Old Pictures are Terrific!
Looking at the pictures posted yesterday – revive lots and lots of old memories. Like they say “a picture is worth a thousand words!” Without ever seeing some of the old photos – what would you have to trigger the setting – the background – and images of some of the people who you knew, then?
In my brain, just looking and remembering the activity and all the kids playing and or doing some of the stuff that we did almost every day – and some of us for years – it’s like turning on the light bulb – and I can hear the voices of friends – remembering some of the stuff we were even talking about. It’s terrific – when you can revive the good from the past. Also, when most of the happenings from the past do not include something bad, since who wants to remember the bad times – we have enough bad times as we g tow older!
One of my favorite games was Hopscotch – drawing some big blocks with chalk on the ground – numbering – finding something to use as a place-marker – or some kind of “lucky” rock – then jumping on one foot, square by square, landing on both feet in the correct blocks. Can you imagine doing all that hopping when you are pushing your 80’s? We had so much fun bouncing and twisting –and this was before the “Twist Dance and Music” was popular!
While we were waiting our turn, we – girls would be talking about the movie stars and who was the best looking – best singer – and who we were in love with. Every other Friday, we would get to go to the Normandy Theatre – only if you were not on one of the NUNS’ no privilege list. Three bad marks and you did not get to go. So, if you like to go to the movies – you did learn in a hurry – not to talk back to the NUNS and obey – all orders without giving any sass back! Some of the kids had a problem learning to keep their mouths shut! At the time – the movies had current News-reels showing all the stuff around the world – so we kids had an opportunity to see and hear whatever was going on at that time.
In the 1940’s and 1950’s – everyday was a day of learning – there was a lesson. Some lessons I may not have paid a lot of attention, too – but I thank, Almighty God – for all the “GOOD” lessons that have stayed with me – all of my life!
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No Couch Potatoes – here!
This is 1949 – on the Girl’s side of the play-ground – German St. Vincent Orphan Home – After school gets out at 4:p.m. and you do not have some assigned work you have to do – you are outside on the play-ground skating and or playing jump-rope or hopscotch – and so many other games we kids played back in that day!
I did have a radio and we would listen to music and dance on the Pavilion. One of our favorites’ – that we danced to was “Twelth Street Rag!”
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“Erin Go Bragh”
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day to one and all! Did the little Leprechauns turn the milk green at your house, today? How about the toilet water is it green? Maybe you found some “green foot-prints” here and there – do you know how to get rid of the little “LEPRECHAUNs” that have taken to the wearing of the green in your home?
Trails of Shamrock confetti throughout the house? Have you heard that Fruit Loops are what the Leprechauns like and you can catch them and maybe even find where they have their “Pots Full of Gold” hidden?
Today, there are only two types of people – the Irish and those who would like to be Irish! Do you know why? Because, this is the one Holiday to be Happy! Everyone wants to be Happy – sometime – and if you can be Happy – today – You can be Happy all year long!
This is the one Holiday that if you wear something GREEN – you’re in like Flynn! You can so easily join in on all the laughter and fun around the water-cooler at work or the waiting for the bus or waiting your turn at the Doctor’s office – and when standing in line at the grocery store – train stations and even at the airport? Make a comment about how well someone looks wearing their green – and you just started making for yourselves – a new friend! Maybe even forever! May the “LUCK be with you!”
The map of Ireland is on your face – if you can share LAUGHTER with others? Have you any idea as to how much younger you become when you and friends are exercising all those internal muscles – putting fresh air in the LUNGS with some real good and enjoyable laughing?
What this all comes down to is that – TODAY – you share the “Love of Life” – You are giving something that costs nothing – but is worth millions to those you share with – there is nowhere on God’s Green earth you can buy the Laughter that makes good memories, forever!
May Almighty God bless all of us – TODAY – as Irish Ambassadors of Laughter, Love and Sunshine! Pass it on, my friend!
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Ground Breaking Remembered
1949 was a very busy year for us, Orphans! If you look at yesterday’s picture – You can tell that this is a real time of change – things were starting to happen. Finally, necessary changes that should have been done years ago are being implanted. Change must come, but there were some who always preferred the old ways. These were the years following WWII and in order to win the war – most people did without necessary things – just for the WAR effort! Everyone used the “Ration Coupons” and saved “Bacon grease” – “Newspaper and Magazines” – “Metal scraps” like never before – so that our Service people would be equipped with the airplanes, battle-ships and guns.
Before we went to the Orphan Home, we had a “Victory Garden” and chickens for meat and eggs. And when we arrived at the Orphan Home – all the clothing that my Mother sent with me – I never received and later found out that it was sent to Germany. Quite a few of the Nuns in charge of us kids had come from Germany, and had family there and I guess in need – as I was told this, when I made inquires as to where were my personal clothes? Most of what I had, my Aunt Irene Riley made for me.
Depending on the class room you were in, your class filed toward the left side of the picture you are looking at. Donald Fuhler on the left side of the picture and in the 8th grade – then the 7th graders file in – followed by the 6th graders, that is where I am looking straight out and into the camera – 5th graders on the right side of the photo. Looking out – of the windows is the kid’s grades one through the fourth.
Everyone is wearing their Sunday Clothes – the same worn for Visiting Days and on any “SPECIAL” event day – so that we would look like regular kids and not like the “ORPHAN” poor look – that some of the kids could look like!
Any way, I am glad to have this picture – why you ask? Just take a look at the best looking “Nun” you ever did see– that’s Sister Gilbert! She was always beautiful – all her life! She was a grade above all the Nuns that I have ever had the chance to meet!
Years after leaving the Orphan Home – I got back in touch with Sister Gilbert, and at a point in time – the Mother House in Willmette, Illinois was making changes, the Nuns were given a chance whereby they could change their names. Sister Gilbert changed her name to Sister Margaret Mary! I always like her with either name – she was terrific!
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Breaking of Ground For Gymnasium
May 12th, 1949 – there we are – can you see me? Look past the left shoulder of Rev. Ryan! MEM. In this picture – Faces I know! L to R Donald Fuhler – Thomas J. Wagner, Pres. of Society 1949 & 1950 – Sister Gilbert – unk. – Rev. Edgar Ryan C.P. – James Ludwig – Mother Erentrude – Frank Rogles, Chairman of Bldg. Committee ***Faces you can see***Eleanora Faucher – Mary Ellen MC Clarren – Agnes Seidmayer – Theresa Wieland – Betty Lou Michaud – Phyllis Whitney – Beverly Poter ***
Laying of the Corner Stone for the Gymnasium took place on Sunday, August 14, 1949
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“Of Such Is the Kingdom”
To celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the German St. Vincent Orphan Association – a PAGEANT – portraying the origin and growth – took place at KIEL Auditorium – OPERA HOUSE – Saint Louis, Missouri on June 3rd, 1950.
This was a “huge” undertaking by the staff of Nuns and the children living at the Home during the last of the 1940s. I remember all of us kids at different times – having to be in the Orphan Home Auditorium to learn a few dance steps – to see what talent the Instructors would use for the different “DANCES” that would tell the story. Some dances would be for kids that could pick up their heels and kick – TAP DANCERS! There was a “Centennial Ballet” of which 30 girls would learn to point their toe and be able to stand tall and look graceful – and all of this took months of work. This is one of the groups that I was in.
If you were not in a “DANCE” practicing – you could be in the group of “50″ singing Songs by Sister Josetta, S.C.C. and at the piano was Mr. Ed H. Haverporth. Almost every child living at the Home was in something. There were a couple of the parts to be performed that required some extra special talents and each of the specialized parts – all have very unique dressing –costumes that the Nuns – those, whose talents were noted in the sewing field – were as busy as they could be sewing.
The “Tragedy” of this whole operation – not a film – no pictures – nothing to remember this Spectacular Event! If only there would have been a film to make copies to sell – a bundle of money went down the drain!
Almost every organization – that would put up the kind of money needed to have a Stage performance on the Kiel Auditorium – OPERA HOUSE – would have something in place to be able to sell copies of the “PAGEANT” – in the years following
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