Letter: Woman recalls her teenage years in McLeansboro

Opinion

May 26, 2010

Anonymous Times-Leader McLeansboro Times-Leader Wed May 26, 2010, 03:28 PM CDT

To the editor:

I was born in McLeansboro, but moved away when I was in the third grade. For the first three of my school years, I attended Anderson School.

I returned and attended McLeansboro High School for my junior and senior years, graduating in 1958. I attended my 50-year reunion in 2008 and saw a lot of “old” friends that I had not seen since graduation.

I don’t remember a lot of earlier years, but as we always came back to visit family, I would see changes in my “hometown.” There was Dr. Vickers’ hospital from way-early childhood; the skating rink near where Fred’s is today; two — yes, two — theaters on the square, the Lasswells’ on the east side and one on the north side of the square. Even had a drive-in (”passion pit”) in the 1950s and ’60s.

There was a drive-in diner where Fred’s is that always played “Hound Dog” and “Heartbreak Hotel” on the outside speakers — two of my favorites.

As a teen, I spent every Friday night at Teen Town that was held at the Elks or on the south side of the square. There were no stoplights then, so you could drive around till you got dizzy or found anyone you might be looking for.

After high school, I worked at the telephone office, which was located upstairs over Lockwood Drugs. It was at the back of the building overlooking the alley and Donelson Funeral Home; a scary place to be by yourself on the night shift.

The only way to reach the police or fire department was with a buzzer that we set off that alerted them if they were away from the phone. No two-way radios or cell phones back then. That required that you did not sleep on the job.

Glenda (Cluck) Holeman

Kalkaska, Mich.

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