La Romeria Park

Memories

Here are some of Jan Harte's memories:

MEMORY #1…..MY FIRST URBAN LEGEND; I remember hearing a lot of urban legends while I was growing up (black widow spider makes nest in ratted-out hair, axe murderer at the South Bay Center, etc.) but my very first was about Mrs. Sharp. (Our science teacher,4th or 5th grade, blond beehive, conical breasts) Well, guess what? She wore a BLOW-UP BRA! We knew this for a fact because SOMEONE (always an older sibling, or friend of a friend, etc.) actually found the tag from the bra on the floor by her desk. And it said right on it ‘BLOW-UP BRA’ So there you have it---it must be true!

MEMORY #2….JFK’S ASSASINATION: November, 1963…. I remember Mr. Kasser coming to our classroom and saying, ”Boys and girls, the president has been shot. Even though our hearts are heavy, we still must continue on with our schoolwork” You know what, Mr. Kasser….you really WERE an asser!

MEMORY#3….ROCK STARS I do remember those performances we used to give. I remember once Doree, CeeCee, myself, and ? were the Rolling Stones. Doree’s brother Earl, who had a band, lent us their clothes and guitars. Also I remember SOMEONE (probably Mr. Kasser, that asser, decreed “NO PROPS ALLOWED’ and Jim Everett and Jerry Snyder were devastated because they had fashioned these cool tin-foil microphones for their Rightous Brothers act.

MEMORY#4 ....RAINY DAYS On rainy days we would stay in our classrooms and play board games and listen to music. I don’t know why, but I still can hear Jan Denton saying “let’s play Sugar Shack’ AGAIN;

MEMORY #5….3 for 10!!!! From other people’s comments, I guess we ALL remember 3 for 10 at Sav-On. My family, also is tired about hearing about this fantastic deal! (but is was, it really was…they were FULL-SIZED candy bars! Once I ran into Mr. Mayfield buying 3

MEMORY #6…CRUEL TAUNT TO CLASSMATE Salami, Salami, Celoni. Jim, wherever you are, I apologize!

MEMORY #7….MY DOG GOMER My dog Gomer Who I got from Jamie Etter) used to follow my sisters and me to school. The scary janitor would round him up and lock him in the broom closet by the restrooms all day, and I would have to beg him to let my dog out. What a meanie! A sad footnote….When we started high school, Gomer still wanted to follow us to school. He was killed on Anza. What were we thinking?

MEMORY#8…GOIN’ TO THE STORE Especially during the summer, if we weren’t playing in the street or doing chores,we were “goin to the store” We would walk with friends or ride our Stingrays to Food Giant, Gilbert’s, Jumbo’s, and Sav-on. Usually the big decision was “3 for 10”? or a cherry coke at Food Giant.

MEMORY #9….DROP DRILLS How stupid were they?

MEMORY #10….FORT STEELE Do you all remember Mr. Simpson? He was an ex-military guy, the scariest thing about him was that he called us by our LAST NAMES! That was a first. IN SUMMATION: Thank you to Doree and all who have contributed to such a fun and nostalgic Web Site. I really enjoyed reading everyone’s comments, and hope you all can relate to mine. Most of us entered Carl Steele as babies (5!) and left as pre-teenagers for high school. We were too old to be beatniks and too young to be hippies, but we still had some good times. Plus, we were nearly all white!!!! How weird is that these days? Love and best wishes to all of my classmates. HAIL TO STEELE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I remember once when Earl Van Fleet and pals (those guys were pranksters) made some kind of hot air balloon from sticks, a candle and a plastic bag from dry-cleaning. The sticks are crossed at a right angle and the candle sits at the intersection, fills the plastic bag with hot air and the thing slowly lifts off. You could see it floating around the above Narrot and the park for what seemed like hours. I was playing basketball at the park and we all watched it for a long time...next day kids at school were talking about a UFO last night. It was funny.........I think he also blew the toilet off the wall at the park one day with an M-80, probably won't admit it though.............memory of Greg Rousseau

Eating hobo stew out of a tin can at the park. Everybody had to bring a can of vegetables that were thrown into a big black pot. Later that afternoon we filled our cans back up and had a feast...........memory of Doree Van Fleet

It was so fun reading about everyone's memories.  I have told my kids about the "hobo" stew.  They think it is particularly funny since I had this divided dinner plate that my mother purchased in a thrift store because I couldn't stand for any of my food to touch.  (It's up in our cupboard right now.  I should use it now just to limit my servings. HA)  I also told them about the "snow" and the fire at the school.  I was glad for that because the 4th and 5th graders had class together in the cafeteria and this really cute guy, Ted May, was in the 5th grade and I got to look at him.  He lived next door to me for a short period.  He's the first boy I can remember stirring feelings of "attraction."  That's one memory I haven't yet shared with my boys!!..........memory of Jill Perry

Do you remember that park across the street from the school? I loved that slide that curled around... I remember when it was not officially a park. Lots of eucalyptus trees in there then............memory of Leslie Martes

Do you remember the snow in the park? They did that every year in the fall and in fact I signed up for ski lessons there through the Parks and Rec. Dept. (3 Wednesdays in a row)...........memory of Greg Rousseau

 Carl Steele

Bobby Berra's mother died and then they moved away about 5th grade. CeCe Garbarini could not understand why she shouldn't draw a headstone or gravesite on the sympathy card that each of us made.......memory of Greg Rousseau

The night our school was half burned down and flooded. The kindergarten rooms were gone and many of the rooms were destroyed by the sprinkler system........memory of Doree Van Fleet

I remember being read Christopher Robin books. Was that 1st grade teacher a youngish woman?? My teacher was. I used to sit right in front of her on the floor and rub my hands across her legs. I was intrigued w/the razor stubble and the nylon stockings. Isn't that weird?? I sat next to a goofy boy, only I can't remember his name. Wait a minute...as I scan further down the list, could it have been Bobby Harris? I could never be sure, although I have his 1st grade face in my mind. Curly (not tight curls) brown hair...........memory of Leslie Martes

When it would rain, we stayed inside and danced during recess. Laurie Currie injured her knee while dancing and had to have surgery......memory of Doree Van Fleet

I was part of Dave Clark 5 (I think) with Jay Forbes, Greenwell and someone else. I didn't have any rhythm then and probably don't now. I thought Debbie Datria was Petula Clark during one of those Lip Sync Talent shows...........memory of Greg Rousseau      Stan Knox and I also lip-synched in that same talent show; we did Jan and Dean's "Sidewalk Surfin'" and pretty lamely rode our old skateboards
(plywood planks with old cannibalized roller skate wheels nailed to the
bottom) around on the auditorium stage..........memory of Rick Mitchell

Dorothy Miller, Cecilia Garbarini, I think it was Laurie Currie and I sang to "Satisfaction," by the Rolling Stones. Who do you imagine had the part of Mick Jagger? ....................memory of Doree Van Fleet

I also recall the annual Carl Steele Halloween "fair" (I think it had a
different name) that would be held on the asphalt between the cafeteria and the classrooms. In addition to games and food, there was always a
dedication booth for songs, where all the current "couples" could be
embarrassed (kids were mean...I remember a dedication to Jim Celoni and his briefcase). I also vaguely recall the occasional dance, with the boys and girls traditionally lined up on opposite sides of the cafeteria.........memory of Rick Mitchell

Does anyone remember Mary Whitfield or Whitmarsh?  I left Carl Steele mid-5h grade, so she was there before that and most likely during 4th grade.  I remember we had a little class play and I was asked to bring in my doll, that was a realistic looking "baby" doll to use in the play.  I was hoping to "land" the part of the mother, as Jerry Snyder was to be the father.  I believed bringing the "doll" cinched it.  Wrong, the part went to Mary. I knew how important that was to her, for it felt equally important to me.  I was very disappointed. Ah, the tragedies of childhood.  The real tragedy occurred  later when Mary and her family perished in an airplane crash.  I remember feeling glad that Mary had gotten the part.........Memory of  Jill Perry

I remember that myself, even that she got the part to play with Jerry Snyder. I think we were all jealous. I remember her asking our teacher, must have been Miss Matheny, if she wanted to come with their family on that trip. It seems they were going to Niagara Falls. Their plane was taking off in the fog and you know the rest. That was the first person I knew who had died. It was an awful feeling and I was also happy she got the part............memory of Doree Van Fleet

I'm glad someone else remembered Mary.  Sometimes it feels as if the things I can remember never even happened, or I wonder if they really did anyway... so long ago, things seem like a dream.  Yes, I recall most of the girls feeling jealous of Mary.  There was definitely something more mature about her.  I remember she had a birthday party and I didn't want to go.  I received a call the day of the party, asking if I was coming.  Apparently no one showed up.  I did go and I can't remember if I was the only one.  I have to believe that others attended.  I remember hanging around with Mary after that and not feeling jealous. ........Memory of  Jill Perry

I had a memory flash last week of Rick Mitchell making (I remember how
curious I was about it at the time) a Plexiglas cribbage board at a woodshop class at Mac Gruder (sp) Elementary School that Carl Steele classes went to during 7th or 8th grade.  Do you remember that?  It seems to me that getting the peg holes drilled in the correct alignment was a challenge.  I was always curious to learn that game and did so years later (albeit not well) and think it's a great game.  I also remember rainy day indoor games at Steele and how he used to make these grids of dots that players would take turns connecting.  When a box was complete you got to put your initials inside.  The person with the most squares at the end won. It was simple, but strategic and fun and I think I lost every time we played.  I have since taught my kids to play.  Funny how that stuff gets passed. down......................memory of Greg Rousseau

Geez, I'd forgotten about MacGruder and that Shop (and Home Ec) class over there.  I think that Cribbage board has been consigned to the dustheap of history, but now the memory will live forever!!  Thanks!  I remember most of the guys (Jerry Snyder, in particular) seemed to spend most of their time making little surf boards out of the Plexiglass.  (I remember because I thought the separate color stripe down the middle looked so cool), but I'd forgotten all about trying to drill those stupid !@#$% holes.  The grid game is also something I had completely forgotten about!  I will pass that one on to the offspring immediately..................memory of Rick Mitchell

 Fun Stuff we used to do?

I remember parties at Cheri Hick's house and slow dancing to "Sounds of Silence" with Jan Harte............memory of Greg Rousseau

The parties at Lisa Hayes' house (actually in her garage) were much better, and I wistfully recall slow-dancing with Cecelia Garbarini to "Yesterday" (over and over). Didn't Lisa Hayes and Larry Bergeron end up getting married?........memory of Rick Mitchell   (yes they did and are still married) Ask Lisa Hase herself.

Double Dutch and Chinese jump rope...........memory of Doree Van Fleet

Buying candy at Savon. For a dime you could get 3 candy bars. If you only had a nickel you could get a scoop of ice cream...........memory of Doree Van Fleet

Yes, I remember the Sav-on candy deal, 3 candy bars for a dime and the ice-cream for a nickel. I tell my children that story more times than they care to hear about I'm sure. How about the comic books, a dime, then 15 cents, then the big jump to a whopping 25 cents. Do you remember that merry-go-round contraption that Martha had in her backyard for awhile? Two chairs, one at each end of a center pole and we would remove the bars and just push each other - really, really fast. I loved that thing. May explain why I have a pass to Knott's Berry Farm and go during lunch and ride Ghostrider and Supreme Scream - cheap thrills............memory of Jill Perry

 Misc

In 4th grade I went into the hospital for surgery on my "good" leg. Miss Matheny made everyone in the class write me a letter. I carried them with me for years. They were very special to me. Almost all of the letters had been damaged by water and thrown out. I can still remember the 4th grade handwriting on the outside of the envelopes, picturing individual names. Doris Brennan, Tim Keenan, Jamie Ann Etter, Mike Arnold, Jan Harte, Dale Lemley, Patricia Flanagan, Lonny Myers

Many of the kids wrote how sad the class had been since "the brain" was gone. This made me feel as if I was up there with Ricky Mitchell and Debbie Leming. Everybody thought I was eating ice cream as if I had just had my tonsils out. well, out of all the letters I only have 4. Karren Cota, Laurie Currie, Martha Coats, and Leslie Martes....memory of Doree Van Fleet

click to see large image

One of the memories I can add was not necessarily Carl Steele-specific, but, had to do with the Tordondo (Torrance-Redondo) Little League Park where a lot of the boys (including Greg Rousseau) played on teams (obviously, this was in the era before they had girls' sports). I distinctly remember a lot of days spent on those two fields playing for the Beavers (honest!), and the Braves. After the games, every player got a 10¢ "bonus" donated by the league to be spent in any way they wanted at the Snack Bar. I think I always went for the Mallomar cups because there was a card in each one for a random denomination of points. If you saved up 500 points, you could send them in for 10 free Mallomar cups. Weird what you remember, isn't it? Is Tordondo still there?......memory of Rick Mitchell

The day that Jim Lavery came to school and claimed he had ridden his bicycle all the way to Knott's Berry Farm..........memory of Doree Van Fleet

You remembered that?  I did ride there and lot’s of other places Santa Monica , around PV to san Pedro etc.   I still do motor around on bikes.    Jim Lavery

I came home from school one day very excited and told my older brother I had 5 boyfriends. They were Jim Everett, Ricky Mitchell, Brad Kaats and 2 others.??? He asked me if the 5 boys were aware of this. Then he proceeded to tell me if the boys weren't aware of it, then they were not legit boyfriends. My heart was broken! ..........memory of ???????????