Name: Neil Larson ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Apr 21, 2006, 10:36 am - HHS Time
Class: 1971
City & State: Crestview Fl.
E-mail
Message: RE- Glenn class of '64 RE- Senior2 - I was thinking along those lines myself , to wit- Cougartown be used as the conduit to organize a group effort to dedicate "something" for the school campus.
It would be nice if a side effect was to inspire "unregistered CT HHS alumni" to join Cougartown and at the same time solicit contributions - for a monotlith- AS ALWAYS John B. is way ahead of us, he initiated this conversation to determine what it is we are going to erect!
How about an "old SCHOOL" SUN DIAL on top of the granite block!???

Name: Peggy Sarvis ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Apr 21, 2006, 9:53 am - HHS Time
Maiden: Westbrook
Class: 1959
City & State: Lakewood, CA
E-mail
Message: Entrance into Senior Square use to be a "rite of passage". We wore our class rings upside down until the end of our Junior year at which time you were "allowed" to go into Senior Square with a graduated Senior who turned your class ring to the right side out. And then we were acknowledged as the next Senior class and allowed to go into Senior Square. I think Gary King '58 turned mine. I may be wrong, but I think the class of "59 had some money left in our account and we donated something that was to go into Senior Square. I wonder what happened to those type of things. The few times that I was on campus after I graduated I always went into Senior Square. Traditions today don't seem to be as important as they were then.

Name: Sherry Wingo ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Apr 20, 2006, 11:36 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Peppers
Class: 1964
City & State: Haw. Ca.
E-mail
Message: Ernie, my condolences to your family. It's very sad to lose your mother. Please let your lovely wife know she is in our prayers. Glenn, good idea. I'll donate with you.

Name: Glenn ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Apr 20, 2006, 10:03 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1964
City & State: Sonoma, CA
E-mail
Message: I for one would be only too happy to attach an extra check to my next Cougartown dues to help purchase a bronze plaque and a big piece of granite (or other appropriate precious stone) to commemorate the place where Senior Square once stood. After all if we can donate to bricks, why can?t we give just a little bit to squares? I don?t want to get into a philosophical discussion on hodads (the ones who plant trees in burned over forests) vs. surfers (we?re not talking the "Net" here children), or nerds vs. the ?too cool.? I can?t finance this hair brained idea alone, but with a little help from my CT family and permission from dear old HHS, we could put a permanent reminder of a glorious past. Long live our dear old alma mater.

Name: Dennis Campbell ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Apr 20, 2006, 7:59 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1961
City & State: Mission Viejo, CA
E-mail
Message: Back in the early 50s, HHS was under construction. For the kids living around Stacy St. it was our Magical playground. We would go climbing and crowing all over the new buildings. Senior Square one evening we saw what I think was a graduation in the Square. Could any of you early 50s grads confirm this? A few of the neighbor kids that were always playing around the school were Ron Baldwin, Gary Mykkanen & Freddy Burkett where has time gone?

Name: Lee Ann Roehm ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Apr 20, 2006, 6:31 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Nixon
Class: 1964
City & State: West Linn, OR
E-mail
Message: I just wanted to let those who know my brother, Ernie, that his mother-in-law died last night in Bakersfield.
I wouldn't ordinarily put this message here, except he has been so loyal to all of the HHS alumni functions and thought it would be a good thing to let people know.
Coincidentally, I'm coming down to L.A. next week to see my first grandchild - a girl - and wish there were a Foster's night going on, but I see I missed it by a mile. Thanks to you all being such good friends.

Name: Jim Dally ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Apr 20, 2006, 5:39 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1963
City & State: Carson, CA
No E-mail
Message: Regarding the "Senior Fountain Idea"....In the first place the powers that be would have to OK it, then fund it. How much do fountains go for nowadays? Probably many thousands of dollars. And rest assured Cougars IF it was built and installed at HHS someone, sometime would add dish or laundry soap to it and foam up the whole thing! A fountain is a grand idea but, c'mon it would be on a high school campus with pranksters looking for a 'chance' to cause mischief because history does repeat itself, doesn't it? Ask any qualified history teacher.
Statues to honor our beloved 'leaders at HHS' is something I would support but, would that fly through funding as well?

Name: Ricki Farrell ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Apr 20, 2006, 5:32 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Valencia
Class: 1961
City & State: Tucson, AZ
E-mail
Message: Senior Square, class rings, senior class sweaters/jackets, signing yearbooks, homecoming, prom are traditions. I agree that students need to make their own memories, but traditions are handed down from one generation to the next. I wonder how many of these continue at HHS. When I've gone back and driven down the streets near our home they all seem so narrow and crowded. It doesn't take long, however, to overlook all of that and allow the warm memories to take over. We were lucky to have had such a wonderful school system, strong families, strong values and great friends. I always felt safe at school and loved being there. I wore my senior sweater and my ring with pride that I rarely find in students anymore. I don't recall anyone at HHS speaking of it negatively. Didn't we all know the Alma Mater? It was the first thing that we had to memorize in Mr. Orrell's EnglishI class.

Name: Jill McFarlane ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Apr 20, 2006, 4:55 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1977
City & State: Mission Viejo, Ca
E-mail
Message: I think I knew that Senior Square was torn down, but forgot. Actually I was just testing you JB, I see your still the sharpest knife in the drawer :) It has been fun reading the memories of Senior square. Glad to know that the classmates of the early 60's used it as a "think tank", while others used it as a dunk tank for Freshman.

Name: Bob Jensen ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Apr 20, 2006, 4:07 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1971
City & State: Los Angeles
No E-mail
Message: Last Friday I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with my brother at his house (the house our parents built in Hawthorne Circa 1963). We tinkered in the garage with his daughter?s car. From the view of his garage I could look down the street and see Joe Poltash take the trash out, Wolfy Poltash drove down the street and parked in front of his parents house. I could see Jim Armour?s old house (has not changed in 40 years), Teddy Brown?s house, Larry Hoffer?s house (Still the same color). In another direction I could see Mac the Postman?s house. Each and every house attended to as it was 40 years ago. Driving down the street was Pete Peterson, Daniel and Kelly?s father. Later when I left I decided to drive past 2 of the other houses that we lived in in Hawthorne. Going down Isis I passed Susie Klingenhagen?s old house. Across the street was Sepulveda School and Park. It looked very well kept. While turning the corner I saw Lloyd Trotter (Mike, Jeff, Jim and Colleen?s father). I drove past Kathy and Bobby Ball?s house. Across the street was Mary and Carol Bennett?s parent?s car in the driveway. The houses on that street looked as if it was 1960. Instead of a beige 1955 Chevy there was a beige Toyota in the drive. It truly brought me back a few years. The biggest difference was that there were more parked cars on the streets. It seems that the garages are not used for cars anymore. I noticed a few iron fences but for the most part the neighborhood has not changed. I must admit that if you drive down Inglewood Avenue or Hawthorne Boulevard you would notice a big difference but I choose not to look too closely at the things that I don?t want to see and enjoy the Hawthorne that I remember.

Name: Keith D. Jones ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Apr 20, 2006, 10:50 am - HHS Time
Class: 1976
City & State: Kona, HI
E-mail
Message: Maybe that was it. Somebody got dunked in a trashcan and filed a lawsuit. Who knows nowadays.

Name: BOB FAULKNER ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Apr 20, 2006, 6:02 am - HHS Time
Class: 1963
City & State: CATHEDRAL CITY, CA.
E-mail
Message: MY REMEMBERANCES OF SENIOR SQUARE ARE QUITE DIFFERENT, YOU SEE I USED TO USE IT AS PLAY TIME. THAT WAS IN THE FORM OF TEASING MR.DYE AND MR.HOOD BY RUNNING THROUGH IT AND CALLING THEM NAMES. WE'LL THAT WAS UNTIL ONE DAY MR.DYE CAUGHT MY SKINNY LITTLE BUTT, AND IF YOU REMEMBER BACK THEN MR.DYE WAS THE SIZE OF A SMALL CAR. THE REST IS HISTORY, THE SENIORS NEVER HAD A PROBLEM AGAIN. IT MAKES ME SICK TO SEE THIS TRADITION GONE, AS I NEVER GOT TO ENJOY IT FOR WHICH IT WAS INTENDED. WITH REGARDS TO THE HAWTHORNE MALL, WHILE CHANGE IS GOOD IT NEVER SEEMS TO BE IN THE POSITIVE FORM WHEN IT COMES TO OUR BELOVED CITY.

Name: Raymond Smith ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Apr 20, 2006, 4:20 am - HHS Time
Class: 1981
City & State: Portland,OR
E-mail
Message: As I read about the "Senior Square" I didn't realized how far back it goes. I am am wondering if it was built by the taxspayer or a fundraiser? If it was a fundraiser then surely it should be rebuilt brick by brick. I remember alot of times during football seasons seeing the square t.p. or had some hanging "Visiting Mascot" hanging on the trees. I also seen alot of pictures of certain groups/clubs using it as a back ground. I didn't use the square much because I was too busy playing frisbee, going to my girlfriends house or heading to Taco bell or Jack n da box. I do remember it was nicely painted one year. I asked some friends of mine who attended other schools and asked them if they had a "Senior Square" at their schools and they look at me like "Huh? what is that?" I also personally dumped one freshman guy(and my girlfriend as well) in the trash can for violating the rules. With lawsuit and bullying laws these days I guess "The Square" lost it fun.

Name: Don Burns ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Apr 19, 2006, 10:21 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1957
City & State: Downey, CA
E-mail
Message: Hey Cougs, just a note to all the car people, Seal Beach Car Show is on Sat. 22 of April, 9 to 3. See you there. Later Don

Name: Miaaka DeForrest ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Apr 19, 2006, 7:49 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Lester
Class: 1977
City & State: Lone Pine, CA
E-mail
Message: Watching the changes happening at HHS over the years when visiting my folks, the loss of Senior Square is saddening. It is a shame that the recent students of HHS were not taught the spirit and fun of trying to sneak through the square as underclassman and being able to step into the square "Legally" that last day of junior year. I hope the school finds a way to rebuild this wonderful tradition.

Name: Marilyn Ross ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Apr 19, 2006, 7:41 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Wisham
Class: 1956
City & State: Garden Grove, CA
No E-mail
Message: I waited 3 long years for my entry into the sacred Sr. Square. I was the 3rd class to do so. An earlier posting suggested maybe there are just too many students now which may be true. Of course not all the seniors used it when I was in school either. We ate lunch most days in Sr. Square. We sat on the tables. The trees were small so no mess from them, not much shade either. It was a great feeling to be in this sacred place. I work in a high school today and most of the kids don't seem to care about the high school experience. The ASB kids try but seem to be the only ones having fun. It's probably that way most everywhere. You can't force anything on the kids today if they don't want it. We just have to take it as OUR memory and let the kids today create their own memories.

Name: Jim Fox ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Apr 19, 2006, 7:31 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1966
City & State: Hawthorne
E-mail
Message: I would like to share a very special Cougar Sighting that occurred this afternoon. The occasion was the first Delmer L. Fox Humanitarian & Scholarship Awards Luncheon at El Camino College. And the Cougars sighted were Class of 2005: Kristall Bautista; and Class of 2006: Marco Cabrera, Kie-Dee Chagoya, and Chris Ferguson. These young men and women were the first to receive scholarships in Dad's name, and I thought it appropriate that they be recognized on this page. I can tell you that these recipients are very bright young people, and if the future of this country rests in the hands of scholars like these, we have very little to worry about. On behalf of the Fox family, sincerest congratulations go to these fine young Cougars.

Name: Bob Reagan ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Apr 19, 2006, 3:06 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1962
City & State: Redding,CA
E-mail
Message: Having not been back to Hawthorne in about twenty five years I did go about six years ago and traveled through my old haunts being chauffeured around by my best friend "THE King, JOHN BAKER". Of all the places we went to see I was in awe of the Mall between 120th and El Segundo Blvd. Its enormity of size was to say the least, Impressive. What was more impressive was the fact that it was shut down and boarded up because of too much crime and violence. The whole thing was shut down at that time. Now that has to make you proud to tell someone that you're from Hawthorne, CA.
Other things had changed as well, as I had. Progress is a good thing, Aging is not, but inevitable. The old buildings that are torn down to make way for the new. It doesn't come without its own problems though, with growth comes Wealth, Crime, Etc (as with the mall).
The Senior Square that we enjoyed 40-50 years ago is probably going to go by the wayside for sake of progress to accomodate for the growth of the High School. I had more fun going into Senior Square when I was an underclassman than I did as a Senior. It was sort of anticlimatic, I wasn't getting away with anything then. Lets just be thankful that we can still remember the good times we had and the memories we hold in our hearts. You can take the material things but you can't take the memories.

Name: Jill McFarlane ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Apr 19, 2006, 1:47 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1977
City & State: Mission Viejo, Ca
E-mail
Message: It's interesting what memories and thoughts hold for each person regarding Senior Square. It's also interesting what each decade has said about it. For me, personally it was a place that I couldn't wait to be a senior for, and yes, I did spend a lot of time in the square once I was a senior. Talking with friends or reading a book. We all wish things around us keep the same, especially our old neighborhoods. I guess I am not as shocked on how the area has changed because my parents still live in the same house, and whenever I go visit them I see the subtle and not so subtle changes. Just the other day my Mom was saying that she missed the Thriftimart on El Segundo. Anyhow they say that change is good, maybe or maybe not. If Senior Square goes, It will be sad, but I would rather see it torn down, than just sit there deserted and neglected and not appreciated. My 2 cents.