Teenage Photos 1952-53 8th Grade-Part 3

 

Teenage Photos 1952-53 

8th Grade-Part 3

Continuing b&w photos from Scrapbook…

Nancy Bolger by the west Gym door.

Marcia Textor walking across the street - sometimes photos were fuzzy… darn!

Merlyn Seastrom and Janice Turner by the west Gym door.

Teacher Ms. Pat Kennedy and classmate Marcia Textor in the classroom at teacher's desk.

Teachers Mrs. Patrick and Ms. Pat Kennedy walking up the sidewalk to school. 

This concludes the b&w photos in the scrapbook. More Scrapbook contents on 8th Grade to follow, next Tuesday, in part 4.

See you down the road...  ;-)

Teenage Photos 1952-53 8th Grade-Part 2

 

Teenage Photos 1952-53 

8th Grade-Part 2

Scrapbook from Eighth Grade and High School
Source of photos and memorabilia in next several posts

The rest of these b&w photos were in the scrapbook - l0 in all, 5 here, 5 next time…
Random order…

Bunch of older guys by the west Gym door…
Three Seniors on left: Don Roberts, Jerry Simon, Bob Bolger. Two Freshmen on right: Gary Hilgenberg, Merlyn Seastrom

The rest of my 8th grade classroom… earlier photo had me at far right, last desk.

Here are: Marilyn Peterson, Jerry Scott, Ramona Palmer, Doug Drake up front. Behind him is Jon Crisman. Nancy Bolger just beyond Jon's head, Gary Hoover, far right, Larry Turner's back between Jon and Gary, it appears. Charlotte Shirbroun is behind and to left of Nancy. Gerald Palmer far back on right, between Larry and Gary.

Cousin Gary HIlgenberg by the west Gym door.

Jon Crisman (in front) and cousin Dennis Ford crossing street toward that West Gym door, from playground area.

Juanita Pierce and Nancy Bolger (in back) also along west side of schoolhouse.


…to be continued on Thursday…


See you down the road…  ;-)

Teenage Photos 1952-53 8th Grade-Part 1

 

Teenage Photos 1952-53 8th Grade-Part 1

26 8th-Grade Students at Coon Rapids (IA) Community School with teacher Patricia Kennedy.

Back Row: (John) Andy Kretzinger, Roland McGee, Charles Remele, Dennis Ford, Bill Smith
Next Row: Jerry Scott, Gerald Palmer, Doug Drake, Gary Webber, Larry Turner, Ms. Kennedy
Next Row: Dick Whitfield, Jim Knudsen, Arlene Herron, Gary Hoover, Jon Crimson, Norman Arrowsmith, Wayne Grim
Front Row: Jane Smith, Juanita Pierce, Marcia Textor, Norma Wagner, Ramona Palmer, Nancy Bolger, Charlotte Shirbroun, Marilyn Peterson, Marilyn Andersen

This was the only photo I had, until recently, when I had taken Mom’s camera to school. That is me sitting at my desk. I think that is Nancy in dark (red) sweater standing by window behind me, talking to Doug, it appears. She was a mature class leader. I was still the newcomer… ;-)

In a later post here (next Tues and Thurs, part 2 and part 3, of 8th Grade), we’ll see more photos from that day that were in the scrapbook…

My class picture, in fall, just turned 13 on July 1. A teenager. Bill. No more Billie, Billy… ;-)

I got my slide camera the summer of 1953... much better!!
This is that following summer… with brothers… we’d all grown up quite a bit!! ;-)
Barry had arrived eighteen months earlier. Jim on left, with Tom (later to become T.K.)

I loved that bike!! ;-)

See you down the road…  ;-)

Childhood Photos 1950-52 6/7th Grade

 

Childhood Photos 1950-52 6/7th Grade

Another all-time favorite photo - Confirmation Class, Star Methodist Church

Rev. Pooley and Don Williams, Sunday School Class 6th Grade Teacher, in back

Charlotte Shirbroun, Nancy Bolger, Bill Smith, Dennis Ford, Kenneth Molle, Wayne Grim

Seventh Grade, Willow #3, 1951-1952

Top Row: Teacher, Jim Smith, Ruth Anderson, Tom Tolsdorf, Charlotte Shirbroun, Wilson Thomas
Mid-Row: Robert Hunter, ?? Anderson, Jane Lovell, Jim Tolsdorf
Bottom Row: Gary Hunter, Judy Tolsdorf, Dick Hunter, Bill Smith

Bill Smith on west side of farm home - likely sixth grade...


See you down the road… ;-)

Childhood Photos 1946-47 - 2nd Grade

 

Childhood Photos 1946-47 - 2nd Grade

On further examination, I think this is still First Grade, perhaps Spring of 1946, because the lady in back on the right is teacher, Mildred Peverstorf, in center, Pat Thomas, and on the left, Berniece  Peverstorf (sister of teacher). Youngsters from right to left, Jim Tolsdorf, Dick Hunter, Wilson Thomas, Charlotte Shirbroun, Shirley Woods, Billie Smith, Gary Hunter, Robert Hunter and the last two I just don’t recognize at this time. The photo was taken in our front yard, looking north. This is Willow #3, I count 12, so a couple are missing, but we were always a small school in my experience.

Back on track, this is my 7th birthday on July 1, 1946, with Angel Food Cake and tent as primary gift.

This is a marvelous photo of the age, a panoramic view!! I am standing behind the tent, Wilson Thomas is with the dog, that I think is actually the first photo of Whitey… my favorite dog. More on that next time. Brother Jim is standing in front. Fall has arrived. Note the car and all the out building. Neat. Light  pole in the center of the photo and the yard. Prominent in so many photos.

December 4, 1946… another dated photo… love them…an all-time favorite. All my closest friends through these early years. The occasion is the Birthday of Dennis Ford, he was eight years old, a cousin six months older than me; at the Ford farmhouse.
From left, Donna Grim, Nancy Bolger (So Sweet!!!), Kay McLaughlin, Wilson Thomas (back), Tom Rees (front), Billie Smith (back), Dennis Ford, Wayne Grim, cousin David Thomas. What a group!! ;-)

Willow #3 school children along side the school. My guess is spring of 1947. Pat and Beverly in back. Front, from left, Charlotte, Dick, Billie… Wilson Thomas on far right.

Don’t know where to put this one. So here it is!! ;-)

I’m putting this as Jimmie’s third birthday in April 1947. All dressed up!! ;-)

With Kinnick’s at the Harvey Place on the Gladden Road north of Coon Rapids where Grandpa and Grandma Kinnick lived for a few years … this where Uncle Buzz returned from Japan after his army service - in 1947.
From left, back, Karen, Billie, Kathleen
Front, Kelton (approaching 2), Jimmie (3+)
Love those cars and barn in the background!! ;-)


See your down the road! ;-)
 

Childhood Photos - 1944-45

 

Childhood Photos - 1944-45

Moving ahead, I’ve slid to ‘school-year’ periods. Some photos are dated, which helps. Others, I’ve made my best guess (may be a year or so off). Big thing I’m learning from these exercises is how normal my childhood really was… I was not really isolated on the farm. Our family did all sorts of things. I should have fully realized from Mom’s diaries, but I’m just now “getting it.” Live and learn!

First big change was that a brother, Jim, or Jimmie, at the time, arrived in April of 1944.

Again, I had a birthday angel food cake, that year…5 years old, 1 Jul 1944..

Click on photo to get larger image

After Kindergarten, June 1945 I assume, we had our first Vacation Bible School at the Star Church. Lots of familiar faces, even brother Jimmie on the shoulders of one of the Ford twins, just left of center, back row! Nancy and I are 2nd and 3rd from the left, side by side, for the first time in a photo. Donna Grim is on the left of Nancy, Kay McLaughlin to my right, then Charlotte Shirbroun. Roberta Ford behind Nancy. Moving right, Donna Gymer, Donna Ford, Ford twins, ??, DonnaBelle Shirbroun. Far right, Joan Bowman and Bob Bolger in overalls. Dave Thomas in sweater. Dwight Brown. Many others!! ;-)

Larry Johnson did a nice job of isolating us. Love this image!!! ;-)

Sorensen family gathering at Louise and Rasmus Nielsen home south of Bayard… kids lined up:
Jimmie, Judy, Billy, Marie, Darrell, Winona. 15 July 1945.


See you down the road… ;-) 

The year 1943 and me - in photos

 

The year 1943 and me - in photos

This was the last year before I started to school. It began with what has now become a familiar photo - the first one I have of Nancy and I together in the same photo - dated 14 Jan 1943:

Bob, Bill, Roger, Barbara, Carolyn, Nancy

This was at a gathering of Grandma Kinnick’s Sorensen relatives. I love it, but my Mom, Eileen, always hated it, because she had her hair in curlers to look good later in the day… while the visitors were all dressed already (Especially her cousins from California!). She is right behind me just left of center.

This was a typical gathering at the Leo Kinnick residence, mid-year I am guessing. I’m lower left, holding my Dad’s hand. Cousin Dennis Ford is to the right, looking at Leo.

Here is my birthday photo, assume I got the trike bike for my 4th birthday:

Here is my next favorite photo of the year, with Mom, Buzz (Freshman in High School), and me in the fall, on the road just south of the house, looking east:

Families are Forever! ;-)

See you down the road...

Music Activities in High School

 

Music Activities in High School

As mentioned in my Childhood Memoir Challenge article, music was a major activity of my High School career, both band and vocal music activities. Mom played the piano as well as sang all her life in various venues. So there was an influence there, for sure.

I believe this is Spring of Freshman year.

Starting in 8th grade with Mr. Bush, band director, I began playing the Baritone Horn (Euphonium) in concert and marching band, as well as small groups from time to time. Starting with Freshman year, I also played Solo performances for Contests, though I was most likely only mediocre… truth be told. Mom had me taking both piano lessons (from her and others) as well as vocal lessons early on in High School. I also did Solo Vocal performances for Contest, but again I was only a little better than mediocre as a Soloist. I was better in duets or small groups, as well as in choir performance.

At All State, our quartet was Wilson Thomas, Donna Grimm, Nancy Bolger and Bill Smith.
[I look at this picture of Nancy and just about melt away, by the way…so many memories!]

Probably my proudest musical accomplishment came from participating in All State Chorus, all four years of High School. And, this is where Nancy comes into the picture, literally as well as in participation. The full truth is that Nancy was probably one of a small handful of the most talented students, musically, in the four years we were in High School, regardless of grade level. However, she wanted to be known as a well-rounded student, musically and academically, not just a musician nor an accompanist. She was an accomplished pianist. She took lessons from Concert Pianist, Mr. Terchek, in Carroll, for several years. She almost certainly would have had some success in that direction if she had the interest. She wanted, however, to only do as much as she wanted to do, not get pulled into being THE pianist. There were others who could also do that. Donna was one of them. While Mom accompanied me the first couple of years, in that last couple of years, Nancy did. I was very grateful. I was better because of her. Nancy played Saxophone in Band.

Back to All State. In those years, we were chosen by quartet, and Mrs. Anderson, the vocal music instruction, usually sent three quartets to the TryOuts to compete. Everyone was surprised when our #3 quartet was chosen that first year. Nancy and I were Freshmen, Wilson and Donna were Sophomores. Donna was a good soprano, Nancy sang Alto very well, Wilson was Tenor and I sang Bass. None of us were great alone, but we were great together. Nancy and I ended up in quartets together all four years, with different Soprano and Tenor combinations. Andy Kretzinger, a very good tenor, good friend in our class, sang with us one year, but was also in quartets selected all four years, as well. Very unusual, but neat.

Marching Band and Concert Band were great experiences. However, I think I probably most liked participation in special events, such as Contests (usually in other towns) and County Band, or going to the Audubon County Fair, for example. Seeing different places, meeting different students, in different venues, was stimulating to me. It made a very naive young man into someone much more worldly. I still had a lot to learn, I just didn’t know it yet!

By the way, I did play my Baritone once in a special Marching Band appearance as a Freshman at Iowa State College. That was the end of my band experience. But, I still have that Baritone Horn, in the original case, over in our storage unit. It still works just fine.

P.S. We also played in the Roy Holliday Town Band in the Summer Time. We’ll save those stories for another time…

See you down the road… ;-)