By HELEN SUE JOHNSON
Times-Leader correspondent
As my readers can tell, I enjoy writing about McLeansboro as it was so long ago, especially during the Great Depression area.
Times-Leader sportswriter Charles Pendell’s mother, Maxine, was a childhood playmate of mine. One time when we were both about 5 years old, she had a birthday party.
I was all dressed up for the party, but during the outdoor play, suddenly the kids acted boisterous and loud, and somehow I sensed it was about me! It turned out my mother, in dressing me up for the party, forgot to put panties on me and I hadn’t noticed.
When the other birthday celebrants started screaming, Maxine’s Aunt Lora investigated the disturbance, then took me inside and put a pair of Maxine’s panties on me! Now can you imagine?
During Maxine’s last days at the nursing home, she would squeeze my hand in remembrance of our friendship. July 30 of last year, I sensed something and went to the hospital in McLeansboro to see if Maxine was there. Yes, but she was gone; gone but not forgotten!
•••
Now who can forget Pa Sanders, the funeral parlor director for so many years in McLeansboro. Remember his saying “Stay in the buggy”?
He and Ma Sanders were very popular in town, and Pa carried out fine funerals, too. His parlor was at the corner of Pearl and Market streets.
Upstairs were rooms rented out to local workers and people passing through, too, needing a night’s sleep.
•••
Remembering as well Gillie Kirsch, manager of a grocery store from the Piopolis area and who fascinated customers with German accents, giving a German twist to items asked for.
Mom happened to be standing at the old L&N; station when Gillie returned home from the war. He always said Mom was his “welcoming home” committee. God bless, Gillie; we love your memory!
•••
Mary Cloud McCoy, of the bank and library family, was a student of Mary Baker Eddy, founder of Christian science, taking the last class of Mrs. Eddy’s in Boston in 1888.
When visiting her grave at the local Oddfellows cemetery I always recite the “Scientific Statement of Being.” Her grave marker gives no date of death, appropriately; nor will mine one day.
How blessed we are to be living in Southern Illinois.
• Helen Sue Johnson is a former Hamilton County resident.
Features
Remember When? Something ‘missing’ at birthday party
- Features
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Remember When? Dad had regular calls from Sloans
I enjoyed a trip to McLeansboro over the New Year’s holiday and met up with Geneva Sloan Nipper and her sister, Hattie, at McDonald’s.
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Remember When? Tie-On Roofing did business on square
In 1958, Tie-On Roofing was one of the businesses on the north side of McLeansboro’s downtown square.
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Remembering old movies, former neighbors
I admit it. I love the old movies we see on television.
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Remember When? Dennison Grocery, McLeansboro
A local woman's father worked in a local grocery store when he was a teen-ager, his daughter says.
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Remember When? Lawman William Perry Brewster
John Brewster of Fremont, Mich., seeks help in identifying people in this photo, which includes his grandfather, William Perry Brewster (seated next to the woman behind the steering wheel).
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Remember When? Mom’s popcorn balls were delicious
I recently read a recipe for making popcorn balls in a local newspaper, and it occurred to me — too late — to thank my mom for making delicious popcorn balls back during the Depression when my sisters, brothers and I were just kids.
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Hospital auxiliary kicks off Christmas Tree Project
Hamilton Memorial Hospital District Auxiliary is inviting the public to participate in its annual Christmas Tree project.
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Remember When? Broughton HS basketball, 1934-35
Hazel Clark of McLeansboro submitted this photo of the Broughton High School basketball team of 1934-35, including the players’ names and positions and the team’s won-loss record.
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RLC products try their taste for entrepreneurship
Rend Lake College culinary arts products Katie Karcher and Troy Ray are putting their training to the test.
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Remember When? Elder Mftg., 1946
Workers at the Elder Manufacturing Co., a onetime shirt factory in McLeansboro, are shown in this photo from 1946, submitted by Karen Vinyard of Grand Junction, Tenn.
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