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Donna Kelley (Velazquez)

Mike, please confirm that you couldn't hear the conversations coming from the upper floor Cabanas at Olympic Beach pool!! Some of those would be hard to live down. Right, IC girls?

Michael McLeod

Donna: I wish!

And ah, yes, The cabanas. In the social strata of our childhoods, anybody who had a cabana at Olympic was a member of the ruling class. We would stand there, shivering, clutching our raggedy towels, staring up at that second-floor enclave with envy and awe.

A postscript: I left out the Hughes in my role call of East North Broadway families involved in the cranking-out-little-Catholics sweepstakes of the day. Dr. Hughes and his fertile frau lived right next to what we referred to as "the old grey house," a decrepit, victorian-style home whose solitary resident, an old man we never saw,  was a source of mystery and fascination to us. I think my sister broke a window there once and tried to frame me for doing it.

Michael McLeod

OK PSS and then I'll stop, I swear:

A couple of businesses at Oakland Park and Indianola that I missed in the previous post:

There was a Sinclair gas station. Its manager, known to us as Mr. Cotter, had a face that I remember as always being blackened by oil. I don't know what the hell he was doing with engines to make his face that black but I remember so vividly how odd the whites of his eyes looked in the middle of that greasy visage. Looking back I also applaud Sinclair for its dinosaur logo, which was both entertaining and appropriate, if you think about the ancient geological processes that create oil.

There was also -- how could I have forgotten this -- The Big Bev: an old-timey, drive-in-and-be-served-by waitresses-who-come-out-and-hook-trays-to-your-window sort of place. (I think it is now a burger franchise on that lot but can't remember which). You could also eat inside, and patrons sat in booths alongside big picture windows that looked out onto the parking lot. Once, as a grade school kid, I discovered a wondrous novelty: a vividly realistic, marvelously detailed, frisbee-sized splat of rubber vomit. What a treasure it was. Hours and hours of wholesome family fun. Anyway the first thing I did with it was to walk past one of the windows where two diners, a young man and his date, were sitting opposite each other in their booth. I made sure I had their attention. Then I contorted my face, contracted myself into a series of dramatic convulsions, doubled over, and tossed the plastic puke on the pavement in front myself. The young woman gawked at the pavement, horrified enough to make my day. I don't think I thought my performance through any further than that, and thinking back now I am lucky her date did not come out and kick my ass. Instead, as I looked up, I could see him laughing, and had the warm-and-fuzzy, male-bonding experience of knowing that he and I, strangers just a moment before, were now like-minded co-conspiritors who shared a similarly sophisticated sense of what constitutes comedy gold. Maybe, like me, he was lucky enough to have a bas-relief plastic upchuck creation of his own in his personal collection of essential novelty items. At least it's nice to think so.

James Hamilton, M. D.

Timothy Lavelle

 Q.  -- What is the name of the area where this was taken?

A. Columbus, Ohio??????

Q.  -- What is the name of the body of water seen in the picture?

A. I need two guesses....a creek or a stream?

Q  -- What large structure is just north of this picture?

A.  A tree. This one was easier cause you can actually see the tree.....

So, for my prize, I want free medical care for life. JIm, you must have known that someone like me would go for the easy joke??

Alright. I mentioned to someone else that Mc'Lid...a name that I always thought would catch on at the local McDonalds Marijuana Shop...could turn a phrase with the best of them. BUT "...bas-relief plastic upchuck creation of his own in his personal collection of essential novelty items." ranks up there with some of the best that any of us could aspire to.

Fred, I no longer believe your last name is Clem. Maybe Chiacarella or Clementina or some other (pathetic attempt by me) Italian surname. OR, you have the world-renowned but sadly lost until now "History of Famous Columbus Italians" by Dino Cellini. I love your posts Fred.

So, just some other memories for the bonfire....Kennedy coming to Columbus and speaking on the Statehouse grounds. From the way my Mom looked at him, I believed all the stories years later. Did anyone but me get sent to the Y downtown to learn to swim? Ride city busses alone for fairly long distances (in 1950s or 60s measurement) by themselves to various events? I think maybe my folks were thinking maybe I'd get lost and they would have one less little Irish Catlicker to feed? No, not really. 

An early memory is of a flood in Columbus. Maybe 53 or 54?? My Dad drove us down West Broad toward downtown (from the Hilltop) and there were still rings of ice sticking to the sides of telephone poles at 5 or 6 feel about ground level. That day Dad taught me the name "Bottoms" that you Big C folks now call Franklinton or some such? Talk about Urban Denial.

Saint Agatha was better than any of your schools. Really, I mean, you know that's the truth so please give up those grainy memories of "the northeast corner of Indianola and Beelzebub". Our boys were stronger and more handsome; taller with IQs exceeding 140 and our girls could out-cute Shirley Temple. Most of us rode either BMW motorcycles or brand-new (each year) Schwinns to school but some came in Mercedes. Most of us had Olympic style lap pools in our back yards, generally closer to the house than the shooting range or tennis courts. The food was far superior to anything that you had to eat, even at home. I recall the Friday repast with the top layer of the Macaroni and Cheese being the consistency of freshly prepared Bakelite. Best of all, when I started there in the sixth grade, we had Miss Clifford who was Jane's older sister and the very best looking single-female ever to teach young men and women. She was a stand-out looker when placed next to the Sisters of Doom. Or anyone else. 

She became a nun.

...and the music died.

Timothy Lavelle

...I do apologize but this is really important to keep history perfectly accurate.

In 1957 at Lex's Live, Hopalong Cassidy just beat the living crap out of Roy Rogers and then rode out of the arena on Gene Autry's horse with Dale Evans riding double behind him. Roy was seen later trying to piece together his wrecked guitar as his horse 'Stuff-Me' looked on.

Just sayin'...

Fred Clem

David,

You're a little mixed up with Big Bear on Lane and St. John Arena.  The Bear was on the north side of Lane near the Olentangy River.  It was the very first Big Bear, opening in 1934 (formerly a roller skating venue). I don't know exactly when it closed but it was still open  on their 50th anniversary in 1984.  St. John opened in the late 50's, just before the Lucas-Havlicek era, on the south side of Lane.  A high rise apartment/condo building replaced the Big Bear.

Fred

James Hamilton, M. D.

Tim's post gave me the idea that I should give a prize to whomever is the first to come up with the answer to the 3 questions on the photo (see Post #98). No, it will not be free medical advice for life! It will be a print of that picture on metallic glossy photo paper (really cool paper) suitable for framing should the winner want to do so.

There are clues on Post #'s 104 and 115 and below is a map - the photo was taken somewhere within that map.

Remember, answer all three of the questions and the first one to post the correct answers will win. I'll put a suspense date of Monday 24 October on this.

Keep those neighborhood and Columbus history entries coming; they are very informative and bring back a lot of good memories. Thank's, Fred, you got this started and thanks to all those who are contributing!

David Mitchell

Ahem!

If Tim and Mike and Fred and Jim and Joe would please stop talking while I'm interrupting - DO YOU MIND?

So Okay, it was Hawley's and it was Oakland Park. But it was still a "dive" of the first magnitude.

And Fred, I did recall that old Big Bear was on the north side of Lane, but I must have St. John's misplaced

And that bunch of Hughes on North Broadway (including Janet, in our class) was the Dr. "Hank" Hughes with 15 kids. I knew them well for much of my life and I married their cousing Mary - (of Dr. Tom Hughes of Arlington Ave. with only 13 kids). BTW all five Hughes Brothers were doctors, the oldest - Joe - was my dad's best fiend from medical school on. His grandson Jimmy is your state Representative I think.

And how could I forget that my Mom always shopped at DiNovo's grocery right next to Olympic pool. I used to love to go there with her becuase they were so friendly. They had three or four cash registers and a huge parking lot for about 18 cars. That was Gus' dad as I recall. But I guess we all have to tip our hat to you St. Agatha folks - you had Tarpy's - first in a tiny corner on arlington Ave., then later in that big fancy Tremont Ahopping center !

I do remeber Ricardo's near St. James the Less, but the Ridardi's that we all hung out after games was my favorite pizza of all (in a town of great pizza parlors - I still go back to Tommy's when I'm in town). And Mr. Ricardi remembered me years later when I was home with my wife and kids for Christmas.

And who said Big Bev?

"Take the bottom of the bun, and just for fun, add a hamburger patty and some cheese, oh daddy. Gittin' better with the slaw, righ now I could gnaw..........PLEASE, SOMEONE HELP ME!

David Mitchell

"Ahopping" is a southern colloquialism for "shopping" 

David Mitchell

Donna, I wasn't leaving you out - you are free to interrupt at will. 

Nancy DeCola

Wow!  You all brought back some great memories of some fun places.  Even though I left Clintonville before 7th grade - Clintonville always seemed like "home" to me.  Started out on Richards Rd., then E. Beechwold, then Kelso.  David Dunn has kept me up to date on the destruction of Olympic Pool - must have spent almost everyday there during the summer.  And even after moving to UA - I spent a lot of time at 100 W Como - with Vicki & Sharon Smith. Watterson was some good years with you all...glad the 50th was such a success.  Keep posting - I'm enjoying it.  

Nancy D.

Bill Reid

I think I have the answers to Jim Hamilton's quiz. The area is called Overbrook Ravine Park. The name of the waterway is Adena Brook. And the large structure to the north is good old Bishop Watterson High School! The "springs" he refers to is Indian Springs Road, which is at the southern boundary of the Watterson property. An "aerie" is another word for an eagle and we all know where eagles nest -- at 99 E. Cooke Rd. Our reunion sure has ignited discussion on this board and I'm enjoying it! But it makes me feel old; I hardly remembver any of the places the rest of you remember so well!

James Hamilton, M. D.

Bill, Congrats, you are totally correct! You even got the "springs" clue. An aerie is an eagle's nest and, as you mentioned, BWHS is where the eagles do nest. The other clue about the canyon refers to Canyon Drive which comes off of Overbook. Overbook goes north to Cooke and you must get on Cooke for a short distance and then turn back on to Overbook. Please send me a private email with a mailing address and I shall send your prize through the post office. Jim

David Mitchell

First let's give all honor and praise to Bill for a beautifully deducted answer.                                                 (did I really say "deducted"?)

U da man!

And to Jim for a brilliant set of clues. 

I should have known this because I grew up on the other section of Overbrook Drive. That section also used to connect to Cooke but has been cut off due to the danger of entering traffice between those steep hills. I walked that section every day coming home from OLP after school - up Shreyer Place with John Jackson and Tommy Lizinger, and then alone over the old "golf course hill" and through the woods to Cooke and Overbrook Drive and up the hill on Yaronia. That hill was great sledding as a kid, until the City screwed it up with salt trucks. 

Looking at that map alone brings back many memories. Glenmont Road is a reminder of two early memories.

First, the site of Glenmont Grade School where I went to kindergarden. I was in the same class with Billy and Dick McNamara (who re-joined our class as seniors when Aquinas closed). One or the other would start crying almost every day and that would induce the other one to cry. The teachers had so much trouble getting them to stop that they would usually call Mrs. McNamara and sure enough, Evelyn would drive over to the school in that big, black '53 Cadillac and take them home early. Billy was the last person I said goodbye to when I left Columbus 17 years ago. I walked into his hospital room as he was checking out of OSU with his second (and last) go-around with cancer. He was there with his wife Monica, brother Dick, Father Jerry Staluka (a few years ahead of us at Watterson), and me. From the look on everyone's face I knew it would be our final goodbye. But I am pleased to say we had enjoyed a few years of renewed friendship after I moved back to Columbus before I watched him go through both episodes. 

Second, I was aware that Glenmont was the boundary between I.C. and O.L.P.  But before we ever started school, and became "parish segregated", a few brothers would always wander down our street (Overbrook, but accessed from Yaronia) from their house at the end of Glenmont to my big yard where everybody gathered for baseball and football (and later, basketball). They were the Strange brothers - Terry, Frank, and Johny (and rarely, sister Bonnie, coming to tell them they were in trouble). Frank and I were the same age and became good "football buddies" (he never seemed to like to come down for baseball). But high school seemed to pull us apart until later in life when I moved my family back from Denver. We had one great lunch together when he was still a VP at E.F. Hutton. He invited me out to see the big new house he was having Tommy Swain build for him - with two of the biggest damn fish tanks I had ever seen, lowered though a hole in the roof by a crane. I always thought Frank was an odd combination - a rough-edged "street tough", but with the kind heart of a child.  

Funny what triggers a memory. 

James Hamilton, M. D.

Mark Schweickart

To: Dave Mitchell-- Well I have no memories of sledding on Overbrook, but I am surprised no one has mentioned that its seclusion provided the perfect romantic getaway within the heart of  the city for another favorite pastime -- slutting on Overbrook. Where else could you pull off the side of the road, and feel as if you were in a far-off woods, safe from prying eyes, until that is, Chief Wiggams tapped on your window with his flashlight and scared the bejeezus out of you. 

Mary Clare Hummer (Bauer)

Mark, you are now going to take this discussion off in an entirely different direction. Never met Chief Wiggams but I think seclusion could also be found down by the casting pond at Whetstone Park. Mind you it was only that one time and there was that inconvenience of the gearshift gizmo thingy right there on the floor but I think it felt safe from prying eyes. Seems like I heard of somewhere on Walhalla or in the ravines back there, too. Of course, we hadn't heard of the Zodiac killer yet!  Clare

David Mitchell

Yup to all three of those spots (and a couple others I won't mention - well okay, the parking lot at Dominion Jr. High was a bit obvious). 

But Heck, you didn't need to go to all that much trouble. After one of the proms, Blanche Rish suggested the safest place was right there in her own driveway. She said her parents would not be up that late and those pesky Arlington cops would never come right into someone's own driveway.  WRONG !

(Note: It's the same flashlight tapping on the windshield and the same "bejeezus" in Arlington too!)

And speaking of where to go for a smootch. Didn't we all take the ritual walk from Watterson Basketball games down the alley on the east side of High Street all the way to Ricardi's? Okay, so you had to walk out in the open on High street until you passed the gas station and Our Lady of Peace, but then the alley took you the rest of the way - in almost total darkness. 

I had to do it my first time as a freshman with a sophmore "big sister" who I didn't even want to kiss - she made me do it. But I learned the routine that night. When I had a crush on Donna Bain, we did the "alley" after a ball game. But I was so scared of kissing her we simply walked - that was all - then had a coke at Ricardi's. I guess that didn't sit well with her. I took her out on a double date one time shortly after that. But when I called her a week later to ask if she got the 16 yellow roses I sent for her birthday, her little sister answered the phone and I could hear Donna yelling in the background, "TELL HIM I'M NOT HOME!"

Shoulda, coulda, woulda in the alley. 

p.s.

Gotta share this - years later on the alumni fundraising "phone-a-thon" (which I did for several years while back in Columbus, I got Donna on the phone in Arizona and we shared a wonderful laugh about that one. 

David Mitchell

Tim, You forgot "Lash LaRue". All dressed in black and had a bull whip that was as fast as any cowpoke with a six shooter.

And speaking of famouse landmarks, how could we forget "Jet Stadium"?

Remember "Catholic Youth Nights" at the ballpark? I saw Boog Powell playing 1st base for the Rochester Red Wings, and Richie Ashburn hit four home runs (minor league of course) for the Arkansas Trevelers. And there were the Richmond Vees, the Syracuse Chiefs, Buffalo Bisons(?), and for a while, the Havanna Sugar Kings (who had to sneak out of the country late one night for their own safety) and became the Jersey City Jerseys (later Jacksonville).

I saw 6'7" pitcher Tom Cheney who struck out 21 batters later for the Senators, Julian Javier, Gene Alley, Don Clendennon, and Big Bob Veale - who struck out 22 batters one night at old War Memorial Stadium (featured in "The Natural") in Buffalo - and LOST! 

My dad took me out one Sunday afternoon and we sat way out in right field past first base, pretty close to the right fielder, a big, black rookie, just up from Asheville in the AA league. The first two opposing hitters lofted easy fly balls that this kid camped under, caught, and then dropped - both of them. My Dad turned to me and said, "this kid will never last the summer here". Dad was right - sort of. That "kid" finished that summer and the next 17 or 18 in Pittsburgh. His name was Willie Stargell !

Lordy, how would I have ever gotten through my pre-teen years without Joe Hill calling those games on WMNI ?

James Hamilton, M. D.

Fred Clem

Gil McDougald, New York Yankees, hit the line drive that smashed into Herb Sore's face.

Fred Clem

Speaking of the Indians, in 1954 (the year we started 1st grade), they were 111-43.  It was the most wins ever for an American League team under the 154 game format and the winning percentage was .721.  In the World Series, they were swept by the New York Giants 4-0.  After the 1957 season the Giants moved to that "City by the Bay".

In that Series, Willie Mays (Bob Curtin's idol) made that fantastic catcch of Vic Wertz's dive to centerfield in the Polo Grounds.

In the 50's the Yankees won the American League pennant 8 times.  The 1954 Indians and the 1959 White Sox were the only exceptions.  Both of those teams wee managed by Al Lopez.

David Mitchell

Wow Tim! How could we have both forgotten.......

"A firey horse with speed of light, and a cloud of dust, with a hardy Hi Ho Silver.

The Lone Ranger!

Robert Berkemer

Mary Clare!..... "the Casting Pond", I'm shocked! But please tell us what kind of car it was... ;-)