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Date Posted: 06:00:06 09/07/07 Fri
Author: Fran
Subject: Re: IPS #54 (Brookside school)
In reply to: Ben Briscoe '39 's message, "IPS #54 (Brookside school)" on 14:55:38 09/06/07 Thu

Ben, I went to Brookside School 54 and was so sorry to see it torn down and replaced! I have such fond memories of my time there...teachers, friends, school sock hops, track meets, dodge ball on the playground and so on. I went to the open house last year when we were given a final opportunity to tour the building. The auditorium had long tables set up to display class photos taken throughout the years as well as photos of special events and programs over the years. I remember going to the lower level for the bathrooms and for our morning milk and crackers which cost something like ten or fifteen cents a week back in the 50's. We were always happy if we were lucky enough to have graham crackers instead of saltines with our milk!!! We would go to the church next door for "Weekday Religious Education" on Mondays. Then there was the neighborhood...so interesting...the Rivoli for Saturday afternoon matinees...Lila's Variety for sweet treats...The City, but we were too young to go in there...Haase's bakery between LaSalle and Tuxedo...my dad would send me to Vonnegut's for a pound of half-penny nails!!! He'd send me to the corner drugstore for six Tishamingo cigars for the week...we'd always buy him Dutch Masters for Father's Day and Christmas!!! Then there was Brookside Park where my friends and I sledded down the big hill in the winter, played by the creek in the summer, eventually swam at the big pool after they replaced the splashing pool, the Community Building there where I took ballroom lessons...they had teen dances there but discontinued those before I was old enough to attend. There was also my church, Brookside EUB at 11th and Olney where I was in choir, youth group and eventually was married. Where did you live, Ben? I lived at 1109 North Olney. What a great neighborhood!

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Replies:

[> [> Re: IPS #54 (Brookside school) -- Ben Briscoe '39 (HAPPY & SAD), 08:05:12 09/07/07 Fri

Dear Fran,
I was so glad to receive your note concerning IPS #54. That was certainly a part of my life I shall never forget as long as I am priveleged to remain alive on this planet.
I was born in 1921 in the house at 1424 N. Olney St. and lived there until I left home for married life 23 years later.
My brother Bill also attended #54, and we both graduated from Tech High School having participated in all the Sketchbook activities at that time.
All of the activities you named at Brookside Park were also a great part of our youthful life and we enjoyed most of the programs you did, except there was no swimming pool in those early days.

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[> [> [> Re: IPS #54 (Brookside school) -- Ben Briscoe '39 (Happy & Sad), 08:27:11 09/07/07 Fri

Joan Hostetler,
Thank you for answering my mail so quickly. I copied off all of the pictures of the school's destruction with the same unhappiness that would accompany the word that such bastions of Education as Harvard or Columbia Universities had been sacrificed to time. Here in California, if we build one new school per day we can't keep up with the surge in population.
It will always be open to criticism when a school is destroyed and the need for education is of such high need.
I understand there is a new school, but why sacrifice the old school?

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[> [> [> Re: IPS #54 (Brookside school) -- Marilyn, 20:06:52 09/07/07 Fri

Fran & Ben,

You really brought back "old" memories.All the schools must have been ran about the same.I went to PS#15, We had milk also and yes it was a real treat to get graham crackers. We had Weekly Religious Education at the Beville Avenue EUB church. Which I attended and was married at. It was bought by IPS and torn down. Also PS #15 was torn down also and a new school built. The only thing that remains from the old school is the 2 arch ways from the entrances.
Every morning they played the Lords Prayer and no one moved if you weren't in your seat you were late.
I always looked forward to the Christmas program. I think my favorite was when the boys sang We Three kings and we sang O Holey Night.

Did you sing at the Easter Sunrise Services on the circle with your church choir?

I went to the Rivoli from the time I was small with my older sisters and brother.

I baby sat for some people that worked at the Brookside Tavern on Friday nights. They picked me up after school and I spent the night. They had 3 children and I made $1.00. On my way home on Saturday they would stop at the bakery on 10th street and I would buy a dozen yeast donuts to take home to my brothers and sister and parents. They were hot and Oh! so good.

Thanks for sharing your fond memories even though I didn't go to PS# 54 I have many friends that did also it sounds as if our schools were very similar. I too shall never for get that part of my life as long as I live.

Marilyn

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