Denny … the Teenager…
Denny… now enrolled at the DeAndries High School and planning on going to work after school.
When you think back…the good times that were available to all of the residents in and around the “Sportsman’s Park” – Grand Boulevard and Dodier Street – North Saint Louis – – the Browns and the Cardinals Ball teams – playing and everybody going to see who will win and be the “Champ” – – – Well… there was a good job – just waiting for you – if you were willing… as they… needed hard workers – young and energetic men who move fast and wanted to make money! DENNY was one of the best workers, that they ever had – he could work fast and hard – he would do more than his share of work – they always had work for him!
You have to be ready for work on the days – that there were no “GAMES” being played in Saint Louis… so Denny had another part-time job working at an ice cream parlor – I think it was called McGrath’s. If there was work to be done … Denny was there for the job – and he always did a very good job – at everything.
While taking pictures – – may as well take a few…just for FUN – and am I ever glad to have these old photos – – as a photo is the best source for the old memories to get registered into the brain – as one does tend to forget – – especially if there is no physical reminder!
This is ME – – with my younger brother, DENNY. WOW – this dress style – the skirts were sure long enough – – I know they went up and down several times since the above photo was taken! When I first started into the High School program – it was at “Rosati-Kain” – and you will find me in my school uniform – somewhere in an old posting. Also… when it came to working after school – – there were plenty of places for me to work – – one place on North Grand Avenue – – the Tower Dime Store – – I remember so well – – – there was a customer asking me for a specific “game” – and after looking all over for it and I could not find it… I went back to the customer and said, “Sorry we do not have that “GAME’ available!”
The owner – could not get to me fast enough – and said, “YOU never ever tell a CUSTOMER – – that we do not have something – YOU will say that we will order it … and take their name and address!” – – That is “ONE” lesson that I had to learn – – and – since my feelings were hurt – – I quit!
Sure glad that I did not feel too sorry for myself – I went and got a better job at the “Woolworth Co., on Grand Boulevard and Olive Street” the biggest “Five and Ten Cent Store” in the Saint Louis area.Working there was great – – rode the “Trolley Cars” back and forth to work – and the area was loaded with the best of everything – – back then – that was the area just filled with people coming and going in all directions – the “MAIN HUB”- – – the “FOX Theater” was down the Street and still there – a couple of other important businesses, of which – I can no longer remember their names… and Restaurants for everyone and anyone.
When you think of it… everybody was having lots of FUN – so busy working – coming and going – – and I am Grateful and Thankful – that – I still can remember – – so many good times – – that we all had, back then!
Posted in Childhood, Grandma, Today and tagged Denny H. McClarren Jr.with no comments yet.
“Sunday… and here “WE” are…”
“WOW!” – – WE…three Angels… at least on this day… in 1946!
That is little “MARY ELLEN” and just a little taller than “DENNY” and he is just a little taller than “TOMMY” – and this photo is after the “First Communion Ceremony” – – in front of the “Lady of Lourdes” grotto. It would have been nice … if when we were being staged for this photo – – to have been able to get the figure of Saint Bernadette…also in on this photo. After having seen the movie, “The Song of Bernadette” …I decided to take the name of “Bernadette” – – for my Confirmation Name!
Now… Today… if “WE” – three… were to stand like “WE” are on the above photo – – “WE” would be facing the opposite direction… as TOM is the tallest – he got up to six foot… in the eight grade and still grew more – that is – – getting to be … the tallest of us, three – – that is…after getting out of the eight grade. DENNY is a six footer, always slim and trim – and ME…well – I was almost five foot seven…but – due to surgery on the back …am now only five foot, four – and I sure do miss being taller.
Well…How does this photo look? These are the only photos – – that I have – if there were others – sure would like to see – – how we look on them?? This photo…we look like “WE” are tired – – as this is also a “Visiting Sunday” and there are only so many “hours in a day” – – that is to really get to spend any time at all with our parents, and of course… because this would be a day that Aunt Irene – – would for sure – – make it her business… to come out – and to also make sure that we were all doing everything correctly – and according to her ways – that is how these pictures were finagled … she missed us and was always glad to see – all of us – too!
Aunt Irene did not come out to see us… that is – as often as we would have like to see her – guess her husband had other things planned for SUNDAYS in the “RILEY” household? In AMERICA… way back and when these photos were taken – – Sundays were consider a “HOLY DAY” – for everyone – – You would go to CHURCH – have CHURCH “Social” things to do with the whole FAMILY! There were no “STORES” like there are today… You had to have “Ration Coupons” for so many items – especially to buy fuel for the automobile – during the WAR Years – I just can not remember much of any commercial activity – – which would involve anybody doing too much on a SUNDAY – – the only emergency type of police and hospitals at least nothing like it is today.
Would we ever… be able to go back… to having at least one “DAY” a week for just … the FAMILY???
Posted in Childhood, Grandma, Today and tagged Denny H. McClarren Jr.with no comments yet.
“Graduation Day… 1952 & 1953…”
This is 1952… and …GRADUATION DAY – for Mary Ellen…
The above photo is MARY ELLEN and younger brother DENNY – – this day sure took long enough for me. Thought that I would collect some telephone numbers – – of some of the GRADUATES – – just so we could check …with each other – – after we left here – – and several said …”No way – – this is one place that I will completely forget – and do not try to look me up!”
Some of the girls that I was interested in keeping a contact – just left me know – that there was no way – that anyone on the outside of the ORPHAN HOME – would ever get to know that they were a “half-way Orphan” – – as in all the years that I was there – – there was only one (1) child that had no parents at all???
This is 1953… and GRADUATION DAY for DENNY H. McClarren Jr.!
The above photo is of DENNY and his younger sister, Eve Karen – we are in line… to get on the “Ferris Wheel Ride” – – this is one of the larger “RIDES” that the ORPHAN HOME has set up – – on the front lawns of the Orphanage – in front of the new “Gymnasium” building that you can see in the back ground of the above photo. I am taking this photo – and where our younger brother, TOMMY is – just have no idea??? BUT…next year TOMMY will be Graduating!
Graduation Day was always on a Sunday… and the second Sunday of the month of JUNE. We would start the day with Mass at six o’clock in the morning and as I had previously told – how the day would be… – but – for us, GRADUATES …all the old ways for us… were over… what – we had on our mind… was getting ourselves dressed for the ceremony to be at ten o’clock in the morning. All the parents and relatives with friends were now coming in – parking their cars on the fields in the back “baseball” fields and any other place handy… and of course there were lots of families – that did not own cars – and had to take at least three (3) different buses as their transportation – with the last bus – the “RAMONA” at least a half-hour wait – which made it a very long and taxing operation to do – for a very good number of people.
The day was long…everybody having a long and lasting – “FUN” day – the “PICNIC” atmosphere – music playing – all kinds of “RIDES” – and lots of booths set up for any and all kinds of games of chance – “PONY RIDES” – and “Chuck-a-Luck” – and do not for get today was also a money making day for the ORPHANAGE – CHICKEN DINNERS – and lots of cold beer and soda! You just had to have “FUN” – everything there if you had the money!
When evening time was near – we needed to call a “TAXI-CAB” – in order to take all of our personal belongings – as to transfer from bus to bus would have been just too much – to have to do… for the ending of an otherwise “TERRIFIC DAY!”
Posted in Childhood, Grandma, Today and tagged Denny H. McClarren Jr.with no comments yet.
“Hanging Out – -with DENNY!”
L. to R. DENNY…TOMMY…MARY ELLEN
“This is the first picture… that shows me what “HANGING OUT” with someone looks like!” We were not in this ORPHAN HOME too long before this photo was taken. This place was all new to us – so many rules and regulations to follow – – – and always having to be somewhere and in trouble if not where …that was – as if we knew … where to find – – half of the places to be – – and watch out if you ever went into the wrong place – – like where only the NUNS – – were allowed!
“Number ninety-one”… that was my new name. Where ever I was to be somewhere or a NUN wanted me… I would hear…”NINETY-ONE”…”COME HERE!” – – And… did I ever march over there and in a hurry!
DENNY was number seventy-eight… and TOMMY was number seventy-nine. I will remember a lot of “Numbers” and… still know…”who they are” – as we heard those numbers day in and day out – – some things are just too hard to forget! You knew you were in some kind of trouble – – when the NUN in charge and you might be around… and saw a piece of paper with your number on it… and of course there could be several numbers… also in the same “trouble” …and the NUN had this paper pinned with a straight pin – to the front of her cape!
“Hanging… OUT” – – When my sons were young and in school – so often – – I would hear – “We are going over to a “FRIEND”S HOUSE” to HANG OUT??? Never really made any sense to me – – “HANGING” to mean that they are going to be doing something … why not just say what you are going to do???” So… and since I am on the nosy side… I tend to ask too many questions – probably more than KIDS want someone to ask them…especially when they have some other agenda on their mind… to do?
So… then – guessing that – when the friends and they grew older … and my kids were driving – – the HANGING OUT… NOW changed to “PARTY-ing” – and this would have the sound of some kind of a “FISH TALE” – – if I ever heard it??? NOW – I guess you want to know why – – did I think this was just a “FISH TALE”… – the last thing that I would say … as they are ready to drive away… “Remember to bring back to me a piece of the cake…. because all parties that I go to… they serve “CAKE and ICE CREAM” – – and you know that I like “CAKE” – – and that will be the proof of you going to a “PARTY” – so often???”
In all the years that my sons…having gone to so many “PARTIES” – – I never did receive a piece of “CAKE” – – so what kind of “PARTIES” – are people going to – – that never serve “CAKE?”
In the above photo – we three kids do not look too happy – when we first went to the ORPHAN HOME – Visiting Sunday – was only once a month – – but my parents came out to visit us through-out the week – and would not leave – until they got to see us. Those were awfully upsetting years for all of us – – and sometimes – my DAD would come out and just take us home – and those were some of the best of times!
Posted in Childhood, Grand-Children, Grandma, Today and tagged Denny H. McClarren Jr.with no comments yet.
Denny and Mary Ellen – taking turns…
Mary Ellen riding her bike…
“WOW” Finally received a bike – that my Daddy had promised – for the longest time – but later is better than never – – – The only reason – – that I say that – that way… is that my DAD had promised to get for me a “pony” ever since I was a real little kid – – and up to this date – – well… I have never received a “pony” – – and of course, I had stop wanting a “pony” for so long – – probably knew that I was never going to get a “pony – – from day one!
As you can see on my face… I am tickled “PINK” to finally have my very own bike! There are only two other girls that I know of – – that also received a bike of their very own. When you have something special in an Orphan Home – – you can be sure that you will soon have a lot more friends – than you did the day before receiving – your new and special item – – – as all would like to have it – – but no one will bring one out – – just for them.
It was nice – – when my DAD had his old “Jalopy” – – without it I guess that I never would have seen this bike? There were also the times when my Dad brought other stuff out to this HOME – – and we would get to share it with all the other kids. The one time I remember in the “SUMMER” – and boy o’boy was it ever FUN – we all had “WATERMELON” – all the KIDS – kept coming back for more and more slices… that was the best time for everybody…
“Well…it looks like I will be just standing here and posing… by the time Mary Ellen gives me the “OKAY” to ride – – I’ll have to turn in for the night, here!” “You know when you have an older, sister – – you feel like – – they must be some kind of a teacher… – did you ever listen to some older – “sister’s” – it seems that they are just born with a whole bunch of “HOW TO DO’s – this and that – that really… do they know more than the next guy???” “I know – that some day I will get to ride this old bike!” If I keep telling myself – someday it will be safe to ride this old bike – but, WHEN???”
Posted in Childhood, Grand-Children, Grandma, Today and tagged Denny H. McClarren Jr.with no comments yet.
“Older… and still – We wear Knickerbockers!”
“As you can see… We are getting older… We still wear “Knickerbockers” – – and that is on a “Visiting Sunday” – which I thought we were suppose to be all dressed up – – not even wearing our “Sunday Ties” – – the “RULES” that we did have – – must have – “got up and left” – – this place… – almost no “RULES” – – at all… is there a changing of the “guard” – – and… everybody is really relaxing???”
When wearing these “Knickerbockers” – especially these older and worn out ones – – you do not always have that nice “baggy – knee” – the part of these trousers – – that is to give a young man – that spotting style – as if we were going to play … on the nearest “golf” course?
“Poison Ivy” – that is what you see on Tommy’s legs – big red blotches of the stuff. Can not remember anyone having a case of the “Poison Ivy” – other than “TOM” – – and no idea where you could go – – to role around in it… as the play grounds were all asphalt and large sections of concrete area – – a couple of trees growing here and there – but… each tree had a real nice boxed in area – – making a terrific sitting area – – called them “tree boxes” – – for the kids – – and on “Visiting Sunday” – – families would gather around one “tree box” – with enough room for a large size family and even some friends – – so …”How did the “Poison Ivy” creep in and attack our little TOMMY?”
“That’s MOM and Daddy… DENNY Jr. and TOMMY – – and I am taking this photo – “Visiting Sunday” was a good time while it lasted…but when five o’clock in the afternoon came – – it was real murder for me… crying and all chocked up… couldn’t talk… and when bed time came… would cry myself to sleep.” People avoid talking about how miserable it is for little kids – – and that being a German Orphanage – – – I just can not say that I ever saw any real LOVE – shown one to another – as there were some NUNS – that had been in this same Orphanage – when they were kids – and with no place to go … and it being a cold, cold world to take a chance all alone – many became NUNS – and their “cold hearts” were a part of LIFE – to us kids.
When I had left the Orphanage – and some many years, later – – when I was working and got to thinking – that – there were a couple of the NUNS – that I had thought about – so… had to find them… see what they were doing… some even had left the Convent… evidently that LIFE – just was not for them – and started a real good communication system – writing letters and sending greeting cards, to them at various times of the year. Found out that – they too – were just waiting for someone to think of them – -and how lonely their single LIFE can really be… – – they not having any families and being a NUN – – in some cases – well – that was about – – the next best thing to do – – when you had no idea of “what to do” in the “out side” world.
LIFE – does take a very different turn – – for most of us – we have great ideas of what we are going to do… – but – lots of times…LIFE – is really just too hard – and we all need a helping hand – – now and then – – “What we all really need… is just for another “human being” to care and share their LIFE – – with another – – who was not so fortunate as to make it great – – not as great as they thought – – that they would??”
Posted in Childhood, Grandma and tagged "Mickey McLaren" -" herself", Denny H. McClarren Jr.with no comments yet.