[It is a wonder to see how many of us moved from school to school. Were some booted out? :-) ]
3/6/02 So sorry I missed the Glen Iris reunion. Boy, do I ever have memories of this shool since I grew up right across the street. I have talked with several others who also attended Glen Iris, Jean (Strubel) Flemming and Lee Jenkins, and guess we just didn't hear about the reunion plans in time to attend. Hope if there is ever another reunion, we will be able to attend. What fun that would be! Who remembers Ms. Kirkland in auditorium? Thanks for all your hard work. Florence Johnson Hemphill, '59, fjhemphill@mindspring.com
02/22/02 Hi all, I attended Ramsay in 1963-1964 before moving to Florida. I attended Glen Iris for 1st-8th grade and enjoyed reading the memories posted in the Elementary Section. Hi Mike McClellan! I live in California, hope to make it back to Birmingham someday! Tim Delony, tim_delony@bio-rad.com
02/03/02 Hello, I did not attend Ramsay High, but attended 1st and 2nd grade at Lakeview in Birmingham from (I think) 1963-64. My family lived in Birmingham for only two years while my Dad worked at Hayes Intl. My teacher for 1st grade was (Ms. Lane ?) and for 2nd grade Mrs. Starkey. My family moved to FL the Summer after second grade where my dad took a job with Kennedy Space Center. Some of my classmates (if I can remember their names right...) were Janis Koon (sp?), JoAlice Davis (sp?)...a boy with the last name of Winters and several others that I can only remember first names--Hilton (Hobson, maybe...), Billy. My older brother (Mike) also attended Lakeview, but I don't remember his teacher's names or any of his friends other than a pair of brothers with the last name of Wingo. Anyhow, ran across this site while surfing the internet and thought it'd be fun to see if anyone's past had crossed my own. I am now living in Orange Park, FL and am a Naval Officer stationed at NAS Jacksonville. Thanks and I enjoyed your site! Shawn Hankins, ashankins@email.msn.com
12/31/01 I was cleaning out some old boxes over the holidays and found a beautifully written thank you note dated 1/2/1959 from my first grade teacher at Avondale School. Apparently, I had given her a bracelet for Christmas. I don't remember the bracelet, but I do remember that wonderful teacher, Mrs. Harrison. A kinder, more devoted teacher I have yet to encounter. What a lucky little girl I was to have had her. Margariette Miller Hoomes
11/28/01 I attended two grammer schools in Birmingham. The first one I attended thru the 3rd grade it was Glenn Iris. After my family moved I went to Lakeview grammer school. I loved my first school, but I feel like I probably got a better education at Lakeview and have more vivid memories of it since I was older and attended it longer.It was a very nice school but I believe it has been turned into an office building. Regards, Suzette Brown Lewis, Jupiter FL.
11/22/01 It's CoCo. I went to McElwain Elementary School from K-5th grade. Cornessa "CoCo" Samuels, Ramsay class of 2000, omnipitence@msn.com
11/03/01 Glen Iris class of 1970. Would have been Ramsey 1974, but was pulled out to go to private school. (yuck) John L. Hutcheson, john442000@yahoo.com
10/22/01 I WENT TO MCELWAIN SCHOOL 1ST THROUGH 8TH GRADES AND "GRADUATED" IN 1964. DIDN'T REALIZE EVERYONE WAS GOING TO SEND MEMORIES OF THEIR SCHOOLS WHEN I SENT MY E-MAIL. I WENT TO MCELWAIN FOR EIGHT YEARS UNTIL I STARTED RAMSAY IN 1964. MY CLASS INCLUDED CHARLIE MCROBERTS, JO CAROLYN YAW, TOOKIE WALTON, HOPE BRYANT, CYNTHIA SHADDUX, JACK BAKER AND MANY MORE. WE WERE SLATED TO GO TO SHADES VALLEY JUST A FEW YEARS BEFORE, BUT AROUND 1962-63 PEOPLE LIVING IN THE CITY LIMITS COULD GO ANYWHERE IN THE CITY. MCELWAIN SPLIT WITH SOME STUDENTS GOING TO WOODLAWN AND SOME TO RAMSAY. MY BROTHER WENT TO WOODLAWN JUST A FEW YEARS BEFORE ME. AT THE LAST MINUTE, I DECIDED TO GO TO RAMSAY BECAUSE JO CAROLYN WAS GOING THERE. MY DAD DROVE MY BROTHER TO WOODLAWN AND THEN ME TO RAMSAY EACH DAY BEFORE GOING TO WORK. MR. IVY WAS OUR PRINCIPAL AND MY FIRST GRADE TEACHER WAS MISS YATES. IN THE SEVENTH GRADE OUR TEACHER MARRIED THE FIFTH GRADE TEACHER OVER THE WEEKEND. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM FRIENDS FROM MCELWAIN...JUDY JUSTICE RICHARDSON
10/21/01 I attended Lakeview School for grammar school. I attended Brook Hill for the 7th and 8th grades, 1963,1964. Thank you. Karen Weygand Puffer
10/12/01 The Glen Iris Reunion!
09/16/01 Grammar schools were : Norwood, Lakeview, and Edgewood. Best always, Robert Jennings
09/09/01 In the Lakeview 1956 picture I know the "hunk" standing in front of Bill Featheringill is for a fact Charlie Weaver. My first true love. The last girl in row 2 is Ann Marie Gurino and I think the first girl in row 4 is me. As soon as I dig out my ancient photos from our class picnic at the Pittman farm, perhaps I can identify more if you would like, Linda Whitten Hanback.
09/06/01 Hi! Just wanted to post my elementary schools: I went to Lakeview grades 1-4, Brooke Hill gr.5-6, Avondale gr. 7-8. One of my main memories of Lakeview was that of my 1st grade year when my father came to tell me that he was moving overseas (my parents had gotten a divorce in a time when it wasn't popular). I don't remember much about the visit except for the green cleaning compound that the janitors used to sweep the wooden floors with, which leads me to think that I must have kept my head down the entire time as he spoke. Sorry for the sentimental thoughts. I'm sure there were lots and lots of good memories too. Avondale held lots of fun!! In the girls' bathroom, the stalls had these high bars that we did flips on. We had to step on the toilet tissue container, then to the pipes behind the toilet, then jump to the front bars. We should have called this our P.E. time. Janice Mazer was the best! Thankfully, no teacher caught us and no one got hurt. I still stay in touch with some of my best Avondale buddies: Tricia Gillaspie, Kathy Burch, Janice Mazer, Valerie Hulen and others. - Liz Hansen Entrekin
09/04/01 I went to Glen Iris in the 8th grade. I went to 5 grammer schools in all. - Don F. Wiginton
09/03/01 I went to Lakeview Elementary School and would love to have a reunion and tour of building. - Becky Collins Prescott, '60, prescottduewest@mindspring.com
08/20/01 Is this a great picture or what? Click William P. Gresham
08/15/01 I went to Glen Iris along with my sister, Estelle, and brothers, Herman (deceased'67) and Eugene Spencer. Actually, I was impressed with Ms. Hamil, and thought she was great at teaching manners, sitting up straight and listening. Too bad I didn't take those qualities to high school. One thing I did remember though, she wrote SALMON on the blackboard and told us that you did not pronounce the word with an L, that it was silent. - Janette Spencer Wells, '61 Glen Iris,'65 Ramsay
8/12/01 Glen Iris was a real melting pot of diversity and not one fixed by the politically correct. We had German, Russian, Italian, Greek, Scot-Irish, Syrian, Lebanese, and anything else you could imagine. Mr.Morrow was our principal from at least 1953-1961---my 8 years and he had a WWII surplus, hand-held siren(air-raid) that we used for fire drills. We were one of the first groups of 2nd graders to get our polio (Salk Vaccine) shots at school. Ms. Hamill was the most strict, Mrs Harrison was the coolest, Mrs. Zuber was my first, Korb, 2nd. F. Williams 3rd, Thomas 4th, Mitchell/White 5th, Tatum 6th, Cameron/ Williams 7th and Hammil 8th. Our Music teacher was Ms. Wilson, our Auditorium was Mrs. Kirkland, Art was Mrs.Covington who read to us --Charlotte's Web, Handwriting- Mrs. DeLoach, and Geography was Mrs. McNutt---Mrs. Stewart was the Lunchroom Manager !!My best friends --so many---Carl Mancha, Johnny Johnson, Joe Jones, Richard Carpenter, Emile Shunnarah, Mike Lackey, and Johnny Osborn. To all the girls --Barbara Brewster, Joyce Walker, Jackie Faubion, Susie McClesky, Jane Johnston ---all so wonderful then and now--- We had a Safety Patrol and did we "patrol"---a kinder and gentler time for sure. We had "toilet passes"--hate that word and Mrs Ried waved a flag when it was time to come in from the swings. We had a "country fair" each fall and I never could understand why all the grown-ups in the neighborhood seemed so indifferent. We walked to school and had no air conditioning and the only ones hot were our teachers who wore those flimsy dresses that let their slip straps show when the flab on their underarms wiggled as they wrote on the board. They all seemed sooo old --40 or even 50!! --- Other than that I don't remember too much! It was always fun. Remember the dog-tags we got in the 1st or 2nd grade and all the WWII. surplus "book satchels" we had----Mrs Hamill tripped over mine and I didn't have a library book that day but I did have my handkerchief!! - Randy L. McDonald
08/09/01 I will register on line. My graduating class was 1974. My brother Alan graduated in 1971 and finished at Avondale in 1968. Great job with the website. reading the memories of avondale was really cool. Those were good years. The 66 class picture at avondale was a hoot. Frank Harrell was in that class. he is now a professor at the University of Virginia and does consulting work all over the world. I also recognized Bobby Boyer. My sister, my brother, and I all went to school with Boyers. Hard not to. There was a whole mess of them. Merry Boyer Bearden recently attended my Father's funeral. Thanks again for your hard work. I'll get you a donation in the mail to help out. Great job. Randy Martin
08/07/01 Many who attended Glen Iris have memories of Miss Hamil. Everyone (even the school bully) was on their absolute best behavior in her classroom. No one seemed to know where she got her reputation, but everyone knew that you did not cross Miss Hamil. One day in my 8th grade class ('63-'64), she asked us what we would want to do first on a visit to England. One student answered in all honesty that he would want to see the Beatles. Miss Hamil stood motionless and said nothing for what seemed like a full minute while her face turned beet red. Finally, with a strained but quiet voice, she said, "Everyone go to the restroom". When we returned in 5 or 10 minutes, she had regained her composure and class continued (on a different topic). It was clear that we had just witnessed one of the all-time great examples of self-control in the history of public education. Randy Hiam, Ramsay '68, Glen Iris '64 (yes, we had a formal graduation)
07/24/01 Hello, I attended Glen Iris in sixth-eighth grades after I completed 1-5th grades at a school in Green Springs called ALLEY on the Hill. I remember my three years as safety patrol and the many afternoons my friend Diane Leigh and I would walk from school through Green Springs Park and across the highway to home. We would stop at Tootie's for a snack somedays. I would like to hear from old classmates. My family lives in Oneonta now where I have retired as an elementary teacher of 26 years. Linda Whitfield Tidwell, '70
07/19/01 Hi david, I discovered and registered on the Ramsay site today, but forgot to list my elememtary school. It is Glen Iris. Gowing up on the corner of 19th ave and Greensprings ave it was only a short 3 block walk to Glen Iris, if you took the shortcut through Glen Iris park. Usually in the afternoon leaving school we would walk home up 11th place so we could fulfill the daily ritiual of stopping at the corner grocery and get a cola and bag of peanuts. I attended Glen Iris 1st thru 8th Grade and now that I think about it all if the wonderful and trying moments of growing up on Southside are starting to come back. Oh sorry you said to send a short note so I will stop. Thank you and all invloved for the great site. Will send you some further comments and pictures of Glen Iris and Ramsay when I have a chance to sit still long enough. Jeff Newman, Ramsay 1970.
07/12/01 Hi David and everyone else, I spent all eight years at Avondale and I loved school, because I had a wonderful first grade teacher, Mrs. Harrison. I think she only taught one year and then moved because her husband was either in the service or relocated with his job. She was a wonderful teacher and I have never forgotten how kind she was to me. I was her only left-handed student. She was very patient, but could not break me of the habit of writing with my paper upside down. I think it freaked her out! My brother, Robert and my sister Karen also went to Avondale. Thanks for the neat website, Lynda Mossey Parnell [I was two years ahead of you at Avondale and am also left-handed. The county wide writing teacher, Mrs. Poor, kept putting the pencil in my right hand and trying to make me write that way. I know that is why I can't write well today. David Meadows, Ramsay '65]
07/09/01 My sister and I are sitting here in Dallas looking at all the memories posted on elementary schools. Lynne and I (Anne), the Hipp girls went to McElwain 1st-8th grades when the old building was still there and Ms. Satterwhite's basement classroom would flood and notebooks would float up the steps. Every spring the graduating 8th grade classes would be invited out to Ms. Douglas' house off of 280 for a picnic and to fish in her lake. I remember the safety patrols, Mrs. McKinney, Mrs.. Green, Mrs. Southerland and Mr. Ivy and his paddle for unruly boys. From my class through the years, David Potts, Beth Bloodworth, Bobby Brown, Sheila Matthews, Marilyn Sanders, Jackie Jones, Jon Cox. Memories of Cascade Plunge. From Lynne's class, the Barker Boys, Johnny McRoberts, Marsha Meeks, Jimmy Bloodworth, Judy Plott, Bill Matthews. We love your site, thanks for your work. Anne Hipp Pate and Lynne Hipp Coleman
07/09/01 I went to Glen Iris 3-8 grades and lived across from the swing set on the south side of the school (14th Avenue) - next door to John Morrison. If I could only find those Hudson brothers (Donald and Ronald) and Tim Deloney! One of the highlights of my Glen Iris days was being the student in charge of the safety patrol and the summer trip (1962) on a train...one week in Washington, D.C. Anyone else from Birmingham remember the trip? Mike Moon is one name I remember...possibly Avonjail? - Mike McClellan, Ramsay '66, Glen Iris '62
07/08/01 I went to Lakeview 1-6 and Brooke Hill 7-8. Thanks for the great job that you are doing. It is great to keep up with everyone. Elna Riley Brendel
07/02/01 Went to Glen Iris. Lived just 1 block away. Danny (Dan) Curtis
07/01/01 I attended Lakeview Grammar School all eight years; Ms. Beatrice Hood was the best a first grader could experience! Everyone remembers Ms. Audrey Koon...stories I probably shouldn't tell here. Mrs. Penelope Cunningham and Miss Dorothy Smith...they were the best as well! What a beautiful school. We all love progress, but I can still see the park as it used to be, with all of the swings, tennis court, and ball fields! - Suzanne (Suzie) Walters Krueger
06/30/01 Went to Grammar School at Minnie Holman '56-'59, Avondale Elementary '59 - '64. Graduated Auburn University, BS Pharmacy 1972. - Richard Dickson
06/25/01 Lakeview and Elyton. Alton Parker, class of 1962.
06/24/01 I WENT ALL 8 YRS TO GLEN IRIS GRAMMER SCHOOL---I HAD MISS HAMIL IN THE 7TH GRADE -[YES, SHE TAUGHT MY OLDER BROTHER & SISTER]--MY FAVORITE TEACHER WAS MRS. MINOR --MY 6TH & 8TH GRADE [SHE GOT MISS HAMIL'S ROOM ]---MR MORENO WAS OUR PE TEACHER[LATER TO TAKE MR. MORROW'S JOB ] - Betty Burroughs
6/21/01 Notice how the best students came from Avondale. Woody McNair
6/21/01 Due to the new school (Putnam) being built and later to moving I attended both McElwain and Putnam. K - 2 McElwain, 3-7 Putnam, 8 McElwain. Do I get listed on both rosters? Toni Gaylor Seales, Ramsay Class of 71
6/21/01 I missed the Reunion in April, but have enjoyed seeing all the pictures that are posted on this site. I went to Glen Iris Grammer School for 8th grade and 1st grade -- Martin School for the 2nd through 7th grades. Miss Hamil at Glen Iris taught my dad during her first teaching year and my brother her last year. That must have been a span of almost 50 years. Anyone else out there in the Glen Iris class of '57? - Barbara Portera Behm
6/18/01 I attended McElwain from grades 2-8 (attended St. Rose in 1st grade because I was to young for public school). John W. McRoberts
06/16/01 David, You have done a remarkable job on the Ramsay web site! I truly enjoy it. Just to let you know I went to McElwain Elementary many years ago! Thanks for all your work!! Sheila Mathews Nix, Ramsay-1968
06/16/01 I attended Lakeview for two years and McElwain, from fourth through eighth grades. Beginning Ramsay with friends from both schools was a "reunion" of sorts! Charlie McRoberts
06/16/01 My daughter has to assist me in using the internet - Where were computers when we were in the "learning mode"?? - Emily Cantrell Smith
06/16/01 I went to Lakeview, Grades 1-6; then Brooke Hill, Grades 7-8; Thanks for tending to all of this. Catharine Comer Stuart Friend (got married 6 mos. ago so new last name)
6/14/01 The Glen Iris photo was taken on the south side of
Glen Iris which faces my old house...both are still standing!
Another thing I observed was all the duds have come back into
style...even the hair styles are not far off. - Mike McClellan,
Ramsay '66, Glen Iris '62 Glen Iris 1962 picture
6/13/01 Grammar school: 1st thru 6th Glen Iris, 7th Our Lady of Sorrows, 8th Glen Iris. Joseph Saiia
6/13/01 Another hard one: the origin of the name Avondale, Glen Iris, Lakeview,Martin, Putnam, South Highlands, etc. Someone knows...I do not.- Mike McClellan
6/13/01 I attended Glen Iris Elementary School in the 6, 7, & 8th grades. I was in the Talented and Gifted Program that was at Glen Iris at that time. That program is no longer there. I attended EPIC in the 5th grade and grades 1-4th, I attended Franklin Academy (this school no longer exists). I never attended a "neighborhood" elementary school really. When I attended Ramsay, it was not zoned. It was a "magnet" school that you had to take a test to get into the school. So those of us that went to Ramsay '87-'91 did not all come from the same elementary schools, we were spread out, from many different schools. Let me know if I can help with anything else. Amy Williams, Class of '91
6/13/01 Well I went to Lakeview elementary school. It was across the street from Romeo's drug store. John Furman
6/13/01 I went to Glen Iris (all 8 years) before attending Ramsay. The main thing I remember is the 8th grade teacher, Miss Hamil, who taught everyone's brother, sister, aunt, uncle, and mother and father. She was ancient (or so it seemed). I also remember that great play ground area the school had. Thanks for all your work on the web site. Anthea (Letchas) Rose, Class of '71
6/13/01 Like many of us, I went to Avondale Elem. Avondale is also the school of Jack and Susan Whitley. I drove past there about 6 or 8 months ago and there was some pretty major construction going on. Jim Whitley
6/13/01 I went to South Highland Grammar School in 5 Points. It was torn down many years ago, and I would love to have a picture of it if anyone has one they would like to share. Kathryn Faulkner Lepper klattorney@aol.com
6/11/01 I went to Avondale Elementary School. Of course, being silly like we were at that age, some of us referred to it as "Avonjail". I love the website and visit it often to see what new has been added. Thanks again for all your work on it. Nancy Guthrie
6/11/01 I went to Glen Iris Elementary during the days of Mr. Moreno, the Science and PE teacher. I guess that's were my first taste of "Law Enforcement" came into play. I was on the School Safety Patrol and have been hooked even since. Bill Berry
6/11/01 Our family went to Inglenook Rockett grammar school (Robert, Tommy, and Mardi), although Mardi transferred to accelerated classes at Lakeview, and graduated from there. We rode the bus 45 minutes across town to the best high school in the city. Bob Cosby
6/11/01 From Ward Watson. I went to Lakeview Grammar School. It was interesting to sit in Mrs. Cunningham's writing class and knife out my initials, under those of my mother, her two brothers and their father. Three generations of destructive semi-literates! But my mother did graduate Phi Beta Kappa from the U. of Alabama--not moi.
6/11/01 I attended Cooperative Elementary School and Evans Jr. High in Spartanburg, SC, before transferring from Evans to Ramsay halfway through the 9th grade. I went from the top of the totem pole (9th grader in Jr. High) to the bottom (9th grader at Ramsay) in one day. But it was worth it to get out of a small town. I never looked back. Birmingham, with all its blemishes, was a happier place for me. Joe Goldblatt
6/11/01 I went to the school formely known as Lakeview Elementary, now known as Martin Advertising. Thanks! ABE SCHNIPER
6/11/01 David, I moved to Birmingham during the 4th grade and enrolled at Avondale during the fall of 1958. My first real memory after that embarrasing introduction to my new class, was having Steve Burge introduce himself and shake my hand as we were going out on the playground (rocky). Steve and I remained close friends through those Avondale years, through Ramsay, and on through college at Auburn. So that one moment of offering up his hand and friendship no doubt made a huge difference in making those years and my time in school a much better place to be! Interestingly enough I have a picture of our 8th grade graduating class of '63 that I will dig up, scan, and send you if you want to add to the website. Let me know and thanks for keeping this up! Ray Jacoby
6/11/01 I went to Avondale (I think that is spelled correctly) in B'ham for eighth grade just before Ramsay. We had a very old teacher, can't quite remember her name, something like Ms. Ebale. Anyway, she used to teach us famous sayings and make us repeat them as a class. Here's one you could post to see how many recall it an complete it: Habit is like a rope; you weave a thread of it each day until at last you cannot break it. Regards, Eric S. Ruff
6/11/01 The site you have put together is great. I attended Glen Iris Elementary. (thru 1956) C.W. Billy Osborn
6/11/01 Don Harrison (a.k.a. Donnie) I went to Glen Iris Grammar School. Thanks for your continued efforts to keep all of us in touch.
6/11/01 I attended Lakeview for six years and Avondale for two years. Doug Stinson
6/11/01 I went to South Highlands Elementary. It was in Five Points South behind what is now the "Pickwick". Magnolia park was our playground and ball field. It appears the old tunnel under 21th street to the park is still in use. Thanks, Larry Welsh, Mid term 64
6/11/01 Jim Bloodworth '70 went to McElwain Grammar School 7th and 8th grades Centerpoint Elementary 6th grade and Somerville Rd. School in Decatur, AL, grades 1 through 5.
6/11/01 I went to Avondale, [through the Fifth] then graduated from Glen Iris. thanks for the updates. ann mccallum (Montgomery)
6/11/01 During the late '70s and early '80s I attended the elementary schools of Barrett, Robinson, and William J. Christian. After graduation from Ramsay, I attended the University of Montevallo. ---Barry Falkner, '86
6/11/01 Avondale Elementary 1952-1955 (6th -8th grades) Amy McNutt Gilkey
6/11/01 David, this is kenny powers, I went to South highland at five point south. Graduated in 1936. R.C.Johnson was the principal.
6/10/01 Speaking of Avondale....A while back I had a chance to have dinner with Bert Meyer and his wife, Emmett Gaskin, Elizabeth Nabors and Lucia Threeton. ( I know I'm using maiden names but I'm old and I have trouble with new ideas). We had so much fun. It all happened on the spure of the moment. One week when I was up visiting Mom, Libba just made a few phone calls and it happened. David, I know this was suppose to be brief, but I'm on a roll here. My point is that people want to get together. It just take some body to get it moving and then it takes on a life of it's own. Final thought, "Make that phone call". Take care. E when you can. Putzie Wright
6/10/01 I went to Glen Iris Elementary school on Southside. I hope to make the next class reunion. thanks, Barbara Ann Shirley Perkins McDaniel
6/10/01 Just got your email and thought I'd drop a line to let you know that Ed, David and I, all went to (and graduated from, I might add!) Avondale School. Thanks for yor work in making this website a success. I've been contacted by several old classmates since logging on, and its been wonderful. Keep up the good work! Terry Ratigan
6/10/01 I attended Lakeview Elementary School. It was on Claremont Ave. Those of us in the Highland Ave area and some in Forest Park went to that school. Skip Hardenburg
6/10/01 Hi David, I went to Avondale in the 6th & 7th grade, then Lakeview in the 8th. Dennis Call, '72
6/10/01 Hi, David! ...thanks for this! I started out at Inglenook grammar school and then was put into a class that had students from all over Birmingham. Nancy Johnson was our teacher and we attended 5th and 6th grades at South Highland school. It was going to be torn down so we were transferred to Lakeview for 7th and 8th grades. It was there that I met all the kids going to Ramsay from my class of '67. Sydney Parker was also in Miss Johnson's class. mardi cosby penuel, '67
6/10/01 I went to South Highlands grammar school. The Building Trades Tower building now sits on the site of the school building. Our playground is now Brother Bryan park. Kenny Lubel, Ramsay 1955
6/10/01 The website is wonderful. I look at it 3 or 4 times a week!! I went to Lakeview. Mrs. Hood through Miss. Coon. Linda Whitten Hanback
6/10/01 David, I went to Avondale with all of you, just in case you forgot! Your Mom was my Girl Scout leader for eons and there were many days spent at your house. It's hard to think of her or your Dad not in their scout uniforms. At Avondale I remember playing hopscotch out front on the sidewalks, sitting on the hill overlooking Birmingham during art lessons and drawing "landscape" pictures of the steel mills, etc. Being part of the "thousand legged worm" in a play and dressing up as an elf in a purple satin costume which was very cold for a Christmas play. Having to change clothes in the Teacher's lounge finding out I was one of the first to wear a bra! How embarrassing!!!! We had a Home Ec. teacher (don't remember her name) who made us cook and eat liver....gag!!! To this day, I still can't! We all made aprons and these hideous skirts out of the SAME black and floral material which we had to wear with white blouses on the same day. Couldn't wait to burn that one! I rememer my first day at Avondale was in the Feb of the 2nd grade and I was taken to Ms. Perdue's class where there weren't enough desks so I shared one with Margaret Peterson and we became fast friends. Playing dodge ball, red rover & soft ball on the field overlooking your house and all the trails leading down the hills away from the school. And when it would rain really hard, how the water would pour off that hill with red mud. The BIG swings on the playground that seemed to go SO high. Walking to Bledsoe's Drug Store after school to "hang out" before heading home. Watching Margaret Stone and Woody McNair walk home from school...just across the street...and envying their walk to mine which was just less than a mile away. And of course we always walked the LONG way home when there were friends like Carol Boyer, Bingham Vance, Pia Eiman, Linda Miller, Emily Merrill, Linda Black & Lynnette Meadows with whom we didn't want to end our day. How Carol Boyer & I couldn't stop talking to each other so we were placed at separate side of the rooms until we inched our desks into the cloak room where we still would find a way! Of course, it didn't last long! We promised we wouldn't say a word during class the whole 6 weeks and the teacher would give us an A in Conduct instead of the D or F we had received the time before. We did it, but sent LOTS of notes instead. Remembering how Owen Vickers, George Mabry, Jimmy Parker & Steve Maples always found a way to get into trouble. While Steve Burge, Ray Jacoby, Johnny Williams & Woody McNair were always making jokes. Thinking David Cantrell had to be the smartest person ever. Robert Mossey & Joe Halbrooks' kindness. Linda Lambert's smile. Dellyne Catching seeming to have it ALL together. And the summers spent at Avondale Park ball games and Cascade Plunge pool. Yes, Avondale holds many memories and friends who are cherished. Thanks for letting me remember. Guess the "old" memory is better than I thought! Take care. Peggy Berndt McMichael
6/10/01 I went to Putnam Elementary. I was lucky enough to be there the first year it opened. A few of my Ramsay buddies also went there. Stephanie Taylor
6/10/01 When I was trying to add my elementary schools to the list, I didn't find any of them-- I went to four... Woodlawn Elementary School (1st & 2nd grade); Minnie Holman Elementary School (3rd & 4th grade); South Highland Elementary School (5th & 6th grade) and Lakeview Elementary School (7th & 8th grade). I lived in the Woodlawn/Crestwood areas the whole time, but when they formed the enrichment class (5th grade), they took people from all over Birmingham and started it at South Highland. Then they changed the whole class over to Lakeview when we were in 7th grade. Incidentally, Woodlawn Elem. School was torn down and became a parking lot; Holman is now an office building (I think), South Highland was torn down and became an old folks tower, and Lakeview is an apartment building. Mary Neal Summers (Mary Neal, class of '67)
6/10/01 I attended Robinson Grammar, East Lake at 84th and 2nd Ave. South, through the seventh grade and then moved to Forest Park and completed the eighth grade at Avondale Elementary. - Wayne Sikes
6/10/01 I am proud to say that I attended Lakeview Elementary School in 1959. It was a time of Romeo's Drug Store, the "tunnel" which led us to recess in the park. Mrs. Dunstan, shop, Mrs. Floyd(P.E.), and a wonderful English teacher (help me out here-she was a silver-haired, refined woman, wore charm bracelets, spoke eloguently.) The old Lakeview Elementary School on 8th Avenue South was and remains today a beautiful building of architectural integrity. - William P. Gresham, '65