Grafton High School - Graftonian Yearbook (Grafton, OH)

Page 19 text:

Then came the time to decide on our invitations and name cards, also our caps and gowns, Now we knew the time was close. We began working on our annual and planning our graduation. Finally Commencement was over, and then Class Day. CXir high school years were over. We all felt sad about this, but we know that when- ever we go, and whatever we do, we shall never forget those happy uears at Grafton High. Shortly after I graduated with the class of 1950, I was married and settled in Elyria. Several years later, I was offered a sales- man’s position to demonstrate a new device used in the kitchen. I was told to ask someone else to make a tour of the midwestern section of the United States with me, and at once I thought of Betty Lowe, who was a close friend of mine during school and after. As you might have ex- pected Betty had married John Rozga in July of '51 and now has a pair of twins, Johnny, Jr. and Joan. Since their marriage they have built a lovely home in Grafton. After hearing my plan, Betty agreed that it would be fun, so leav- her children in the care of her mother, we set out. Before leaving on our tour, we had to report to the main office in Cleveland to pick up our samples. After doing so we had a few hours to spare before our train left for Detroit, so we spent them window shop- ping. While walking down Euclid Avenue, we noticed a large sign reading Fischer’s Frintlng . Just out of curiosity we went in to see if it was the Fischer family we knew in Grafton. We were looking at some sample cards when who should come to wait on us but Joan. She said she was on her way home and Invited us to visit her. She took us to a lovely bung- alow style nome where she moved after her marriage. She told us that after she had married, her father and her husband had gone into business together, and were doing very well. Though we did not meet her husband, who was away on business, we had a very pleasant day reliving old times. Before we knew it, it was time for our train to leave for Michigan. We arrived in Detroit about noon and being very hungry after our trip, we went directly to a restaurant. We were almost through with our lunch when we noticed a sailor walking toward our table and as he came closer we recognized him as Dick Edwards. Dick had gone on the lakes right after graduation, and he told us that he had been made a captain of a ship. He had recently become engaged to a girl he had met after he went on the lakes. He had only a short time before returning to his ship, but before he left he told us that if we went to Chicago, 111. we might stop at John Guyeska’s radio-television shop. After three very successful demonstrations in Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Kalamazoo, we arrived in Chicago and after locating a hotel and securing a room we set out to find Johnny’s shop. It was not difficult since he had become very well-known through his excellent work.

Page 18 text:

(£laes Hiatorg We entered the first grade in 1938. Miss Tran was our teacher, she occupied our time with reading, writing, and arithmetic. Along with many others were Dot Adams, Mlml Maple, John Guyeska, Dick Edwards, Chuck Knechtges, Tess Cordy, and Donn Barber. Our second, third and fourth grades were filled with our studies. Donna Glover joined our class in the fifth grade, and Joan Fischer en- tered our class in the sixth grade. The same year, Betty Lou Carter withdrew for a couple of months, and again joined us. Our seventh grade song was Running Wild ! We were surprised at our freedom. We had our own lockers and had to take care of our own books. The Girls’ trio, consisting of Donna Glover, Joan Fischer,and Genevieve Maple, and the boy’s quartette, consisting of John Guyeska, Dick Edwards, Phil Kobb, and Dave Parker, were organized during the seventh grade year. David Houser withdrew from the class at the end of the year. Our eighth grade home-room teacher was Miss Cosentino. She was also our class advisor. Charles Blackburn who left at the end of the year for another school. Our freshman year was quite interesting. We were in study halls and in some classes with the older students. Betty Lowe joined us at this time, coming from Pattengill School in Detroit. Betty Lou Carter, Eugene Kubuski, and Raymond Easterwood left us at the end of the year. In our Sophomore year, we had a sample of salesmanship. We sold pencils, pennant pins, and magazines. We built up our class treasury quite a bit. We had a bake sale, too. We also put on a one-act play, Sis '0 The ozarks for an assembly. We had fun working on this play, we put the play on again for the Mothers’ Study Club guest night. We picked out our class rings for the following year. We said good-bye to Bob Myers, who left us to go to school in Fremont, also to Donn Barber, who left for Howe Military School and to Harold Tablett. We entered our junior year, feeling very proud of ourselves for having progressed this far. This year was filled with many activities. We gave two dances, both of wnich were successful, and we sold refresh- ments at the home football and basketball games. Then our big event - the Junior and Senior prom. Our theme was Mardi Gras . We spent a long week decorating for this event, but it wasn’t in vain, for every- one enjoyed the occasion. Theron Snyder’s orchestra provided the1music for dancing. Tess Cordy left us at the end of the year. As we entered our senior year, we welcomed Donn Earber back to our class. Several of our members are planning on entering college and we knew that for some of us, our formal education was coming to an end. We knew that we would have to look ahead and plan our future - whatever it might be. This year, too, was an eventful one. We gave two orch- estra dances with Hank Cook's Orchestra providing the music. We also sponsored a Fish Fry, which none of us will ever forget. Genevieve Maple left us before the close of the year as Dr. and Mrs. W. E. Maple announced the marriage of their daughter, Mlml to Mr. Leonard Leinlnger, class of ’47, now attending Ashland College. Oir best wishes are ex- tended to both.

Page 20 text:

After all greetings were over, he showed us through his shop which was very modern and interesting. He told us that he was working mostly with colored television and that he had a very large set at his home in the suburbs of the city. He then took us to his office to meet another of our classmates. His sister-in-law, Donna Glover, had come to work for him as secretary-bookkeeper. Donna was not yet married but she planned to go to Kentucky shortly to marry Donn Barber, who was a sports commentator. She showed us her engagement ring which she had received a short time ago and Invited us to attend her wedding which was to be held the following month. After saying good-bye to Donna, John took us to his home to see his wife, Marcia, and their four children. They had a beautiful home with all modem conveniences whereas our new device could be of no help Marcia asked us to stay over night in order to talk over things that had happened since we had last met. We appreciated their gracious of- fer, but had to refuse since we had already made reservations for the night. After enjoying a delicious dinner with them, we reluctantly said good-bye with a promise to return soon. The next morning we spent several hours advertising our product and after many conferences with buyers we were ready to continue south. Taking the advice of one of our customers who was an experienced travel- er, we rented a car in order to enjoy the full beauty of the trip to St. Louis, Mo. Much to our disgust, we acquired a flat tire just out- side the city and since we were not equipped with a spare, we set out to find a garage. Being very lucky we had to walk only a short distance before we came upon one. We asked one of the mechanics if they could send someone out to fix our car and he sent us to the manager of the place. We were ushered through a showroom of New Fords to the office. We were overwhelmed to find the manager, Charles Knechtges, sit- ting behind the desk, looking very businesslike. Chuck since school had gone into business with his father-in-law and then started his own business. He took us through the garage and then drove out with us and a mechanic to repair our car. On the way back, he invited us to visit his wife and him for a while, but realizing that we had only a few days left before returning home we thanked him for his hospitality and made preparations to complete our business. When this was done, we set out for our last stop which was Louisville, Kentucky. We arrived in the morning and were delighted to discover that the Kentucky Derby was to be run that afternoon. After hurrying with all business engagements, we reached the track only a few minutes before the race started, only to find that all the tickets were sold out. Just as we were turning away from the window much disappointed, a familiar voice called to us. We turned to see Donn Barber hurrying toward us. He explained that he was announcing the Derby and asked if we would like to sit in his box with him. He took us to lunch afterward and explained in detail the plans he and Donna had made. Although our trip had been successful both in business and in pleasure, we were very happy to be returning home, as Betty’s twins were celebrating their second birthday the following week. I was also anxious to return to my husband and two little red-headed children, Jimmy, Jr., who was two and a half and Karen not quite one. When we reached home, we immediately began to plan for a reunion with our class which is to be held in Grafton in the near future. Signed - Dorothy Adams