Thursday, October 7, 2010

Old B/W Pictures scanned from negatives.

Betty Bain, Tom, and Butch early 50's
Tom & Butch

Butch and Wags


Kenny Dooley & ??

Tom & Kenny

Cub Scouts - Ricky Fuller's Basement
1st row ??, Rick Bohem, Tom Culver
2nd Row Gary Herwick, Ricky Fuller

Cub Scouts - Burton, Ohio
Gary Herwick, Steve Broker, Rick Karg, Tom Culver



Tom & Gary E-Mail 9-21-2010

Yes I remember the cherry tree, but I had forgotten that there was a small
house tucked in behind them. The Tulip tree, the "huge" tree that we would
never climb because it was so big, I remember the "big" kids had a fort
built way up in the tree, but I never remember climbing it. Yes the forest,
the travels down to the end of Orchard and W228, but then the horses came
and they cut down the trees and built houses. Remember the horses used to be
kept in a choral near the Armbrusters. One 4th of July, Gary and I were
walking around the new houses being built in the "forest" and thought it was
great fun to throw rocks at the sewer tiles to see how many we could break,
well the cops put an end to that, and as I recall I didn't get to see any
fireworks that year. At least I think it was Gary, or maybe it was Kenny, I
can't believe it was Craig, he wouldn't doing anything like that! - Tom

I want to fill in the blanks in your story about the drainage tiles in the "forest".  Yes, it  was you and I that broke up a bunch of tiles with pieces of re-rod and
rocks.  I thought it was great fun until the police showed up in my driveway
while we were eating Sunday dinner.  My Dad and I had a little visit with
the officer, and there was some discussion about whether charges would be
filed, but nothing ever came of it.  As I remember, that was the beginning
of the end of the "good boy" image.  From that point on, there were a few
more questions. - Gary

Hello to Susan.  I remember seeing you at the 25th FHS reunion, but haven't
been back to any events since then.  I heard that many of you in the
Cleveland area see each other pretty often - Mike Jelenic, Pam McEwen
(Faup?), John Jeffereson, etc.  Good to hear that your parents are still
living on Orchard.  Please say hello for me.  My Dad passed away in 1998,
Mom last year at 91.  I think I already told Tom and Ken that I drove
through the neighborhood when I was in Cleveland in August.  It was good to
see that the homes and yards were well maintained, but I agree the streets
were much shorter and the houses much smaller than I remember.  My brother,
Brian and I slept in a bedroom with almost no floor space around two twin
beds and a dresser, and we crammed five people into a little kitchen to eat
dinner - every kitchen cabinet was within someone's reach without getting up
out of their chair. - Gary


Ken Dooley & Tom's email exchange 9-16-2010

 The photo you incorporated into the blog is super. Who’s on the right? Buddies’ home in the background is classic. The photo is from the early days of the neighborhood as evident by the infant shrubs in front of the house and vacant field to the left. Your photo brings back memories — playing in the field and eventually watching a steam shovel dig a foundation for the house (Lawngartner? or something like that); followed by a nail that went through my foot when playing in the house during construction. In the upper left background, Mau’s roof appears. All of us enjoyed some super fields and woods to play in. The field next to Sue’s home and behind Gary’s was a favorite. It was full of blueberries, raspberries, asparagus plants. etc, all remnants of the orchards that once inhabited the area. To the right of Sue’s, the cherry tree was the place to be when cherries were in season. Tom, what other gem photos are you going to surprise everyone with? - Ken

The picture was taken in front of Mike Baus's house. Mike sent it to Butch a few years ago. must have been taken 51-53. Actually Sue probably could date the picture better then I since I believe she is a kindergarten teacher, looks to me like I am probably pre-kindergarten. Butch is on the right and I am on the left.  Funny about nails, I seemed to be running to the doctors frequently back then for a tetanus shot. Once, I remember playing down by Ricky Fuller's house and stepping on a nail and then stepping forward and stepping on another nail, with the other foot. I can almost remember running home, crying, with 2 hurting feet. I remember the vacant lot behind Herwicks, and next to Kinklelaars. Remember all of the rabbits? We used to search in the grass for the nests and find their babies. And their was a huge briar bush that we used to tunnel into and make forts. The house next to the lot going north belonged to the Lukemiers, I used to cut their grass and shovel their snow. - Tom

Map and list of Residents ca 1956
























Memories - Susan Kinkelaar Mears 9-16-2010

OK, so you found me! The email was wrong so I have given you the correct one. I am not sure how this blog stuff works so I hope this posts. I happen to be on that street at least once a week to see Mom and Dad. They are still in the house and they are 90 and 91 respectively. As to the questions you emailed me, I will ask my Mom. She is smart as a tack and remembers all that stuff. I was expecting to see Mary Lou at our reunion this summer but she did not come. I spend most of my time reminiscing with Michael Jelenic about Gilles-Sweet. I can remember all kinds of things about living on Orchard. Do you remember the tulip tree that we always climbed in the vacant lot more near the "forest" at the end of the street. Did we ever find the crazy man who 'lived' in the forest and carried a gun? How about going to the corner store and getting all that penny candy and then taking off for an afternoon of exploring or just making stuff out of the collections we found in the garbage cans. Do you remember walking to White's pond and ice skating in the winter? Did the Hengst girl ever babysit for any of you? She lived behind the cherry trees in our side yard. To keep you up to date, my sister Penny lives in Rocky River, Linda lives in Lakewood, and I live in Shaker Heights. I laughed when you talked about professionals. For us girls, it was being a teacher or nurse. I had a pretty future looking father though because he insisted that we had to go to college. It was very important to him! I wish you would have stopped by to see them when you drove by the house--who knows how long they will be around.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Comments from Ken Dooley's email date 9-1-2010

Like my reaction to Tom’s email with photos a few days ago, your email Gary set off tears when I read your description of your Cleveland area trip a few weeks ago. It’s frightening how similar your trip was to mine when I returned for a business trip a few years ago, a year after my Mother’s death. I met with a business supplier in Chagrin Falls one morning, then after lunch I went to the old neighborhood via I-480 and exited at Clague Road and took the Clague-Lorain-W.228th route to the neighborhood. I distinctly remember debating if I should go this route or take the back route off Clague where side streets feed into Orchard and W. 228. Sentimental feelings took over and felt that the appropriate way to go was by entering the neighborhood at the north end of 228. The first thing that caught my eye (like Gary’s) was the well maintained homes – it’s like they are frozen in time. Though, everything appeared smaller and of shorter distance — smaller houses, smaller yards, and Orchard and 228 streets appeared 50% shorter in length. I imagine (in our earlier days) our smaller bodies and shorter gait made everything larger relative to today. I do believe I was taken back by Bonnie’s move; not completely clear to me today, but I do remember something much different about the street corners. After visiting the neighborhood, I went to the Rocky River beach neighborhood (northern end of W. 210) to view Lake Erie and get an up close look at water quality. Shocking, water was very clear. From there, I went to Rustics (about the same as 40 years ago) on Center Ridge across from Westgate and had a burger, fries and chocolate shake. Left Rustics, went to the graveyard to visit parents and grandparents (the worst part — it seemed like it was only yesterday that I was standing there at my grandfather’s burial, it was 55 years ago, age 7), and then to the airport. Flight departed about 7:30/8:00 p.m., and the September evening was beautiful.

As for the Press route, I might have inherited that from you Gary? Someone might have been in between? I lost it in about a year when I had Bobby Joe Armbruster stand in for me when I went on a vacation. He failed to deliver one day, rode his bike doorstep to doorstep across yards, and missed deliveries.

As for the gas powered model airplanes, to this day I remember the smell / odor. Remember going to go to the combo bike shop / model store shop (on north side of Lorain between 222 and 233) and buying balsa wood sheets / strips to make gliders?

Yes, Gary, you bring to mind that the Dooley’s front yard was the neighborhood football field and the front walk running to the house was the 50-yard line.

Gary, your comment about the neighborhood producing many engineers and professionals is thought provoking. My brother-in-law, Fred Mau who went to Case-Western and was 6 years older, always talked about engineering in the early 60s and the fact there was a big shortage. I guess many parents at the time pushed engineering. At the end of the day, the neighborhood, like many such neighborhoods of that era, was full of hard working (good work ethic), above average people who wanted something better for their children. We went after it, and look where we are today.

And yes Gary, Diana Frank (red hair), another sitter like Linda Neuman that my parents relied on. Does anyone remember the Kacks – Sherry and Valerie? They were the first to move into the new development that took away the forest at the end of 228. Sherry would have been a year older than the both of you. I came upon Valerie by accident two years ago (possibly three) when I was doing research on the Internet for an article. The subject related to the importance of grandmothers. On-line, I read the preface of a few books, and wham, one author spoke about growing up in Fairview and her memory of her grandmother visiting from the state of Washington. I said this has to be Valerie Kack (my first love who moved into the neighborhood from Washington because of her father’s transfer). I looked at the book’s author, and sure enough, it’s Valerie Kack who now lives in San Francisco. I went on-line and searched for her, and found her name associated with a psychology practice. What the heck, I called the number of the business, got a recording, and left a message and number. About a week later, I get a call on my cell phone late at night, it’s Valerie. I said to her I thought you would not call back. She immediately stated, “Why wouldn’t I, you were my first love.” Well, Gary and Tom, she is another professional from the neighborhood – PhD psychologist in business. By the way, Valerie said she went back to Fairview in July for a multi-class HS reunion. I imagine this would have been either July 2007 or 2008?

Comments from Gary Herwick's email dated 8-31-2010

You probably remember that I had the Cleveland Press route that covered 228, Orchard and Loraine east past Bonnie’s to the old Dairy Queen (was converted to a soft drink store before I quit delivering papers at 11 years old). I remember most of the people you mentioned. I didn’t know the Buddies very well, but I’ll add a few names that you didn’t mention – Diana Frank, Barb Stetler, Beth ___ (lived next to Armbrusters), Eric Fuller. I remember the shed, Tom. I think we slept out there one night, right? I also remember flying gasoline powered model airplanes in your side yard until we were so dizzy that we fell down, and working on the engines on my picnic table. I remember playing football in Ken’s front yard, and running through all the yards playing tag until dark.