Peggy Johnson

I got my first Barbie Doll at Chubby and Tubby - lol!  Those were the days...

Al Ovadia

My next door neighbor wa Kenny Alhadeff and we would take the bus to Chubby & Tubby and buy a Christmas tree for 99 cents and bring it back to his house. Here's a few more places, Zestos (soft cones with jimmies), Herfy's, Sportsland (sponsored my Pony League team). And my favorite, that little store right past Raineer on Graham that had all the penny candy. Remember making your own cinnamon sticks and Chum Gum. No wonder I was referred to as "husky" as a kid. Lol

Janis McKelvy (Newman)

I really liked Mr. Ruhl.  However, I was SO NERVOUS when he would go right down the rows, and we had to answer the next problem in the book.  I was so afraid when it got to me I would not know the answer!  It seemed like he did that method every day.  I thought everyone else seemed so calm and inside I was churning with nerves.  Years later I believe I found out he was a librarian somewhere.

Ric Rivera

Hi Ya’all,

Wow! What an archival lot that’s great to see and hear the memories of bye gone daze. Sure as we merrily move forward we got more to share. Like in songs! “Thanks for the Memories” and “The Way We Were” and then it’s all “The Cats in The Cradle” again.

Ric Rivera

Brenda R and Janis M - thx for posting pics was thinking you might be the one to come thru. The 6th grade pic  you’re spot on do you mean Gerry Gadberry? and adding in Dennis Phelps, Bob Hasson RIP, Eric Curry ?, and Jory Randles ? RIP. On Landy Cole curiously enough, I met Landy’s sister as a financial advisor secretary in the early 90’s. They moved to Renton and attended RHS, later he got in a bad car accident and had been in the nursing home for a longtime. 

Cheryl C – sorry the happen! 

The 1st grade pic left side that is short timer David Azose and just below is that Barbara Shapiro?  Graham Hill opened in ’56 as Al O mentioned. 

Ric Rivera

Yeah! Gil’s, Herb’s Pharmacy, and there was the later Food Giant and there was Ray’s Thriftway, Sidran’s Pharmacy and Leland Hemnes's father’s gas station Rex’s. Cindy Yost RIP father's flower shop next to the clothing shop whose name is at tip of the tongue, Cleo's?. Mom took us kids to Hillman City American theatre to see S McQueen movie “The Blob” circa ’58. PCC owns the old Ray’s Thriftway and is moving in ’14 to the spot where Glenn S was a box boy at the ole Tradewell no longer standing. It will be a multiuse complex to further serve local hood and supplement Light Rail Station and Bus Hub at McClellan St. Yep, the “Times Are A Changing” from 85 feet height which is 6 story that just got the go ahead to raise it to 125’. Facelift is coming to coincide with Seattle 2035 Comprehensive Plan.

Sylvia L - your right Gil’s 18 cent hamburgers. Baloney sandwiches really?  Now, if it were Hawaiian style Spam that might be a different story but, back then who would serve up what was known as army ration? Jeez, what else could we do waiting for the bus besides doing what everyone did when it rained is go inside and bug Herb. I wasn’t driving but, Gas was cheaper too like 5 - 18 cents compared to today’s prices.

Al O - you know C & T sold the best Christmas trees being the cheapest prices around up until the time they stopped doing business and sold out. Now, “The Claremont” @ Walden.

Ric Rivera

Also on Sharples think it was in S Miller’s class that in April ’65 we evacuated to the north courtyard due the 6.0+ earthquake. http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/events/1965_04_29.php  I remember hurriedly making our way to the nearest door out looking down the main hallway that was undulating like a snake and not seeing the end other of the building. Wow! Such elasticity. There was another evacuation, the west wing I don’t recall the year. That was due to a potential explosion oxyacetylene bottle connection in Kermoade class.

Ran into craft teacher Evans in ’01 ish over at the 1st Ave and Lander’s St. Home Depot the ole Sears n’ Roebuck Garden and Lawn Center. You know, he one of two guys Craig was the other that were Route 66 corvette driving dudes. He had long sold it and now into the handyman thing. 

Glenn S - yea Hubbard would touch shoulders too and he had bad breath. Didn’t have problem with shirt tails guess, we were too scared or you put the fear of the peer pressure on calling what it is. It’s too bad it was boys only. Times have changed and as Dylan put it “Times are a Changing”. Hmmmmm….. wonder if Mrs. Hubbard from Whit-Worth was related. Nah? Couldn’t be.

I agree, we still keep learning. As Benjamin Franklin put it we are all teachers. But, you know that young and old in some form or another we learn from one another, hopefully it’s the good conscious choice that multiples outward.

JRH – Thx for the postings. Ruhl’s class is John Mike Johnson he stopped by before my retiring day and mentioned he’d pull the plug @ 65. Maybe some know, since running into him in the late 80’s he’s been the lead engineer in keeping the Renton 737 factory cranes and it rail system running right n’ tight.

Ric Rivera

Here’s a band pic The Penetrations think it was for the 9^th grade talent show featuring Carl Kushner, (Dick) Richard Wasson, Jeff Yoshinaka, Ric Rivera and Larry Epstein don't know who that is to Larry's left.

Kathy Grovac RIP and friends stopped by a couple of Saturdays at Carl’s practice place and said we needed some fans and I said in my quiet way. Yeah! We’re hot.

Ric Rivera

Here is Alan Schocken in '07 doing his pastime hydroplane memorabilia at our local favorite event of the area

Esther Fisse (Abouaf)

John MacLeod ... Where are you?  The message forum is missing your comments!  It's because of you I started reading it!  

John MacLeod

Esther..........I have been enjoying everyone's posts.  I'll give my observations.

Favorite grade school teacher......Miss Amelia Telban.........truly the best

Jr High favorite...........Mr. John Ruhl......1921-2008

High School...........Bob McGrath

First Movie............Johnny Tremaine at the Columbia City Theatre  1957 with Walt Rice

First sport coat and tux rental..........Rector's Mens Store.....Columbia City

Cindy Yost's dad Clay had an insurance company, the florist shop was Matheson's.

Secretary at Graham Hill was Mildred Hawkins, a friend of my mom's, who occasionally ratted me out to mom.

Keefe's hardware in Hillman City and they also had a grocery store at Rainier and Orcas.

Don't forget the Hob Nob tavern at Rainier and Genessee where no corked boots were allowed.

Mondo's Meats, Cleo's which was the Seafirst Bank and now is a Starbucks.  Grayson and Brown Hardware.

Made it to the Elbow Room once or twice but mostly had breakfast in the cafe.

John MacLeod

Mr Hein..............Thanks for calling out my Alfred E Neuman photo.  I disliked those photo days.  The guy would say smile, I would and then he would clean his fingernails, retie his shoelace, look at the ceiling and then click the picture.  By that time all I was left with was that smirk.  I tried Smirkers Anonymous once.  They gave me a hundred dollar bill to leave once they found out I knew you.  They said that professional smirkers were not allowed.  I know what the next question is and the statute of limitations has long since left the station on sharing the hundred bucks.

John MacLeod

I was in Miss Hofer's Language Arts class when Mr. Bowen came to the door and gave the news about President Kennedy's assaination.  Had Bowen for a class in the ninth grade, out in the portable.  Mr Hubbard still has bad breath according to his niece.  Many a student left a bottle of mouth wash on his desk.  Claimed he had a stomach condition but that didn't explain his creepy behavior.  My baby brother said that he heard that he got married sometime in the 70's.

John Hein

Jean La Mac: I'd be the first to concede my RAM chips are iffy at best, but iirc, Miss Hofer's class was (backhand to forehead, as in, "Oh, the irony") US History. That was 8th grade, and I had Miss Kelnhofer for language arts. 7th grade language arts was Miss Goodowitz and Miss Tallman. I learned alot from those teachers and never thot to say thanx.......I guess I'd be deemed an ingrate.....I know now I took alot for granted.

Anywise, Bowen walked into the room (the home economics room, right across the hall from the lunchroom), and whispered into Hofer's ear. She then turned to the class and made the announcement that JFK had been shot in Dallas. Larry Sletten, always the wise guy, applauded and cheered "Yay!!!". Bowen's mercury rose quickly, and he ordered Sletten out to the hall with a serious scowl, even for Bowen. Sletten got that "Really stepped in it this time" look about him. That was quite a class: Keith Gorze, Mike Roulst, Terry Helland (RIP), can't remember who else. I really liked Miss Hofer; she was a real sweetheart. Maybe that's why I can't remember much of what we studied in that class......Bowen would have a hard time processing things that are & have been said about all presidents since then, me thinks. Remember when we were expected to show respect for the prez? Anybody teaching students that now? Seems like......NOT !!! OK, I've blathered on too long, again.

Jerry Benecke

J R  - a belated thanks for posting the Columbia theater picture - saw our first movie there circa 1962 - "The Blob" starring a young Steve McQueen - that movie scared the hec out of me!  The second feature was also a classic - "Lonely are the Brave" starring Kirk Douglas as an old cowboy having difficulty adjusting to modern civilization.  He and his horse are relentlessly pursued by a sheriff portrayed by Walter Mathau. The movie ends when they are hit by a truck on stormy, dark night.  The truck driver was Carroll O'Conner, aka Archie Bunker.  I am sure the ticket didn't cost more than a quarter - Jerry

Julia Laranang

I'm also enjoying all the comments.  Rick comments about the earthquake reminded me something.  I was in Miss Goodowitz's class.  The earthquake happened just as I was arriving in the building.  Once things quite shaking, I proceeded to my French class w/Miss Goodowitz.  There she was under a table.  She was on her side resting her head on her had and had a silly grin on her face.  She wouldn't come out from under that table!  Finally, some staff member came in and told her all was OK and she could come out.  She just nodded and stayed where she was with the smile on her face.  We finally convinced her to come out.

John Hein

Julia: I remember that earthquake. The floor went all wavy gravy and the old radiator style heater was really rockin'-n-rollin'. By the time I realized it was a quake, it was over......Then I heard screams, and things like "Are we s'posed to evacuate?" I remember pictures of the Rainier brewery with 3-feet of beer on the floor on accounta the big vats succumbed to the quake. Remember fire drills? I always thot of fire drills as a good excuse to get outta class and not end up in the vice principal's office. As Archie Bunker would say, "anything to break up the monogamy"..........Poor Miss Goodowitz, I always liked her.

Jerry B: I saw many movies all thru grade skewl at the Columbia and the American theaters. Admission was always a quarter. I remember every now and again they'd feature a saturday afternoon matinee special, which was a cartoon festival. They'd show nothing but cartoons for 2-3 hours. I'd see many kids there I knew from Whitworth. Fast forward, we got all growed up, ya know, in Jr. Hi-Skewl and all, and started hoppin' ol' #7 to take in a movie in the concrete jungle downtown. 8th or 9th grade, can't remember, about 4 of us went to see The Great Escape at one of the theaters downtown, another young Steve McQueen flic. What was the name of that show....."This Is Your Life" ??? I think that's what we're doin' here..............Good to hear from ya.

Peace, out.

Marlene J Souriano (Souriano-Vinikoor)

Lots of comments about Mr.Bowen. Remember he had a stutter and what appeared to be a bullet wound on his neck?

He talked about jitterbugging and throwing women up in the air or under to dance. A bit creepy. 

I also remember after he announced Pres.Kennedy had been shot that he undermined his importance saying how women liked the President because of his looks. It seemed insensitive even then as a kid to hear. 

Marlene Souriano-Vinikoor

Julia Laranang

OK, I've been reading the comments about Mr. Bowen and feel compeled to say something in his defense.  I actually appreciated being in his class.  I learned a lot, not just about facts, but how things worked in our nation.  I'm aware of his behavior and witnessed more than a few eraser throwing episodes, mostly at young men that deserved it.  I'm not excusing his actions or his obvious political bias.  But I do remember walking into his class on the day President Kenndy ws killed.  I remember his subdued dialog that day.    His "style" of teaching probably would not be tollerated today.  However, I believe he took very seriously what he was teaching and tried to pass its importance on to us.

John Hein

OK John Mac, you've some 'splainin' to do: If Mr. Ruhl was born in 1927, he would've been 12 when the Nazis marched into Poland to really get WWII underway. He would've been about 18 when Field Marshal Keitel et al put pen to paper to end WWII. So he did all of the aforementioned when he was in his mid-teens? If that's true, that's quite remarkable. Awards for valor, indeed. In my mid-teens, I had trouble keeping up with the goings on in gym class, Frank Ahern notwithstanding.

Anywho, I found some pix of names we've been kickin' around, and best of all, I found a picture of Miss Hofer, nuff said. My Sharks 1965 yearbook was subjected to some moisture/mildew, so some of it is lost; but I hope what's left can be enjoyed. So, enjoy all !!!

Off topic, but I would've liked to see Karvonen vs Fredericks in a cage match. No disqualification, of course.

Michael Holman

Greetings fellow 1955-1968 scholastic trekkies. I have a plethora of thoughts to share after reading, and enjoying the ever increasing authored moments in time on here. Due to the on going Huskie game, todays comment will be brief. Anybody besides myself remember the Tennis shoe, as administered by Mr Evans? (Girls excluded on this one). Keep the shiny side up.

John Hein

Welcome to the blather Mike. In honor of you taking the time to grace us with your presence, here's your home room pic from 9th grade. Alas, turns out yours was a ruff class: Doug Lamberton, Terry Helland, Jory Randles, and Marvin Oziel; may they rest in peace. I had Mr. Mason in 8th grade math. Good teacher, I learned alot from him.

Ric Rivera

Michael H - that's a blast from the past the tennis shoe. He verbalize to M Roulst (went to Cleveland HS) to zipup his lip service while the master had floor & the rubber in hand. In another craft class I never saw the rubber soul fly into air on some poor soul just the sound of it hitting the desk hard....smack was enuff to keep anything butt....an observation from being a teacher's aid .... n go Huskies......

John Mac - thanks for overview of Columbia City shops, earlier the cup of joe wasn't strong enuff ...yes..Cindy Yost RIP father's insurance bizz. Cindy was a blast one time she gave me a ride home in her father's pickup as we flew off the crown of hills...she loved horses....RIP

Sylvia Lovegren (Petras)

Wow, Leonard Garner sat behind me in Mr. Ruhl's class and would always make me laugh.  We should have gotten in trouble, but somehow Mr. Ruhl let it go unless we got too rowdy -- he'd get a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye when he had to tell us to pipe down.

Leonard didn't go on to Franklin, I don't think.  Wonder what happened to him?  

Peggy Johnson

No wonder Mr. Ruhl was such a wonderful teacher!  I had no idea all the honors he had.  He was so kind to me.  I wish he was alive so I could send him a thank you letter. 

I don't think he knew the impact he had on me.  I was always a C student in math - I was more right brained :) - but with him he would notice whenever I would be confused over something he was teaching and he would stop the class to make sure that I got what he was saying and he would ask the whole class if  EVERYONE got what he was saying -  He taught me so well in algebra that I got an A - I was shocked!   I know he had this little tic and he said it was his throat. :)  I will never forget him.

By the way - thanks John Hein for posting the pictures of the teachers - it was so long ago - great reminder.

Also thanks John McLeod for posting what he did in the war time.  I noticed he was one of your favorite teachers too. :)