Hadley Tech Classmates – 1955
This is the class room that I attended during the afternoons while working the split shift as a telephone operator for the Telephone Co.
Looks like a good number of these men are Vets – finishing their education – just like me looking to get that important piece of paper – “the Diploma!”
The Instructor is the man standing on the left – looks like he is helping a student with something important the other man standing is an instructor and there was a woman instructor who is not in this picture but in another that I have.
The atmosphere was very casual as you can see – the hours you were in school – were usually one afternoon – at least that was the case for me – took my assignments home and did a lot of reading . Sometimes during the split shifts – I just went to the “Break Room” to do my studies – until it was time for me to start the second part of that day’s shift. No sense to go home and then have to take the bus and street car back to work in the same day? One does have to learn to save a “dime” or two along the road to making a living – that will be worthwhile!
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Hadley Technical School – 1955
When I started to work for the Telephone Co., – I was not 18 – considered under age and had to get a “Worker’s Permit” to work. While going to High School, during the summers, I took a couple of extra classes – so that I could get out of school earlier – so here I am – only have to get (4) four more credits and working for the Telephone Co. When they hired me – they told me they will be paying a full salary for (4) four weeks while in training and that they will only hire me if I will promise that I won’t quite and go beck to High School – when School starts back up.
When you are young and enjoy the work you are learning to do – “LIFE” has a wonderful look to it! You almost feel that you are in “Seventh Heaven” – especially since you spent your Grade School years in an “Orphanage.”
After, my on the job training – you start working day time hours 8:00 to 5:00 – and when they get an idea of what you can do – you are put on split hours shifts – which were terrific for me. You work seven (7) hours and paid for (8) eight. Then, the best part of the deal – you receive “CAR FARE” – so now I knew just what I should do! I enrolled at Hadley Technical School – 3405 Bell Avenue, St. Louis, MO. – which was mid-town. I would hop on the Olive Street Car and the Grand Avenue Street Car and would run to make connections and was always flying – just as fast as I could – but I did it – I got the four credits needed and my “Diploma” and had lots of “FUN” working my way through school!
The above picture is me – that’s when I had a nineteen inch waist – and I decided to take pictures of the class of guys – mostly “VETS” – and with me – the Instructor for the classes that I was taking — some one wanted to take my picture with him – – I can not even guess what his name is or was???
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