This site has MOVED.
across the street to chs54.net
Bookmark our new address now, because soon this address will go dark. Remember, the only thing different is the DOT NET.
Our new address is chs54.net -Ed
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Breaking News
(I apologize for the smart alek headline, but I couldn't resist! Besides, I understand that Mary is healing fine! -Ed)
Jerry Gaudet reports that Mary Kratt has suffered a fall.
At the February "LDL" we heard that Mary had fallen, suffering a broken fibula ( the smaller bone in the lower leg).
Speaking of her exercising program, Mary says... " I won't be exercising there for at least a month but I am doing quite well. It was a clean break, lucky for me and not on a weight bearing bone. Watch that last step!!!! Hold on hand railings!"
Get well quick good wishes go out to you, Mary! You can reach her...
Mary Kratt
3328 Providence Plantation Lane
Charlotte, NC 28270-3719
Email mkratt@mindspring.com
Jerry Gaudet reports that Mary Kratt has suffered a fall.
At the February "LDL" we heard that Mary had fallen, suffering a broken fibula ( the smaller bone in the lower leg).
Speaking of her exercising program, Mary says... " I won't be exercising there for at least a month but I am doing quite well. It was a clean break, lucky for me and not on a weight bearing bone. Watch that last step!!!! Hold on hand railings!"
Get well quick good wishes go out to you, Mary! You can reach her...
Mary Kratt
3328 Providence Plantation Lane
Charlotte, NC 28270-3719
Email mkratt@mindspring.com
Don't Forget NET
This site has moved to chs54.net.
Actually everything is in place over there now......so go there now and bookmark our new site now.
www.chs54.net
This site will soon disappear! -Ed
Actually everything is in place over there now......so go there now and bookmark our new site now.
www.chs54.net
This site will soon disappear! -Ed
Sunday, February 13, 2011
World Class Storyteller
By Obie Oakley
I’m not sure what I really thought about when I heard the term, Storyteller used. I think it was more along the lines of the guy sitting around the lodge after a day of hunting or fishing regaling his companions with “Stories”. He always had a captive audience and was definitely aided by copious consumption of adult beverages. Usually, they were short vignettes with a beginning, a main character, an almost believable story and an end. That was it.
Well, my impression of a storyteller took a dramatic one-eighty on Wednesday evening when I was privileged to hear our very own classmate, Ellouise, captivate her audience for a wonderful non-stop hour of entertaining STORYTELLING.
What made it different? It was never a discernable stand-alone short vignette that would begin and end before going on the tale. What Ellouise has is the magical ability to artistically weave one story or personal experience seamlessly into the next, causing you to not realize where one began and the other took up.
Since she was the invited guest of the Olde Mecklenburg Genealogical Society and since genealogy happens to be a passion of hers, our Master Storyteller held her audience spellbound with things that happened in our hometown when our great grandparents were just coming on the scene. Stories involving such widely topics as Chief, the elephant who killed his trainer in uptown Charlotte, how hard it is sometimes to get older folks to open up with personal experiences and even about her own trip back to Elizabeth School earlier that day telling 2nd and 3rd graders what it was like for her entering that very school for the first time
.
What a gift Ellouise has and how thankful we should be that she generously shares that gift with others.
Thank you Ellouise!
Your CHS ’54 Classmate / OO
PS, there was a wonderful article in today’s Sunday edition of The Charlotte Observer about her, complete with a large color photo.
I’m not sure what I really thought about when I heard the term, Storyteller used. I think it was more along the lines of the guy sitting around the lodge after a day of hunting or fishing regaling his companions with “Stories”. He always had a captive audience and was definitely aided by copious consumption of adult beverages. Usually, they were short vignettes with a beginning, a main character, an almost believable story and an end. That was it.
Well, my impression of a storyteller took a dramatic one-eighty on Wednesday evening when I was privileged to hear our very own classmate, Ellouise, captivate her audience for a wonderful non-stop hour of entertaining STORYTELLING.
What made it different? It was never a discernable stand-alone short vignette that would begin and end before going on the tale. What Ellouise has is the magical ability to artistically weave one story or personal experience seamlessly into the next, causing you to not realize where one began and the other took up.
Since she was the invited guest of the Olde Mecklenburg Genealogical Society and since genealogy happens to be a passion of hers, our Master Storyteller held her audience spellbound with things that happened in our hometown when our great grandparents were just coming on the scene. Stories involving such widely topics as Chief, the elephant who killed his trainer in uptown Charlotte, how hard it is sometimes to get older folks to open up with personal experiences and even about her own trip back to Elizabeth School earlier that day telling 2nd and 3rd graders what it was like for her entering that very school for the first time
.
What a gift Ellouise has and how thankful we should be that she generously shares that gift with others.
Thank you Ellouise!
Your CHS ’54 Classmate / OO
PS, there was a wonderful article in today’s Sunday edition of The Charlotte Observer about her, complete with a large color photo.
Lou is Home!
Betty Rose reports that her husband Lou came home from the hospital yesterday!
She says he'd love visits.....BUT NOT TODAY (SUNDAY).
Be sure to CALL first.
Lou has an appointment at DUKE on Thursday.
She says he'd love visits.....BUT NOT TODAY (SUNDAY).
Be sure to CALL first.
Lou has an appointment at DUKE on Thursday.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Just sitting there minding their own business........when STARDOM STRUCK
As most of you know,Thomas and I spent a couple of months in Chandler, AZ over the holidays with our daughter Valerie and her family.
We drove out, pulling our camping trailer. On the second day out, we stopped for breakfast at a Chick Fil A in Meridian, MS, and were approached by a young lady who was looking for some elderly people to be in a commercial.
I assured her if I saw some elderly people, I would send them over. It was then that she decided to use us instead.
Marlene and Tom will be signing autographs at the next LDL event. -Ed
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Ellouise at Elizabeth
This is the story that was in the Charlotte Observer telling about Ellouise's visit to Elizabeth School last week.
Ellouise will have a better, and more detailed, report for our website....as soon as she and Jim get a little rest from their very busy trip to Charlotte.
Stay tuned! -Ed
Telling tales out of school
A woman who attended Elizabeth Traditional in 1942 tells students about their history.
By Greg Lacour
Special Correspondent
Posted: Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011
ellouise1.JPG
Ellouise Schoettler, a professional storyteller, stopped at her old first-grade classroom at Elizabeth Traditional Elementary. Sarah Nelson, in background, teaches there.
First stop: the old first-grade classroom. Ellouise Schoettler walked in just before 2 p.m.
Teacher Sarah Nelson was in there, alone. Schoettler began regaling her with stories. This is what she does.
Schoettler started school in the same classroom in September 1942, though the school was then called the Elizabeth School. Her father, who'd enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, walked her to school, then left home that day to go to war. She remembers the teacher, Elizabeth Cook, a beautiful blonde who looked like a princess, her hair shining ...
Eventually, Schoettler broke from her reverie and soft-shoed into the Elizabeth Traditional Elementary School auditorium, where about 180 students - all of the second- and third-grade classes - had gathered to hear Schoettler, a 74-year-old professional storyteller, talk to them about the school she remembers.
Which, in some ways, hasn't changed at all.
"This auditorium," she told the students, "looks exactly the way it did when I started first grade in 1942." The kids gasped.
Schoettler grew up a few blocks away, on East Seventh Street in Elizabeth, but left Charlotte after graduating from Central High in 1954. That was the last time she lived in the Queen City, although she frequently returned to visit; her career kept her in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C., area, where she worked at various times as a visual artist, pro-Equal Rights Amendment activist and art college president before devoting herself to storytelling about 20 years ago. She speaks regularly at schools and to civic groups and organizes storytelling events twice per month in the D.C. area.
Her appearance at her old school was a happy coincidence, in a way. Schoettler's 75th birthday is coming up in July, and she wanted to tell stories about her youth to groups in her hometown.
A few weeks ago, she cold-called Elizabeth Traditional Principal Susan Spencer-Smith and told her she'd like to speak to the students. Spencer-Smith thought it'd be a nice way to get students thinking about the school's long history in advance of its 100-year anniversary next year.
"A lot of students don't realize the building they're in is 100 years old," Spencer-Smith said. "I thought it'd be interesting for them to realize how things were different in times past."
It's especially important to Spencer-Smith considering how close the school came to closing; Elizabeth Traditional was on Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' closure list in the fall before parental uproar saved it.
During her talk, Schoettler told the students about her first day of school, about how Miss Cook told the class, "Boys and girls, if you're feeling nervous, don't feel nervous, because it's my first day, too."
She rushed home for lunch that first day to see if she could catch her father before he left to fight in World War II. "My little legs were going up and down like steam pistons," she said. But her father was gone. (He eventually returned safely.)
Schoettler amazed the kids with her stories about saving tinfoil for the war effort and other unimaginable hardships, such as the absence of television - the students gasped again - and clothes that had to be washed with an old bathtub wringer washer.
The kids had never heard of such a thing. Schoettler didn't bother trying to explain it in too much detail. It'd get in the way of her storytelling, after all. She told the students to just Google it.
Greg Lacour is a freelance writer.
Ellouise will have a better, and more detailed, report for our website....as soon as she and Jim get a little rest from their very busy trip to Charlotte.
Stay tuned! -Ed
Telling tales out of school
A woman who attended Elizabeth Traditional in 1942 tells students about their history.
By Greg Lacour
Special Correspondent
Posted: Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011
ellouise1.JPG
First stop: the old first-grade classroom. Ellouise Schoettler walked in just before 2 p.m.
Teacher Sarah Nelson was in there, alone. Schoettler began regaling her with stories. This is what she does.
Schoettler started school in the same classroom in September 1942, though the school was then called the Elizabeth School. Her father, who'd enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, walked her to school, then left home that day to go to war. She remembers the teacher, Elizabeth Cook, a beautiful blonde who looked like a princess, her hair shining ...
Eventually, Schoettler broke from her reverie and soft-shoed into the Elizabeth Traditional Elementary School auditorium, where about 180 students - all of the second- and third-grade classes - had gathered to hear Schoettler, a 74-year-old professional storyteller, talk to them about the school she remembers.
Which, in some ways, hasn't changed at all.
"This auditorium," she told the students, "looks exactly the way it did when I started first grade in 1942." The kids gasped.
Schoettler grew up a few blocks away, on East Seventh Street in Elizabeth, but left Charlotte after graduating from Central High in 1954. That was the last time she lived in the Queen City, although she frequently returned to visit; her career kept her in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C., area, where she worked at various times as a visual artist, pro-Equal Rights Amendment activist and art college president before devoting herself to storytelling about 20 years ago. She speaks regularly at schools and to civic groups and organizes storytelling events twice per month in the D.C. area.
Her appearance at her old school was a happy coincidence, in a way. Schoettler's 75th birthday is coming up in July, and she wanted to tell stories about her youth to groups in her hometown.
A few weeks ago, she cold-called Elizabeth Traditional Principal Susan Spencer-Smith and told her she'd like to speak to the students. Spencer-Smith thought it'd be a nice way to get students thinking about the school's long history in advance of its 100-year anniversary next year.
"A lot of students don't realize the building they're in is 100 years old," Spencer-Smith said. "I thought it'd be interesting for them to realize how things were different in times past."
It's especially important to Spencer-Smith considering how close the school came to closing; Elizabeth Traditional was on Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' closure list in the fall before parental uproar saved it.
During her talk, Schoettler told the students about her first day of school, about how Miss Cook told the class, "Boys and girls, if you're feeling nervous, don't feel nervous, because it's my first day, too."
She rushed home for lunch that first day to see if she could catch her father before he left to fight in World War II. "My little legs were going up and down like steam pistons," she said. But her father was gone. (He eventually returned safely.)
Schoettler amazed the kids with her stories about saving tinfoil for the war effort and other unimaginable hardships, such as the absence of television - the students gasped again - and clothes that had to be washed with an old bathtub wringer washer.
The kids had never heard of such a thing. Schoettler didn't bother trying to explain it in too much detail. It'd get in the way of her storytelling, after all. She told the students to just Google it.
Greg Lacour is a freelance writer.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
WE'RE MOVING!
However,
It's ONLY around the block. Our NEW ADDRESS is the very same......EXCEPT that
DOT COM.........is now DOT NET
We've almost completed moving the entire staff over to our new digs at DOT NET.
 |
| The staff working at their new headquarters at CHS54.NET |
Check out our new house. It's the same comfortable old furniture and all the old files etc.
The only thing that has changed is the DOT COM.
It's NOW.............CHS54.NET
chs54.net
Go visit our new house now......CHS54.NET.......and bookmark it!
(Our old house at DOT COM will remain open for a few more days while we make sure we haven't left anything behind.) -Ed
Monday, February 7, 2011
Love, Faith and ENDURANCE!
By Jerry Gaudet
Jackie (Hart) Lookabill, and husband Gene, wanted CHS'54 classmates to know about their daughter, LaGena, being on the cover of Endurance Magazine with a story inside. It can be viewed online at www.endurancemag.com by clicking on "digital issues", January 2011,and finally the article "Faith , Love & Endurance", pages 14 and 15.
Or, try this "link" for the pdf version of this article..
.http://www.magazooms.com/tmp/110210_195743.pdf
Congratulations to LaGena for her perserverence and to her family for such wonderful support! -JG
(What an inspiration LaGena is for ALL of us! -Ed )
Jackie (Hart) Lookabill, and husband Gene, wanted CHS'54 classmates to know about their daughter, LaGena, being on the cover of Endurance Magazine with a story inside. It can be viewed online at www.endurancemag.com by clicking on "digital issues", January 2011,and finally the article "Faith , Love & Endurance", pages 14 and 15.Or, try this "link" for the pdf version of this article..
.http://www.magazooms.com/tmp/110210_195743.pdf
Congratulations to LaGena for her perserverence and to her family for such wonderful support! -JG
(What an inspiration LaGena is for ALL of us! -Ed )
Sunday, February 6, 2011
It Doesn't Get Much Better Than This!
By Jerry Gaudet
Now, wasn’t that fun?!
"LDL" (Let's do lunch) was a special treat on Tuesday, February 8, 2011, (our twenty-eighth).
Mary Sue uses her school principal experience to get us started…
Charlie Willis spoke for us all in offering a beautiful prayer for our sick and meal blessing.
Ellouise and Jim Schoettler were special guests even though Ellouise says she’s “just one of us”…
Barney Lisk and his wife, Carol (next-door neighbors to John Culp) came to see for themselves what Johnny had been talking about…
And, Betsy (Villas) White came down from Atglen, PA to be with us and seemingly couldn’t believe what she was hearing…
Ellouise talked with us about her first day of FIRST GRADE at Elizabeth School, painting a wonderful word picture of our world at that time of our lives. The “LDL” attendees responded with various recollections from their own experiences…
Nobody paid any attention to Ellouise…yeah, right…we were enthralled…
“LDL”s are fun! Come be with us sometime. Second Tuesday of each month. -JG
Now, wasn’t that fun?!
"LDL" (Let's do lunch) was a special treat on Tuesday, February 8, 2011, (our twenty-eighth).
Charlie Willis spoke for us all in offering a beautiful prayer for our sick and meal blessing.
Ellouise and Jim Schoettler were special guests even though Ellouise says she’s “just one of us”…
Nobody paid any attention to Ellouise…yeah, right…we were enthralled…
“LDL”s are fun! Come be with us sometime. Second Tuesday of each month. -JG
An Army of One
I’ve had a number of compliments on the two stories about my wife’s ancestor Sydney Davis, who wrote about his adventures as a US Cavalryman.
Apparently his kindness touched a lot of hearts.
We had lunch the other day with Linda's aunt, Claire Davis, and her daughter Marilyn.
It was Claire who was responsible for rescuing Sydney Davis’ autobiography from eternal atticdom and bringing it to the attention of the Library of Congress, making it available to Civil War historians. She said that most of the books they had printed were purchased by friends and family members.
I mentioned that there were a couple of books written about one of my ancestors, but neither of them ever came close to being a “best seller,” either.
Nor, would they ever leave anyone with a warm, fuzzy feeling.
My mother was Bertha Jolly from Anderson, SC. I remember her telling me that there were two families of Jollys in Anderson; one had money, and the other had the “Civil War hero”.......Manse Jolly.
Needless to say, her dirt poor family was descended from the latter.
But not everyone thought of Manse as a hero. The Federal government certainly didn’t. They had a higher price on his head than they ever had on Jesse James; $10,000 in gold...Dead or Alive.
You see, the heroics Manse became famous for were those he performed after the war was officially declared over.
He claimed that Lee may have surrendered, but he (Manse) didn’t.
He was the only one of 6 Jolly brothers who returned home after the war.
The others were all killed in battle.
He swore that he would kill 5 Yankee soldiers for every one of his dead brothers. Apparently, that was the unfinished business that drove Manse. That, and the fact that the helpless residents of Anderson were being abused by a number of the Federal soldiers..
He more than met his self imposed quota.
One of the books about him is titled, Manse Jolly, Hero, or Deranged Killer.
Perhaps he was a little bit of both.
But considering the evil inflicted on the South (especially South Carolina) during “Reconstruction,” the darkest period in our nation’s history, the people of Anderson at that time considered Manse a hero.
That’s good enough for me.
The soldiers of the garrison stationed in Anderson, were known to loot and pillage the area... and Jolly went after each one.
The story says that the soldiers became so terrified of Manse that back up was brought into the area. It finally got “too hot” for him in Anderson, and aware of that $10,000 price on his head, he finally decided to flee to Texas and start his life over.
Many stories and legends have been told about him, many perhaps exaggerated or invented entirely, but apparently, there’s little disagreement about his departure from Anderson.
On his way out of town.....he rode straight through the Union Camp, yelling the spine tingling “rebel yell” while firing both pistols at everything that moved......
Newspaper accounts at the time quoted Union soldiers as saying that they thought they had been attacked by an entire regiment of Confederates.
Manse and his horse, Dixie, made it to Milam County Texas, where he settled and eventually married and began raising a family.
He drowned shortly before his first child was born while crossing a flooded river.
He was 29 years old.
-ED
(Researching this story, I discovered that there is even a song about him on YouTube.
It's was written by Jeff Rose of the Cane Creek Bluegrass band.)
Apparently his kindness touched a lot of hearts.
 |
| Marilyn Davis Coolidge, Linda and Ed, Claire Davis |
It was Claire who was responsible for rescuing Sydney Davis’ autobiography from eternal atticdom and bringing it to the attention of the Library of Congress, making it available to Civil War historians. She said that most of the books they had printed were purchased by friends and family members.
I mentioned that there were a couple of books written about one of my ancestors, but neither of them ever came close to being a “best seller,” either.
Nor, would they ever leave anyone with a warm, fuzzy feeling.
My mother was Bertha Jolly from Anderson, SC. I remember her telling me that there were two families of Jollys in Anderson; one had money, and the other had the “Civil War hero”.......Manse Jolly.
Needless to say, her dirt poor family was descended from the latter.
But not everyone thought of Manse as a hero. The Federal government certainly didn’t. They had a higher price on his head than they ever had on Jesse James; $10,000 in gold...Dead or Alive.You see, the heroics Manse became famous for were those he performed after the war was officially declared over.
He claimed that Lee may have surrendered, but he (Manse) didn’t.
He was the only one of 6 Jolly brothers who returned home after the war.
The others were all killed in battle.
He swore that he would kill 5 Yankee soldiers for every one of his dead brothers. Apparently, that was the unfinished business that drove Manse. That, and the fact that the helpless residents of Anderson were being abused by a number of the Federal soldiers..He more than met his self imposed quota.
One of the books about him is titled, Manse Jolly, Hero, or Deranged Killer.
Perhaps he was a little bit of both.
 |
| Anderson SC Highway Sign |
That’s good enough for me.
The soldiers of the garrison stationed in Anderson, were known to loot and pillage the area... and Jolly went after each one.
The story says that the soldiers became so terrified of Manse that back up was brought into the area. It finally got “too hot” for him in Anderson, and aware of that $10,000 price on his head, he finally decided to flee to Texas and start his life over.
Many stories and legends have been told about him, many perhaps exaggerated or invented entirely, but apparently, there’s little disagreement about his departure from Anderson.
On his way out of town.....he rode straight through the Union Camp, yelling the spine tingling “rebel yell” while firing both pistols at everything that moved......
Newspaper accounts at the time quoted Union soldiers as saying that they thought they had been attacked by an entire regiment of Confederates.
Manse and his horse, Dixie, made it to Milam County Texas, where he settled and eventually married and began raising a family.
He drowned shortly before his first child was born while crossing a flooded river.
He was 29 years old.
-ED
(Researching this story, I discovered that there is even a song about him on YouTube.
It's was written by Jeff Rose of the Cane Creek Bluegrass band.)
Saturday, February 5, 2011
4:00 pm Update for Lou Palomba
Betty Rose sends this update on her husband Lou's conditon:
The procedure did NOT go as planned today. Lou stopped breathing because of the buildup of food in his lungs (although he has not eaten anything but liquids). It was very scarey. They plans to do xrays Monday and see if the stuff has left his lungs before they try again. If they decide not to do this, we or they will consult with the Duke doctor that did his original operation.
This doctor also talked about a feeding tube if the other does not work. It breaks my heart to think that Lou will have to deal with something like that rest of his life. It will take him time, I am sure to adjust to whatever happens. I can certainly understand.
Right now he is on the 4th floor here at Presbyterian Main which is a step down from ICU so he is getting very good attention. Both boys and my grandson, Alex are here and we were all together during the procedure. Thank goodness I had their support because it sent me for a loop.
If you want to visit, would you call the hospital first and I will let you know if he feels like company. Thank you all for your continued support. Tony will stay as long as needed here at the hospital. We love all of you and feel so fortunate we have so many friends that are pulling for Lou........
The procedure did NOT go as planned today. Lou stopped breathing because of the buildup of food in his lungs (although he has not eaten anything but liquids). It was very scarey. They plans to do xrays Monday and see if the stuff has left his lungs before they try again. If they decide not to do this, we or they will consult with the Duke doctor that did his original operation.
This doctor also talked about a feeding tube if the other does not work. It breaks my heart to think that Lou will have to deal with something like that rest of his life. It will take him time, I am sure to adjust to whatever happens. I can certainly understand.
Right now he is on the 4th floor here at Presbyterian Main which is a step down from ICU so he is getting very good attention. Both boys and my grandson, Alex are here and we were all together during the procedure. Thank goodness I had their support because it sent me for a loop.
If you want to visit, would you call the hospital first and I will let you know if he feels like company. Thank you all for your continued support. Tony will stay as long as needed here at the hospital. We love all of you and feel so fortunate we have so many friends that are pulling for Lou........
Thursday, February 3, 2011
LDL this Tuesday Feb 8th
By Jerry Gaudet
Ellouise is coming! Ellouise is coming!
When Ellouise talks, people listen!
Well, this email was to start out like this, but Ellouise would have no part of it, saying instead, “I feel like it’s too much about me the storyteller. I am ME who is one of YOU - and I am really excited to see everybody”.
She then suggested it was OK to say: (make it our own words), but we can’t say this about her, can we?…so we’ll use her words…”But WE already know about that talking! Ellouise has been talking and talking and talking since she stepped through the doors of Piedmont Jr. High in the 7th grade. Some things just don't change. But we never thought people would pay her to talk.”
And, she has asked a favor - Ellouise has a story about the Elizabeth School that will start a STORY SWAP - - so we can all trade stories. That sounds OK, don’t you think?
So, Ellouise is going to tell us a story at next Tuesday’s “LDL”.
Don’t miss it!
Our usual disclaimer (and vision test)...
This message is being sent to all CHS'54 classmates for whom we have an E-mail address. We recognize that many of you live great distances away and may not elect to "do lunch", but we want you to know what we are doing and hope you'll come when you can.
"LDL" (Let's do lunch) will be held on
Tuesday, February 8, 2011, 11:30 AM
at "Jimmies Restaurant"
off Hwy. 51 (in Mint Hill)
7024 Brighton Park Dr.
Mint Hill, NC
704/545-7750
February’s “LDL” will have a Valentine’s theme.
Spread the word! Invite other classmates to come!
Even better, bring someone with you! Be sure YOU, come!
We’ll want to come early, order our lunch favorites, have a brief business meeting, enjoy our meal and then hear Ellouise’s story for us…and respond.
For answers to any conceivable lunch questions,
please contact Mary Sue (Banks) Burnett, marysburnett@yahoo.com , or phone 704/846-8619.
Ellouise is coming! Ellouise is coming!
When Ellouise talks, people listen!
Well, this email was to start out like this, but Ellouise would have no part of it, saying instead, “I feel like it’s too much about me the storyteller. I am ME who is one of YOU - and I am really excited to see everybody”.
She then suggested it was OK to say: (make it our own words), but we can’t say this about her, can we?…so we’ll use her words…”But WE already know about that talking! Ellouise has been talking and talking and talking since she stepped through the doors of Piedmont Jr. High in the 7th grade. Some things just don't change. But we never thought people would pay her to talk.”
And, she has asked a favor - Ellouise has a story about the Elizabeth School that will start a STORY SWAP - - so we can all trade stories. That sounds OK, don’t you think?
So, Ellouise is going to tell us a story at next Tuesday’s “LDL”.
Don’t miss it!
Our usual disclaimer (and vision test)...
This message is being sent to all CHS'54 classmates for whom we have an E-mail address. We recognize that many of you live great distances away and may not elect to "do lunch", but we want you to know what we are doing and hope you'll come when you can.
"LDL" (Let's do lunch) will be held on
Tuesday, February 8, 2011, 11:30 AM
at "Jimmies Restaurant"
off Hwy. 51 (in Mint Hill)
7024 Brighton Park Dr.
Mint Hill, NC
704/545-7750
February’s “LDL” will have a Valentine’s theme.
Spread the word! Invite other classmates to come!
Even better, bring someone with you! Be sure YOU, come!
We’ll want to come early, order our lunch favorites, have a brief business meeting, enjoy our meal and then hear Ellouise’s story for us…and respond.
For answers to any conceivable lunch questions,
please contact Mary Sue (Banks) Burnett, marysburnett@yahoo.com , or phone 704/846-8619.
Virgil (not the poet)
I hesitate to tell this story because it’s pretty well documented that naming squirrels in your yard is an early sign of insanity.
But Virgil was special. He was probably the first black squirrel I’d ever seen.
I don’t recall ever seeing one in Charlotte, although we had more than our share of grey ones who camped out in our yard at 2333 East 5th Street and were in constant competition (war?) with my Mom over the pecans that fell from the two large deciduous trees in our yard. (I love using words like that. It just “reeks” of intelligence!)
No doubt, I would have grown up as “anti-squirrel” as she was, had I realized that she was making those delicious pecan pies from our own home grown drupe fruit seeds (there I go again) and there would have been more of those pies if it hadn’t been for those furry grey thieves.
But frankly, there were too many distractions (great looking girls) at CHS for me to concern myself with the art of making pecan pies.
Anyway, it was my youngest son David who came up with the name Virgil.
My other two kids and I agreed that it was the perfect name for him. You could just look at him........and tell; he’s a Virgil.
He didn’t seem to be as aggressive as the other squirrels. We noticed that the others took most of the peanuts we threw out each day, so we began saving a few especially for Virgil....AFTER the grey hoards had gone off to stash their loot.
Not long afterward, Virgil started showing up at odd times of the day...when no other squirrels were around, and more often than not one of my kids would see him....and throw him a few nuts.
Later, my kids discovered that Virgil would come running from out of the woods behind our house if they “called him.” Or, I could just whistle and he would come. It was truly amazing.
Once I asked my Mom, who was a real country girl if she knew what the life expectancy of a squirrel was. How long did squirrels live?
She said, “I reckon til somebody shoots ‘em.”
She had a way with words.
Virgil stayed around our house, living like a king, for a little over two years. Then one day he just didn’t come when we called and we never saw him again.
That was many years ago, but my neighbors still talk about it. I often overhear bits and pieces of their conversations..... talking about.....".the Shephards.......squirrels.......Virgil.......nuts......."
-Ed
But Virgil was special. He was probably the first black squirrel I’d ever seen.
 |
| Virgil, being coy (look closely) |
No doubt, I would have grown up as “anti-squirrel” as she was, had I realized that she was making those delicious pecan pies from our own home grown drupe fruit seeds (there I go again) and there would have been more of those pies if it hadn’t been for those furry grey thieves.
But frankly, there were too many distractions (great looking girls) at CHS for me to concern myself with the art of making pecan pies.
Anyway, it was my youngest son David who came up with the name Virgil.
My other two kids and I agreed that it was the perfect name for him. You could just look at him........and tell; he’s a Virgil.
 |
| Virgil at suppertime |
Not long afterward, Virgil started showing up at odd times of the day...when no other squirrels were around, and more often than not one of my kids would see him....and throw him a few nuts.
Later, my kids discovered that Virgil would come running from out of the woods behind our house if they “called him.” Or, I could just whistle and he would come. It was truly amazing.
Once I asked my Mom, who was a real country girl if she knew what the life expectancy of a squirrel was. How long did squirrels live?
She said, “I reckon til somebody shoots ‘em.”
She had a way with words.
Virgil stayed around our house, living like a king, for a little over two years. Then one day he just didn’t come when we called and we never saw him again.
That was many years ago, but my neighbors still talk about it. I often overhear bits and pieces of their conversations..... talking about.....".the Shephards.......squirrels.......Virgil.......nuts......."
-Ed
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Update Prayer List for Lou Palomba
By Jerry Gaudet
Betty (Rose Templeton) Palomba shares with us concern for husband Lou's present health situation. We have an opportunity to lift Lou and Betty through this ordeal. We have this contact information for them:
Betty and Lou Palomba
2633 Richardson Dr., Morrocroft Apt. B2
Charlotte, NC 28211-3346
Email brpalomba@hotmail.com
This email
From: Betty Rose Palomba
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2011 8:24 PM
Subject: Lou's operation
"As most of you know Lou went into the hospital this a.m. for a hernia operation. The anesthetist was preparing him and noticed something very unusual about his lungs and stopped everything. It seems that both lungs are filled with gunk and solids. They put him on oxygen and started scraping the lungs. He was put in ICU and induced sleep for most of the day.
Several xrays were made of the lungs during the day hoping things would improve enough to take out the breathing tube but the last one at 6:00 was still showing problems and they will induce steep tonight and retake xrays in the morning. He is not able to talk but did ask a few questions by writing them.
His first quesiton was "am I going to die". We assured him that things will turn around and he will get well. Thedoctors are very disturbed about his lungs and will be doing quiite a bit of testing. I have no idea when he will come home.
If you would be good enough to keep him in your prayers I know he will feel the strength of all of his friends. At this time I am asking that NO One go to the hospital to visit him. Tony is staying with me and will stay at the hospital until this is over. Of course Chris will be coming also. Unfortunately only 2 people can be in ICU at a time
This all sounds pretty bad, and it is, but we are fortunate he was scheduled for the hernia operation because the doctor said he could have had a spell at home and it would have "taken him".
Once again luck was on our side.
- Betty"
Keep in mind that Betty has requested that NO ONE go to the hospital at this time to visit Lou!
-Ed
Betty (Rose Templeton) Palomba shares with us concern for husband Lou's present health situation. We have an opportunity to lift Lou and Betty through this ordeal. We have this contact information for them:
Betty and Lou Palomba
2633 Richardson Dr., Morrocroft Apt. B2
Charlotte, NC 28211-3346
Email brpalomba@hotmail.com
This email
From: Betty Rose Palomba
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2011 8:24 PM
Subject: Lou's operation
"As most of you know Lou went into the hospital this a.m. for a hernia operation. The anesthetist was preparing him and noticed something very unusual about his lungs and stopped everything. It seems that both lungs are filled with gunk and solids. They put him on oxygen and started scraping the lungs. He was put in ICU and induced sleep for most of the day.
Several xrays were made of the lungs during the day hoping things would improve enough to take out the breathing tube but the last one at 6:00 was still showing problems and they will induce steep tonight and retake xrays in the morning. He is not able to talk but did ask a few questions by writing them.
His first quesiton was "am I going to die". We assured him that things will turn around and he will get well. Thedoctors are very disturbed about his lungs and will be doing quiite a bit of testing. I have no idea when he will come home.
If you would be good enough to keep him in your prayers I know he will feel the strength of all of his friends. At this time I am asking that NO One go to the hospital to visit him. Tony is staying with me and will stay at the hospital until this is over. Of course Chris will be coming also. Unfortunately only 2 people can be in ICU at a time
This all sounds pretty bad, and it is, but we are fortunate he was scheduled for the hernia operation because the doctor said he could have had a spell at home and it would have "taken him".
Once again luck was on our side.
- Betty"
Keep in mind that Betty has requested that NO ONE go to the hospital at this time to visit Lou!
-Ed
Monday, January 31, 2011
"...but stay away from the liquor cabinet"
 |
| "Broadcast House" |
It was tough work, but someone had to do it.
I got a call from the receptionist downstairs who informed me that there was a gentleman and his son in the lobby who wanted to “tour the station”....and did I want to take the time to show them around.
As you know, I’m a sucker for that kind of thing because not too many years before, I had been the one asking stations in Charlotte to let me look around. And they had all been very kind to me.
 | ||
| Duke Struck (later NFL director) |
I had forgotten all about that when one day a year or so later, I got a call from downstairs informing me that there was a man in the lobby asking to see me.
My visitor turned out to be the minister to whom I had given the station tour that Saturday afternoon.
He asked if we could talk privately, so I took him up to my office, where he showed me a matchbook with the President of the United States’ Seal on it.
 |
| White House Matchbook |
(This was getting weirder and weirder!)
He said that for the past year he had been working with the President's brother who was also living in the White House.
I said that I didn’t know that the President had a brother!
And certainly not one who was living in the White House.
“Very few people do,” he said.
“His name is Sam Houston Johnson and he is Lyndon Johnson’s younger brother.......and I have been working with him daily...helping him to overcome his alcohol addiction.”
 |
| President Johnson and brother |
He went on the tell me that the brother had made great progress; so much so that the President felt that it was time for his brother to be introduced to the public.
My minister friend had suggested that the morning TV show that I was hosting at the time would be a good place to do it.......and he said the President had agreed.
Of course, I said yes.
But the show never happened. Apparently, another reporter discovered the secret brother and broke the story, which forced the White House to respond sooner than they wanted, which negated the need for the planned introduction on my show.
Frankly, I was relieved.
The national “exposure” would have been a nice feather in my cap (unless I had asked really dumb questions) but there was at least a 50/50 chance that Lyndon Johnson might not be pleased with the way I handled the interview and little old Eddie Myers, former Elizabeth School patrol boy and CHS graduate, could very easily have found himself on the President of the United States' enemies list.
Whew!
Another close call. -Ed
(Samuel Houston Johnson (January 31, 1914-December 11, 1978) was the younger brother of President Lyndon B. Johnson.
According to the internet, he was notorious for getting drunk and then talking to the press. Eventually, the Secret Service put him under surveillance. He died of lung cancer at 64, at the same age his brother was at his death. Sam wrote the book My Brother Lyndon after LBJ left the White House.)
Friday came early this week
Even though I'm almost completely retired now, Mondays still seem like MONDAYS to me.
But, there are exceptions. Like today for example!
Two things turned this Monday morning into a "Friday" kind of day for me:
First, there was a nice note from Mitzi complimenting me on a couple of stories I wrote, then I received this email from Frank Clontz, class of '55:
"As I sit at my wife's computer early every morning because the two in my office are too far away from the TV News and it's usually colder in there. I click on Mozilla and my first stop is the Charlotte Observer because I’ve lived here most of my life. Next, I click on the Miami Herald as I lived there five years, leaving Charlotte in the middle of the 5th grade and returning in the middle of the 9th grade.
Those years were spent recovering from the Polio I had at a younger age. After reading the Miami Herald, I go to the Asheville Citizen's Times to check on events in Western North Carolina as my current wife of 53 years is from Swain County, and the Asheville paper usually carries major events from there.
Then, I go to your website and find that it is more enjoyable to read, not only because most hometown papers have lost the "Home-Town" flavor years ago and only report crime, crooked politics, and city payouts for lawsuits against the police and reprint articles from the New York Times, Washington Post and anywhere else McClatchy either owns or can buy articles on the cheap.
Your website continues to brighten my mornings and keeps me informed of those that I knew and loved so very much from the class of 54 and lets me know of any loss of the members of your class as many moved away from the area very soon after growing their wings, ending up all across the US and many other places around the world.
So many in the class of 54’ were so great and helpful to me at a time, as a young man with remnants of having had polio some years earlier, found it difficult to make friends due to my insecurity, however, you and many others were there to help and share your time and energy with me. One good example was Harry Joyner helping me learn to speak Spanish as we made short time-lapsed film in his dad’s garage as he was beginning his venture into the world of movie making and there are many others that were a great help, including you during your stint at WGIV doing remote broadcast from Parker-Garner Music Store, allowing me to play piano over the great airwaves of the past. Others of the class of 54 were my mentors and many, my dream girls.
As we grow just a little bit older and a little less important to the world around us, it is comforting to be able to stay informed of the well being of those we knew many years ago. With that in mind, we look to the future and the continued ability to log on the chs54 for up-to-date events of the great class of Central High School, Class of 1954"
Frank Clontz
Class of 55'
I remember those radio remotes at Parker Gardner very well. I was supposed to ad lib interviews with customers in the store. Most of them didn't want to talk to me....and frankly, those that did found that I ran out of questions rather quickly......at which point I would say "...back to you, Frank for another tune."
Many years, and many broadcasts later, there were still times during interviews when the "interviewee" was answering my questions with "yes" or "no"...... I would think to myself, "Where are you Frank, now that I need you again?" -Ed
But, there are exceptions. Like today for example!
Two things turned this Monday morning into a "Friday" kind of day for me:
First, there was a nice note from Mitzi complimenting me on a couple of stories I wrote, then I received this email from Frank Clontz, class of '55:
"As I sit at my wife's computer early every morning because the two in my office are too far away from the TV News and it's usually colder in there. I click on Mozilla and my first stop is the Charlotte Observer because I’ve lived here most of my life. Next, I click on the Miami Herald as I lived there five years, leaving Charlotte in the middle of the 5th grade and returning in the middle of the 9th grade.
Those years were spent recovering from the Polio I had at a younger age. After reading the Miami Herald, I go to the Asheville Citizen's Times to check on events in Western North Carolina as my current wife of 53 years is from Swain County, and the Asheville paper usually carries major events from there.
Then, I go to your website and find that it is more enjoyable to read, not only because most hometown papers have lost the "Home-Town" flavor years ago and only report crime, crooked politics, and city payouts for lawsuits against the police and reprint articles from the New York Times, Washington Post and anywhere else McClatchy either owns or can buy articles on the cheap.
Your website continues to brighten my mornings and keeps me informed of those that I knew and loved so very much from the class of 54 and lets me know of any loss of the members of your class as many moved away from the area very soon after growing their wings, ending up all across the US and many other places around the world.
So many in the class of 54’ were so great and helpful to me at a time, as a young man with remnants of having had polio some years earlier, found it difficult to make friends due to my insecurity, however, you and many others were there to help and share your time and energy with me. One good example was Harry Joyner helping me learn to speak Spanish as we made short time-lapsed film in his dad’s garage as he was beginning his venture into the world of movie making and there are many others that were a great help, including you during your stint at WGIV doing remote broadcast from Parker-Garner Music Store, allowing me to play piano over the great airwaves of the past. Others of the class of 54 were my mentors and many, my dream girls.
As we grow just a little bit older and a little less important to the world around us, it is comforting to be able to stay informed of the well being of those we knew many years ago. With that in mind, we look to the future and the continued ability to log on the chs54 for up-to-date events of the great class of Central High School, Class of 1954"
Frank Clontz
Class of 55'
I remember those radio remotes at Parker Gardner very well. I was supposed to ad lib interviews with customers in the store. Most of them didn't want to talk to me....and frankly, those that did found that I ran out of questions rather quickly......at which point I would say "...back to you, Frank for another tune."
Many years, and many broadcasts later, there were still times during interviews when the "interviewee" was answering my questions with "yes" or "no"...... I would think to myself, "Where are you Frank, now that I need you again?" -Ed
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
"Enter and sign in please"
In 1964 Somebody at CBS happened to notice that there were two Lee Shephards doing TV weathercasts on two different stations, one in Washington and one in Detroit.
When the network game show people heard of this they immediately started looking for a third one.........so that we could all appear on “To Tell the Truth.”
If you remember, that was the show where three contestants all claimed to be .....somebody.......but only ONE of them was telling the truth. They contacted me and asked if I would be willing to appear on the show.
I jumped at the chance.....mainly because it would allow me to finally meet my hero, superman! aka/Bud Collyer, who was the voice of the radio Superman in the 1940's.
The idea was that after the questioning by the panel, Bud Collyer would say, and now, “Will the real Lee Shephard please stand up!”
And all three of us would stand.
Great idea. The only thing wrong was they couldn’t find another Lee Shephard who was on TV.
But they still thought that two people, both doing the same thing (TV weather casting at the time) might be a good gimmick for another one of their shows, WHAT'S MY LINE.
So, on a Sunday night in April 1964, I found myself at 254 West 54th Street in New York backstage at CBS studio 52 waiting to be a small part of a show that for many years had been “the last bit of freedom” that I enjoyed before a new week of school began.
I met the other Lee Shephard who was very personable as were the other guests, all of whom seemed pretty ordinary, like me.
There was only one person backstage who seemed a bit strange. I say that because she arrived with her hair in curlers. But even stranger than that was that she had brought her hairdresser with her......and he followed her around ...doing hairdresser stuff....while she flitted about talking with the producer and his assistants. I figured that she must be part of the show, although I was sure she wasn’t Arlene Francis or Dorothy Kilgallen.
I tried not to stare.
As you probably recall, the panelists on the show were only allowed to ask questions that could be answered with a yes, or no. So, there was nothing much we contestants could do to screw up unless we happened to bump into the wall of the set and knock it down or something.
That was another thing. That set looked so good on TV, but in reality, it would never have been allowed to be used in one of the plays at CHS because of its flimsiness. When I signed in, I tried not to press too hard on the blackboard.
So between answering “yes” and “no”......and trying not to bump into the wall of the set...my 15 minutes of fame went off OK. The panel guessed us pretty quickly, but the host, John Daly turned the cards over anyway.....and awarded us the grand prize which was $50.
Backstage again, I noticed that the mystery woman in the hair curlers wasn’t there anymore.
But the hairdresser was. He was standing there staring at the TV monitor looking very pleased.
The mystery woman.....turned out to be the “Mystery Guest.”
And not a hair out of place.
Incidentally, I don't believe they ever did send me that 50 bucks.
Maybe they found out that my real name wasn't Lee Shephard.
-Ed
When the network game show people heard of this they immediately started looking for a third one.........so that we could all appear on “To Tell the Truth.”
If you remember, that was the show where three contestants all claimed to be .....somebody.......but only ONE of them was telling the truth. They contacted me and asked if I would be willing to appear on the show.I jumped at the chance.....mainly because it would allow me to finally meet my hero, superman! aka/Bud Collyer, who was the voice of the radio Superman in the 1940's.
The idea was that after the questioning by the panel, Bud Collyer would say, and now, “Will the real Lee Shephard please stand up!”
And all three of us would stand.
Great idea. The only thing wrong was they couldn’t find another Lee Shephard who was on TV.
But they still thought that two people, both doing the same thing (TV weather casting at the time) might be a good gimmick for another one of their shows, WHAT'S MY LINE.
I met the other Lee Shephard who was very personable as were the other guests, all of whom seemed pretty ordinary, like me.
There was only one person backstage who seemed a bit strange. I say that because she arrived with her hair in curlers. But even stranger than that was that she had brought her hairdresser with her......and he followed her around ...doing hairdresser stuff....while she flitted about talking with the producer and his assistants. I figured that she must be part of the show, although I was sure she wasn’t Arlene Francis or Dorothy Kilgallen.
I tried not to stare.
That was another thing. That set looked so good on TV, but in reality, it would never have been allowed to be used in one of the plays at CHS because of its flimsiness. When I signed in, I tried not to press too hard on the blackboard.So between answering “yes” and “no”......and trying not to bump into the wall of the set...my 15 minutes of fame went off OK. The panel guessed us pretty quickly, but the host, John Daly turned the cards over anyway.....and awarded us the grand prize which was $50.
Backstage again, I noticed that the mystery woman in the hair curlers wasn’t there anymore.
But the hairdresser was. He was standing there staring at the TV monitor looking very pleased.
The mystery woman.....turned out to be the “Mystery Guest.”
And not a hair out of place.
Incidentally, I don't believe they ever did send me that 50 bucks.
Maybe they found out that my real name wasn't Lee Shephard.
-Ed
Monday, January 24, 2011
Re-gifting
Take a look.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
"Duke's"
There was no place in Charlotte like it.
There’s no place In Washington like it either, anymore..
But for 44 years, everyone who was anyone went there hoping to be recognized and greeted by a man once described as looking like Ben Franklin impersonating a bookie.
Duke Zeibert was the owner of a legendary restaurant by the same name in downtown Washington. It was the home of the “power lunch” before that term was even coined.
He filled his restaurant with Washington’s most powerful movers and shakers through his back slapping personality, phenomenal memory (he never forgot a name) and shrewd flattery
Every President from Harry Truman to Gerald Ford ate there as well as lawyers, senators, lobbyists, quarterbacks, coaches and columnists. Later, The Redskins’ Super Bowl trophies were on display in the lobby of the restaurant.
When I arrived in Washington and worked for WTOP-TV (CBS) in 1961, Duke's was located at Connecticut Ave and L street, only four blocks from the White House.
One truism in the TV business is that it was impossible not to make a lot of money in the 50’s and 60’s if you owned a TV station that was a CBS affiliate. (WBTV in Charlotte was a good example.)
The same was true, not in terms of money, but in recognizability, as far as local TV announcers/newscasters/weathermen were concerned. Washington had only four TV stations during those years. Charlotte had only two.(One, for most of the '50s)
This hit home with me (a nobody compared to the power elite in Washington) when I walked into Duke Zeiberts for the first time and was greeted loudly by the Duke himself: “Why It’s Lee Shephard! Good to see you Lee, come right this way.”
That was, as they say, “a pretty heady wine.”
Needless to say, Duke Zeiberts became my favorite restaurant.
Yeah, I knew it was meaningless flattery. I was never really fooled by it.
But damn, it felt good!
So good, in fact, I couldn’t resist wanting to let some of my old Charlotte buddies in on what my life “in the big time” was like.
The opportunity came when one of my oldest friends and CHS classmates, Jimmy Weller, arrived in town for a business meeting.
He was free one night for dinner, so guess where I took him!
Yep.
The restaurant was pretty busy that night and as we went in I kept looking for Duke.....but didn’t see him anywhere! It would be just my luck for him to be off on the very night that I was trying to impress Jimmy.
But as we got to the head of the line, I breathed a sigh of relief as I spotted Duke coming out of the kitchen and walking toward us with his hand raised high signaling Jimmy and me to follow him.....and in his customary loud voice,
“Come this way.......so good to see you....Tony!”
Jimmy was too kind to laugh.
And it was little consolation knowing that I had just joined a very small club of people whose names the Duke had failed to remember.
I never did have much success “Showing off."
-Ed
There’s no place In Washington like it either, anymore..
 |
| Duke Zeibert |
But for 44 years, everyone who was anyone went there hoping to be recognized and greeted by a man once described as looking like Ben Franklin impersonating a bookie.
Duke Zeibert was the owner of a legendary restaurant by the same name in downtown Washington. It was the home of the “power lunch” before that term was even coined.
He filled his restaurant with Washington’s most powerful movers and shakers through his back slapping personality, phenomenal memory (he never forgot a name) and shrewd flattery
Every President from Harry Truman to Gerald Ford ate there as well as lawyers, senators, lobbyists, quarterbacks, coaches and columnists. Later, The Redskins’ Super Bowl trophies were on display in the lobby of the restaurant.
When I arrived in Washington and worked for WTOP-TV (CBS) in 1961, Duke's was located at Connecticut Ave and L street, only four blocks from the White House.
One truism in the TV business is that it was impossible not to make a lot of money in the 50’s and 60’s if you owned a TV station that was a CBS affiliate. (WBTV in Charlotte was a good example.)
The same was true, not in terms of money, but in recognizability, as far as local TV announcers/newscasters/weathermen were concerned. Washington had only four TV stations during those years. Charlotte had only two.(One, for most of the '50s)
This hit home with me (a nobody compared to the power elite in Washington) when I walked into Duke Zeiberts for the first time and was greeted loudly by the Duke himself: “Why It’s Lee Shephard! Good to see you Lee, come right this way.”
That was, as they say, “a pretty heady wine.”
Needless to say, Duke Zeiberts became my favorite restaurant.
Yeah, I knew it was meaningless flattery. I was never really fooled by it.
But damn, it felt good!
So good, in fact, I couldn’t resist wanting to let some of my old Charlotte buddies in on what my life “in the big time” was like.
 |
| Jimmy Weller |
The opportunity came when one of my oldest friends and CHS classmates, Jimmy Weller, arrived in town for a business meeting.
He was free one night for dinner, so guess where I took him!
Yep.
The restaurant was pretty busy that night and as we went in I kept looking for Duke.....but didn’t see him anywhere! It would be just my luck for him to be off on the very night that I was trying to impress Jimmy.
But as we got to the head of the line, I breathed a sigh of relief as I spotted Duke coming out of the kitchen and walking toward us with his hand raised high signaling Jimmy and me to follow him.....and in his customary loud voice,
“Come this way.......so good to see you....Tony!”
Jimmy was too kind to laugh.
And it was little consolation knowing that I had just joined a very small club of people whose names the Duke had failed to remember.
I never did have much success “Showing off."
-Ed
Monday, January 17, 2011
One More...
I was pleased to receive a couple of very nice comments regarding the story I wrote about my wife's great, great grandfather, Sydney Davis.
That’s all the encouragement I needed to offer one more incident from those 2,000 handwritten pages handed down “ from attic to attic.”
It’s obvious that the Civil War dictated that he spend 5 years of his young life as a soldier, because he was anything but a “natural” warrior. But, as a writer, he was excellent.
His schooling was minimal; eight grades in a one room schoolhouse near Pittsburgh.
His letters to publishers......AND rejection slips....were found with his Civil War manuscript.
His notes reek with disappointment as his desire to be a published author was rejected time and time again.
Nevertheless, I digress.
In his manuscript he describes an incident about the time he was sent on a detail to find meat for some of his men:
By and by, I came upon a flock of sheep, to which I gave chase. I was rather fleet of foot and kept close to them and driving them into fence corners and over all sorts of obstructions.
Finally, one of them, made an effort to jump through a fence but became fastened, and I caught it.
Out came my knife and I felt for its throat; while thus engaged, however, I felt its heart beat wildly against my leg. “Poor old fellow,” thought I, “how hard it must be for even an animal to yield up its innocent life!”
I hesitated, I put down my hand and stroked its head; and then, returning my knife to my pocket, dismissed the sheep with my blessing.
Did the creature really understand me? It really seemed loath to go away, and instead of appearing frightened followed me all around that field.
Usually, I am not of a superstitious temperament, but there was something about that animal that made me uneasy. It was bound to be about my legs, rubbing its head against me whenever I permitted it to do so.
At last curious thoughts came into my head. Those solitudes which surrounded me…the hour of the night…the groups of dead that I had seen on fields of battle now rising in imagination about me…that sheep and his actions…..were too much for me.
I turned my face towards camp, and traveled faster than usual until I saw the lights of its myriad fires.
The foraging expedition was a failure that night.
The last I saw of that sheep was after I had crossed the fence out of the field. I looked back after I had traveled about two rods, and there he was, mounted on his hind feet, and with his fore feet upon the upper rail, and his white head up in the air, and his eyes peering after me.
If I make it to Heaven some day, I’m going to look Sydney up and let him know that it took a while, but his manuscript was finally published!
On the CHS54 website!
Then I guess I’ll spend the rest of eternity trying to explain to him what a website is. -Ed
 |
| Sydney Davis |
It’s obvious that the Civil War dictated that he spend 5 years of his young life as a soldier, because he was anything but a “natural” warrior. But, as a writer, he was excellent.
His schooling was minimal; eight grades in a one room schoolhouse near Pittsburgh.
His letters to publishers......AND rejection slips....were found with his Civil War manuscript.
His notes reek with disappointment as his desire to be a published author was rejected time and time again.
Nevertheless, I digress.
In his manuscript he describes an incident about the time he was sent on a detail to find meat for some of his men:
By and by, I came upon a flock of sheep, to which I gave chase. I was rather fleet of foot and kept close to them and driving them into fence corners and over all sorts of obstructions.
Finally, one of them, made an effort to jump through a fence but became fastened, and I caught it.
Out came my knife and I felt for its throat; while thus engaged, however, I felt its heart beat wildly against my leg. “Poor old fellow,” thought I, “how hard it must be for even an animal to yield up its innocent life!”
I hesitated, I put down my hand and stroked its head; and then, returning my knife to my pocket, dismissed the sheep with my blessing.
Did the creature really understand me? It really seemed loath to go away, and instead of appearing frightened followed me all around that field.
Usually, I am not of a superstitious temperament, but there was something about that animal that made me uneasy. It was bound to be about my legs, rubbing its head against me whenever I permitted it to do so.
At last curious thoughts came into my head. Those solitudes which surrounded me…the hour of the night…the groups of dead that I had seen on fields of battle now rising in imagination about me…that sheep and his actions…..were too much for me.
I turned my face towards camp, and traveled faster than usual until I saw the lights of its myriad fires.
The foraging expedition was a failure that night.The last I saw of that sheep was after I had crossed the fence out of the field. I looked back after I had traveled about two rods, and there he was, mounted on his hind feet, and with his fore feet upon the upper rail, and his white head up in the air, and his eyes peering after me.
If I make it to Heaven some day, I’m going to look Sydney up and let him know that it took a while, but his manuscript was finally published!
On the CHS54 website!
Then I guess I’ll spend the rest of eternity trying to explain to him what a website is. -Ed
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Jim Regehr's Mom Passes
By Jerry Gaudet
Sympathies to Jim Regehr, CHS'53, and wife, Sylvia (Arnold), CHS'54, in the passing of his mother.
They can be contacted at:
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Regehr
306 Greenbay Rd.
Mooresville, NC 28117
Email sylviaregehr@yahoo.com
Virginia Alfeld Regehr
MOORESVILLE -- Virginia Regehr, 95, of Mooresville, passed away on Wednesday, January 12, 2011. She was born on April 2, 1947 in St. Louis, MO. She moved to Oklahoma City in 1934 with her husband, Jake Regehr, where she lived until 1947. Jake, a claims adjuster with State Farm Mutual, was transferred to Charlotte in 1947. Virginia and Jake lived in Charlotte until 1962, raising two sons, James and Robert, who both graduated from Central High School. Jake and Virginia then moved to Gallup, NM, where they founded Regehr Adjustment Company. Upon retiring in 1975, they moved back to Charlotte to be with family and friends. Jake died in 1994.
Virginia is survived by her two sons, James Regehr of Mooresville, Robert Regehr of Albuequeque, NM; grandchildren, Virginia Barrett, Kelly Denhart, James Regehr, Jr. and Robert Regehr, Jr.; great-grandchildren, Kyle Pope, Kendall Pope, Laura Denhart, Haley Denhart, and Victoria Regehr; niece and special friend, Carol Murphy of St. Louis; also special friends, Nancy McCorkle and Ramalda Aman.
Those who knew Virginia knew that she was everyone's friend, asked nothing for herself, and loved to do all that she could for her family and those that she knew. She was a gift to all who were lucky enough to know her and be apart of her family.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, January 15 from 2:00-4:00 PM at Cavin-Cook Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Genesis Eldercare Residence Council Trust Fund, 550 Glenwood Drive, Mooresville, NC 28115.
Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, Mooresville, is serving the Regehr family. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.
Published in Charlotte Observer on January 13, 2011
Sympathies to Jim Regehr, CHS'53, and wife, Sylvia (Arnold), CHS'54, in the passing of his mother.
They can be contacted at:
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Regehr
306 Greenbay Rd.
Mooresville, NC 28117
Email sylviaregehr@yahoo.com
Virginia Alfeld Regehr
MOORESVILLE -- Virginia Regehr, 95, of Mooresville, passed away on Wednesday, January 12, 2011. She was born on April 2, 1947 in St. Louis, MO. She moved to Oklahoma City in 1934 with her husband, Jake Regehr, where she lived until 1947. Jake, a claims adjuster with State Farm Mutual, was transferred to Charlotte in 1947. Virginia and Jake lived in Charlotte until 1962, raising two sons, James and Robert, who both graduated from Central High School. Jake and Virginia then moved to Gallup, NM, where they founded Regehr Adjustment Company. Upon retiring in 1975, they moved back to Charlotte to be with family and friends. Jake died in 1994.
Virginia is survived by her two sons, James Regehr of Mooresville, Robert Regehr of Albuequeque, NM; grandchildren, Virginia Barrett, Kelly Denhart, James Regehr, Jr. and Robert Regehr, Jr.; great-grandchildren, Kyle Pope, Kendall Pope, Laura Denhart, Haley Denhart, and Victoria Regehr; niece and special friend, Carol Murphy of St. Louis; also special friends, Nancy McCorkle and Ramalda Aman.
Those who knew Virginia knew that she was everyone's friend, asked nothing for herself, and loved to do all that she could for her family and those that she knew. She was a gift to all who were lucky enough to know her and be apart of her family.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, January 15 from 2:00-4:00 PM at Cavin-Cook Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Genesis Eldercare Residence Council Trust Fund, 550 Glenwood Drive, Mooresville, NC 28115.
Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, Mooresville, is serving the Regehr family. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.
Published in Charlotte Observer on January 13, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Frank Harton Passes
By Jerry Gaudet
With sadness, we learn of the passing of former Central High School teacher Frank Harton, who taught Physics and Aeronautics. His daughter, Robin, is married to classmate Bob Ellis.
They can be contacted:
Robin and Bob Ellis
14019 Phillips Rd.
Matthews, NC 28105-3022
Email bcentral1954@yahoo.com
Frank Norville Harton
'Teacher'
Mr. Harton, 85, of Charlotte died Monday, January 10, 2011 at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, NC.
Frank was born in Toledo, OH February 16, 1925, son of the late Leslie and Lillie Clark Harton.Mr. Harton was a US Navy veteran of WWII and following his tour of duty, he attended University of Southern California and received his Master's Degree from UNC Chapel Hill.
Prior to his retirement, Frank taught physics in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System for over 30 years. Also, he owned and operated Harton Oil Company. He was a Master Mason and Past Master of Temple Lodge and an active member of VFW Post 1160. He enjoyed reading books, watching movies, travel, especially his frequent trips to Las Vegas, time at the beach, family, and his dog Lucky. In December of 1953 and 1955, he and Nelle adopted their daughters, providing them a home full of love.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Harton was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Nelle Simmons Harton, and his brother, Robert Harton.
Survivors include his daughters, Susan Graham and husband, Dewey of Charlotte, NC and Robin Ellis and husband, Bob of Matthews, NC; granddaughters, Beverly Mackey, Alison Turnbaugh and husband, Nick and Kelli Hines and husband, Davis; great-grandchildren, David and Danielle Hines, Adison, Morgan and Tyler Turnbaugh and Noah Davis.
Funeral service for Mr. Harton will be held 2:00 PM Friday, January 14, 2011 in the Chapel of Hankins and Whittington Funeral Service with the family receiving friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to VFW Post 1160, 1917 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205.
Arrangements are in the care of Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service, 1111 East Blvd. Please share condolences online at www.hankinsandwhittington.com.
Published in Charlotte Observer on January 13, 2011
 |
| Frank Harton |
They can be contacted:
Robin and Bob Ellis
14019 Phillips Rd.
Matthews, NC 28105-3022
Email bcentral1954@yahoo.com
Frank Norville Harton
'Teacher'
Mr. Harton, 85, of Charlotte died Monday, January 10, 2011 at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, NC.
Frank was born in Toledo, OH February 16, 1925, son of the late Leslie and Lillie Clark Harton.Mr. Harton was a US Navy veteran of WWII and following his tour of duty, he attended University of Southern California and received his Master's Degree from UNC Chapel Hill.
Prior to his retirement, Frank taught physics in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System for over 30 years. Also, he owned and operated Harton Oil Company. He was a Master Mason and Past Master of Temple Lodge and an active member of VFW Post 1160. He enjoyed reading books, watching movies, travel, especially his frequent trips to Las Vegas, time at the beach, family, and his dog Lucky. In December of 1953 and 1955, he and Nelle adopted their daughters, providing them a home full of love.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Harton was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Nelle Simmons Harton, and his brother, Robert Harton.
Survivors include his daughters, Susan Graham and husband, Dewey of Charlotte, NC and Robin Ellis and husband, Bob of Matthews, NC; granddaughters, Beverly Mackey, Alison Turnbaugh and husband, Nick and Kelli Hines and husband, Davis; great-grandchildren, David and Danielle Hines, Adison, Morgan and Tyler Turnbaugh and Noah Davis.
Funeral service for Mr. Harton will be held 2:00 PM Friday, January 14, 2011 in the Chapel of Hankins and Whittington Funeral Service with the family receiving friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to VFW Post 1160, 1917 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205.
Arrangements are in the care of Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service, 1111 East Blvd. Please share condolences online at www.hankinsandwhittington.com.
Published in Charlotte Observer on January 13, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
A Common Soldier
Finally, someone shook off the dust, took the twine from around the 2,000 handwritten pages, and started reading what the man who was considered the patriarch of the large Davis family had written.
My wife’s mother was named after him. But she hated the name because most people considered Sydney to be a man’s name; and she was right.
 |
| Sydney Davis |
He served in the 6th U.S. Cavalry during the Civil War. He was in the battles of Manassas, Brandy Station, Antietam, and Gettysburg among others.
But what first got my attention was his initiation under fire:
 |
| Sydney Davis |
Leesburg Turnpike.
We had reached a point some 4 miles from Falls Church and near Tyson’s corners when a dip in the road permitted me to look over the heads of the men in front and far up the road. As I did so, my eyes caught sight of three men, dressed in grey, sitting on their horses about a half mile off, on the pike beyond us…”
They were Confederate snipers and came very close to causing those 2000 pages never to have been written; to say nothing of what it would have done to the present day Davis families.
It happened about 3 blocks from where my house is now!
And, of course, there’s always the possibility that it was one of MY ancestors who was shooting at him!
But, that’s probably stretching it a little too far
.
I grew up hearing a lot of stories about those damn Yankee soldiers and their horrible treatment of southerners, particularly in South Carolina where my people were from. Stealing food was one of the most common complaints. I’m sure there were many instances of that, and worse.. Reconstruction was an awful time in this country’s history.
Sydney Davis called himself “a common soldier.” But his words tell a different story.
As a cavalryman conducting mainly scouting and picket duty, He was often hungry, sometimes not eating for days, riding through the southern countryside, but would always courteously ask the residents of the farmhouses if they had any food that they would sell him, and he always paid them accordingly.
On several occasions, he discovered poor families who were in dire need of food themselves, and he would return and share with them what he was able to buy from nearby farms.
He was captured at the battle of Gettysburg and marched along with Lee’s retreating Army back to Virginia. The prisoners were loaded onto “cars” (the train) at Staunton, VA for their final destination: Castle Thunder at Belle Isle, right outside Richmond. (Castle Thunder was originally a tobacco warehouse that had been converted into a POW camp.)
”The ride from Gordonsville to Richmond was devoid of interest. There seemed to be an endless monotony of pine forests and lonely fields. Few words were spoken that night. The men were utterly exhausted from want of food and water and being crowded together so long without a chance to straighten their limbs in sleep.
I managed to secure a seat on the end of a car beside one of the guards…a tall, lean, lank man, 45 or 50 years of age, with long reddish hair and whiskers…and was as comfortable as circumstances would permit.
About midnight I felt the guard lean heavily upon me, and from his hand slipped the dreaded musket. As it fell I seized it, and thus prevented its loss. The man was sound asleep. My first impulse, now that I had an enemy in my power, was to push him off suddenly between the cars, and have him crushed to death; but it occurred to me that such an act would simply constitute a cowardly murder; then the vision of a family in tears rose vividly before me.
I awakened him, gave him his gun, and cautioned him playfully as to his duty as a soldier. He seemed very grateful, and said he was completely worn out from fatigue. For a few moments he sat up, and then settled back again sound asleep, and I once more caught the gun as it fell.
I allowed him to sleep until we reached Richmond, just before dawn, when I aroused him.”
Sydney Davis spent 3 months in the Confederate prison at Belle Isle, after which he was swapped back to the North. He was in the last group of prisoners to be swapped from Castle Thunder. The rest were sent to the notorious Andersonville prison.
Then, because of a government paperwork snafu, Davis was held prisoner by the Yankees for four more months.
 |
| Unknown Union Calvary Soldier at Antietam |
To his disappointment there were no takers. My guess is that not enough years had passed by then for the public to be interested in reading about such recent events.. The only books that were in demand were by Generals, not privates.
Davis was a good man. A patriotic man. He never knew his mother, but discovered accidentally while in service that she had sold him when he was very young for $35... and he had grown up as an indentured servant.... to a kind man whom he had always thought of as only a friend of his father.
But, a “common” soldier?
Nope.
-Ed
Monday, January 10, 2011
Tuesday's LDL CANCELLED
Cancellation notice:
Because of ice and snow conditions,
Tuesday's (January 11) "LDL" is being CANCELLED.
We hope to see you on Tuesday, February 8.
Friday, January 7, 2011
A good way to begin
Start the New Year with a CHS'54 Lunch!
By Jerry Gaudet
But first, a report on our December "Special Project"...
Here's the message we received from Mary Burnett from the Avante Center where our Shirley spent her final days:
From: Mary Burnett
Subject: Re: CHS'54, Christmas gifts honoring Shirley
... "I didn't know what to expect when I suggested collecting Christmas gifts for Avante in Shirley's memory. The response was overwhelming. It just proves that our generation has a big collective heart, expecially if they attended Central High School... Heather, the activites director, was appreciative of our contributions to their Christmas. Maybe we could do something else for Avante later - or for someone or some group."
Spread the word! Invite other classmates to come! Even better, bring someone with you! Be sure YOU, come!
This link may help you find your way:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=Jimmie%27s,+Mint+Hill,+NC&fb=1&cid=18354106434370977171&li=lmd&z=14&t=m
For answers to any conceivable lunch questions, please contact Mary (Sue Banks) Burnett, marysburnett@yahoo.com
Plan to join us...there's plenty of room. And...you'll be glad you did!
Here are a couple of snapshots from last month:
Some of the gifts for Avante really are shown below
Ready for Christmas! L to R, Mamie Goodwin Baucom, Betty Rose Templeton Palomba, Sandra Lineberger Patterson & Jackie Hart Lookabill.
By Jerry Gaudet
But first, a report on our December "Special Project"...
Here's the message we received from Mary Burnett from the Avante Center where our Shirley spent her final days:
From: Mary Burnett
Subject: Re: CHS'54, Christmas gifts honoring Shirley
... "I didn't know what to expect when I suggested collecting Christmas gifts for Avante in Shirley's memory. The response was overwhelming. It just proves that our generation has a big collective heart, expecially if they attended Central High School... Heather, the activites director, was appreciative of our contributions to their Christmas. Maybe we could do something else for Avante later - or for someone or some group."
This month's "LDL" (Let's do lunch) will be held on
Tuesday, January 11, 2011, 11:30 AM
at "Jimmies" in Mint Hill.
Spread the word! Invite other classmates to come! Even better, bring someone with you! Be sure YOU, come!This link may help you find your way:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=Jimmie%27s,+Mint+Hill,+NC&fb=1&cid=18354106434370977171&li=lmd&z=14&t=m
For answers to any conceivable lunch questions, please contact Mary (Sue Banks) Burnett, marysburnett@yahoo.com
Plan to join us...there's plenty of room. And...you'll be glad you did!
Here are a couple of snapshots from last month:
Some of the gifts for Avante really are shown below
Ready for Christmas! L to R, Mamie Goodwin Baucom, Betty Rose Templeton Palomba, Sandra Lineberger Patterson & Jackie Hart Lookabill.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Peggy and Buck Anderson's Daughter
By Jerry Gaudet
It is with great sympathy that we have just learned of the passing of Peggy and Buck (Eldon) Anderson's daughter, Trena, on December 30. We understand Trena was diagnosed with lung cancer (though a non-smoker) in April. Peggy and Buck had also lost a son, Todd, many years ago when he was but 6 years old.
We have the following contact information:
Peggy and Buck Anderson
145 Sheehan Rd.
Fletcher, NC 28732
Email justintime4A@aol.com
Trena Mae Anderson Barishnikov, 43
Published: Friday, December 31, 2010 at 8:58 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, December 31, 2010 at 8:58 a.m.
FLETCHER — Trena Mae Anderson Barishnikov, 43, of Fletcher went to be with the Lord on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010, at the Elizabeth House in Flat Rock.
A lifelong resident of Fletcher, she was the daughter of Eldon and Peggy Ann Fletcher Anderson of Fletcher. She was preceded in death by her brother, Todd Anderson.
She was a 1986 graduate of West Henderson High School and earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Gardner-Webb University. She was employed by Four Seasons Compassion for Life as a RN case manager and, together with her husband Dema, was a co-founder and co-pastor of Destiny Christian Fellowship in Brevard. Passionate about mission work, she had served in many areas of the world, including Trinidad, Russia, Jamaica, Cuba and Ukraine. Known for her beautiful singing voice, she enjoyed singing for the Lord.
In addition to her parents, she is survived by her husband, Dema Barishnikov of Fletcher; her sister, Tonya Allison and husband, John, and her nephew, Andrew, all of Hendersonville; and her beloved mother-in-law, Olga Barishnikov of Fletcher.
A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Fletcher First Baptist Church with the Rev. Michael Brown officiating. Burial will be private. The family will receive friends from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Destiny Christian Fellowship in memory of Trena Barishnikov, c/o the Mission Fund, 240 Greenville Highway, Brevard, NC 28712.
It is with great sympathy that we have just learned of the passing of Peggy and Buck (Eldon) Anderson's daughter, Trena, on December 30. We understand Trena was diagnosed with lung cancer (though a non-smoker) in April. Peggy and Buck had also lost a son, Todd, many years ago when he was but 6 years old.
We have the following contact information:
Peggy and Buck Anderson
145 Sheehan Rd.
Fletcher, NC 28732
Email justintime4A@aol.com
Trena Mae Anderson Barishnikov, 43
Published: Friday, December 31, 2010 at 8:58 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, December 31, 2010 at 8:58 a.m.
FLETCHER — Trena Mae Anderson Barishnikov, 43, of Fletcher went to be with the Lord on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010, at the Elizabeth House in Flat Rock.
A lifelong resident of Fletcher, she was the daughter of Eldon and Peggy Ann Fletcher Anderson of Fletcher. She was preceded in death by her brother, Todd Anderson.
She was a 1986 graduate of West Henderson High School and earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Gardner-Webb University. She was employed by Four Seasons Compassion for Life as a RN case manager and, together with her husband Dema, was a co-founder and co-pastor of Destiny Christian Fellowship in Brevard. Passionate about mission work, she had served in many areas of the world, including Trinidad, Russia, Jamaica, Cuba and Ukraine. Known for her beautiful singing voice, she enjoyed singing for the Lord.
In addition to her parents, she is survived by her husband, Dema Barishnikov of Fletcher; her sister, Tonya Allison and husband, John, and her nephew, Andrew, all of Hendersonville; and her beloved mother-in-law, Olga Barishnikov of Fletcher.
A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Fletcher First Baptist Church with the Rev. Michael Brown officiating. Burial will be private. The family will receive friends from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Destiny Christian Fellowship in memory of Trena Barishnikov, c/o the Mission Fund, 240 Greenville Highway, Brevard, NC 28712.
"...and all the ships at sea"
Nothing pushes my memory buttons like Christmas music.
As soon as the days turn cool and I first hear the strains of White Christmas, Silent Night, or any of those old familiar tunes, I melt like butter in a hot frying pan and get lost in thoughts of those wonderful days growing up in Charlotte.
I suppose there have been a number of Christmas songs written since 1954, but I don't know of many, and frankly, none of them have the same effect on me as those we listened to in the 40's and 50's.
With one exception.
In 1961 I was fortunate enough to get hired by one of the leading radio and TV stations in the country, WTOP radio and TV in Washington, DC.
One of my first assignments was as a DJ on their late night radio show. Back then we "jocks" picked our own music and the only restriction was that we NOT play anything considered to be "Rock and Roll." People have forgotten how controversial that music was back then.
Now, the hours (nor the audience) weren't great (11pm til 2am) but I was thrilled to have that show! For one thing, WTOP radio was as powerful as AM stations were allowed to be: 50,000 watts!
WBT is also a 50 thousand watt "blowtorch" and it comes in like a local station from Florida to Maine....at night.
So, I thought, my Mom and my Charlotte friends should have no trouble hearing me!
Unfortunately, that was not the case. All 50 thousand watt stations are not the same. The frequency (number on the dial) of the station also determines the direction of the signal. It didn't take too long for me to realize that WTOP's signal was very strong north of Washington (all the way to Maine) but almost non-existent south of DC.
Letters from my listeners came from places like Delaware, Connecticut, new Jersey,
Massachusetts AND a surprising number came from ships at sea! (Which gives new meaning to Walter Winchell's signature introduction, "Good Evening Mr. and Mrs. America and all the ships at sea, let's go to press.")
I also had a fairly large number of requests from listeners who asked to visit the studio in person while the show was in progress.
That was kind of a pain in the rear, but most of the time I said yes. After all, as a young "radio wanna be" myself, I had made similar requests of announcers and DJ's and had always been treated kindly. (Gil Stamper, Alan Newcomb, JB Clark, Johnny Surratt, and John Trimble...may they rest in peace.)
I did that show for a number of years and I can still remember a few of those guests. One was a young boy from Mystic Seaport Connecticut who regularly drove down on weekends just to see the show. I later learned that he had indeed landed a job as news director at a radio station in Connecticut.
Then there was a Puerto Rican kid from New Jersey one time who brought a friend with him, who didn't give a darn about watching me play records, but was there just to help his buddy, who was blind.
My New Jersey "fan" told me how important radio was to him. He said he spent most of his time in his room listening to music on the radio and practicing the guitar.
In fact, he said he had just made a record.
Which he just happened to have with him....and would be honored if I would play it on the air.
Oh boy.
I knew it wasn't going to be the kind of music that I featured on my show, but I listened to it anyway.
I was right.
The name of the song was of all things, "High Heel Sneakers." And it was definitely rock and roll.
I suppose the right thing to do would be to explain the station's policy against playing rock and roll records and refuse to play it.
On the other hand, here was this nice, handicapped high school dropout who already had so many strikes against him and had made such an effort to visit me, that I just didn't have the heart to say no.
So, I played his record on the air. (Hoping all the time that my boss had already gone to sleep and only the ships at sea were still listening.)
Anyway, that made him very happy and he said he was grateful.
I believe him, because a few years after that, Jose started sending me (and everyone else) a musical card .....wishing us a Merry Christmas.
Or as they say in Puerto Rico, FELIZ NAVIDAD
-Ed
As soon as the days turn cool and I first hear the strains of White Christmas, Silent Night, or any of those old familiar tunes, I melt like butter in a hot frying pan and get lost in thoughts of those wonderful days growing up in Charlotte.
I suppose there have been a number of Christmas songs written since 1954, but I don't know of many, and frankly, none of them have the same effect on me as those we listened to in the 40's and 50's.
With one exception.
In 1961 I was fortunate enough to get hired by one of the leading radio and TV stations in the country, WTOP radio and TV in Washington, DC.
 |
| Wash Post Ad |
One of my first assignments was as a DJ on their late night radio show. Back then we "jocks" picked our own music and the only restriction was that we NOT play anything considered to be "Rock and Roll." People have forgotten how controversial that music was back then.
Now, the hours (nor the audience) weren't great (11pm til 2am) but I was thrilled to have that show! For one thing, WTOP radio was as powerful as AM stations were allowed to be: 50,000 watts!
 |
| WTOP Radio Transmitter Building |
 |
| WBT Towers |
WBT is also a 50 thousand watt "blowtorch" and it comes in like a local station from Florida to Maine....at night.
So, I thought, my Mom and my Charlotte friends should have no trouble hearing me!
Unfortunately, that was not the case. All 50 thousand watt stations are not the same. The frequency (number on the dial) of the station also determines the direction of the signal. It didn't take too long for me to realize that WTOP's signal was very strong north of Washington (all the way to Maine) but almost non-existent south of DC.
Letters from my listeners came from places like Delaware, Connecticut, new Jersey,
Massachusetts AND a surprising number came from ships at sea! (Which gives new meaning to Walter Winchell's signature introduction, "Good Evening Mr. and Mrs. America and all the ships at sea, let's go to press.")
I also had a fairly large number of requests from listeners who asked to visit the studio in person while the show was in progress.
 |
| Johnny Surratt WGIV |
 |
| Alan Newcomb WBT |
That was kind of a pain in the rear, but most of the time I said yes. After all, as a young "radio wanna be" myself, I had made similar requests of announcers and DJ's and had always been treated kindly. (Gil Stamper, Alan Newcomb, JB Clark, Johnny Surratt, and John Trimble...may they rest in peace.)
 |
| Gil Stamper WBT |
 |
| J.B.Clark |
I did that show for a number of years and I can still remember a few of those guests. One was a young boy from Mystic Seaport Connecticut who regularly drove down on weekends just to see the show. I later learned that he had indeed landed a job as news director at a radio station in Connecticut.
Then there was a Puerto Rican kid from New Jersey one time who brought a friend with him, who didn't give a darn about watching me play records, but was there just to help his buddy, who was blind.
My New Jersey "fan" told me how important radio was to him. He said he spent most of his time in his room listening to music on the radio and practicing the guitar.
In fact, he said he had just made a record.
Which he just happened to have with him....and would be honored if I would play it on the air.
Oh boy.
I knew it wasn't going to be the kind of music that I featured on my show, but I listened to it anyway.
I was right.
The name of the song was of all things, "High Heel Sneakers." And it was definitely rock and roll.
I suppose the right thing to do would be to explain the station's policy against playing rock and roll records and refuse to play it.
On the other hand, here was this nice, handicapped high school dropout who already had so many strikes against him and had made such an effort to visit me, that I just didn't have the heart to say no.
So, I played his record on the air. (Hoping all the time that my boss had already gone to sleep and only the ships at sea were still listening.)
Anyway, that made him very happy and he said he was grateful.
I believe him, because a few years after that, Jose started sending me (and everyone else) a musical card .....wishing us a Merry Christmas.
Or as they say in Puerto Rico, FELIZ NAVIDAD
-Ed
 |
| Jose Feliciano |
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