WHEN WE WERE A BUNCH OF KIDS
SPORTY NEAT NORMAL? FUNNY BULLY BASHFUL PUPPY LOVE
We were just your average, normal kids growing up in Lima. We rode bikes, went to the parks, and
enjoyed free movies at dark. The Lima Recreation Department was alive and well back then. I can
remember when they ran 18 summer park sites, which included 14 park areas and '4 Tot Lots'.
played jacks, marbles, sports, swam at Schoonover pool, or Long's quarry. We enjoyed the six
downtown movie theaters, and the neighborhood theater, the four drive-in movie places, the Dixie,
and Lima roller rinks, and many drive-in restaurants, including the 'Susie-Q', on East Kibby Street
owned by Don Fickel's family.
We played hide & go seek, color dab, red rover come over, mother may I, cowboys and indians,
war, tag, and other games.
We went fishing, played miniature golf, bowled(remember the human pin setters?), rode our bikes
some more, belonged to brownies, cub scouts, girl and boy scouts, church groups and went to church
most Sundays, and the Y.M.C.A., the Y.W.C.A..
Do you remember the Lima Zoo? Most of the animals were gone, but the bear cages remained
with two live black bears in them.
Remember when we would fall in and out of love? We made scooters from strap on skates and
wooden crates retreaved from Hunlock's Fruit Market, on Pine. Did I mention riding our bikes?(chuckle)
Boy it was fun growing up in Lima. These are memories that we will cherish forever. I feel so
fortunate to have stayed in the area.
HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS FROM OUR YOUTH
Many of these photos were sent in by classmates. we hope that you can enjoy trying to figure
out the identity of some of the kids.
McKinley Elementary School was on the North-West corner of Calumet and Eureka Streets.
McKinley Arms stands on this site today.
McKINLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-Fourth Grade
FOURTH GRADE 1946-47 SCHOOL YEAR
McKINLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL- Fifth Grade
FIFTH GRADE 1947-48 SCHOOL YEAR
McKINLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL- Sixth Grade
SIXTH
SIXTH GRADE 1948-1949 SCHOOL YEAR
Row 1: Jerry Barnes, Brenton Fraunfelter, XXXXXX, David Whitney, Richard Anderson, David Osborn,
Joe Ohler.
Row 2: Ed Bowden, Karen John, Sandra Green, XXXXXX, Arlette Holman, Jeanine Mote, Janet Herr,
XXXXx, XXXXX, Carol Corey, Bob Weaver.
Row 3: Jim Rex, Gene Marshal, Judy Coen, Ann Searfoss, Ray Barnes, XXXXXX, David Hudson, XXXXXX,
XXXXXX, XXXXXX, Margaret Hershberger, Teacher.
Row 4: Donald Spencer, Joe Morrison, Mary Jones, Charlotte Vogelgesang, XXXXXX, XXXXXX, XXXXXX,
Paula Bryan, XXXXXX, Natalie Holden, Evelyn thompson.
JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-Third Grade
Jefferson Elementary School was located on South Sugar Street, between Catalpa and Third Streets.
Many of the kids, including myself, were in Troop 101, Boy Scouts, which held meetings at Jefferson.
Row 1: Joe Rhodes, Glenda Shultz, Carolyn Newman, Marlene Maier, Barbara Houtz, Johanna Larue, Marilyn
Welty, Jean Waggoner, Edna Williams, Herbert Lanker.
Row 2: Buddy Laing, Barbara O'Dell, Shirley Kundert, Connie Painter(Connie Brandon at South), Delores Parlette,
Arlene Beidelshies, Nancy Werner, Elaine Holden, Marcia Tope, Marilyn Maxwell, Paul Wolfe.
Row 3: Charles Leedy, Gene Judkins, Gordon Wildermuth, Charles Cole, Vincent Fogle, Robert Werner, Jack
Copp, Donald Coffey, Gene Foley, Don Piper, Ted McPheron.
Row 4: XXXXXX, Jack Wren, Tom Shultz, Bill Miller, Larry Skelly, Robert Saine, Robert Hollar, Mrs. Bonita Copp.
WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-Third Grade
Washington Elementary School was located on the South-East corner of South Pine and East Kibby
Streets. On this corner today are two businesses. A gasoline atation, and an ice cream stand.
I was walking on the old playground, and I could see some brick chards working their way to the surface.
Washington was only one block north of the 'Tiger Grill', a popular Lima South restaurant,and hang out.
Do you remember smelling the sloppy joe meat at the school carnivals. This is one of my fondest
memories. Dressing up for Halloween was a special treat, or exchanging valentines with classmates, and
even getting some special ones from GGG GIRLS!!!!!! Va Va Va Voom!
I remember Kula Anthony in the first grade not eating ice cream with the rest of the class. Later I learned
that her family owned the 'Sweetland', an ice cream business in the South-East quadrant of the public square.
She must have had her fill.
I also remember when most of the class and I would bring .50 cents, or $1.00 per week to put in our bank
savings account. Kula would bring $5.00, or $10.00. Man Kula must be rich, I thought.
WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY-Grade Three
Row 1: Carolyn Crissinger, Mary Stewart, Patty Arnold, Sandra Priestap, Diana Davidson, Ora Buckmaster,
Gary Winegardner, Glenna Hollar.
Row 2: XXXXXXXX, Barbara Lowe, Janet Camper, Tom Oswald, Marilyn Sabosly, Donald boothby, Jim Toland,
Marion Hites, Bill Dahill, Emil White("Yep!, that's me folks"). I liked Carolyn, Glenna, Diana, and
Marilyn at this time, but not in any particular order.
Row 3: David Michael, Lynn Wheeler, Donald Odle, Freda Martin, Richard Wilson, Bob Sterling, XXXXXX, Danny
Hennon, Phyllis Cotrell, Ada Phalen?.
Row 4: Miss Zoe Morris(She had to be at least six feet tall, and 100 years old). Years later when I spoke
to her, I noticed that she was shorter than I was, and a little younger than I remembered.
