Grandma’s Stories

Aug 18th “Denny… What are you guys wearing?”

“Denny… sometimes  – – one has to wonder what will the boys wear???”

Back – – when we were “KIDS” and had to live in the Orphanage… twice a week a NUN   – accompanied  by assistance of – –  some of the helper boys…generally walking  to different stores in the downtown area – – and  this was the older Orphanage that had burned down – – which was much closer  to the growing Saint Louis area –  – but when there is a need to hep children who have  become true “ORPHANS” – – organizations must do what they can do  – in anyway at  all… to help solve the  truly homelessness of our young people – having no way to really do for themselves –  at those very  early years in Life.

Very few people want the job of asking for help – assistance  – – with their own problems – – and it is very difficult to even ask for  something that would really and truly be of a help to a very worthy organization –  – – but one must do the collecting of money or merchandise – which ever would someone want to donate.  So our good NUNS would have that task – that is  of being meek and mild and with the strength of the Almighty  and with the help of a few of the ORPHAN BOYS  – – to start on the streets of Saint Louis –  – appreciating  all that is to be  collected…whatever that particular store would have – – usually merchandise that did not and probably would not ever sell – – this type of merchandise…was very good for a donations – and the right organizations will find a very good use for each and everything – – no matter what it looks like to one person – to  another person – a gift …always looks “heavenly” –  and will always be treasured – and used to the  limit –  that it was intended.

So… in the above photo –  DENNY and TOMMY  – are wearing the finest of the “Knickerbockers” – just like all the rest the boys. Baggy-knee  – trousers… were all the rage  – – when the “Dutch” settlers came to settle America – “what  – they –  were good for??” – – I really have no idea –  – but I do  think that there are still a few men wearing the “Knickers” on the golf course – – and… maybe  they can see that little ball…better – – but if… they are not  “watching” out – well… a couple of stray balls …could be hitting them – right there… in the ankles – – a couple of  “hits”  like that…will keep –  –   “any – old- body” – –  on   “his”  toes!

Aug 17th “DENNY way… back and then…”

  L to R – – Tommy…Mary Ellen…DENNY – — and holding  –     the one surviving twin, Eve Karen is our Mother.

L to R    – –  DENNY… Mary Ellen… Tommy

                 Holding  the one surviving “TWIN –  EVE KAREN” is our Daddy,                    Denny H. McClarren Sr.

Way… BACK… and … then…in the mid 1940’s  “time” frame for the above photos… – – are we ever  dressed the part… for way – back and then – – – it seems to me that we did dress up for a “Visiting Sunday” – but then  –  and – – of course  – when it was a weekday – we were in our regular old working clothes.

The… boys wore those half size – pint – pant leg – called nickers – seems that they always had one pant leg hanging down – just as far as –  it would hang – – and the other leg of the pants – well… it might be in the right place??? For us,  girls – – –  someone must have donated bolts and bolts of a “green spinach material” –  – and of course… a very simple pattern was used  – as – – there were “spinach dresses” for all the girls – tall and or short. – –  Would not have been too bad… if only they did not make you  itch  – – and  continue to itch all over – –  – it was as if you had a good case of the “fleas”  – – and they were doing a “Mexican Hat Dance” all over your poor little  old body!

One important thing that we did learn… and – – that  was how to change your clothes and do it fast!  After making your bed… and that would be at five-thirty in the morning… you would grab your play clothes – from the chair by your bed –  – run down the three flights of stairs to the playroom – hang the play clothes in your locker  – – go to the locker where your “school uniform”  was hanging – –  get it on… NOW …you are ready for Church

After  – –  Church to the playroom – –  change to the play clothes – – go to your work station – – until the bell rang for you to get to the dining room  – – file in lines… go  to the assigned dining room – take your place – eat and in one half hour – – back  to the playroom — and or to the work place until it would be …almost nine o’clock and time for school.

Now …when it would be near twelve noon…to the playroom – – change the clothes and file to the dining room… for dinner. After,  dinner – – to the work stations until it would be almost one o’clock in the afternoon –  – time for school – –  change clothes as above. When school was over –  at four-thirty in the afternoon – – to the playroom to change the clothes and to your work stations. Of course,  if you had no work to attend to – – you would stay on the play ground or playroom – and do what came natural  – – like nothing!

NOW… the day is  coming to an end – Supper at six o’clock in the evening –   – meals are only –   a half of an hour – – – to work stations – – playrooms or playground areas  – that are  designated for your sex –  – and do not cross over the imaginary line –  – – you could get into trouble???

Day is “DONE” for  all the “KIDS” – – except those in eight grade – and then,  when I first came to live here – some older girls – who have graduated from the eighth grade –  – but, having no where to go – – stayed at the HOME – but did work for their keep. 

After… “Television” was invented and a very small screen “TV”  – – which  was donated to the HOME – – those older  girls and eighth graders were allowed to stay up –  till “twenty-five minutes” after eight o’clock.  – –  in the evening  – the “TV” was shut off – – and you never ever  got to see… the last five minutes of anything… no wonder I never wanted a television… when I left the home.  And… did I tell you that the little “KIDS” went to bed  at ten minutes after seven o’clock in the evening – and I remember in the summers – at seven o’clock in the evening – it was still… like day time – but you finally …fell asleep.

Aug 16th “Denny… and Friends…”

The photo above is when we were visiting one of the “Summer Picnics” – – and when you get to gather –   with old school “FRIENDS” – – well… you just have to start acting silly!

Left to  Right;  Ted – -Richard –  DENNY – – and  Ernie

Guessing the year might have been… an early 1950’s – – just in case you think –  that the dress code – – was one you do not remember.  Back then… young men still thought enough  – – to dress…so that they would look good  –  especially to all the young ladies, that would also be showing up to the “SUMMER PICNIC” –  – and all day long… there was a band playing all of  your favorite tunes – – warming up for the evening  hours –  –  when the young men would finally have enough nerve… to ask one of their favorite young ladies – for a dance.

If I do a better search… through lots of old photos… I may just find some photos of these young men dancing… and who they where dancing with – because way back then – there was some real good dancing music –  – you would see “dancers”  flying through the air – it was as if they had “wings” on their heels – and they would  dance – just as if they were as light as a feather!

Right NOW… it looks  like… the “BOYS are acting just like BOYS” – they are just getting  ready for tonight’s  FUN… on the DANCE FLOOR!

“See you there!”