"Bomber Memories"
September 23 & 24, 1998
September 23, 1998
Millie Finch Gregg (54)
Go Bombers!!!
2 bits; 4 bits; 6 bits; a dollar - all for .... stand up and holler....
I was reading and was reminded of several things as I read the entry by Billye Conley Drew (61).
I do remember the circus that came to Bomber Bowl. In fact one year it was here the lady that climbed the tall pole was killed because when she reached the top, the wind was up and the pole broke and she plunged to her death.
I also remember watching my dad shovel the coal into the furnace. But I also remember very vividly that when he decided to make the basement a full one, (not half dirt) he got in touch with Jim Lawrence (he married Millie Bresina from our class) who had a conveyor belt , and along with my uncles and brothers, I watched them work real hard.
Another correction I need to make is that the carnivals I had mentioned earlier, not only did we send the servicemen cookies, but we actually sent the money we made so they could call home.
The swimming pool was a great addition to our town, and because it was so cheap we spent the whole day there (at least I did when I could) Atomic Frontier Days were the best and i would be really neat to have them return. The generation of today would see what a wonderful time we had during the 50"s.
Until next time.............Millie (Finch) Gregg
Jim Russell (58)
TO: Ellen Spitaleri (65)
I, too, remember the story that Hanford area would be one of the prime targets for a Russian attack and that the most likely method would be to bomb Grand Coulee Dam. The thought of all that rush of water flooding our city and my school was a little disconcerting as I lay face down on the hallway floor in Lewis & Clark, hand over my neck. "Is this the way one floats to safety?"
Jim Russell
Barbara Chandler (59)
My, my, my...... the memories this site brings back.
It is really astonishing to me that there are so many of us "out there". My class of '59 was so special to me. I moved to Richland after my parents separated (Chicago) in 1948. My grandparents, Alma and Oliver Riggins were already settled there, having come in the mid '40's. My aunt and uncle, Eugia and Talmadge Riggins were also there. My cousins, Katie, Sandy and Beth Riggins were there and we all (believe it or not, well, not Beth--wasn't born yet), along with my mom Lillian, brother Richard and I all lived in an "A" house on Perkins!!! Whew! Somehow we managed and memories of growing up in that town have been wonderful. Don't remember who said it, but how right you were..... We were safe, and we felt it. Still think in many ways that it was idealic. I have many memories that I'll contribute at a later date, just wanted to say thanks again for the opportunity and a "safe" place to voice my feelings about my home town and the people in it.
More soon.
Jinny Barnett Howser
(62)
Does anyone out there remember feeding Ali the alligator ping pong balls in Mr. Carlson's biology class? Yes, all is well in Richland and some of us are still here.
Jinny Barnett Howser
Earl Bennett (63)
TO: Patty Bezzio (63):
I thought Mrs. Davis was Junior English, but if you say Sophomore, so be it. From her class I remember creating a newspaper with several articles concerning news events from Silas Marner. The reason I think it was Junior year is because I took typing during the summer between soph and junior, and I seem to recall typing the news columns, then cutting and pasting. But not a sharp memory. By the way, Khorobushka was another song Mrs. Harmon taught us. During our Junior year when I was taking first year Russian, I had the privilege of teaching a couple of Russian folk dances to both the first and second year classes.
Another memory I've not seen mentioned yet: Mid-fifties in elementary school listening to the Standard Oil of Ohio national broadcasts over the schoolwide PA system (Jason Lee, in my case). I vaguely remember an introduction to classical music - anyone else remember other topics covered? Also, specials on TV like Our Mr. Sun and Hemo the Magnificent, that were integrated into schoolwork.
Later. ecb3
Teresa DeVine Knirck
(64)
Also, the famous murder was Mrs. Wight, not White, I think. My friend Margaret Weeks lived right next door and Barb Gast lived right across the street. It was summer of 1960 or thereabouts and scared us out of our wits.
Was anyone else besides me, Dawn Bern, Judy Altman, Judy Campbell, and Doug Hawkins in Dr. Mecum's class the day Shelly McCoy got his hand stuck in that book holder along the side of the desks and three boys had to carry him, desk and all, down to the janitors to be freed? That was a crazy class.
Teresa DeVine Knirck
Bob DeGraw (66)
I can't believe that no one has talked about the great swimming holes we used to go to. The "Flumes" on the Pasco side of the River where if you went off the 20 or 30 ft drop on the right side you broke your neck but if you went off the left side you were ok. The "Bubbles" in Kennewick which was a pump station on one of the irrigation canals. We used to go there at night and skinny dip with the car lights on. How about "Beer Falls" which was somewhere about where Meadow Springs is now. It was a little stream that went through a culvert pipe and made a pretty deep hole where the water came out of the pipe. There was sand all around it so it was kind of like being at the beach.
To Gerald Stein: I remember the station I think? Wasn't it Dick and one other guy? Speaking of Dick Stevens...I remember in Jr. High at Carmichael he went for a record to see how many Hacks he could get in his 9th grade year. He was a pretty funny guy.
Pam Ehinger Nassen (67)
TO: Rick Maddy (67)
You are very right about the insignia of the mushroom cloud, aka the Bomb!! Our parents had a lot to do with it, so why shouldn't we be proud of it. I think THEY think it is being worshipped of some thing. What they don't know is that we are very proud of what we offered to history. I'm not proud of all the Japanese that were killed by it. But we did put an end to an awful war, that killed way to many all ready.
So tell THEM to give us back our MUSHROOM CLOUD, and give us back our BOMB (with new paint on it). Put the cloud back on the pants and let us be the BOMBERS, WE ARE!!!!!!!
WE ARE THE BOMBERS MIGHTY MIGHTY BOMBERS,
EVERY WHERE WE GO PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW
WHO WE ARE
SO WE TELL THEM!
WE ARE THE BOMBERS MIGHT MIGHTY BOMBERS......
B..O..M..B..E..R..S...THATS US!!
Take Care
Bombers Rule
Pam Ehinger
Lois Clayton Colton
(71)
To: Art "Tom" Hughes (56)
I got a chuckle about the idea of ice cream for a flotation device. I think they were more worried about their stomachs. I guess they figured that they didn't want to be hungry for a while. The ship wasn't sinking, but was so severely crippled that it had to be sunk. Interestingly enough, when he jumped off the Lex another man jumped on top of him and injured his neck a little. It was in this very spot that he had one major stroke. When he was on the USS Phelps he was lying on a pool table and was too weak to get up and watch the Lex being sunk. They pushed him over to the window so that he could watch.
Lois Clayton Colton
Creede Lombard (72) OR
Someone mentioned the famous acts that came to town. Most of them came to the gym, since that was about the biggest place in town. Three I remember specifically were the US Marine Band (they might have come through twice), the Harlem Globetrotters and the Grass Roots. I never saw the Grass Roots but I remember seeing the other two.
Creede
September 24, 1998
Ralph Myrick (51)
For the 40's and 50's grads. I wonder how many of you remember the Village Food Store located on Snow and Lee Blvd. It is now the Richland School District Ad building. Remember the beverage and candy window at the rear of the store? My mother, Ola Myrick, was the clerk that worked that window. I, too, worked at the store and often with my mother. Stan Ewing, Bill Wahl, and Junior Nichleson also worked there. Those years my mother enjoyed the most because she got to be with all the kids. Marcus Whitman was the school located next to it. I was in the sixth grade then. Miss Marietta was the teacher. Boy could she throw erasers, Just ask Bill Tracy. She could also come down on you with one of those huge geography books. Bob Clancy or Bill Silvers (first name?) can attest to that. Mr. Wold was 7th and Mrs. Ruby was 8th. Those were the days I guess you could say.
Al Parker (53)
Lee (BeegByte) wrote the following response to an E-mail message from Al Parker (53) which referred to the Spudnut Shop and other items relevant to Bomber potpourri. (BeegByte is not an RHS grad, but some of us have basically adopted him into the corps because he so ardently shares the nostalgia, history and enthusiasm so deeply imbedded in the ever-living, ever-enriching Bomber phenomenon.)
"The Spudnut Shop still is the place where all the old timers meet each morning to have a spudnut, cup of coffee, and talk over local and world events. A lot of life's serious problems are hashed over here. But, do you remember if you walk to the left (west) from the Spudnut Shop and turn right at the corner, pass the theater, head north about 100 feet, then turn right. You would be in the drugstore with an old fashion soda fountain; where you could get sodas, sundaes, banana splits, frappes, etc., etc. This was the original hangout for the Richland spit and whittle crowd. It was closed about twelve years ago and turned into an oriental restaurant. I think this was a loss to the community, sort of a landmark. But, time marches on and waits for no man." -Lee
Al responds: Time sure does march on, Lee, and I certainly do remember the soda fountain and restaurant you are referring to. A man named Oldberg came from Bremerton to start that up. He and some partners continued to build a chain of Thrifty Drugs around the state. A lot of stores in Richland were started between the late 40's and the early 50's by people who came over from Bremerton. Richland was starting to boom while Bremerton was losing businesses and people because work at the Bremerton Naval Shipyard was winding down at the end of World War II. Some of the Richland businesses that came from or were started by people from Bremerton were Thrifty Drug, Parker's Hardware, BB & M Sporting Goods, Davis Furniture, Pleis-Davis, and a Bakery I can't remember the name of. The children of many of these business owners became RHS graduates. It would be cool if we could hear a little vignette from or about each of them. I remember Buck Buckner, one of the partners of BB& M Sporting Goods, from my early days in Bremerton before moving to Richland when I was 14 in 1949. At that time, he was running a small grocery store on the Manette side of Bremerton. When I bought peanuts from him in the bulk, or candy, he would always give me two or three replacements if I could find a piece that was slightly "spoiled". We were both very liberal in how we interpreted the definition of "spoiled." After a while, he would pretend I was taking advantage of him and complain, "what do you want from me, blood?" The same answer would apply in his sporting goods store in Richland when I tried to get a better deal on some fishing worms.
Yes. Those were the times then. These are the times now. And time keeps marching on! -Al
Al wrote: Richland was starting to boom while Bremerton was losing businesses and people because work at the Bremerton Naval Shipyard was winding down at the end of World War II.
Beeg responds: Bremerton rings a bell. Remember the days when North Richland existed? The only real houses that existed in that town were called Bremerton Houses. Do you recall these little cracker boxes? There were three rows of them on the East side of town. As I recollect, they were supposed to have been moved from the Bremerton Naval Shipyard after the war. That probably would account for the name, Bremerton Houses, but I do not really know if this story is true. Do you happen to know if that is a true story? -- Lee
~~~I don't know if that is true, or not, Lee. Sounds logical, maybe even probable. Maybe we can find somebody who knows for sure. -Al
Ken Heminger (56)
The Stop and Go, Muscles, Frontier days, and celebrities coming to town. I would like to reflect on what I remember.
The Stop-n-Go..... The thing I remember most was the French Fries. It was still fairly new when we went up there. I remember that we had just won/lost (cant remember which) a game with Gonzaga (sp?). We were all hanging out eating burgers and fries and talking about the game.. The fries were of the Curley type but much longer. You could pick up one end and it would dangle like a spring. I thought the fries were really cool.
Frontier Days.... The celebrities that I remember coming were Chill Wills, Jimmy Wakley (sp?) The singing Cowboy, and there was also Monty Hale, another cowboy. Monty had a show in the Richland theater and showed up with his arm in a sling. He claimed he broke his arm when he fell off his horse. Chill Wills autographed my brothers cowboy boot. That was a big day for my brother. I also remember Chita of Tarzan fame was in Richland. I cant say it was for frontier days though.
One other thing just came to mind.... Anyone remember when they had the Tucker Automobile on display. All I remember about that is, it was green and sitting on a trailer. I think they were pushing sales. Wish I could remember how much it was.
Someone mentioned Celebrities like Red Foley coming to Columbia High and putting on a show. One celebrity he forgot to mention was Ferlin Husky. He was the life of the show. I remember there was snow on the ground when the crew showed up to unload their equipment. Red Foley's car was pulling up to the back door of the gym and a rear wheel fell into a hole and he was stuck. A bunch of us kids ran over and helped get him out of the hole. That was quite a deal for us. It seems to me that they were supposed to put on a show in Kennewick the next day and one of them got blitzed and couldn't make it to the show. There was quite a stink about it. Not sure but I think it was Tex Ritter. Maybe someone can come up with who it was.
I remember a day when Muscles showed up in the Uptown area with his new bike. He offered a kid a ride on it. The kid straddled the rear and sat down. I remember muscles telling the kid to "Hold on tight because the bike had a lot of power" Muscles' monkey was kept in a big cage outside his house. I was walking home from Chief Jo after school and was looking into the cage when his monkey grabbed the glasses off my face and destroyed them. I had a hard time explaining that to my dad.... That's it for now.... I probably slaughtered some name spelling... Sorry
Ken Heminger
Jan Mulroy Wick (58)
I just had a flash back to the 50's. Does anyone remember the record booths in Korten's. You could go into these booths and listen to records (before you bought them). I'm not sure anybody ever bought any records. God those people had patience!
~ Riding your horse as fast as you could on the dike.
~ Going barefoot from February to December.
~ Walking/running across black top that was at least 200 degrees.
This is such fun and I can't believe how much I had forgotten.
I remember getting the wooden box for graduation, I think it was from Bell Furniture Store. I kept it for years but must have gotten rid of it during a house cleaning fit. Now I feel sad I didn't keep it..
Jan Mulroy
Irene Smith Gostnell Goodnight (59)
A memory I just have to include here is about my 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Mary Lester, at Lewis and Clark. I really loved her, but I sometimes didn't understand what she said, because she had somewhat of a southern accent. One day I had to confess out loud in class that I didn't get my arithmetic assignment done. She asked my how much did I lack? I replied, after thinking a minute, that I didn't like any of it. I wasn't trying to be funny, but she asked me again, a little louder, how much did I not get done? Of course the class laughed and I was so embarrassed! I also remember one day she had her head down on her desk when we came in from recess. The principal (Mr. Clark?) came in and helped her out, I think she had fainted. I think we must have been giving her a hard day; I never knew what happened, but I thought we should treat her more carefully after that.
Oh, anyone else remember when we thought Mr. Clark had a spanking machine in the office, and we would look in and try to see it whenever we walked by. We'd also walk really straight and not run in that hallway. (I can't even believe this myself!!!)
Irene Smith Gostnell Goodnight
Barbara Seslar Brackenbush (60)
Regarding entertainers who visited the Tri-Cities, I recall Fats Domino being at the Kennewick Social Club. I'm not sure what year it was but most likely after I graduated.
MLou Williams (60)
TO: Bill Craddock (61)
Garmo's! I'd forgotten all about it - we used to stop there after church and buy fresh baked french bread for 20 cents a loaf, then stop by our neighbors in our "B" house on Van Giesen. They were Catholic and couldn't eat before Mass, and the kids would be really hungry, so we all consumed the loaf of bread while everyone's Sunday Dinner was still cooking.
Don Panther (62)
Rodney Ostboe. Some great memories that involve Rodney. My first year in gymnastics is looked up to this muscled Sr. (Rod) who could zip up the rope. We occasionally played a little basketball after gymnastics workout and I remember passing the ball to Rod a couple of time and it would hit him in the side of the head. I was confused until he told me he had one eye missing. I felt embarrassed, at least until one day in Mr. Tillman's mechanical drawing class. Mr. Tillman was on Rods case for something and told him to behave.." 'cause I have my eye on you."
Well, Rodney's response was to go to Mr. Tillman's desk, place his glass eye on his desk and tell him, "I've got my eye on you too!" I'd give a days pay for a picture of Mr. Tillman's face.
Another act that came to the Tri-Cities...Ravene, the hypnotist, who performed at the Uptown theatre. Also the fireworks in the Bomber Bowl.
Fond memories..
Ms Wiley's typing class (with Dean Hoff) and her thermos of hot water..."A S D F semi-colon L K J" over and over again (but this skill served me well through the years!);
The Marcus Whitman ('56) performance of "The Tom Sawyer Operetta", with Cheryl (Joey) Arnold as Becky, Julie Wilson as Aunt Polly; Terry Tate as the Parson, and many others, and I got to play Tom. Does anyone remember any of the other "stars"? I do remember that when "Huck and Tom" were singing a song during one of the performances, I had a piece of Pez candy in my mouth. As we were singing, it moved from the side of my mouth to the front and came flying out while we were singing. Well, that set the entire audience to laughing, including the cast and it went on for about five minutes. All I can remember is that the music teacher (Mr. Soderquist) was trying desperately to gain control, which he eventually did. What fun! My mother recently found my copy of the production script and music and it brought back some good memories from those innocent years.
Don Panther
Earl Bennett ('63)
TO: Bob De Graw:
About the flumes on the Pasco side: I heard that the injurious approach you mentioned took out two of our class the day before graduation, reducing us to 398 rather than 400 in the line. Never saw independent confirmation of that rumor - anyone else remember?
ecb3
Kathy Rathvon (63)
Not only did we starch (sometimes in sugar water) & iron our petticoats, we wore at least 2 & sometimes 3 to four of them under our "full" skirts to make them stand out. I remember going to school with the poufiest and flounciest skirt and coming home with my skirt looking very limp. The only one who's skirt didn't go limp was Mary Lou Watkins' because she had a hoop skirt. God!!! I was so envious. I begged for one, but had to keep starching and ironing.
Kathy Rathvon
Mary Sullivan (64)
CORRECTION: Mr. Lamb was Principal at Spading and not at Lewis & Clark!!
Anyone remember using pieces of Wax Paper on the "Slides" at the playground to "slick" them so you could slide down them faster????
How about the margarine with the "RED" DOT in the middle, that you had to squeeze?? They came in a plastic "baggie" of some sort!!
Gotta run--more later!!
Patty de la Bretonne (65)
YES I REMEMBER THE Standard School Broadcast with Acarmen Dragon and his Orchestra. That music time was always very restful to me.
Rick Maddy (67)
Dan Wagenaar (67) died in Vietnam on 12 July 1968 - U.S. Army
Dennis Huesties (67) Dennis died in Jan. 1998 from complications of Agent Orange* - U.S. Army
*To have the Veteran's Administration admit to a soldier dying from Agent Orange exposure is a hurdle of a great magnitude. Just take a look at the Desert Storm soldier's medical problems due to chemical exposure and governmental denial. It has never been any easier for VietVets.
Growing up in Richland with a father that worked at Hanford, I think the word exposure was the third word out of my mouth after mommy and daddy.
There are several of us from the Class of 67 that were involved in the Vietnam War, as expected due to our graduation timing. Dan and Dennis are the only two from our class that I know of that have died as a direct cause of that conflict. I am not sure of Mark Black's graduation year, but I recall him being a couple of years older than us.
Mike Franco (70)
Regarding Richland area "water activity locations"... yeah
"beer falls" was a favorite, though overnamed spot for us 70's ish thrill seekers also.... What I remember as being the most fun though was the post flood pools along the Columbia in the north end of town. These pools, of course were great natural breeding grounds for those HUGE 'squiters that brought us those fog trucks. This was early, before the flooding was well controlled by dams. These pools left after the river level receded were just full of carp, frogs and other "game"... (probably a little disease as well!). I can remember wading around in this muck spearing carp. It's a incredible that we didn't contract every disease known!!! Any other carp hunters out there?
Mike Franco
