Back Home Again In Indiana

It is almost the end of the long summer reunion season here in Terre Haute and the rains came this week and cooled things down so that the temperature is merely in the 80s after sundown. I picked up Mike McCormick at a party his daughter was throwing out on the south side of East Poplar Street in a neighborhood that seemed familiar to me. I wondered if it was part of the Corey Place where the Bluejacks practiced and drank beer in a summer cottage 50 years ago? (More research is required.) I talked Mike into going to this Garfield reunion where I can take pictures of some of the folks we went to different schools together with. As we headed up to the northside to the Marine Corp clubhouse, I asked if anyone had invited him (no one asked me to come either). I told him of a lady I heard about in Los Angeles who was an habitual party crasher. She claimed that she could get into any party from Malibu to La Jolla by showing up at the door with a tray of deviled eggs and a smile.
Mike and I had only the smiles. The picture above is what Garfield looked like from across Maple Avenue on a snowy day years and years ago. 


We were not very warmly welcomed at the door by Bill Rankin and Bill Kemp who look like they're still sore from the time someone from Wiley tried to burn a big "W" on the Garfield lawn. But at least they didn't stop us from going in. Rankin didn't look as big as I remembered, I thought, until I realized we were standing on the steps and he was in the street.  


Jim Wittig was a little more friendly. He seemed almost glad to see us. 


It was a pleasure to see Sue Edwards Longo and her husband, Bob. We were buddies many years ago and it's always fun to talk to them. 


Meanwhile, Mike found Mary Lou Mann Jennings (Darrel's widow) and Susie Eberhart Jacobs and posed for my camera.

I saw Bill Shassere and June Knight Shassere, and resumed a conversation started about the time June moved to Harrison Avenue at age 11. I forgot to take pictures from then on and wouldn't have many to show if not for Mike.  


He took this one of Shirley Kibler Wittig and June Knight Shassere, Wiley grads who married into the Garfield Class of 56. That's my back in the dark blue T-shirt on my way for refreshments.  


and while I was away, he took this picture. Sue and June... Wiley class of '58 having their own little reunion at the Garfield celebration.  


Then he got someone to snap a picture of Susie Eberhart, Bill Kemp and himself, classmates at Thornton JHS  


And he got Ann Swander Kemp and Bill to smile for his camera.  

The conversations were lively and I just plain forgot to take pictures. I'll try to give a more dilligent effort next time.