To all the people who went to the Ctown Picnic and Cruise Night Green Day
Name: Bud Rhoades () on Monday, October 17, 2005 at 11:55:41
Email: rhoadesb@fullmercontract.com
City and State: Belmont Shore
Class: 1974
Message: Trying to help a fellow Alum. I received an e-mail this weekend from Pam Wyatt class of 76. She is looking for long lost pal Karen Vespar. If anyone has any info that can help Pam, e-mail me or post it here.
Thanks gang.
Name: Mary Ann Martin () on Monday, October 17, 2005 at 11:41:13
Email: mary-annmartin@sbcglobal.net
City and State: Nashville AR
Maiden: Walton
Class: 1961
Message: I remember Chip's restaurant. My sister, Betty Walton '67, collected so many of the clown menus, she could've wallpapered our bedroom. At there several times during the early '90s - not quite the same anymore. My favorite places to eat really were Holly's, the Red Onion near Haw. Blvd. and Imperial, BBQ Pete's, A&W and Foster's. No fast food places then, right?
Not unless you count Skippys (Biggies).
Name: Raymond Smith () on Monday, October 17, 2005 at 08:04:11
Email: Kawabunganorth@juno.com
City and State: Portland, OR
Class: 1981
Message: I just spied/read in the Leuzinger website that the class of 1980 and 1981 are jointly having a reunion Saturday July 22nd 2006. Hmmm....should we crash it? lol. I wished there was some infro on my reunion(81') but I might have to missed it in due part I'll be a new daddy by then (no.2) depending on when and where.
Well you've only got 9 months so you better figure out "when and where" REAL soon. Name: Sharon () on Sunday, October 16, 2005 at 17:44:19
Email: sharonlleach@cs.com
City and State: Long Beach
Maiden: Moore
Class: 1969
Message: Pardon me, that is our 40 year reunion not 30. Seems like only yesterday.
Ray, I remember Peter, Paul and Mary performed at an assembly when I was at Hawthorne High. Also, the great tennis star Pancho Gonzalez gave a tennis exhibition at one of the assemblies, and the Harlem Globe Trotters also came and played. However, that was in the evening. We had a lot of people that were famous who visited the school while I was there. The fabulous modern dance choreographer/dancer/director, Charles Weidman came to HHS and gave a dance class for the modern dance classes. There was a charge for this class, but how many schools had a world famous dancer come and give a class? In my opinion, we were really privileged to attend HHS.
We had the 4 Preps at an Assembly in 1960. All you class of 80s people remember the 4 Preps, right?? Name: Sharon () on Sunday, October 16, 2005 at 16:47:31
Email: sharonlleach@cs.com
City and State: Long Beach
Maiden: Moore`
Class: 1966
Message: Jim and I went to the VFW breakfast this morning. It was great as usual. I got back from Great Britain Thursday night and am still suffering from jet lag.
I am suffering so much that I don't think I know what I am doing, but I talked with Chris Prewitt this morning at the breakfast and we were talking about getting the classes of 1966 and 1967 together for a 30 year reunion. I said I would never do this again, but if anyone is interested, start letting us know. What we are planning on is doing the reunion late 2006 so that it would be close to both classes graduation dates. Probably around October or November of 2006. October is probably best as that is usually when the picnic is and it is also before the holidays start. If anyone is interested, please contact me at sharonlleach@cs.com.
Come on classes of 66 and 67 let's get a start on this.
There you go. Let me know so I can post the details on the reunions page. Thanks Sharon and Chris....
Name: Raymond Smith () on Sunday, October 16, 2005 at 09:00:31
Email: Kawabunganorth@juno.com
City and State: Portland, OR
Class: 1981
Message: I been wondering about the people who were guest at HHS. I mean, is there anyone important such as in gov't or media visiting HHS for assembly? Anyone famous? I know when I was in sports I was surprised to see Larry Bird in the same Locker room as I was in. I was in awe. They used HHS gym to warm up before playing against the L.A. Lakers. Also, I been asking and I seem to can't get any infro on the where about of Michelle Brockman. I hear her name from 2nd hand sources to if anyone see's her...tell her to email me. thanks.
Interesting, I didn't know the Boston Celtics used the HHS gym to warm up before Laker games.
Name: Nancy Skifstrom () on Sunday, October 16, 2005 at 01:41:54
Email: nanerskif@hotmail.com
City and State: Manhattan Beach
Maiden: Chadwick
Class: 1979
Message: Hi everybody. Just wanted to say 'hi' to my friends from Peter Burnett to Dana to Hawthorne High. Thanks, John, for allowing such a great venue for this type of communication. It's like nothing I've seen before.
Hi Nancy, Thanks for the nice thoughts and come on back anytime...
Name: Mary Ann Martin () on Saturday, October 15, 2005 at 22:03:17
Email: mary-annmartin@sbcglobal.net
City and State: Nashville AR
Maiden: Walton
Class: 1961
Message: Does a Cougar sighting by phone count? '59ers Gary Kessler (California) and Tom "Rod" Embry (Missouri) and wives are in Beaverton, Oregon visiting my man, Gary Winfrey, and we all talked on the phone tonight for a long time ... HHS memories, a little gossip and about how dumb they were in those days about girls, etc. And, of course we were all watching the USC-Notre Dame game - unfortunately, Kessler had put on his Irish shirt AFTER they took the lead ... so I showed out a lot when the "Trojan Tradition" continued for 28 straight!!! I told them how much they were missing out by not being regular Feedback readers, etc. YEA, Cougartown!!!
Hey Mary Ann, Yes, that counts as a Cougar sighting, I think, and Rod, Gary, and Gary, join in anytime.
And to all the Irish fans out there, you played your hearts out today. I truly thought the streak had fallen but Tommy Trojan fought on and pulled it out.
Name: Denny () on Saturday, October 15, 2005 at 18:34:34
Email: denny?uncledennyscorner.com
City and State: Del Aire
Class: 1955
Message: I visited the Hawthorne Nursery a couple of weeks past and the Nakai family still own's it. Janet Nakai lives in Anaheim Hills and comes in about once a month to check the operation.
Now I know why Cougars are feared. I just got home from a week of packing around the High Sierra's and Wednesday crossed paths with a large mountain lion. Thankfully he wasn't hungry or at least not for an old HHS Cougar. Made a believer out of me and from now on I'll be takin some Uncle Bucks pretzels (hockey pucks) to throw.
Great Idea... Name: Janet Burkett () on Saturday, October 15, 2005 at 12:43:16
Email: jmburkett@sti.net
City and State: Ca
Maiden: Humphreys
Class: 1962
Message: Hey Baxter,
I think that nursery is the one run by the Nakai family. It was on El Segundo Blvd, but don't remember the cross street. Jeannie Nakai was my best friend in 8th grade and 9th grade. Then, she was really into her studies and I....well, you know how that band group was! Her family was wonderful. I would go to her home and her Mom would fix these beautiful little lunches for us. I always felt like I was taking a mini trip to Japan when I was invited over. My Dad was always driving us to the HHS football games. I know the Nakai family owned the nursery for many years, but since both of the parents are gone now, I believe it has been sold.
Jeannie and I talked a couple of years ago, just before our class reunion. Hope to actually get to see her one day soon.
Name: Jim Dally () on Saturday, October 15, 2005 at 02:51:47
Email: jmd619atnetzero.com
City and State: Carson, CA
Class: 1963
Message: To Keith in Kona: I read your story on your experience with "Batman" and all the items related to that era and was reminded that I have a 14 oz. box of Batman cereal uneaten here at home. It has a Free Batman Kite Offer on it. I bought it years ago for "Investment" value. The inner seal is still intact! What do you think?
Name: Mary Gilbreath () on Saturday, October 15, 2005 at 00:31:35
Email: mgilbreath@juno.com
City and State: Rochester, WA
Maiden: Smiley
Class: 1976
Message: Just touching base. Hi Patty and Jim V.
Name: Steve Fraser () on Friday, October 14, 2005 at 21:24:44
Email: sfraser53@lworld.net
City and State: Laguna Woods
Message: Kirk, Windy says hi, and the water dept. hasn't been the same since you left.
Name: Sherrie () on Friday, October 14, 2005 at 21:13:41
Email: rmoyers@cableaz.com
City and State: Mesa Arizona
Maiden: Driggers
Class: 1976
Message: This is to clarify that I am trying to round up anyone interested that went to Hawthorne High who lives in Arizona for a mini reunion. Open to all classes, not just the class of 76. I know there are some of you here. Email rmoyers@cableaz.com and let's get this organized...
There you go Sherrie, I just checked and Cougartown has 62 people listed as living in AZ. Come on Cougs, contact Sherrie.
Name: Andrea () on Friday, October 14, 2005 at 20:46:42
Email: ValleyofMyDolls@aol.com
City and State: Hawthorne ,Ca
Maiden: Rossi
Class: 1982
Message: Hi everyone, is there a reason that the slide show from the class of 80 doesn't work? It only shows one picture and then it freezes.......:{
Hi Andrea, I'd email your reunion committee member and ask....
Name: Cindy Wernicke () on Friday, October 14, 2005 at 19:52:49
Email: cindycolby@adelphia.net
City and State: Seal Beach, CA
Maiden: Maxson
Class: 1963
Message: Baxter, I don't think anyone minds that you eat up server space with Haytown trivia, your story is great and I enjoyed reading it.
That's what it's there for....
Name: Sharon Branigan () on Friday, October 14, 2005 at 19:19:42
Email: srbranigan.srb@verizon.net
City and State: Thousand Oaks, CA
Maiden: Bierman
Class: 1976
Message: Does anyone have a paid subscription to reunion.com? There are several 76'ers listed there that I would like to get in touch with regarding our 30th reunion which by the way is scheduled for August 19, 2006 at the Ayres Hotel in Hawthorne. If anyone has access and is willing to email some folks for me please e-me directly. Thanks!
Name: Baxter Dodd () on Friday, October 14, 2005 at 16:59:51
Email: baxterldo@aol.com
City and State: Riverside, CA
Class: 1957
Message: Here is a little more Haytown trivia to eat up server space. The previously mentioned nursery on Ramona and El Segundo was connected with a large landscaping organization run by one of the family elders (can?t remember his name) from his home on 137th place (west of Inglewood Ave). In the mid ?50s - along with all their lawn and park maintenance jobs - they won the contracts to landscape the new office complexes being built around Century and Aviation. That summer, when I was about 14, they hired me as a laborer doing lawn maintenance and helping landscape the office complexes. It was hard work but they paid well for those days. Many of the guys I worked with were from the old country (Japan) working their way thru UCLA. Later that summer I got laid off after union goons? I mean union reps stopped by the office complex and threatened us for not joining their union and then threatened the office owners to get rid of us or they would shut down the entire building project. After all the buildings were finished the landscapers returned and completed their work. ---Baxter
Name: KIRK C. GREASBY () on Friday, October 14, 2005 at 14:35:18
Email: kirk@epsowildlandfire.com
City and State: COLORADO SPRINGS CO.
Maiden: Cougar in the Rockies
Class: 1976
Message: WADE, ARE YOU SURE? I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS DADS WAY OF CALLING US HOME FOR DINNER. AND STEVE FRASER, TELL YOUR DAD HELLO FOR ME.
THE KID...
Name: kathy kelly baker () on Friday, October 14, 2005 at 14:09:56
Email: kathy.baker@pavestone.com
City and State: Fort Worth, TX
Maiden: Kelly
Class: 1960
Message: Any one remember the Shack in the Back? It was the temporary building they put up when the Food Giant Market burned down. It was "the" place to do your grocery shopping.
Hey Kathy, I remember it....
Name: Debbie () on Friday, October 14, 2005 at 09:15:49
Email: pinkelephant10atyahoo.com
City and State: Del Aire, CA
Class: 1977
Message: Hey, Cougs near and far. Here's a worldwide link to slot car places if you'd like to relive some old memories.
http://www.rockislandracing.com/Slot_Car_Tracks_You_Can_Race.htm
Name: Janeet Burkett () on Friday, October 14, 2005 at 00:19:30
Email: jmburkett@sti.net
City and State: Ca
Maiden: Humphreys
Class: 1962
Message: I knew the slot car place on Hawthorne Blvd well. It was owned by my brother-in-law Alan Seitz and sister-in-law Carolyn Seitz (Burkett) class of 56.
The whole Burkett clan spent a lot of time in there "playing" with all of Alan's toys! Just remember it being sometime in the 60's as it was one of many business ventures they were into. One was also the first Dairy Queen in O.C. Fred and Larry Pogue almost put that place under trying to run it one night as I understand!!
Name: Steve Fraser () on Thursday, October 13, 2005 at 21:35:48
Email: sfraser53@lworld.net
City and State: Laguna Woods
Class: 1966
Message: Wade, remember the Christmas parties at the Big House? Your Dad was my first boss. When I was a kid, that siren was known as the "Big Whistle". The HFD has a lot of history. A lot of Cougs worked diligently for our city as firefighters
Name: Cindy Whittaker () on Thursday, October 13, 2005 at 19:46:30
Email: cindywhittaker@comcast.net
City and State: Gig Harbor WA
Maiden: Whittaker
Class: 1976
Message: Any Cougars in the Wichita Falls, Texas area? I'm starting a job hunt! Looks like the company is heading for a strike, dagnabit.
So, I guess it went well... Name: Jim Gibson () on Thursday, October 13, 2005 at 18:55:42
Email: surfsup1765@sbcglobal.net
City and State: Redding, CA
Class: 1967
Message: Wondering if the Jim Fox post below is from the same Jim Fox w/ whom I played baseball @ El Camino in 68 & 69? Jimmy, is that you?!?! - Gibby
Name: Jim Fox () on Thursday, October 13, 2005 at 15:27:48
Email: puffup@pacbell.net
City and State: Haytown
Class: 1966
Message: Thanks Wade. That's my understanding too. The sound of the siren was to alert the off duty firefighters and three cycles indicated the type of fire. I had forgotten about the single all-clear blow. Thanks for the memory jog. Thanks also to Steve for the input. I feel honored that three fellas so closely associated with the HFD helped with the answer.
Name: Wade Greasby () on Thursday, October 13, 2005 at 13:51:41
Email: grizbear73@juno.com
City and State: Surf City, Ca
Maiden: Call to arms
Class: 1973
Message: The siren cycled three times to alert the city of a class A fire. The call went out to summon off duty firemen to come in. There would also be a one blast from the siren for the all clear. On the last Friday of the month at 10 A.M. the siren would sound for an alert drill as a warning for the threat of war, an air raid. The sirens were located at the main head quarters station, one the corner of Haw Blvd. and 136th St. and one up on Haw Blvd near Chips restaurant. I went to Washington School from '61 to '68 and we had to do the duck and cover drills under the desks when the siren sounded.
Hey Wade, Sounds like the answer to me. Whattayasay Jim?
Name: Steve Fraser () on Thursday, October 13, 2005 at 13:29:02
Email: sfraser53@lworld.net
City and State: Laguna Woods
Class: 1966
Message: The siren at the old "Big House", as we called it, was used to notify the city's volunteer firefighters to respond to the station for assignment. 3 times? I couldn't tell you the significance.
Not sure of the significance of 3 toots either, but when dad was a volunteer fireman in the 40s, Hawthorne was set up in 4 quadrants, split along Hawthorne Bl and El Segundo Bl. They would blow from 1 to 4 blasts, each blast corresponding to a quadrant, telling the volunteers which direction to head. They would then pick up the siren sound from the truck and follow that to the fire.
Name: Jim Fox () on Thursday, October 13, 2005 at 09:34:41
Email: puffup@pacbell.net
City and State: Hawthorne
Class: 1966
Message: On the subject of the old El Segundo Boulevard scene, who remembers the sound of the loud external siren at the old fire station at Acacia Ave when the department responded on a fire call? The siren would cycle 3 times as the trucks pulled away. I think I know the reason for that, but I'll stay mum in case someone else would like to comment. What I remember for sure is how exciting it was for those of us who were attending Washington school at the time. Gosh... Has it really been 50 years?
Hi Jim, Great question, and I know the EARLY years answer to the siren, but not why it cycled three times. Does anyone have the answer?
Name: Armand Vaquer () on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 at 23:54:27
Email: AMVaquer@aol.com
City and State: Tarzana, CA
Class: 1972
Message: Re: the slot car track on Hawthorne Blvd. north of El Segundo. If memory serves (and I don't guarantee that it does), I believe it was called American Hobbies. I bought my slot car there and still have it.
Re: Butch Patrick. He also lived in Gardena and went to Peary Jr. High. My cousin had the fortune(?) of dancing with him.
Any Cougars in Tokyo? I am heading there this weekend.
Name: Joyce () on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 at 20:28:16
Email: birdlvr310@aol.com
City and State: Haw, Ca
Maiden: Terry
Class: 1972
Message: I know Im not spelling it right but I think the swimming place was called Mordhorst(doesn't look right). Can anyone tell me if Melody Music was between 131st & 132nd on Haw Blvd.
Yes it was....
Name: LEE WHITEHOUSE () on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 at 18:32:48
Email: SAGLEE@NETZERO.NET
City and State: LOMITA,CA
Class: 1965
Message: IT WAS SO GREAT TO SEE THE 30YR PHOTOS. HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL AT # 40, I WILL BRING SOMETHING IN WRITING. FOR ALL
ITS TITLED, I REMEMBER. LOVE TO ALL LEE
Name: Kitty Mathieson () on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 at 17:51:18
Email: kittymathieson@yahoo.com
City and State: San Jose California
Maiden: Kitty Mathieson
Class: 1975
Message: I some how locked myself out of my eight year email address. How?! I have no idea and haven't been able to get back into it. Did I miss a reunion? DANG IT!! Email me at kittymathieson@yahoo.com please. Anyone from 1974, 75 or 1976. Come on now, we know that Geena Davis was NOT the first (or second) female President!! Class of '75.
Me....ow! Kitty
Name: Raymond Smith () on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 at 16:03:38
Email: Kawabunganorth@juno.com
City and State: Portland OR
Class: 1981
Message: I remember of only one slot car track and that was at the Redondo Beach Pier. I was very young and the place was still there(but vacant) in the mid 80's before the pier fire took it down.
Name: Alan Nelson () on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 at 12:55:03
Email: See Alumni List
City and State: Parker, Az
Class: 1973
Message: I remember having swim practice at the day-care pool when the HHS pool was being worked on. Wasn't much of a work-out. 3 strokes - turn, 3 strokes - turn, 3 strokes turn. Didn't do much for endurance, but we had the best flip turns in the state.
Name: Mary Ann Martin () on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 at 10:40:10
Email: mary-annmartin@sbcglobal.net
City and State: Nashville AR
Maiden: Walton
Class: 1961
Message: The daycare center next to the Church of Christ on El Segundo & Ramona was Swim 'N Play. In the early 70's, my younger son attended the preschool and swam five days a week, seven-eight months a year and my family attended the church for several years. Al Jardine lived just down the street on El Segundo. Remember the nursery in the same neighborhood?
Hawthorne Nursery, owned by the Nakai family, is still there and has been there since the 20s. A couple of years ago we determined it was the oldest ongoing business in Hawthorne.
