got my revenge. On the surface off of Cape
Hatteras the sea is very rough in winter. For our
noon meal the cook had prepared pork chops. So when
he sat down and demanded some food I immediately
took the tray of good old greasy pork chops and
thrust them right in his face and guess who made an
immediate exit to the crews head. And it wasn't me.
He never bothered me again and I never ever became
seasick. I thought of seasickness as a state of mind
and had decided I wasn't going to suffer from it.
We're supposed to never
say never but this time it worked.
Now I must depart for a
bit of time. And it isn't seasickness :)
Jim
Another one for
those interested. Some pics but mostly drawings of the
interior. Some interesting comments too.
http://www.ssbn601.com/tour_menu.asp Jim
B
Is there only one
way out? Not for me!!! I asked about the Thresher
because we had just watched Das Boot a few days before
you sent the first sub email. Scary place to live for
days on end. Sharon
In my opinion, Das
Boot is one of the greatest submarine movies made, if
not the best. I've had friends who made submarine
patrols during WW2 and their stories should have been
written down. They were the 'Greatest Generation' if for
no other reason than what the endured.
There is one story that stands out. I don't remember the
name of the boat he was on but they were operating just
outside of Toyko harbor and were detected by the
Japanese. Not good! They dove and were depth charged for
23 hours. After about 12 hours the air becomes fouled
with a lot of carbon dioxide and to combat this you
spread a CO2 absorbent on the bunks, etc to help, but
your oxygen levels also are dropping. The other problem
is your batteries are your propulsion source. They're
only good for a few hours under normal operating
conditions. All of this was working against them. My
friend told me that all of a sudden they quit dropping
depth charges and left. The determination was that
either they had run out of depth charges or thought they
had sunk the boat. Anyhow they survived and returned to
Pearl Harbor, but they had suffered serious damage.
Those are the kind of conditions all combatants
experienced no matter where they were. And that's what
makes them so great. I think there are some in our class
who have endured and survived too.
By the way, this friend said it wasn't so bad. RIGHT!!
And, Sharon, to answer your question, there are two ways
out and both are what are called escape trunks. One is
in the forward compartment and the other in the aft
compartment. There has only been one time that I'm aware
of that anyone has survived by using this means and it
was on the USS Squalus. It's generally assumed by the
crew that if the boat goes down you will too. The escape
trunks are only good to about 400 feet or less. Besides
the depth of the water is usually many times the crush
depth of the boat. The Squalus was in shallow water when
she went down. Many of the crew were saved.
The Russian submarine Kursk is a good example. They went
down in about 360 feet and could have utilized their
escape trunk if it had been in the compartment where the
survivors were holed up but they didn't and the rest is
history. They didn't suffer much as they probably became
unconscious from hypothermia and CO2 before they died.
According to what I've read it didn't take much time.
The water was probably around 34 degrees and supposedly
you can only last about 4 to 5 minutes in water that
cold before hypothermia sets in.
Also, Sharon, it isn't a scary place to those who
understand the operation. It's just a different kind of
job.
Jim B
 
Huntley
About 10 years ago I got that
material above from
the Museum at Fort Meade. We had heard about it from my cousin.
She still works in the food section out there. We were really
into mules at that time. She said they had a lot of animal
harnesses from the old days. The lady out there let us go
in to the basement where they had all kinds of Army equipment
from the early days.... All kinds of military saddles they call
"McCullens". At that time my wife had to ride one like
that, because of her spine. Even on some of our motorcycles I
had to cut a hole in the seat for her back. They had about 50 of
them. The saddle on display upstairs is changed
every week or so. They get dirty and dusty up there .They are
taken downstairs and cleaned up then a clean one replaces it.
For anyone that is interested in
Fort Meade or the history I highly recommend going to the
museum. Also if you notice one of the buildings (#21 I think )
was the General Reno house. It was built in 1879. How close can
you get to General Custer History?
Another place that we stopped at
was the "Fetterman Massacre" at Fort Kearny on the Bozeman
trail; also in the same area was the famous Wagon Box
fight in Wyoming. Forty Army men held off about 1000
Indians until the group could be saved. That was a real scary
place. You could actually walk on the ground where the battle
took place. The Army was on the ridge, and the Indians came up
both sides and wiped the Army out in about 40 minutes. They have
signs posted about every 30 feet telling who and what happened
there. Isn't History great. Hope you enjoy it as much
as we do. Frank H.
Frank, if you look
about 2 inches behind the bldg marked 53, that is where I used
to live. The house and many of the stables were
demolished to make room for the current hospital. We had to move
back to Sturgis on Davenport St the summer of 1956. I was glad
to be back in Sturgis and close to school and others. We lived
at Ft Meade for about 7 or 8 years. In fact, just to west of our
house was the Fire Station where Larry Broel's Dad worked.
That's how I know Squire.
It's kind of strange, we lived at 4 different addresses in
Sturgis and the only one that wasn't on Davenport was at the Log
Cabin Motel which is where we lived when we first arrived in
Sturgis and lived there during the "Big Blizzard".
We moved to Sturgis after the school year had started and I was
in Mrs. Brown's 2nd grade class. I was in the 3rd grade in
Iowa before this move and was having so much difficulty that my
folks put me back in the second grade in Sturgis. One of the
best things that ever happened to me. I had come from California
prior to Iowa and had completed 2nd grade but the CA schools
were so far behind the rest of the nation I wasn't prepared for
the 3rd grade in Iowa or SD for that matter. Mrs. Brown was so
understanding and was my second favorite teacher in Grade
School. Now all of you know something that you didn't before.
Jim spent 13 years in school !! The entire move to Sturgis was a
good thing for me. Jim
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These are great memories. I took
Wood Shop and Mechanical Drawing from Jim Hale and one
of his favorite stories was when he would paint
billboard signs in the summer...one time a tourist
stopped on the highway, climbed thru a barbed wire
fence, walked thru part of a wheat field to where Hale
was painting a sign and said ,"Say Mister are there any
of those Sigh Ox (Sioux) Indians around here?" He
loved to tell that story and every time I heard it I
laughed like I had never heard it a dozen
times.....didn't help my grade any!
Another teacher...do you
remember the SHS Typing Class teacher? Her name was
Miss Havorka. What do you remember about her ? ! !
! phil
I remember a Miss
Dahlke, a tall blonde as our typing teacher. Ann
Ann,
You're right. I think Miss Havorka was before Dahlke.
When I was at the Mickey Dee prayer meeting in Sturgis
last summer , Dana Caldwell was there and mentioned Miss
Havorka. He said " She had no problem with the boys
looking at the keys while typing....they were all
watching her walk around the room !" phil
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The answer to who was the Ag teacher
is.....Wayne Gray. The Ag Bldg. was where the Grunwald Auditorium
is now. Mr. Hale would
run the scoreboard for the Basketball games in the Grunwald
Auditorium. He was operating the scoreboard one night during a game
when he died. Phil
Do you remember a Miss Robbins...
she taught girl's gym class in the 7th and 8th grade.
She married a guy named Edwards in 53 or 54. She was a young teacher
at Jr High. Also she would came down and chaperone the school
parties in the gym. Great teacher.
Jim B got my memory working again.
Mr. Hale worked for my dad making signs. As you know we owned
"HUNTLEY TIN SHOP". Dad got together with Mr. Jim Kenny who
made the glass tubes for neon signs . We made room in our shop so
Mr. Kenny had a place to work. It was sure a lot of fun watching him
blow the glass tubes for the letters. Dad would make the metal
signs and Mr. Hale would paint them. Dad would cut the holes for the
tubes to go into the transformers inside the sign. Then Mr. Hale
would paint the signs. After all was done , Dad would cover the
signs with quarter inch screen, so that the hail would not wreck
the signs.
It seems that every year we come back
to Sturgis, it hails. When I lead the parade, the next day in 1974
it hailed like a son of a gun. Luckily I had my bike in my
grandfather's barn working on it . Every once in a while it is nice
to have to work on a Harley. We have some pictures of that hail
storm. Lot of damages to the motorcycles. About 3 years later there
were about 50 motorcycles washed down the main street in Deadwood.
They all ended up in the creek. I guess there was a big wall of
water that came down the street. Anyway thanks to Jim B for the
memories. Frank H.
I remember Miss
Robbins well but couldn't have
come up with her name. She taught all of us to dance in
7th grade... she let me play the piano for the practices and that
was a big deal to me. I remember playing the song "Half
as Much" over and over. She was a nice lady.
Ann
Mr. Krause was our basketball and
football coach in the 7th and 8th grades. On those 2 pictures that I
sent you of the basketball teams you can see him listed as the
Coach. He was a very good coach and won 2 championships. Buell
Woodle was the high school coach. He was kind of a son of a gun.
During the games you could hear him cussing out the team for one
thing or another. He also did his little dance by the bench while he
was cussing up a storm. My mom and dad was always going to the
states championship games in Eastern South Dakota. The Corn Palace
in Mitchell and Sioux Falls were two places the games were held.
That was when Janice Hardy's brother Carroll Hardy was playing for
the Scoopers. Frank H.
One of the other young teachers that I liked
was Mrs. Reber. She and Mrs. Carr were great friends. Last time we
were there. I went up to the cemetery and saw their graves. Frank H.
Mrs Carr was probably my all time favorite teacher. After I was out
of school we both happened to go to the same church. I had never
been baptized & I asked her to be my Godmother. She accepted. Then
when I was an LPN @ the Sturgis Nursing Home she was a resident & I
took care of her. I was with her when she passed away..............Mickie
I agree, Mickie. She was by far one of my favorites. She was also a
good friend of my Mother who used to keep me up to date on her. Of
course, there was another side to her being a friend. Mrs Carr kept
my Mom up to date on me, too. Sometimes that wasn't good for me. I
sure liked her tho. Jim
I thought Mrs. Carr and Mrs.
Reber were both great teachers. They always seemed to have time for
you if you had a problem. Liked them both too. Cathy
Frank. You have much too good a memory.
I remember my sister, '54 grad, going to the basketball tournaments
at the Corn Palace.
One thing nobody mentioned was that Mr Hale had a sign painting
business on the side. He was a very good Mech Drawing teacher and
required perfection with your drawings. I still have my drawings
from that class. As a result of his perfection I had no problem
getting a job later on as a draftsman. The wood shop classes were in
the old school. Who taught the Ag Shop classes in HS?
Wasn't Mr Krause's son the quarterback in football in Jr High? Jim B
click for
7A Name List and picture
click for
7B Name List and
picture
click for
1952-53 Jr. Hi Teams
..
One of the funny things I remember as a
kid was tourists asking where Belly Fouchie was. I don't remember
how many times I was asked that question. Then there was a time when
we were visiting Rushmore with out of state friends and some kid was
just screaming that the Indian Chief that was there in full dress
for photos was going to scalp him. And the parents weren't having
much success in calming him down especially when the Chief
approached them. Jim
http://www.scottdesjarlais.com/www
Joe and Sylvia's son is running for Congress in
Tennessee.
http://www.scottdesjarlais.com/www/docs/3
FLYING
Mona and I are both pilots. But we
couldn't handle the lawn mower like that. (Marv had sent
an email with a video of a lawn mower someone had made so it could
fly). Our take offs and landings are about like that and
the go arounds were great too. The tail spins are pretty hairy
though. But because of my heart attack I had to give it up. When we
did fly we would go some place for lunch. One time when we landed at
Santa Barbara. There was a company of Marines there guarding the
airplane parking area. Mona and I were really checked out, so I
asked them what was going on. They told us that President Reagan
came in from his ranch to have lunch. Everyone lined up at the chain
link fence, wondering who we were since we had landed there and got
some attention. They also checked our plane out too. It was all
pretty exciting for us. Frank H
We really have had some
wonderful times flying. I started to fly before I met Mona. I got my
license at Santa Monica airport. After I met Mona, she told me that
her uncle owned a airport in Seal Beach, just below Long Beach,
California. Then Mona got her license because two heads are better
than one when it comes to flying. She would help me decide if the
weather was ok to go flying.
The last plane I got checked out in was a Cherokee 6, a 6 passenger
plane. I had trouble getting 3 more people to go with us to get
checked out with. Every time you go to a bigger plane, the chief
pilot has to check you out in it. We finally got them and took off.
I asked the chief what he wanted me to do. He looked at me and
laughed and said "take us for a ride any where - you are the pilot
now." I had to make 3 landings and 3 take offs at 3 different
airports. One of the problems I had was the departure stall. In a
Cessna 150 which is a 2 passenger plane, when you stall it out, the
nose drops down and you start to fall with the stall warning
screaming at you. Well, in the bigger plane it flutters like a leaf
and just settles down. The chief asked me when I was going to pull
it out of the stall. I didn't know it was stalling as the nose
didn't drop down. He laughed and said the bigger planes act
differently. But he okayed me to fly it any time I wanted to.
It is amazing what the people say on their first plane ride over the
Los Angeles area. "Look at all the swimming pools". I'd tell them I
don't have time to look as I am always checking out places to land
in case of an emergency. Later on I learned to relax and to look
around. I flew for about 15 years, Mona wasn't too far behind me. I
was checked out in 2 pass.,4 pass, and 6 pass planes, also planes
with retractable landing gears. We went a lot of places and flew a
lot before I had my ladder accident. That kind of stopped every
thing, until I started to ride motor cycles again. Mona learned to
ride motor cycles, so I got her one. She rode for about 2 years.
Then she said she would rather ride behind me on my bike and take
pictures. So we sold her bike and have been riding one ever since.
I just wanted you to know that flying is not just a bowl of
cherries, Every pilot has some weird stories to tell but I won't get
into them.
One of our dear, dear friends was a bush pilot in Alaska. During
World War II he was a pilot in a B-17. He had all kinds of pictures
of B-17's flying over Germany and the ones that made it back to the
base in England. The base's landing strip was a triangle shape. The
English had gardens between the run ways. Any way after the war he
went to Alaska and he worked as a bush pilot for quite awhile. Then
he became a pilot for Alaska Air lines until he retired. We met him
riding motor cycles. For the next 20 years we heard a lot of stories
of Alaska and flying during the war. He died 1 year ago at the age
of 84. He also rode his motorcycle within 6 months of dying. He was
to me a great friend and a war hero. All the missions over Germany
and he came back alive. He had a great attitude for life itself. He
retired a Captain at Alaska Air Lines. His name was Jim (James )
Hickey. I will never for get him. Frank H.
I was taking lessons to
get my license and the instructor told me about an area I should
avoid when practicing maneuvers. I lived in Cleveland TN and about
40 minutes east was the TN/NC border in a remote area of the Smoky
Mountains. That community was known for moonshine activities.
The Feds would fly in that area looking for stills. The moonshiners
would shoot at any airplanes that flew low or circled near their
"activities". After I got my license I did fly through
there....but at a safe (high) altitude. phil
Good Morning!
That reminds me of my pilot training. As a student
pilot I went for my solo flight up to Fresno, California, over
to the coast at
San Luis Obispo
then
back to Santa Monica, California. In the process I went through
a military area at Lemoore, which I think is a Navy base. I
really did not check my maps for the area. I was in an area that
goes from ground to infinite, which means no civilian air craft
allowed. Within about 3 minutes I got a call on the radio,
warning me that I had 5 minutes to get out of there. I looked on
both sides of the plane I was flying and there were 2 F-104
Jets about 1 mile away from me. I got out of there I fast as I
could. I was worried about the Jet's Vortex (wash ) That would
have caused me to go down. But that was why they stayed far
enough away from me. When I got back to Santa Monica I told my
chief pilot what had happened. Boy did I get chewed out royal.
That was one of my flying experiences. I have had good ones and
bad ones.
Like Phil in
TN. watching out for bootleggers, up here in Oregon, we have to
watch out for POT growers in the forests. Up here they use the
army Apache helicopters to search for the pot farms. The growers
don't worry about people passing through, they worry about their
neighbors stealing from them.
Mona and I
were riding our mules out on what they call a HOG BACK. It is a
ridge near the top of a mountain. And like in the movies where
people are standing in a room 30 or 40 stories up, all of a
sudden a helicopter appears. It came up out of nowhere
about 30 feet away from us. The mules just froze until it was
gone. They were so close I could see the color of their eyes. It
was a fully armed Apache Helicopter with missiles, guns and all.
They call it a training practice, I call it sheer terror
practice. I guess they need the practice tho.
There is
a new video out called "1-6-RIGHT ". It is all
about flying and the VAN NUYS airport in CALIFORNIA. I really
enjoyed it. I think you will to. Frank H
Tillie Lapp Franks just send this great picture... It is 1954,
the 8th grade Graduation, from Whitewood School.
Most of the kids then went to Sturgis High School to finish.
Front from L: Unk (called Sonny), Ralph Jones,
Elizabeth Ingram, Marlys Isaacs, Marty Ann Braithwaite, Gene Pulis, Leslie
Auer.
Back: Matilda Lapp, Eugene Nonnast,
Lester Tippey, Marvin Thompson, Sidney Smith, Bud Matheson, Unk
(Sonny's sister).
(Can you help identify the unknowns in the photo above? Click on EMAIL and
let us know......)
THE REUNION
A group of 40-year-old buddies discuss and discuss where they should
meet for dinner.
Finally, it is agreed upon that they should meet at the Gausthof zum
Lowen restaurant because the waitresses there have low-cut blouses
and were nicely put together.
Ten years later, at 50 years of age, the group once again discuss
and discuss where they should meet for dinner. Finally, it is agreed
upon that they should again meet at the Gausthof zum Lowen because
the food there is very good and the wine selection is also good.
Ten years later, at 60 years of age, the group once again discuss
and discuss where they should meet. Finally, it is agreed upon that
they should again meet at the Gausthof zum Lowen because they can
eat there in peace and quiet and the restaurant is smoke free.
Ten years later, at 70 years of age, the group once again discuss
and discuss where they should meet. Finally, it is agreed upon that
they should again meet at the Gausthof zum Lowen because the
restaurant is wheelchair-accessible and they even have an elevator.
Ten years later, at 80 years of age, the group again discuss and
discuss where they should meet. Finally, it is agreed upon that they
should meet at the Gausthof zum Lowen because they have never been
there before. ron S
THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED ...
Just watched the movie The Buddy
HOlly Story... do you guys remember "The Day the Music Died?"
This area never forgets that date. Since they were on the way to Moorhead for
their next concert it is remembered every year here. Bobby Vee, I believe he
filled in at the concert here after the crash still lives in Minnesota and comes
to Fargo/Moorhead every once in awhile for interviews. So yes, it is very well
remembered. Cathy
I only remember the incident and how it has periodically stayed in the news
after all this time.......Marty
Sure do. I was working as a DJ at the college
radio station and was shocked when I read the teletype the next morn. I'll
email another of my stories later in regard to this. Got to head to El Paso
for an appt.
Jim
American Pie sung by Don McLean! Ron S
Every year they have a concert at the same
ballroom in Clear Lake where Buddy Holly and Richie Valens and the Big
Bopper had just completed their last concert. A good friend of mine and
another of his friends used to go there every year for the remembrance of
the death of them. It was a good time to be had by all. This particular time
the weather had turned and the roads were becoming snow covered and they had
announced that if you didn't want to get stranded then you had better leave
now. My friend took the warning seriously and started back to Mankato, about
105 miles. Interstate 35 runs right thru Clear Lake so they got on the
freeway and immediately realized it was a mistake but couldn't get off as it
was the last exit so they proceeded, another mistake. There was a rest stop
on the other side of the road about 2 miles north of Clear Lake but they
didn't see it due to whiteout conditions. Some distance after passing the
missed rest stop they got stuck because the motor quit running. Temps were
dropping and all they had were light jackets and no other traffic or snow
plows and no engine to provide heat. Arnie says they had made their peace
with God. The both of them were beginning to suffer the effects of
hypothermia and figured that they were probably going to freeze to death,
literally. Obviously, this had a good outcome as I'm relating his story to
all of you. Seems as tho they weren't the only ones who had left but the
Good Lord had seen to it that these others had left the concert quite a bit
later or maybe sent them to rescue them.
Anyhow, Arnie said he heard someone banging on
the side window and thought is was the Lord coming to take them away. Not
so. It was the others who had left later and they were driving a full size
van that had a load of people so had better traction and better clearance.
Instead of the Lord it was Angels of Mercy. The next rest stop was about 5
miles, just across the state line into Minnesota. They made it with their
Angels and spent the night there along with many others. Oh yes, he has
never gone back to that concert. He says it was his miracle and was a
message from God.
By the way, when he finally recovered his car,
even after a few days of warmer weather, the engine compartment was still
packed with snow which was what shut it down.
End of story.
I'm sure there are many of us, if not
all, that can relate to a situation like this being where we were raised and
some still live. (I'm trying to be nice to all the 'coasties'.)
Jim B
Ice storm leaves 15,000 without power in Dakotas
The Associated Press | Posted: Sunday,
January 24, 2010 11:00 am |
Repair crews in the Dakotas have been working
round-the-clock to restore power to thousands of
customers who lost service during icy weather. South
Dakota officials say about 10,000 customers were without
power there Sunday morning. While in North Dakota, an
official estimates that number to be 5,000.
Officials in both states expect it to be several days
- possibly a week - before service is restored in all
areas.
Heavy winds have been thwarting power crews' efforts.
The number of outages in South Dakota was reduced from
12,500 to 6,700 by Saturday night, but wind gusts up to
50 mph caused some setbacks.
National Weather Service meteorologist Greg Harmon
forecasts heavy winds to continue in some areas until
Tuesday.
GANGSTERS
Ok classmates, does anyone remember the story of
the gangster that shot & killed a law official (Sheriff?
Patrolman?) (might have been two people killed) just
over the SD/Wyo line after going thru Spearfish? And
don't remember when, probably before the news of it
would have meant much to any of us. This is going to
drive me nuts till I figure it out. And no, I don't
think it was John Dillinger. I did some research on him
earlier today and couldn't find any connection to the
Black Hills area. The reason this came to mind is we
were watching the Barrett-Jackson Car Collectors Auction
last night & the car belonging to John Dillinger was
sold, it even showed the bullet hole in the car along
w/ documentation of the bullet hole and his gangster
years.........Mickie
Sheriff Dave Malcolm
Butte County Sheriff's Department
South Dakota
End of Watch: Thursday, January 24, 1946
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Thursday,
January 24, 1946
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Executed in 1947
Sheriff Malcolm and Agent Thomas Matthews, of the
South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, were
shot and killed while conducting a roadblock near the
town of Spearfish. The officers were shot by an escaped
murderer from Minnesota. The suspect was apprehended and
executed in the electric chair in 1947.
Sheriff Malcolm was survived by his wife.
from: http:// www.odmp.org/officer/8469-sheriff-dave-malcolm
That goes back
to the very early 40's because I was very young and
can barely remember the hunt for him. Everyone would
listen to the radio for any "breaking News" on
catching him (no telecopters in those days). They
finally caught him along the Belle Fourche River
near Elm Springs (Approx.). This was not far from
our ranch. He had broken into the house of one of
our acquaintances in the middle of the night -
looking for money. He actually got the electric
chair (shocking to todays culture). Marv
I remember my
folks taking about this case, was a big topic of
conversations for a long time. What I find
interesting in reading the article is that
George Sitts was tried, convicted, and executed
within a 14 month time frame. Most murder cases
today don't even come to trial within 14 months
and how long are they kept on death row for
appeals? Sometimes years, have one from Grand
Forks, tried in Fargo in Federal court, for
kidnapping, raping, and killing a young ND
University college woman is now appealing his
verdict and sentence after several years. Cathy
Cathy, that's
interesting about the UND student. Her
Grandmother and my Mother were first
cousins....grew up on ranches near
Faith. phil
The incident took place in l946 and the
execution took place in l947 - much different than
today?
Mickie - this got me to thinking - there was a
convict that was found (half frozen) in an old
school and he later told the authorities he had
broken into the cellars of home where he found
food.......I wonder if this was the same guy....it
seems like I was fairly young.......anyone know who
I am talking about?.....Marty
AAAAH yes George Sitts
was his name and an interesting fellow he was!
Rumor has it that he spent some time in the fine
city of Deadwood before he went on his killing
spree, taking down two of our finest, the men in law
enforcement. There it is said he partook in the
sweets the ladies of lower Main had to offer. While
there in that fine city he resided in the basement
root cellar of the city's chief of police. When this
part of the story was revealed every one locked
their homes and the ladies of the house would send
the family dog down into the root cellars first and
then their husbands with the double barreled shot
gun that stood behind everyone's front door in those
days. In the root cellar George enjoyed
the fruits of the labor of the chief's lovely bride,
her canned goods, leaving many empty jars
behind and taking a goodly supply with him when he
departed. On his run for the WY border he
encountered the law and shot them dead. He then
returned to the Black Hills, he may have gotten
lonely for the hospitality of lower Main in
Deadwood. He hid in the attic of the Crook City
school (about 2 or 3 miles west of Crook City) just
a stone's throw from our own Les Auer's home. There
he hid while school was in session . He poked
holes in the roof of the school for light and so he
could see out to watch the goings on up and down the
road. I remember my dad driving out past the school
so we could see the holes. The school teacher
thought she heard noise up in the attic and alerted
the law. Sitts, being half frozen and hungry, gave
up without a fight and the rest of the story you
already know. This is the way I heard the story
many, many years ago and I'm sticking to it!!! Your
Class Mate Joe D
Well at
least we brought Joe! Hi Joe,
thought maybe you had absconded w/ the "reunion"
funds", LOL..............Been a long time no hear
from. mickie
This
brings to mind a guy who spent some time @ Cedar
Canyon. I have a clipping in my genealogy
materials that are packed in my motor home,
setting in Heidi's parents yard @ Arnold,
NE. (Along w/ my pictures ). It tells about this
"gangster?/convict?staying @ Cedar Canyon & if
memory serves it was during the winter. I'm
wondering if it was Sitts. I think this guy spent
some time there & was well liked by the community.
I think my grandparents (mom was raised @ Cedar
Canyon) knew him. And Marv, since Sitts was in
your neighborhood am wondering if it was him. Sure
wish I had that stuff here. Can anyone enlighten
me?....................Mickie
Mickie
your mention of Cedar Canyon brings up a few
questions for me. My mother died when I was 7 years
olds so I did not know this until I did some
genealogy research and discovered she was raised in
Cedar Canyon, Phil Barker told me at the reunion
that his mother was a school teacher there and
boarded with my grandparents and knew my mother. My
grandparents names were Henry and Rhoda Nearhood. My
mother's name was Vina Nearhood and she married Ed
Sperle. Did your mother ever mention the Nearhood's?
Small world huh! Ron S
Ron, absolutely, mom often talked about the
Nearhoods. Not real sure now but I think Vina was
closest to her in age & she had said that Vina had
died early in life. Mom mentioned Vina the most &
talked about their school days. I knew Viv well as
we worked together in Girl Scouts. And I also knew
Violet well. I knew when we were in school that
Violet was Sharons mother & probably knew you were
cousins but does not come to the front of my memory
now. Mom also knew Viv & Violet well. Isn't it
amazing what we find out now? I also learned @ the
reunion that Phil / Phyllis's mother taught @ Cedar
Canyon.
When was Vina born? Mom was 1915.......Mickie
Mickie, my mother Vina Nearhood married my dad Dec 1934 in
Dupree, SD. Don't know why they went to Dupree.
Sharon, by chance do you know? Something else just
came to mind--I think Violet was married at the same
time. Is that right Sharon? Ron
Mom was
born 1915. Her name was Regina, married 1938.
Sharon, when was Violet born?....................Mickie
IN JAIL
"ANSWER THIS: If you and I woke up in jail
together.....using only 4 words....what would
you say to me??? "
Ralph Jones presented this question on Facebook......
ad: GET ME OUTTA HERE!
pb: DO YOU KNOW JESUS?
pw: I'm blessed, it's
you!
mc: PLEASE CALL MY ATTORNEY
sh:
Did you sleep well?
mh: Perhaps we can
snuggle..............
lw:
Did you bring beer???
rs:
whata night: whataaaaaaaa
night.
jb: "I want out". Then I would
have one left to express myself for when I
didn't get out.
fh:
mb: O M G, YOU?
bd:
rj:
What were we Smokin'???
gr:
cd:
Did we have fun?
ki: Bring coffee and cookies
LADDER STORIES
Let me tell you my story about a ladder that worked for
about 5 minutes.
In 1974 Bing Crosby fell off the stage at the
Huntington Hartford Theater Stage, in Pasadena,
California, falling into the orchestra pit. That same
day I fell 4 stories.
I was working in Marina Del Ray, a rich man's playground
in Los Angeles. We were having 40 to 50 mile per hour
winds. I was the foreman at the time and my boss told me
to send every one home because of the winds. But he
asked if I would stay and finish one job for him.
Like a idiot I said yes. I had to work off a four story
ladder to put 2 downspouts on a building. I put the
ladder all the way up to reach the top. I parked
the shop truck at the bottom to hold the ladder from
slipping out from beneath me. I worked from the high
ladder for about 5 minutes when the latch that
holds it up gave way and down it came. When the
top section reached the bottom section it knocked my
feet off the ladder rungs and I started to free fall.
All I could think of was Spider Man. I tried to grab on
to the flat wall, but that was no good. The truck tail
gate was down and I landed on it heels first. My back
just missed the ladder rack by 2 inches. The tail gate
acted like a diving board and threw me out about 15 feet
where they were building a flower box. When
I hit, my knees bent and a rebar sticking up
about 12 inches went through my left knee cap. If it
hadn't hit my knee it would have gone through my heart.
I laid there for 45 minutes before anybody found me.
Sand was blowing all over me. They got me to the
hospital around 3:00 o clock and someone called
Mona at work to tell her about the accident. She met me
at the hospital. After the X-rays were taken, they told
her that I had crushed both feet. They moved me to a
hospital that was closer to our place. The heel
bone is like an egg shell and it shattered into a
hundred pieces. I laid in bed for almost 6
months in order for the heels to mend, with my legs
wrapped tightly in cotton. When everything was healed
they went in and cut out the old heel bone and replaced
it with a man made substance. In the next 5 years I had
5 surgeries on my right foot and 4 surgeries on my left
foot. I also had 2 surgeries on my left knee. Mona
was working at the Los Angeles Times but they gave her a
leave of absence to stay home and take care of me. Of
course they paid her all that time to do it. Then in
1978 I had to have back surgery. So we retired, sold
everything and moved to Oregon where we ran a mobile dog
grooming business for 25 years. It was pretty
successful. Then we retired again. Frank H
EARLY STURGIS
I
thought I would write some questions down for you and the
classmates. Remember that this is in the late
40's to early 50's.
1. Where was the Roller
Skating Rink located ?
2. What business ran a bus
service to Bear Butte swimming pool in the summer for the
kids ?
3. Where was the fire
station located ?
4 What was the name of the
business that still had the old bar and big mirror on the
wall with a bullet hole in it ?
5 Where was the leather
Shop located ?
6 What was the name of the
movie theater before the Dakota theater was built ?
7 Who owned both theaters
?
8 What business was
between the Dakota and Cummins Cafe ?
9 Where was the " Days
Second Hand Store located ?
10 Where was " Poker
Alice's house located ?
11 Who won the contest
in naming the Dakota Theater ?
12 Mr. and Mrs. Chubb
open a new business in Sturgis What kind was it and
where was it located ?
13 Who gave Burro
rides up Bear Butte and what year was it turned over to
the state ?
14 When was the first
motor cycle rally in Sturgis ?
15 What year was the
grade school built and what has the name been changed to
?
16 Who laid out the
town of Fort Meade in what year ?
17 Why was Sturgis
nick named " Scoop town " ?
18 What street in 1950
was Doctor Massa office on and what business was next
door ?
19 Who owned the local
sawmill in town and built the court house and city hall
?
20 Who built the
Sturgis City Library in 1951 ?
1 It was located at the
bottom of the court house hill road and 4th street. On the
corner.
2 Cummings Cafe
3 Between the old J C
Pennys store and Weimers Bakery
4 Black Hills Press. We
would watch the owner "Scotty" set type on his old press
machine
5 On 2nd street back of
the J C Pennys store 1 st floor.
6 Majestic Theater
7 Mr. Ernie Jastorfa
8 A Billiard and pool hall
9 Across the street from
the Ford Dealer On south main street.
10 Going up Sly hill just
across the bridge on the right side down by the creek.
11 Miss Jordon from
Fort Meade
12 Clothing store in
the 1200 block of Main St.
13 Mr. and Mrs. Bovee
8-8-1965
14 1938
15 1902 Erskine
school
16 Jeremiah
Wilcox 1878
17 Because the town
was always trying to get the Army pay From the Soldiers.
18 1st and
Sherman Phone company
19 William Grams
20 The Huntley family
I used to walk
around Sturgis because I had a lot of time with nothing to
do. I couldn't give you the names of the streets or numbers,
because I didn't look up much. I had to keep my eyes on my
feet. Frank H.
.....................................................
1. Where was the Roller
Skating Rink located ?
Columbian Hall on West Main Street
2. What business ran a bus
service to Bear Butte swimming pool in the summer for the
kids ?
People who owed the Taxi service, Miller's????
3. Where was the fire station
located ?
On Main Street near J.C. Penney's
4 What was the name of the
business that still had the old bar and big mirror on the
wall with a bullet hole in it ?
The one by Rexall Drug??? Can't remember name
5 Where was the leather Shop
located ?
Was it in the shoe shop by Doran Grocery store near Bear
Butte Bank?
6 What was the name of the
movie theater be fore the Dakota theater was built ?
On the corner of Main and Junction but can't remember the
name
7 Who owned both theaters ? Mr..
Jastroff ???
8 What business was between
the Dakota and Cummins Cafe ?
Pool Hall, Leonard's place
9 Where was the " Days
Second Hand Store located ?
No idea
10 Where was " Poker Alice's
house located ?
At the bottom of Sly Hill before you came across the creek
Here are my
guesses: 14 - First rally 1939 15 - don't
know the year but name changed to Erskine 19 -
Dickson Saw Mill
Otherwise
don't have a clue
on the last 10.
...........................................Cathy
Moved to Sturgis
August of '52, just before school started so not familiar w/
most of the ????'s but I did get 4 of them, 2-5-7 &
8..
Another ? just came
to mind: Where was the creamery located?
I remember that cause
I hauled many a can of cream there. ............Mickie
2. What business ran a
bus service to Bear Butte swimming pool in the summer
for the kids ? People who owed
the Taxi service, Miller's????
5 Where was the leather
Shop located ? Was it in the
shoe shop by Doran Grocery store near Bear Butte Bank?
7 Who owned both theaters
? Mr.. Jastroff ???
8 What business was
between the Dakota and Cummins Cafe ?
Pool Hall, Leonard's place
...........................................................
Mickie
I am out of this as I didn't
live in Sturgis when young. I was thinking
of how many businesses in Whitewood I could
name...........Marty
Frank has an entirely too
good of a memory. The only roller rink I
remember was in Spearfish and the old theater
was on the corner of Junction and Main. That's
it for me.
..................................................................Jim
B
I've got one, I've got
one!!!! It was named Scoop Town because the citizens of Sturgis used to
'scoop' up the soldiers money at the gambling parlors, etc. Jim
Jim, I knew that
one too. #14 maybe 1939 # 19 Was it Dickson's.
I worked for a couple that had a
western store and it was north of the Bear Butte bank (I think) - do you
know what I am talking about? I looked at the old drawings of Sturgis on
the website and could not find it...........Marty
Marty, The store you
are talking about is "Ferguson Western Wear".
It is between the fire station and I think Spic and Span Dry Cleaners,
or maybe one more door toward the bank. Mr. Ferguson had a son that
worked there of and on. His name was "Kent". He was 2
years older then us. I hope this answers your question. Frank H
She (the owner) used to bring her ironing into the store for me to do
when I wasn't selling moccasins :).........Marty
Couldn't remember
the name of the creamery, thx Frank.
Now I remember
where the old theater was. I went to the first
show at the new Dakota Theater & if memory
serves me I think the movie was "Magnificent
Obsession" w/ Rock Hudson, but can't think who
the female lead was ( I can see her face). One
reason I remembered "Jastorff" was because Janet
Symonds & I worked as ushers & the ticket office
but don't remember just when. Seems like it
might have been Soph and/or Jr yrs.
I remember the roller rink @ Spearfish.
.....................................................Mickie
Mickie, My Grandfather
(Burt Butler) ran a business that bought cream
from farmers/ranchers and a Creamery from Rapid
would pick up every other day. He was located
behind the Red Owl Store (same building) across
the street (East) of Marsh Produce. I used to
work there on Saturdays and clean the cans to
return to the farmers. Some of the cream was
very sour and to clean the can we put it upside
down over a steam faucet to melt the cream.
When the steam hit that sour cream....peeeeyouuu!
phil
Phil, my mother used to
bring cream to Sturgis every Sat so my brother
and I could go to the movies - who knew you
cleaned our can (versus our clock). Marty
You should have invited
me to go to the movies with you ....and gotten
me out of that "steamy" job ! Phil
I got out of
cleaning those cans at the creamery, but
to to this day I can still remember that
"aroma". Eeee
Re: the Poker
Alice House at the base of Sly Hill,
shortly after high school we moved to
that area, and Dad moved a house in just
across the street which later became
Woodland Drive. Dad and the boys
developed it into a lovely park with
several mobile homes and the house was
the nicest I can remember living in as a
kid.
Interestingly, after our folks moved to
Deadwood Street, the Junction Inn bought
the Poker Alice house and moved it to
their property just a block from where
my parents then lived. Guess they just
couldn't get away from Poker Alice.
Phyllis
There have
been 2 or 3 answers about the leather shop. They
are talking about the shoe repair shop by the
Dorns Grocery store. The one that I am thinking
of is in the back of the J C Penny's store. They
had all kinds of leather Stuff for the Ranchers,
plus some saddles there. I think there was
another door that went up stairs to the hall.
Do any of you
remember the games that the Majestic Theater had
on Saturdays mornings? I won a tricycle once.
You had to eat a bunch of crackers then whistle.
Frank H.
I don't
remember the saddle shop being behind Penny's
but do remember it on Main St. Bob Salmaen had
it & Janet Symonds worked there for some time.
Seems like it was in the same block as Ben
Franklin. Maybe beside it on the west
side.......Mickie
Wasn't there a club type thing at the old theater
called the Red Rascals? If I remember correctly all
you had to do was show up and you were a member.
Just thought of something else, what was Scottie's
last name and the name of his lady helper? I know,
does anyone else know?????????????
Scottie also had a hobby, do you know what it is?
Cathy
Scottie
or Scotty however you want to go with it, his last
name was Handlin, Frank emailed me last night and
had that one right. His right hand helper's name
was Nina McCracken, and his hobby was raising
flowers especially gladiolas and pansies. He was
also a very good musician, played the piano. Cathy
I don't
remember - He was a wonderful old guy tho. I
wanted to be "Girl Reporter".... I loved the
newspaper and he let me hang around and "help"
for my last couple of years in h.s. He
would take the time to show you things - I'll
never forget him lifting that red hot type with
his bare fingers. I've since learned from an
adult friend in printing, that the lead "killed
the nerves in your fingers" as you were getting
lead poisoning from it. It is amazing he
breathed that all those years and lived to an
old age. Or...did he just look that old from
lead poisoning. Ann
Though I attended SHS only my
freshman year, these pictures do bring back memories
of that time. Geri Burdick's mom was our teacher in
7&8 grade at Whitewood, and I remember spending one
night at their house. Geri was active in Job's
Daughters and there was a meeting or gathering the
night that I was there. The memory I still have, is
how "up-town" the city girls in Sturgis were.
Tillie
BORROWING DAD'S CAR
In October of 1953, about two
weeks before I moved to California, I borrowed my dad's truck to
drive. He and my oldest brother had already left for
California. I am trying to think who the kids were
that I got to go for a ride, but I filled the back of the truck
up with a bunch of kids. Off we went snow and all. We ran
around town for a while then went up to the cemetery. I guess I
was showing off because the next minute I started down a pretty
good steep hill.....and then tried to make it up the other side.
Well the truck slid side ways and hooked the back fender on a
tree. No one was hurt and they all got out. I told my mother
what happened in a round about way. She was good friends with
Mr. Al Matkins (Ford Dealer). He sent a wrecker out to get the
truck but in the process they tore the fender clear off the
truck. We didn't know there were great big rocks under the snow
and wrecker's tires. They burned up a new set of
snow tires on the wrecker. I didn't find out what the toll bill
was, but I sure caught the devil. Mom had an auction before we
left Sturgis. The truck sold for $100 without a fender. I was only 13 years old at the time.
I wonder if any of those kids remember that event I sure do.
Frank H.
| If I was in that
truck, I have conveniently forgotten! Don't want to
face any lingering liability lawsuit from the Al Matkins
estate ! phil |
WHITEWOOD 8TH GRADE PICTURE
I moved
to Whitewood in 1945 right after World War II, into a little
house on the hill behind the school . The school was a 2
story, sandstone building. It was a square building with a
fire escape on the back from the second floor. They had 1st,
2nd, and 3rd together, so my brothers and I were all in the
same room.
1st
grade was on the right side, 2nd was in the middle and 3rd
was on the left side. One day I got a new pair of wire type
scissors. The girl that sat in front of me had long red hair
that hung down on my desk.. I got tired of it so I did
something about it. The desks at that time had ink wells in
them. I motioned to my brother that I was going to cut
some of her hair off. Of course he shook his head no,no,no!
I went ahead anyway. It didn't look right to me when I was
done. So I put some of her hair in the ink well. I don't
remember what happened after that. But I wasn't bothered
with her hair again.
It is
kind of sad to see Whitewood now.. The last 2 years we have
been back there and went though Whitewood. The freeway
bypassed it, the main street was all torn up, and most of
the old buildings were boarded up. The hill that
I lived on has all new houses on it.
I
guess like Sturgis, they tore the old court house down. To
me, that was one of the historic sites that should have been
saved. Oh well, time marches on. Frank H
I would like to get on
the mailing list again. I have so much spare time on my hands,
with not much to do since our mules died. We are traveling a
lot. Bought a RV and this last summer we took a 7000 mile trip.
Went up through Washington then South Dakota on down through
Neb, Colo, Ariz then to Nev. and came home. It was a nice trip
even though we went through a tornado in Colo. It took us about
5 hours to go 40 miles. There was no place to pull our truck and
trailer off the road. Hail was the size of a golf ball. And the
rain was so bad that I could not see more than 20 to 30 feet in
front of us. Mona was just glued to the seat. Neither one of us
was talking too much. But, we got through it. I fixed our
truck up so that we can go about 2000 miles before we need
diesel. We also bought a new Harley Davidson. and take long day
trips. We don't leave our dogs (a Doby and a Poodle )
alone at night. That is one of the reasons we bought an RV
trailer. Most motels won't take Dobies plus I can't go into
motel rooms that have been smoked in. I kind of have a breathing
problem since my heart surgery.
I did live in Whitewood
and went to school there, in the 1st grade. My mother's family
has lived there most all of their lives. I think there are still
some of my relatives there named "Nonnest". I was kind of
sad when we went through there 2 years ago and then last year.
They had the main street all torn up and most of the old
sandstone buildings torn down. We lived on the hill right behind
the school. But that is all changed now with new housing.
I really got upset when I saw the old Sturgis Court House gone.
That was all part of Sturgis's History. When I saw the plot plan
of Sturgis in 1950, I saw our place. Of course the name on the
map was "Tin Shop".
Funny thing is I remember
more of Sturgis and the kids I went to school with then
anything. I still call Sturgis my home, even though I get a
little upset when we are back there at the changes that are
made. As long as they don't rename it "Harley Davidson town."
Frank Huntley
Looking at this picture I see I had earrings on, which is a surprise
to me. Elizabeth Ingraham and Bernice Clingman had come to
school with pierced ears. Well, being from the farm, I didn't
want those Whitewood city girls getting ahead of me, so I asked my
mom if I could get my ears pierced. Her answer wasn't
just NO, but ABSOLUTELY NO! I just couldn't
stand it, so when it came time to milk the cows I told mama I was
feeling bad (that was the only time we didn't have to go to the barn
and milk - if we were sick). As soon as she left the house, I
grabbed the only hat pin I could find, a raw potato and an ice cube.
Silly me, I forgot I'd have to have some earrings, and of course I
didn't have any, so I got some safety pins. I couldn't
find two the same size though.
I had good luck holding the ice to my left ear lobe, putting the
potato behind it to stabilize things, and piercing the left ear.
But, when it came time to do the right one I couldn't get my left
hand/arm to do it right. I poked that hat pin in so many
times that the lobe on my ear was swelling and a mess.
My hands were sweating and finally I couldn't get the hat pin out of
my ear, but I also couldn't get it to go through. Blood
was pouring out. I got scared and went to the barn where
mama was. When she saw me I thought she was going to
pull off the part of the cow where she was milking! But, she
quickly realized I was scared, so she helped me get the needle
through, and she put in the other safety pin. I had no money
for earrings, so wore the safety pins while they healed. For
this picture, maybe Elizabeth let me borrow some earrings.
This picture sure brought back memories.
Marty.. Marlys Isaacs Coburn
Marlys, you are good for the soul!
I did some internal calisthenics just laughing at your story.
Weren't we a crowd!?
I remember asking mom if I could pierce my
ears at that time too. She said absolutely "NO", but it
was dad's explanation that I understood. He told me that
it was a sign of slavery taken from Old Testament Scriptures.
The slave owner would take an awl and pierce the ear of a slave who
had been freed but wished to remain in the service of his former
master. That indicated the slave wished to continue as a
slave.
Well, I didn't want to declare myself a
slave to ANYONE, so I decided not to try a "do-it-myself"
piercing. Later I did have my ears pierced with my
daughters. My younger daughter had an extra piercing as
a statement that she wished to be a "Slave of Jesus Christ".
Tillie Matilda Lapp Franks
Marty, if I remember
correctly, I think the potato / ice cube route was what was used
when I had my ears pierced. Don't remember what grade but Carol
Lehmann did mine. And oh, that alcohol did sting till they healed.
My memory fails me whether I did Carol's or if she already had them
done..........Mickie Mickie Blair
I was so thrilled to receive the 8th grade graduation picture
from Tillie because this is the first time I've seen
it...pictures weren't a big thing in our farm life. Elizabeth
Ingraham passed away a few years ago from cancer. Approx 5
years before her death, she and her friend were passing through
Kansas, and out of the blue I got a call from her (have no idea
how she found me and I hadn't seen her but once since our 8th
grade graduation) and she told me she was in Kansas and could we
meet for coffee. So we did and the years that were between us
suddenly slipped away. Back then, we had the best times
but were a bit ornery/mischievous - one time we wet our hair and
then went outside and broke some of it off (it was in the middle
of winter). Anyway, she gave me the phone number of her son
because she and her friend were traveling all over and that was
the best way to get a hold of her - well, wouldn't you know
I misplaced the number and then in looking at some Christmas
cards later I found the number and called - her daughter in law
answered the phone and I asked if Elizabeth was there, and she
informed me Liz had passed away just a short while before my
call. It took me awhile to get over that huge boo boo - how
could I have been so slack after all those years, I don't know.
Sidney Smith died in the Rapid City flood and Lester Tippey
passed away in an accident of some sort a few years ago.
Whitewood was so long ago.....and Tillie and I have just become
acquainted again since the reunion of 08.... Marlys
There are advantages to being
boys. I'm not sure but I think it's so we can laugh at the dumb
things the girls do to impress us or is it to impress the other
girls. Before I sent this email, I dug a foxhole to avoid
the incoming rounds. Jim B
Jim, Those Whitewood 8th graders
weren't hard to look at, were they? The girls, I mean.
phil
I need to
have my ears re-pierced...At AGE 69!!...I was such a
wimp the first time that Stephanie, our middle daughter,
secretly made the appt during my hair appt...the lady
pulled out the stuff and wham!!...So needless to say
you Whitewood Beauties have scared the Heebie Jeebies
out of me again! Bring on the pinching clip ons.
Phyllis
SIGHTSEEING BY
FOOT
With my medical
problems the doctor told me to get some exercise. So
since 1992 I had been walking a lot, anywhere from 5 to
12 miles a day, 5 days a week. When we go to Sturgis, I
try to find a road to walk on. There is a nice road from
the military cemetery on the road to Rapid City, about 3
miles out from Sturgis. It goes from there over to Fort
Meade through the hills. So I have my cousin drop us off
there and we walk to Fort Meade then back to Sturgis.
We pass some old gunnery ranges and horse stables from
the old days. Then on top of the hill dropping down in
to Fort Meade, there is an old grave yard. There are
graves from 1850 on. It was sure interesting to look at
all the head stones. And it was a very nice way to spend
a morning for walking. Kind of a history treat. You
could see Bear Butte all most all the way. And I could
just imagine the Indians and cavalry riding along out
there. It was wonderful to see the wide open
spaces. I have also walked back from Whitewood on the
service road to my grandfather's house. Frank H.
I was picked to
lead the motorcycle parade in 1974. That was 36 years
ago. Now in 2010. this is my new ride with Mona on the
back. We are as young as we feel.
Frank
Don’t interpret this as bragging; just a Sturgis weather
report. We have had beautiful weather here all week;
about 40 dgs during the day. I walk my dog daily form
the city park to Ft Meade and I can see that bank of fog
east of Sturgis that is causing all those problems for
Kay but we stay in the sunlight. Yesterday when
returning home from the McDonalds revival meeting it
looked like the fog was moving into town but it never
got to my house. Unless something changes this storm
that is approaching isn’t suppose to impact Sturgis
much, maybe a couple of inches or so. We still have
plenty of snow on the ground so don’t really need
anymore. It’s time to invoke the banana belt advantage
and set this one out. Ron
Ron, you brought back
some good memories. I've walked or ran that path
from Sturgis so many times being we lived at Ft
Meade for several years. It is a pretty place,
especially in winter. Used to be a lot of choke
cherries on the hillside which I would pick for my
Mom to make jam. Needed a lot of sugar to erase that
acidic taste. Sure made good jam.
Correct me if I'm wrong
but isn't there an old rock quarry on the south side
of the road. Probably where they got the rock to
build all those homes. The house we lived in had
walls that were 16 inches thick and were of native
rock. It was cool in the summer and warm in the
winter. In fact, our home was right about where the
main entrance of the current hospital is located.
I'm kind of lost there anymore as it sure has
changed since I lived there. Most of the bldg are
the same but the north side is much different.
Jim
Ron, you really do have a great
memory. The daily McDonald Revival meetings must be
helping ! Anxious to see you guys there for the summer
series. Jim, R B Williams could have given you all
the history of the buildings at Fort Meade . When they
wanted to tear down buildings for the new addition in
the 50's he rattled chains all the way to DC to preserve
those beautiful old sandstones. That man was one
terrific Historian. phil
If you go over to the
area north of the creek there are some interesting
large sandstone boulders. They have groves in them
from the Indians using them to make spears and also
tips. I don't know the process but was recently told
that the Indians also had a method of using
sandstone to make arrow and spear tips. Also north
of the creek just below the bluffs that stretch
north is the old firing range. It's north of the
settling ponds.
When I was a kid a friend and I used to pick up or
dig up old lead bullets. My friend and his family
were great hunters and did their own reloading and
made their own shotgun shot and bullets for rifles
so that is one way they would get lead. It almost
looks on the satellite view that they may have dug
up all the firing range backstops to remove all the
lead that was there. The ones we liked to get were
the unjacked pure lead slugs. They were plentiful.
It would be interesting to check it out someday.
Another place was where there were some old
concrete slabs. Some of the old electrical wiring
was still there and it was encased in lead. You
needed a sharp sturdy knife to remove the lead. That
was hard work. Oops, I really did a number on my
left thumb. Seems as though somehow the knife blade
imbedded itself deeply into that digit. Needless to
say that was my last time recovering lead in that
fashion. I learn quick!! Sometimes.
Also there must have
been a dump east of town. There was a stand
of pine trees where, if you scraped around, you
could uncover old Seventh Calvary buttons and lapel
pins in very poor condition. We even found an old
rusted out pistol frame from the Calvary days.
Jim B
THE MOTORCYCLE RALLY
Here is a
picture of Frank Huntley leading the motorcycle parade in 1974.
I thought
the first rally was after WW2. It was the Indian motorcycle shop on the
south end of Junction that sponsored it, if memory serves me. Jim
No Jim, the first
was as Frank said, 1938, I missed the year but knew it was about that
time. Itas not held for 2 years during the war. It resumed after WWll
ended. "Pappy" Hoel started it w/ around 12 entries the first year & it
just mushroomed from that. If memory serves, he was an "Indian" M C guy &
the first was all Indians. And yes, I do believe he had an MC shop there as
they lived in south Sturgis just east & a schosh south of the hospital. Not
sure if Mrs is still living or not but was the last I knew.
................Mickie
The rally was started by J.C. "Pappy" Hoel in 1938 (ain't
the 'net great). JC and some of his friends got
together to race and enjoy. Some of the greatest riders
of the '50s and '60s raced at the fairgounds. Pappy
raced on the board and dirt tracks in the 20s and 30s.
I believe he rode for the Indian factory team for a
while. Mr. Hoel was the spark plug behind the rally all
those years. What's really ironic is that he couldn't
stand Harley at all.
Mr. Hoel said that he raised cattle to make a living and
support the motorcycle shop. He sold Indians until they
went out of business. Pappy also sold a number of
British marques until signing on with Yahama. He said
that he never made much money selling motorcycles until
he started to sell Yahama. He picked Yahama over Honda,
because he could get repair parts faster. He branched
out for a while and opened a shop in Rapid as well.
I bought my 1st motorcycle from Pappy, a '49 Indian
Scout. It used a gallon of oil and a quart of gas. It
smoked and shuddered but never quit regardless of the
abuse heaped upon it. I bought a '63 Yahama 250 2
stroke from him. I laughed at the thought of a 250
puddle jumper. He said take it up the canyon and and
back, Oh by the way it's a 5 speed. It went around dead
man's curve like it was rails. It was good for 112 mph,
I had a hwy patrolman tell me so. He couldn't catch me,
but he pulled up while I was gassing up. I didn't get a
ticket. It was ugliest motor I ever owned; looked like
a pregnant Budweiser can. My last motorcycle was a
Bultaco that I rode in enduros and raced xcountry.
Mr Hoel was a really great guy. I was stationed at Ft.
Campbell, Ky and I stopped at the shop while I was home
on leave in '61. He asked me what I was riding, and I
answered that I was between bikes but I was looking. He
ask me what kind of riding I would be doing. I told him
and he said "Well what you really need is a 500cc BMW.
I don't sell them, but I have a good friend in Hot
Springs that sells BMW's and I'll call him, if you want,
and tell him to give you a good deal. A father and son
would come into the shop, and he'd have the sale all
wrapped up. And Mr. Hoel would look at the boy and tell
him, now I want you to understand something: It's not a
matter if you crash, it's a matter of when. If you do
it out in the pasture you'll get some gravel rash, do it
on the street, in front of a car and you'll get a bunch
of broken bones. If the dad trusted the boy, a sale was
made, but if he didn't the sale was off.
Never did get the BMW but won a Harley Davidson motor
scooter, (yes, Little One, a motor scooter) and put a
lot of miles on it. Never did tell Pappy.
His hearing was rather bad, tuning up bikes all those
years. Cheers, Ralph
GOING TO THE MOVIES
The
name of the owner of the theater - Jastroff.
I couldn't have come up with that in a
million years. I'm impressed you guys
could. But.............I worked there in
7th grade as an usher, and didn't he have a
son that also worked there? I
was so impressed that some of the girls got to sell
popcorn or tickets! Ann
.............................
Ann, The father's
name was Ted and the son's name was Ernie.
Do you remember Squeaky. He was the owner's
son that owned Wiggs next door. Ernie and
Squeaky hung around together. Frank
..........................................
Nelda Spencer also sold tickets. and I was
an usher and popcorn girl at the theater, I
think my freshman year. Didn't we look
cute in those uniforms that had to fit every
body size and the funny little hat! Being
the popcorn girl wasn't all it was cracked
up to be. You had to take inventory every
night to know how much popcorn you sold, how
much soda and candy, couldn't be off by 5
cents or it was big trouble. Sometimes
I'd agonize over 2 or 3 cents until it came
out right.... (all on my own time I
might add).
Nelda drove her dad's big
Packard. We would all cram in, take up
a collection for gas (sometimes it was
only 25 or 50 cents) and go to Rapid.
I can't remember what we did there but
probably wasn't anything too productive but
not much mischief either, just fun.
I loved the movies!
........................................................Sharon
BH
There were two Jastorff
brothers in the National Guard......Marvin and Ernie.
Marvin (older one) was a drill sergeant in the NG (prior
service in the Army) and went to college at Black Hills
when I did. Would the owner have been their
Father? phil (yes....ad)
I should have remembered
the old theater name. For one, my Dad did some part
time work there as a projector operator and do any
of you remember the Ring Worm thing that occurred.
My Mom said that under no uncertain terms were we to
slump down in the seats and rest our head on the
back of the seat when it was going around and I
relate that to the old theater too. Just goes to
show you how goofy my memory is at times. Funny how
a person remembers things like that.
Jim
I
remember the ring worm area very well. One of the
kids in my 6th grade class at St. Martin's had it
and had to have his head shaved and wore a tight
fitting stocking cap all the time until it was
cleared up. I got the same instructions from my Mom
about the seat at the theater. Cathy
COLD WEATHER
Coldest I remember in SD was
-38. We lived in Mobridge and my Dad moved a house
across the frozen Missouri River. They had measured the
ice to be 48" thick and believed it would hold the
house ! ! The truck driver (wasn't me--I was 10) tied
the door open so he could jump out if the ice began to
crack. The weight of the house would "bend" the ice
causing the truck to "drive uphill" all the way across
the river. Sing with me... "Mama don't let your
boys grow up to be housemovers". phil
Taken in Nebraska, it appears that the -28 degrees froze
this coyote right in its tracks. Now that's cold.
I seem to remember
myself feeling and probably looking like that after
shoveling off my driveway during -20 to -25 temps with a 25
to 30 mph wind blowing. Nothing like it! Everyone should do
it at least once and then maybe there would be fewer
followers of Global Warming. Glad I'm not doing those tasks
this winter. Jim Brown |
Just so all of
you, y'all, as Phil probably says, are wondering, we are on our way
south for the winter and are in Ottawa, KS at the present and it may
be for another day if the weather turns bad. Anyhow if
we're stranded here I will try to catch up on the email. I've been
so busy getting things ready and loaded in the RV that I've not been
keeping up with the email. Jim
Darn, still stranded in Lebo,
KS. Left Ottawa, KS yesterday morning and got a few miles before
some sleet started and shortly thereafter I could feel the RV
behind me moving around a little. The road was glazing over so I
told Marlene I was getting off at the first exit with a motel.
We got all of 30 miles and are about 20 miles east of Emporia. I
didn't beat the weather as I had hoped. The road reports today
are some compacted snow and we have high winds. Not traveling
weather for pulling an RV! It will be cold (-4) tomorrow morning
but hopefully will be ok for towing. Keep your fingers crossed
for me. It's really stupid to have to experience the coldest
temps for the winter in, of all places, Kansas, when you're from
Minnesota. No internet access where I'm at so will have to wait
until I get to our destination for the night which I hope is
Abilene, TX or possibly somewhere in between.
We have finally arrived. What
normally takes two and a half days took 5 days. Not a fun trip
but we're here and that's what is important for now.
Jim Dec 12 09
Lots of bad weather everywhere. We
just had a Nor'easter that overflowed the Chesapeake Bay in
the low lying areas where the rich and famous live.
Didn't affect us Commoners on the higher ground !
That snow and ice storm going across
the Midwest is bad. That Global Warming bunch should have
had their meeting in Des Moines or Wisconsin...not in
Copenhagen. phil
Glad to hear you made it safe and
sound. It has been cold up here in ND as you probably know, we
didn't get hit with the snow that Southern MN and Iowa got, we had
it last year. Have a good winter, am sure we will be hearing more
input now that your fingers have thawed out from cold and holding
onto that steering wheel so tight. Cathy
Now I don't
feel so bad about our SD weather. After all we expect this and
worse. Never made it above 10 today and with light snow in the air,
slight breeze, it was wintry looking. I went out to bring wood in
for the fireplace for the night and close to the buildings here it
wasn't too bad, in fact it was rather pretty. No, Phil, Mrs. Ingalls
did not have to twist straw to burn as you have read in the "Ingalls
-Wilder" books. Thankfully !!!! Very cold night tonight again, last
night was -7. Warm up coming next week, YEAH!!! Kay
It's amazing
to think that next month some ranchers (some of my kinfolk) will
start calving in SD. Whatever happened to the old days of Spring
calves? phil
I remember
it more in April or so - a late storm might catch them, but you
hoped for decent spring weather.... ad
Dad always
started calving in late March. I think a lot of ranchers have moved
back to Jan-Feb......................Mickie
Hmmmmm.... I'm missing something here. How do the ranchers
decide.... I thought NATURE decided. Shows you what I know (or don't
know). A
I can't wait
to hear the full explanation! phil
Okay, Phil
and others!! You can calve anytime you chose. It is your choice. We
just calved out 12 head of fall calver's in October and November.
265 days before you want your "gals" to calve, you turn the "boys"
loose on them. Good enough !!!! We calve the 2 yr old heifers in mid
Feb to early March and get them out of the way before we start the
older gals. Just gets the inexperienced "mothers" out of the way
early as they have to be watched closely. We like to be done by mid
April as farming needs to be done. To start calving by mid March we
turn the bulls in June 1st. About 8 years after we had been married
and Howard had forgotten 7 of the anniversaries, I asked him one
June 1st, "Know what today is, dear ?" He replied way too quickly, "
the day we turn the bulls in " ! I know the pecking order of the
females on this ranch !!! Anything else you want me to explain ,
Phil ? Kay
I'm
impressed!!!! This farm girl thought "there was a season" and only
then could these things happen. Hmmmmm.... been too many years OFF
the farm. Thanks Kay... I'm impressed....good
explanation, and now we know!!! Now, how many of the others will
admit they didn't know also. Ann
Certainly
learned something new. Don't know how or when I will use this new
information but it is definitely something I never knew before.
Ron
If any of
you classmates are on jeopardy or any other trivia program and this
very knowledgeable information comes to use, remember that the
million you win should be shared!! I will not hold my breath,
however, you never know. Kay
Now we
know the answer to the $800 question and the $600 question and the
$400 question and probably a few they won't ask!!!!
Ann
Good explanation Kay,
Dad always turned the bulls in June 1st. The 2 yr old heifers a
little earlier, don't remember when but seems like he calved them
out in Feb. Other than milk cows we never did any fall calving. And
classmates, that is why we are able to buy milk in the store the
year around. Cows come in heat year around, the dairy farmers A I
(artificial insemination) them now days. Now I suppose some of you
will want to know how that is done. Google it ! ! ! ! ! I don't
remember all the steps, the kid's dad A I'd dairy's around the hills
for several years, I learned to A I but couldn't do it correctly
now.......................Mickie
You girls
certainly covered the bases . No more questions from me. Wish I had
taken Animal Husbandry in FFA from Wayne Gray and could have known
all of this. Might have become a rancher ! Phil
YUP, I AGREE
PHIL......I CAN SEE YOU AS A RANCHER......MOUNTED ON YOUR
TRUSTY STEED AND A CROONING TO YOUR HERD.......SITTING 'ROUND THE
CAMP FIRE, TELLING ALL KIND OF "TALL TALES" OF THE LAST BIG ROUND
UP.
I DID IT FOR 12 YEARS AND LOVED EVERYDAY OF IT......MISS IT
SOMETHING AWFUL.
YES, YOU GUYS.....I WAS A REAL DOWN TO EARTH "COW TYPE GIRL" .
CHARLEE
So you were an agri-girl. Were you able to avoid the first grass cow
splatter in the spring. It was dreadful milking a cow that had her
first spring grazing. Marv
First grass cow splatters???? Hmmm, is that what that was!! Yuk.. we
didn't milk at all. This was a real cowboy riding ranch, not a dairy
farm. Of course we had LOTs of doo-doo piles everywhere and we
all seemed to walk in and thru them more then we should. It didn't
take me long to figure out why every home had a "mud" room!!!
Yes, I loved the ranch life, it’s the only way to live and raise
your family. You'd all been proud of me. I did everything the guys
did.....fence, ride (a lot) , cattle drives, a two day saga, so much
fun & hard work, calving (plus pull calves ) plus I kept a huge
house, cooked for five hungry men ( 3 times a day), There wasn't a
sissy bone in this little ranch girl. So, I not only understand all
that Kay & Mickie have been sharing about breeding, I've done it
!!!!! Char
I am
impressed. In thinking back on my 20+ years on the ranch it
was work that had real meaning. Not that I enjoyed the winters.
First thing in the morning (about 4:30) getting up in the cold and
dark to milk the cows, slop the pigs and feed the chickens and then
have breakfast. Then off to our one-room school house.
You pretty well listed all things to be done, BUT, I didn't see
anywhere that you worked on the branding day. Of course branding day
included branding, vaccinating, ear-marking, and, of course,
gathering Rocky Mountain oysters. I can see you doing that. NOT!
Our ranch was way out in the middle of nowhere and not a lot of
people around - especially other kids. There really were no girls my
age so I was totally innocent going to high school. Talk about being
totally shy. If I were around a girl in my freshman year I couldn't
swallow my own spit.
Thanks for learning me.
Marv
OK,
CONCERNING BRANDING DAY, MERCY....WORK, WORK & MORE.
YOU KNOW HOW THIS WORKS, ALL THE NEIGHBORS HELP, ITS AN EXCHANGE
DEAL. THIS WAS THE REAL DEAL, AS FAR AS WITNESSING THE COWBOYS OF
THE WEST DOING IT JUST LIKE THEIR GREAT GRAND FATHERS DID. WE
INVITED SEVERAL 'CITY' DUDES (FRIENDS, LAWYERS, BANKERS & JUST GUYS
& GALS THAT WANTED TO BE A PART OF IT ALL).
I DID ALL THE COOKING. AS I REMEMBER, THERE MUST HAVE BEEN AT LEAST
30 HUNGRY WRANGLERS & THIRSTY TOO. IF THE WEATHER WAS
GOOD, WE SAT UP TABLES OUTSIDE, BUT I REMEMBER ONE YEAR, IT STARTED
TO RAIN, SO I HAD TO FEED INSIDE. I HAD A BEAUTIFUL NEW
HOME, PLUSH CARPET AND EXPENSIVE ETHAN ALLEN FURNITURE AND WASN'T
TOO EXCITED ABOUT HAVING ALL THESE
COWBOYS, DIRTY, STINKY & POO POO ON BOOTS IN MY HOUSE, BUT BEING THE
GRACIOUS AND GRATEFUL HOSTESS THAT I AM, I HAD ALL OF THEM
ALMOST SHUCK OFF THE DIRTY CLOTHES. ALL WENT WELL, AND
THEY WERE ALL COMPLETE GENTLEMEN IN EVERY WAY. LOTS OF FUN FOR ALL.
I NEVER HAD THE CHANCE TO BE A PART OF THE BRANDING AS I WAS ALWAYS
COOKING, AND THIS TICKED ME OFF. I DID TAKE A BREAK FROM THE KITCHEN
AND RAN OVER AND TOOK PICTURES OF THE ACTIVITIES, WHICH WAS FUN.
AS FOR THE ROCKY MT. OYSTERS.......DO WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THIS ONE
MARV?? WELL, OK, JUST A LITTLE. IT WAS VERY SIMPLE THE WORD WAS OUT
WITH ALL THE GUYS.......IF YOU WANTED TO EAT DO NOT, I MEAN DO NOT
TALK ABOUT THEM, DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT BRINGING THEM INTO THE
HOUSE. WHAT & HOW THEY DID WHAT THEY DID WITH THEM, WELL...I DIDN'T
ASK AND DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW. THAT'S THAT ON THIS SUBJECT.
LIKE I SAID, I LOVED IT SO MUCH AND MISS IT A LOT, ESPECIALLY MY
HORSES. I RODE A LOT AND BRED QUARTER HORSES.
'COWBOYING' A WEBPAGE SUBJECT, SOUNDS LIKE FUN. I'M SURE
MANY OF US WILL HAVE STORIES TO SHARE. CHARLEE
I again
recall one of those branding days. We always looked forward to
them because they were sort of a festival. Saddling up early in
the morning and going out to the rugged pastures to round up the
cattle. That was sometimes an adventure catching a glimpse of a
wild animal (deer, coyote, badger, porcupine etc.). Once all the
cattle were herded to the holding corrals we began the job of
sorting the cows and calves into the designated corrals for the
different branding operations. I always felt sorry for the male
calves and the additional drama they had to experience. Branding
involved applying the hot iron, vaccinations, cutting the ears
for identification, applying an acid on the horns to remove
them, and of course the rocky mountain oyster extraction.
It is
much more modern now but in those days we either roped the
calves or hand-caught them and wrestled them to the ground. It
was actually fun for a kid. As Char mentioned, the ladies had a
very busy agenda to prepare the food for the hungry crew. I
remember my mom and sister catching some spring chickens and
dressing them for the noon meal, along with potatoes and gravy
and garden vegetables - it was great.
Sometimes
the guys took a quick nap afterwards before going out to finish
the job. At the very end they would break out the ice cold beer
to celebrate the end of branding before herding the cattle back
to pasture. One of those time - I was probably about 9 years
old - some of us kids got our hands on some bottles of beer and
had our own celebration. That was my first buzz.
Marv
Now... one of you explain the birthing process and those
loooooooong gloves....
Those loooooong
gloves are used for AI'ing, (you stick your arm up inside the
cow) to insert the semen into the "appropriate receiving vessel"
of the cow. Also can be used for pulling a calf
(when the heifer or occasionally a cow needed assistance)
however when I had to pull a calf we generally didn't have
access to them & I never did use them. You stick your arm in the
cow w/ a rope to loop around the calves legs, then pull. Dad
always used a fence stretcher (think winch) to pull the calf if
manpower wasn't enough & I frequently was the one who got to
attach the pulling device to the calf. There is a thing called a
"calf puller" available that is used to attach to the calf legs
but I don't remember just how it works. Seems like it has chains
to put on the legs. Kay, can you address the calf puller ?
............Ann, when will you be appearing on Jeopardy? Be sure
& let us all know so that we may watch & root for you. Mickie
Good grief what you miss when
your computer is on the blink...
1. Never knew that "Elsie was
fertile all year long"...
2. That Charlee could wrangle
those "doggies"...
3. That Phil is almost always
a "pill"...but I love him for it! Phyllis
Phyllis, "Elsie"
is fertile year around but can only be bred at
certain times. She cycles year around & is bred
during the fertile window of the cycle or when
she is "in heat". Dogs are the same way, they
can be bred any time of the year but only during
the "in heat" window of the cycle. Does that
make sense?.........MB
Have been reading about the
reproduction cycle of cattle that all of you are
participating in, just think of Phil as one of the
characters of "Blazing Saddles". Have had some good
chuckles out of all the e mails. Keep it up. Cathy
Hey guys, settin'
here gigglin'. Just re-read this whole thread which started
out with Jim traveling south and ended with AI'ing dairy
cows ! ! ! ! ! Kind of reminds me of the game
"gossip"......................Mickie
I just
never realized Mickie and Kay were such authorities
on the sex life of cattle......and how little some
others knew ! Phil
YUP, PHIL , KAY & MICKIE WROTE THE
BOOK.........................
"WHAT YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE 'SEX LIFE'
OF COWS,..BUT
WAS AFRAID TO ASK!" SEE YA
AT BARNES & NOBLE. CHARLEE
Howdy,
Not milking cows, trying to have baby cows.....wish I could
get back to sleep after going out to check
cows, That usually takes me about an hour and a half. Try
dragging yourself out of a nice toasty warm
bed, piling on 10 pounds of goosedown insulated pants and
parka, walking 10 minutes in....oh say 8
degrees like it is right now... hiking through either mud 10
inches deep or frozen ground that is
extremely uneven. It's a good aerobic workout. By the time
you get back to the house, you feel like
you just jogged 1/2 mile and wonder why you thought you
needed 10 pounds of goose down
because now your heart rate is up and you are sweaty and
really don't feel like crawling back into
bed right away.
That's on a good night when there's actually nothing going
on. If there's something
calving, then you get to go out 2-3 more times, piling on
the same clothes, after chasing the cow
around for 15 minutes trying to convince her that it's in
her best interest to go in the barn, by herself
to endure excruciating amounts of pain. She'd really rather
not....but, in the off chance that she has
already had the calf by the time you go out to check, then
you have to drag the calf sled ( a large
plastic contraption I'm sure designed by a man) out into
the pen, load the slimy 80-90 lb calf into it
(gee I only can lift 70 lbs max), with a very mad momma
breathing down your neck. The sled works
great on frozen ground or snow....not worth a darn in mud.
It has tarp straps criss crossed across the
top that is supposed to keep the slimy devils in it, but
somehow they manage to slither their slimy
way out between, so you get to try to figure out how to get
the critter back in again. By this time,
momma has usually had enough of this crap and it takes a few
'kind' words to convince her that you
really have no desire to steal her baby since that would
mean too many bottles of milk over the next
4-5 months. The good thing is that if she does roll you in
the mud, the goose down acts as pretty
good padding.
Luckily the calf sled has a long rope so you can distance
yourself from her and with a little luck
she will calmly follow you into the nice warm, dry barn
where you once again have to approach the
calf sled to unstrap the tarp straps. By this time the calf
has just experienced the roughest high
speed ride across frozen ground that a woman can drag
it at 3:00 am, and the calf starts
to bawl, making momma blow big puffs of blinding steam.
With a little luck, you can dump the calf
out in the nice warm straw, seconds before momma decides
that she wants to see how fast and how
high you can jump. Somehow a mad 1300 lb cow can demand and
get a lot of respect when she
wants it. But now your heart is pumping from a pretty darn
good aerobic workout with plenty of
adrenaline to live on for the next hour or so. After peeling
off several layers of sweaty clothes, you
think to yourself, wouldn't this be a lot easier in August
when the daytime temps are like in the
80's and the nighttime temps are, oh say, in the 60's!!!
Here's your sign!!! and then you think to
yourself, oh but calving time is only 60 nights from January
1st to March first, so what the heck, it's
only 60 nights of good sleep lost per year, in the dead of
winter. If you didn't enjoy it so much, you'd
have to get a real job in town!
Aren't you sorry you asked about my night time sleep
habits??? On the positive side, I have weeded
out the worst of the worst cows with bad attitudes. But
there are always the first calf heifers, that
have no clue what birth is all about, but that's a whole
another chapter in my book of the joys of
calving in winter. I suppose I've drug this out long enough,
better shut my computer down, pull out a
good book and try to make myself sleepy. The good thing is,
we are 3/4 done calving now so after
the bull sale is done and the last few cows have calved, I
can SLEEP all night long for the next 10
months!! Yeah!! Oh, I forgot, that doesn't count the nights
where we have hay to put up during the
night....at least it's warm then...
(Shared by a classmate from a South Dakota gal who wants to
remain anonymous).
KIDS STICKING
TONGUES TO METAL
We all read the story of the Box Elder boy who
stuck his tongue to metal and they had to call the Fire Department
to loosen him.... it brought back memories:
It's been below freezing here for the past week and there
have been several stories on TV of kids getting their tongues stuck
to something metal. I thought only our generation was dumb enough to
try this trick. I know I did it and had to help my brother when he
did it too, at least we didn't have to call the fire department!
Sharon
I
don't think we even had a fire dept did we? I can't remember
one... in Sturgis, in the 50's. They probably wouldn't have
come for us dumb kids with our tongues stuck if we did.
I think it was a bike rack at school I did it to...
OUCH!!! Kids are kids in all generations I guess. Ann
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