Are You a Looky-Loo...?

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You'll Be "Glad" You Did!

John Landess

Wow, another memory I don't have! Never once went to the pool in the park. Usually had a job keeping me busy. Did do a little dog-paddling in the Berrenda, and a few late swims at the Country Club in the water hazards, collecting resale balls. Also spent a few Saturdays at the Navajo Motel "helping" clean the pool with Mike and Roy, and sometimes the Rounds boys....

BTW... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL US LUCKY JULY-IANS

Saundra Bennett (Whiteside)

Rex, that was you dive bombing all the girls?  Well I’ll be....I should have known!  I do remember spending time at the Cahoon Park pool during summers when I was in junior high.  Although I could never get enough nerve to dive off the high dive, I did have fun jumping from it.  It is sad to me to see some of the important landmarks of our youth leveled.  It still seems very strange to drive by Union and 2nd and see the empty lot where the Plaza Shopping Center used to be.  My mom had the Beauty Salon on the back side.  The old airport is gone, and now the pool.  😢

Rex Booth

Saundra,

I’m sure I missed a couple of chicks with the high dive water bombing but didn’t miss many misses or have any near-misses.  ha

Cahoon Park Swimming Pool is where a lot of kids like myself learned to swim (ages 8-10).  I mowed lawns during the summer age 11-13.  I mowed Bill Purdy’s lawn every week. Mr. Purdy’s house was on west 3^rd  just behind Plaza Shopping Center where Saundra’s Mom’s Beauty Salon was located, and just across the street from Linda & Diane Dumas.  Cahoon Park Pool became the high points of the week after mowing lawns.  Had a paper route age 14-15.  My route covered Michigan to Montana and College to 10^th.St. so wouldn’t ya know it, the Cahoon Pool was just right down the hill!  Sophomore through Senior year worked at Mack’s Camera.  Did I mention I worked at Mack’s?  Saturdays after work… you guessed it!!  Many times the pool would stay open on weekends till 9 PM with music playing over the loudspeakers.  I remember one really romantic song ‘Over the Rainbow’ was a favorite.  T’was a very nice social setting to meet others from North South, East, and RHS.  Me thinks the girls at North were the best swimmers and yes, best kissers.  Well OK, sometimes it was a tie.  Remember the girs who used baby oil and iodine to get the best dark tans!  Then there was always Britt Lake in the evening at Bottomless Lakes.  Cahoon had the best deal in town.  25-35 cents all day.  I hear the new Rec center charges 5.00 entrance plus 18.00 to rent an indoor pool lap lane for 30 minutes.  Ain’t progress wonderful...

Bill Leggett

Mad Magazine to largely stop publishing new content, end newsstand sales: reports

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Don Ervin

When I was nine years old I used to  go to the pool.  I would go up on the high dive with Richard Caywood.  I would get on his back and then he would do a one and half forward flip.. He was my hero and I thought he was the best athlete in the world.

Pat Sullins (Carpenter)

Don, that would have scared me to death but bet it was lots of fun!  I always went with Queda and Rita Watson to the pool.  We JUMPED off the high dive and that was quite a feat for us. Always had a BIG HUNK after swimming and, boy, was it yummy!

John Allensworth

Happy Days John, hope you get to catch a really big one.

Rex Booth

El Juan aka  Nonookie 'o the North,

Fergit goin' way up north to Ah'll-ask-her.  Get over to the Kentucky River real Quick!!  One of Jim Beam warehouses had a huge fire with a loss of well over 45,000 barrels of aging brew.  Some locals claim the fire was started by 'white' lightening during a storm. Seriously, there is a flood of bourbon flowing into the Kentucky River.  Leave yer fishing rod or bait at home.  Just reach down and scoop up bucket-fulls of 'inebriated' fish. Now, if each barrel holds approximately 53 gallons, one could venture to say the amount could be well over 11,000,000 bottles of bourbon (.75 liters each).  Better hurry before any fish kill happens!  Bet yer smackin' yer lips thinkin' how good them-thar fish marinated in bourbon will taste on your Birthday today.  Cheers!  But tell us how does it feel for a 45 year old man to be trapped in a 75 year old body…?   

https://www.apnews.com/a5f382c5eff7430eb3f6fdc7b47bce6a

John Landess

Thanks to all for the kind words.......

Rex, now if them fish had been marinated in Black Jack, that would have been something, Beam might be a tad harsh... also you had it backwards, a 75 year old trapped in a 45 body! But I have to be honest. My last check up, the doc said I wuz in good shape for a man in his 50's. When I corrected him, he started a study of my genes and good habits!!! so no more 45  

I received an email from this site saying that I needed to update my profile, and tell all my classmates about anything exciting in my life... So here goes:

While in Hawaii recently, I met a nice Asian lady, and we tied the knot. I have adopted her 7 children and given them all american names. I named three of them Rex, one of which is a boy. I have just ordered a Dodge Hellcat for her to take them to school, and a Maserati Ghibli for myself to run to the store. As soon as we get two nannies, we will be leaving on an around the world cruise and................. I am just JOSHING! I would not want anyone to think I am just a July-ar!!!

The most exciting thing here in Alaska, is setting outside in the 90 DEGREE heat, drinking a cold one, and swatting skeeters with a electric tennis racket type thing! zap!!

ciao

Fred Miller

Happiest of Birthdays, John L.   Hope the fish were good to you today.

Rex Booth

El Juan,

Dis be da 'Massage' center.  So if ya wanna post yer 'Juliar' stuff, do it on yer 'profile' page.  Since you tried to pull a one-up-manship with yer Black-Jack Jive, I take everything back that I said. How 'bout a 15 year old mind trapped in a 75 year old bod.  Which is what rot-gut Black Jack does to yer mind. So what have you got on... your mind?  And no more Norm's  'Buffalo' theories...

Happy B Day... in spite of it all!

Mettie Cummins

Hope it was a good Birthday, John - keep on catching those fish. 

Don Ervin

The School is Mark Howell.  Located on College between N. Lea and N. Washinton.  Students:  Me, Roy and Henry Allen. John Allenworth, Billy Greenhaw, Jerrry Floyd, Verlon Miller, Kay Schrimsher, Mary Jo Veatch, Bernard Crawford. Ardist Allen and a bunch more

Mettie Cummins

I went to Mark Howell, too until they made us go to a temporary school on the East side before Military Heights opened & I went there in the 6th grade

John Landess

The fish have been behaving themselves this week and staying in the river. But now that the temps are back in the 70's rather than high 80's and even a day of 91, I may go back to calling them in with my secret fish whistle.

In the meantime, I watched 'American Graffiti' (where were you in '62?) again, and it occured to me that I don't remember that much action in Roswell. Then again, I wasn't there in '62, AND in the movie they didn't have the base.  So maybe... then I was wondering who in the movie, all you guys might associate yourselves with?

Steve (with the cool Chevy), Curt (the thinker), John (hottest car in town), Joe (head of the Pharaohs), Bob Falfa (the challenger), or Toad.

Ladies, you can get into this also...........Laurie (so in love), Debbie (the girl all the guys dreamed of), Judy (the hopeful car-hop), or the secret blond in the T-Bird. (Surely not Wendy, the girl in love with her teacher!!!!)

Hey, this sounds like a contest... Maybe our leader can set up a score board! This may be more fun than cleaning salmon...

btw, I believe I attended Mark Howell for a couple of months, during the years of being in a nomadic family.

Rex Booth

El Juan,

Yer idear bout 'th  'Where the heck were you in '62'  is a good one.  To answer yer questions bout action in Roswell... El Juan you musta lived a protected life.  The movie '62 made by Gerorge Lucas based on his youth was shot in his hometown Modesto, Ca.  The action in Modesto was ultra-tame in comparison to the wild-wooly action of Roswell 1960- 64.  There were plenty of options:  Dragging Main from Greers to Wylies in search of a date, looking for older guys from the GDA missle sites to buy us beer or any kind 'o white lightnin', hassle the rooty-toots, rumbles with fly-boys or Artesia stomps.  You missed the big rumble at Greers with the fly-boys. It made West Side Story look like a church dance with all the knives, chains, brass nucks, baseball bats that showed up at Greer's.  When Granny showed up with that 'four- foot long' flashlite of her's, it ran most of us off.... Ah yes, drag racing on a marked strip on west Pine Lodge Road. It all started at Greer's.  Someone would mouth-off, make a wager, and off to the races we'd go with trays flying off car windows, and a duststrorm from those hot cars peeling out from Greer's.  Some big money races were for the pink slip of each other's cars.  One night a guy from Artesia tried to renig on his bet. A buddy of mine had a '61 Chevy pickup with a 15 inch tire strapped to the front grill. He pushed this stomp almost half-way back to Artesia causing him to fish-tail into a bar ditich. And yes there were fisticuffs and a bloody nose which resulted in a signed pink slip.  Lets give respectos not forget those from Li'l Chihuahua in southeast Roswell. One low-rider was sideswiping and banging his '52 Chibee into another couple's car going up Main. When the guy with his date stopped at the light at College, Six of them jumped out and started beating the couple's windows with tire irons.  We pulled up behind them, jumped out, chased and caught two unlucky ones near Malco refinery.  Then there were fights after Friday night dances at the Youth Center.  Think it was 1960, Jerry Lee Lewis played at the old National Guard Armory behind the Roswell Daily Record.  Turley, myself and a few others came out of the dance.  Words were said with another group of six.  We started chasing them down the alley. Then good ole Sammy Vaughn sped up and started running way ahead of us.  After awhile we got tired of running and stopped.  We could see Sammy in the distant still chasing after these six guys.  A minute or so, Sammy was running back towards us.  This time with six chasing Sammy!!  Turley always embellished and told the story much better.  Notice I've left out the more violent stuff... like murders, assaults, and arson. The leader of the Pharaohs (Bo Hopkins) was a cream-puff compared to Roswell's  'CRAZY Joe' Van!  You left out the most important one in the flick!  The radio disc-jockey "Wolfman Jack"!  Here's ones for ya to ask:  What was Wolfman Jack's favorite treat?  Who was the Mystery Lady in the white '57 T-Bird?  Who was the actor that drove the gray '55 Chevy that crashed during the drag race?  So what were you doing in Alaska in '62.... pickin' up 'Inuit' teenie boppers with yer souped-up snow sled ...?  

John Landess

WOWEE!!! Rex, I guess compared to you and your posse, I did lead a sheltered life. I hung out with George DeShurley, Johnny Perry, and Ross Casarez.. and though we didn't hide out, seems we missed most of the action. My other buds were Mike Ingram, Roy Mackay, and the Rounds boys and things were even quieter with them.

I didn't Mention the Wolfman as I did not figure anyone identified with him. As to your other questions, I am assuming they were for others, as I, of course, know all the answers!

As for me in '62, I went to school (West Anchorage) 1/2 day (split schedule until a second high school was built, East), hitch-hiked in my army surplus parka and mukluks downtown where I worked 6 hours everyday. Then hitch-hiked home at night, which was much fun when it was 30  or more below. So not a lot of party time, though there was a few! I'll tell about the home brewed Everclear in another episode!

Saundra Bennett (Whiteside)

Dang, Rex!  It’s a wonder you made it to adulthood.  You surely lived up to the name, Wild Bill!

Rex Booth

El Juan,

Don't know about the "posse" bit.  I tried not to go out looking for trouble but I never shied away from it, if it came right down to brass tax.  I'm sure there are many others who attended RHS whom have had or witnessed similar experiences.  I don't claim to have the corner on the market in this arena. 

T'wud be interesting though for more to chime in on the "What you did in 1962".  Come on ladies, tell us about some of your wild good time escapades...!   

Saundra,

Seriously, It's a wonder I survived East L.A. and  Watts in August 1965.... And Yup, Roswell IS generally tame compared to Los Angeles... the City of "Angels". Thank gawd I moved to Northern Cal where all the college kids were into "Peace & Love". Come to think .  It's a miracle I made it out of Santa Cruz. 

John Landess

HMMM, Once again after a Wild Bill (aka recks) episode, the site goes mum!

Is this from shock and awe, or is everyone trying to think up a topper?

Ladies, maybe you could think up something to smooth out things. (not you Saundra, you just encourage him!)

Rex Booth

Johnny,

That's Missouri Avenue grade school.  Construction was completed 1951.  We went  the first semester of first grade in the basement of the old 3 story school while construction on the new school was going on.  The 2nd semester found us in the new single story school.  Some students included: Charlotte Adams, Bubbles Lankford, Ann Stockton, Lynn Snipes, Linda Ingram,  Patricia Hundley, Kay Price, Richard Watts, and Moi.  If I left anyone out, post your name and grab some recognition!  If one looks closely, MIssouri Avenue and Washington Avenue have pretty much the same construction and floor plan and using the same light yellow bricks. Washington Ave being built a year or two earlier. 

One year while vacationing and visiting Mom in Roswell,  I drove by Missouri Avenue school.  I was very surprised to see the school building was gone and a 'park' was now in it's place.  If you look catty-corner across the street you'll see another two-story dark brick building with a high security fenced entrance.  This third school was built on the previous park which had very high long metal slides and great swings back in the 1940's for our Deming Street gang.  So why the switch.  City of Roswell's Finest...?

El Juan,

Be careful...  Didja fergit Saundra IS  Annee Oakley?  If you get her riled, she just may take her shootin' irons and blast yer suspenders buttons til yer pants fall off !!  And if Annee feels generous she may shoot off the laces to yer snow-shoes as well... then shoot at yer feet 'til you do the 'St. Vitus' dance!!  Word to the wise Podnah.  ~ W.B.

Paula Carl (Cowee Miller)

I was in that first class at Missouri Ave also. Mrs Buchanan was my teacher. Thanks for the information, Rex. I too was sad when in Roswell years ago and realized that “our” school had been demolished. Awww. Progress. 

Rex Booth

Paula,

You mentioned Mrs. Buchanan was your teacher.  Mrs. Ludlow taught our first grade class. She was kind, patient, and fun. We enjoyed her teaching methods. Washington Avenue school is still in use and was built before Missouri Avenue.  Does anyone know why Miissouri Ave was torn down and a new two story built at the old park? This present school looks more like a juvenile detention center...

Saundra Bennett (Whiteside)

Rex aka Wild Bill,

Oh my...I’m in shock!  That’s the fust tahme yo’ve comlimented mah shahp shootin’ skills! Thank you, Ah think. El Juan,  lucky for you, it takes a lot to get me riled!  Now, Wild Bill, on the othah hand....(?)  😬

~ Saundra aka Annee Okee

Rex Booth

Harvey,

The picture of the young ladies was taken at the beginning of our Junior year.  It's in our Junior yearbook in the "RHS Life" section with the page heading "August Registration".  Picture is top left.  Hope this helps.