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David Mitchell

Okay Fred, you've been a good boy. Go for it.

James Hamilton, M. D.

David Mitchell

Jim, you are warm. No, more like red hot !

Fred?

David Mitchell

Okay, this is how it was explained to me.

Many of the Italian Immigrants who settled out in San Margherita were of Norhtern Italian descent and were often stone cutters. They located there becasue of employment at the nearby Marble Cliff Quarry, just across the river from Scioto Country Club. Over a generation, hundreds of their sons found work as caddies at Scioto Country Club. They would either ride in to the quarry with their fathers in the morning and walk over the Trabue Road Bridge, or thumb a ride over to the entrance to Scioto Country Club and walk up the long driveway. 

As with many golf courses, caddies were offered periods where they were allowed to play the course and also offered cheap lessons. This generation produced hundreds of terrific local golfers. And few if any ever followed their fathers into the quarry. I beleive there is even a newer all Italian Golf Country Club somewhere up past Dublin.

One joke I heard was that the fewer the trophies, the better the pizza (and service), but to watch out for a pizza parlour with too many golf trophies. 

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In 1926, the U.S. Open was played at Scioto, and of course the winner was the great Bobby Jones. Among the many young caddies were a number of young Italian boys from San Margherita. But the list of caddies also included two teen-age Mitchell boys. One was my Uncle Dave, and one of his younger brothers, Bill - my dad.

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I wish Tom McKeon could chime in here. When we were at Watterson, he told me that he had carried the bags several times for a local Pharmacist and his famous son Jack. 

Fred Clem

Dave,

Pretty good  except for the part of Italy.  The original immigrants came from a village in the southern region, Pettorano sul Gizio in  Abruzzo.  Saint Margaret of Cortona is the patron saint of that village.  Probably a higher percentage of those caddies got into construction business as opposed to food service.

Those caddies grew up and started the American-Italian Golf Association.  They decided to build a golf course of their own because most country clubs would not accept them as members.  The course was on Wilson Road between Trabue & Roberts.  I-270 construction took most of that property and they bought an existing course near Groveport.  After they outgrew that one they built Riviera Country Club north of Dublin, a few years before Jack built Muirfield.  It was sold for development last year.  Those caddies are either no longer with us or no longer able to play.

Fred

James Hamilton, M. D.

Michael Hill

Hi Mary Clare. How could I be your first crush when you told me I had to be a big basketball star before you would go out with me! Oh yes going out my bedroom window to sneak out while my Mom was passed out.

Joseph Gentilini

It could be Sister Estelle Marie but  I t hink she left halfway into the school year.  JOe

Joseph Gentilini

 Why is  Tom L in a care facility?  Would he like visitors?  Joe

David Mitchell

Fred, Thanks for the correction on the origianl location in Italy. I was just focusing on the Pizza parlours that we all knew and enjoyed. But yes, many got into construction and some into big time real estate development. And a handful of very successful lawyers.

But my advice still holds - Watch out for those golf trophies - LOL.

p.s. I wish you would post those two intersting historical notes about San Margherita that you sent me directly - at least the one of you in Italy. I think my dad was quite bothered by that kind of discrimination, especailly being a WW2 Vet himself. He knew a few of those guys from his "caddy days". (BTW - he is the one who explained that bit of "history" to me - one day out on OSU golf course). But it was not far removed from his own background. Going back two prior generations in Massachusetts, my great grandmother worked as dishwasher in a tavern that had a sign in the front window that read "No Niggers, Dogs, or Irish allowed". She was only allowed to enter through the back kitchen door.

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Joe, the subject of Tom Litzinger's health is not my business to explain. But when Keith and I visited him the day after the reunion, he specifically asked us to request the removal of the "visitors are welcome" message on the original class website announcement. That is all I have to say - could we leave it and move on?

Janie Albright (Blank)

Great topic. My dad was a golf pro until an accident during WWII took away his ability to play golf at that level. He and his brother battled it out for Franklin County district junior championship in 1926 or 1927. They lived on the East side. He went to Aquinas then East and learned to play golf caddying at Columbus Country Club. I'm pretty sure he told me caddied for the tournament at Scioto. He was assistant pro at Columbus CC then pro/manager at other area clubs including Indian Springs which was pretty much where Watterson is. Some of you might know that. There was another club also that was where the Blind and Deaf school is. The name escapes me. Elks Club maybe. He would work up here as a golf pro in the winter then went to Florida and played smaller pro golf tournaments called the "Florida Circuit " in the winter. He was drafted into the Army in 1941 at the fairly advanced age of 32, still a bachelor.  

David Mitchell

Does anybody remember coming back after a year of college and going down to the "Thirsty i" ?

(on Lane Ave - I think - 1st block west of High street) ----OMG!  what fun!

James Hamilton, M. D.

Janie,

My dad also went to East High School. He was born in 1910 so I assume he may have been a year behind your dad. Dad was not a golfer but played baseball, basketball and maybe football there. I wonder if they knew each other?

I was going  through an old scrapbook I had when I was in grade school. I found that I had shoved a lot of old clippings and memorabilia in there from both IC and Watterson. This class picture was in there so I scanned it. I tried to sharpen it up a bit in Photoshop but everyone still will probably need a magnifying glass to read the names and see the faces.

There are some other pics and things I shall work on and maybe put up on another post later.

Beth Broadhurst (Murray)

I can vouch for Claire that she indeed did have a crush on Mike Hill!

David Mitchell

Yes Janie, that was the Elks club. After my dad's family moved from their first house down on 10th or 11th Ave (yes, long before it became a "war zone") up to 44 Acton Road, he was old enough to caddy, and able to get up to the Elks Course on Morse Road (Deaf and Blind School - or was). He said it was fabulous course in the old days. This was his regular course for caddying and he carried bags for so many years he developed a slight slant in his posture and had to have his suits altered to shorten one arm slightly. They could ride the "trolly" part way up High Street, and then walk a mile or so to the course. One of his best buddies became a priest (Father Sprinkler) who established a mission in Formosa (Taiwan) and Dad contributed money to the mission most of his life. 

Dad also explained that the residents (and their parents) of the Deaf and Blind schools complained for years that they had been moved out to the middle of nowhere (from the old location downtown - where they could get to some limited jobs, doctors, and some basic shopping and entertainment). The State of Ohio took a lot of heat over that, from both the dislocated residents, their families, and the golfers who missed their wonderful golf course. 

And yes, Indian Springs golf course was north of Cooke road (across form Watterson) and ran down over the hills north of Overbrook toward some new streets that are now close to Colerain. I think dad caddied there some but not as much. He also said it was a really nice course. My usual walk home every day from OLP was always up Schreyer Place (with John Jackson and Tom Litzinger - sometimes we tolerated Suzzanne Weber, but she didn't have to go very far to her house), and then down the old "golf course" hill behind Ingham and connect down at the bottom of those steep hills on Cooke Road to Overbrook. It was sometimes muddy and a bit dangerous but hey, it was 1957 - it's what you did.  During the winter, that old "golf course" hill became the new sledding hill for several neighborhoods. It was long, wide-open, safe, and terriffic.  

*Speaking of golf, my mother's mother's step-sister (or sister-in-law?) was great aunt Annie Nicklaus. My mom met her great nephew - a 13 year-old chubby blonde boy (who my mother called Jackie) at Aunt Annie's funeral.

David Mitchell

Beth,

How long have you been out there lurking? Thank God you didn't show the sophmore JV photo. The lighting makes it look like we were all wearing eye shadow. 

Beth Broadhurst (Murray)

I have spent the last few rainy Pittsburgh days(?why would 3 of my sons move here and I follow) reading  all 13 pages from Jim Hamilton's entry of the picture of the Bishop Watterson monument to the present. It has been a joy not only to relive the Clintonville days as well as High School, as well as many Columbus sites and restaurants.                                                                                                                                                              There was mention of Olympic Pool and I remember the thrill of jumping off the 16 foot diving board (not diving). But if my memory serves me correct, I think Sylvia DiSabato was my only friend who actually dove off.             Also from first grade until 8th, we went to Mass every morning before school and had to fast. My breakfast for all those years was a glass of pinapple juice and those delicious glazed donuts. Loved learning where those donuts came from.                                                                                                                                                     I am worried that I seemed to have loved the teachers several have hated. Sister Norbertine and Sister Marie Karen were two of my favorites! Mr. Manion was also a favorite as well as my POD teacher whose name I have lost. The absolutely worst teacher I ever had was Mr. Walker. I can't remember any of my homeroom teachers but if we were alphabetically I may have been in 115.                                                                                                                                                           Does anyone remember their  senior exit interview with the Monsgr.? He looked at your transcript then at you and told you to go to college or forget it!  Such was our guidance.                                                                                                            Today everyone is entitled to busing, but in High School I took the city bus up Indianola to Morse Rd and transferred down. After school I walked with a group, Claire, Tessie, Mary Margaret, Christine etc. down High street, stopping at Sandy's and then we dropped off people on the way, always  spending time  at Christine Woodward's before I head down to Walhalla, a  five mile hike in all.                                                                      Janie thanks for this forum. Jim, Fred, Dave, Claire, Toni, Tim, M.Mcleod, Donna K.Thanks for providing history and memories. 

David Mitchell

Beth,

I was kidding about Siser Norbertine. She was a heck of an Algebra teacher, but such a funny character, with her funny expressions and that horrible lisp. I was somehow placed in her advanced algeba class with the likes of Steve Hodges, John Jaackson, etc. But I think maybe Charlie Kaps and I were a real drag on the group. We each would have our hands up with questions so often she would just sigh and roll her eyes in exasperation. I can remember her saying, "Michael (several of them called me that - no idea why), you are sssstttlow to grasp, but once you get it you never forget it."  She must have had the patience of Job! 

And I had Pat Mannion for History too. I really liked him a lot. I can say this now without getting into trouble - he was a man of much higher caliber than Dick Walker. 

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(Should we share our story of the most "romantic" date ever?  I still can't beleive you came at me with that at the reunion.)   

James Hamilton, M. D.

Beth,

Great to have your input on this forum! Your IC / Clintonville history should add to some of the things that we have been discussing.

Yes, Mr. Manion taught us World History as freshmen and Mr. Walker American History as juniors. I always wondered why the coaches drew the straw to teach history. I hated history, not because of the teachers but because of the memorization of dates and battles that were soooo far in the past. I had to take one history class in college and hated that also. The best part of Mr. W's history class was in the fall of 1964 with the arguments we all got into over the Goldwater/LBJ presidential race. (And, please, let's not get into any current political debates - that could ruin this forum.)

Strangely enough, now that I have lived long enough to realize that we have experienced what today's young people would call history, I now love history! And this forum has really stoked that interest. One of the topics that I teach at Ft. Carson's hospital is the history of cardiac care starting from mid-century to present. But I actually start with some things that happened in 1767. That would have bored me to death in high school. Funny how our perspectives change as we age.

As for POD class I remember I was a senior and had a nun but do not remember her name. We all had to subscribe to U.S. News & World Reports and discuss articles every Friday. That was a little more interesting to me than discussing Attilla the Hun.

I think Manion and Walker were the only lay male teachers I had in either grade or high school. Of course we had priests for religion. My freshman year it was Fr. Carmen Arcuri. Those classes were segregated boys from girls. Also, once or twice a year Dr. Jim Good gave us a health class in the Little Theatre.

Keep the memories flowing...

Deborah Alexander (Rogers)

TIM, thanks for the shout out to my mom. Happy to say she is still with us at 92, and still beautiful!  I'll tell her you still remember her PB&J sandwiches made in the oven, more than 50 years later. I had forgotten about those!  Those innocent St. Agatha summers were the best, and I remember how much we all liked the new guy who came for 6th grade...you.  Remember how you, Linda Testa and I used to sit on your front porch steps and talk for hours?  And everyone in my backyard jumping on the trampoline?  Good memories of an innocent time.  

Joseph D. McCarthy

Dave,

Just a short post, for now, but I definitely remember the Thirsty I.  In fact I still have a matchbook cover from the Thirsty I.  It was located beside the alley just West of High St. on the Northwest corner of Lane Ave.  The previous name was the Library.  It was owned by Phil Traxler and a lawyer named Noel Morrison; Noel  also owned the Pizza City pizza spots around campus.  They also renovated an apartment bldg on the East side of High street, south of 15th that became the Castle.  One of the performing groups there was The First Edition with some guy  who headlined going on by himself and making a name recording as Kenny Rodgers.

After High school a friend from Aquinas and I got jobs working at the Thirsty I and assisted in remodeling the Castle.  Also, when Phil and Noel sold two wonderful guys named McNamara purchased and ran it for awhile.

Sorry I was so long.

Joe

David Mitchell

Joe,

OMG, that's it!  I was going to ask the group if Billy and Dick McNamara weren't somehow involved? I had come back from my first (unsuccessful) year at college and Groff and Litzinger were telling me I just had to go there!  I went down with Keith one night and we both got drunk - I mean really drunk! (for the first time in my goody- two-shoes life)  I remember we were with a group of Watterson kids and seated right next to the juke box. As Billy Mac kept bringing us pitchers, we kept stuffing quarters in the machine to play the same song over and over ("Keep the Ball Rollin" by Jay and the Techniques). Later in the evening we were standing on the chairs and yelling out the song. 

Mike McCleod had his car and was somehow able to drive us home. But when he got to my long driveway, he said he couldn't get down there and back out in his condition, so I got out and walked down to my front door. The next morning I had the worst hangover. Since I was not returning to school I went back to the "I" several times before I left for basic training the following January. The place was kind of a dump but we had some fun times!

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First Edition was a favorite group and I do remember who their early lead singer was. But I sure didn't now he played at the "I".  Recall the Vietnam jungle scene right after the rain in Forrest Gump? 

"There's somethin' happenin' here. There's a man with a gun over there,,,,,, (that's First Edition with Kenny's voice).

Joseph D. McCarthy

Dave,

Sorry if my earlier response left the impression about WHERE Kenny Rodgers and The First Edition played.  They played at the Castle.  The Thirsty I had a piano in the upstairs backroom and a jukebox (I think in the "basement".  There definitely wasn't room at the "I" for a band.

Stephen Roach

What a trip down memeory lane you guys are discussing. Sure peaked my interest and raised many long lost memeories from a quieter, kinder, more loving world than we live in today. My typing still sucks so will keep this short as my two little guys wear out pretty quickly at this age. Where to start, my dad was also a professional golfer, earned his PGA card before the war. He and his 5 brothers attended St Charles, all caddied at Columbus Country Club and all became scratch golfers. SOOOOO, somehow I ended up at Scioto Country Club caddying, my earliest golf memories. Guess life and a war ( and possibly 6 bratty kids) got in the way of a sucessful golf career for my dad, and my story is not finished yet although I never inhereted ANY of his talent so breaking 100 is still a minor miracle for me. My caddying career didn't last long either, remember caddying for Wayne Brown once, probably was the end right then as I remember him throwing a club in one of the lakes and suggesting a retrive it, I respectfully declined.

The " Thirsty I" as I remeber was the SINGLE" biggest reason that my college career was "extended " by a couple of years, geez the Mc Namara stories could go on for hours, they never ceased to entertain, and their poor mother, the things they did to her..........WOW!

Enough for now, fingers tired. But the memories are flooding back thanks to you guys. The time spent will all you guys are now very special memories. Keep up the good  work and I'll try and contribute along the way. Thanks for the memories, oh wait think Bob Hope already credited with that line. 

Alan Standish

Boy, what a walk down memories lane!  Most of my (limited) memories seem to be from around St. Michael's- Sr. Ellen Marie's three sided ruler she used to make her points, Fr. Byrne's constant badgering for money, and Fr. Fulcher's slapping around of altar boys!  I remember Sr. Karen Marie's drone-like lectures and throwing hand made darts that stuck to her lectern.  I also seem to remember a Sr. Michelle, whose sister visited her one weekend and ended taking her back home with her!?!  I wish ny memory was as clear as our unofficial class historians: Dave, Fred, Beth, Bob C.,  Dr. Jim's and others!  Really missed several classmates that weren't there: Donnie, Ray B., Lynda, Carolyn and Dennis, and others.  Great seeing everyone- nice to know we're still making memories!