GHS Alumni News: 2013

Monday, December 16, 2013

And Time Keeps On Moving On... (Ort's Furniture, Railroad Inn, Silver Screen (Gala Theater)

Ort’s Furniture Store is preparing to close near, I believe, the year end, and “Chuck’s Retirement Sale” is now in progress. The following excerpt from the Garrett Clipper’s 1936 Anniversary Edition article is quite interesting:

Charles Ort is one of the leading business men of Garrett, and his jewelry store in the Masonic building at the corner of Randolph and Keyser streets is one of the most complete and beautiful in this part of the state. Henry L. Wehrly bought the jewelry business in 1907 belonging to E. R. Rowley, and conducted it in the building now occupied by the City Café. In 1911 Mr. Ort entered the business, and in 1926, some time after Mr. Wehrly’s death, he acquired the store.

In spite of poor business conditions the last few years, Mr. Ort has maintained the high standard of his merchandise and has kept a complete stock of jewelry, silver, watches, dishes and electric appliances. He is agent for Elgin, Bulova and Gruen watches, 1847 Rogers and Community Silverware, Philco radios, Westinghouse, Norge and Crosley appliances, Maytag washers, and many other items.

Mr. Ort is watch inspector for the Chicago division of the Baltimore & Ohio and inspects the watches of 500 employees every month. He has the best of equipment for watch repairing, and maintains also a department for remaking of jewelry, and another for radio repair work.

Likewise, the Railroad Inn, AKA Floyd’s Place in a prior life, closed Saturday, November 31 (thanks to Les Walters, who first told me of the news).

Going there after football and basketball games was a rite of passage...

It meant you were finally an adolescent, no longer a kid (like your younger siblings)!

The same might have been said about Shafer’s Cafe in the very early 60’s...

You can make its signage out just beyond the old Gala Theater’s marquee, now called the Silver Screen, ever since Bruce Babbitt (GHS ’71) bought it in 1974...

And which is now perhaps in its twilight.

The problems, at least as I have been told, are:

· People now want to see new movies as soon as they are released, and will no longer wait for them to come to the smaller theaters.

· Mandatory (digital) equipment upgrades on the horizon are far too expensive for small theaters using the old reel technology. Bruce also owns the Stand Theater in Kendallville, where a community effort is underway to raise money for the theater, but to date there is no such movement in Garrett that I know of.

I love this photo of the projection room, not sure when it was taken...

And especially this dramatic winter photo that Bruce shot, whenever it was that the theater was showing Grizzly Adams.

Bittersweet, isn’t it? Puts me in mind of the beautiful, poignant 1968 Simon and Garfunkel song, Bookends (click on the link to hear the music and lyrics).

Stephen Rowe welcomes correspondence of all sort at StephenRowe.OriGraphics@yahoo.com(watch for the period between Rowe and OriGraphics)

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Class Jewels

(Excerpt from the November 2013 GHS '70 Newsletter)

Didn’t get a ring? I don’t have one either – but it is the people who are precious!

So join the GHS ’70 4th Monday noon luncheons at the Auburn Peking Buffet when you can,

In Cyberspace otherwise, or simply on the street –

Make a point of talking to and sharing news with classmates...

And thanks to Sharon Heitz for the beautiful ring photos.

Stephen Rowe welcomes correspondence of all sort at StephenRowe.OriGraphics@yahoo.com(watch for the period between Rowe and OriGraphics)

Roll Call: How Big Was Our Pond?

(Excerpt from the November 2013 GHS '70 Newsletter)

I remember first learning in school, perhaps around the third grade, that groups of fish are often called “schools.” It sounded right to me, and I distinctly remember looking at a fish school picture and identifying with a straggling fish on the fringe, well away from the swarming center... but enough of that. Accepting the simile implied by the graphic, the real question of interest is “How big was our pond?”

To construct a reasonable if one-dimensional view, I went to the Garrett Library, which has a set of all the GHS yearbooks. Looking at the 1965 7^th grade class, the 1966 8^th grade class, and so on through the ’70 senior class, I compiled a list of post-elementary classmates ever-associated with the 1970 graduation trajectory, regardless of actual graduation. The only exclusions are St Joseph junior high students who moved or otherwise did not progress to Garrett High, those whose school photos were never once taken, and those accidentally omitted by yearbook editors and/or my own error. Too bad we couldn’t get a fix on the elementary years as well, but what I found was quite interesting.

In summary:

108 classmates were noted in the 1970 yearbook's Senior class.

168 classmates were noted in the yearbooks' core '70 classes throughout grades 7-12.

Of the 60 who were not noted in the 1970 yearbook's Senior class:

12 were noted in the 1969 yearbook's Junior class

14 were noted in the 1968 yearbook's Sophomore class but not later

10 were noted in the 1967 yearbook's Freshman class but not later

16 were noted in the 1966 yearbook's 8th grade class but not later

8 were noted in the 1965 yearbook's 7th grade class but not later

Still, ALL of these were classmates at some point throughout our very formative years, so it was fun to look through a comprehensive list, which rings many, many bells …

[The 168 Class of ’70 names, printed in the GHS ’70 newsletter, were omitted from this excerpt.]

The Mystery of the Pond

I am ever-awed by what I don’t know... Life’s mysteries... In this case, all those people we swam with throughout so many school years, yet never really knew... Who were they, really? After all, how many people do you feel really ever knew you? So many opportunities so close at hand, yet so few we dared or imagined to take! A genuine, profound mystery indeed, which we will never fathom.

One example, if you will: a classmate, Steve Engle.

Our sophomore English teacher Mr. Roscoe asked everyone to make a short ‘speech’ on any topic, and while I can’t recall anyone else’s, I do remember Steve Engle (someone I had never talked with before or after) speaking about pockets: what his various pockets might hold on different days, how or why he might have chosen to pocket these particular miscellaneous items, etc – can’t remember the details, but will never forget how astonished I was that he could make such a pedestrian, mundane topic – what could be more boring than pockets - so intriguing! It was a GREAT speech, and indicated a unique and interesting mind – something I would have never known but for this one chance incident. And given my newfound admiration for this unknown (to me) classmate of how many years, did I attempt to befriend him, get to know him better, etc? Not at all, never dared or imagined to do so, never even said how much I liked his speech; don’t even remember why not, but have known throughout many adult years that I missed an opportunity. (Steve, are you out there, somewhere? Please join us!)

And this is just one example - there are a hundred plus other such mysteries: Who were these people?

In most cases we will never know.

So on the GHS ’70 luncheons: Yes, come to see old friends, that is very good - but come as well to see old classmates you never really knew, and they will become your friends in time. This I promise, as it has already happened, and continues to happen every month.

The frame and background are derived from art hanging in the Peking Buffet’s back room where we gather.

Stephen Rowe welcomes correspondence of all sort at StephenRowe.OriGraphics@yahoo.com(watch for the period between Rowe and OriGraphics)

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

2013 Garrett Alumni Weekend Events

Notes:

1. November now, good time to bask in some warm reflections from the (thirtieth) July Alumni Days weekend – Kudos to the Garrett Schools Alumni Association committee. A lot of work and planning, much of it done by the founding members, 30 years older now. Thanks so much to all of you.

2. This blog is not officially affiliated with the Garrett Schools Alumni Association, though I have recently worked informally with the Association. It actually started out as an archive for monthly GHS ’70 newsletters (which I continue to write), but evolved over time and now addresses a more general audience (that means You). But again, it is not “official” in any respect, so enjoy what you may, and blame no one but me should you find reason to complain.

Friday and Saturday, July 19-20

Scenes from the 30th Annual Garrett Alumni Weekend

Early Friday morning saw the very popular annual Alumni Golf Outing, organized by Aaron ‘Sneezy’ Smith (GHS ’59).

I stopped by just to get a couple photos, and was AWED by the participation, high spirits and camaraderie. I don’t golf, but if I did, I would be at this event every single year. It was truly wonderful, and the photos don’t begin to capture what I saw and felt.

To the right is Cleo Miller, who coached and taught science at GHS for 36 years before retiring in 1992, inside the Country Club, waiting for his teammates Ron Toll, Rocky Rowe, and Todd Rowe (below).

Ron is Gaylord Toll’s son. Gaylord, having served as GHS principal from 1979-88, passed just this May, and this is Ron’s first year on the team, in his father’s place.

Congratulations to Cleo for his long-term participation in a team that now spans three generations.

Here you see George Hathaway (third from left) and his team, Ed Kelham, Sam Fulk, and Bill Corry. George was a GHS athletic standout. The team was ready to, yet gracious and willing to indulge me.

Later that morning, Ralph ‘Rocky’DePaolo (GHS ’54) took a group on its annual walking and trivia tour of the greater downtown. Here you see the group forming up …

And afterward, you see Rocky joined by Ken Stalter (GHS ‘88), another Garrett historian who contributes an astonishing number of historical photos to the Garrett Memories and News group on Facebook.

If you look closely, yours truly is there in the window reflection, taking the photo.

A reception inside the Garrett Public Library followed the walk, where library director Cate Birdseye spoke on a soon to begin, needs-based library expansion project.

The photo in the background is of Judy A Morrill, a major Garrett philanthropist who has done so much for the town. Note how Judy’s and Cate’s pose and gesture mirror each other.

Standing closer to the main desk, Director Cate had set up an easel for the painting Town, Train, and Tracks. While you can’t see it in this reduced photo (especially the boy’s pose and expression), the work captures the very soul of the town I remember growing up in.

Check out the link Town, Train, and Tracks for better graphics, and a very short reading of what the work says to me.

Early Friday evening the Auburn Community Band played in the pavilion at the East Side park across from the high school, which Mike Rhodes, James Burns, Tom Refner, and I (all GHS '70) opened and closed. The band was short a drummer, so Mike Rhodes filled in on the bass drum.

Mike Rhodes (GHS '70), playing with the Auburn Community Band at Garrett’s East Side Park, as a part of theGarrett Alumni Days celebration.

This was the 30^th Garrett Alumni Days such alumni event. Apparently at one time, young Garrett High School cheerleaders participated in this event. But times change, the kids aren’t there now. However, at the band leader’s request …

Two cheerleaders from the old days stood to perform once again:

Pat Weimer (GHS ’55) and Jim Rahrig (GHS ’54)

Now, I have to tell you, and this isn’t to take anything away from Pat Weimer, but I thought Jim Rahrig was sensational! He really had the moves, a still shot does no justice whatsoever, and what a delight it was to meet and talk with him and his wife afterward.

I talked with Pat Weimer (left) as well, she was just behind me throughout much of the band’s performance, alongside Katrina Heinzerling Custer and Pat Kinsey, our Garrett study hall teacher (from 1966 to 1972).

You might also remember Pat Weimer’s now deceased husband Roger Weimer, Garrett’s varsity basketball coach between 1969 and ’72, and high school principal between 1988 and ’95.

As the Auburn Community Band wound down ...

The American Legion began to wind up

This is Anisa Hazeltine Waterhouse (left) and her friend Missy, both GHS ’85. Anisa recognized me from my Facebook icon, and it was nice meeting her in the flesh, so to speak, as opposed to Cyberspace.

For more thoughts on that topic, see my ScreenHeads blog.

Then, here is Larry Booker (GHS ’69) (right) and his younger Garrett friend Wade Staley (GHS '93).

It was a fun night ...

People out to see and be seen (and it’s quite evident which is which, here immediately above).

I surely saw a good many people I knew, many more I did not know, and met a few new people in between. And I imagine some others might have seen and wondered about me. Anyway, lots of fun for many …

Saturday noon brought the Garrett Schools Alumni Association’s All-Classes luncheon, followed by a tour of the new High School.

A LOT of people, far too many to show here in this narrative (but see additional miscellaneous photos below) ...

And catered by the Railroad Inn

With background piano by Ty Debes (GHS 2013)

A nice touch

Finally, here’s a shot of Aaron ‘Sneezy’ Smith (GHS ’59), standout GHS basketball player Mike Heitz (GHS ’68), and Rick Reeves (GHS ’61) (all of these guys are taller than I am).

This is a good place to close this Garrett Alumni Days narrative, because Aaron and Rick symbolize something special for me. I only came to know them through my recent involvement in these Alumni events – an experience I value very much. They, alongside so many others who just don’t happen to be in this photo, are the living heart of Garrett … a body of people which includes you, given your interest in reading this shadow-synopsis of what transpired over these precious few 2013 Alumni Days.

We Are Garrett, whether we live there still, or nearby, like Aaron; or whether, like Rick, we live afar, part of what I call the Garrett Diaspora. It was our town growing up, and it still is our town, if we love it.

I met a lot of new old people this weekend, met a number of younger ones as well, and encountered even more friends from the past. It was a good time – hope you are able to come as well, next time.