99 – Richland School, East Peoria
Information about the Richland Bottoms and specifically Richland School is hard to come by. The only reference that I could find to Richland School is a TopoZone map identifying it as an historical item.
Until I learn more, I’m going to theorize that the great 1943 Flood is possibly what did this school in.
A 2005 Peoria Journal Star article, in reference to rebuilding of the East Peoria Levee had this to say:
“In May 1943, the Illinois River reached a level of 28.8 feet, the highest in Peoria’s history. At the time, industrial plants were working three shifts to meet government demands for World War II supplies.
Some plants had to shut down, and hundreds of men and women working on government contracts were laid off. Floods covered railroad tracks, and roads washed away.
More than 1,000 men worked day and night stacking sandbags along the levee which nearly broke several times. An estimated 250 families moved out of the East Peoria Richland area in fear the levee and dikes would not hold.”
UPDATE 1/2/2007 : I tried, but my theory is way off base. According to two commenters, the school was open into the 1970’s.ÂÂ
November 4th, 2006 at 11:35 pm
I’ll take a stab at this. The old St. Pat’s school. My second guess is Webster school.
November 6th, 2006 at 1:27 pm
Three strikes and you’re out?
November 6th, 2006 at 2:57 pm
What Glen Oak School will look like in a few years?
November 9th, 2006 at 4:12 pm
How about the Catholic School across from Blaine Sumner School.
November 9th, 2006 at 5:20 pm
No, but I’ll have to check that out
I give hints if asked.
November 9th, 2006 at 6:37 pm
I know you do, but what fun is that! Is it the school in East Peoria down by Cat? I get to keep guessing since no one else is.
November 10th, 2006 at 12:33 am
I think this is the old building across from Blaine-Sumner. Is the community outreach ministry still planned for these buildings? I’ve always been curious as to why they haven’t been demolished.
November 13th, 2006 at 2:26 pm
The Richland School was still in use at least into the late 1960’s. I have vague memories of going there for some reason while I was in high school. It is also on a Peoria map I have that is from about 1970. There is no mention of it on the East Peoria School district web site.
November 14th, 2006 at 2:32 pm
Well, that blows my theory out of the water (no pun intended).
December 8th, 2006 at 7:43 am
jonny391
January 1st, 2007 at 9:51 pm
Richland school closed in the early or mid seventies, due to declining enrollment & the shift away from neighborhood schools. It stands empty today.
January 22nd, 2007 at 11:39 pm
Richland school was one of the happiest memories of my growing years. I went from kindergarten thru eighth grade there. There were some of the most wonderful teachers ever. And in my mind only one bad apple, far as teachers go. The area known as the bottoms was one of the most close knit neighborhoods in the united states back in the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. There was not a door a child could knock on that the person who answered didn’t know them by their first name and that child didn’t feel safe. What a shame that it has become what it has and that they didn’t do something constructive with that old school that was once so full of life.
February 4th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I remeber playing kickball there when I was going to school there and losing multiple balls in the barbed wire fence that lined cat parking lot
August 25th, 2008 at 1:35 am
The Richland school was still open in 1948 when I started 1st grade. I was there 5 years so know it open after that for a while.
January 19th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
This is DEFINETLEY and ABSOLUTELY , NO QUESTION!! Richland School, located on Globe Street in East Peoria Illinois in the shadow of Caterpillar , l know because l attended it from 1st grade through 8th grade in the 50’s and 60’s .
Where are all you old River-Rats at ?? We can not all be dead ?? How can they wipe this school off the records like it never existed when it was a second home to many of us and some of our children for so many many years ?? Where are the old teachers ?? Speak up , PLEASE !! ln this new age of cyber info how does something like this happen ?? Mr. Segrest, Mrs. Euronis, Mrs. Bolby , Mr. Widenradt, Miss Kennedy { First girls PE teacher in early 60’s } where are you all at ?? SPEAK UP ! Past students , speak up !! Memories like we all shared are precious and should not be lost ! Find out what happened , contribute what you know . Come on ! Your kids and grandkids need to know now , more than ever, that such a place existed and could again ! BRING RICHLAND School back ! At the very least get it on the school history data ! Why is it being erased as though it never existed ?? lt could not be from shame , unless the few who are shamed by their having attended it have that kind of power , because there are just too many of us who were proud to have attended it and known the fine teacher’s and staff { a shout out to Mrs. Schaefer and Mrs, French , to name a couple of the fine “lunch-room-ladies ” { best home cookin ever ! …mr. Denny our long time care-taker etc. } and all the wonderfull boys and girls who shared the experience . Have l jogged a few memories ? l hope so!
Guys ! Come on ! ACTION
March 9th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
I was just reading my mother in law’s 1974 East Peoria Community High School yearbook, and there’s a little section that has news tidbits from around East Peoria during that time period. One of the notes from that section involved the closing of the Richland school to increase the integrity of the surrounding schools or something like that. Anyways so I’m guessing that means that Richland school was closed sometime in late 73 or early 74.
March 21st, 2009 at 1:45 am
Oh my goodness, I was just thinking of my childhood and immediately thought of Richland School. I also had Miss Euronis, Miss Sercowitch, Mrs. Ballard. These teachers were the greatest. Mr. Bunell was the principle while I was there. He was so cool, we all thought he was a secret pirate. If memory serves me right he had a hook hand and wore an eye patch.
One of my favorite times was running through the tunnel to and from school. I remember standing on the stage there putting on the school plays and getting our school pictures taken. Then that dreadful day came that they announced they were closing the school. We had to start riding the bus to LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. It was considered the rich kid school. I hated that and school was never the same for me again.
One girl made my life HELL and always made fun us all that came from the BOTTOMS. I do hope we can keep the memories alive too. Does anyone remember Monty who lived by the school who always came out to wave at us? I believe he was involved in an accident when he was younger. Helfridge maybe was the last name? Fun times.
April 19th, 2009 at 11:15 am
i’ve heard about that tunnel, is it still there? where did it start and end?
April 27th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
I can’t remember the names of the streets but I have fun memories if that tunnel.
April 28th, 2009 at 9:08 am
My mom, Julia Helferich, was one of 12 kids who grew up across the street from the tunnel. As a kid visiting my grandparents (Millie & Al), my mom would walk us over to the Richland School grounds and tell us stories. My grandmother was the librarian at Richland School for years and my uncle Monty is the one who used to come out to wave at the kids. (Monty has CP and he still lives in the house across the street from the tunnel with another uncle.)
I’ve met Mrs. Serkowitz at various family functions over the years. She loved that school as much as the kids loved her, for sure.
I know that my mom would love to talk Richland School with others who remember. If you want to contact me via email, I would be happy to pass your info along to her. And if you weren’t Julia’s age, maybe you remember Judy, Lynda, Gayle, Kathy, Bettie, Brenda, Mary, Bill, Larry or Gary Helferich? Please feel free to get in touch: aschneider@mbmcompany.com
April 28th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Not only did I attend Richland School from 1947 until 1954 several of my nieces and nephews also attended. Mrs. Serkowich became almost like a part of our family. I didn’t have her for 2nd grade (Mrs Yuronis) but I helped out in her classroom. She taught there until the school closed. (The city is now is the process of tearing it down) For year rumors were around that Caterpillar would purchase and tear it down for a parking lot.
The old Caterpillar Union Hall was across the street where dances were held for Union Members and occasionally teen dances on a Friday night.
It is now deserted also. For years I have been trying to locate kids who grew up as River Rats.
About 7 or 8 years ago, Mrs Serkowich sponsered a get together at the East Peoria Park District for Richland students. I met several old friends and many that I don’t remember.
I also remember how safe everyone felt in that area. We were all rather poor but didn’t know any different until we went to HighSchool and were told that we were the “poor River Rats”
The flood mentioned didn’t do much harm to the school. We were living on Sanford Street at the time and had to leave for a week. My dad didn’t work at Caterpillar but at Herschels across the way.
Does anyone remember Spesias Grocery Store and old Charlie who worked at the candy counter.
I so appreciate my kids tracking this site down and would love to correspond with any of you. Julie
When I look back Richland has nothing but happy memories for me. High school years were different and even with our 50th class reunion coming up, I have no desire to go back there,
May 24th, 2009 at 7:55 am
i to remember my dats at richland.it is a sad site to now when we go down to the family home.it was a sad time when they closed the school.i was uot of there by then but can remember when they closed.the teachers were the best ever and even anyone else who worked there.montie is my brotherwho would always wave at everyone.he still in the the family house and still waves at who he sees.i do wish somemore people see this and reply with info.
May 31st, 2009 at 4:09 pm
I’m another one the the Helferich’s and was in the last 6th grade class at Richland. 7th and 8th grade moved to the junior high school at that time. The school is on Globe St. We lived on Maple St. Of course my favorite teacher was Miss Serkowich whom I had in 1st grade. She also later taught my daughter Robyn in her first grade. She was so much a member of our family as she was with many of her Richland kids. She came to some of our weddings and showers, Mom’s 70th birthday party and Monte’s 51st birthday I believe. I remember Mr. Hubbs and Mrs. Duncan, Mrs. Brooks, Mr. Ingwerson,Mrs. Blakesley. Mrs. Ballard one time telling me oh go sit down nosey Bettie-don’t remember the reason. There was a Mr. Weber. There was a music teacher one year, can’t remember the name right now but sometimes he would sing the song “Moon River” and he sounded wonderful. I’m sitting here in the family home right now. Looking at Mrs. Wyatt’s house that had to be moved when they put in the Cedar Street extension. Our brother Larry helps take care of the mowing around the union hall and our side of the tunnel. It is still there but closed off at both ends. Red Butler still lives in his house across the street from the school. Soo many memories.
May 31st, 2009 at 4:23 pm
For those who attended Richland and are commenting here, I want to thank you all for sharing your memories. Through that it lives and breathes again. I am curious though – where is this tunnel you speak of and what was its purpose?
June 1st, 2009 at 2:00 pm
I’m sure you will have several applies to your question. The tunnel was built after I had left the Richland area, but it was built to help relieve the Caterpillar traffic. At that time, as most of you know, Caterpillar was a very very busy employer. They recruited a lot of young men from the southern states and no one would ever believe that it would leave such a scar on the Peoria area when they started down sizing. The highway extension for which the tunnel was built connected to the Cedar Street Bridge. It was to allow access to Richland School but what it accomplished was to ultimately close the school and leave the Richland area abandoned.
I would love to read more responses from people who grew up in that area.
June 9th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
I went to richland school in the late 50s and 60s .I remember Mr.Weber in 8th grade and the great cooks. Mr.Hubbs.Mr Seagram,Ms.ballard and so many more.I enjoyed my time there as a river rat and I delivered the peoria journal star.I picked my papers up at the old union hall caddy corner from the school.Proud to be a river rat.The bottoms hold alot of memories for me.
June 25th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
I graduated from Central Jr High in 1955 so your time at Richland would have been before me but there is no way you wouldn’t have been to school with my brothers and sisters. Lynda would have after me and about the time you were there. Where abouts in Richland did you live?
We weren’t one of the well to do (were there any down there) but didnt really know we were poor until got to high school where we were told and that was where I first heard the Richland River Rats. Our 50th high school reunion is coming up and have no desire to go back but would love to have a reunion of people who went to Richland. Julie Helferich Branch
July 8th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
I remember this school, only from my Dad (Marty Hosbrough) telling me about it from his memories. It looks like a wonderful school and I really hope it doesn’t get torn down. They should turn it into a historical site instead of wasting all that history by turning it into rubble.
I grew up my first two years of life down in the bottoms (not counting all my family that is down there), and honestly I think by turning it into a historical site would breathe some new life into the bottoms. 
August 5th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
is this by adrenaline dance club
September 17th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Heeeyy out there all you fellow River-Rats ! l am so delighted l could scream ! Rahhh! Rah ! Richland !! Go River-Rats! Go ! My computer crashed at one point and l lost my marking for this site soon after posting my original comment in January but l am sooo glad that l did find it again . You guys keep the chain going !! Hi, all you Helfrich gals and families ! l have fond memories of you all and your Mom { sweet lady ! } . Yes, l do beleive Mrs. Serkowitz was everybodies favorite { those lucky enough to have had her as a teacher anyway anyway !
Irresponsibilitie, bigotry and circumstances closed Richland School , the building , BUT l think these postings show that they didn’t shutter the memories and spirits when they shuttered the windows and doors of our old second home ! Keep the spirit …keep in contact ! l definetly will be rechecking thia page for post . God speed and God bless all of you survivors out there . Later Taters !
September 18th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
I love this website! It’s great to remember good things. And Richland school and Richland Bottoms are good memories. As for Bettie Helferich wanting to remember the music teacher’s name, it was Mr. Sewak. He was cool, but evidently we river rats didn’t need any cultural education (haha) since he didn’t stay long. I saw Robert Bray’s name in the comments. He was in my class along with David Sweat, Doug Hosbrough, Shirley Smith(I loved her) Betty Perdue, Diane Riley and Kathy Helferich(we were real close). Some people adjusted to high school and did fine, I never seemed to fit in. I graduated mid-term my senior year and went to Arkansas on vacation and ended up getting married. I still am after 39 years! LONG TIME!!! I deserver some kind of medal, of course to be fair, so does he. It would be so cool if we could get another reunion like Mrs. Serkowitch did. I would have loved to have been at that one. I saw someone remembering Mr. Ingerson, he was such a perverted jerk to me. Remember his wife the gym teacher? She was different, of course she would have had to have been to been married to him. I would love to hear what happened to any of the ones I went to school with. I sure doesn’t seem like so many years should have passed, does it? I can remember the smell of the books and the chalkboard and the ever famous lunch room. It was such a simpler time. Life was, irregardless of what monetary means we didn’t have, very good. I wish my kids could have had the same childhood friends I had. If anyone wants to write me and relive old memories, my email address is: deanie2204@yahoo.com I would truly love to hear from you.
Julia
September 24th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
I thoroughly agree with my babysister Julia…remember “chilli-day” ? Chocolate milk { in glass! } day? Seconds ?
Pops filling station ? Old Chicago grocery? Speacies Grocery Buhlea’s Hot Dog Trailer ? The Park parades and activities ? Waiting for a group to assemble at the corner of Chicago and …well any corner and Chicago ..on a cold winter day to huddle with the rest of the way to school…or rushing home for lunch and being just a tad slower on the return to school after lunch, but knowing you better high-tail it back .. …or if you were lucky and just slow enough { but not too slow} you could catch a ride with ol Bill the retired policeman /crossguard who took pity on the stragglers on such days ! Ahhh sooo many ,many fond memories !! Weren’t we the lucky ones ?? Or not ?? l quess to have had so much and lost it is not exactly “lucky” but l sure wouldn’t trade it for coin or circumstance .Keep the posts going or drop me a line at flame2250@yahoo.com
Right On { or in this case…write on ! } River-Rat-Revelers!
September 25th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Question for Julie Helfrich; wasn’t the old guy behind the candy counter { filled l might add with a wide assortment of delicious candy , including lots of penny candy …buttons on white paper,nutty chews , bubble gum , wax soda bottles filled with sweet juice etc.ummmm} anyway , l think his name was Butch not Charlie …l do remember Ruth and Charlie Lang who ran the filling station on the corner of Chicago right beside the old fire-station { yes, there was a fire station in the “bottoms” surprise ! surprise! Along with 3 or 4 stores { remember Hammond’s,Gormans ?? }. The older guys used to work on cars at ‘Pops” as we refered to it .
Keep on posting guys !
September 27th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
I keep remembering names from my Richland days. With age comes senility. How could I have forgotten my first love from kindergarten, Jimmy Bradford or Tommy Moore and Frankie Givens? There was a Debbie Cook. And Judy Danz, who had to walk all the way from the trailer park by Steak and Shake. Can you imagine a kid doing that now? Danny Shaeffer, Vicki and Cathy Ray. What I would give to live in that time again and realize what I really had. I love to read new inserts. Keeps me feelin young. Thanks.
September 28th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Heeey! Fellow River-Rats and River-Ratees !
Infamously housed in the security of the principal’s office ..why , just the mere mention of “The Paddle” could make a bad child go good ! 
of those a little harder to convince …there was the “Super-Paddle” { professed to have had holes cut in it to make it swat harder } threatened frequently , but l never knew of anyone actually “seeing” it , mus less having made its personal or physical aquaintance! 
there were so many things to do ….meeting the other kids after school and walking { which included most , if not all of the bottoms , almost nightly , weather permitting , or NOT ! 
}
Just going to throw out there a few more names and memories hoping to jog some more shared memories { boy, do l love this ! To reminence about a “Golden-time” during these so “troubled times” . What the world needs , especially during these crazy times, is more Richland-esque neighborhoods and support systems , what a different more peaceful world it would be .
Anyone remember …”The Paddle” ??
For the few hard-core culprits { or perhaps just numbed hienies !
For the rest of the majority of rough-necks from the area for which major crimes included such heinious things as { chewing gum , talking too much ,bunch !
We really were a cross from Happy-Days and Leave it to Beaver and l am not looking back with rose colored classes ! We had our bad days , but , over-all , we had such wonderful days { l realize everyone was not lucky enough to have shared exactly my reality , a lot probably had it worse and some had it better , but we all came from similar back-grounds and most of the fathers worked at Cat or Hershalls etc. so economically no one was that much above or below the next guy { Let’s just say l never worried about getting knocked in the head for my Nikis ! …We had our “kooks and characters” BUT we all knew who they were and what to do to avoid them .
Anyone remember the Park boys? Dave , Kenny ? The transfer student from “Dow-Under” { aka; Linda Dooley } ?
Anyone remember the 7th and 8th grade field trips ??
Please keep posting !
September 28th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Boy ! Is this theraputic or what !
} the Powder Puffs ?? Girls soft-ball team combo cheer-leaders?? The Richland Raiders sweat-shirts and semi-mini skirts ?? Heeey ! There are pictures to prove it !
} Shows ?
}
Anybody remember { or were you maybe even one of “us” ?
Richland School’s infamous “Talent { or lack of !
Saturday night dances at the Legion Hall or the monthly dances at the Park Pavilion on Springfield Road ? Shout out to Jim Bevard, Richard Denny , The Regentz brothers and sisters { and cousins , Lo out to Bonnie Stosich ! } ? The Turner’s La’Vella , Judy ??
The skating rink and it’s own cast of characters ?? The Bowling Alley ?? Newel’s Cafe ?? Max’s Cafe ?? Chick’s Hot Dog/Root Beer ? Piggly Wiggly ?? Verla’s Cafe { Come on Paula , Vick and you other gals that used to sneak off grounds with me at noon to go have fries and a burger at Verla’s !! How about Pete and Mary’s , The Goose …..
Teen Center ?? Percy Newel proprioter?? Anybody remember our “up-town” { by that l mean just past the old four corners ,,Washington and Main } teen hub where a quarter got you a game of pool or several choice selections off the juke box and you could keep up to date on the regulars …Dave , Riker,Susy, Darrel, Mohair Sam ,Barb Bird , Jim Reese and the Franklin brothers, Vickie and Kathy Ray , Wanda Owens to name just a few . Plus just about any new teen in town { just happens to be where l met my signifigant other over 4 decades ago !
Come on youse guys in put will ya !
October 6th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Hi Guys , is anybody still out there ?? Seems awfully quiet on the home front again . l have something to share that I wish weren’t so . l had asked if anyone remembered the Parks boys , Kenny and David and I just found out that they both had passed { in fact David passed just a few days after I asked that question .
EAST PEORIA – David L. Parks Sr. of East Peoria passed away at 9:59 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009, at home with family by his side.
If any body would like to sign the quest book or read the complete obit here is the address http://www.legacy.com/gb2/default.aspx?bookid=6554254115073
Gee, fellow River Rats we seem to be dropping like flies !
You know, we aren’t THAT old …wonder if it was the air laden with smoke from ol CAT’s humungous puffing smoke stacks or the water poisioned by their run-offs that has brought on so many early demises??
Sorry , but I wanted to share . The rest of you hang in there , there has to be more because the music stopped befor we were through dancing . GOD bless and keep all you survivors well and in HIS palm.
October 9th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
Blah,blah,blah sounds like i’m in the menopause chat lounge,lol Thanks for breathing life back into this old man. I consider this one of my luckiest days finding this web site. I still drive by the school and stop and remember all the days and years when we were all so innocent. I still have all my report cards and school pictures. Nothing more do i wish for beside having family back, to be able to stand on the front steps and see us all as the kids we were coming back to school. they may have locked the doors and boarded it up,to keep us out but they locked our hearts and memories inside.
October 10th, 2009 at 12:14 am
The youngest of eight kids we were all born in Mom and Dads house @100 Monson street across from the Little Church in the Valley. The custodian, John Denney was my uncle. which gave me ample time to check out the lost and found box.lol Actually all us kids had already left by the time he started working there. I MADE SURE everyone new i was a Richland River Rat, if they didn’t know respect they knew fear. High school wasn’t fun i was completely lost, i knew this wasn’t going to work so i didn’t finish.
October 10th, 2009 at 12:30 am
The grocery store on the corner of Sanford and Edmund was first Hageys,then Redmans,Gormans and last it was Hazels market. Butch was the name of the old man that worked behind the counter at Speacies market. Remember the free movies every weds. night in the Goose parking lot? I did tend bar at the Goose for Joe Genusa for 10 years,then for Cliff Himmelrich moving all those houses in Richland for the Cedar street ext. and that was like a spike through the heart of Richland……SAD
October 10th, 2009 at 12:31 am
For Donna
October 10th, 2009 at 12:41 am
For Donna,
Was Joe and Lorraine Crossno your Mom and Dad? I thought the world of both of them they used to come in the Goose to see Genusa. For the Helferich kids, I love and miss you all ahhhhhhhhhhh except for that one Helferich girl i think her name was Julie who used to throw rocks and try to knock me off my motorcycle. All i wanted was to ask her for a date but she wouldn’t talk to me. Oh hi Bob lol
October 10th, 2009 at 12:52 am
If you want to take a trip down memory lane sometime just stand on the front steps of richland school and close your eyes and be real quiet listen with your Heart and you can hear your favorite teacher and the kids in the classroom, can you still hear someone walking down those marble hallways and up the stairs,if your real quiet walk through the doors out on the stage and look between the curtains and you will see the kids setting up the tables for lunch that always smelled so good. The saddest day was when school was over and we hung around and played for awhile then went our separate ways for summer.Thanks don’t forget me
October 10th, 2009 at 11:57 am
Hi Joe !
}
Bless your heart ! You have re-affirmed my faith in man-kind and the fact { though true l am post-menapausel ! lol} that l am not crazy or dillusional . You confirmed that the rose colored days l remember did exist { here , in the real world , not just my idealized minds-eye view . } Thank-you so much for that ! I could smell the lunch-room aromas and feel the anticipation on the stage when l read your blog ! Your suggestion of sitting on the steps , l have already done , BUT , not without a great deal of pain involved , it is so bitter-sweet , knowing what was and what can never be again .
Yes, Joe and Lorene were my parents { Daddy has passed , Mom is still tickin down South of the Mason/Dixon} . I adored them both too but they sent me out to get bread one day 35 years ago and when l came back they had moved ! Only joshin , but they did leave and l stayed in ” Bed-ford Falls” , aka East Peoria !
Older Bro Joe has passed in 93 { doesn’t refering to it that way sound like a real “old-timer” , instead of a young fiesty 59er, like myself ?
Baby sister Lorri passed in 96 and Daddy in 98 , so the nineties was not a good decade for me but as you can see , better than it was for my family .:-(
Julia { Dee-Dee} is still alive and kickin down South and Lil Bro Jim , but that is all that is left of our clan .
I am almost afraid to ask , but is Richard still “with” us ?
I do remember you all and you were way cool on your motor-cycle whether Julie threw rocks or not !
Please keep bloggin , it verifies our lifes and heals our souls .
Gotta run right now but I definetly will check back later .Later ,Donna
October 10th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Me again! Menapausel-Mollie !
Even a lost home-work paper could sometimes , magically it seemed,be redeemed from Mr. Denny’s afore mentioned “lost and found” box !;-) Heeeey ! It was one of the Seven wonders of Richland -Land ! ” You know there was the infamous, already mentioned in a previous post ,” Paddle” ….Mr. Denny’s Lost and Found Box ….Butch’s unclassifiable accent …help me out Mouse-ka-teers …what else ?? 
You know …rack your brain , puddin-tang …you’ll think of them { it may be 4 o’clock in the morning when you do , BUT , you WILL remember them , or probably remember a few we all forgot ! 
Hey , it really is true , we have forgotten more than most people will ever know ! 
Valentine’s Day or Christmas were NOT complete with out a special Valentine addressed especially to Mr. Denny ! Heck ! He ranked right up there with the principal {remember, you know the guy people used to respect ? 
}
He kept her heart fire’s burning{ shades of the “furnace room”} and our cold little bodies warm, making sure all the parts were running smoothly. l don’t think any of us kids thought he had another family , l think we thought he was part of ours ! 
He kept many a child’s secret about such things as “accidents” , gosh , l didn’t mean to’s etc. God Bless Mr. Denny …he sure did us .
} people think I have either a fabulous imagination or am just a step away from “One Flew Over the Coo-Coo’s Nest” ! 
I just had to add a note about Joe’s Uncle …respectfully addressed as, Mr. Denny , simply because that is how things were done “back-then” .
Mr. Denny was every child’s friend , but none more so than the child who had lost something , favorite scarf, mitten , or what-cha-ma-call-it, or was simply lost themselves !
He was one of the care-takers of our second home and hearts. He treated The Grand Ol Lady { Richland } like a Queen . We had the shiniest , cleanest marble-halls in town , which was nothing short of a Herculeon task { we were after all kids, and kids will be kids ! Dirt and all ! I am sure he thanked { NOT! } Big Cat. many days when we tracked and retracked that ol Big Cat. soot in !
Many times l have started to literally write when someone would say; “Why don’t you write a book ? ” { whether they were being sincere or snide , didn’t matter } I have enough precious memories for a novel to rival “Gone with the Wind ” . Another thing GWTW and my story would have in common is I think they would publish mine under fiction , because , until someone like Joe steps up and backs it up { shades of “Stand by Me” !
Keep on postin !
Later R.R.R.
PS ; Joe , you were right about the River-Rats being feared , if not understood , which could be a blessing or a curse depending on the circumstance !
October 10th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Hi Donna,
Richard passed away october 2005,he was still skating every Sunday night in Moline and had every since the Roller Gardens closed. Mr Denney used to sleep at the school in the winter to make sure the boiler stayed working. Sorry to hear about your family losses I know the fealing. Your mom was so pretty and your dad had the biggest smile i thought they were the greatest, tell your mom i said hi. Didn’t they move to Magazine Ar. I was just teasing about Julie Helferich we were super close freinds and i still love her haha.She married a guy named Bob that i met a few times.He was a super good guy and i was happy for them both. Always remember all the girls that came out of Richland were the smartest,cutest,loving,caring,and most of all loyal girls in East Peoria. The guys,sometimes a little WILD “lol” were the toughest best athletes we could beat anyone at baseball,basketball and football. With the Walkers and the Redmans nobody ever messed with the kids from Richland. Do you remember Sylvia “Josie” Walker she lived at 419 Sanford St. part of the Walker clan. She ownes the Goose Tavern now and her twin girls tend bar there. I hung out at Charlie and Ruth Lainges gas station alot and tried to drink all their choc. soda and their goooooooood candy bars,but mostly i hung out at Speacies market.For Julia…. Jim Bradfords daughter and our 23 year old daughter are best friends. He retired as Asst. Fire Chief a few years ago. I still see and talk to Jim Franklin. I have 3 daughters Frannie Jo 48, Lisa Jo 42 and my baby Randi Jo 23. Always remind all the kids from Richland to be proud of who they are and where they came from because there is only two kind of people in this world ,people like us and people that wanted to be like us. Joe
October 10th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Lo Again Fellow R.R.R.!
{ Do you know l do not even know whose blog this is or even really how a “blog” works , for that matter !!} My only experience,over the years has been that l started to reminence and on one of those trips down memory lane l simply typed in “Richland School ” East Peoria and all that came up was this blog asking about if someone could name the land-mark shown in the picture . I sent the site to my Lil Sis Jewel { aka Julia or DeeDee} and she wrote in on it and the rest is now history its-self , although it sure took awhile to get the fire burnin { shades of Springstine!} ! 
Like I said l am really not sure how this works but at the moment it seems to be fun and l quess the R.R.R. version of “Face-book” or “My-Space” ! 
and a whole lot cheaper than a therapist !
Yet another cast of characters and what a chunk of our lives ! l would have went every night if the folks would have let me ! As it was l managed to stay there most week-ends . I think ol Chuck D.{ excuse me the ex-mayor of this great city ! } got to know my skate size pretty well , at least until l baby-sat enough and saved my money towards getting my own skates { my pride and joy ! } I think Mom and Daddy actually bought them for me , but why deal in insignifigant details ! 
..He reminded me of a cross of Tennessee Ernie Ford and Andie Griffin ! What a combo , huh ! And what a singing voice he had ! ahhh , He and Cliff Himmelrich were good friends and l bought my first home from Cliff and Mable …seems like yesterday , but the sands of time tell me it has been more like 40 years !! 
…l agree with you the gutting of the bottoms houses for an over-pass and other such “progress” was its death-toll !! ;-( Memories ! 
ln some l look like a Richland’s version of Annette Funnicello and in others l look like Scout { from “To Kill a Mocking-bird” } …Bless mother and her ‘home-cuts ” ! 
There is one, in particular, that l would gladly buy any copies l could get my hands on and burn if l could so that no human being have to suffer from looking at such a site ! 
l tell myself the photographer was to blame and l quess that if you can have a “bad-hair” day you could also have a bad-face, bad hair day too ! 
As l happened to be the hair-dresser in that case, l quess Mom is off the hook for at least that one and God had something to do with the teen-age zit adorning my face ! { Felt like a mountain! 
} ! 
Thank God l have had better taken before and since …but that one still haunts me ! Eeeee! 
Thanks goes out once again to Joe for comming through on the bloggin !
I was sad to hear that yet anothe R.R.R. alumni, { Richard }, had passed . He did so love to skate didn’t he ? Ahhhh…the Roller Gardens !
l will thankyou for Mom’s compliment , she really was a pretty woman and most people who knew her loved her . She and Daddy were one of the younger set of parents down there. l am a little predjudice l quess , but l was always so proud of them { l always thought Daddy was handsome { don’t all little girls think there Daddy’s are ?
I have all my pictures too Joe , although l have a few l wish l didn’t have ! Definetly should have been “retakes-day” fodder !
I was glad to hear that you and the Bradfords stayed close …They lived across the street from us when we lived on Chicago and Judy and l were very good friends, school and church mates. She was a sweet girl, the whole family was . Mr. Bradford{ Austin} ,Huey, Jimmy , Mrs. Bradford{ Eileene } ,loved them all . When they moved to Spring-bay Judy and l drifted and l haven’t heard about any of them until relatively lately.
Dang , smart hill-billy , if you ask me …also a dang smart R.R.R. , Mr. Denny ! 
.
l was so glad for the updates you gave . Thankyou ! Have you or Jim { Franklin} kept in touch with Jim Ray or Donna Byrd ?? Keller ? Do any of you remember Percy’s Teen Center? Shortlived , but ever so fondly remembered ?
I have been running into Starla { used to be Raily} a lot lately and she gives me some fill ins but l have only seen her once since her Dad died last month .
Loved your advise, Joe, on having pride in having been a R.R.R. and on the two kinds of people , us , and those wanting to be like us . Put me in mind of my Dad, he used to get a lot of ribbing about having been from “Down South” { shades of Hill-billies ! } and a lot of not so nice hill-billy jokes and l imagine when he had had just about enough , he would say something to the effect , that there were only two kind of people in the world ; hill-billies and S.O.B.’s and he was sure proud to be a hill-billy !
Keep on sharing and caring
October 11th, 2009 at 10:31 am
My kids just let me know that more people have responded to this web site. My computer skills are horrible. We still have dial up so dont spend much time on the internet except for checking e-mail. Would love to hear from all of you people. Internet address is Branchray@aol.com. Highschool just had 50th class reunion but the last thing I wanted was to see that group of people again. Someone start planning a Richland school reunion. I could make several more comments from what I just read but the only one I going to make is that I never threw rocks at Joe Denney’s motorcycle. Maybe him but not his motorcycle. And sweet ole Butch at the grocery store was my buddy. I loved those years in Richland and sitting on the fire escape steps to think and dream. I brought our kids there and to the Goose. My brother Larry still lives there in our old house with Monte and sometimes I think he is the happiest of us all. I want to hear from all of you. Julie
October 11th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Just a quick clarification on my last post . I don’t want my “hill-billy” references to be misunderstood . l got to thinking some folks might not take it like l meant it . lt was just one of those replies a person makes when another person has made equally as ignorant remarks and kind of lets them know that they are waaaay out of line, and l thought it addressed a problem at the time with a Fonzie kind of cool{ aka; R.R.R. cool !
} . Heck , There are plenty of fine folk out there , hill-billy or not and the pun was not meant to infer otherwise, just addressed to whom ever was making the hill-billy jabs at that moment . l hope l didn’t offend anyone ,Gollee! Having lived ‘up North” for most of my 59 years l am as much Northern as southern even if not by birth ! Actually l think we R.R.R. were a pretty unpredudiced bunch over-all . We pretty much ” took um as they come ” , worts and all ! 
Have a good day , guys and keep on keepin on .
October 11th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
Shout out to Julie !
} ..anyway , no one needed to feel left out because there were playmates to spare ! 
I was just reading the latest posts and l see that you mentioned someone getting together a Richland Reunion …l think Starla has the same thing in mind . l am going to tell her about this blog the next time l see her . You other guys please do the same to any ol R.R.R. you might know who still survive .
Julie , is Brenda still around ? l haven’t seen her for eons . You all were always so close to each other . Among other things that l loved about the Richland years was that we all had little brothers and sisters or older brothers and sisiters , so hardly anyone was ever without a built in playmate { or pain in the ol B-hind depending on the mood of the moment !
Late R.R.R.’s
October 11th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
SORRY about the comment about MOTORCYCLES n ROCKS ….just a little humor..seems VERY LITTLE ….LOL…after 5i yrs. as OUTLAW BIKER ,and the starting 1stinIL. …i might say THINGS that I think are kinda funny , not meant to seem otherwise…if they ever HANG me for my protocol or good judgement…they are HANGIN an INNOCENT man.I have been accused of being in DENIAL..but Ithought DA-NILE was a River in EGYPT. well enough of THAT..lolRICHLAND SCHOOL Teachers …Ist.through 6
for NICE guy like me ..MRS>Tjaeden,MRS. YOUROS,MRS. BALLARD CLATT and MR. SHUTE. MR. SHUTE was also ASS”T. Supperintendent of ALL the grade schools . MR. PAUL BOLENwas Superintendent of ALL grade schools..He was a widower after his Wife passed away …and later remarride and had a HEART ATTACK while he was on his Honeymoon , so thats when MR. SHUTE left Richland School and enter MR. STAKER as6th. grade teacher and Principal .HE also like MR> BUNELL had only 1 arm..His Daughter taught there for only very short time …NOW for the GOOOOOD times lol enter MISS. CAROLYN STIERS .singing and finding out you had many other choices in life other than a career in song /dance …she really was a very nice Lady BUT…..personally i think she MISSED her greater oppertunity by not becoming a TEST PILOT AT THE BROOM FACTORY…she had me [excuse my use of the word sing] 1 line of verse ..end tryin out for school plays..she whacked me with song book ..lol she visited each grade school once a week ..GOD bless her..i talked to SYLVIA[Josie] WALKER last nite and she said she went to Richland get together about 7 yrs. ago and she was gonna get on see if she could this page ..thanks to ALL ..take care and always remember you got your MEMORIES OR HAVE THEY GOT YOU?bye Joe
October 12th, 2009 at 1:15 am
It makes me so happy to see all of the new comments on this site. My mom, Julie Branch (Helferich) has shared many stories about growing up in Richland and even stories about throwing rocks at that boy on the motorcycle..they are wonderful memories for her and I do hope that someone pulls together a reunion for all of you. E-mail her. Reconnect. I would love to hear new stories.
October 12th, 2009 at 11:47 am
for years and years I have been trying to reconnect with people from the bottoms. When my son Erik found this web site right after it was posted, I was very happy. Lynda and I went to the get together that Mrs. Serkowich had at the E. Peoria park district office. There were a lot of people there (couldn’t believe how old they all looked). I talked to Sylvia quite a while and she mentioned that she plans Old Richland get together nights from time to time. Joe, I am really surprised that you are on the internet. Larry called several years ago and mentioned that you had stopped by the house and I read in Richlard’s obituary that you were living down south now. Can’t remember the town. Hard to imagine Richland without you living there. Before Mom died we were there a lot and when she was able she always wanted to go to Steak & Shake. Richard was always there, and always had a nice word for Mom. It hasn’t been the same since she died. About once a year most of us get together at Davis Brothers for pizza. Usually it is when Gayle comes to visit from Florida.
Brother Bill is living in Hoopston, Il and just remarried. Gary lives in Washington, Il and just became a grandfather. Lynda and Kathy live in Kankakee. They came to live with us after graduating high school and married local fellows. Brenda lives in Sunnyland. She had some medical problems for a while but still lives in a trailor with Hollywood. It’s so funny how each blog brings back more memories. The Kellum family that llived on the other side of the union hall. Larry is helping the old couple who now own that building paint it. So many – many happy memories and I wish I could remember all of you who have written. Most are younger than me and closer to my sisters ages. I’m sure they will be in touch.
And by the way, Joe, I have both, my memories and they also have me. Julie
October 12th, 2009 at 11:49 am
Miss Amy Branch,…if you ever look up greatest/neatest/most loving and caring person inthe DICTIONARY OF LIFE ..it will say Julie fnone like her before or since…i met your Dad Rayand he wasgreat to talk to and be around . YOU are VERY LUCKY Girl to have Parents like them……DONNA Crossno ,i miss spoke about 3rd. grade teacher ..it wasnot Mrs. Ballard /i had MRS>Watkins GCHEE…did you all turn in your Patrol Belts when School closed ?lol…i STILL have my BLUE and GOLD letter R for when we went undefeated in 5th. and 6th. grade basketball yrs….but lost CHEER LEADERS somewhere along the way ..lolkeep on keepin on …always till then Joe
October 12th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
I sure do love this site. For Joe, your uncle was so good to us kids. I can remember the last day of school, dragging home books he had given me (that were supposed to be burned) thru that tunnel and feeling like I was carrying gold. You said you see Jim Franklin sometimes, next time you do tell him DeeDee said hi and wishes him the best. He was always so cool to me. Reminded me of Patrick Swayze for some reason. Do you know who owns Richland School now? At one time I was told Bob Craggs owned it and was going to do something with it. We all need to chip in, buy it, and make it an old folks home for former Richland River Rats. We could think up some really cool name for it and would only let people in who could answer questions only a river rat would know. Could you imagine that old place coming back from the dead. Oh, well, I can dream.
Keep on dreamin and keep on writin,
Julia (DeeDee)
October 12th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Do- a Deer, a female deer , la,,,la,,,la ! Yes, Joe , Ms Stiers sure earned her place in our cast of colorful Richland characters . Reddish blonde hair always slightly a muss, nose seemingly constantly swollen and red from the latest lil bug going around. Hankerchief { the material version of Kleen-x for all you young whipper-snappers out there !
, always in hand, ever so lady-like . Honk ! sniff ! sniff! 
Puts you in the mood to do your scales doesn’t it ! 
Remember EGBDF..ie; Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge ! She always reminded me of a female version of Danny Kay { those of you past 40 might know who I am refering to ! 
} ..anyway she was definetly memorable . I was not aware until years later that her father was a Doctor here and that their ,and later her home , was the one that sits beside the Funeral Parlor that has the gargoles on the front porch{ l think someone else owns it currently} . l quess l was much too busy trying to connive ways of getting out of doing solo scales for Ms. S . to be bothered by curiosity at the time.{ and yes, she was quick with the whip , so to speak ! 
…People think l attended a parochial, not public, school when ever l point out such incidents of , should l say, sterness? 
l am not sure if she has passed yet but , l quess, she deserves her kadoos for trying to polish our rough lil Richland edges ,even though personally l think we would have been just fine without so much elbo grease ! 
l still have flash-backs { no drugs involved …l missed that part of the 60’s . 
} of having to do the scales in front of the class …as Joe’s experience went so mostly did mine …Shall l say that l never hit Broad-Way and the musical world survived well without me ! 
Prior to Ms S’s public displays of our profficiency ,or lack of, in the vocal department , l had always just lip sinced at church etc. { l was way before my time Milli-Vannila had nothing on me !:-) She blew my cover ! 
} { of course let me high-light { no pun intended ! 
} that l smoked since around the age of 12 , starting with and during the Richland days …heeey , it was waaay cool back then and some of my fondest memories { shameful as l know they should be ! ;-( } hover around that nasty little habit ! 
….like, everybody ante-ing up the whopping 25 cents a pack it took to purchase 20 of the lil cool sticks { l know , l know , about here ,some of you will say Cancer-sticks , but that is NOT the message they were pushing to us back in the day ! Sure you knew you were not supposed to , sure you knew they were supposed to not be good for you and if your parents found out you would be grounded for life { l wondered in later years how they could have been so naive as not to smell it on us or our clothes ?} but EVERYWHERE we looked “cool” people were smoking them …The Movies, TV , some of our own homes and relatives or friends …friends …that is how l got “brave” { now l know “stupid” was the better word ! ;-( } to try a “cig” { beleive it or not we used to call them “fags” } …I wonder how many of us have paid the highest price for that little experiment ? l have had friends pass who were in that first group of “experimentors” but l will never know for sure how much , if any, a role it had to play . Ahhh if l could just have kept the friends and the memories and not lose either to the consequences ! 
Must be yet another one of our shared R.R.R. traits only shared by true R.R.R.’s! 
On a different note;{ or l quess it ties in since “cigs” weren’t supposed to good for your ol vocal cords ! } I am currently almost a 5 year non-smoker, no brag , just fact { quitting was capital HELL for me !
Oh , well, What l do know that as long as we continue things like this and remember them in the telling of our “stories” …they will always live on …keep the hearts beating { or is that the drums ?
} Later fellow R.R.R>.’s
The staff at Richland that l remember off hand were; Mr.Seacrest { Principal} Mr. Wildenradt, Mr. McDonald , Mr. Hubbs , Mrs. Wilson Mrs. Ballard, Mrs. Bolby, Mrs. Dietrick, Mrs. Euronis, Ms. Scirclewitch .
PS. Joe , l took the same geographical studies you did l think , because the River of De-Nial is the one l remember too !
October 12th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Hi Claudia LaDon LaDonna Donna Crossno and Deanie–and Joe, father of Randy–My brother Jim referred me to this site after meeting Donna’s daugher. Jim’s son is in class with Donna’s grandson! You all have much more detailed memories of Richland than I do..though I do have fond memories of the school and all my teachers. I think they were great and truly interested in teh welfare of the students . I started with Mrs Litchfield in kindergarten, then Mrs Serkowich, Youronis, Deters, Ballard and Wilson. I left after 5th grade. All of them read to us after lunch and I can still remember being so enthralled with the stories. (First got to love the Little House books then and as an adult I’ve visited the actual homesteads of Laura.) I went to Mrs Serkowich’s reception several years ago and saw Starla. Sometime in the 1980s I ran into Mrs Serkowich and eventhough I hadn’t seen her since I was 9, she knew me immediately, and remembered which class I belonged to. I am always impressed when I look at our class pictures and realize how BIG those classes were. Donna and Deanie I remember your parents well, but never knew your dad sang. Your mother had a beautiful voice and I would always ask her to sing Old Shep and I cried every time. Deanie: do you remember punching out my doll’s eyes one time when my mom was taking care of you? Well, maybe it was Jim that did it, but he blames you! I remember walking from the bottoms to the swimming pool and to the library–even for an adult that seems like a long way. But sometimes your mom would drive us to the library for fee movies. I was very close to Jenny Brown in those days. Now she is a great aunt to Donna’s grandkids. Amazes me.
October 12th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Hi Judy …Randi Jo just loves you ! Few adults bring a smile to her face like the mention of your name does.Donna it has been 4yrs.8mo.since i quit smoking have’nt even had a sneek puff none nadda…had my last drink Sept.8 of 92.That only leaves ONE thing…………….oh well forget it.”lol” when Randi enrolled her Freshmanyr.at E.P.C.H.S.one day ,she came home and said SHE was NOT goin to that school..oh oh sent wife to Wally World to get [HOUSE for SALE sign at 10 pm that nite .put sign up same time and went back to high school 1st. thing next morning and UNENROLLED her.they were not happy but i MADE THEM OFFER THEY COULdNT refuse ..reluctantly we got refundback and some guy and his wife bought house that same day ..Wife Carol called sister in SULLIVAN il.AND HAD HER enroll Randi in school down there .Guy give mea large deposit too hold it for him and we went ...FANTASTIC school and facilities /school really neat and clean /whole school air conditioned/hour lunch /kids could eat or get lunch in cafetiria or take it v across street to unbelievable park/ride around town ..whatever ..take sodas n snacks into class rooms ..teachers would have um go get breakfasts for teacher n those that wanted somethin...MAN ...unrel about 450 kids in H.S.//the nicestpark across street from school beautiful large lagoon ///2 baseball diamonds/4 tennis courts /2basketballcourts ...WELL lit till11oclock every nite ...1st. class..civic center at play ground /OLYMPICsize in door poolwith 2 large weight rooms/2largeexercise rooms /large gymnasium open every day till nnnnine at nite. my WIFE was Supervisor there and Randi was Board Certified Lifeguard ...they had all life saving equip. plus paddles for life savingcircumstances..Randi saved some kids ..diving area was 18feet deep ..they did have everything for the kids .1 more thing...they had the HIGHEST slidin board i ever seen ...i got up it once and knew i would nnNEVER do that again..EVER....part of their playground equip. at park................................................Julie ..i am BACK in good ole E.PEO.....not TOO far from mMY HOME in RICHLAND......idrive down there often ...i go by ALL our houses.all the streets ..ready?Center,Franklin,Monson,Sanford,State,Fisher,Spencer,Globe,Clark,Maple,Elm,Edmond,Chicago,Cass....and of course OUR VERSION ofFondulac Drive..[RIVER ROAD] and the good ole levee…MY RACE TRACK N PARTY LAND lollots got their drivers licsense down there…MAN /we went the speed limit under the Cedar bridge on the cinders ….SURE WE DID lol ive got some pictures of the [43] flood and 2 or 3 of the [27] flood in Richland …that was a BAAAAAd one ..MOM n DAD moved back in the ole house at 100 Monson St.too soon n my oldest SISTERcaught pneumonia n died there..she was only 3/half …water was up almost Center Street…im outta here ….keep on keepin on …Joe
October 12th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Judy,Judy, Judy!!! Miracles do still happen ! Last l heard you had joined the flower child movement { which would not have surprised me at all , you were always so sweet .!
…don’t remember if my source of info was Donna Harbor or who , but l am sure it was as reliable as say ,CSpan { NOT } 
and again, for also pointing out that l slighted my beloved mother by not mentioning her own vocal talents { could have been a little miffed because the talent was not passed on to me ! 
…ah yes her famous renditions of “Ching-Chong the China-man ” were true classics ! 
and a few that were just a tad risque for the times like ; “Don’t Set Under the Apple Tree with Anyone Else But Me ” The woman could be a walking juke-box on occasion ! 
My ol friend how you have endeared yourself to me once again , first by remembering my Rosana Dana Dana rendition !
Your interest about Lil House on the Prairie would intrique my daughters . My eldest daughter went to school with Michelle Ingalls whose father { Wayne , he was Superintentant in Creve Couer at the time } was a relative of the Laura Ingalls branch and they shared many things with us about them { her mother , Joyce { she was a violinist in her own right and played with the Peoria Symphany } and l were friends and worked on a lot of school projects together, until Wayne was transfered to another school district …sooo along about the 80’s my baby daughter came along { the one Jim ran into } and fell in love with Lil House all over again { she still says her Dad and l remind her of Ma and Pa on the TV series !
Judy l can’t make my mind up to see you in my mind’s eye in your little Peter Pan { by the way ..remember Peter Pan and Never Never Land as viewed from the roof out in your back yard, sometimes shared with Ruth Ellen Smith ?? } ..or to see you as the teen you were when l last saw you , either memory is price-less !
Speaking of pictures , l have a picture l thought l had lost of Richland taken about 5 years ago when l began this re-visitation of the Richland saga , l wish l knew how to load it on this site …l will try to find out how to .
l am sorry to learn about your sister , Joe and l was glad to see that your move worked out well for you and your now family .Glad you caught this blog .You have been an anchor since this blog came into life of its own!
My daughter{ oldest one } has surgery in the morning …Please put her in your prayers , you guys …l think we ol R.R.R. ’s have a special spot in God’s heart too so l know it can’t hurt but sure might help .
Guys l am so full right now thatl have to take a moment and gather myself and get to bed . l will check back tomorrow , in the meantime , God Bless and keep each and everyone of you and yours .
October 12th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
This is for Judy Bradford. My dear, dear, girl, although I can’t remember that incident with the doll’s eyes, you know Jimmy had to have been the one who did it. I was so sweet and angelic that I couldn’t have done such a sadistic thing. Now, Jimmy on the other hand, could have easily done that. And with him being my partner in crime for everything back then, him or me one, did the deed and the other was, I’m sure an accomplice. You tell him to search his soul and tell you the truth about what happened that fateful day. And since my memory had long left me, you can let me know if he fesses up. It was so good to hear from you. My apolgies to your doll.
Keep on with the writing,
Julia, Deanie, DeeDee
October 13th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Lo Out there, all youse guys in the Memorie Myst!
Now it is just a watch and see scenerio.
We ol R.R.R.’s just keep going till we fade away ! 
Err on the side of relativity { in that Jim is your relative, Jewel is not } ! 
I on the other hand will have to take her side { or lack of } because of that same relativity therory …BUT to be honest { and whose not ? 
} l do not remember the incident you two are refering to , so l can not be held accountable in any effent ! 
. that is why you didn’t know …he was the introvert to Maw’s extrovert ! 
He used to sing my little bro to sleep …Ramblin Rose …etc. in a rich deep baratone …Joe Jr. could really sing too , in the manner of Elvis , and ol Jewel { aka; well you know who } could and can still , hold her own in a sing off . Poor lil Sis Lorri { she was born after we moved up on Center street …you know waaay out of the bottoms ! 
and I were the only ones left who could only carry water not a tune! 
…she passsed away in 96 of breast cancer , but she also shared memories of Richland until Maw and Daddy took her and lil Bro and moved down South.
and what a nice bronzed …sunburn or two we managed , huh !? 
…then we drifted apart also and although my daughter has had an over a decade relationship with her nephew , l still have not run into Jen…just life and all its goofiness , l quess !
Daughter made it through ! Thank-you God , and all others .
Enough of the NOW , Back to the Past !
Joe , Kadoos for the non smoking { only a fellow hard-packer knows how hard that was for you to quit …l went cold turkey too but it was pure ol HE double tooth-picks !…Bravo , on the drinking too ….be proud that you have whupped two of the hardest addictions there are to whup …now as for the third thing you were afraid might go ?? Not a so long as you have imagination !
Judy, l wouldn’t want to instigate anything , BUT …before you attack Jim for that long ago transcretion , keep in mind Jewel{ aka; Julia , Deanie, DeeDee, What’s -her-Face} always had a vivid imagination and maybe Jim was the culprit , or co-conspirator …and maybe NOT !
I remember my Dad giving Jim “Dutch-rubs” till his face turn so red it looke like it would explode { Think that is where the lil alleged culprit may have gotten the idea to do the deed to your doll ?? { and yes, Judy, Daddy was a closet singer
Dolls , speaking of …Judy, Do you remember sharing the showing of our Christmas gifts with each other one year from our front porches, across the street ? Snowy, snowy day , and possibly one of us was sick , because l can’t remember except we both got dolls , l got Tiny Tears and l am not sure if you got Betsy Wetsy or one similar ?
I haven’t heard any mention of Huey , how goes it with your elder sib ??
Speaking of the long-haul move from Chicago to Center , once we moved to Center Jenny Brown and l became friends { Yoah, Jenny, remember our pinic/sunning outings on top of the { then under construction} via-dock?? Best cheese spread , crackers and cool-aid fare in the East !
Later guys as the mood and the spirit move me !
October 13th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
For Joe,
That was a sweet thing you wrote to my daughter Amy. We also have three great kids and two perfect granddaughters. Our oldest started high school this year at Evanston High School. Scares me but she and parents seem okay with it. Erik has our youngest and she started kindergarten this year. Don’t get to see them as much as we would like but take all we can get. It always makes me sad when we go down to our old house and see that my house is no longer standing. Larry has done a good job with planting flowers in the space but it’s not the same. A lot of memories were in that old house.
Wouldn’t it be nice to know where all you river rats lived when you were in the bottoms and what year you started at Richland. I’m trying hard to remember the names. I always stop to visit Rosalie’s gravesite when we go to the cemetary. I love that old cemetary. You can landscape it however you want. Are your parents buried there, Joe? The Earnst and Donaldson boys lived on Sanford when we lived there. Pete Winchester lived across the street. Lots of summer nights of playing kick the can and occasional summer days of putting up a blanket on the clothes line and throwing rocks. Betty Sherman lived in the area also. The Smothers girls lived around the corner. I used to be terrified of walking home from school because the Rosalie and her brothers would chase us and threaten to throw us in the ditch. It’s amazing how just thinking about these things put us right back in that time and era. Wouldn’t want my life to be any different but you do wonder some times about how it would be different if I hadn’t moved away. There has to be more people out there who feel this nostalgia. Wonder if the Journal know (or care) what they started.
Julie (Helferich)Branch
October 13th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Joe: I always got a kick out spending time with Randy and Shannon. Such creative girls. Your wife was good about teaching them crafts and I know Shannon liked that. Donna, I don’t remember showing each other our dolls after Christmas. Seems like something we would do though. And I did get a Betsy Wetsy, the very same Betsy who was destined to become BLIND at the hands of dasterdly little siblings. As for Never Never Land, ah yes. I remember vivid travels there while sitting on our roof, though it amazes me that my parents ever allowed us to sit on a roof. Surely they didn’t know. And I remember being in the apricot, cherry and plum trees in our yard. But I am wracking my brain to remember when we saw each other as teenagers. I do have a memory of being at Ruth Smith’s house and discussing the song “If you’re going to San Francisco” and how much I loved it. You must have heard about my wanna-be flower child status from her. Donna Harbor was long gone by then. I just emailed this website link to brother Hugh. He’s in the area, retired from Cat, living with his wife of…gotta be about 40 something years. They have a son who is with NATO in Europe. As for Jim, maybe I’ll have to try the Dutch rub thing to get a confession out him…(Donna, glad to hear the first phase went well for your daughter…)
October 13th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
To Judy Bradford, I remember your fruit trees and eating the fruit until we had a horrible tummy ache. I am sure Jimmy convinced me to eat so many. And wasn’t there a building or shed in the back yard? I kind of think it was the first site of Jimmy’s doctor’s office. His practice must not have lasted long. He needs to get on this site and defend himself. His youngest I understand is in grade school! My youngest is 28 years old(Jerry) and I have a 34 year old son (Johnny Jr.) and a 38 year old daughter (Amber). I am now raising my 3 year old granddaughter Catiera. She’s what keeps me going.
For Julie Branch you told me your sister Kathy had girls. How old are they? And your daughter is so sweet in her emails to me. Something about being raised by a River Rat that puts character in a person.
October 13th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Judy, Judy, Judy …do you not remember when l would ride out with Donna’s dad after he got off work and spend the night as teen agers?? { well EARLY teens { l questimate 13-14 because we al were going whackers over the Beatles{ shoot we had our own Brit , remember Ruth Ellen’s big crush on David Jenners ?….heard he was a pilot somewhere now , how Ruth would have loved to have flown the blue-skies of his air-liner with him back then !
at the time and we would walk back and forth from her house to yours ?? { her Dad worked at the place next to my Aunt Laura Jeans { remember my cousins Sandy and Danny ?? …Danny has been the sheriff of the county 
in ol Greene County,Arkansas for the last 4 terms running for a 5th soon { l am only throwing that in for the irony of it all because they lived on the street right across from the fire house which at the time was adjacent to the Police Station facing Main Street beside the ol Roller Gardens . Any whoo l would go and wait for her Dad and a guy who car-pooled with him and he would take me to their house . l really loved her Dad he was so good to us { he always reminded me of George Montgomery { another oldie but goldie ! 
When l stopped attending church at ol E.U.B. church , l met my then future help-mete of the past 44 years about that time and nothing was ever quite the same again . oh well , l quess life happened . Like Julie H. says , l wouldn’t trade the life l had , BUT l have and do wonder sometimes what it would be like if we had all just hung in there , kept closer …and oh well , we still all shared a wonderful time and l quess we will all have to adjust to the NOW and consider ourselves blessed for the “Then” too ! 
any other letters of the alphabet want to jump right in there with a little fodder for this ol blog’s fire ?
There again , l drifted apart and last l knew Donna had moved to Beaver-Dam Arkansas { or some such place } and l lost touch of all of you . l blame that period of time and those seperations on teen-age hormones and instability !
Gee, we were really quite a mix weren’t we ? We had our Britt { already mentioned } , our Austrailian from Down Undah, our cherokees { shout out to Linda Cross } and an assortment that probably covered most nations all under our own lil worls flag of Richland !
Thanks for the wishes on my daughter , Judy
l ran into Hugh years , and years ago at the old Bogard store { now a pawn shop } with his wife …back then l used to frequently run into some of the ol bunch BUT as the years passed the meetings were few and far between , or brought on by reading the obit of one of them or their family members .
Keep remembering , Judy , Joe , Julie …wait a minute …what’s with the J over-load ?
Windy { aka;…ME} will let someone else have a chance for the moment
Meno-Molly outta here for now .
October 14th, 2009 at 8:43 am
I’ve been enjoying reading all of your remininces. You all prove that a school is not a physical building, but rather a school, as is a Church, is its people. Richland lives on through you, and I’m glad to offer up this forum for that.
If anyone has any photos they would like to share and would like me to add to the beginning of this post, you can email me at peoriaillinoisan@yahoo.com
Speaking of the school building, it is quite handsome. Is there or has there ever been any talk of opening it as a community center or for any other purpose, or has it been vacant for so long that it would be too expensive to rehab? Who owns it? If anyone has access to the interior and wants to give a tour, I’d love to tag along!
October 14th, 2009 at 11:55 am
Hey Guys !
} song comes to mind …”And another One Bites the Dust ! ” 
} { and yes, l agree with our gracious host The Peorian, that Richland was a handsome school , the detail would not be easy to duplicate , if at all , in this era of Faux this and that ,but it would make a remarkable somerhing or other . The boarded windows could be replaced , l assume the marble floors would still be there . Thanks again to thr Peorian for hosting our lil get together . l will be interested to see what input you get on the suggested tour…please , take lots of pictures and share if you do . { any one out there won the lottery or a millionaire in your own right ? Great investment potential …so far suggestions have ranged from a retirement home for Boomer R.R.R.s a ! 
…to a community center { great idea l agree and one l couldn’t understand that the city didn’t do when they owned it ? 
would have given it new life and served kids and their families just like it had always done in the past .
Anyone out there remember the old Roosevelt School that used to be on the “other-side” of the tracks ? lt sat back aways from the ol Martin gas station etc. It is another East Peoria School from that era that seems to be destined to fade into the mist . lf l remember right it was built on the same order as Richland, just like the old part of E.P.C.H.S. was { also recently torn down along with the “boulevard” !
Later Gators
October 14th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
OOPS ! Our host’s name is PeoriaIllinoisan, my bad !
The sentiment remains the same …Thanks !
October 14th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
to ALL,…Richland School was bought by a guy named Bob Rice n his Wife Myrtle …they used to have a tavern called the SHAMROCK that was next door to 1st.Natl. Bank where Becks Florist sets now at 4 corners at downtoun[with EMPHASIS on DOWN ]E. Peo…then Bobby boyn wife had the bar called the TRADEWINDS n sld it to what would become Nashville North [aka Christy Inc.]I DETESTED him for his resons he BOUGHT School..STOLE it ni made sure he KNEW it ..he was ARROGANT n real A–H—. he later had swap shop next to Kennys Cafe up town…which by the way ,i RODE my Motorcycle thru….in front door n right on out back / well after i stopped at counter n cheeseburger [the works thank you very much] to go n on out back door ..lolowner ,Kenny Robinson found out ..of course ..NOT HAPPY Nor THRILLED with ME ..BARRRRRRED for about 3 mos. ….so we took our SHOW on the ROAD across street to Hermans Snack Shop..good ole Kenny sent word to me i was NO longer ahhhbarred . circa 1957..we became very close frinds after that n i OPOLOZED n we laughed bout it .MAN …i was STUUUUUUUUUUUUUpid back then.i had RULE ,you might ACCIDENTLY step on my TOES ..but NOT my ATTITUDE .heck, when i got my 1st. BIKE in1954 n sold my last factory custom one in 2004 …ihad rode thru LOTS of bars ..lolMOST requested i would so beiny a FELLER that LOVED pleasin every one ..i did .
the things ONE does when youdo unto to OTHERS [and SOME were from Richland/but CHANGED when they got to H.S.]some had MEMORY LAPSES, but i introduced them to REAL WORLD .of ALL things , a Cop from Sullivan IL. where wife Carol n I were livingat time WANTED that BIKE in worse way .i sold it to him n tried to tell him it wasnt a TOY ,this thing was a Factory tuned CUSTOM ROCKETn i didnt think he could handle it ….he couldnt /sold it in less than 3 mos. lol…Julie …that little house [HOME] was neat.i WISH it was still there too.EVERY Flower MUST mean SOMETHING to SOMEONE .Larry is good person n Deeply respct him for what HE”S done thru all these yrs.how”s MY basketball playin BUDDY MARY?i just loved her ..her n Monty n others came over every nite n played b/ball .at the school. I kept showin Monty how to shoot n practiced / him nFIANALY he MADE one from out pass free throw circle…WE were both THRILLED …He was my Buddy ..tell all the KIDS n SPEC./Mary i said a BIG HI n i”ll always remember them.///What WONDERFUL Parents u all had .Dont forget this OLD MAN ..tell RAY i said HI.love ya///joe now Donna [aka menno millie ] lol ..glad everything went good for your Daughter….see prayers DO help..i say MINE every morn. n nite without exception ..MAN,,i:ve got a LOT of [WOULD YOU PAAALEEEEZ LORD FORGIE ME FOR*************************************************************************************************] …Donna ,My MOM lived3 doors down from your home on Center St.[326 or 316 ] n My DAD lived at 147 Franklin St. back in 1918.MOM would stand on back porch n DAD stood on post by crick on Franklin St. n they would wave at each other when they were teeners/thats how they met n latter married .our house at 100 Monson set across hardroad[then like dirt road ] n DAD bought it n Cterpillar [HOLT tractor Co. then ]payed Dad to move it across where it still is .they then built bigger foundry n BREATHE more BLUE ..COUGH<COUGH,excuse me while i clear my throat ]lol SMOKE.
Judy…dont you understand you could RUIN lol..your reputation admitting Jim is your Brother?Jim a GOOD guy /he worked on the T.P.&W. railroad for a while …i was lead machinist in the roundhouse n he was my helper i think for a while ..i finished there as lead machinist n r.h. foreman after 20 yrs. Santa FE bought it /abolished our jobs .offered me job /Santa fe anywhere i wanted to go ….ughhhh i dont think so .sounds like LITTLE DIESEL THERAPYto me ..like transfer me state to state till they wore me out..not this ole COWBOY ..been to that RODEO before ,thank you very much..i think i"lltake the severence money ,thank you very much…lol my Wife was BOSS{untill i got there lol] at COUNTRY CLUB of PEORIA up on Grandview Drive, so sheb hired me as BARTENDER..well,how bout this sudden turn of EVENTS …ALL my FAVORITE JUDGES n ATTORNEYS i had MET after51 yrs. of being ME n gettin to know these GENTLEMAN…unbelievable …NOW I is DA MAN…long hair n beard gone …hey ,ididnt look to bad tux. pants n jacket lol YEP, some remembered me ..but honestly it worked out great n i had a BLASTn THEY allways wanted me to make there drinks . got to meet um ALL……10 yrs. for me n 26 yrs. for my Wife ..WE could write a BOOK of the RICH n POWERFUL that ordinary people have never heard of ..we had no idea till then…met a lot o very famous people …..incidently the Santa FE tried for about 6 more mos. to get me to come back ,Itold um MY WIFE said ilook better / a martini in my hand than a can of oil end of my toy TRAIN set lol tx. yo all n keep on keepin on///Joe bye bye .we gone
October 14th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Hi Guys !
Gotta have my daily blog fix ! 
As l said you were waaay cool ! 
Love to read this blog, it has become an addiction to me !
Thanks for the wishes Joe and also the info about your folks …how sweet was that ?
l do beleive you were a Steve McQueen in the making on that cycle of yours guy !
Sorry to hear about the Rail-Road crappo …they were not good to us either .My hubby worked for a different one than you BUT they pulled about the same crappo , only NO serverence pay !! After 2 plus decades ! …we never did fully recover from that little stint , still haven’t got our second wind and it gets harder the older you get ! Heck , some days we are just glad to be breathing , mus less getting a second wind !
Later Gators
October 14th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Mr. Rice also owns the union hall. He and his wife are currently painting that building. He has hired Larry to help out a couple of hours a day. As far as I know they are still working on it. If the Peoria Journal does a followup story, it would be my suggestion that they contact Mrs. Serkowich. She is still living in Peoria but taking care of her ill brother. She is certainly the most knowledgeable about the history of the school. She also volunteers for the Historical Society. My dad worked for Herschel Manufacturing a small plant hidden by Caterpillar. They also closed with no severence and the retirement fund was broke. Try living with that with 12 kids. Well some of us were gone by that time but it was still hard on them. Guess we all have a hard luck story but at least we are alive to talk about it. I’m like you Donna, sometime during the day I need to wrap myself in a warm blanket of memories. To Marty Hasbrough, is Madonna your sister. She was a good friend of mine. She would come into the Spudnut Shop (remember that) when I worked part time there and married my boss. Used to see her mom at the hospital and she would catch us up on what was going on. I really enjoyed spending time with the family. To the one who asked about Brenda. She is working at Woody’s Restaurant part time. If you went in there, she would recognize you. She gets so angry when someone comes in that she knows from Richland and I don’t remember them. Could send you her phone # if you’re interested.
Keep blogging everyone. Julie
October 15th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Do I sense a lull here? I know when you get our age you have these, what do you call them, Brain F–ts? We were really rolling along on memory lane and then STOP> What happened to Bob Bray? He wrote one thing and no more. He was in my class. A really nice guy. Do you guys remember the dump? Boy, wouldn’t the EPA have a field day with that if it were here today. I can remember going exploring down there. If mom had known, we’d have been in serious trouble. Maybe that’s what’s wrong with me today. I got into something toxic. haha You guys talked about that Rice guy that bought the school. Maybe Larry can find out what he plans to do with it. My husband said when Cat was on strike, a bunch of the strikers went inside and did a lot of damage to it. Such a shame. It still stands tall and proud though, doesn’t it? Even the boarded up windows don’t take away from the strength you know it had and still has. Oh, well enough of that. This site is my first shot in the morning and the last shot at night. I guess I’ll go and watch the tube. Keep on writing guys. You make me feel like once again I’m part of something.
Good night
October 16th, 2009 at 11:49 am
Hey Julia,
I know the feeling – like we have been abandoned. I’m left in this space. One foot in the past when we were all 50 years younger and looking toward the future and one foot in the present where I can’t remember what I went into the kitchen to get. I do need to say tho I was disappointed in reading Joe D. last entry. Sounds like he thought life was better for him when he was wearing a suit and serving martinis to lawyers and judges instead of tending bar at the Goose and breaking up the occasional fight. Say it isn’t so.
I was talking to a friend about this website and asked about how it got started and how people learned about it. Then she saidshe wondered how our spouses felt about us spending time on it. Personally Ray likes it because he knows it makes me happy. Shoot, I’m even listening to Country Music again from the 50ths. Fell in love with Country Music when I was 15 but got disgusted with the modern country. Got me to wondering tho about how many marriages took place among the bottoms group. The only one I can remember was when Max Ray Tolley married Joyce Elliot and that was long after I had left the area. I think we all thought that Joe D and Sylvia would tie the know.
I know I am able to let my mind roam the paths back into the past because I am secure in the future. Hope it is the same for all. And Julia I also agree about what has happened to the guys who lived in the bottoms. Would like more people to write in.
We’re going away for a couple of days before winter really sets in, so will be absent from this blog for a while. I hope there are lots of new stories when I get back. Love all of you who are taking the time to respond. Julie
October 16th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
EXCUSE ME ! l want to claim “dibbs” on the honor of starting the Richland flow !
…. or at least partial dibbs ! 
l, at least , would like to think that my lil sis Jewel and l started the real Richland flow in this “blog” l found the site while l was remininsing and trying to find something { heck , ANYTHING } on Richland School and this site was just about all that came up! ;-( l sent it to her and she braved the cyber demons and made the first post …l realise Bob Bray and a couple others made post befor we did but not of the same kind . It doesn’t really matter , just the fact we were all led here means something …now keep on spreading the news and in putting . l am going to see if l can get a “blog” started , just for all of us ol timers . 
Everything Richland or that era anyway …That way if our hosts gets tired of us ramblin about our glory-years 
we have a place to hang and keep the fires burning . l am just starting it { with oodles of help from my hubby …who l think is much like Julie’s husband , in that he knows my Richland years were happy ones for me and remininsing about them makes me happy so he tolerates my stroll down memory lane ! 
l have to squeeze it in between work and obligations , but l think it will be cool when l get the hang of it and get it done . l will keep you all updated on its progress { or lack of 
} l doubt it will be ready by the time you get back Julie but hopefully in the near future .
Later all youse R.R.R.’s
October 16th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Sorry all , always little BUSY on Thurs. n Fri. / my close and LOYAL Friiends . We all meet at Harper Hall at Bradley / other Thespians n recite Shakespeare n then a lite lunch / a little Sauvenon Wine /n on Fri.i read nn tell them about early European culture n such as Im sure most of you would”nt understand or be interested in at ,Im sure ..Today I told them about the Volcha revolution in Eastern Europe ..We had Steak Tar Tar n oysters Rockafeller / a glass of 1968 Cabernet White ..Just a lovely 2 days …………………THEN that D_ _wife of mine whacked me upside head n said i WAS havin NIGHT MARE .GOT CHA ..LOL.you really started to CUSS me hate me ALL over again …DO you ALL still LUUUUUV good oleJoe ,UM?coundnt get on cause I thought I might be takin up toooo much of all youyr guys time readin my wacked out silliness ,,but I”LLbet I had youall gettin RED bout neck up ..lol.I did MISS you ALL terribly ..As far as Country Club of PEORIA ,they could”nt believe me ,,,,I showed them this ole BIKER could ANYTHING they wanted talk about .when I gopt thru with THEM, they could”nt find a banana if they turned um loose in a chiquita warehouse …iJoe never CHANGED for NOBODY …I changed THEM…Julie…i didnt know you worked at spudnut shop ..BOB married MaDonna Ellis n they moved to Branson ,Mo.n still live there ..Sylvia ? that would”been classified as CRUEL n UNUSUAL punishment for BOTH of us .we remain friends n talk occasionly ,she”s been married for bout35 yrs. i think . He”s really good guy ..we”re good friends .They own Wild Goose Tavern ..Well Julie ,You n RAY enjoy your little GETAWAY ,be safe n KEEP us ALL in your PRAYERS n let us know when u get back ..bye Joe ………..Donna ..oh Donna ,zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz wake up ….you”re snoring woke the dogs in neighborhood n now teir all howlin or maybe dogs sleepin n thats you howlin .lol hows little SIS doin ?this is QUITE a HEART CHAIN you got started ..aBIG TX BABE ..you woke us all up //now we gotta find some of the others ..you?llbe able to tell the ONES that REALLY care n wanna remember or dont wantor cant deal with the PAST.Iftheir anything like ME, they”realize the GOOD times areover n wish for themGOOD ole days .I”d be happier n more relax ,broke n poor ,Iwas a H_ _ _ of a lot RICHER then …tx MENO MILLIE lol ..keep on keepen on..Joe I”m owtta here //will check later ..gone
October 16th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Do any of you guys remember the Tonjes family from down there? I think the mom and dad still live on that street back behind the gateway bar. With age, I have lost my memory of the street names. You can tell me who lived on it when we were growing up and I can see inside the living room of the house, but put a street name out there, and I go into slow mode. Anyway, Donna Tonjes was my dearest and best friend in the whole wide world for many years until I moved to Arkansas in 94 and somehow our connection drifted. My husband was sick (thanks to Caterpillar) and Donna had just remarried and so goes life. I miss her dreadfully, but cant seem to reconnect to her. She’s remarried and I don’t know her name now, and I cant seem to find any Tonjes in the phone book for her folks. She had a brother Kenny and two sisters. If anyone out there sees her or knows her tell her I miss her so. So glad to see Joe is back in there posting. I missed him. I read this thing several times a day, so keep on keepin on.
Love ya,
Julia, DeeDee or whatever
October 16th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Now tsk! tsk! Master Joe ! Course we all still love ya ! ;-( R.R.R.’s are just that way …once a River Rat always a River Rat !
} Spanx got nuttin on us ol buddies ! 
, knew l never did pick and choose my fellow travelers from the haves and the have nots …my criteria was mainly how someone treated me , ranked or rank-less . Even those l wasn’t crackers about had nothing to do with position or power . You were either cool or not cool with varying degrees in-between ! 
Once in my heart …NEVER out of it …some of you have been there for 59 years …some more constant than others …some intermitently { like Starla, we slid by years at a time , no contact …BUT whenever we meet again , there is never any distance …like we had just paused in a conversation and decided to pick it back up …it is that way with most of the ol team …Ruth Ellen is still “Ruthie” when we meet , so was Wanda Owens until she passed { almost 2 years ago now } …l always felt the draw back “home” when l saw her and the others . Still feel it every time l sign onto this page . ;-( 
We allow each other to ramble and still come home …flights of granduer can be exciting { short-term } BUT long-term , ToTo , there really is NO PLACE like home !
l always knew that money and circumstance can not make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear , BUT l choose to beleive we R.R. Rats were cut out of a different kind of cloth altogether ….bends and gives , stretches and forgives and in the end pops right back to where it started ! R.R.R.-EX or River-X [ instead of spand-x !
Seriously , money can give you creature comforts and the ability to have the latest and greatest , BUT you really CAN’T buy love , it can only be given . Don’t get me wrong , it helps a body sleep better at night knowing where their next meal is comming from and if the roof will still be over their head when they wake in the morning { ie; Now l lay me down to sleep , l pray my Lord my soul to keep …etc’} …BUT it is just a tool to enhance our lifes , not the end-all of our lifes. Anyone who ever knew me well, or even not so well
Night guys, sleep tight, don’t let the bed-bugs bite …you could get “cooties” !
Meno-Mini out of here
October 16th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Had to check the website before I shut the computer off. Glad Joe and his harem are back online. You did know I worked at Spudnut shop. Must have been having a senior moment. Sorry I don’t remember any Tonjes
Julia, DeeDee or whatever. Called Kathy and gave her your address and she promised she was going to write. But don’t give up. My BF from 1955, who also moved to Arkansas(why I ask you) found where I was from the internet. She first looked up last name and called my brother who still lived in EP. She moved before HS started and I keep throwing names out, but she doesn’t remember anyone. She remembers things about my mom and family that I don’t think ever happened. Funny what memories can do to you. I don’t remember Joe playing basketball with Monte but I do remember how nice you always were to him. Monte loved everyone and still does. As a family we have always been very protective of him and got rid of anyone who shied away from him. All of our friends felt the same way. When Larry agreed to stay with him in the house, I don’t think he realized how much of his life he would have to give to him.
I thank God for him every day. Bettie and Brenda help out with him when they can since they are the closest. It’s really been quite funny that one of the first blogs I read on this site mentioned Monte.
Take care everyone and enjoy the sun the next several days. Julie
October 16th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
PS …Jewel …the street was Clark l think …and l did tell Donna And gave her your phone number .
Later Lil Tater
October 16th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Julie , l think every kid who was anything in the “bottoms” knew Monte and felt a similar protectiveness . l DO remember that what you say is true ..you kids were A one with him { so was your Mom , Millie , she was such a sweet lady .} .God bless him and Larry for caring so well for him . l think God has a special place for both the care-receiver and the care-giver .
Have a great time on your lil get-a-way and check in with us all when you get back …and by the way Joe ….how did you know l snored ?
Outta here …AGAIN !
October 16th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Oh Yeah , and Julie …why NOT , Arkansas ??
October 16th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
Why not Arkansas? I guess it is kinda like a magnet to wandering Illinois girls. But then if you kicked all the people from Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama and Kentucky out of Illinois, there would only be a handful left. And down here in good ole Paragould, I have found that for the most part they understand river rats, I guess they kinda relate to them, if you know where I’m coming from. Heck, there’s people from East Peoria, Peoria, Pekin and Morton all over this town. Most retired from Cat or Keystone or the likes. Gotta love em. I hope you have a good time on your weekend jaunt Julie. I hope it’s to a warm dry place. Not cold and rainy like it’s been down here. Till then, we’ll keep the fires burning and the blog turning.
October 16th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
Correction , please …my comment on good ole Arkie was directed at Julie H’s { not to Lil Sis Julia W.} Her comment about her ol friend being in Ark and she ask “why”??
} there are also a lot of other good things going for it …known as the “natural state ” don’t ya know ? 
lt is special in it’s own ways to me …BUT Richland is not just a place, it is a state of mind…so l have come back “home” to it to draw strength for the tomorrows that , hopefully we all will help make better …and l agree that people go places where they can recreate that Richland-esque feeling , if they are lucky enough to be able to , if not they take what they can get …like this blog site ! 
l took her to mean why would a person even want to go there …well aside from the fact it is the place of my birthin { so it has to be “cool” , for that reason alone , to have spawned a River-Rat-ette
Ride on R.R.R. ’s
October 17th, 2009 at 11:18 am
My last comment too, was meant for Julie H. Common sense would tell you that a transplanted yankee need not explain anything about Arkansas to one who was born and spent all her vacations there. Need say no more.
October 17th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
EEEEE…ALL Yall…EEEEE ! What you have just read is a written representation of the “Rebel” victory call!
…l gets the drift ! 
Speaking of …let’s all “drift” back to those glorious days of thundering hoofs , Lone Ranger, Mickey Mouse Club , Captain Jinx and Salty Sam …SUPER-Man ! 
Share people , share ..
…heck l had my 15 minutes fame back in the late 50’s when l got to be in the audiance at the taping of The Captain and Salty! l was delighted that The Captain asked me what flavor my gloves were { l was your average shy lil gal of the times wearing my “dress-up” white gloves with my “good” clothes and chewing on the finger of one of them mercilessly! 
{ I was A TAD , TO SAY THE LEAST , dissapointed to find that the Albatross was NOT a real ship …traumatized me l am sure , but l was a tough lil cookie so l sucked it up although l never quite felt the same when I watched the show …shades of reality creeping in even way back then ! ;-(
Remember when WE thought there were only two kind of old people …old grouches { jealous of our youth} and the “good” old people ..you know the precious ones like your Grannies and your Gramps ? But you know we were always respectful to them all { at least in front of the old grouches ! 
} and we really did want to grow up{ but of course that did NOT include getting “old” in either fashion ! 
} , so we could do what ever we wanted to { like we mistakenly thought all of them were doing ! ;-( Now , we know that the sad “old” truth is that “old” is only respected if the culture you live in respects it and somewhere along the way that respect has been lost { figures , with a Gazzillion of us boomers getting “old” ! 
. Like generations before us because we never thought that we would grow “old” …we couldn’t accept the concept so l supposed we help create the farce and the new “youth” culture …back then we were always “too young” to do anything fun or of importance …now we are considered just too dang old and are expected to paste , plaster and plasticize ourself so we can keep up with our youthfull co-workers until we drop at 90 or a 100 { if we are lucky? } from having to work to keep it all together . “Cat’s in the Cradle” ring a bell anyone ? 
…not really though, because our folks expected to work 20 or so years and then retire and travel and enjoy grand-kids etc. and though some of us have been lucky enough to do that all of us have not , in fact it is beginning to hit a lot more of “us” with this latest economy ! Geesh ! l am digressing …the whole point is let’s get in there and enjoy ourselves people while the memories flow , let’s let them .
Need not explain yourself lil Yankee Sis { whom l used to torture with the Rebel versus Yankee scenerio !
Remembering saving up your producers points to go to the movies ?/25 per bundle!
Hey , no one said we always had it easy and rosy smozy but over-all it was the ideal time to be a kid , in this ol gals opinion …old , speaking of , and who wasn’t !
Someone elsed turn now …
October 17th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
PS . To Julie H. ….l remembering being “country when country wasn’t cool “…thankyou Barb Mandrell… which wasn’t hard , l quess some would say, since l was born in the “country” but since l have lived ‘UP” North here for 57-58 of my 59 years , l quess it is also so that you CAN take the gal outta the country , BUT not the Country outta the gal !…not this one anyway , l am far from Northernized !
…anywho,WXCL was a “NEW” station back in the day and l got hooked on it because l couldn’t take Sheet Metal …excuse me is that “Heavy-Metal “? 
…sorry …hope l do not offend with my musical distates{ l live and let live …if you are a lover of music other than my own favorites l can dig your taste and respect you BUT l don’t have to like da music { l am just one honest hick , who honestly did not like it { much like l am not a fan of “RAP” in this current era …shoot me if you must , but in my own taste l must trust ! 
Come on back yall here . Later
October 18th, 2009 at 11:51 am
OK , I quess l am carrying the ball right now …so here we go ..catch ! …l am throwing this out there to see if l get any nibbles …
We were lucky enough to have lunch options; go home for lunch, eat in the lunch-room , or brown bag it …but on days you “went home ” your time was limited, especially after we moved up on Center ..then l really had to beat the clock ! But ummm…the only person to rival our fine cooks in the culinary department was my Maw …she could whip up a mean pot of potato soup , vegetable soup or any number of delights out of practically nothing at all { and it did not come out of a Campbell soup can ! 
…
} …because “ladies ” did not wear men’s clothes! No tennis shoes for us { later we could have them BUT only while doing our gym classes on the shiny , oh so shiny , gym/lunch-room floor , so that it stayed shiny, oh so shiny!:-) ..so that meant socks , sturdy shoes , and boots to have to wrassel off to complete the feat of removing the woolens before the dreaded “bell”! 
Quite a task and a “girl thing ” because the guys had no such requirements . ..and then …ughhh! The aroma of drying mittens , scarfs etc. wafting through the room as the items laid out on the radiators we relied on to keep our freezing , now slackless , bodies warm { NOT ! ..once you smelled that smell you never forgot it …even the wonderful aromas from the cook’s down in the lunchroom wafting up couldn’t do more than mask it ! ;-0 Ah , shades of a’A Christmas Story” , huh? You know whoever wrote a lot of these movies and TV shows that we have watched ,on that era , have to be at least R.R.R.’s at heart because they wrote of things that we so closely could identify with …Stand By Me, Christmas Story , Grease , ..Mad Men etc. Rob Reiner l know was responsible for a lot of them and he and his Ex { remember LaVern and Shirley } were from our era so maybe there are lots of “us” sprinkled all over the world …so hope springs eternal …here is hoping l jogged some more memories and others will share so Meno-Milli, can get off her soap box for awhile, even though l am like Jimmy Durante ..”l got a million of um ! ”
Anyone remember “cutting” through the alley { circa; before the “tunnel” …despite threats of serious repurcussions if we did this henious thing …you got it! We did it anyway …Sorry Mom !…but l only had a short time to get there and a long way to go !
Do kids today even know what an “alley” is , or a side-walk that you could chalk a hop-scotch board on and play for hours …maybe a game of marbles or ball and jacks ?? No electronic games for us …and “texting” ..heck , we were lucky to get to make that occasional phone call on the family { rotary -dial at that} { no cell, no your own phone,no head-phones . etc. } and when we did make a call it was usually limited to who, when , where and what ! ;-0 ..when our parents said “Go out and Play” , or “Find something to do ” …WE DID !
My I-Pod was a tiny transister radio that l swear my Dad had radar tuned into , because l would turn it as low as it would go and put it under my pillow at night and he would hear it and insist that l cut the music etc. ! l guess the fact there were no external noises to drown it out had something to do with his fine tuned hearing …the most disrupting noise at that time was the occasional train whistle , choo-chooin , and the Cat Traffic…7:18am, 3:18pm, and 11:18pm after that there was no traffic to speak of , just the rare whizz by of a car or two { or perhaps the buzz of a motorcycler who should have been home in bed ! Right , Joe ?
Gals { Judy you should remember this one } remember wearing your old wool slacks to school under your dress and having to take them off in the cloak-room/supply area { what a quaint name for a walk-thru closet, which is what ,in essence, it was !
PS .. The pictures of Richland do show what detail they used to put in the buildings …compare this to the new additions going up at Central Junior High and the E.P.C.H. …no comparrison in my opinion !:-) Sad , but to me , the new things look so cold and un-inviting .lf you check out the picture the PeoriaIllinoian has at the top of this blog , if you look to the left and the right of the main door and also upstairs …you will see the narrow windows which were where the cloak-rooms were …the upstairs one had a door that led into the principals office { don’t ask me how l know this , just know that l know this !
Catch ! lt’s your turn !
October 18th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Yoah! Bob Brady !
Yes, Joyce Elliot { mentioned earlier somewhere in one of these posts as having married Max Tolley } broke me in on my route which l beleive she had acquired some way through her brother Kenny ? } whatever , among other things you can say about we R.R.R.’s is that we were NOT slackers . We were industrious and quite the little workers …mowing lawns { with REAL push mowers ..no gas etc. just man-power , or boy -power in our cases . ! 
for the guys ,,babysitting and such for the gals ..idle hands were the Devil’s hands l quess must have been the philosophy at the time ! ;-0
Are you still with us ? l didn’t mean to take away from the fact you were one of the first to input on this blog …hey, enough glory to share , huh ?
Just a tid-bit …l too delivered the papers, yup , yuck! l know, A girl, you say !
October 18th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
heeeeeeeers Jooooooooey , i”m back …lol miss ME ? …the gal askin bout Kenny Tonjes,his family lived at 200 Clark St. onthe corner of Maple n Clark.his Dad Edwas dispatcher at one of them truckin co.s on Spencer St. /Kenny worked for older Don Montgomery Sr. at sandblasting place at 400 block Cass St. ///got hurt bad whilehe was using forklift n I THINK lost a leg . i hope I”M wrong, but think so …place closed later on and i seen Kenny once after that.then his Dad retired n they were GONE ….Iwanna be Serious for a short thing n then back to fun n games ..O.K.?Iwas teasin bout Harper Hall/Bradley n that B.S…just tryin to lightin things up a little .My wife Carol did work at C.C.O.P.[Country Club of Peoriafor 26 yrs. n she DID hire me as bartender . i FORCED myself toLAST 10 yrs. ..except for a couple of Judges and Cat. CEO”Sn Presidents that really liked me and would stay at Bar and listen to me talk MY STREET talk ,they loved my life as I lived it. they said they NEVER get chance to talk like me ,,they would tell their wives to go no out n socialize or WHATEVER n leave um alone …they would rather talk to me than go thru that SAME old YADDA YADDA they hear every nite at the club …MAN .did I ever give them a BIG DOSE of REALITY ..they love being real once in a while..BUT …Igot to where Icould?
“nt handle it anymore …GODLESS people that care about nothihg but POWER n MONEY..their Kids were same way ///like their parents n their parents ,,,waitin for um to die n get that money …and there was plenty of it ..IT made me realize how LUCKY I was to have had MY Parents n no money grow up n struggle ,AND Carol n I still do ….from railroad retirement check month to month .our car is 17 yrs. old n believe me ,,WE?RE happier n better off than any of them at that C.C.o.P….WE got FAMILY n now I”VE got my little FRIENDS…TX to yuou ALL.h_ _ _ _ , we”re so bad off ,,the birds brought BACK corn they took last yr. from our garden..Iplayed under 4 different names on COMP….pool/eucher/canasta/…rated expert on all and average on checkers / poker …no money just points and supposed to be fun..guys n gals get mad if they lost n I”D tell um it”s JUST a game man…I quit playin for 3 yrs.///didnt touch COMP. tillcoouple wks. ago when Carol STUMBLED onto you all..I”MComp. illeteret…Carol typed my IS”T message as i tpld her what to say ….man lol..so when i sign off n say LOVE YA ,,dont take ittoooo personal..ahhyea GO ahead..Iprobably would have NEVER got back on again if not for you ALL..allthe cussin n fightin with people i didnt know over a GAME ?not likely ..when I talk to my TWO ex wives ONCE IN AWHIE ON PH….Ialways TELL THEM i LOVE UM N THEY SAY SAME ..Carol n I went to both of their weddings when they remarried .2 or 3 times the 4 of us went out to dinner …lol waitress”s we”rnt rushin to wait on that table lol… you know ,i miss Julie already ,or maybe i”m just jealous their at some nice lodge in Vermont or place like that ,sittin by ole fireplace after day on the SLOPES .truth be known ,,i”ll bet she ski lift down slope n tried to ski back up the hill…but knowin her she probably grabbed some ones foot n hung on too get back up slope…OHHH,i know what I wanted to tell you Julie….Iwent to school across from union hall every nite 4 whole summer cause Carol was workin n i took Lisa Lo to play / other kids …ask SISTER Mary what yr. i think maybe 73/74 …Mary.MONTE,Danny Kerkern his little Sis. Benny Barnwell n his little Sis. n bunch of kids would stop by …but EVERY nite ..thats when Monte made basket fropm way out there ..ITwas a BIG DEAL 4 ME as Monte . ihad him be on my team alot ..ask Mary …i hope you n Ray have good time n get home safe ….n know i like to tease ALL of you!I dont see or talk to NOBODY n NOBODYcomes here.I”M sure many know i”m back but….they respect my privacy …iI leave the house maybe twice a yr. for DR”S app”t. n may be ride thru BOTTOMS ..but thats IT. oldest Daughter Frannie Jo is tazewell Cty. travelin Nurse .48 yrs. old /Lisa JO 42 yrs.. less then 5 min. from here …Randi Jo 23 yrs. lives here …President of OUTLAWS ,keeps in CLOSE contact with me by ph. regularly ,,just in case i need him…He”Randi”s GODFATHER n ALL know it. Imade him a MEMBER after a little initiation yrs.ago … He still calls me BOSS lol.they came up to hospital when i there ….the BEDDRIDDEN n sick were hangin out doors watchin this show .my NEEDS suddenly got LOTS better .well Menno Millie….you sure took us on nostalgic trip down memory lane.err make that highway lol ty …nice ride ..I”LL run 4 now n get back on later …Daughter wants Comp….the BULLY…no respectlol love you ALL …oh yea Julie ..i said i didnt know you WORKED at spudnut.iseen you there but never WORKIN lot of SITTIN lol …bye alll Joe gone
October 19th, 2009 at 7:56 am
Hey Joe, you were right about Kenny Tonjes. His dad lost a leg in a trucking accident years ago and Kenny lost his when that forklift. You’d never know it the way he gets around. I hate to hear you stay cooped up in your house so much. No more motorcycles? Do you remember the Iron Crossmen that rode around in the bottoms, well there and everywhere else. A really wild bunch. One of the qualifications is you had to have a job. Hells Angels they were not. Had a lot of friends in it. I couldn’t get my leg high enough to get it over the seat of a motorcycle now(haha). It definitely was a free feeling to be on one. I’d probably fall off now and not be missed for about 100 miles. Always was my kinda luck. Do you remember the family down in the 300 block of Chicago street whose house burned? They were working on the house and the kids had taken candles upstairs to go to bed cause there was no electricity and something caught on fire and one boy died in the fire. Another senior moment here. I can remember the night it happened and the fire trucks and all the people in the street, but not the people’s name it happened to. Oh, well. Hope you’re feelin better. Glad to see you back online.
Have a good one and stay safe.
God bless,
Julia
October 19th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Hultquist , Jewel …Johny , was the boy’s name who died l think. Willie Hultquist his bro was in my classes a lot and his mom ended up living beside me when we lived on Elmwood years later…funny how the ol wheel turns , isn’t it ? .
My hubby turns the big 60 this week and we are both in a severe funk but pulling back out an inch at a time …a little sunshine stickin around for more than 10 minutes at a time would help ! 
You guys inputtin a lot more would help even more ! …Later Taters
} l think you are safe to relive your “easy-Rider” days …and if any of you kids are reading this ..go in the other room this is not for delicate eyes ! 
Glad to see someone dropping back in blog-city …should we call it Blog-land in honor of ol Richland and the River Rats of Reknown?
Jewel , you need to be careful about reliving your moll days …who knows the kids might read this blog { yeah , right …NOT !
October 19th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
hi n GOOD monring ALL,….i”m changing my [HANDLE ] name to one of my POOL playin names cause TOOOOOO many PEOPLE know me OR of me EVERYWHERE and i mean EVERYWHERE .lol no probs. of any kind ,but things i might say ..uh..idontthink i want ,except for all of you guys . to know who”talking about THINGS ..OK all?Nite _Trainwill be fine n you”ll Still know who your talkin too …ty you all ..I know way to many PEOPLE n 1000times times that know or heard of me ..[or think or say they Know me ]….lol CRAZY …I started IST. CLUBin the 50″s ,again in 60″s i really got it going …out of CONTROL in a hurry …Iwas IST. 1%er….then came inorder ..REAPERS / COSSACKS /CROSSMAN / ARAPAHOS/ HENCHMAN/ DECIPLELES/ and on and on …GOT very BORIN after awhile ….they were all once IST. a member of my CLUB ..{THE TROJANS }enough of THAT .lol…….Julia ,the name of that Family that sufferedthat TERRIBLE tragedy on 300 Block Chicago St. was the HULQUIST Family i believe .that WAS awful , I didntknow Family very much ….but all you on here probably did .YOU STAY off them darn Motorcycles GIRL . not SAFE any more ..I try my darndest to discourage family members to quit /to get off n stay off .got 2 Nephews that ride n try to be {WANNA BE”S }like ME ….they AINT got IT..the one Nephew put his Son on also n …well he crashed the HARD way n know He”s a 20 yr. old Parapleegic confined to wheel chair ..paralized from neck down ..some movement in hands where he can use COMP. somewhat …for Menno Mille/you Julia ?Julie /Miss Amy Branch/ Judy B./Mary h.Rhodes /{my ole b/ball bud.lol /tell Julie when it was we were all playin every nite at the school ..seems either 73/74 or 77/78 ..not sure the KIDS had so much fun n TX to all of you I made it till Carol got HOME ..I lived on 100 block Chicago St. n rented from Max n Joyce Talley .lived in all 3 of their houses lol 143/141/139 Chicago St. …Brenda n her Son Peter lived in 1 of them also at one time next door ..we were at 141 nshe was at 143 i think ..tooooo long ago …NOW ,to ALL of you , I”m definatly not anti-social or showin early signs od dementia or anything like that ,lol,just got TIRED of old life style n so -called old {FRIENDS }that i hadthat never gave me time or room to BREATHE …non stop 24/7 ..could”nt handle it any more . ISOLTED my self for yrs. n realize they would tell these wild nn unbelievable STORIES of we did this n we done that …Carol use to get SOOOO mad guyscome up to me tell all these wild STORIES of all H_ _ _ raisin they did with this GUY [me] not knowin it was me they were talkin to.Ididnt know these people n they didnt me know me ,but the 1 that got Carol{and incidently Carol NEVER drank OR DRUGS ,}was when we were in bar and this guy comes up and ask if that was my BIKE out front next to his n i said yea .he as if i”d like to RIDE with him n his frie nds n i said naw ,,,i dont know that much obout groups lol … he said thats ok ,I”M ;and said MY name .Carol started to GO OFF on him n i kicked her foot n gave her THAT look so she shut up ….mean while bartender SHOCKINGLY looked at him n then me n started to t say ;WHAT THE ——-goin on n I looked at him with MY eyes BEGGIN lol ..PALEEEEZ dont say anything to this nut case …he didnt n Carol n I got up n left ..it happened alot so i JUST kinda GOT AWAY from my past ,all the RUMORS ?EXXAGERATIONS /UNTRUTHS /LIES /unbelievable stories they told …most made up …stayed to my self for 35 yrs. they had me [some of MY BEST N CLOSET SO-CALLED FRIENDS said they got HIGH with me all the time ]NEVER <…NEVER happened ].but it seemed like I could"defend myseflabout all the STORIES so I said ..SO BE IT ..then in 2005 I was losing weight n not feelin very good ,so i got ride up to PEO. from Sullivan where we lived at tme with one ff Carols sisters [Feb. 20th 2005 and went emergency room at OSF ST.Francis .they seen me walkin toward entrance n guy met ME with wheel chair n pass admiting n to BAY 3 in er ..1 look n they AIRED me up nstarted all kinds of I V"S and takin VITALS lol NOT GOOD …Carol got there ,she had followed us up from Sullivan..they asked her if /does HE have LIVING WILL n does HE want us to use ALL resusatation if need be ?I pulled oxygen off n said HE DOOO..lol they KNEW they had their hands full lol /I was down to 105 lbs./oxygen level 60 …50 you pass out n 40 you"redead ..MAN,,itwas close …But now alls pretty much ok ..Iam on oxygen 24/7 ..machine with 50 ft. airline n hand held ones when i go any where ..REALLy no big deal …I"muse to it ..ido anything i want , but its always on ..day /nite /sleep / shower …i check my vitals every day for the heck of it .oxygen stays 98/bp.120/65 /pulse 70 …weigh 177 lbs. hate that liked my 160 better..sooo we come to emotional part ..where I"M so GLAD i found ALL of you guys n as [ONE HIT Debbie Boone sang you really have ..LUVyou all …i hope you like n use my NITE-TRAIN handle ….well I LAYED it all out on the TABLE so keep on keepin on ..now we can all get siiy n laugh n have fun with what was n I wish i could do over …Caterpillar smoke/ railroad roundhouse diesel locomotive smoke for 20 yrs. /and them darn cigs. for 40 yrs. ..as Sinatra sang.,THATS LIFE ….this TRAIN leavin the STATION ..take care ….bye bye HE gone
October 19th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Teen Center …..Pool Hall . Old Swimming Pool , Max”s Cafe , Newels Resturaunt , Chicks , Skating Rink, Brownfields Resturaunt , Bowling Alley , Waible’s 5 and 10 , dances , school carnival/talent shows etc….come on guys …get with it ! ..anyone want to share ??? Hey folks , have we forgot that this bloggin is more a getta away from the stress of the realities of the “now” to remininse about the memories and realities of the “then” …Memories can be a balm or a bane on the wounds of time …let’s share some balm and hope it helps us all with the today’s we face { some of our R.R.R. group , sadly have had, or are having, less happy “todays” , some of us are lucky to have shared good, happy times , in both time frames , and then , of course , there are all the in-betweens . We can not bring back the times with our blogging but we can give them life for a short while in our bloggin . l do think they can be healing and give us strength .
}
l wish good health and wonderful memories past and future to all of you guys out there { our host also included …poor person , just asked if anyone could name this landmark and then we all kind of took over …sorry !
l will be checking back to see if anymore Richland centered memories are being shared .
God Bless
October 19th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Donna, et al.
Please feel free to write on here as much as you want. The point of this blog is not to just “name” a landmark, but to learn and discuess the history behind people, places and things and to strike up conversations about those things in the greatest Peoria area, as you have done.
Carry on!
October 19th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Menno Millie , Man you remember all of them OLD hang outs ..crazy lol…what was the Lady n her Daughter that had the Wagon Wheel restaurant that was on Wash. St. by the entrance ramp to interstate 74 going towards steak n shake ? I think tyey lived in 200 block State St. …Do you know that Gentleman that signs as Peoria ,Illinoison ? sounds like caring n interested fella …n a big tx out to HIM if he got STARTEDthe MACHINE n got this plane off ground n LET you take control of sight seein pllane ….we needed a GOOD pilot at the CONTROLS n YOU”RE just the ticket …once in awhile in you run into TURBULANCE [lol],have us put seat belts ,cause this could be BUMPY ride at times …I”VE got a parachute at my feet…or is that a BAG of Bricks u put there?you”re an EXELLANT pilot , GAL. none better ..you”ve got a fantastic way with words and great at the controls ..don”t BAIL out n leave us to keep this thing AIRBORNE or we”rein trouble -with a capital T..all them places you mentioned ..man..been there ..My BROTHER RICHARD was the KING of Roller Gardens. After they closed he went to Moline EVERY Sunday n sometimes during wk. too. They had BIG rink /plastic coated floor / live organ music n that guy got it on ..I went couple times …it was bigger n better than Roller Gardens , but not like old gang …it was FAST n they wer”nt quite as strick all the time like Jack Doballaire…RICHARD was KING up there too ..lol no contest man , they could” believe him lol…you should of been around when old POP SCHMIDT had skating rink on Wash. ST. just past VERLAS N ANTHONYS grocery store n tavern that set back aways off Wash. ST. n a round restaurant called LUCK”S i think …all the kids from Richland learned to skate there . it was bout block and back from R.R.tracks towards Richland …it finally closed cause the BIG C bought that land ..couple yrs. later Dobollaire built Roller Gardens ..before they built bld. LL on Cass ST. ..they used to have big carnival that sat up across Cass St. inbout 200 block …long ago it seems …i remember goin there ..well ,dont fall asleep at the Controls Menno lol you got our life in you”re hands..this Train gotta find ITS CABOOSE n get hooked up ..OH there she is ..OH CAROL ,CHUG >>GHUG>>CHUG …thats must be her fixin supper , CAUSE smoke alarm went off …hummm supper must be READY …WHERESthe dogs when I need um ..NITES leavin Station ..we gone bye bye
October 19th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
To nite_train, the woman that owned the Wagon Wheel Restaurant was Cleazel Boyles and her daughter Wanda. There was another daughter, but she was older and didn’t have much to do with the restaurant like Wanda did. I waited tables there my junior and senior year of high school. That was a great place. I had a lot of friends there. One of the waitresses, she broke me in, was Gracie Manual. She lived in the big two story house on the end of Clark and whatever. Right across the street from Jimmy and Ruthie Owens. Gracie had 12 kids one of them married my brother Joe. Gracie lives down here now. She’s lost both legs, but is as full of life as she was when we were pulling double shifts at the wagon wheel. Just goes to show you what a person can endure. I’ve go so many memories of that restaurant. 99.9% good ones. I don’t remember the other skating rink you talk about, but then of course, I am so much younger. A mere child of 56. But maybe my much much older and wiser sister does. Well, there goes my Christmas present! ha Hope you survived your supper to write again. I’m luckin out tonight my son is grillin so I’m chillin. And thanks to the PeoriaIllinoisan he does sound like a heck of a guy. Wait a minute, he might be a girl. That would explain the thoughtfulness. Well, keep on writing and I’ll keep on reading. I love it, love it, love it.
And as the kids from the bottoms would know me as DeeDee that’s how I’m signin off.
Later taters,
DeeDee
October 19th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Dee Dee…yea , tx that was their name …I ate there alot ..always by myself …always lots of potatoes n gravy came w/ goooood dinner …Mrs. Clezel Boyyels n Wanda ..unreal that you worked there .they always had that pie case that u couldnt resist too . tx for remembering that for me ..sure didnt think that would be you …lol so long ago tx n bye …Nite outta here for now ……………….
October 19th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Well , guys, l gotta give it to you …you got somethin !…just hope it isn’t cooties !
l just got in from work and drug my weary body over to this faithful ol computer , conveyer of my blogg addiction ! 
to see if youse guys was gonna make me take a swan dive or if ya was goin take the bait and give the ol Blogg another shot in the arm , and …danged if ya didn’t come through ! Now that l know that l don’t have to commit a cyber-suicide, l will take the wheel again , for a moment { no comments from the peanut gallery ! 
….speaking of the wheel { and no, l did not invent it , contrary to what some younger siblings inferences{ thanks Jewel ! 
} about age and the aged might lead one to beleive … 
…l remember Joe’s ..oops Night_Trains { as in “Leaving on the Midnight Train for Georgia ?” 
} comment on acknowledging and honoring the speed limit on the run under the ol Cedar Street Bridge { Shades of Danny and Poc-face racing in Grease ! Coincidental ? Yes…True …Probably ! 
} Anywhooo…l took the only driving lesson my dear ol mudder ever gave me down on that gravel road { well actually up the side of the levee is where l took the wheel, the car , the teacher ,her stomache and my determination , in that case! Poor ol mudder …needless to say it was her first and last attempt at instructing this lil diva driver …luckily , l have always been a Blanch Devoroe at heart and depended on the kindess of strangers from that moment on to finish my lessons in the area of recreational driving ! l am proud to say l have never run down a living thing since then , or up another levee ! 
} .
…you know the gal who bought her pearls at the five and ten { Waibles} she thinks she’s Zsa Zsa Gabor , but she’s just Donna , the girl next door ! 
That’s me …just Donna , the girl next door .
Glad you are all hanging in there with me even when the road deviates from where we intend it to go , bare with me and we will always get it back on track { or the road !
l agree with you lil . Sis , Gracie is quite a woman …makes a person ashamed to complain and glad for what you have ..she truely gives meaning to complaining about having no shoes until you see the person with no legs . God Bless her.
Thanks again, PeoriaIllinoisan, for the opportunity you provided , be ye male or female , you seem friend , not foe .
I will check back later. Since youse guys choosing your “handles ” ..l will stick with the handle , the one my hubby prefers, which is ; Donna, Donna, Prima-Donna !
Turning the wheel over for now ..one of youse guys take it will ya , l got a crink in my arm l gotta work out .
Later Taters
Prima-Donna
October 19th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
DEee Dee , i just forgot to tell you , I had a wild SITUATION in Conway ,Ark.once that I wont go into cause it was with SOME one from Richland ….but thatts where Harold Jenkins got his NAME …looking at a map way back in early 50″s , he picked out Conway from Ark. m n Twitty after a small townin Texas and……….so came up w/ the career name of one of the GREATS…Conway Twitty ..and as they say ..the rest is history .. MY favorite race car [NASCAR DRIVER ] has always been Mark Martin from Batesville ,Ark…..now *I”M gone …..Nite Train has left the STATION bye bye …he gone
October 19th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
Hey, Nite_train I met Mark Martin. Batesville is only about 50 miles from Paragould Mark has a Chevy dealership there. Very nice man, so is his son. Now, as to my sister’s half truth on her driving record. She has been on the edge at time or two, throwing caution to the wind so to speak. Right after I got my license, my dad bought 5 cars from Harold LaConte. Three 64 Chevys and 2 64 Fords. My first car was one of the 64 Fords. The one I wanted was the red and white 64 Chevy, but since it was all souped up and had a 4 in the floor and I couldn’t drive a standard dad said no way. Too much power. Well Donna Prima Donna lived next door to Bogard’s Drug store downtown and we lived on Center Street. She wanted to come down and her hubby was at work, mom was busy and I convinced her I knew how to drive a 4 in the floor. So, the trusting soul said straight there and straight back and off I went scraping every gear I went into. Picked Donna Prima Donna up and we decided between the 2 of us, we’d get back to Center street without blowing daddy’s car up. Both of us with our soup can sized rollers in our hair, her sitting next to me like my girlfriend and shifting gears and me clutching and giving it gas. Needless to say, it was Cat traffic time and the cop directing traffic at the corner of Washington and Center was never the same after me and my “girlfriend” cut the corner onto Center street and got the h–l back to the house. No lives were lost in the making of this memory. At least none in the paper. So Donna Prima Donna must have learned something under that bridge or on the levy or whereever. That’s my story for tonight little buckaroos. Hope Carol tucks you in tight Nite_Train and I know Donna Prima Donna will be. And hey, shouldn’t old Julie be back and checkin in with us. We’re going to have to really get on to her.
Once again good night,
DeeDee
October 19th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
Ahhh….Stretched a little and l sure feel better …Now where were we ..oh yeah, ..
..l loved it ! Held many a hand at that old meet and greet !…both from helping hold one another up and …well just becuz 
We had fun , pure de ol FUN ! l think the world has forgotten how to do that …young and old alike …just to have PURE, OL DE FUN! …to enjoy just.. BEING !
Make Beleive …The Great Pretender, yes, ol Conway was a favorite in our neck of the woods too ! Both in his Teen idolishy rock-n-roll days and also in his gone country days , Happy Birthday Darlin etc. He and older Bro died of the same condition so l have yet another reason to remember him.
Yes, l do remember Richard and the Roller Gardens . The Roller Gardens was kind of like a second home to me for a short while ….Moonlight waltzes, trio congos …falling on your hiney and seeing more of the floor than anything else till you got the hang of skating backwards…ouch ! !
Uh Oh ! Ladies choice comming up and this “lady” needs to sign off and get some shut eye …keep on skating, drivin , and bloggin and l’ll catch ya the next go round !
Prima Donna outta here
October 20th, 2009 at 12:07 am
Yoah , Hey put a gag in it , lil Sis tattle-tale mouth will ya , Jewel ?
Gotta admit l laughed my A–{ as in mule } off when l read it ! Heck , l thought you was going to tell about the time l kept harpin at Daddy that l could drive and finally one day at Maw Toler’s he tossed the keys to me and off we went , you , the lil ones and me on a drive into the back roads of those lil Arkie hills untill l pretty much stripped everything stipable and heated up everything heatable …and the car would move no more !! Thank God { and l truely mean that ! } for that old guy who lived back in the woods who came down and got us started and on the way back outta them thar roads …l NEVER begged Daddy to drive again { others, yes , Daddy , NO ! 
}
l was busy writing my , what l thought was the last post of the night , when l saw your latest “tattle” tale !
Oh well , we are alive to tell the stories …Thankyou God ..
Now Goodnight John Boy , Mamma , Daddy, Etc.
Prima Donna outta here
October 20th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Prima ..lol..Donna, talkin bout Conway Twitty n your Bro dying of SAME thing , Conway was some where between Branson n Springfield , Mo.when it HAPPENED to him ….didnt get to Hosp. in Springfield , Mo. in time …John Ritter ..same thing /he was taping his [sitcom show n got sick ] n they took him across street from Studio toHosp. [ST.JOSEPH in Glendale ,CA. ..incidently .where he was born ...son of Tex Ritter ] and treated him for HEART attack ..WRONG …he had SAME prob. that killed Conway Twitty n eventually Porter Wagner …IT”S called [ TRIPLE A ] abdomnable aorta anyeurism …….main artery n from Heart down thru abdomen to lower extremities ..its like a bubble in artery that gets toooo large n burst .just above navel …when it burst..you have VERY short time to get help ….like opening n stint anow NEW procedure w/ plastic connecting of aorta …I KNOW MUCH about this cause i have TRIPLE A also ….it hasnt enlarged ANY in 6 yrs. normal size of artery is 2.2 cm for a man n mine stays at 3.1……..for woman norm. size is 2.1 …..I DOOOO get CT scan maybe once a yr.was twice a yr. but DOC. says i”m fine n its not a prob./maybe not for HIM lol …enough of THIS …Which BRO. had that prob. ?…..yea ummmm , i wonder where or WHEN ole Julie is ?OH ..Iknow how we can find her .HERE KITTY >>KITTY >>KITTY …she was a REAL GONE CAT in her DAY lol..that DEE DEE sounds like SHE was too..YOU..uh..NO COMMENT lolIF your DADDY could only see you GIRLS now , HE would be SO proud n happy to see how GOOD a JOB HE n your MOM did . YOU”RE ALL GOOD Girls ..tx HERE the whistle?this TRAIN leavin STATION …bye ..bye ..HE gone
October 21st, 2009 at 11:45 am
You guys have been busy. Sorry not in a Vermont ski lodge. Riding in the car and looking at the colors along Illinois river. Stopped and gambled a bit (big time gambler – love those penny machines) Got home yesterday. Probably go to Wisconsin this weekend to see lovely granddaughter play soccer. Well she doesn’t exactly play. When goalie, she climbs up the net and chases the soccer ball by turning somersaults down the field. I hate it that they live all the way up in Madison. Conway, Arkansas. Ray’s sister lived there for several years and we visited there two or three times. Hey you Crosno girls – wish you had been my friends in grade school instead of bratty little girls who played with my bratty little sisters. Was hoping there would be more people on this site by now. I know that Bettie called and told Mrs. Serkowich about it. She doesn’t have a computer but said she would go the library and find it. But that has been a couple of months ago. Hey Joe, Night Train and a few other names I’ve been know to call you, Christies tavern that you mentioned – was bought to showcase the talent of local girl. She moved to Branson several years ago and has/had a theater there. We stopped in one morning to see if she was there, but wasn’t. She does those TV informicials promoting her gospel muscic. Under the name of Christie Lane. She wrote a book about growing up so POOR and MISUNDERSTOOD in East Peoria. She lived along the Illinois River (not Richland) and says she coined the phrase river rats. I gave the book to Judy who had been friends with her for a short time. Never saw it again. Talking about oxygen, Judy had been on it for years. Shut it off when she wanted a cigarette. She had planned a family get together in May several years ago. Was talking to my daughter when she fainted – had a massive heart attack and died. It was for her, good, because family was so important to her and she was surrounded by them. For the rest of us it was a horrible day.
Caterpillar has to be responsible for much of our problems. I was diagnosed with stage 1 cancer several years ago. The day I finished radiation (didn’t do chemo), Betty called and she was diagnosed with the same. She had both chemo and radiation and then Brenda got Hodgkins disease. All three of us have passed the five year mark. My brothers, I don’t know about. They don’t go to doctors.
Brenda occasionally keeps me in touch but it is usually long past the event. She sent me Richard and Max Ray Tolley’s obituary in the same envelope.
Also remember another marriage of Richland people. Don Shinall and one of the Goben girls. Don’t think that turned out to well either. To the ones who are writing in – why did you leave Richland? Family move or your choice. I know it was my choice. I felt lilke my life wouldn’t turn out the way I had hoped if I stayed. Maybe Joe wouldn’t be writing that we were all good girls. I know I have always had a problem with self esteem except when I lived there. Sorry to hear that you’re not in the best of health Joe. That’s what happens when we get older. If it makes a difference, you are always 26 in my memories. Of course, I am so much younger also. I’m glad your wife found this blog for you. Did you raise Frannie or Grace handle all of that. Take good care of yourselves all of you wonderful Richlandites and continue writing even if it only so few of us.
Julie
October 21st, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Julie, you asked why we left. I graduated mid-term, January of 70 and went to work for Travelers Insurance over in Peoria. Because I hired in when I did, I got a 1 week vacation after 6 months. I tookit in June to Arkansas to visit my “kin”, met my husband the day I got there and was with him every day after that until we married in September and I brought him back to East Peoria as a souvenier. He went to work for the infamous Cat and worked there for 22 years, got sick (thanks to Cat) and we moved back down her to Arkansas to be close to his folks and mine who had moved down here when dad retired. I do miss Illinois, but my friends up there tell me it isn’t the Illinois I left. So sad. Wish we had a portal that would let us quietly slip back to that time and no one would miss us. I guess this site is about as close as we’ll get. By the way, still no word from your sister. Maybe sometime soon.
I’m off(in more ways than one)
DeeDee
October 21st, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Shout out to all !
from the River to the old Four Corners and beyond just like the back of my hand ….Davis Brothers Pizza to the Piggly Wiggly and the Dairy-Queen …l knew and loved it all , just didn’t know how much until it was too late { ln answer to Julie H. on why we all left.. My reasons for leaving were pretty much in the same vein as your reasons , l quess l felt like l had to get out to really GO somewhere …not realizing l was already THERE ! 
Let’s take a roll call…anybody who knows anything about anybody from the Richland era , circa late 40’s,50,s and 60’s , in particular ….speak up …l want to see if we actually have any members left …we were after all , the Baby-Boom generation so there should have been quite a few of us , even with what seems to be cells of cancer deaths etc. odds are there were more of us to begin with so more of us should be left standing .
As for Christie Lane , yes, she lived up by me right off Bloomington Road right before they left …l love her singing “One Day at a Time” ..at that time she was a blonde and quite pretty .
Oh and Julie H…was you makin references to us lovely CroSSno gals as being , BRATTY ! tsk! tsk! Me thinks you have us mistaken with some other little darlins , Jewel and l were always the epitamy of taste and refinement ! Always on our most lady-like of behavior ! BLaaaah { that’s supposed to represent a razberry to you !;-) }
Back to Richland basics …l will list a few l know , the rest of you jump in …
Wanda {Owens} Majors …deceased { l beleive of cancer}
Bill Scott…deceased
Jim Owens …deceased
Clarence Gumm ….deceased
Linda Cross…??…Ruth Smith ? …Judy Bradford,{ recently ressurected on this site !;-) } Susie Majors,Bill Thomas , John Hall , Dian Hall , Brenda Cleaver , The Perdue gals, Betty and Brenda , Rona Clack , David Foster , David Perry David Jenner, Michael Hagey { deceased} ..Freddie and Cretus Horsley Judy Dobbins, Brenda Bradty, Bear{ Gary} Bowers, Tittle, Dave Lyons, Norma Ball { deceased} , the Browns , The Hultquists, the other Smiths, The Turners , The Regentz’s, Bonnie Stosich and Vickie Ray{ l have talked to last year ?? ..don’t know now }…Starla Raily { l run into occasionaly} ..there that’s a few to get you started l knew and loved it all , just didn’t know
Karen Green…??
Pamela Cross…?
Terry Ball …married Susie Berger and last l knew they lost their son to the war in Afghanistan, Iraq, but they were alive .
Paula Carman …?
Marie Hosbrough …l run in to her every once in awhile ,,still alive and kickin
and l know if you take a trip down the lane a little more you could start on one street , come up the other and name a whole lot more ! ….of course the “bottoms” also had it’s sections , so some of us are more familiar with some areas than others , BUT , back in the day l knew the whole area , my section and not my section !
October 21st, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Julie….I KNEW when you seen MOUSE by your COMP.
you would COME back when you heard [ HERE ..KITTY ..KITTY...KITTY ] yoy CATS cant RESIST a mouse ..or in MY case a RAT /as in RICHLAND I hope ..LOL …MAN …SHOCKED n REALLY sorry to here bout YOU especialy n SISTERS w/ your own health probs. THAT spooks ME n makes me VERY sad ,but seems like ALLS very out for better …your”reright .every one from Richland breathed THAT D_ _ smoke blue smoke n all that TOXIC water we drank MY HEART would have been broken had I known you GIRLS were havin probs..Judy married Warren Corneilson n him n i were kinda of friends …What ever happened to him? AS far as Christy Lane …aka Estelle Johnston …she could”nt have FOUND Richland Bottoms W/ a search warrant …she came from sota large family also ,,,,BUT she WAS”NT ONE that coined RIVER RAT…NOT likely ..notta …Tell Ray ,Iwas in Conway ,Ark. in 1958 or 59 w/ some FRINDS from Richland n not most friendly situation lol we all got mad at EACH other and VERY quickly escallated into fight and from there things DETERIATED quickly ..thank GOD them were FANSTASTY people at restuarant/gas station and give us chance too leave ….I got outta that state like I was drivin stolen car …I mean GONNNNNE ..Carol n I had Frannie Jo now n then ..but MOSTLY my MOM N DAD ..Fran wanted to go n stay w/ them when they lived in Florida …But mostly Gracie Frannie has her MASTERS n MAJOR Degrees where she could TEACH Nursing ,,but rite now she loves being Tazewell Cty. Travellling Nurse n Office work there ..Caro n I raised Lisa Jo[ my second wife Marilyn ]and now we have our own Randi Jo ..we ALL get along GREAT ..KIDS/EX”S/ WIFE/ n of couse ME …Gracie n Marilyn are SPECIAL …Wife Carol has NEVER drank , been on MEDICATION lol now thats what I call COURAGE lol 39 yrs. DESERVESFRONT ROW SEAT IN HEAVEN …as for me n my health …I got hurt worse in a MARBLE game at Richland School ….LOL …. are You n Ray close to retirement or already there ? oh yea …bout ole Christy babe …ialways parked my Motorcycle or Vette on side walk the FEW times I went there JUST too P_ _ _ her off …NOT my kind of place …did”nt like her or tavern..errr excuse ME .NITE CLUB LOL ….love always n dcnt forget to ask Sis. Mary bout b/ball games at Richland School..70″s sometime …and you mentined Donnie Shinall /
?he died of blood poison ..cut finger or hand on license plate while changing on car …was good kid as was Bob Bradley; had sister named Barb..well .enjoy SCENIC trip and BE SAFE …keep on keepin on …this Train leavin station ..bye..bye he gone
October 21st, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Julia…You said you met Mark Martin in Batesville where he has his Chevy dealership .unreal….He “s been my favorite driver since he started racing back in late 70″s ..tell me if you know or maybe should”nt …what happened to his son Matt that was really comin on strong n fast since he had started in go-karts at bout 6 yrs.old ….can u say why all of SUDDEN he quit ?get burned out or just chose to go in other directions in life …….Prima Donna ..as for Christy Lane ,her {ONE DAY AT A TIME }is fantastic but I like {ONE SET of FOOTPRINTS in the SAND }…MY 81 yr. old BROTHER n 79yr. SISTER still laugh n talk bout hearing that when they STARTED 1st. grade at Richland School , Julie…She was”nt born yet when THEY were hearing the PHRASE…[ Richland River Rats ] LOL …on your COLORFUL SWING you go North n take it ALL in on way to Madison ,Wi.?I”ve took all my 3 Girls to Wisc. Dells at least 2 times each n Branson 2 or 3 times . Mo. n Ark. are beautiful drive and nice People along the way ..N GOOOOD home style meals .. I hear whistle blowin or Carol blowin on supper.uuh must be supper, smoke alarm went off again …Heeeere Duke ,,get under table there boy …i got SOMETHIN 4 you …Train to Roundhouse …bye bye ..he gone
October 21st, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Anyone remember , Christmas shopping “uptown” at Waibles ? 19 cents got you a cut glass rose vase for Gran , or any number of assorted figurines filled with little round candies , a hankerchief { remember , that’s a cloth kleen-x with pretty embroidery, that l refer to in an earlier post { which seems kind of ironic when you think about it , l mean to to use something that pretty to take care of something that nasty ! ;-}, maybe you wanted a card of buttons or a sprig of holley or mistleto….Good ol Waible s5 and 10 , it was the place that this Prima Donna bought all her “pearls and diamonds galore ” …it was the place l bought my first hair rinse …Nestles ! Lil pack quaranteed to make you a knock out blonde { and l was just the niave lil gal to beleive it would turn my raven black locks into sparkling gold { like all the Princesses seemed to have at that time ; you know Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella etc. { bar Snow White, who no one deemed to boost up as an example to we of the not blonde-haired, blue eyed persuasion! ;-} } and you know we were supposed to grow up to be princesses and ride off with the Prince …yadda…yadda.} when just mixed with water, this little packet would make me one of “them” !
Even with the Cat poisoned water we had, that wasn’t going to happen ! 
but hope springs eternal in the young and unjaded ! 
…now that l realize l had the better end of the deal if l had stuck with the raven locks and learned that l was fine , just the way l was …Maybe then l would never have went down Peroxide Parkway! 
{ remember you blonde bimbo wanna be’s from back then, dipping your comb in water you had spiked with regular ol peroxide and combing it through your locks as you put your hair up at night in the the afore mention soup can rollers ! 
Gave me a bronzed glow that my Dad just couldn’t put his finger on , but he knew something was rotten in Denmark { actually , on Center Street at the time ! 
} so l was trotted down the road to have my disgression corrected by a local hairdresser { she had a beauty shop in her home there on Schmidt Court , l beleive .Anywhooo, she attempted to straighten it out and l ended up with green hair …yup ! Green hair , lovely coif , latest “do” , just right for that eigth grade graduation l was going to ! Needless to say , l was a standout , my new yellow chiffon grauation dress and my grown up heels and my …green hair …ahhhh the joys of an ill spent youth
October 21st, 2009 at 10:28 pm
I remember that green hair well! It glowed in the dark in our bedroom. Marked me for life. It would have been scary if I could have quit giggling long enough. I had such a sick sense of humor. Poor sissy. Bye the way, what was the name of our favorite perfume from Waibels. Was it Evening in Paris or someting else? That doesn’t sound right, but I can smell it now. If they still made it, I’d wear it today. It drove the boys in the bottoms wild. Of course, that didn’t take much since they were almost there already(haha) For Nite_Train, I met Mark Martin at a publicity thing for the store chain I worked for. I managed one of their stores, I will see if I can find out about his son for you. Shouldn’t be too hard.
Till then,
DeeDee
October 21st, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Hey Nite_Train,
I lied to you. Mark Martin has a Ford Dealership in Batesville. He has a Chevy dealership in Melbourne Arkansas or someplace like that. I asked my friend about his son Matt and he said he too a break to finish his schooling, but wasn’t quitting racing forever. They are going to see if they can find out anything else about him for me.
Till then,
DeeDee
October 21st, 2009 at 11:09 pm
You guys, I just love to read and reread these entries. My name is really Julia. When I started school there was a girl named Julia who was big and mean. Not you Miss Crosno, you’re younger than me. Told my mother I was now going to be called Julie and that has been my name ever since except on official documents. Of course my mother never called me that. I was always Julia when she could remember which daughter she was talking to. And I will not tell Mary that you said hello. I was mad at her for going to the playground and flirting with you. Yeah, I didn’t work much at the Spudnut shop. Never busy except when 2nd shift got off at Cat. Spent a lot of time folding donut boxes. It was Danny Crosno and his sister that I used to babysit for after school. And of course, I remember the dime store. Shoplifted the only thing I ever took there. Snuck it back a few days later. I do envy the ones who have tangible memories. We never had room in our house to save anything. I had one drawer to myself. And I was a lucky one. I think I have one old cigar box up in the attic somewhere with a few little items. Had an old stenographer pad that I spent a couple of months writing a diary in shorthand. Of course I can’t read it now. Also in the same pad, are several games of Crazy Eights.
And I think a note or two that you wrote Joe. Remember when Pat Tate would stop by. She kept in touch for a long time. Came to visit us after she had married and had two little boys. She went blind and was moved to a nursing home. Brenda saw her there a time or two. Her mom told me that she passed away several years before Mrs. Serkowich had her get together. Wasn’t it Don Shinal Dad’s that died from blood poisoning. I heard that shortly after Don and Margaret got married, he was institutionalized. There was a Victor something that lived behind the Goben’s and A Gene somebody who rode a motorcycle. He lived behind Hagey’s. Lucille Putnam or Putney went to our 10th year anniversary. The only one I went to. Danny Redmond was there. Was a contractor, I believe. I keep thinking Gayle, Lynda, Bettie, Mary and Larry will start writing on this blog. That’s just going to make me jealous. Talked to Larry today and he said Bob Rice isn’t going to let anyone into that school. He keeps the union hall locked even when they are working in there. I think I told you girls that my old friend, Jean Rydell lives in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Ray retired in 1990. I worked a few years longer. Company I worked for merged with another one and I had to drive 40 miles on a lonely two lane road. Took a couple of winters with ice and blinding snow and decided it wasn’t worth it. Miss some of the people I worked with, but stay in touch with the ones I want to. Are any of you on facebook. I don’t like that. I prefer hearing from friends on e-mail where everyone can’t read what’s written. Take this blog, I know that my girls read it often. Not that I’m trying to hide anything. Believe me, they know all and what they don’t, they tend to make up. One of our few accomplishments have been raising decent kids. We don’t have any doctors, lawyers or indian chiefs but they are all hard working and wonderful parents. (Okay they can read that) Sometimes at night I dream about walking across Cedar Street Bridge. Which I have done, but it my dreams it becomes a nightmare. I’m sure that means something but not sure what.
Talked a lot about the Wild Goose, Center Tap but no one has mentioned Anthony’s or Pete & Mary’s. I was never much of a drinker but did spend some time there. To listen to the music you understand. Somebody stop me, I may write all evening. One more thing, I never ever thought that someday I would be talking to you again Joe. Love Julie
October 21st, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Julia, the perfume was Evening in Paris and I think everyone of our mothers got it for a gift at one time on another.
October 21st, 2009 at 11:44 pm
Where to start ? Geessh it seems when we all get on a roll we really get on a roll , don’t we ?
Before l can get a post up someone else is posting ,,,ahhh l love it ! 
} doesn’t sound quite correct but then again it does ?? Are you sure you are not referring to my “Tabu” ? I agree on the not taking much to drive wild men wild ! 
….
{ like a girl friend of one of my daughters used to say : Our home is small but there is love enough in side for all , and that is all the room we need ” Shout out to Poppy for that one ! 
and we had no Danny in our immediate family .
First Lil Sis , my Yankee Sib….l know what you mean , Evening in Paris { although , l can see it’s blue bottle as l write !
Now , Julia2 { aka;Julie H } You hit on so many things ….before l forget again , l want to say how sorry l was to hear about Judy dying and the other girls troubles , You certainly seem to have had more than your share in that department !
And Joe l do hope you don’t think that l am flippant over your hardships , it is just that l get so carried away down memory lane that by the time you guys post l have to go back and re-read to see what l missed ! Know all of you that l care and wish you all the best , for whatever measure of worth that is .
l think it is sad that Mr. Rice won’t let anyone in , but maybe he has his reasons , l try real hard not to jump to conclusions until l have all the facts , having observed and been a victim of others doing that myself, l am slow to come to conclusions myself. l hope l err on the side of justness, at least l sure try to .
Julia2 l do remember how small your home was ..l had to walk by your place twice a day for years , going to and from school , BUT , sometimes Monty would conduct us and other days he was not in the mood , though the lil fellow would smile at you always !
l think our home was fairly large , but l do know what it means to “share” and not have a space of your own …Jewel was one of my roomies for years and she knows l had to get married to have a bedroom of my own ! ;-0 Well , now wait just a minute here…l quess when you think about it that way , l still don’t have a bedroom of my own ! ;-0
l think Julia2 , that you must have babysat Danny Langston and his sister Sandy Howard { both our cousins , the former is the “Sherriff of the county” that l wrote about earlier } because l am pretty sure we were the ONLY CroSSno’s in town .
l am remiss in that l did not mention Pete and Mary’s { my Mom worked there and they were great folks …l used to love to wait for Mom and play the shuffleboard …l am also more a music lover than a drinker too but l just always managed to have fun without the aid of the spirits …like to think l had more than my share { in fact , l have had better times telling someone what they forgot during a rip roarer than l probably would have had if l had ! ;-}
Prima Donna out.
October 21st, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Julia2…Cedar Street Bridge …EEEeeeeee!! l still feel the cars whizzing by as we would walk across it to go to the movie in Peoria …you felt as if you would go right out in the road with the next whizz….
October 21st, 2009 at 11:54 pm
My Bad ! l forgot to tell you Julia2…what you said about your kids not being Doctors, Lawyers, etc. …Just know that good human hard-working beings { especially who are also good parents } are dang hard to come by and a title alone does not make one any more or less than the next guy …l have known plenty of all you mentioned and they came in all degrees , not dieties but just like us “normal” folk …good people abound as do bad ,in all walks of life . l have been blessed to know enough good ones to allow me to deal with the bad “seed” .
l feel the Richland raisin had something to do with that .
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:06 am
Okay girls, does Jade East sound familiar. I woke up at 4 this morning thinking Jade East. Shows I spend entirely too much time on this blog. I too, have nightmares about Cedar Street bridge. I always dream I get to the top and there’s no more bridge. Sometimes one of my kids are falling off where the bridge ends and I’m trying to catch them. Boy, wouldn’t a psychiatrist have a field day with us. He’d probably change professions. That is so sad about Susy Berger. I ran around with her for a while in my younger days. The loss of a child would be more than I could take. My whole world has been my kids and now my grandkids. To lose one would be the end of me. But, as my mother says, and God knows she been thru some terrible things, You endure what God sends you to endure.
Enough of that. I remember Anthonys bar and their grocery store next day. Had a crush on one of the Joseph boys who was a nephew to Jug Anthony and helped out in the store. I remember Pete and Marys. We would go to pick my mom up and they had a big jar on the counter with these giant oatmeal cookies. I would bat my big brown eyes and say something cute and they’d always give me one. I can taste it now. Each time I get on this site my memory gets clearer and I remember more and more. I have a survival thing that I do when things are bad. I block it out. Well, in the process, I block both good and bad out. I think that’s why my memory is so bad. This site is opening up my good memories. We need to tell doctors to set up sites like this for Alzheimers patients. The cure would be there. I’m such a genius. Well enough analyzing for now.
Till next time,
DeeDee
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Jade East , Jewel , was for the guys.
} we would go in the “Deep” end and do what we called “underwater ” swimming { amounted to crawling alond the “side” of the pool underwater , comming up occasionally for air and going back down , opening your eyes under water to see the end …ah , Thanks again God for watching over children and fools { of which l have been both ! 
and even so we didnt corner the market on good memories , we just had more than our share! 
…also makes it hard for other times in our lifes to measure up , comparatively .
Jewel ! l should know and so also should you , l used to go to sleep sniffing Tomases sweater after l came in from a tete-a-tete wearing it and since you shared the same sleeping quarters, you should have inhaled enough second hand Jade East to establish that fact !
Back to the infamous scent of high-coture from Waibel’s 5 and dime …l think we are thinking of Ben-Hur ! lnexpensive and musk based …ummmmml make a skunk wanna change spray !
The Bridge …yeah , Sis , l think we all have forms of the dream you described …you fight to the top of the ol bridge , only to find that there was no more bridge …just the ol muddy river below !!! Freaky enough but when you can’t swim , even freakier !
Speaking of swimming , catch this …every day that we were allowed to in the summer , which was quite often …l gathered my little troop of assorted siblings and neighborhood buds and away we went to spend hours at the old East Peoria swimming pool ! What were the adults thinking ?? l could not swim a lick…but they all trusted me , kids and their parents alike but so l and my trusty lil brood would, as l say, spend hours at the pool …diving , dog paddling etc. and some times { when the life guard was distracted { which also happened quite frequently !
Hey , Peorian …wanna share some of your own memories of that time period …or are you way too young ? Boomers go all the way up to the 1960’s dont cha know ?
Prima Donna out …
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:21 pm
There has to be something to that Cedar Street Bridge. Sometimes I have to crawl up the bridge to EP side and then fall off before I got all the down. My medical doctor for years has been trying to get me to into therapy. I refuse to do that. I told him that was what sisters are for. Then he said maybe sisters are the problem. Think I may change doctors.
I’m positive Evening in Paris is one of the cheap scents that we would get at the five and dime. There were probably others also. The Elliot boy was Eddie Elliot, Joyce was his sister. Think there may have been another sister. How about the Gregory’s? And you’re right about the family I babysat for. How our memory fails us. We couldn’t afford to go swimming many times. Dad would take us to the pits or whatever they were called. Also couldn’t swim and I am always amazed that none of us drowned. Tho I do remember walking with the hands around the EP swimming pool. And sitting outside under the trees with some of the Arkansas boys that Cat had recruited. A lot of them parked by our house. Mom never reported them. Mostly they were homesick. They would come early in the summer and visit until time to go to work.
Even tho Dad didn’t work there, our lives certainly revolved around Cat.
When they went on strike, either voted on or wildcat, Dad would have to walk the gauntlet to get to this job. I’m sure our car was struck by basebal bats and rocks more than once. And then the union hall across the street would be so busy we couldn’t even get to our house. Does anyone remember when Walter Reuther, head of the national union came to EP. I didn’t even remember that until this started. Nasty rainy day outside today. Think I’m going to watch an old black and white movie. Even my cereal boxes are turning nostalgic. Julie
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Ahhh Julie , as you pointed out …all was not always rosy in Richland-land .
l remember the strikes , the picket lines, Daddy working the picket lines .. the hamburger casserole { without the hamburger !;-) } the milk substitute etc. that Daddy would bring home from the Union Hall ..
These ol dreary clouds can only block the sun for so long and then it will come shining through again. The sunshine that this page has brought to all of us who contribute { and you stand-backers out there , reading but not in-putting..tsk! tsk! shame on you ! 
} …is something clouds can’t take away …dim maybe for awhile but never take away . Prma Donna out..
The Union Hall …l don’t know how you guys stood it on a busy night{ living so close and all to it } { dances , strikes etc. } because the traffic jams{ for back then , a minor clog these days !;-)}were horridous !
l have many happy memories that revolved around the Union Hall and one not so happy … being at the Union Hall watching a program , enjoying ourselves , me and my family } when the fireman came in to tell us our home was burning down !
at that time we lived in Peoria in the Heights and just visited Dan and Sandy that you babysat …yup , this die-hard River Rat almost wasn’t a River Rat …a quirk of fate made me a ‘bottoms” gal …quirks of fate have taken me most places in my life and ended me up here , on a strange blog reliving a long ago gone time !
Life is really a gas , isn’t it ? Up one minute , down the next ! The really odd thing is that l still always have a tad of Polly-Anna left in me and when all is said and done , l still always think that the sun is going to come out tomorrow , so Julie , hang on till tomorrow , come what may !
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:33 pm
BEN HUR that was it!! I knew Jade East didn’t sound right.
Jewels
October 22nd, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Okay I have never blogged befor don’t want to write a long story until I see if this makes it!
October 22nd, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Hey Julie I remember Evening in Paris. It was less than a dollar and came in a real pretty blue bottle. At christmas you could get the perfume and powder together. Really felt like hot stuff. Anyone remember the Enlows. There was Linda, my age, and she had 2 brothers Dewayne and I can’t remember the other one’s name. They lived next door to LaContes for a long time and then down on Fisher. Does anyone remember Harold Collins, the guy that won the lottery years ago and gave it all to a girl named Cathy Moore? She used to run around with us up at the teen center. Harold bought her a competion orange Judge before he won the lottery. Poor guy walked to work and barely spent a dime on himself. He was a real nice guy. I think Cathy moved to Florida or somewhere. I wonder if he or she either one is still kickin. Oh, well.
I’m gone for now,
DeeDee
October 22nd, 2009 at 5:59 pm
I don’t have the scholl stories all of you have I have enjoyed reading all of yours. I was born in 1953 and my Mom,grandparents and aunts uncles lived on Edmond street. I am sure my mom and family went to Richland in the 40s and 50s. I remember the Sinclair station where my grandpa used to get gas. we were the Tinkham family. My Mom and a few aunts were very loving if you know what I mean! Grandpa worked at Cat at building KK.
I had the chance a few years ago to go to the Goose,I live in Georgia now,on New Yeras Eve it snowed and the bottoms was covered and I thought what a beautiful place in my older years I spent more time there then when I was younger. My grandparents moved to Dunlap and my grandmother was never the same. She was a cook I think it was Pete and Marys not sure we have and old picture somewhere of her and some of her friends. She loved being around the people there and she missed evreything that was going on. Josie at the Goose remembered my Uncle Kerman Tinkham,he passed a few years ago and he talked of the fun everyone had. Deanie thanks for sending me this site. I miss allthe stuff to and it is nice to read the stories.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:58 pm
ALL ABOARD ?`…Tickets PLEASE..can”t ride w/ out TICKET ..OH OH Here comes Carol;;dont tell any one , but SHE thinks SHE”S the conductor{could”nt CONDUCT 2 man parade } lol ..she ask ME for ticket to ride THIS TRAIN n I told HER ;listen BUSTER , my FACE is MY ticket ,so she PUNCHED it !…..the Elliots were Kenny, Eddie [who passed away ,Sherry married a nice fella n moved to Alabama after he retired from CAT. ..n he later passed also , and Joyce whom Carol n I rented from for bout 9 yrs. Joyce had Son Reggie Sullivan from previous mariage..Joyce n Max had son Maxie Jr. ...they divorced n she remarried ... the Elliots were all good PEOPLE ..UHHHa LITTLE business to TAKE care of HERE n NOW MISS JULIE,,EXCUSE ME ,but WHAAAAAT is this SHOT bout SITTIN under trees and TALKIN[ YEA RIGHT ]to these POOOOR little ole LONELY boys ?WHAT TREES n wheres MY HATCHET …I sat under TREE in our yard a VERY lonely LITTLE boy n don”t remember any one BUZZIN buy but a bumble bee …Thats OK , I now know that when ANGELS fly TOO close to Ground some one always CAUGHT um n I was left w/ NOBODY ..Crossnos”/ ELLIOTS”/ELLIS”S/ WALKERS”/ and the BEAT [ and I mean BEAT ] go”s on..OH YEA all THEM { H } Girls that hid around corner on MAPLE ST. SITTIN under TREES” entertaining poor ARK. boys that were HOMESICK ..SICK..SICK ? EXCUSE ME ,,I”ll show you sick as i go too bathroom n THROOO UP ..LOL ..May i ask, DO you”re Husbands read n play on COMP. too?If so ,, they gotta FALL outta chair laughin at this or seeking HELP for All of US.. Donna…..Seriously..,you have an AMAZING gift that even YOU dont know or understand when telling STORIES n remaniscing …You could”ve been a Dannielle Steele or Nora Roberts or some one of THAT ilk. AMAZING GIRL …if some one saw me laughing at some ofYOU”RE stuff “re they” d come n get me …keep it up …Julia ,,,I thoughtat 1st. you were only SANE on …..but i think you GOT DONNATITUS …RARE affliction ..but times you can catch it FROM ah say like ah SISTER ..UNTREATABLE…There is a DOCTOR that can TREAT you , HE”S ah ,i think from Richland .don”t know his last name ,but think they call him THE ENGINEER , so he must operate TRAIN…as in NITE …LOL…SITTIN under TREES”…THATS” HARD to handle ..next time I go down to RICHLAND ,i”m gonna CHOP down 1st. TREE of LONELY NESS I see …maybe ALL trees…RAY CHARLES could SEE thru that LITTLE NUMBER .Can”t wait for some one too RUN a STORY by me like THAT again ..MaDONNA never come up w/ a STORY like that ….I think I”LLtry that out on Carol…Now we know she”s no GENIOUS or she GOT GONE LONG ago ,[ uhh LIKE 1"ST nite ]LOL OH by the way , a friend had keys too Union Hall [he was clean up guy ] always drunk ,Bob Davidson was Pres. n Ray Belcher Secretary / Treasure [ both GOOD friends of mine] n we would go in there after taverns closed n get on stage drink n sing …now that WAS baaaaaaaaaaad..Cedar St. Bridge HORRIFIC memories ..still avert that trip at all possible times ..DREAMS? NIGHT MARES….When bout maybe 8 yrs. old ,MOM n 3 Bro.”s nme would go across n walk too Szolds in southend n w/ coupons could get THAT Freakin RINSO laundry soap for 19 cents a box ….5 coupons ..5 boxes ..simple enough , but now LOOOOng walk back ..one day I was so tired n sidewalk ALWAYS so hot, just got back E.PEO. side ,almost off bridge n i passed out ..boom ..scared me when i came too …still hate Bridge . I”mSCARED too death of height /long bridges /elevators …when on earlier when runninMOUTH bout my yrs. of what I had to put up w/ n go thru ,I”msittin a bar drinkin yrs. ago n i here these guys talkin bout me [ not knowin who i was sittin in there]tellin ONE of CRAZY n OUTRAGES stories that i would hear now n then,talkin bout time they heard i rode my BIKE across bridge up on RAILING..the other guy says ,that true story .he had helped set BIKE up there for me …I got up n went out side n n thought i was gonna get sick ,man…..ME ,SCARED todeath of height n still will have a bad {DREAM }bout that bridge ….my DAD worked on building it for awhile..completed in 1933 …Julie….MOM n DAD used to get their water from community well across from you”re old HOMESTEAD ….circa1920–23 ..bye for now LUV nite -train he but back later tx all n Donna dont abandon us lol
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Yoah , my Richland pals of the day and my cyber pals of today …just blew in from work again and what to l do ASAP ?? Get on this ding-dong addictive blogg that is what l do !
Took me a few years but l quess l finally found another addiction to replace my old smoking one ! 
Took me a minute to figure out who you were gal ! 
How’s the Georgia peach doing ?
{ Jewel will back me up on that one ! 
} anywhooo they were all down under the afore mentioned Cedar Street bridge {and quasi race -track ! 
and he told all the guys that he could drive a motorcycle { l beleive he told them he had been in Hell’s Angels or some such stuff ! 
…lil devil had never been on a motorcyle , a honda or a hog ! 
so he kept on to one of the guys until they let him take the bike for a spin …what a spin that ended up being ! The entire time he had to be scared senseless and yet he managed to hold his own from the under side of the bridge , all the way across the bridge where his feat the triumphant { NOT } ended in the cinders in a lovely crash o’divine , not my behind ! 
….ahhhhh the R.R.R. life , bravado is sometimes all we had to carry us through …it and the grace of God !
} , the place , the feels , the smells , part of me always has lived there, my cousin { a retired school teacher tells me my style of writing is called Stream of consciousness writing ..Whatever ! l just tell it like it was and there is so much to tell that you have to include so much and so many different aspects ! WINDY ..that is what my dear ol mudder would define it as { oh well , 6 of one a half dozen of another ! ;-0 } …l have to live in this world now { not griping. really , for l realize how many were not as lucky as us to even have gotten to see this new century , but at times l sure do miss the old century and all that it entailed . To live in the “Now” , l have to shut off my Comp. occasionally and go to work so that l can keep the comp plugged in to a live circuit , if ya know what l mean ? 
Gotta go get something a little more substanial than my memories right now { like FOOD !lt’s been a long day and l am starving .
Yoah , out there to Ms Deb !
Maw loves ya like the daughter she never had !
How ironic is it that the Joe on this blogg can at times remind you of the other Joe we all knew , right Deb? Jewel?
Jewel , you remember when our other Joe and a bunch of the rougher guys{ by rougher , l just mean these guys just did not attend our Sunday school class on a regular basis !
Yoah , Joe the night_train rider …you do this ol gals ego a well needed stroke ! l love writing and in particular about those times and that era..the people, characters of every description { including your own dare-devil self !
Save my place some-body …l get dibbs when l come back
Prima Donna outta here !
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Nite_Train, I was the only sane one! Still am. I always walked the straight and narrow. Never faltered. Never said an ugly word or did an ugly thing. Absolutely a complete angel! NOT!! Donna on the other hand taught me all my bad habits. I was so sweet and innocent before she started influencing me. Like speaking of trees, there was a willow, I believe it was a willow, down on the corner of monson and clark before the tunnel and overpass was there, the branches bent all the way to the ground and covered a pretty goo spot you could slip into and that’s where my big sister invited me inside to partake of my first drag off a cig. One out of one of those 25 cent packsI suppose. I, being the angel that I was would never have done it if not for her. Oh, my poor abused childhood! I won’t tell you how she and her now husband would sneak off when we went to the teen center(Percy Newell’s) and leave her coat and purse there in case mom stopped in, so we could say she walked down the street and would be right back. Poor, trusting soul never took her allowance out of that purse I was left to guard. Once my allowance was gone on pool games, dear Donna supplied the money for the next few rounds. Those boys at the teen center loved me. Who was she going to tell? And now, Donna, after all these years, I apologize. I was a bad bad girl. Welll, I guess I’ll go now and try to forgive myself enough to sleep.
Till next time,
DeeDee
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Did l , or did l not call Dibbs, lil Sister of mine ? l go to grab a bite , for just a bit of substanance and what do you do ?? Grab the spot-light ! Shades of sibling something or the other …just call us the duling duo blogg bimbos …we weld a mean pen that is for sure !
} shows , l had plenty of reason to squealch the little darlin , BUT being the kind, humane , almost perfect BIG sister that l was { and am } l decided to just let her be and given enough rope she might hang herself { or at least trip over my purse as she took those quarters out …oops wait , that WAS back then and we are here right now ,,,right ! 
…and as one of my poems goes …”ah , my little sister , my little brown haired , brown eyed sister…
thankyou , thank-you very much …l got a hunka hunka burnin sibling love ! 
What is this garbage you are spouting now?? No, not the spreading elm tree fantasy you were sharing …the stuff about being sane ! Since when ? What did l miss ?
Ahhh lil sisters , ya gotta love um or kill um and although { as her little sample confession of past sinful atrocities pulled on her Big sister { beleive there are many more to atone for !
Dimples so deep they made Kirk Douglas’s pale …
On the drop of a dollar a melodical tune she would whale ..
Stealer of the show , sometimes on her behind l would loved to have left a blister ”
…Prima Donna out
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Ah girls – you are doing nothing to change my opinion of the little brats you were. Debbie did you have a sister or relative named Sharon? I seem to remember a Sharon Pinkham. Oh Joe – I do love you. You made me laugh out loud. Ray came in to see what was happening. Saw that I was on the blog, shook his head and walked out. If you guys ever leave, I may have to go into therapy. Still glad my sisters aren’t on the blog. We argue enough as it is. Trennis was married to one of Bogard girls wasn’t he. We weren’t allowed to go to town to the dances. Had to settle for the Union Hall old people dances and the occasional teen dance. Did go to the old Luxe theater on Friday nights when I was younger. Sometimes on Saturday and watch Lash Larue and the old serials.
Bless those traveling nurses. We called them visiting nurses. After Mom had a new baby, they would stop by once a month to see how she (they were almost always shes) was doing. I would usually be home. I was the one who had to stay home and care for the younger ones still at home. New mothers stayed in bed for two weeks after delivery. It’s a wonder I graduated from 8th grade. Let alone high school. It’s all the education I got sitting under the trees at the ole swimming pool. One of Ronnie Kellum’s sons was killed. He and his wife came to one of Monte’s birthday parties a couple of years back. It was a tragic story as I remember. Donnie and Glenn Kellum are still doing okay. Ronnie had also stopped by the hospital one evening when Mom was there. It’s hard to believe it’s been 13 years since Mom died. I still want to pick up the phone and call her. Now I’m getting morbid – hard to seperate the good memories from the bad ones.
Sitting in here listening to George Jones and laughing out loud. Some people would think I was crazy. Julie
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:32 am
Miss Debbie …There was a Tinkham Family that i went to Richland School w/..1st. thru 6th. grade ..Dewayne sounds familiar,but i seem to remember a Bud or KennyTinkham ..they lived at THAT time 1st. house when you came across Cedar St. bridge between Sanford and Clark St. just over embankment ..We lived at 100 Monson St. …i was friend of one of them in 1st. or 2nd. gradfe ….that would have been 1942/43 i guess …Building kk would yrs. later be built across st. from their Home of yrs. past..I have ALL my grade school pictures …I”llremember him when i see picture …Really NICE family …Donna ,that occasion Dee Dee talked bout under weeping willow tree { excue me , when I hear word TREE ,i get INFURIATED cause some one ON THIS BLOG ALMOST MAKE IT SOUND LIKE naughty thing}, OH WELL ,ANYWAY, she said at corner of Monson n Clark st. Monson and Clark don”t meet ..prob. Monson n Elm st. …I did”nt BELIEVE LIL OLE you would entice MEAN lil SIS to try something like introducing her to submit tohave a cig. ….MAN,,,she”ll do any thing to pick on you …She”S just jealous cause you kept or tried {and HER case ,looks like might have more work too do} keep everyone on straight n narrow ..Oh ,i know what i wantedto ask you…back in 60″s sometime ,their was guy [early 20"s prob. at your house on motorcycle ,thought some relation from Ark..,had Harley Sporster ,black paint job w/ flame paint job on gas tank ....that BIKE would FLAT FLY man...Some how i raced Bob Bradley in his Corvette n BLEW him away ...[ Bob passed away ..him n sister Barb were really nice kids ]…Doyou remember any one like that or am i thinking of some one else ..seems like they called him by initials ,like kj/tj/jt or something …I know i pulled front wheel up WAY too far at 105 mph …spooked me ,did”nt expect THAT ……Julie, BRO. Trennace is married to Wilma Bogard 52 yrs. ithink …She has twin Thelma that lives in Autowa or how ever you spell it lol ..Their Sister Sharon passed away bout 1yr. or 2 ago in Fl. brain tumor …She was special girl …I went to LUX theater 1 time , the LAST day they were open on a SAT. .only time ..Forget that THERAPY and THEM people …as the old saying goes ….any one that seeks THEIR help , needs their HEAD examined LOL we”ll take CARE of the THERAPUDIC probs. luv yaJoe ..this Train goin to the roundhouse ….bye ,bye He gone
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Hi Everyone! LaDonna you and Deanie are just too much makes my day reading your stuff,is this the Deanie or Dee Dee I know and love that is sane? Hmmm
Nite Train my Uncles name was Kermin and you probably did go to school with him he passed away a few years ago. He was more like a brother. Julie my Aunt was Sharon she lives in Cornland now she has been married to Howard Hurt forever they had 6 children.
As far as Ma loving me like a daughter that makes me happy,because I love her girls like sisters! As for Joe Junior I will forever think of him.
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Debbie, You know and can testify as to what a sweet and angelic person I am. I can’t believe Donna would suggest different. I didn’t know you lived in the bottoms. Have you told mom you grandma worked at Pete and Mary’s? I bet she knew her. Mom knows everybody. Think of all the trouble we would have gotten into if you were raised in the bottoms. We would have probably been in the same classes. I guess God thought that would be too much on even a Richland River Rat teacher. You know, they had to have their limits too. Small, small world isn’t it? Nite_Train did you know Ron and Terri Sauders? Terri and her brother were good friends of mine. Well, gotta go the old man says I gotta be productive. Too late for that.
Later taters,
DeeDee
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:28 pm
The Day has begun { shades of Romper-Room ;Romper , Bomper , Stomper Boo ! Magfic mirror , tell me do , are all the children here today ? …l see lil Joe Denny, and Julia’s 1 and 2, Deb, Prima Donna } !
We all know we true R.R.R.’s can not start or end the day without checkin in at our favorite hang-out …the “Blog” ! 
…Hope it is sunny were you all are, it sure isn’t here . l hate{ well hate, that is a strong word, so let’s just say , grey days are not my strong suit in this ol game of cards ! { shades of “Rainy days and Mondays always get me down ” , l quess !:-(
} We always had someone staying with us and there was a JT but l don’t remember him being a motorcyle enthusiust …seems like our house was the hub for someone to stay at while they were waiting to go somewhere else ! 
We never turned anyone away that l know of . My folks were always great about that { sometimes to the detriment of our own family , no privacy , no seconds ! 
etc. Did give me a quite the lesson in sharing and diversity ! 
..
Yoah, Deb …glad your now an official “Blog-n-nite” !;-) We need a little fresh in-put here to keep us all honest { hey, nothing is impossible !
Jewel , do not let my discouraging lil sis remarks put you off , you knows l love ya like a sister ! Ya lil Yankee snot !
l may bicker and take sibling pot shots at ya , even verbally shoot ya , BUT l will defend thee against all other comers and ya know it’s true ! For example …the tree incident …without incriminating myself { you know the accused inticement to smoke } l will defend you in that there was a REAL tree there , at that time and in the vicinity that you mentioned that { though l truely am not sure that it was an Elm to be exact …l think that it was a weeping willow because the limbs hung down to the ground and made a perfect hide-out, hang-out etc. …it was on the way to school { right hand side going to school } and l think that is why you thought it was on a corner was because it was where some houses had been torn down, for the already mentioned, but not at that time, built , tunnel
Night_train buddy ….l will check into the shadowy fellow you inquired about with the initials for a name …off hand l think it was one of Jewels cycle buddies , BUT , l could be wrong { doesn’t happen often BUT can happen !
Gotta work …check in later
Prima Donna out
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:50 pm
I gotta make dinner and here I am back again are you kidding me? I could see us at class together and doing stuff. I bet I was conceived in the Goose parking lot and I am proud!!Yes Deanie I know what an angel you are! HA HA This is so cool you guys. They don’t like me saying you guys down here oh well. I remember one time I don’t know how old I was but I was on the porch by myself and this guy was getting off work from Cat and asked me if I wanted his lunch and I walked in the kitchen eating a fried chicken leg my grandma had a fit but I wasn’t givin it up!!
Those were really the days. Talk to you later River Rats what an awesome
group. Going to email my auntie Linda about this blog I am sure she went to Richland thru grade school. Bye4now
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Debbie …Kermin was the NAME ,,my lil buddy WAY back then ..MAN …long ago ..i think they moved away or somethin …When i was drivin 18 wheelers hauling tractors out of Caterpillar here n Aurora Il. to Fl./Ga./ Bama ./ n up East coast ,our hopme office was in Marrietta GA. …i HAD ROOM AT SAMS” Truck Stop where i stayed on lay overs ..Bars everywhere i looked .lol not GOOD mornings when them guys down there would get me to drink THEIR white lightnin ..SICK? time for Prayers n Psomises …NEVER ,EVER again …way outta my league .PEACHTREE this nPEACHTREE that ..could”nt keep up w/ them folks …too much for me lol tx for reply bye bye ……Well,everyones” seems to be accounted for but DIRECTOR of half way house of {home sick n I”m so LONELY n MISS the old folfs back home BUNCH }..Must be conducting SEMINAR n [comfort ...give me a BREAK ]class ..If any of you head NORTH by NORTHEAST , watch UNDER TREES” for our FRIEND .. FRIEND you say ? TRAITOR …IT took awhile BUT now we know why SOME people move away …Thank goodness for CROSSNO girls , n Miss Debbie ,,we find our REAL FRIENDS n GOOOD girls ..HMMMMDid i say THAT? oh well .hullucinating maybe lol later …Carol just DERAIlED this TRAIN ..back to roundhouse ,,she can”t corner me there…HE GONE
October 23rd, 2009 at 6:33 pm
dONNA …yOUR”RE mOM N dAD WERE FANTASTIC BOUT lots OF THINGS …YOUR mOM was pretty n your Dad had that smile n him n Genusa would talk bout THINGS ..He was always so friendly when I was tenden bar them 8yrs. n they always brought life to the place …But every one KNEW dont CONFUSE his good nature nievate~ he was a MANS man that u did”nt mess with ..He could CHANGE in heart beat if you challenged him when he was rite …Was he strict w/ you Girls ? Your Bro. JOE n i didnt know each other that well , but we would wave to one another …he seemed to pick his own Friends n stayed away from trouble makers ..a GOOD kid ..he made better choices than me ..how old would he be now ? that Biker i talked about , i thought he MIGHT be your Mom or Dad nephew or somethin …i”m sure he was from Ark…..Do you talk to your MOM often ,i”m sure ?doubt if She would remember me from GOOSE …Do you still live in area ?you gotta have one heck of Husband that can keep up w/ your MIND ..LOL take care n excuse me for re-reading all your STORIES …this DEE DEE is[nippin at yor heels ] w/ her stories too……Debbie ,,you mentioned GOOSE TAP , i went there in the late 40″s n early 50″s when they had free movies in parking lot ..tended bar from 1960 to tru 1967 n stayed VERY close w/ Joe Genusa till he died in his sleep .On Fri. nites , he took nap until 10 pm when i got off work after i went too work on T.P.&W. R.R. ..My Wife n i would always meet at GOOSE at 1o pm and go at it ..WILD at times ..I was his SOLDIER ,if you know what i mean , and DO things that needed to be DONE …MY Mentor for about 30 yrs….so you think you were CONCEIVED in GOOSE parking lot HUH ?LOTS of THINGS happened in n out of that place . Did you marry Richland RAT ?lol Sylvia {JOSIE }owns it now …WE talk often , but i never go there any more ..We were 1st. BOY /GIRL friend for each other …We laugh about it at times ,1953 ,…NOW that was a TRAIN WRECK for real … tx n take care Debbie…..Well Julie , are you guys gettin ready for trip to Madison Wisc. thisvwk. end yet?Be careful n stay safe n have great time w/ family …don”t forget to take pictures …and by the way ,if you guys are gonna spend ALL your time riding around COUNTRY SIDE , u MIGHT think about getting LAP TOP ,or pay a FINE for absentyism .I wanna hear MORE about what was going on RIGHT under my nose .No one ever took me in when i was looney ..errrahh meant lonely .lol luv ya ..joe train gone later …………
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Lo Guys …
…you gals get with it ! …You are not gonna let a mere man out do ya are ya gals ? Remember you are River Rattets after all !;-)
… l got older and wizer{ ?} and well l quess that l just finally had to accept that my parents were both just human with all that being human entails,worts,and all
I see Joe has been holding down the fort while l was out being productive
You know l think this is a good time to point out to us all that although this IS great therapy and loads of fun …we ARE writing on a public blog and anyone can read it …and it stays cyber forever …so we really should just stick to remininsing and story telling . Hate to be a party pooper , but that is the way it is and it may be the reason why some of our other old friends do not partake in our open chat .
l want to keep participating and for others to feel free to participate and jump right in here too , but l don’t think they will if we get to far off the track if you know what l mean ..and l think you all do , when you think about it . but l will always be keeping that fact in mind and hope you all do too. l know it is hard to do when you get lost down memory lane , but we have to be diligent, don’t ya know?
I’ll let you know what Mom says about you next time l talk to her, Joe . Your description of my Dad is how l remember him too , friendly, fair and firm .,BUT..he ususually left the discipline to Maw { guess cause she was so good at it!
l know at times l idolized him{and Maw too…whether she thought so or not !;-) } I quess all little girls adore their Dads of course , BUT l also thought my mother was perfect { when l was very young !
… as well as that they were unusually good -hearted , kind and loving people and l wouldn’t have wanted any other parents then or now . .
Now back to the R.R.R. rehashen sessions ….jump right in kids…the waters great !
Prima Donna waiting
October 24th, 2009 at 12:03 am
Prima , got DRIFT n know EXACTLY what your saying …tx …now , whats this PRODUCTIVE stuff ? up here , we call it afternoon nap . I will keep OTHERS out of CYBER , but for this ole COWBOY ,everyones”seen my act or heard of it n THEY STILL have NO and I MEAN NO idea WHO I am or what I”VE SEEN / HEARD /DONE / or KNOW….ALWAYS been {NEVER volunteer / CREATE confusion / chaos / deny / and disappear .} I could tell anyone everything and they STILL WOULD”NT GET IT …LOL But I know what you mean…well taken …now YOU see it ,now you DON”T …them other gals must be recharging their batteries … THIS TRAIN headed for PARTS unknown ..NITE TRAIN gone bye ..bye don”t forget to STOP, LOOK, n LISTEN at all R.R. CROSSINGS …….
October 24th, 2009 at 12:17 am
Speaking of the water …anyone got a down by the river story to tell ?? Remember clammin Richland style …entaled climbing up one side of the levee , down the other side to the shore, beach , piece of sand whatever you want to call it …it was whatever strip the river happened to leave for us to stand on at any given time!
…wading out and using your toes to dig for muscels…squishing that old sand between your toes until you found that prize ,,,don’t know why we were always so happy to find them ..we never ate them or did anything else with them ?? Ah the joys of unspoiled youth ! 
l have had dreams many times that took me back to those old plum and apricot trees and the cherries ! Mmmm! Like Jewel remembers , we ate them till our bellies were full to the hilt and a humungous belly ache would follow . Straight behind and down your back yard we had access to the creek …do you remember ?? …the rope ? 
… Just remembering …
Shout out to Judy B if you are still there ….l do remember for sure that it was the roof in back on the old rental { not your house} that we gazed up at the clouds and waited for them to part or not so we could see Never-Never Land …We were rich in imagination if not in wordly goods that’s for sure!
October 24th, 2009 at 12:27 am
Remember starting on a “walk” and picking up kids as we went ?? Started out alone , but seldom ended up that way …traversed all those old streets up and down …alleys, creek beds , hide-a-ways …sometimes we ended up at ol Richland and had a came of hop scotch or grabbed a swing for a little glide to the skies ….sometimes we ended up down at the river , exploring every nook and corner , stopped at Pop’s for a pop !
…. or at any one of the corner stores{ Species,Gormans or the laundromaut for a 5cent candy bar and a Lotta Cola ! Geesh !what a quarter could buy back then , no wonder we never knew we weren’t rich ! 
some of the places would have raised the hair on our parents necks had they known , but come on now , when they said go out and play we …went out and played…for hours ! What did they think we were doing ?? Can you fanthom letting your children do as we were allowed to do ? Unbeleivable ! ;-0
October 24th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
My computer failed me. I wrote a really long blog last night with a LOT of interesting stories but I couldn’t send them. Had a hard time getting on to the site today. What will I do if you guys go away into cyberspace away from me? Debbie, did Sharon have red hair. I hope she’s the one I remember. We did spend a lot of time together if she’s the one. Add her to this blog if you can.
Ray stays as far away from the computer as he can. Has disliked it since he retired. I think he’s jealous tho. He always thought his small town of Centralia was close knit. They always have a class picnic each year along with 5 year reunions. After a couple, he didn’t want to go anymore. I’ve offered to see if someone has set up a site like this for Centralia, but he’s not interested. But he really does like that I’ve reconnected with my youth.
Okay Deanie, I know you live in Paragould, Arkansas but where do you live LaDonna. If you two just live across the street from each other that’s just sick.
Joe, I’m really happy that you have found someone that you were able to stay with for so many years. She must be a saint to put up with you and the “harem” and see past the bad boy image to the caring person that you have always been.
No one has mentioned about any of the Weir family. Abby, Elizabeth or Harry. I know that Abby and Judy were long time friends. She, Elizabeth and I were short time friends. When Judy and Corny moved to Alabama with their three kids, Abby moved down there also. Eventually Judy brought the kids and came back. Abby and Corny lived together for a while. He eventually remarried, but had no contact with their kids. A couple of them tried to get in touch with him. His new wife let them know a few years ago that he was dying. Randy and Pam drove down to Alabama but he passed before they got there. They stayed for the funeral. Said his wife looked and acted like their mother. Interesting.
I’ve too worried about everyone reading this blog. But how many would understand, the bottoms, river rats, KK & LL?
I would go down to the river with Dad to splash in the water while he fished. I remember those ugly crawdads. Can’t believe people eat those things down in New Orleans.
Didn’t go to Madison today. Erik and family got the flu so I’m stuck with you guys. I’m hoping we got a couple of sunny days. I love to take that drive from Rockford to Galena in the fall.
Don’t worry about the trees. Almost all of the leaves are gone now.
You girls had a lot more freedom than we did. We had laundry to do, floors to scrub, little kids to watch but when we were let lose, there was no restriction on where we could go. You were safe everywhere.
I wonder now why my parents allowed that. Because we weren’t safe everywhere all the time. Unfortunately a side effect of this remembering is also remembering some things that have been best forgotten.
Wasn’t the policeman who spent a lot of time in the bottoms named Red?
I need to leave this for a while. Getting uncomfortable.
I’m sure last night I wasn’t in this depressed place. Bye Love Julie
October 24th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Got an email from Donna earlier, like Julie and me, she had trouble getting on the site this morning. I thought she was going to go into cardiac arrest over the net. CPR would have been out of the question. I felt the same way though. I couldn’t imagine us having to stop what we just got started. Donna’s trying to set us up with our own site and that will be cool. She and her hubby Tom are a lot more computer savvy than me. Julie, were you talking about the cop who owned those apartments down in the bottoms or are you talking about the cop that hung out at the fire station? His name was Woody. Woody told my mom once, that he hadn’t stopped me yet, but she needed to tell me if I did another rolling stop at the corner of Chicago and Monson he was going to give me a ticket. He never did. Hey, I made sure no small children or animals were in my way and if he hadn’t been stuffin donuts in his mouth at the fire department and had been more visible I would have stopped all the way. I just didn’t want to wear out my brake pedal. I know what you mean about being safe everywhere. There were a couple people in the bottoms that parents would have thought were just dandy, but showed a different side to unsuspecting kids. Do you remember Strobels that lived down by Hagey’s? Hilda was my age and she had an older sister. They were from Germany. Her mom would make homemade bread and cheese and butter . Their house always smelled so good. Well, I guess I’ll go for now and hope this site stays in this spot from now on.
DeeDee
October 24th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Thank God! …l did think l was going to have to pull a Red Fox { aka as the “Big One” …l’m comming, Lizabeth! etc!
}
} already think that we are all short a few cards of a full deck !;-) They probably think our Legends of Richland Ramblings rank right up there with …Journey to the Center of the Earth , Fantasia , and Atlantis etc. . 
…of course that is another story in its self …heck , that is another book ! 
l thought your remark about , if it ended up that Jewel and l lived across the street from each other it would really be sick , was a gas ! l wish we did , but sadly several states seperate us …she high-tailed it outta Illinois after Maw and Pa { didn’t hurt that her hubbie’s people were from the same area , and No, contrary to some Northern opinions and southern steryotyping , they were NOT related !;-)…
..hey, it is East ! } and got stuck in Bedford Falls { aka Illinois ..as Jewel would say when evading speciffics , l’d tell ya exactly where , BUT then l would have ta kill ya !;-) …she’a a gem …that’s why l call her Jewel as mentioned before { you have to be a fan of “It’s A Wonderful Life” to get the real gist of the Bedford Falls remark }
…so many good cooks in the bottoms , so many good people .
lt was down right spooky guys and gals , when l could not get the “BLOG” to come in , especially since l had just written my “warning to all ” post ! l thought , uh !oh! Now we don’t have a hang-out again ! l don’t know about youse guys but l can’t wait around another 40 or 50 years to see if our G.G.G.Grandkids “find” Richland again !;-) Shoot, our kids and grand-kids { and according to Julia2 , some of our spouses !
Fear not Julia2{ aka Julie H} Jewel and l did not get by unscathed …we too had “chores” to do before the fun could begin { some of us more than others, right , Jewel ?
l , on the other hand ,expanded my search to non-locals { although there was not a thing wrong with the locals …in fact some came in pretty close in that old race …oops ! l digress .. l married actually an Easterner { W.Va. !
Yeah , Jewel , l remember the aromas from Strobles too …hmmm and Smith’s { remember Mrs. Smith’s famous { to us } Chillie ! Hmmm! …Judy B , your Maw could whip up some delicious aromas herself , gal !
l definetly am working on our own blogg , so bare with me fellow travelers we will share the road again . l will let you know as soon as it is viable , up and running …any ideas you want to contribute ? My only rules will be ; be on your best R.R.R. behavior , no hurtful, spite-ful input…..l trust the good sences you were all raised with to keep it from becoming trash or a trashing bin …l want a safe place to congregate, remember, heal and renew …safe …like we all felt back then …away from today’s world of crazy stress ….hurry! hurry , fast food mentality …safe …like we were back then
Prima Donna out
October 24th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Julie…that Cop called RED that owned apartments at corner of Chicago / Sanford St.,was Red Uppole ..He n Sam Pendola were partners on patrol alot …both ok guys , altho i drove um nuts ..Woody was Woody Slocum , I MADE it POINT to HARRASS him ..he messed w/ me every chance he could ,and iTRIED to tell him ,HEwas gettin in OVER his head . Other COPS tried to tell him too, but he INSISTED ..LOL Let the FUN begin..n it DID …end of SCREWIN w/ ME..end of STORY for those W? lil EARS …lol..Sam Pendola wrecked police car chasin me ,so police commision was goin to give him 3 day suspension w/out pay , for not havin lights n siren on , so i run him down when i heard that n told him i”d testify he DID …he said ,I”LL prob. have to give you ticket JOEY boy ,lol …I said thats , ok , i never pay um anyway …THEY did”nt suspend him them 3 days …Red Uppole”s son had slot car racing store up town next to MY OLE KENNEY”S Cafe…my stop n go ,CHEESEBURGER all the way n on out back door on BIKE..TERRIBLE …Julie , the Weir family had two older bros. ..Gordon and Richard also …Abby n i would run into each other alot n laugh about time when we were in 1st. grade n she chased me on playground n KISSED me LOL, ileft school n ran home cryin n told MOM , She took me RITE back to school …Abby n i always laughed about that ..Elizabeth lived in old Mike Pelalas”s house behind his on Monson that sat back by alley on Maple …River road n levee ..levee used to be bout half as high as it is now n land was bout 3 ft. lower …late 30″s n 40″s ,cars would park on top of levee n they would have Church Baptisms at river …we would watch it at times ..MOM missed her CHANCE to to get me STARTED on STRAIGHT n NARROW path .never recovered..lol..when WW 2 started ,Cat. hauled dirt n cinders down there from everywhere for new buildings ..land got higher and SO did levee.. I”m glad i took LOTS of pictures of how it[down under bridge [ my PLAYGROUND] n Richland/ downtown E.PEO. before they MESSED every thing up ..I also got to BLAST thru tunnel ,before YOU KNOW WHO , comeplained bout loud BIKER n they sealed it up ..My SMILE is still in there tho lol .Did any of you EVER try that OTHER tunnel out goin towards Franklin St. Bridge ? when you areolder n get on private blog , i”ll tell you STORIES bout DOWN UNDER lol ….keep on keepin on ..ya GOTTA luv ta HATE the guy or HATE ta luv im..train gone..bye bye leave one LEAF on one TREE ….
October 24th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Julie…Abby had two sons that i knew ,MAN lol…their last name was Blackburn ..ihad settled down then alot ,oh but not quite completely . i reaqlly liked um ..Abby n i talked about um cause they were like WAY OUT ,alittle on WILD side …they really liked me n wanted me to party w/ um ..well being one NOT to DISAPOINT people , i said sure buckle up BOYS , this could be bumpy ride ..i got um out of Center Tap before that melee started ,Abby laughin ,said i TOLD you ..well ,we went across st. from Lacontes to house ,upstairs where party was n sure nuff :HELLO COPS ..tyhey came in droves ..i”m sittin there smilin ,cops seen me and said they had complaints bout brawl n loud noise …i assured them all would be quiet n ok rest of nite and got them outta there n ended THAT ,THAT would NEVER happen again ..next time Abby seen me ,she ask , have fun ,huh? laughin at me ..Sorry you were Depressed bout not being able to go see FAMILY this wk. end ,but when some ones sick ,STAY AWAY from every one ..My Daughter called , Frannie Jo the Tazewell Cty. Nurse , she workin LATE darn nearly every nite gettin this H1N1 swine flu thing goin and making arrangements for the onslaught every day…no mention she says bout REGULAR FLU shots , too wrapped up in H1N1 ..BUT don”t get TOO down or DIIAPOINTED bout wk/ end cancellation on trip…Get on and talk to the GIRLS ,THEY could cheer SAD SACK up w/ their out of the BOX crazyness …I laugh just readin it over WILD …YOU like GOOD Country Music ,huh? not this R?R heavy metal country , man i” like to haveyou listen too MY top ten …MY LIFE STORY ,sad as it is ..Great Songs …luv joe TRAIN fuelin up for next run…and i wanna see if any of you know about THAT other tunnel when in private ..bye bye gone
October 24th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Wasn’t depressed about not visiting kids, okay a little bit. More so about old FORGOTTEN memories trickling in. I agree Red and Sam were good cops. Other than Red shot our dog who was hiding under our car. Mom told us the dog had been mad. I told her not before Red shot him.
But a very long time ago I had an occasion where I had to go to the police station as a very young child. I remember quite vividly Red going behind a tall desk and squatting down so he was eye to eye with me and talking to me.
Speaking of songs, one of my favorites is “Hank Williams You Wrote my Life”. When we were at Branson, we saw Loretta Lynn. It was the weekend Conway Twitty’s restaurant burned down. Also saw Ferlin Husky.
Had our picture taken with him. A few others but I remember them the most. No comment on that other tunnel.
The girls are really funny, but your sense of humor has improved also.
Don’t really remember that about you.
Isn’t it funny how early we all get typecast and we spend the rest of our lives either trying to measure up or live up to it.
Judy was the “wild one” I was the “quiet one”(little did they know)
Lynda and Gayle were the pretty ones, Bill was the son to carry on family name and the rest were the little kids. So are the girls trying to live up to oor live down the title of “funny ones” and you the “wild one” . I’m
on this darn blog a little later than usual. Told myself I wouldn’t start getting on it late in the evening when one tends to get sentimental.
So I’m shutting off. Love Julie
October 25th, 2009 at 12:30 am
Go to sleep little one n always remember it”s xmas eve n tomorrow”s the BEST present you can receive cause GOD gave it too YOU !as for livin UP to or DOWN for something , I just roll the DICE and what comes up is OK w/ me . I”ve ALWAYS been ULTRA CONSERVATIVE in my Private life that i lived, n did”nt care what people said or thought .I made a DEAL and PROMISE w/ GOD ,not THEM.No one ever could figure me out any way . did”nt waste my time caring what they THOUGHT they knew .LOL….The only SHOW we saw in Branson ,was Jerry Reed …can”t handle these HIP HOP so -called country performers that are out there now ….MTV on steroids Man ,BAAAD…MY favorite songs…FOR THE GOOD TIMES [Ray Price]/DO YOU EVER THINK of ME[Kieth Whitley ]WOMAN TO WOMAN n KIDS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS[Tammy Wynette]AINT MISBEHAVIN][Hank Jr.]ITS JUST a MATTER of TIME [Randy Travis ]EVERY WHICH WAY BUT LOOSE [Eddie Rabbitt]STAND BY ME [Elvis ] HE STOPPED LOVIN HER TODAY [George no show Jones] and of course MY WAY [OLE blue eyes Frank Sinatra]…Do you know what tunnel i”m referring to? just a yes or no will be SUFFICE …NOW its morn. here so Merry X-MAS lol luv joe
October 25th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
I went to bed but didn’t sleep at all last night. Have a lot of nights like that. Can you believe the coincidence – I just came in here and turned on the computer and put my Keith Whitley tape on. (It’s so old, it’s still on tape) The first song that came up was Do You Ever Think of Me. Then I came to your e-mail, Joe. I didn’t think anyone else even knew who he was.
I just want to share one thing about what this site means to me. I wake up in the morning and look in the mirror and know who and what I am.
Somebody’s wife, lover, mother, sister, friend. But no one here really knows what I was, This site is the only place where I’m young and free again. Where I can remember the things that have been long forgotten. Like my first meaningful kiss standing on my crappy front porch on a warmish Christmas night. God had his plan for me and I’ve certainly been mostly happy and accepting with it. We’ve raised great kids and helped people along the way. Some we know about and some we may never know. I’ve survived tragedies when others haven’t. God has been good.
And I have to believe at this time in my life, He sent this web site to all of us. Ray and I went out to breakfast this morning and I asked him again what he thought about the time I spend on the computer. Again he stressed he is just glad that it makes me happy. I mention the people that are on the site and he is welcome to read what I or others write about.
Talked to Lynda the other day and she isn’t interested in writing on it. Occasionally she’ll read it.
Julia and LaDonna I enjoy reading your good natured bickering. And we do look to Joe as our historian. Maybe because you stayed there. Even when you left the area, you didn’t really leave. Okay, for some reason, the tears have arrived, so I’m signing off. Talk later. Love Julie
October 25th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Julie…Kieth whitley was married to Lorrie Morgan { daughter of ,George “CANDY KISSES ” Morgan },who died yrs. ago . Kieth drank HIMSELF to DEATH …He has another GREAT song called {It Ain”t Nothin a Little Love Won”t Cure }..BUT , beingi was LISTIN the JOE”S top ten ,LOL , I”VE gone crazy ,I THINK ,LOL i forgot my 2 favorites ..the ONE is fitting n proper for sure ..LOL …..FAREWELL PARTY {Keith WHITLEY }and this one you can take to the BANK ,STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YRS. {Paul Simon}…if you want a LITTLE humor ,check out a song maybe you”ve already heard , it”s been out for yrs. by OLE Country Guy called {TEN LITTLE BOTTLES } by Johnny BOND .CLEAN n FUNNY …I called Country station here , n they never heard of it , but would find it n play it ..never did …We have 40 Music channels on COMCAST TV cable here , n dam if next day they played it on Country station here. I hollerd at Carol , cause she did”t think she had heard of it , but after they played it , she remembered hearing it before .[ probably HAD”NT ,but said OH YEA , just to pacify me …I”M gonna have to have THAT GAL institutionalized to SAVE her sanity from my MELTDOWNS…LOL .. I told HER i”d get HER out if it took 20 yrs. she say”s NOT FUNNY ..OHHHH yea ,ALMOST forgot …Somebody”s wife ,lover,mother ,sister ,friend .OOOOOOOOK,now that we”ve established YOU”VE got a FRIEND NAMED RAY ,I think I”LL skip next round of QUESTIONS ……Had to TEASE YOU a little to GET you HAPPY ..SORRY , but i COULD”NT resist …that NUT CASE DONNA , has got my HEAD messed up w/ HER off the WALL stories that i re-read ..STILL luv me as I pick my self up off floor from lthinkin bout THAT DIRTY LOOK you”re givin me ..LOL …Man 1 more wk. n month over and its Holloween and Nov. 1st. …MAN, this television should be renamed HELLEVISION …TERRIBLE line up anymore …well you take care n remember ..THAT so-called crappy FRONT PORCH is STILL there as always will be the MEMORIES ….luv Joe ..Train gone .be back later
October 25th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Julie
Like I said before I don’t have the school history most of you have.but I do have the beginnings of my memories and things my family spoke of and many important things went on in the bottoms when I was older. I admire the things you said because it is how I feel. You look in the mirror and know who you are but so many people in your life don’t know who you were.
I often miss the girl I was and wonder where she went. Life happens is all I know. Nite-train I am happy that someone remembered my Uncle Bud(Kermin) he was one of my favorite people ever.Thanks Guys have a great night!
Deb
October 25th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Julie … I mispoke about that song {FAREWELL PARTY } darn it . ..SO many things i wanna say bout SO manythings ,i get ahead of myself …Gene Watson recorded it not K. W. ..Surprised my self , never been wrong about any thing , thought i was once ,but i was mistaken ..A BIG tx to YOU LIL MISS DEBBIE for remembering us”ns. Be back later so STUDY real hard n take Notes , for there MIGHT be TEST .YOU FLUNK ,and off to my OFFICE ..later .nite gone ..
October 25th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Lo Guys !
Seriously , l am not being catty and there is no punch line …l DO understand what you are sayiny. l think you worded the someone’s wife , mother , etc. making up who you are { who we all are in differeing degrees in fact} bit just right …
Hope ya’ll missed me??…Well maybe just a little ???…l had to make hay while the sun shone today …round here that is such a rare occurance you drop what you’re doing and stare in ga,ga, amazement..like ; what can that warmth emmiting thing in the sky be ? …by the time you realized that that bright yellow orb up there in the sky was actually the sun …it goes and hides again ! Lil rascal ! So l took advantage to get a few outdoors things accomplished { yes, aside from work and this blogg l really do exist in the real world, no matter how unreal it seems at times .}
Julie H…sometimes you break my heart .
l think you would probably agree with me also , that somewhere , someplace there was another part of us , that got lost along the way, or just misplaced with all life’s events … { probably also for some of the reasons you expressed ; trying to live up or down to being pigeon-holed or steryotyped } and that part that was lost was who we were , really were (the me, myself and l in all of us} ….the Julia , the Donna , the Joe , etc. …the original, the purer soul that went on to become , somebody’s wife , mother , etc. NOT the soul that writes now , shaped and molded by life’s adversities and what we have all been through , but the unshaped soul , the one that God gave us , the one that really was the “me” in any of us { the imp, the innocent , the pure of heart, the dare-devil etc. } . Sometimes the tears come from the loss of that “me” and this blogg just helped us to verify that what felt , what we were, was real and precious and we did not value it as we should have …l am sure we all would change a lot if we could go back and do it all over again , BUT mostly it is what we would NOT change …we changed ourselves to fit the world NOT the world to fit us and that is the biggest shame l feel .
When we were all younger and still the “me”’s l am refering to; l always thought we would all continue to grow and have families and our children would go to school { at Richland} with each other and their children and so on …BUT as we all got older and began to doubt the “me” in us , so changed mine and quite a few others out-looks on the future.
The “me’s” got lost in the living of the “NOW” and left those “me’s” behind to “fit-in” ?? Like Joe says , l really do not care about people’s opinions just for the sake of their opinion , but we all were raised with-in similar guide-lines that told us certain actions , brought certain rewards ..l think we all found that we were all fine as long as we dwelled, safe, in our little corner of the world but once we went”out” and found out that the outside world considered us “the other side of the tracks” mostly in such a negative ways . we lost our footing and in losing it we have lost a great treasure and legacy we could have left our children. Our children and their children ,do not have anyway of knowing what they lost and have been deprived of , for they have never known a Richland to come home to …does any of this make sence to any of you ?
Prima-Donna out
October 25th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
First, for Nite_Train. Do you remember Keith Whitley’s song When you say nothing at all? I have sang that song to my granddaughter as I rock her to sleep or just when I’m holding her since the day she was born. What a beautiful song! As for the me I see in the mirror, it’s no where near what I saw when I lived in the bottoms. That girl died a long time ago. I don’t know how, I don’t know why. I agree, I thought I would marry, live across the street from my sister, down the street from my mother and with all the ones I grew up with around me with their children. But, choices, my choices, whether good or bad have me looking in the mirror today and really not recognizing who I see. I do believe we are where God wants us to be. So, here I am. Can’t complain. Life could be so much worse and I thank God everyday that I wake up and am able to see those I love and feel loved. AND that I am still able to waddle from my bed to this darned computer and get my morning dose of the river rats. It takes me back in time and I feel rejuvinated all over again and I’m good till I get my evening dose of the river rats and can lay my head down once again.
Later taters,
DeeDee
October 25th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Now we lay us down to sleep …we pray thee, Lord, our souls to keep…Keep us safe from want and harm, and wake us with the morning’s dawn ,Amen
Night All
October 26th, 2009 at 12:34 am
Another night of no sleep. Probably shouldn’t go on the blog. I’m in a weird mood. First off to all four of you (shouldn’t there by lots more by now) thank you for understanding what I was trying to write. A psychologist would say – how does that make you feel. You guys say – I know just what you are feeling.
Debbie, if your Aunt Sharon is who I think she is, I can remember down to her house. First out my back door, up the alley beside by house, then up the alley alongside the little church, down the alley alongside Joe’s house, up the next alley part way to where they lived behind Pete & Mary’s. I’m glad you’ve joined our little group.
Donna, Thanks for being understanding. Someone suggested using this as a therapy group. Don’t want to make you sorry.
Julia, Was going to include you along with Donna, but no you are Julia, a seperate person of your own and deserve your own sentence. I promise to stop addressing you as “the girls”. Ann said you two remind her of the Steel Magnolias.
Joe, Does it bother you that I don’t address you as nite-train? If I change your name, it will be one that I pick and you might not like it. You broke my heart when you said go to sleep little one. When did you get so sensitive? Got an e-mail from Amy today and said she read the blog and she thought we were flirting. Now tell me how does a 60+ woman and 70+ man flirt? Believe me I know how old all of us are. Well except Debbie. For some reason I wanted to be mad at you tonight. Like I said weird mood. I’m no longer the virginal naive girl you knew. Ray is a friend and lover. (Now my girls are going to be blushing again).
And I wonder sometimes if we are remembering the same things the same way. When I read the last blogs I was laughing and crying at the same time and decided maybe it was time to sign off for good. But guess what, I find I can’t leave. I’m hoping a good night’s sleep will clear up this dumb mood I’m in.
Thanks for the prayer Donna and back at you.
Love Julie
October 26th, 2009 at 12:49 am
I really should start reading what I write before I send it. Sorry to all if I offended anyone. I was writing more, but ran out of room and had to erase it to send this. Sorry Love Julie
October 26th, 2009 at 7:48 am
Julie do not be sorry! I don’t think anyone could say anything wrong its okay to have feelings. Like Deanie I do believe God has us just where we should be. I am thankful for her that I have known for many years and been close and thankful for you guys I don’t know but just met on this blog.
Write Later bye4now
October 26th, 2009 at 8:54 am
Kinda sounds like we’ve become more like sisters than just riverrats that reconnected on this blog. I like it. I know how you feel Julie and no, you sure can’t offend me. Yes, I do believe that we are in ourself, our own little therapy group. You guys are just getting a taste of Donna, but she has been my therapist for many many years. If she ever sends me a bill, I am going to have to mortgage the farm. It’s good to just have a place to say what you want with no repercussions. And THIS TRULY IS THAT PLACE
And so what if you are kinda flirting. It’s not like it’s being done in secret and it truly is innocent. I always remembered you Julie from when me and Kathy were kids. You were that elusive sister that lived in that far away place known as Kankakee. Isn’t that funny? It seemed like Kankakee was as far away as England or France. Funny how the minds of kids work isn’t it? Well, I am proud I am getting to know everyone of you and now that I’ve got my morning dose of therapy, I have to help my husband lay carpet in my granddaughter’s room. Till, I check in for my evening session, I must say good bye.
Love you all,
DeeDee
October 26th, 2009 at 10:57 am
Crap, another night of no sleep. I’m going to have to take something pretty soon, and I hate doing that. I was thinking Keith Whitley was my own little secret. Now I find out we all like it. Spooky huh? When I was driving an hour back and forth to work everyday I about wore the tape out. When I just found it again, parts of it are jumpy. It’s got “Don’t Close Your Eyes”, “I’m No Stranger to the Rain”, “When You Say Nothing at all” (which was recorded again by a girl in Springfield and she won an award), “It Ain’t Nothin”, “I’m Over You”, “I Wonder Do You Think of Me”, “Ten Feet Away”"Til A Teardrop Becomes a Rose” and “Tell Lorrie I Love her” Got another gallon of coffe to drink. Talk Later. Julie
October 26th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Feel like we’re starting to go down another path that I started so am backtracking and sending out a few new names. Ruth Ann Hittle who lived in various houses but was a good friend for quite a while. Last time I saw her was when I had gone home for a weekend and she was living on Globe Street and married to a man who was quite jealous. They moved later on and never heard anything about her since. Wasn’t there a brother and sister who lived on Edmond St named Huette (spelling probably wrong). How about an Earl Stanley. Not sure where he lived but I remember him walking to school with Judy and I a couple of times. Possible he was a boyfriend of Judy’s who just showed up at the house a couple of mornings. A John Fulkenrod (here a private spot would be handy because I’m going to describe him as a short squirrley kid – hope no ones relative has married him) Heard from Mom years ago that he was a city policeman. That’s all my tired mind can come up with now.
Love you people. Julie
October 26th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Girls , Girls ,Girls,…MAN where do I start and afraid of HOW i will finish…you ALL OPENED [protective shield ] you have protecting what you keep hidden in your heart and let ME look thru just a little window of your HEARTS ,just one little peek …tx …after reading n SEEING what i SAW n heard , isat here for over an hour w/ mouse in hand and tried to Mybring my self to respond properly…CRUSHED …After teasin you Julie ,felt terrible …so sorry …and then my DONNA and Julia , what i caught after small GLIMPSE you”s shared w/ us , the goodness / LOVE /caring /sadness /happyness /MEMORIES /you”ve ALL experienced ,i got to keep to my self to get ME thru tough times …I DON”T have the LUXURY of dwelling in the past …My HEARTS” got chain around it w/ padlock , and i can”t remember combination or quite possibly i DON”T wanna those in out and THOSE out in…the lives i”ve touched and those i was Somewhat responsible for and lost cause i could”nt do it all, i feel bad for and NOT very good bout me …I told them from start ,there could be only ONE like me ,,,DON”T try !……………………………………..last nite , Ialways tell FANG oops , Carol took look at clock ..it says 12:34 ,[1234] roll over and go to sleep, Carol…thats the time you sent blog ,Julie …unreal…lol…THEN,Iturn my station on and geuss what 1st. song is?YEP,Paul Anka”s signature song he wrote for ole blue eyes ,SINATRA ,{MY WAY}…enough Joe ?nooo not yet fool …next up ,uh huh,Paul Simon singin {Still Crazy AfterALL THESE YRS.}…I said nuff of this ,TIME for REPENTANCE..Where”s the Comp. …DAM ,don”t know how to get on it and FANG”S asleep …maybe just maybe if i PET her 1st. ,she wont bite me .OHHH i know , i”ll turn her LIFE support line off that she has running to frig. Speed bumps did”nt slow her down this MIGHT just work .started chewin on my arm ,glad i HAD covers on …LOL…not funny ? NOT !!!But, i was awake again ALL nite again .i THINK i”ll go back to TALK RADIO station out of Alanta ,Ga. WSB….Music bout topush me over Clif…OR , I know what we can DOOOO..Designated Blogger to BABYSIT me every nite on Comp. ,…HERE, HERE ,..don”t everyone raise hands at once ,we”ll uhh,i know like LOTTERY drawing ,and the number 1 ,gets to play …Now theres” 4 numbers in hat and between just US , tyey all say 1…ok w/ me .YOU guys” work it out …i NEED MEDICATION I THINK …lol luv Joe ….
October 26th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Julie…Huettes” lived on Fisher St. …Berlyn ,[my age]., Mary younger , n Stanley …Stanley wasPrincipal or maybe just teacher out Princeville or somewhere like that n got in car accident got killed …the Hittles “, several of them ….Talked to little Jake few yrs. ago , he owned bar in Peo. n he asked me bout some one that.that he did”nt like very much and i did”nt either , so go ahead n WHACK him , we were laughin bout it .. last time i talked to him … just joe bye
October 26th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
I’m getting on this early tonight and then shutting if off and not turning it back on until tomorrow. I’m thinking some problems are caused by writing or reading so late at night that everything isn’t being interpreted
the way they are meant.
Julia, when I left Richland, I moved to Springfield where I met Ray. When we started talking marriage (after 3 weeks), the office informed us married couples aren’t allowed to work in the same office. Asked us to make a list of 5 places he would be willing to work. Believe me Kankakee wasn’t on any list. But that’s where they sent him. Our first two kids were born here, then he was transferred to Indianapolis and then Danville. I was 7 months pregnant when he was transferred back to Kankakee. We agreed to come back only if we didn’t have to die and be buried here. Guess what. I bet you are a good mother. And how lucky you are to have a granddaughter close enough to have a room for her. Our eldest granddaughter just sent an e-mail with her schedule til the school Christmas play. She is busy every weekend and holiday until Thanksgiving.
Donna, I too never thought I would never leave the bottoms. I would get a job in town and live close to my family as long as they were there. But I made the choice to leave as you did and am very happy with how life has turned out for me.
And to our revered historian, I have some new names and places to mention. Split classrooms at Richland where you had two grades in one room. I was in one of those for two years. Mrs. Ballard once threw an eraser at me in class. I dreaded the year when I would have to have Mrs. Clatt, didn’t have her, went to Central school for 8th grade she was my homeroom teacher. Either she had gotten better or I had. Either way it worked out okay. The Glen Oak Lagoon and kid’s amusement area in Glen Oak Park. Okay not Richland, but they were a lot of fun. When areas in Richland got paved roads. We were living on Sanford St when that happened. Oil burning stoves, outdoor clotheslines year around so in the winter you had to bring the frozen clothes in and dry them on the oil stove. Mrs. Lowery who lived where the Elliots later lived at the corner of Globe and Maple. Was she ever the gossip. Would come down to our house almost every morning with her nylons rolled down around her ankles. And she would tell mom if she thought Judy or I didn’t come in early enough. Learning to tell time by when Caterpillar would blow their whistles. Enough.
Anybody listen to Conway Twitty today. Julie
October 26th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Julie, yes I am lucky. My granddaughter lives with me. When she was born her mother did not bond with her. How, she couldn’t I will never know. But, her mother was a very self-centered person. We had her since she was born and adopted her at 6 months old. My son lives next door to us and is with her everyday. Her mother went on her way and will ask to see her about every other month. Enough of that. Her loss is my gain. Didn’t think I would be raising one at my age, but she is what makes my eyes open in the morning and my lips thank God that I’m alive. She definitely gives my life meaning. And when Ann said Donna and I reminded her of Steel Magnolias, were we Weezer and Clarise?(haha) I remember Mrs. Lowry. She lived right there on the corner, right? And what was the guys name that fixed bikes there on globe street? I remember pushing my bike there more than once.
Well later taters,
Love you all
DeeDee
October 26th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Old friends never die , they JUST fade away ,,,so ,like that old friend ,i”ll just ……………………..fade away _______aka..NITE TRAIN, MUDDY WATER ,DILLIGAF,SMOKIN JOE___________________
October 26th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
Hellooooo….Everyone sleepin, snug as little bugs in your beds are ya? Well,just don’t let the bed-bugs bite .l am tired, but wired!
So instead of chillin l am quillin with my trusty cyber pen! 
BUT in the looks department, in her hey day Maw could drop kick poor lil Sally in and out of the good lookin hoop ! 
Not that Sally fields isn’t attractive in her own right ..BUT Maw had kind of an exotic thing going for her, ya know with the long black island girl hair and a knock-out figure…in her day , now l did say in her day ! 
{ mind you like the rest of us …it has been a couple of days past “her day” and prime time ! 
Sorry Maw , but l tell it like it is ! 
Always did get my A–{ mule} in trouble for that but l still keep doing it …some of us never learn ! 
…it wasn’t just you and
She moved out on Meadows sometime over the years and l would see her sitting on her front porch there , probably doing what she always did down by your house…watching ! 
{ shall we say that she had her own “neighbor-hood watching ” program ? 
Anywhooo , they just tore the house down recently , so l assume she either has moved or passed on to that great neghborhood in the sky …oops l quess that would mean that she was still watching ! 
} referred to me as Illinois and always made fun of what they thought were my Northernism { ie; You Guys !etc. } However , up North here l was and am always asked “where do you come from , your accent is ….WHATEVER! ..Kind of ties in to what Julie H. was saying about living up /down to other peoples criteria really …l wasn’t Northern enough to be Northern or Southern enough to be Southern { now , l realize that l was just well rounded! 
}
Shout out to her too !
l think we all are not by any means wanting to change our current lives , just enrich it with the rich past we all shared …let someone reading who doesn’t understand think that Joe and Julie are flirting , so ?? That is just the Richland charm comming out { much like the southern charm and grace that others write about !;)
anywhooo…l have never met or known better people { and l have met some very fine people } than my kids are …Last time , l looked , Julie , l didn’t have any Doctors, lawyers or merchant chiefs in my little clan either { There is a A Mylee Cyrus, and a Metal Man wanna be in the grand-kids sections , however …so who knows what the future will bring ! 
…BUT they are great people and wonderful parents , each and everyone of them with or without titles .Like l said about my parents , l would want no others but them in ANY life-time , “THEN” or”NOW”…l just wish we all could leave them a better world than it seems they are stuck with right now .
{ yup , this was a up North Yankee commercial in the day ! 
…”In the Land of sky blue waters …waters…comes the ….OK ! l have to call it a day …that’s all folks !
Yeah , Jewel , you would just jump to the conclusion that Ann was referring to Weezie{ Shirley McClain} and Clairee{ Olivia Dukaukus} as our Steel Magnolia counter parts ! Why couldn’t she have been refering to Mylynn { Sally Fields} and Truny{ DOLLy PARDON} ?? Even so , l suppose if l had to pick one of those two { l know ! l know ! you think that you are Claree and l am Weezie , but we both know that you are Weezie and l am Claree, if those be the only choices we have ! ;-} Myself , l am proud to be a Steel Magnolia , no matter how painful it may be .
Funny thing is that my girls think that Mylynn{ Sally Fields } is Maw’s twin in looks and actions …l think Maw has it covered in the action department… God knows she and the character Mylynn sure shared the tragedies and the fortitide to get through those tragedies { or at least endure what they had to }
Julie H , it is so funny that you mention Mrs. Lowry ….I could see her plain as day as l read your post …at night her reading { har! har! } light was always on and she was always ….watching .
Judy …l bet she could tell you who went where and with Whom , within that whole block area , including dear ol Richland !
Deb … l know what you mean about the “you-guys” and getting flack down South for saying it …when we would go home { Arkie} in the summer ..the local kids l ran around with down there { yup !Had a possee there too !
Joe, ol buddy of the bottoms bunch , don’t you whig out on us …fading out is for old film not old memories …so just unfade your self back to the table young man and clean your plate befor you are dismissed …Your wife sounds like a saint …shout out to her ! You sound proud of your kids too, your daughter sounds like a regular Florence Nightengale !
Like we all have voiced in one way or the other since we found this blogg of a life-raft!
The NOW for me has many plusses …many being my hubby and my children and grand-children { although of course l am wayyy too young to have Grand-children , but you know “things” happen !
Gotta grab some shut-eye gang …speaking of ; remember the old test pattern on tv when the broadcast day was done ??
The commercials { Don’t be a feared of ol Paul Beard …he ain’t had no learnin …sellin good cars just comes naturally ” !
Prima Donna outta here
October 27th, 2009 at 12:06 am
Hey !! Why are there just the 5 or so of us brave souls still sticking it out here ?? Where did all the other “Rats” go ?? I sure hope they don’t dissapoint me and do the un Richland River Rat thing and abandon what they think is a sinking ship !! That would be dirty rat time !
Yoo-hoo…come out , come out where ever you are !
Judy and Jimmy …”Oh little playmate , come out and play with me , climb up my apple tree, slide down my cellar door and we’ll be jolly friends for ever more ! ” { remember your “cellar door’?
October 27th, 2009 at 12:23 am
Speaking of old Paul Beard, remember Acri Creature Feature where they had some “scary scary” old movies and during the commercials tried to sell you aluminum siding. Those movies now, seem so corny, but at the time, kept me awake many a night. A lot better ones than what we see now. Back then, so much was left to the imagination and boy, did I have one. Todays movies are all gore. Disgusting. And remember the preacher with the pouffy hair do that had a 5 minute thing before the test pattern came on? After his words of wisdom, he would always rest his chin on his hand like the thinker. I remember one night when he did that there was a big spider crawling over the top of his hair. He probably had 2 cans of hairspray on it and couldn’t feel a thing. The TV made it look as big as a tarantula. Never could take that man serious after that. Oh, well, I guess you had to be there.(ha)
Good night sweet dreams till we check in tomorrow,
Love you all,
DeeDee
October 27th, 2009 at 9:58 am
Ken Yokum , Jewel that was his name …the preacher , he held his meetings at a drive-in in Peoria on Sunday mornings…beleive it or not he was still on TV last time l accidently tuned in during one of my ,either couldn’t sleep and was up late , or couldn’t sleep and was up early !;-) Either way he was on awfully early ..and he still puts his chin in his hand and he still says : May the road rise up to meet you.
} Geesh what was with us and the westerns ? Remember the Walt Disney Club ; Spin and Marty and your fave Jewel , Moochy? 
ahhh the way it used to be …with the “special” every week ?? We were so patient , now we have fast food mentality and can’t wait 5 seconds for anything. l quess that is our key to slow down and smell the flowers , huh?
} the world is in chaos of differing degrees , sonamis, hurricanes { people playing God , messing with the weather and everything else } is it any wonder that Richland in our hearts seems so inviting ?
}
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Ironic , huh , Jewel , since you use the palm of His hand as your signature !;-0 He must ta got through to you a little!
Yup , l do remember Acri Creature feature …but l was mezmerized by ol Chuck his self , l thought he was hot !
Remember Maverick, Sugarfoot, Have Gun ,Will Travel, Paladon? Roy Rodgers { one of my first flames !
News drives me crazy with all the gloom and doom !
Just for a very small example; Cat just announced that 2500 temp lay-offs are now permanent , H1N1 is either rampant or just another flu depending on who you listen too ,…get the shot , don’t get the shot { l know several people who got the shot and are now sick and several who are throwing a fit because they can’t get it because the health department didn’t get anymore yet ! Take it , don’t take it ! It is too new { the serum } yet they say it is afe ? They say had they known earlier { on one hand and yet on the other they say it has been here since April , that is more warning than they usually get ? Seems like the double-speak in George Orwell’s 1984 to me!
The very same programs that drive us crazy could do good if they just would , throw positive things out there , solutions to problems , not hype to sell us down the river …oops ! This is no way to start the day ! Bad Donna !
l will end this post on a positive note { negativity is SO easy and ANYBODY can do it !
I POSITIVELY know that l will be back on this blogg before 24 hours have past .
Prima Donna Out !
October 27th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Donna and Julia, I know it’s always said we pick our friends and are stuck with our family but I think that sometimes God sends us angels to be friends. I’m having dinner tomorrow night with a friend I worked with. We worked with another young girl who got married had two little kids, got a brain tumor. She and Sue (my friend) were closer than sisters. I believe I was sent up there to get to know them both and witness the closeness between them so when Cara got so desperately ill, Sue had to stay strong for her and her family and protect her family from her feelings, and she was able to turn to me at that time. Cara has been deceased for more than a year now and we still need to meet and cry.
Enough – still didn’t sleep very much last night and that’s where these thoughts come from. Promised her I would medicate myself tonight so when we meet tomorrow I will be at least a little lucid.
Okay so more names – the Lappins. There were two boys and one girl who was disabled. They moved in after I left. Then the Gregory family. I believe they lived down the alley behind the union hall. I don’t remember much except for the mother who was one of those people with a big heart and had to hug everyone when they met. I believe there was son named Roy who was younger than me but older than Lynda. How about the summer recreation programs at the park. Mom was in charge a couple of years and Of course we would help out. Madonna Hosbrough won a talent contest one year singing “Let Me Go Lover”and ended up going to the Heart of Illinois fair.
Another thought, in our dreams (nightmares) of Cedar St Bridge, I am always on the Peoria side trying to reach the bottoms. HMM
Looks like we’re scaring Joe off.
Be sure to get your HlNl short. Not all of us have our private visiting nurse. Julia what is your granddaughter’s name and age.
Today – rainy and gloomy – is a good day for Willie Nelson especially “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain.” Then I think a good old black and white movie cuddled up on the couch wrapped up in the comforter. Either that or plan for a pity party that I don’t want or need. Julie
October 27th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
friendly correction…Paul Beard saying commercial [ dont be "sceeard "of old Paul Beard ] and name of Pastor before test pattern , was Ken Slocum .
October 27th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
My granddaughter’s name is Catiera Reigh Weaver and she will be 4 the 29th of November. She is definitely the reason I breath. She’s at the front door right now yelling at a cat that is outside telling it to get out of the rain. She told it” I’m counting to 3 and you’d better be out of that rain!” I think she’s up to about 19 and the cat’s not cooperating. Everyone says she looks like I did when I was little. Long brown hair and big brown eyes. The Everly Brothers had Rhythm of the Rain, that was a good one for today too. Must be raining all over the U.S. today. Oh, well, just remember what comes next…… THE RAINBOW!!!!
Later tater,
Julia
October 27th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Oh Julia, 4 is such a sweet age. They are happy with anything you give them. You can buy the best clothes and not worry about the style. By 6 you might as well give up on the clothes and stick to jeans and t shirts. Only came back on because I am playing an old Statler Brothers tape and I had forgotten that they have a recording of a song called “Maple Street Memories”. If you can find the song on-line you should definitely listen it.
And just wait minute who said it was Joe and Julie flirting? Julie
October 27th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Shout out to the Observer …correction noted and accepted. Thankyou { contrary to what impression Jewel and l going back and forth might give you , l do take constructive correction { or even critisism} well l think l have already covered some of my human frailties and such in an earlier post, although it is a RARE thing, l CAN be wrong .
} decorated like a connestoga wagon and a sign that said California or bust , l was dressed in our idea of a pioneer lady garb { one of Maw’s old dresses and a hat with a veil we dug up from some where , very original , but not very authentic ! 
l carried my afore mentioned Tiny-Tears in one hand while pulling the wagon with the other { real UP town ! 
You probably already guessed that l am a Gone With the Wind lover ! Big surprise ! 
Jewel , l hear you over there snickerin …go cut a switch , you know you need some weepin-willow tea ! 
Each memory could be a book on its own .
Julie H…yes, l remember the park activities , Dot Woolard used to help out and l think she was part of the reason that l won a prize one year for my parade entry…not that there was any favortism going on ….after all l went all out and it WAS a grand production ! { little red-wagon { yeah , that’s right , you heard it here !
Speaking of costumes and parades …remember them …the halloween parties and parades …l give Maw kadoos on that one too because she could whip a costume up out of nothing { curtains ! pshaw ! Scarlette O’Hara was just copying one of Maw’s moves when she grabbed the curtains down and made a dress !
Cedar Street Bridge, Hey , we did venture over that old bridge a lot more than anyone would quess….whether by car , or on foot … had a drag race , and many challenges to drag race on that bridge { l would ground my kids for eons if l had found out they did such { but then Mudder never knew what we were up to either ! Oh, the sins of youth and ignorance ! Thanks again God , for the Guardian Angel that was always at my side !
The movies , Grant’s 5 and 10 , Block-n-Cool , Peoria Dry Goods , Ahhh, the windows at Christmas ! Magical !
Prima Donna off to work , check in later , you guys have fun while l am gone just don’t let Jewel get too lippy while l am gone .
Later Taters !
October 27th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Donna,
Hard to believe no one has mentioned Dot Wollard before now. We had a birthday party for mom a couple of years before she died at the EP park District Office and Dorothy was there. Bettie had married a “black man” (oh the shame) and Dorothy was filmed while Bettie was introducing Roscoe to Dorothy and you should have seen the look she gave him. It was really funny. I also remember one special year when we lived on Sanford that Mom made Judy and I pumpkin costumes. I was soo proud. And the hickory stick, I was thinking last night about parents having their children go out and cut a stick from a tree, bring it it and wait for the parent to strip the leaves off of it before whupping em with it. Sometimes we could get off with just the terror of what was to come before the stick outside. Also remember driving home from Peoria late one night with the before mentioned Max Ray and his brother, Junior and another friend of mine. We heard a favorite song on the radio – stopped the car at the top of the bridge and got out and danced to the song. And we were all sober. It’s no wonder we all kept a close watch on our own kids. My Grandpa worked at Blocks making floats for their annual Christmas parade. Doesn’t it seem like every blog kindles another memory. To those few who started writing at the beginning just look at what they are missing out on. Julie
October 27th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
LADY Donna, my Aunt that i LIVE with here in peoria heights ,happened across this place on her way to tyng and von stuben where she said she went to school anmd said she thought that building that used to be school was where a round kroger store i n east peoria before they tore it down she thought ..she dont know nothing i dont nothin about any .im from pekin 19 years old and MOVING back tomorrow ..you were right because my grandma said that ministers name was yokum auntie wrong as usual i apolozise . thank you .what confused her she said was she new man from over ther years ago named slokum that was she tinks a fire department guy .got CONFUSED and blamed me .this gal goin home .bye …now seh cant find this place on cumputer hee hee and at home we dont got one bye
October 27th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
Ramblin Rose …Ramble on ..Oh …l quess l just rambled back to the Richland blogg page …imagine that!
…Just joshin ! l know you were well intentioned .
Please don’t anyone take what l just said in a bad, or sacraligious manner , l truely think GOD blesses a good and pure humour and that is what l was trying to use to explain my position .
Come on , will ya, contribute , cause l KNOW that you are reading ! 
lt is not polite to partake of the feast if you are not going to provide some vittles for it !
l see we have had some in-put whilst l was absent.
Observer …thanks for being the bigger,better woman. l “observed ” that you were owning up to being mistaken and that once again , l did know what l was ramblin about !
Julie …l got the drift on Dot and her “look” on meeting a “mixed” couple and l am not defending her, just l would like to try to explain what l have come to understand about her and others like her that were products of that era. l did say we Richland-ites ,over-all, were a pretty liberal bunch and pretty much took someone as they came, worts and all …First you do have to remember the times our elders were raised in , they didn’t think that they were bigots because , to them that is just the way it was …in their own fashion they were victims of their upbringing and their own time, and in their time, some things were just not done .These same folk that would worship in the Little Church in the Valley , Richland Baptist, Methodist , E.U.B.{ which is now considered Methodist } whatever the church , which most ,if not all, DID attend every Sunday of every week back in our day ,they would listen to sermons of brotherly love , and that GOD created us all equal and then they would proceed to be less than Christian in their treatment of someone who was not quite the same , be it skin color, dialect, heritage , the irony was not lost on me even as a child . l truely was naive and color-blind but l also knew what was frowned upon and what was completely unacceptable { at least to them , at least in those times } so l think we all walked between the two worlds and some went out to dissprove the old ways in probably a more radical way than others , but to grow , we have to understand and TRY to forgive …NEVER forget , but to try to move on and leave it all a little better than either they or us had it, in those respects that we can . Back then people could be very narrow minded { just like a lot are still to this day } they were not real open to change either{ another thing that still has not changed that much } You really went against the flow if you defied any of those set in stone ,{ but don’t really know why}, unwritten rules that they had . l was, and probably still am , naive enough to think that if l treated others as l wanted to be treated , they would return the favor …l did not then , nor do l now , find that to always be the truth , BUT l keep trying any way ! …and once in awhile l luck out !
l don’t care who you are , where you came from , or who you know, if you have a title or no title , if you are rich or poor or somewhere in-between ..ALL l care about , in that respect, is how you treat me and mine . . By the way to my understanding Jesus didn’t just mingle with the upper-snuff or just the riff-raff, he was an equal opportunity recruiter for his Father !
P.S. Julie .. l would have loved to have been a fly on the wall at that get together !
Hey Joe ! You really didn’t fade away did you ? The rest of you guys , hanging out on the edges , on the fence , not knowing whether to jump in or not …double-dog dare ya!
Later Taters
Prima Donna out .
October 28th, 2009 at 12:59 am
Again it’s almost 1:00 in the morning and still not sleeping. After past misunderstandings, I didn’t want to log on but couldn’t help myself. I wasn’t surprised to see that Joe is giving up this blogg. I think it’s CRAPPY but who am I to say. I hope for a few minutes anyway, the paper respects our privacy and quits reading this. I’ve gone over in my head for the last hour what I wanted to say and know it still isn’t going to come out right. Joe you are the historian and backbone of Richland history and certainly of this blogg. I don’t know what your reasons are for leaving this site and my self-esteen is way too low to think it has anything to do with me. I truly thought it was friendly teasing going on. It was a very comfortable feeling reconnecting with you after so many years. But if it was in any way connected, I would leave this site so you could stay on let others know what has happened to their old friends. I feel I have come to know Julia and Donna as something other than bratty kids and if they want to stay in touch, I can always be reached by e-mail. Also feel Ray is going to be more concerned about my leaving the blogg than being on it but leaving it I will be doing. If there is another reason, why don’t you let us help. We have all become more than friends in the last couple of weeks I thought. Sorry Donna, I’m not forgetting what you have written. I do know that when we were living in East Peoria there were 0 black people in the town. Could work there but live um no. That has all changed shortly after I left and I have no idea of the percentages there now. I’m sorry guys, my hands are shaking and I can hardly type and the tears are starting. I’ll check in tomorrow night hoping that you’re back on Joe. The site really does need you.
October 28th, 2009 at 6:27 am
Julie have I been missing something? You sound so sad.Please don’t be you have friends here. I too miss Joe he seemed to remember my family somehwhat. And he was so fun. Since Deanie and Donna are close to my age they wouldn’t remember my family we were gone by the time they got old enough to know neighbors. Julie my Aunt Sharon Tinkham had very red hair. I also have Aunt Linda that is about 66 we are very close.
When I was in grade school I went to Irving in peoria at the time the black children were not allowed to go to the school one block away from the Taft homes,so they walked in the winter to Irving at the time no in lunch program so had to walk home for lunch as well. It was a sad time I sometimes cried for my classmates because I did not understand there was a difference being made. All I could see was how cold they were.
Donna I think about the old stores too especially at Christmas. I know life is all about change and I have done more than my share but so many things I would have liked to seen not change.
Going To Work love to all
October 28th, 2009 at 10:37 am
Is there a way anyone can check on our Joe? Our little guy may be sick. Julie, I’m sure he didn’t quit because of something you said. Please don’t quit writing I love it when you do. I am concerned about Joe, he seems to have a lot of health issues and maybe one is working overtime on him. But, he is the Nite_Train and he will have to report back to the station. It’s in his blood. We just have to be patient. I loved those displays at christmas time in peoria. We used to go and walk down the streets. Remember Bergners and Carsons used to try to outdo each other. I wonder what they did with all those animated figures. They would be worth a small forture. Remember the Shaeffer boys that lived on the other side of the union hall? There was Gary who was older and Danny who was my age. I wonder what happened to them. Oh, yes, Julie, Kathy must be funking out again. She never has written. Oh, well. maybe sometime soon.
Julia
October 28th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Lo All ,
Sorry everyone seems in such a funk …ya think it has to do with lack of sunshine , or at least not enough sunshine to blind the blues away ?? Grey days drag people down ..:-( l guess we need to find a way to find that silver lining in those clouds we used to watch float by and hang onto it until the sun shines again .
} ..and now we ARE the old folk and helpin each other once again .
l am sure Jewel concurs with that !;-) Sorry if she and l take too much blogg space , but at times we have to keep it going till you guys get a grip and get back on here !;-)
…Joe probably just needed a break { or GOD forbid , he has the crummy flu ..either way we all will be praying for him and for you . Joe will return , we can not be without our Steve McQueen-er, now can we ? ;-0
Morning check in !
Joe , ol Buddy , check back in to the depot, will ya ? You got everyone worried pal and that just isn’t kosher . We will be glad to do blogg duty with you { get out that old Patrol Belt and Pin and we will even let you help us cross the street !;-) What goes around , comes around …we were kids and helped each other { ah yes, did my share of P.Duty too …ll really liked getting out before the other kids and wearing all our paraphanilia !
Out to Deb …are you infering that Jewel and l are too YOUNG to remember ANYTHING ? Bless you child !
Julie H….you did NOTHING wrong !! Do you hear ? You are NOT to blame for whether anyone writes or not …you are NOT responsible for someone elses happiness or lack of …what you did , l am sure , is to brighten a fellow souls way and lighten his load for awhile , took him on a well needed get-a-way trip with a little memory lane travel !
Later Sad Taters
Prima Donna out
October 28th, 2009 at 11:09 am
OOOPS! Out to you Jewel …that was Terry Schaefer , l think you meant .
…seriously , about this blogg ??
..again , seriously , is that what you meant ?
Julie H. , l have a question …you have made several references to the “Journal” ??Do you know something l don’t ? { shades of possibilities !
ls that what you are refering to? That this blogg is run by the Journal Star? lf so l demand copy-rights and residuals for all the original material we all have contributed !
Cheer up , lil buddies …the Sun’s goin come out , just like the song says so just hang on till it does .
Prima Donna
October 28th, 2009 at 11:16 am
Geesh …had a “Some-timer-Moment ” ….l forgot to ask, does anybody remember Damit Troll dolls ? My Grandchild loves the ugly little trolls { they are so ugly that they are cute } and he had a birthday yesterday { so guess what Granny ..or MaMaw as , l am referred to
] got the lil darling ? You got it , BUT along the way getting them l had to listen to assorted stories of how they been popular and re-popular over the years and how they originated etc. and several people referred to them as Damit Dolls { imagine back in the day , how shocking that was ? } …just a lil tid-bit to help get yall out of the gloomies or you will end up lookin like them Damit Dolls and we can’t have that ! 
(
Out AGAIN
Primo
October 28th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
HEEEEEEEEEEEEEERS JOEY….Whats been happening while i was out in the cold?i had to leave IN a hurry , not knowing if or when i would able to be back.We / I , had what started out as little prob. that escalated into stupid {outragious ] situatin …ALL uncalled for , and i might add NOT of my doings ..its ” been other day ,ain”t sure which one , i was getting on Comp.to chat ,when i went to sit down in chair and swing around ,struck my head on dresser ..no big deal , did”nt hurt me or dresser , but i hollerd some cuss word, [WHICH I NEVER SWEAR,,maybe cuss under breath ],and my glass eye fell out ..here comes EVA BRAUN {Hitler”s Wife} Carol hollern before i could explain what happened , she stepped on my eye rollin across floor that OF course she stepped on , down she goes and struck her BIG FAT HEAD onend table .out popped HER glass eye so i grabbed it as it rolled past my chair ..i huffed on it a couple of times and wiped it off and put it in where mine had been .as she lifted [and BELIEVE ME ,THATS a BIIIIG LIFT up off floor , she found mine ..she said i LOOKED stupid w/ one brown eye and her BLUE .i LIKED it and told her so , besides i thought i could SEE better , so she put my BROWN eye in ,,man she LOOKED goofy , but i said ok ,,not bad..not bad at all..well ,things started to quiet down little when i notice she had broken leg on end table when she fell after fallin ..i was LIVID …Gracie [my 1st. LOVELY wife had given us THAT as wedding gift . it had belonged to Gracie”ssecond husband , so it was like heirloom to ALL of us ..so here we are , and i need YOU ALL help..i told you”s I”VE never been wrong ,thought iwas once, but i was mistaken .prob. is …should i tell Randi Jo that when Carol, before i explained things to her ,,she was a Democrat?…….OK, now i used to live under Cedar St. Bridge , i mean my HOME, when NOBODY cared or would TAKE me in AND take care of poor lil ole ME { ITS” ALWAYS BEEN ME}…the Bridge was my ceiling ,MY PROTECTION , and too THINK SOME ONE would do the FREAKIN Tennesee WALTZ on MY roof is DISGUSTING and SICKENING …I”D liked to have come by and caught THAT little ACT,SOME ONE”S A_ _ would”ve been doin bungy jump off MY roof w/ out bungy cord …I would”ve never done Richland “ROMP”on their roof …excuse me,but i think i”ll go PUKE !well all have wonderful DINNER tonite ,,ithink i”ll have ahh.yea ,i know CROW smothered in HUMILITY SAUCE …call me anything you want ,,just don”t call me late for supper …
October 28th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Praise GOD and pass the ammo , Joeeeee is back in town !
9 lashes with a wet noodle !
Freddy Horsley used to be one of my lunchroom duty buddies and would we have stories to tell …are you out there Freddy? If you are , thanks for all the handle-bar rides when my ol Richland loafers were dogged and tired !;-) …another fun lunchroom duty buddy was Kenny Parks , but sadly he and l will have to share those stories once again in another world { not Richland , but maybe Heaven’s eqivilant } 
Glad to hear that you and your wife now see eye to eye !;-)
You do know how you have almost caused us to lose lil Julie H with your shinnanigans , don’t ya , ya lil imp !
Did you ever do lunchroom duty Joeee ? Figured if ya enrolled in the patrols ya probably also got drafted for lunchroom duty !
Just got in from work again , so l gotta grab a bite and then l will check back in …you guys behave while l am gone …Yeah, right , like l beleive that ..NOT !
Primo out to eat /back soon
October 28th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
oh, my mom’s last message broke my heart. So I felt compelled to write here. Mr. Nite-Train, welcome back. Please don’t go. Half the time I don’t know what the hell you are talking about, but that’s why I like you! Mom, you do NOT quit writing on this blog. You hear me?! Yes, I could just call you and tell you this, but why not do it here so Julia and Donna and Debbie and others could continue to support this. I absolutely LOVE that you have this blog to reconnect and reading your entries has introduced me to the Richland Julie H. and I want to know more about her. I want to know more about you ALL of you. This is a happy place. A Happy Place. A warm hug. A soft pat on the head. An emotional place. A reaffirming place. A safe place. YOUR place. Don’t go. ANY of you. LOVE, a proud (and assertive) child of a river rat.
October 28th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
Donna?…what do you mean,;shinannigans ;? i get punished ;TIME OUTS and GROUNDED; like all bad lil boys when i do DUMB things by Mrs. KRATCHET …[Carol]lol …Because I”M out of the LOOP w/ {PEOPLE} , i still have my HANDS full at times n dont EVER go out of my way too make ANYONE feel uncomfortable or HURT them… GOD knows I had that GUILT thrust on me w/ out tryin , ALL my adult life .but i tease n “play ” just to VENT and keep my MIND [whats left of it ,LOL]from thinking bout THINGS ..OK?ok…YOU dooo LUV me tho , EXCUSE ME? was that a YES or uhh maybe…no,no, ……no maybe”s … atta Girl i was hopen you would SHAKE your head w/ a BIG yes , and like that BIG fore – giver you are , you DID …ty …..NOW little MISS AMY , you listen here ,you”re suppose to be keepin an EYE on US old folks, and PERSONNALLY , i think YOU”RE doin a GREAT job ,A BIG TX ,lil one … you must be awful GROWN up and WISE too see and understand us old[ME]folks .We try too have fun w/ this thing and some times MY fun and REALITY gets in WAY of each other .lol…YOUR Mom and Dad don”t have to worry bout you Girl ,you”re WAY ahead of us …Stay close and keep us on straight and narrow …tx for your understanding AND INPUT …luv too ALL n YOU Mrs.________ , WHERE ever you are …Joe
October 29th, 2009 at 12:32 am
Amy …what a sweet thing you are !….Julie H. ….hold on help is on the way ….Joe …keep on bein Joeeee …Good night all … “GOOD NIGHT, Mrs. Calabash–wherever you are!”
October 29th, 2009 at 2:12 am
Donna….lol Jimmy Durante WAS and ALWAYS one of my 1st. favorites ..NEVER ,EVER missed his tv show in eary 50″s ..MRS. Calabash was”nt real person, it stood for a “secrect love “of a person he would never reveal …Calabash , his CLOSET friendsonce revealed,prob. 50 yrs. ago said it was name of town ,if i remember rite , of a LOVE affair of a girl ,that he would NEVER reveal , cause they lost contact when he was some where different every nite w/ his vaudeville act .He never could contact her for reasons ONLY they knew…New JERSEY or some town on East Coast somewhere …Friend said SHE was only GIRL he ever REALLY loved ….inky dinky dink,a inky dinky doo—-i love you , inky diny do …If you ever get chance to here HIS version of {SEPTEMBER SONG} , its” great …….So i WAS”NT talkin bout MRS. CALABASH >>>>LOL nite luv joe….
October 29th, 2009 at 2:17 am
Damn it – Damn it gosh darn. Excuse me. Okay almost 2 a.m. and awake again. I wish I had a simple uncomplicated answer for what has happened (whatever it was) like Joe did but can only claim lack of sleep. Does anyone else have insomnia this bad. There is a little bottle of Ativan in the medicine cabinet calling to me but I detest taking it. Dr gave me a prescription over five years ago and I still have a lot left except for what Amy takes from me. Wish our blog was up and running. My girls are trying to drive me crazy. Ann calls from work, scolds me, calls when she gets home and tells me everyone is back on and then Amy calls at bedtime (so she can scare us) and scolds me and then says she has written again. I try to explain to them that they are the children and I am the mother but they laugh at me. Sometimes it has been difficult for me trying to exist in both worlds. Delving too deeply in the past can stir up memories that are best forgotten. I’m talking before any of you were ever in my life. We’ve made a big deal about us being a blogg family now and like all families, we will get into disagreements from time to time. Pull away and then come back together stronger than before. And like family there is also a love and deep committment. Joe, we weren’t dancing to any song. It was “Unchained Melody” and my original family has a vow to dance to that whenever and wherever we are. How would I know that dumb Al would stop on top of the bridge. Not long after that, I was with a couple of my crazier sisters coming home from somewhere(probably Steak & Shake) about one in the morning. The song came on, Mary stopped the car FORCED Bettie and I to dance in front of The Center Tap and then drove away leaving us. We had to walk home. Center Tap was never one of my favorite places so we couldn’t go in there and ask for help. And I like to think there is room in my heart for a lot of people who love me and who I love. I would never think of putting chains to lock someone in. I would hope they were staying because they didn’t want to anywhere else. But you really do make me laugh and nothing could keep me away from writing to Julia, Donna and Debbie. I’m so glad to hear that your Aunt Sharon is who I am remembering. Where is she now and what is she up to. Tell be about her.
Oh and talking about craziness, three of us girls stood in front of St Francis hospital one afternoon and danced the Hokey Pokey after taking mom to the family room. She needed a laugh and couldn’t seem to find one. There is no end to what a person can do when necessary. As a side note, Larry pulled up in the parking lot during that time and kept repeating to himself, don’t let that be my sisters, please don’t let that be my sisters.
See he has no choice in the matter either.
This has all seemed like 5th grade drama – isn’t it great. Love Julie
October 29th, 2009 at 11:15 am
Hey JULIE…looks like we were up at same time bloggin over each other..lolbout rite ….NOW don”t you be YELLIN at them lil ones … their WAY ahead of us ..they don”t have LUXURY of expericing the stupid ,siily ,and astrosiuos things we all have .so don”t be hollerin at them [ as long as they like me ] LOL.Their only ONES besides YOUR guys Husbands and “FANG” that would tolerate us and our FIGHT from trying to let go of PAST n get a REAL grip of holdin on to TWILITE time …THEIR the tolerant ones …GOD BLESS um for puttin up w/ us …a BIG ty to all of ABOVE {AND I MEAN ABOVE} them …that song ,UNCHAINED MELODY , was big hit for AL HIBLER in 1952 .A blind Black man … MAN, he had string of hits back then …YOU are the GLUE that cankeep this PUZZLE together and not MISPLACE pieces ,[ like that ONE piece that never seems to fit anywhere ...like ME,] just turn my “piece”over and sooner or later you”ll finnd where it GO”S ….lol CAREFUL there GIRL …LUV me ? I CERTAINLY missed you , so you don”t be scolden CHILDREN ,just because THEY all love YOU and their DAD so much …Children worry bout PARENTS ,as much as PARENTS worry bout them , believe me , you DO believe me ,WELL don”t YOU?…LISTENto ME , check exp. date on MED. in cabinet ,all can become TOXIC after time , besides you need that B.S. , just think of ME!!!LOL …i KNOW MED. …like i signed off at 2:17 and still awake at 6 am …know we know that AIN”T gonna work again ,nite after nite ….radio ,here it comes …some A– hole must be trying too getEVEN w/ mee lol, Jack Webb”s[just the facts mam, just the facts],ex wife comes on and i get CRY ME A RIVER,CRY ME A RIVER <I CRIED A RIVER OVER YOU ….I"LL show her a RIVER ..LIKE SLOUGH down onriver road by pumphouse . then Simon and GARFUNkLE{BRIDGE OVER TROBLE WATERS }Had enough JOSEPH ? NOPE not me sucker …already i hear the head in a vice comin ,YEP….RAY PRICE ..you got it ..{FOR THE GOOD TIMES }…So its" get up STUPID ,its almost 6:30 and enjoy DAY/NITE ,what ever VERY soon it"l be ,HELLO XANAX,,errmake that a DOUBLE FOOL .YOU"VE got a rondavuo w/ destiny ,as in RECLINER …luv and relax , you"re VERY LUCKY GAL /a STATUE OF strentgh inspiration …BE PROUD of YOURSELF / WE ALL SURE are TX for BEING YOU …luv Joe …….Donna , Got thinkin while lying in bed all nite [bout 3/half hrs. ] and thinking of Jimmy Durante as i use to listen to his Radio show in 40s, and could" help picturing OLE SCHNOZZw/ his hat , and it kinda remined me of My Uncle John [custodian at Richland School ]…he had hat like that ,all he was missing was Durante"s nose…i can still see him when i would stop in and see him makin his rounds too make SURE all things were complete …and across gym floor ,start up steps ,hesitate w/ one more glance, and off too HIS WORLD AND thoughts in boiler room …GOOOOD MAN …Sleep in PEACE old timer …..surely no FURNACES" where you"re at …….DIVA DEE DEE …you"re awfully quiet ,husband oops sorry ,err cat got you"re tongue?uhhh,somethin bout that DON"T sound rite …think I"LL do a Walmart and take IT back . just teasin , you laughin,NO ,,smilin just a little ,maybe ? ok no more of THAT ….gets like that when no sleep … luv nite …
October 29th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Oh Joeeee . You are such a card !
l enjoyed your info on the lady in Durante’s life ..makes one beleive in pure love again ! 
YES! YES! Your Uncle did put a body in mind of Durante ! You hit it right on the nose { pun intended !
l loved um both !
Julie , hold on the kinks are getting worked out …just hold Joeee on the straight and narrow until we are kinkless .
Later guys …the world and work becon me ….and like anything beconing it is irritating but necessary that l say adios muchachos , Later
October 29th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Once again the computer (bottle) let me down. I had written a nice long missive full of loving thoughts for all of you pressed submit comment, and the site says I was commenting too fast and erased all of it. I’m not going thru all of that again. So you will just have to imagine all the great things I wrote about you. I’m sure you’re got it just right. Love Julie
October 29th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Julie …checked w/ Microsoft about you sayin you MUST have been commenting TOO fast ,they said its” IMPOSSIBLE .They said those you are sending ,and I qoute “long missive full of LOVING thoughts”, you mispelled LOVING ,which in REALITY was picked up by built in “TRUTH WORM” and it says you meant B.S. thoughts ..LOL…IT knows when you don”t mean IT and will not let it go thru. . thats why MINE always come thru w/ out a hitch, cause ,I”M a good honest kind of feller . lol …i”ve had that happen to me twice , and go “NUTSO”. all finish and commit ,hello BLANK…DRIVE me crazy..uhh w/ me ,NOT drive ,”SHORT PUTT”…Carol ALWAYS ask if i want her re-type it ,but i can”t dictate what i wanna say to her to do…Her and Randi Jo can type 90 words a min.when she wants to help, i appreciate it but, i ramble toooo much .lol… yea , think of all them longest blogs i”ve sent and hit commit …get ATTITUDE and start over ….one finger ,MAN , quit SCHOOL cause they had TOO many RECESSES”S ,and i DON”T play. dont give up ,,try it again and I”LL shut off “TRUTH WORM” so it comes thru …I wanna see THAT . Frannie Jo called while i was typing n said their out of h1n1 virus AGAIN n expect more in tomm. or over wk. end .workin at least 10 hrs. ..6 days a wk.opologise for not callin or comin around …told her thats fine …SKIP the COMIN around part , dont wanna take chance of maybe being EXPOSED ,thank you very much …lol ..i told her she sees” tooooo many SICKOS” ..ph. call is suffice thank you ..lol she was laughin …DON”T FORGET NOW ,word for word ,what did”nt come thru…i can check w/ TRUTH WORM ya know ….STAY out of MED. cabinet …AMY “S countin um for me to see if any comes up missin ….lol luv Joe
October 29th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Came in to play a couple of games on the computer before Survivor comes on TV. Of course then went to the internet and see where Julia has the new blogg up. Went to the site and followed her wonderful directions and got no where. Think I will need to stay on this site until one of the kids comes home and fixes it for me. Will you stay on the site with me until then? Do you remember meeting Amy? I think it would have been at the Goose after Mom’s funeral. Whoops gotta go. Maybe write again when another sleepless night hits. Love Julie
October 29th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Julie …THAT”S a BIG {as MY Sarah PALIN would say ,YOU BETCHA ] ….I”LL stay here when ALL are gone and I talk back and forth to ME lol . yes , i remember AMY , seem so little back then .SURVIVOR ? you gotta be kiddin ..all staged and fake ! MENTALIST on at 8 …now THATS ” real ;.LOL , but good show …They gettin NEW blog huh? well i guess I KNOW whwere I stand ,or rather DON”T.well for THEM , you can play song {YOOOOOOUOO LEFFFFFTT ME ,JUST WHEN I NEEDED YOU MOST }…llol later luv Joe ….their ALL sleepless nites for me …me and radio …
October 29th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Dearest darling Joe,
We gotta have you email to email you the new site. Donna don’t want anyone and everyone havin it. As in you gotta be a river rat so to speak.
Email us your email address and we’ll email you the site. I already had Julie’s address cause I had been writing her before this. And what would a Richland website be without the MAIN MAN JOE. As dear old Sarah would say, “Say it ain’t so Joe” I still check the place out 4 or 5 times a day, probably always will. Donna is still getting the kinks out on the other one. You’re gonna like it.
Love you guys,
Julia
October 29th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
I forgot to put my email address in so you can get the new email address.
Mine is deanie2204@yahoo.com
Later taters
October 29th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Yoah Joeeee …put the race-horse back in the shute ! You are jumping to conclusions , ol Buddy ! Of course you can hang out at the new place , wouldn’t be a real hang-out for R.R.R. without you , silly guy !
We do not want to post the new site on this site so you need to email Julie H.{ at the email in her post on this blog} To get the new address .We want it to be for all of us R.R.R’s
and people from that era , so word of mouth will get it out .
We want to thank our patient host , for allowing us his or her site for our forum , but l know he or she does not want to particpate in the new place , because they did not respond to our posts asking them if they would like to input on this one .
Who ever you are we are greatful for what you let us start .
See you all at the new hang-out R.R.R.’s and { like Joeee said in an old post } all you R.R.R. wanna be’s { or just come close tos .
l am still working on and probably will be for awhile kniks etc. so just bare with me …l am by far no computer expert .
Prima Donna Out !
October 29th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Mom, send me the e-mail that Julia sent you or tell me what she wrote about how to get to her blog and I’ll find it and send you the link. Then we’ll show nite-train how to get there. And Joe, a.k.a. Nite Train, thank you for the compliments. I was a tough kid to raise. And my mom and I were especially hard on each other when I was younger. But we are so very similar..and all that made us argue back then is what has made us so close today. I am my mother’s daughter. I’m so very happy to see that all is back to normal back here! Well, as normal as you all can be. I’ll go back to just being a reader now…
October 29th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Had to wait for The Mentalist to be over before coming back in here. We watch a lot of TV or rather one of us does. TV watching is about the biggest vice Ray has. When he’s not watching, he’s taping to watch later. Tried to tell him we can’t possibly live long enough to watch all he has on tape or DVD. So I come in here and talk to my friends when I can’t stand it anymore. What radio station are you listening to late night? I usually read. Hadn’t really thought about turning on the classic country music station on Digital TV. Julia and Donna have put quite a bit of work into their new blogg. Sounds like it will be a lot more than this. I kind of llike our small group. If I want to talk to people about the 50’s, I can go to the store. I want to talk to people who know about the 43 flood (which I only vaguely remember) Caterpillar traffic, the union hall being built, our lovely area destroyed in the name of progress (The Tunnel), Pete & Mary’s (a lot of people are connected in one way or another with that place). When Mary was a waitress there, she met her husband. Older than she is but they have been married over 25 years now.
One of the things I wrote about earlier was two newer country songs that I particularly like. Garth Brooks – “The Dance” and Trisha Yearwood – “The Song Remembers When”. Tho I don’t care for the singers, I do like the songs. It’s like this blogg has done – instantly put me a different time and place with all the sights and sounds.
We had gone to DisneyWorld with the kids long time ago and had gone to the Polynesian Review. We were sitting way back, barely seeing the stage. One of hostesses came to our table and asked if she could take Amy up to the front when the entertainment started. Said she would bring her back. Now we let our tiny little petite 6 year old go. (Hey it was DisneyWorld). They had a Don Ho imitator who asked Amy to come on stage and help him sing “Tiny Bubbles”. She really did look little standing up there in her yellow dress. I revisit that every time I hear the song. OK maybe three times-don’t listen much to Don Ho.
Don’t remember many songs from Richland days doing that. There was “Get a Job” when Jean and I were standing on her front porch singing that and waiting for her boyfriend to pick her up.
I can’t imagine Joe giving out his e-mail address, but if he does, I will send it on. I’ll check in with your site once in a while, but I think I’m going to hang in here so Julia and Donna, you have to also.
Joe, get your flu shot if you haven’t already. Still hard to get in this area.
Amy get yours too. Maybe on later if the elusive sleep stays away. 6 hours in 6 days is enough isn’t it? Love & Kisses Julie
October 29th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
Oh my gosh …WHAT have l done ? …have l goofed or what ??
Ahhh , the best laid plans of mice and men ! . l told you guys l have a lot of work to do on it and in this very short time l already l see a lot of misunderstanding ..SORRY ! 
…our host has been at this for at least a decade ,according to the site date BUT myself, l have only been doing this a VERY shortwhile
} and that those people from ALL our eras might like to input too { sorry l thought this would include likr the 40’s events Julie spoke of } …l did not want to leave them out …YES , l meant the include any period from the bottoms in the last century up to now BUT most all of us { iincluding Joe and Julie } shared the 50’s and 60’s , BUT l was not limiting it to then or just us ..SORRY if that is the way it comes across . l will try to fix it . lf not l guess Jullie and Joeee will stay forever on the journal blog .
l knew l started letting the cat out of the bag waaaay too soon about the new blog, but l knew Julie H. was sounding like she was going to jump ship and l felt others wanted to jump in but wouldn’t because they didn’t feel safe !! So , l felt l had to get it out there quick , apparently too quick !
The intent was a to create place we all could go and share like we have been !! SORRY if l made it sound like it was just to involve the 50’s and 60’s { l intend to go back and edit all that , BUT right now l am fighting fatique from a long work day and flood waters creeping into my abode …so PLEASE bare with me .
l did ask for input in an earlier post on what you all might like to have at the new hang-out , BUT l didn’t get any so l started alone and will be glad to hear any feed back or in-put at all …..l did want the Richland area people in particular , but l also realized we DID venture out of the bottoms on occasion {
The request about email , Julie H. was because l thought , you , in particular , wanted to limit those who were just observing our writings , again Sorry l must have misunderstood …l am wet, tired and thirsty , so l am going to go dry off , get something warm and try to figure this all out . l may check back in later
Pooped/Puzzeled PrimaDonna out of here
October 30th, 2009 at 12:43 am
I would love to take credit for the new website, but in all honesty all the praise needs to go to my OLDER sister. She(and her husband) did it all. 110% of it. I just passed the news along. I am proud of them. I think they did a really great job. I just have to get more computer savvy. Of course, when I age more I might be smarter(haha). Donna is almost 3 years older than me, but when we were kids, I always wanted to be as old as her, so I would argue that she was 2 not 3 years older. She would get fighting mad. I would tag along with her and I know make her miserable. Now the older I get, the more younger I say I am than her. I truly was a thorn in her side. But, I was such a cute kid!!! She had to love me.haha
How about the song Countin Flowers on the Wall and For The Good Times.
well till next time
Donna’s thorny seesta signing out,
Love you all,
Julia
October 30th, 2009 at 1:32 am
Sorry Julia, I just thought you were the smart one. Donna, Donna, Donna you are doing a wonderful job and certainly have no reason to apologize. I really really am a klutz when it comes to the computer. I’m not kidding when I said I just figured out how to put this blogg on my favorites. I was a whiz on the computer at work because I was trained to do that particular job on it. But since I can’t write you all an insurance policy, I’m stuck. Countin Flowers on the Wall is on my play list. (Sounds like I have an IPod but I don’t even know how to use one of those) And what with “Lay your head upon my pillow” and “send me the pillow you dream on” someone should be able to come up with a marketing campaign. Hey Donna, stay up all night because you get smarter after midnight. I’m in this for as long as anyone else stays on and I certainly wouldn’t want you to move and not leave a forwarding address. You’ll just have to excuse us “old folk”. And I guess instead of “Walkin After Midnight” we’re blogging after midnight. That’s whats great about country music – theres a song that says something about everything. Thought about the expiration date on the ativan. Maybe that’s why after I take one the pupils in my eyes look like pennies. By the way I never write anything that I mind if any one on here reads. Probably should be but I’m not. Thanks for all your work oh smart one and cute one. Julie
October 30th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Girls where are you. You always check in in the mornings. We’re not having another family spat are we? Julia did you get the address for Joe. If not I’ll send it to you. Last night I slept 6 hours. Who knows what will come out of my mouth today. We are getting ready to go out to a late lunch and an early evening of playing cards with some friends. We usually go to dinner every Friday night but since it is so nasty we decided to have lunchm play cards. That will at least free up the evening so I can get back on this site. I was thinking about our little Amy when I went to bed which made me think of how we grow up thinking we know what love is but when you hold a new child in your arms, it’s nothing you ever knew before. Which got to thinking of the little granddaughter you are raising. I know there are women who don’t bond which their child but I just don’t know how. How lucky she is then to have you in her life. Oops time to go. Back later. Julie
October 30th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
some one will have to Julie….i have a email address now! 1st. time ever.and i SENT you MY 1st. one . I”ve got Julia”s also and PROMISE ,I will NEVER ,EVER tell or PASS them on to ANYONE ., and PLEASE don”t ADVERTISE mine ,if you KNOW what i mean..PEOPLE know me or of me EVERYWHERE ..FACT !MAN..did i {well , we had hell of a &^@+# .^#^* time goin thru that B.S. [pardon me ] , but , they wanted everything but rectel exam . AND I almost GAVE them that ! F.B.I. back ground check easier ,,, excuse my language this ONE time ,BUT ,WTF do they NEED w/ all this info? I wrote this and more LAST nite ,err this morn , bout 2:30 and hit SUBMIT , and everything went blank and lost it …some one will have too tell me HOW too get on Donna”s blog …, if AFTER this little LOVE letter ,LOL
October 30th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Yeah Julie you got 6 hours I am so happy. Hope you feel better. Talk top you all soon
October 30th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
YOU know WHO got 6 hrs. sleep alright , did’nt tell you she STOLE it from me tho,did she ?Hey where have you been GIRL? Do you want US to demand you bring DR’S slip when you’re absent or tardy ? What say you ?lol…one of you GIRLS were asking bout kinda dark complexin kid that lived over on Clark St. in house that kinda set in back ,it was in 200 block , ihad forgotten too ,until i got thinkin. i think you’re thinkin of Victor [Totten]Smith that was taken in by a older man named Bill Berry , a roofer i think…He kinda ran around w/ Billy Joe Landis ,Milo Turbett/Jimmy Linehan and Kenny Regentz …he hung out at skating rink ,set pins at bowling alley , but kinda stayed to his self.I give him aTHRILLLL ride on BIKE once , he did’nt ask again…some always kinda thought HE was from HAWAII i geuss because of his complexin and THAT long ,combed back straight hair …some people ‘looked ‘ at him as being ‘different ‘,but he was ok KID ,that never got a break,but CREDIT to him he DID’NT ask for any …i ADMIRE that .BEEN there/KNOW that …i hope that was the kid one of you were wondering about … well was NICE too see name DEBBIE in black n white again…bye bye nite_train………
October 30th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Sent you an e-mail with the web site on it for the new blog. That way your new address won’t be floating in cyberspace. You’re right- that was his name. Remember Victor but not last name. I don’t know about the Hawaii part but he seemed always to be walking around by himself. That’s why I remember him. I’m glad that you’re back too Debbie. Don’t you think the rest of us are just slightly crazy about all the writing we do? It is so hard to sustain childhood bonds and this is helping to do that. We’ll look for you on both sites also. Julia, I wrote to my friend in Arkansas and told her about this new site and will see if she is interested in looking for it. I wonder if maybe we are being censored when the message gets erased. Thanks for the sleep. I did need it. While we were playing cards this afternoon I was acting even more dumb than usual. Who needs sleep anyway. I seem to remember the Linehan name. Any other siblings.
And Julia, I’m still trying to get in touch with Kathy again. And in the words Ann used to put her little to sleep = “Loves you once, Loves you twice, Loves you twice, Loves you more than Beans & Rice. Julie
October 30th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
I hope Kathy does come around. I hate to think of her being sad. She was always so upbeat. Sometimes, tho you can get overwhelmed. I know. Isn’t life crazy sometimes. To sit here now and look back and think, and to have sat back then trying to look forward and thinking. Well, I guess I have a 3 year old who has told me it’s bedtime. I get her to sleep and I get back up. If she wakes up and I’m not in there she get’s fighting mad. I sure don’t want to get grounded.
Later taters,
Love you guys
October 31st, 2009 at 12:55 am
HELLO,HELloo,ello llooo,lo,o,o…um ,ekcos,kos ,osss,s….I geuss i’m ALLLL alone …I’LL ALWAYS come back to you, when nobodys’ here and ALL fogot HOW we all MET once again …NITE_TRAIN will ALWAYS be waiting for that ALL ABOARD ? CHUG_CHUG _ CHUG ……………….
October 31st, 2009 at 12:58 am
Here it is almost 1:00 and still awake. This no sleep thing is getting to be no fun. Do you call your granddaughter Caty? Such a unique name. I just reread what I had written earlier and I apologize for all the typing mistakes. See what happens when you have 6 hours sleep. I’m glad someone remembered I was still here. How is the new blog working out.
Julie
October 31st, 2009 at 1:07 am
Julie YOU still there ?
October 31st, 2009 at 1:41 am
NO one here it seems …I’ll go to OUR e-mail room , may be LITES still on THERE .i don’t know if i can find my way OUT n back into other room …if i get lost ,PUT out B.O.LO. for me …if i never find you ’s again , that’l be ME wandering along road of life ..DON’T stop and pick me up ,cause i prob. won’t recognise you or maybe myself …..sooo alone
October 31st, 2009 at 1:46 am
I’m waiting
October 31st, 2009 at 2:27 am
You either got lost or were just playing tricks. I’ll probably be up for another 10 or 15 minutes then see you tomorrow.
October 31st, 2009 at 7:27 am
Hey You Guys
I guess I can’t hang with the likes of you! I fall asleep in chair watching tv then go to bed and seep like a baby! I am up at 4 or 5 am but don’t get on computer I guess I should. I m on my way to work. wish I had more input. I know what you mean about typing errors I am not a typest but one thing about all of us who cares as long as we get to here from each other.
I miss so much about living in Il. I used to go 2 or 3 times a year but my family keeps passing and not many left. Its not the same but it is nice to remember sometimes you think you are left with your memories and no-one else remembers but they do. Love to all!
October 31st, 2009 at 9:38 am
Hey everyone. Julie, I call my granddaughter T,T, Don’t ask me why. And I call her pickle puss. When you ask her what her name is, she says”my name is Catiera Reigh T.T. Pickle Puss Weaver. That’s a mouthfull for a 3 year old. Who am I kidding, that’s a mouthful for her 56 year old grandma. I miss Illinois sometimes too. Of course I have a lot of bad memories with Caterpillar and how sick it made my husband. But, when the memories come flooding in about Richland, it really makes me homesick. Trouble is the places keep disappearing, due to PROGRESS, and when you’re there, you cant find the actual places to reconnect to. But, just close your eyes and everything comes back to life.Aint it great?
I wish I had your memory Joe. Mine sure isn’t very good. And Deb, I lied about my age too when I was 15 and went to work at the Wagon Wheel. Worked there till I graduated. Loved it! Met so many good and interesting people. Well, I guess I’m gonna go check the other site. Love you all.
Be back soon, Julie did you try the Melatonin? It’s all natural and you just relax. Your body produces Melatonin, sometimes just not enough. I does work. You ought to try it, if you haven’t.
Catch my extended family later,
Julia
Julia
October 31st, 2009 at 11:46 am
Okay Debbie, I was reading you blog this morning. I remember work. That’s something I quit doing a while back. So I tried thinking (and try is the operative word here) about how old you are. Sharon was your aunt, so I thought about the ages of my nieces and realized we have us a young one here. Tell us about what you remember, except for that part about the Goose parking lot.
I’ve tried about everything Deanie. Warm bath before bedtime, no tea, coffee or water after 8:00, a glass of wine (which does make me sleepy, just doesn’t let me fall asleep). My doctor is not a big believer in herbal remedies, but I have tried some. But it’s okay, I know what I’ve got now. Its called TMB or too many birthdays. I realize lack of sleep affects your health but basically I feel good. You haven’t said how the new blog is working. I really am interested. Just don’t you guys abandon me in here. Julie
October 31st, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Julie….I typed long blog rite after you sent blog to Debbie at 11:46 this morn. at 12:20 , hit SUBMIT ,BLANK AGAIN .I’M missin you like last nite ,you signed out at 11:58 and i jumped on and asked ;are you there STILL there Julie , and hit submit .that was all ,real QUICK, so I could catch you …waited till1:41 am ,no answer.knew you MUST be tired n went too other new site ,ALL asleep .lol .YOU know what I [SAID], and quit . this morn .wrote long blog too you n hit SUBMIT ,and guess what ?BLANK AGAIN …all might thoughts ..VANISHED..I hope SOME ^&_(*^$^(&$#(^@(&$] got and feels good from my wasted effort ..MAN,that __________ me off when that happens !MAYBE ,just MAYBE I’LL get chance too say [lovin you .today …LOL Joe
October 31st, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Something is wrong somewhere because I was on the computer until 1:00, went in and read for a while then checked again and no one was there. Was looking forward to chatting with you on e-mail. Have a Happy Halloween. I’m a nasty person. Turning the lights off and not answering the door. When Amy comes home for Halloween she won’t let us do that. Don’t have any little ones in our neighborhood anymore and don’t know any of the others that come by. You do my heart good. Julie
October 31st, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Julie… I have this blog and my e-mail running,sent you an e-mail,getting to confusing going back an forth so Carol has both running for me. Now all i have to do is click on button to check without closing one to get on other,making me nuts! later Joe
October 31st, 2009 at 5:51 pm
It’s a learning curve.
October 31st, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Hey kids,
I just posted on the other blog. It’s different than this one, but it’s gettin easier. Joe, God bless Carol. She seems to be a sweet person putting up with us. Was she from the bottoms? Someone asked about Stanleys. Are they the ones whose mom owned the Catta Club for a while. I think her name was Sue. I knew her son John. Dated him for a short while. Remember the Underwoods, Jim and he had a couple brothers and I think one sister. His dad had a lot of property down in the bottoms. Remember Spanns? Then there was Howard French and he had an older brother. See, there might be hope for me after all. I keep remembering things more and more. Maybe my alzheimers is fading away. Well, guess I’ll sign off for now. Visit the other site children and practice practice practice.
Love ya,
DeeDee
October 31st, 2009 at 10:41 pm
Julie…it ain’t a curve for ME , more like knuckle ball in the BRAIN ! if i have such a thing left …i’m gonna stay here for awhile till Randi can teach me rite way …she’s miles ahead of Carol and has too correct her ALOT …lol.that DUMB story bout [glass eye stuff was meant too be funny n cheer all up ].Randi’s a WHIZ atevery thing …Criminal Justice Degree n now goin for Physical Therapist degree…BOTH comes in HANDY for ONE close too Her …joe
October 31st, 2009 at 11:12 pm
I found you. You can run but can’t hide.
Hi Deanie. Was halloween fun for you. As you noticed, I hid out. I know why I don’t sleep. Why don’t you Joe? It seems such a simple thing to do. Let’s see – you’re going to be nite_train on here and Joe on e-mail. How can we ever keep them straight.
Crap – just put an old Statler Brothers tape in to see if it should be transferred to CD and what song comes on – “Sweeter and Sweeter the Memories come by” . We went to see the Statler’s in concert in Merrillville, In. one spring and bought the set of tapes then. These coincidences are getting eerier and eerier.
And what did little miss TT spend Halloween being. Don’t forget to change the clocks. Hate the time of year when it gets dark so early. Talk later. Julie
October 31st, 2009 at 11:30 pm
Diva Julia…John and Sue Stanley owned GLEE CLUB tavern on Center St. /on corner…Marty and Fran had Catta Club.John died and Sue sold it for new CEFCU credit union , and bought the Gateway Tavern on Sanford St. by Pete&mary’s .Marty got out of Catta Club and his SOON too be ex-wife Fran took IT over .SO,now Marty buys’ Center Tap from Pauline Perry after her husband ,FUZZ dies , now HE’S dead .if YOU follow TREND here ,YOU KNOW I AIN’T bout to buy tavern or even TAKE one as GIFT, before i check w/ funeral director and take out MILLION dollar insurance policy…OF coure I’D put IT in Carol’s NAME ,cause i am a GIVING fella ! LOL SHE ain’t gonna like this GIFT ,nope ,no sense of humor ,that GAL …Underwoods’,,,man ,where do you start and if i do ,where do i FINISH? yes, he did own LOTS of property ,[at least3or4 times each place...miss payment or things get tough ,he 'd over and over ,BUY um back...French family i knew some ,,,ran around w/ a Chuck,,,he had sister named Carol ...well if this little history SHOT did'nt put you to a [why did i ask ] nothin will …lol any more QUESTIONS ? thought NOT …man ,,now i’m confused …bye Diva
November 1st, 2009 at 12:33 am
HEY GIRL,,,I’ll show you some run and hide ,LIKE RUN up north and HIDE in your mail box w/ a big SPECIAL DELIVERY sticker on my uhhh ,oh yea head ,forgot there for a moment where i was goin …MAN, for a stay at home Mom ,,,you sure get around alot …we’re so broke ,we can’t PAY ATTENTION !!!Gonna have to get Carol JOB at 24hr. service station ,so i can put some miles on car ,its’ gettin little bit SLUGGISH from sittin around all the time ,kinda like her …NOT me ,i’m up and goin at the crack of Dawn…then its time for me to lay down and grab some Z’s so i can be up for afternoon rest period …yessiree, good ole terra firma for me…the more firma ,the less terra …well ,i’ll get off and see if any one’s still up …luv joe…..
November 1st, 2009 at 1:30 am
I’m gonna check out MY e-mail ,and if nuttin ,i’m gonna sit rite down and write my self a letter ,and make believe it came from YOU!that was a good song…nite’s outta of here and off too mail box …gone till tomm.
November 1st, 2009 at 1:40 am
You sure give up easy
November 1st, 2009 at 7:36 am
Hi everyone,Busy with halloween lots of kids came to the house and had friends over and played Dominos. Yes Dominos they have different ones now they are not black play a game called Mexican train two people can play so it passes the time in the evening when nothing is on TV. Julie I will be 57. Nite-Train I met someone a long time ago named Chuck French he lived in the bottoms and My friend and I gave him a ride from a club one night didn’t know him well,but I remember he had a bathtub outside full of plants and flowers that was pretty cool.
Does anyone remember the Pudney family or the Cady family? I remember grandma saying the name Pudney which I have a neice,actually cousin, that is married to a member but she is only 24 but I remember the name coming up. In the 70s I had a wonderful friend named Willie Cady her dads name was Joe. Julie I was born in the bottoms but as much as I can remember I was probably about 4 or 5 when my grandparents moved to Dunlap, a lot of my stuff comes from stories of my mom,aunts and uncles. Later in life I worked in East Peoria on the weekends at nashville north I met a lot of folks there from the bottoms and lived in Creve Couer. I covered a lot of tracks back then,peoria full time job.east peoria part time job,lived in creve couer. I was worn out but I had a good life and often think of that.
Lots of Love bye4now
November 1st, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Is this freaky or what Deb? I went to school with Shirley Cady and ended up being good friends with Willie! I loved Willie. I got close to her when I lived in Creve Coeur and the girl next door to me, Sue Wolstenholm and Willie were good friends. We really got close. She had a house down on Elmwood in East Peoria and then bought a house in Marquette Heights. She is a soul all her own. Did she ever read you cards? She did mine and she would really get freaky with some of the things she would come up with. She told me Shirley ended up being a cop in some southern Illinois town. Do you know what happened to Willie? Is she still in Marquette Heights? I hope you know. This is so cool.
Love ya,
Deanie
November 1st, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Deanie
I never knew what happened to Willie. I remember you and her became friends when I went to Arkansas. I saw her younger sister Debbie in about 89 and she said Willie married the pathologist she was dating,it wasn’t doing well from what her sister said,but no-one in our group we ran around with knew where she went. She and I were roomies for awhile before I met Junior. she was a sole all her own. I have many Willie stories she used to ride a honda 350 she was the only one I felt safe with on a bike,we were coming down creve couer hill and her hat flew off we were meeting her beau at the catta club for lunch so she was dressed up what a hoot us getting that hat back! We used to work together at nashville north for a number of years. She is one of those people I would love to find maybe we could work on that.
Love You
November 1st, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Deanie
When I said I met someone named Chuck french it was me and Willie that took him home. No we did not get out of the car, it was a hoot for us to see his flower pot!
bye4now
November 1st, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Well ,afternoon nap over . looks lke all got up EARLY and went back too bed . YOU’SE must have turned clocks forward bout 8 hours .the day just gettin started the STARRY ,STARRY nite . hmm. looks like i’m alone all again,over n over . i don’t know how long i can take it. i’ll keep checkin in …goin too mail box ,yea rite ,just what i need . another dissapointment …lol your one n lonely, oops , meant ONLY ….joe …..that Chuck French was prob. same one that we use to run around w/. Him/Ervin Ray/Kenny Mitzelfelt /Bill Davis and myself were very close at ONE time …THEM and THEIR parents did’nt seem to think it was KOSHER to run w/ me after last yrs. of high school , they could tell ,{I came toFORK in the ROAD and TOOK IT}! THEY could’nt of kept up w/ me anyway ,did’nt need excess baggage …ALL but Mitzelfelt turned out to be TWO faced rats anyway …Did’nt like my WILDSIDE,till they wanted to PARTY n have fun…NOT w/ this COWBOY, i told um , remember I’M BAAAD…LOL Ervin had two sisters , Vicky and Cathy Jo , you girls’ prob. knew ….bye DIVA girl…
November 2nd, 2009 at 1:14 am
This is the third time I’ve tried sending something. Early this morning, this afternoon and now. All 3 times it’s disappeared. The last time the error message said web site now found even though I was on the web site. Maybe the paper is mad about the new web site. Debbie I am going to try once again. I remember 57 – it is one of ages I didn’t like and now would love to have again. And Mexican Train, we play a couple of times a year with some friends. I never remember how until we start playing and then it comes back. And to everyone else, daughter Ann sent an e-mail and said while she was fooling around with the computer, she looked up EPCHS Class of 59 on the internet and sent me a list of names that were on it that she thought I might know. I knew several but only one that lived in the bottoms. Ronnie Kellum – he lived on Globe street behind the union hall with his dad, older sister Joanne, younger brothers Donnie and Glenn. If anyone remembers him except Joe (who knows everbody), she is going to send him a note and the address for this site. That could be a place where you could look up your hs graduation class and see if you remember anybody else. Hope everyone was able to enjoy this day. Julie
November 3rd, 2009 at 8:35 am
Hey guys. Where’s everyone at? No one’s posting on either site. This ain’t cool! I’m gonna have to ground you all. Take your keys away and the whole nine yards. If you go on Donna’s site and go to the very bottom of the page and where it says, like right now it says 18 comments, it will let you in. I just left one and when I click submit comment it said comment not accepted and I clicked submit comment again and it took it. This computer world is going a little bit faster than my old brain wants to work, but I’m keepin on keepin on. Hey, Julie and Nite_Train, let’s hear some sparks a flyin and threats a goin(haha) It keeps my blood pumpin.
Love you guys,
Julia
November 4th, 2009 at 1:41 am
hey DIVA ….we’re thinkin of you all the time …i got one e-mailmto go thru and sent another nice LONG one ,would’nt accept …tried 3 times ,nope …not only did it not go , it erased my blog that iwrote 3 times …had it memorise ,so tried again ,and not only lost it ,lost half of blogs that were already on there …one that i thought was from Mrs. Crossno naming all those names that were great that i knew all. lost her’s …..MAAAAD lol i’llget it figured out ….y6ou take babe ,and know we’re thinkin of you always ….luv nite-train…nite later
November 4th, 2009 at 2:50 am
Welcome back Julia, I’d come on here every day or so but nobody was writing and you all left me here with no support team or therapy group. What a group of friends. How would people find out about your web site? You guys went to an awful lot trouble to not have it work. Still don’t know when anyone is going to come home to set it up for me. Sometimes I just sat here and reread old entries. We have all had trouble with hitting send comment and the entry being erased. We weren’t fighting just teasing. Keep telling myself that and soon I will believe it. Talked to Kathy today and she said she hadn’t gotten anything out to you. And it’s not because she’s too busy. Erik, our son is a teacher in Madison, Wi and Obama is going to his school tomorrow. Some of the things he has been telling me about security is unreal. He”s a good kid but I don’t think anyone would want secret service checking your past. Okay, time for bed. Good to be hearing from you again. Julie
November 4th, 2009 at 11:20 am
I still check this about 4 times a day. I was so glad to see you and Nite_Train had written again. I think I was going thru withdrawal. And once again, I didn’t have anything to do with the other site. That was Donna. I think she did an unreal job setting it up. I wouldn’t even know where to start. I don’t know why when you hit post a comment on that it tells you you can’t the first time. Second time has always been a charm for me so far. Joe, you need to write your stuff on here too I guess. We can’t stop writing. I’m like Julie, I needs me dose of therapy a day.
Love you guys,
Julia
November 4th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Just finished watching Obama’s speech at Erik’s school and remember why I never watch politics. The day after Halloween, his 6 year old daughter called. She was so excited more with giving candy at home than receiving home. Told me it was like a happiness buffet. Where do we ever lose that enthusiasm. With me it’s more like a pity party but am going to try her philosophy. Glad that you are still here Julia. Kids need to spread their wings to grow but mom & dad want you to come home now.
Julie
November 4th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
HEY DIVA ….ihan’nt forgot you n Prime Time for a minute . been VERY busy gettin NEW private PAGE set up last few days for all of YOU!finally got it done , so hope you ALL APPRECIATE all the TIME n EFFORT I put in it ,while you all were just LAYIN around …I worked VERY hard,excuse me [ YAWN ] at gettin it up and goin!LOL …aVERY BIG TY to Prime Time and YOU DIVA for your time and effort ….VERY good…Diva ,down deep , i know you had to take alot of your expertise and show Primer how its’ done , but we’ll let her THINK she was pullin WAGON by herself….{SHE was asleep in WAGON while you done ALL the Pullin } so she feels important … NO one will be all the wiser , but you and i know …REALLY ,you BOTH did GREAT job ,cause i know it was’nt easy time consuming. Prime and HUBBY had more important things w/ rain n stuff , BIG TX luv Nite-Train …i DID get thru on private blog ,,,,,finally ! LOL GEESH…I was READY for PUZZLE FACTORY ..MAN…
November 6th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
I feel lilke I’m writing to myself on this site. Where is everybody. Had an interesting conversation this morning. Had a doctor’s appointment (every 6 months whether I need them or not). The doctor had his internship at St Francis in Peoria. So I was asking him again what years he was there since he is younger than I am. He was there in the 80s. He asked if I had gone to the therapist yet. Last time he asked was 6 months ago when I told him it wasn’t going to happen. Then I told him about reconnecting with Richland friends and how it started on the Peoria paper. Said he dated a girl from Richland. Told him to be careful, I may be writing to her.
But he did say her last name was Gott. Means nothing to me but I’m throwing it out there to see if anyone knows the name. Another coincidence, our family doctor while growing up was Dr. Canapple from Peoria. Not sure what happened if he retired or decided it was time to change to an EP doctor and we started going to Dr. Davis. Anyway now we have a minister who has just moved to the area running a street mission. His name is Canapple. So I called him to see if was from Peoria. He’s not but his relatives are. Such a small world.
So did you all watch Simon Baker on The Mentalist last night. Such a good show. Not sure if this will be read by anyone but just so you know, I’m still here. Julie
November 6th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
YOU ARE NOT ALONE(haha)
Sounds like the begining of one of those scifi movies doesn’t it. I come to the site at least 3 times a day. I just don’t write unless someone else has. Was Dr. Davis the doctor that was on the street behind Waibels? I remember going to that Dr. It was the summer between 8th grade and high school. You had to get your last round of shots before going to high school, remember? I don’t know how I got to go by myself, maybe mom was working or something. Anyway, I told him my regular doctor was out of town and he had already given me my shots and all I needed was the physical card filled out saying I had gotten them all. I paid the fee and he filled out the card. Never did get those shots. I HATE needles. Do you remember the dentist that was upstairs a little down from Waibels. He was a sadist. I HATE doctors and dentists. I guess I’m just a wuss. I can take a lot of pain, just not needles. Sure wish Kathy would get out of her funk and write me. I would love to hear from her. I can’t remember a Dr Canapple. Our Dr. in Peoria was Dr. Powers. He was quite a character. Good Dr. , just a little eccentric. Does anyone remember the Jackson boy that drowned down at the river? I remember me and Donna and some of our friends being down and the opposite end of the levee when that happened. He couldn’t hear or talk. Remember? Sooo sad. Well sister Julie, I’m gone for now.
Love you all,
Julia
November 6th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Oh Julia, I don’t remember the dentists name, but we went to him to. What a quack. Don’t think he knew what a cleaning or filling was. He just loved to pull teeth. Or maybe our parents just couldn’t dental prevention, so it was an extraction or nothing. Yes that’s where they located. Didn’t remember the dentist thing til now but my jaw is aching. Kathy would remember the Jackson boy I’m sure. She was our spotter for the President’s speech. I just couldn’t stand for CNN to be on any longer. She has it on all day. Worked out fine for us. I Didn’t realize he was going to be doing a major address on education. Erik didn’t get to meet him personally but he was within 30 feet of the podium during the speech. He was shown on local TV several times. His father in law called and asked he managed to get on TV wearing a tie and his White Sox hat. It sure will be an event he won’t forget. And by the way Julia, I don’t need another sister who doesn’t talk to me. Be on again whenever. Julie
November 7th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
BLAA,BLAA,BLAA,…don’t you GALS’ have anything to do ,like MAKIN your Hubbys’ happy and comfortable, for ALL the TIME they’ve GIVIN up for you’se to make sure you can LIVE a life of just LAYIN around and ENJOYIN the GOOD life?MY LORD,WHAT kind of “women” have a NICE INNOCENT GENTLE MAN like myself got myself involvled w/ ?Now take my wife ,{PALEEEEEZ},she does EVERYTHING for ME ,and too SHOW my appreciation ,i borrowed money from her and bought her a brand new lawn mower w/ mulcher ,so she could be out in fresh air and just kinda WALK around yard today .Then when she came in ,i complimented her on how nice i got OUR yard looks.You guys could LEARN alot from me …What’s this CNN stuff?you one of the [25] people that still watch that and MSNBC? you gotta be KIDDIN! they’ve even got COLORED TV now !don’t need rabbit ears or outside antenna either !its really cool …DIVA,DIVA/canyou hear me?i’ll have Mark Martin bring newspaper back from HOUSTON,after race tomm. and drop it off .heck ,they landed man on MOON awhile back…LOLya LUV me?Now JULIE , she does’nt know too much either ,so WE{PRIME TIME AND MYSELF},think its’ best we kinda ,oh you know ,uhh,oh heck,KEEP her in the dark , so as too speak …DON”T tell her tho….LOL …well ,now that your all mad at PRIME TIME ,{she put me up too this and sent me note on what to write} i’ll get off for awhile ,[maybe forever if you'se take this wrong way ]and talk to all later …luvnite-train ..P.S. write soon lol
November 7th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
nite-train = troublemaker.
November 8th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Amy just called. Asked her why she had time to write on the blog but didn’t have time to call me. She convinced me to try and get on the site by myself again so I did. Got on easier and was blown away by what you have put on the site Donna. But that was as far as I could get. Couldn’t read comments or write anything. You and hubby are masters on getting this done. Again sent the site to Amy and she will look at it and see if she can help by phone. The more you try to keep me away – well you know the rest. Don’t mess with my self esteem Joe or I’ll have to I don’t know what, but will think of something. Ray’s watching the Bears and I’m reading, but decided to come in and check the computer. Enjoy this beautiful day guys. Julie
November 8th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Julie if you go down on the page, in small letters it will say like 39 comments or however many are on there at the time. click on that and it will take you over to the other page where all the comments are. It takes some getting used to. I guess it because we got used to this site and it’s different. As for you mr. nite_train, so Donna put you up to talkin mean to me and Julie huh? I thought you were a man’s man. Didn’t know a little ole girl could intimidate you. She didn’t pull your hair and make you cry did she? I’m gonna have my mom ground her and tell her to quit pickin on you poor little boys. She always was a bully. Like I told you before, I was the sweet and innocent one. Never harmed a soul. Well, maybe Jimmy Bradford a time or 2, but that’s all. Well, will check back later. Had a rough night and gotta get me something to eat.
Later my loves,
Julia
November 8th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Well, its a beautiful Sunday afternoon here in Kankakee but I have been spending it reading all of the comments to the Richland blogg. There were a few questions thrown out that I had an answer for. The first was someone was asking about the Strobel’s who moved here from Germany. The older sister was Gerda. Gerda was in my class and low and behold when this German girl came to school she learned how to speak English. Someone also asked about marrages and Don Shinall was married to Frieda not Margaret Goben. There older sister was Barbara. Also Loyol Van Order married Gayla Hale. Does any of those names ring a bell? Some other people I remember is Russell White and sister Becky? J. R. Barnhill, Shannon Brevard, Sue Walker, Jimmy Linnehan, Donna Buckner, Barbara Aden. I recently got a hold of Carolyn Scott on Facebook. Do any of you remember them? I remember going to the dances over at the union hall and they even gave out free sandwiches. We were able to go even though we were not affiliated with Caterpillar. Also, to my sister Julie, I know how important reconnecting with the past is to you. I hope you are finding fulfillment. I too wish there were more people involved in going down memory lane as I miss the simpler times. I was just telling our granddaughter who on facebook was saying how bored, bored, bored she was that when I was growing up there was not a lot to do except getting together with friends and talking. We would sit on the little bridge over the creek and talk for hours. Well the day is almost over and the laundry is waiting. Monday is coming soon.
Lynda
November 8th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Gee maybe now I can talk to one of my sisters once in a while. Hi Lynda. Aren’t these fun people. If we can only get them to stay here. I told you if you ever came on you would like it. I’m going to try again Julia. Julie
November 8th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Okay guys, was it just at our house or did you know better than to say “I’m bored”? At my house, someone would have found something to occupy us so we weren’t bored. I can’t remember ever getting bored. We walked a million miles there in the bottoms. Hung out on the bridge Lynda was referring to I’m sure, and hit the park down on Cass Street and the playground at Richland. Along with stopping at who knows how many houses along the way to pick up more people to walk with. I remeber the Buckners and the Linnehans. I knew Ginny. Didn’t their dad have a bar up by Max’s Bargain Center? Remember Perdues and Rileys and Raileys and Smiths and Regents and Lucille Wickert and Tubby and Velma Neff. They used to have a furniture store some place up by the tracks. And Baileys Tavern was right by the tracks too. I’m so glad Lynda jumped on board. This is fun. Just wish you could get Kathy’s butt in gear.
Love you guys,
Julia
November 8th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Julia, I must be the dumbest klutz. Still having trouble. Tell me Julia, did I ever write anything that wasn’t nice about Lynda. She is more the age of you and Donna – all much younger than me, hope she will have names for you to trigger even more names. Have about 45 minutes before Cold Case comes on TV, then we’ll see if sleep happens tonight. Check in tomorrow. Julie
November 8th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
In my previous comments I mentioned Barbara Aden but it was Rosemary Aden. I believe she died a few years back from breast cancer. Others that come to mind – now that I have been reminded – is Yvonne Regentz. Also Judy Chism – they lived where the union hall is now. Danny Langston lived near us and I believe he became an East Peoria police officer also. No one ever confused the Helferich gang with the Helmerick group because as I remember they were the only one’s in the bottom’s who had money – or so we thought. Just a few more memories.
Lynda
November 8th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
HEY LYNDA GIRL …Know ALL them Kids you kickin ‘ around ….Myself /Shannon and Milo use to run around alot ….rode mini bikes, winter and summer ALL over the place ,nite and day! we went everywhere in bottoms and down on river road every day …I lived w/ Linehan’s for quite awile …Bar was closed , but lil Jimmy’s Dad and I had poker game goin EVERY day at the place!still had bar like it was when THEY closed him up,for reasons i won’t into …lolused too go next door once in awhile at a place called {SPUDNUT} shop , had some REAL DISH workin there ! MAN ,she was a DROP DEAD KNOCKOUT! kinda brunett w/ sorta long hair , but SHE would’nt give ME time of day !SHE seem to eat alot ,cause the donuts always had HOLE in middle of them !LOLLIL Jimmy had 2 sisters ,VIRGINIA[Ginny ] and GERRI and younger bro. named Tommy .JIM and HELEN were their parents name. Their Mother’s bro. , SONNY ,is married too SYLVIA[JOSIE]WALKER , who owns the GOOSE Tavern on Cass St….Lynda , don’t you have a sister named ,uh ,oh darn it ,i’m tryin to remember ,uh ,..OH YEA ,i think JULIE or somethin like ,oh yea THAT”S it ! SHE WAS SORTA MEAN spirited ,IF I REMEMBER RITE !NOW I MIGHT BE WRONG , BUT YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I AM…BUT not LIKELY …I’VE never BEEN wrong,THOUGHT I WAS ONCE ,but I WAS mistaken !lol…sTROBELS’ LIVED ACROSS sT. FROM ME IN 400 BLOCK EDMUND St.when CAT. tried to buy them houses ,he played [hard to get w/ them],so they let him keep it …then built BIG building RITE behind um …THEY really were nice people tho! OH YEA , DIVA , YOUR BIG [ oops ,did'nt mean it like it like you wanted me too say ] what I meant to say ,your OLDER sis. has THREATENED me in past ,so WHEN you come up here again ,maybe i’ll MAN UP when i’ve GOT back up !SHE put me up too lots of things that i ,PERSONALLY don’t mean , but what can i do,as YOU SAY ,and i qoute :she BIGGER than ME :,unquote…Lynda girl, get on more often ,and if you ever talk/blog to ,YOU KNOW WHO , ask if she remembers me …LUV ALL nite-train … later ….P.S….AMY ,STAY in contact W/ YOUR MOTHER ,or YOUR gonna be SUBJECTED too Cimanal and Unusual Punishment ,such as ,HAVIN to BLOG us ALL EVERY DAY for a YEAR>>>GOT IT GIRL ?LOL
November 8th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
See Lynda we are all fun people, okay most of us are. Don’t get caught up in this little game some people are playing. Sometimes we just call this group, Joe’s harem. Julia darn it still can’t on Donna’s site. Got up to password and it’s never accepted.
November 8th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Hey there Lynda. Danny Langston is my cousin. He had a sister named Sandra and another older sister named Judy. (Judy was raised in Arkansas). Danny is the sheriff of the town I live in here in Arkansas. He has been for about 12 or more years. I remember Himmelrichs. They were good friends of my mom and dad’s. Mom was a real good friend to Mabel’s sister Mary. I remember going in their house and they had white carpet and plastic over the carpet. That would have lasted about 2 hours at our house, if we were on our best behavior. The plastic would have been ripped off and the carpet would have been a pretty shade of grey and brown. I remember Mabel had the laundromat on Cass street for a long time too. Washed a lot of clothes at that laundromat. Well enough for tonight, I guess. Hang in there Julie. Keep trying. I did and it just opened up and now it’s easier. Until tomorrow girls, play nice. You too Joe.
Julia
November 9th, 2009 at 12:12 am
hey Lynda Girl…I remember Judy Chism & herfamily …Danny Langston was E.Pea. cop for quite awhile and then was gone .maybe out of state too COP somewhere else ,cause he did’nt like havin to maybe mess w/ those he knew and THOSE that KNEW him..lol…Yvonne Regentz was 1st. married to Donny Montgomery, who’s Dad ran the sand blast place on 400 block Cass St. , that old man Turpin started ,and let the older Montgomery and his wife Katherine ,[she was Mr. Turpin's daughter ] take it over .Yvoone later married Doug Hosbrough , they’re still together…The HOSBROUGHS” and ELLIS”S were family . MRS. Hosbrogh had been married before to a Mr. Ellis ,and then married Mr. Hosbrough…THEY were ALL GREAT Kids , and I loved um ALL ,and STILL do!….Himmelrichs” were different when you got too KNOW um.MABLE and I were VERY close FRIENDS,once i started tenden bar for Genusa ! Iworked for Clif movin ALL them darn houses in Richland & every where else ,PEO./Bartonville for airport extension/houses up by old Couris” food market building by E.Peo. H.S. ….WE became VERY good friends and CLOSE …Once they got to KNOW me !lol ..they thought i was BAAAAAD for so long ,they were shocked when they got to know me .LOL …MAN,he paid me REAL well …Surprised me….If i HAPPEN to HANGOVER and over slept , HE NEVER got mad, he would come on in ,get me up and say :shower’s that way and laugh and wait …take to eat and by afternoon ,he would get SIX PK. , and start ALL over again!almost every day …we had a BLAST! Iwent too see him in hosp. day before he passed away , and THANK him for everything and told him {i loved him for the GOOD times }we had , and he teared up ,nodded his head … when i didn’t know um very well , i used to DRIVE her crazy ,lol but all ended well !You KNOW DEE DEE and PRIMA DONNA don’t you ?if you NOTICE ,you”LL find they GANG up on ME alot ,for no reason ! I think it’s because I’m such a nice FELLA ,and they are’nt used to being around nice people like ME! but ,i understand their misgivings and LUV um anyway …lol…keep on KEEPIN ON…nite-train..bye bye ,he GONE …
November 9th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
hey JOE , you out there anywhere ?………NO , and don’t bother me rite now , I”M busy answering ALL my e-mail …sorry too be SO blunt about it ,but thats’ how it is ,,GOT IT?….OK you^*())^%$%$#$&**(&^.I GOT IT …nite-train…gone
November 10th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Just stopped by to see what the RRRs are up to. You all are interesting story-tellers with an easy chatty style…too much for me to catch up with, but you also have great memories. I remember the people my age from Richland that Donna and Deanie have mentioned…most of them, and the EP cop/crossing guard who drove me home one time in first grade; some how I was taking a “short-cut” home and got confused and scared. And I’m glad that those two also remember our yard with all the fruit trees and grapes and blackberries. It’s almost time for Christmas Story (maybe cable has started playing it for this year already…) Can’t find a better transport back to the 50s than that. Later…
November 10th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Yoah , Judy !
He seems to have a weakness for the girls ! 
I am glad your back on blog ! Send me an email and l will send you the ural to the new blog if you would like .
{flame2250@yahoo.com} or twist Joe’s arm and make him cry till he tells you what it is …l know your just a lil thing , but Joe can be taken down fairly easy !
Later ol friend
Met you in Never-Never-Land #2
Do you remember any of the old passwords?
Later Tink { aka , Claudia , La’Don,La’Donna,Donna ,Prima Donna ! weeesh ! Gets to be a longer mouthful all the time !
November 10th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Hey Julie ,where you been for so long ? COMP. runnin slow andKEEP gettin KICKED off OTHER ,so can’t get there ! UNDERSTAND?Carol keeps tryin ,BUT!!!!try some more as DAY drags by…LOLthis AINT funny ,tho …you need too RUN down and >>>>>>PAY YOUR UTILITY BILL !GOT IT ?LOL Deanie down ARK. way ,prob. sent us ALL up here a VIRUS ! I heard her SNEEZE last time she was on , and she DID”NT cover her MOUTH !{ BUT,we can EXCUSE her ,cause she’s got SMALL hands }LOL . sorry ,PRIME TIME made me say THAT !maybe we can get Peoria Tent and AWNING to MAKE her BIGGER handkerchief ! Prime Time ,STOP that , leave my COMP. alone …LOL quit puttin WORDS in my head and i mean NOW! Boy , i’m tellin ya , that Gal is TOUGH ,amazing her Hubby can put up w/ her , when she’s that way ,every so often . ..later ..nite-train ..PS.DEANIE ?doya STILL luv US anyway ? LOLbye,bye
November 10th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Hey Prime Time,….see where Judy B. woke up long enough to let Bears have her spot to go into” HIBERNATION”.good see here her voice , again . its’ her BRO. JIM that has daughter ,SHANNON ,that is my daughter ‘ RANDI JO’S best friend ! their togerther bout EVERY nite !as far as THAT girl Julie TWISTIN anything , she LOST that edge yrs. ago at TEEN dances .her git up and go ,got up and gone !YOU BET i can be taken down By fairly easy ,a WINK and a SMILE and I”M on my back smilin !i’ve got the arm ,waitin for the TWIST !LOL..Of COURSE you may need to bring EMT”S for me QUICK !if theres’ a smile on my face ,,aww..heck ,JUST let me GO !…By the way Donna ,YOUR MOM& DAD were VERY close too CLIFF aND MABEL ,FRIENDS and CONFIDANTS..I know Cliff thought of them, cause we use to talk of them often…CLIFFORD really liked your DAD ! WELL , i guess its’ time time to get BUTTERFLY NET and go lookin for Julie …AGAIN ! man ,this is gettin old . HEY Deanie …you got any OLD cow bells down there you aint useing?i think i might have an IDEA that might work ,if you know what i mean….lol…well , i’ll figure this thing out somehow …later…nite-train//
November 10th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Hi everyone. Thanks Joe and Julia for the input to some names I threw out. I remember now that Danny did become a police officer down south but where down south – Just in case I drive through the area. You also should get him on this blog as he was one of us also. Joe, you filled me in also on a couple of people – Jimmy Linnehan, well everyone thought he was it – tall and handsome at least for us 6th graders. I saw Gerda Strobel at one of our reunions but that has been eons ago. Someone also asked about the bike repair guy who lived up the street from us. His name was Al (like our dad) and the last name was something like Jacques. Does anyone remember my favorite teacher Mrs McCallum. She was the most beautiful teacher there was. Russell White just recently retired as superintendant of the Wilmington school district which is just up the Kankakee River from us. (Once a river rat always a river rat?) A few years back he told me he had been in touch with Mrs. McCallum.
Do any of you remember how Speecies would have a bonfire on Halloween and roast hot dogs for all of us. We could go anywhere down in the bottoms and trick or treat without any problems. Try to do that today in any neighborhood. I have been trying to think of others but I am younger than Joe and older than the rest of you – but I’ll give it a try. Some of the group was Tony Griffin, Margaret Dobbins, Glenn Kellum, Roy Gregory, the Majors clan just to name a few.
I just talked to Julie (we sisters do talk occassionally) and both of us are looking forward to our spa date on Saturday. It will give us a chance to talk in person.
Time to catch up on the mail, so talk to you later.
Lynda
November 10th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
HI LYNDA …Tony Griffin and his wife Margo lived next dood to me when i lived at 417 Edmund [they at 415] ,RoyGregory just passed away about 6 mos. or so ago .He drove LIMO for CAT> excegitives till he retire .Kellums ,most still around E.Peo. …Majors i think are all over area. …When their MOM and DAD got married , [ his mother name Marie ,[daughter of JONES",the Preacher at 101 Monson St. Little Church inthe Valley]and Dad Cecil ,i was5yrs. old and RING BEARER and her sister Frances flower girl..lol…I’ve got pictures of it still .well ,i got scared and ran across St. to our house and my MOM come and got ME and had to crouch down and go up isle w/ me so i would do it !LOL…then we had CHIVALRY ,[where we made NOISES at their bedroom window that nite ],. But NO , i don’t see any of them people anymore .YES i did get in on them HOT DOG give aways at SPEICES” Mkt. on halloween .On Edmund St. , Stobels lived across St. from us and Griffin. I LIVED w/ LINEHAN”S for quite awhile …Jimmy’s Dad ,JIM ,took care of me when i neededit ….we run a POKER game every day aftertavern had been CLOSED ,lol for reasons we won’t discuss now .Little jimmy got into Real Estate and done real welland NEVER came back around or too Richland ,ever .had two sisters ,Virginia and GERRI ,and younger lil boy Tommy …JIM and HELEN were GREAT ,i LOVED UM both ,daughter GERRI , uhh , WE KNEW each other VERY WELL ! NO further COMMENT !LOL …i don’t know if i REMEMBER your sister JULIE ,SOUNDS FAMILIAR ! NO FURTHER COMMENT there EITHER !lol YOU guys have fun and enjoy DAY together ..I’ll be THINKIN of YOU BOTH …take care babe and don’t forget me JOE…aka:nite-train…
November 11th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Lynda…i wasc wrong about Roy Gregory ,passing away ! IT eas his BRO. Gene ,OK guy too.SORRY for mistake …FORGIVE LIL ole ME ? always joeaka nite-train …ps…dont’t let Julie go back for SECONDS at lunch…put SPEED BUMPS down if you have ,to SLOW her down ! LOL bye
November 11th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Hey Lynda – did you get the site for the other blog? Talked to Gayle tonight and she’s anxious for Julia to send the site to her. You other guys are going to be jealous on Saturday when we’re sitting down, drinking wine, eating cheese and getting our feet rubbed. Julie
November 12th, 2009 at 2:40 am
I would settle for getting my feet rubbed. Although the other sounds pretty darned good. So, here’s what I think I’ll do. At the exact time you and Lynda are getting your feet rubbed I am going to force my husband to rub mine, and Nite_Train, you need to convince Carol that it’s for your best interest that she rub yours or if she gives you the woman on the edge look, rub hers. Life will be sweet. I’ll get Donna’s hubby to do the same. We may start something here. But, if things don’t work out, I don’t want you Julie, or Lynda to feel one bit bad about us. Have a good time.
Julia
November 12th, 2009 at 10:36 am
yea …RITE…i”l rub her feet w/ a STEAM ROLLER ! ..WE”ll discuss the” Rubbin part ” another time .WRONG NOUN & OTHER WAY around ! I’ll be on RECEIVIN END !THEIR gonna put SPEED BUMPS to SLOW them GALS down ,when they start on food line …julie WANTS to take SHOPPING bag ,for doggie bag!Last i HEARD , they HAD her PICTURE posted on bulliten board there ,for waitress’es too keep eye on her!GIRL just don’t know when to stpp…they weigh her on IN way OUT ,and CHARGE her by the POUND ,well that’s what i heard !kinda like WATCH list …she parks pick-up truck around corner , but THEY figured that out …lol they found out last time she was there , cause when she got in truck , her stomach was so BIG , HER horn would’nt stop blowin .Lynda told her ,SUCK it in ,but she had ate toooo much !….well , you all have nice day ,while either get :rub down or RUBBED OUT : after i take YOUR SUGGESTION …later, i hope … nite -train….gone >
November 12th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Here now, I told Lynda we all played nice here. This is a special treat that Lynda and I allow ourselves once a year. We get one glass of wine(?) a couple of pieces of fruit, cheese and crackers and chocolates. Almost all a woman needs. Plus a dark room, playing soft music, alone time and then we come out and there is that world waiting for us. Hey Julia, Joe is having a hard time watching his 2 year old niece For a day – how long have you had your little granddaughter with you. Hope Donna doesn’t scold you again for hanging out with us. Have you heard from any more of my sisters? Julie
November 12th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
I’ve had my granddaughter since the day she was born. Joe needs to know there’s a reason they call it terrible twos. That spa thing sounds wonderful. We’ve got one down here, I’ve just been too chicken to try it out. And no, Joe it ain’t in the back of the barn. I would love to just have a really really good massage. I have a really bad back and that would feel so good. I always wanted to go down to Hot Springs and sit in their hot baths they have. They’re supposed to really be relaxing and medicinal. I haven’t heard from your sisters. I sent them the info on the other site. I hope they got it. If they need anything all they have to do is let me know. Never have heard from Kathy.
Julia
November 13th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
hey girl ..Deanie ,about “back of barn”,i’ve heard about thi back of barn stuff ! i’ve been in a BARN or TWO …LOL so i’ ll go on to something else “like ” HOT SPRINGS”, if you don’t mind {RIDIN ALONG }on the subject .hot springs and massage ,now I KNOW bout THAT ,1st. hand and experienced it up CLOSE and ”IMPERSONAL” one nite! well ,let me see,how do i approach this ,uh…oh heck ,,here go’s ….i mummeled a name this LADY ,A DEAR LADY ,{OK , WIFE }that she was not sure she EVER remembered her MOMMA ever callin her by,so thats’ WHERE the MASSAGE part comes in,,,i WIGGLED around w/ and for WORDS that might make us BOTH feel GOOD ,MASSAGING those WORDS SOOO carefully ,HECK ,she asked me ,WHAT WAS THAT name AGAIN ?MAN,,i got LUCKY and remembered it !STILL do too this DAY !…now thats’ what WE call HOT SPRINGS and MASSAGING ! …so if you know the RITE words at RITE time ,heck ,,,who needs ARK> ?You talk bout MEDICINAL ?i’ll tell you bout MEDICINAL ,GIRL,lol ,I took 1 LONG DEEP BREATH and said TY LORD ,best ” MEDICINAL “LOL ,i got THAT nite …i had THAT name TOTOOED on HER FORE HEAD…she’s crossed eyed ,so when she see’s it and looks at it and ‘SMILES’,i think too myself ,MAN ,why did i get that darn TATOO !i’m gettin toooo old for this . oh , i know what i…yea never thought of this ,,,I”LL get HER CORRECTIVE LENSES” and GLASSES ! YESSSSSS …I AM a GENIOUS …..why did’nt i think of this a HOUR ago ! well gotta go to BARD OPTICAL next wk….kinda WISH it was TOMM. tho .get one pair , 2nd pr. free ….yes ,we can both have glasses now ….is this a good life or not ! nite-train…bye bye
November 15th, 2009 at 2:14 am
Where have all you people gone? I leave for one day and what happens. WAKE UP chillens I miss your posts. Help me get thru the day. I need input to keep the old noodle workin properly. I don’t want to slip into a coma.
November 15th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Hi Julia, Didn’t know that you were also awake last night. I check this site from time and see that no one has thought it proper to comment on Joe’s story. Quite a story teller – historian, story teller and who knows what else.
How is the other web site doing? I know that Gayle plans on writing but she wants to read thru everything first. Told her she needs some background from this one also. She has stayed friends with Gayla Hale thru the years. Read in our Tribune this morning this quote from a local column writer “All of us are made a little more real to ourselves by the people who remember us from the beginning.” Had hoped to get some of that knowledge from this site but you are all so much younger than I am. But I think that everyone who has been on this site just stumbled onto it. That’s why I hate to leave it. Hate how it gets so dark so early now but really don’t mind winter except for the darkness.
Take care of yourself and keep checking in and love that little granddaughter. Julie
November 15th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
Julie, you need to put some fire under those 2 sisters of yours. Neither one has written on here yet. And miss Kathy hasn’t written me either. I remember Lynda a little a vaguely remember Gayle. How is Brenda doing my mom just loved her and her little boy. You never did tell us how you came out at the casino the other day. AND you never filled us in on the spa. I am so jealous. One of these days. Tell your sisters to get going and give us some of their memories.
Julia
November 16th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Another late night for you too I see. Lynda and I had a wonderful time until she scolded me for spending too much time on the blogs and e-mailing with Joe, I told her to mind her own business. She and Gayle both seem to think we all are too wordy. I’m sure Lynda’s husband keeps up with this site and fills her in. Gayle, I’m not sure – her birthday was Saturday and I think she is trying to catch up on the other site. Told her she should read this one also. Brenda doesn’t own a computer. Allen lives out in the state of Washington and has for quite a while. Ray stopped in at Comcast the other day and signed us up for high speed internet after all these years. My family is so happy about it. But they will be working on it tonight so not sure when I will be on line again. Little granddaugher would love to go with her grandma to have a pedicure. Why I finally had one. My granddaughter has had several. Talk later. Julie
November 16th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
You are not spending too much time on these blogs! This is a great avenue to reconnect, to vent, to do something when you are up late at night, to try and decode what Joe writes (haha, sorry Joe – I still don’t know what you are talking about half the time), and to reminisce. And why am I writing on this blog again?! Sometimes I just can’t help myself. Also, since I’ve been working so much and haven’t talked to you in a few days….HIGH SPEED INTERNET?!!! So proud of you and Dad. So proud.
November 17th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
I also had a wonderful time at the spa – although I think Julie and I agree that it wasn’t as good as last time. Everyone is cutting corners to save a buck. Also I don’t remember telling her she was spending too much time on the site. What I said was that no matter what you can’t go back in time. You can reminese and catch up on the lives of people you knew but you can’t go back. We are not 18 any longer – unfortunately. Time has gone on and I think for the most part it has gone on for the better. Sorry Julie – I still hope we can go for that massage we talked about. And I sure agree that it is time for the High Speed Internet – those pics of the grandkids will come a whole lot quicker! Larry has those Patsy Cline c.d
s ready and anytime you need some help just let us know.
Lynda
November 18th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Oh no, another Helferich on the blog; I am so glad Julie told me about this and that Lynda is now participating and I saw Bettie’s as well. I know Brenda will as well if she gets to a computer at the library. I have many of the same memories but as Julie said, some of mine are different. Some mentioned Miss Ballard; I recall one day in class she told us if anyone wanted to stay after school and cut a paper into fourths, she would give us a quarter (guess we were studying fractions)…Anyway, Joyce Elliott and I stayed after and measured carefully, cut even more so then took it up to Miss Ballard’s desk. Sure enough, she got out her ruler, measured each piece, then handed us back one of the pieces — our QUARTER. Guess I was then and even still now – gullible. Names mentioned about are well remembered. Sophie R, Dorothy Jean Pribble, Carolyn Fox, Barb Blacklock (probably not spelled correctly), Joe G – I think became a police officer in East Peoria. We Helferich’s all learned many life lessons from Monte’s outwardness and of those who reacted poorly to him. Most, I am happy to say, were very good with him and still are today. I’ll share more at another time. I am in touch with Gayla on Facebook and will share this website with her. Gayle Helferich Finan
November 18th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Hello sisters of mine. Welcome. Never said I wanted to go back in time. But most of us would agree, it’s a great place to visit. Julia, you’ll have to get them set up on the other web site now. Now this is no longer my “special place” but one I’ll be sharing with the “two pretty ones” Julie
November 19th, 2009 at 12:28 am
Hey Gayle, glad to see you got on board. You talked about what Miss Ballard did, do you remember Mr. Weber. He was something else. In sixth grade, Gary Hale pestered me to death. I would go up and complain and Mr. Weber would get on to him and in about 5 minutes, it would all start over again. I guess he got tired of me coming up and complaining, so he asked me if I was left or right handed and I told him left. He said “O.K., in order for me to catch Gary in the act, every time he starts. lift you right hand and I will take it as a cue to watch him and I’ll write down each time he does it and after school I will have a talk with him.” All day long I kept raising my right hand and he would nod at me, but he never did do anything. Walking home I realized all he did was keep me from coming up to his desk every five minutes and the class was at peace for a while. He really seemed out of place there, like he should have been a high school or college football coach. But, I’m sure glad he was a Richland. He was a good teacher. Really down to earth. They were good with the child psychology weren’t they. Do you remember Mr. Ingerson? He was a horrible man. He’s the only bad memory I have of Richland. For some reason he hated me. Truly hated me. And I seriously did nothing to deserve it. I can remember asking to go to the bathroom once and him saying no. I sat back down and the urge to go got worse and worse. I asked again and told him how bad I had to go and he said absolutely not. I knew if I didn’t hurry it would be all over but the crying, so I ran as fast as I could to the bathroom. He barged into the girls bathroom screaming and hollering and beating on the bathroom stall door. Mr. Wildenradt had to drag him out. When I got done and came out, he was standing in the hall with Mr. Wildenradt just seething. You could tell he absolutely hated me. I told Mr. Wildenradt what happened and he looked at me like he was sorry and said I had to apologize to him, so I did. But, he was horrible to me from then on. I never did figure out what I did to warrant such hostility. That man should never have been a teacher. He was the perfect example of the “One bad apple” saying. Sorry about unloading that, but I do feel better. So glad you girls are all on board now. I love this sight and Julie. Write more soon. Get a fire under your sister Kathy and get her to write me. We used to be so close in grade school. Till next time.
Julia
November 20th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Hey guys, was it something I said? No one is writing. I need my blog fix at least once a day. Oh, Joe, where are you? I need you to make me laugh. I hope everyone is OK, I’m kinda lost without you guys.
SOMEBODY WRITE!!
Love you all,
Julia
November 20th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Hi Everyone – Another memory — this one of Miss Cassidy and Gary Johnson…it was probably fifth or sixth grade and Gary raised his hand and said “Miss Cassidy, Sophie just called me a queer” and Miss Cassidy put her hand on her hip and said back, “Truth hurts, don’t it, Johnson.” We were shocked back then; just imagine what teachers hear today!
Does anyone remember Dot Pribble, Carolyn Fox, or Barb Blacklock? Is Sophie still around? Jack Duke was a policeman in EP, I think.
Hope Julie gets her high speed Internet up and running soon; it helps a lot. Gave the URL to Gayala Hale via Facebook today – hope to have her share; I remember Lena and her dad (name slips my mind right now) but they drove the cutest little tiny car… Take care everyone! Til next time, Gayle
November 21st, 2009 at 12:50 am
to all my loyal and dear friends on this website ,:::::i feel like i’ve betrayed you this past wk. while i was, “out of town”,so as too speak !last Sunday after watching nascar race ,they were interviewing drivers .iwas so tired /exausted /and VERY sleepy.i thought i heard phone lightly in background and think i ‘dozed off for what i thought was only minutes ,but next thing I remember was wife saying car/luggage /all loaded and ready ,so lets get going too airport ,reservations made and ready ,we’re off to our Condo on the Gulf in Alabama . I certainly PERKED up and sure enough we were met at airport by friend who made ‘arrangements’and driven to our Condo and so surprised when we seen our new hot tub that had been installed next to our whirl pool on large deck overlooking the BEAUTIFUL Gulf!it was getting dawn ,so after quick shower, we were in hot tub drinking tiquila sunrises as sun came up .it was then ,not knowing i would regret my thoughts i had at the time . the next three days i got to play golf on the two magnificent courses they provide when your a member of their PRESTIGIOUS Country Club ,which we are members , of course …the second night at our Club ,much too my surprise , i was Awarded the Outstsnding Humanitarian Award for my Contributions To Mankind ! I was very surprised to say the least , but that was why they surprised me w/ trip down there .I had no idea what so ever , but flattered and humble ,but deserving i thought!my financial advisor / retired Judge / banker and myself had great rounds of golf tho. my money man did talk me into transferring more of my assests to off shore investments in Costa Rico also ,w/ economy as it is till 4th quarter results are in.it was then i realized what a WASTE of time it was for me to spend my idle time w/ this blogin stuff ,what a lucky guy i was !IT was THEN the DAM dog heard daughter pull in driveway and JUMPED on me in recliner ,stepped in my face too look out window and woke me up !my condo gone / judge?judges don’t like me /bankers ? h_ _ _ ,i’m broke /financial advisor?i GOT some ADVICE for one of them/..everything gone ,FRIENDS on BLOG ,everything!BUT if it had’nt been a DREAM ,i was gonna BRING you ALL down THERE ,REALLY !~~~~SURE I WAS ~~~LOL ….it was SO LONG SUCKERS,I”M GONE !LOL DO YA”LL STILL LUV LIL OLE NITE-TRAIN ? honestly , man, i had VERY busy week ,DRS. / paper work / ATTORNEYS /..talked to Vicky {Ray }Warren today ,and she said she’ll be jumpin on…good too hear HER voice ,after ALL these yrs. glad too see Gayle , Lynda , Bettie , Amy, are blogin ,that other one i can’t place {I”d like too PLACE her }called Julie i think , can’t recall her …do any of you know or remember my daughter Frannie Jo ,who use to be friends w/ Margie Bevard and a girl named Demelsa ,that use to walk around Richland in 70s ?well ,i’m outta here , so catch ALL MY DEAR FRIENDS later…?LOL nite-train….
November 21st, 2009 at 8:19 pm
Someone is always trying to play silly games on this site. But just read in this week’s People Magazine that our favorite Mentalist – Simon Baker is the 2nd sexiest man alive just behind Johnny Depp. Knew I wasn’t the only one who liked that smile. Everyone got plans for Thanksgiving? We will probably go to Evanston to spend the day with Ann and family. Hope you are all surrounded by your loved ones. Have a good week. Julie
November 21st, 2009 at 8:44 pm
hi Gayle….i remember the Pribbles’ /Carolyn Fox a Barb Blaylock[ not a Blacklock ] who had a Bro. named Bob and they lived in 400 block of Cass St. …we use to play a little basketball at their house ..them and OTHERS you mentioned were younger than me , but i would stop and shoot baskets w/ them …Jack was E. Peo. cop for yrs. , and retired …he was OK guy and his MOTHER worked all the time at her home at corner of Sanford & Chicago STs. .it always looked neat …Jack bought her home up somewhat close too his .for she was very independent & able too care for hereelf ….VERY nice lady !he has a storage rental business and she always wanted to help out too stay active …real good family …can’t recall his brother’s name ,but both could play good game of b/ ball…as for you DEANIE ….you were ALWAYS a PEST in school ,cause THAT older SIS> of yours made unbearable for all the teachers you were gonna have ,AFTER she got thru w/ um! LOL…it wasn’t anything YOU did or DID”NT do ,it was the LEGACY she left you ,SAAAAAAD …SHE had pulled SAME stunts that you did , { w/ HONEST intentions } so thats why Mr. Weber had you raise your hand…Donna always raised BOTH hands ,when she just wanted attention , so blame her .LOL that Mr. Ingerson is a VERY lucky guy ,that your DAD did’nt go to school and OVERHAUL him ,UNREAL …Wildenradt was a GUTLESS WONDER for ,1;not backing you , 2: not taking him in front of School Board for his uncalled BEHAVIOR!EXCUSE me for saying this ,BUT ,you should have APOLOGISED w/ swift KICK you know WHERE ….unreal that he would embarrass you in that kind of situation ..GOD bless you lil one !Actually i’m SURPRISED Donna did’nt go BAAAAd on them for that !did you ever tell yur Mom or Dad ? ….She was prob. in Central by then tho … well you keep things safe and healthy down there , and tell your MOM hi ,be safe and good too see others coming on board ….keep on keepin on always ~~~~~~nite- train bye ,bye
November 21st, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Joeee..
Check your email ..and you will find more info on the Mr. Ingerson affair …you will see that l did defend both my and Jewels’s honor .
Later Prima Donna