Classmates from the 40s

MILES BUTCHER, '40

     Thank you for the "WE REMEMBER"(Article in the Alumni Totem Pole.)  I will visit the Memorial plaque, as I'm one of the lucky ones whose name is not on it. Many of my friends are, sadly; Richard Bolger, David Grenier, Roy Giusti, Emil Harasin Jr., William Johnson, Andrew Marcucci and Robert McCune.
     I entered General Pershing in 1930 and continued at Crocker where the highlight was the Fire Drill and using the 2nd floor slide--many airlines have now copied this idea. Remember when the 6th graders went on strike and went home after the earthquake? The teacher's went nuts.
    Alice Sanders Walsh, '39, really got me going with great high school memories. In high school, my role model was Herb Poddig. I remember when he hit a homerun and broke the window near Coach B.I.'s office in the new gym--what a hit! Herb had a great career in Japan, tried out with the 49ers and the balance of his life was devoted to working with kids. I am happy that I had a nice visit with Herb a couple of years ago in Modesto.
     I have great memories of Mr. Volbrecht's German class. Remember our all-day trip to Muir Woods? We met at the "top-o'-the-hill" around 6 AM--no school bus! We took the streetcar to the ferry, the train to Mill Valley, and then hiked to Muir Woods.
     I remember when Muriel Mohnet "fixed me up" with Sally Calloway for my prom and dad let me use the '32 Chevy. The darn girls got me to stay after school to teach me to dance. I didn't mind too much and I had a great time at the prom.
     Remember the creamery and Sam's Pool Hall? I sure do. How about the #40 streetcar going to San Mateo? I was always envious of the Brisbane kids getting a free ride to and from Jeff. My head is just swirling with memories.
     I bet a lot of you remember Saturday mornings behind the D.C. Theater and Marchbank giving out dimes. If you got in line a second time (like I often did) sometimes you'd get two. Then I'd buy a package of Wings, see the show, and smoke my head off.
    My claim-to-fame in high school was that hardly anyone could out sing or out yell me at the rallies in the auditorium. Coach Matthews made me "team trainer" and that's how I got my nickname "Doc" Butcher and it's stuck with me. Oh, and I always got an "A" in P.E., too--proud of that!
     Everyone's talking about e-mail and voice mail. I believe we had it in the 30's.
Consider voice mail! The newspaper "boys" from-time-to-time, would come down Brunswick yelling, "Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Germany invades Poland!" Then they would slur the rest of the news and we'd run out to buy a copy.
Consider environmental concerns: Just think back on the horse and buggy coming down the street and the driver yelling, "Rags! Bottles! Sacks!"…better than those containers littering the streets today!
Consider door-to-door service: Remember the ice-man, the bread-man, the milk-man and that guy who blew his horn every Friday alerting everyone that he had fresh fish for sale! Remember when we talked to a real telephone operator to make a connection--no pressing pound #1 or #2!
     My backyard neighbor was Beverly Rowe Hailer, '48. Her dad was quite a guy. He was foreman for Otis Elevator and oversaw the installation of the elevators on the towers of the Golden Gate Bridge. One day he took his son, Ron, and me up to the top. The elevator only held three people. We walked from one side to the other--scary! We couldn't see the deck because of the fog, but we could see forever above it.
     As I sit here having breakfast and looking over the newspaper, I have to laugh at the big to-do over opening Treasure Island to the public. I remember when they first opened it to the public--the Golden Gate Exposition or World's Fair in 1939. Wow!  Yes, those were the days, my friends.

NORMA BARKER RIGLER, '41

The thought of Jefferson brings back memories of walking the halls before 1st period--Mike Orlich not allowing the girls to wear headscarves in class, even after swimming--walking the halls without a pass and going to court--being a Pep Girl and Mr. Mongan.

TILLIE CASTRO SILVA, '43

Nostalgia sets in everytime I read the Totem Pole. During my years at Jeff, I was a camera buff and I have albums full of wonderful snapshots of so many of my friends. Treasured among them are some of the young men who didn't make it back from World War II.

I also have my "Purple and Gold" cheerleader skirt and I can still squeeeeeze into it. Another fond memory is singing with Date Lembe's "Indian's of Rhythm" band. It was wonderful!

HELEN DUNN BYWATER, '44

Many of us have fond memories of the beautiful Mediterranean building with its wide swept lawns. There is also a group of us who not only miss our beautiful old school, but who come from a town which no longer exists. We are those alumni who once lived in BAYSHORE.

MARY SPOULAS HAWKINS, '49

Most of my memories of Jeff are pretty cloudy, but a few do stand out. Remember the fountain in the hall that we called "Old Faceful" because every time we drank from it, it threw a stream of water into your face.

Remember the sock dances at lunchtime--no shoes allowed or walking in the halls each morning with your friends and catching up on the news and "gossip". Zipping past me--assemblies, rallies, games, senior bench, and senior year!

Remember the demonstration of the first "wire" recordings--a forerunner to the tape recorder and how amazed we were by the "true" sound of the recordings. Oh, how about when Ruby Murphy swam the length of the pool four times under water without coming up for air.

I remember many of the teachers--some good, some not. My good memories include Miss Schmidt, Miss Henry, Miss Sutton, Miss Redkey, Mr. Olney, Coaches Rose and McGrath. But, who can forget Mrs. Reandeau. She was one of the very best. Thanks, Jefferson, for all of the memories.

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