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Dayton Memories >
Old Riverdale and Hawthorne School
Old Riverdale and Hawthorne School
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jakspot@sprynet.com
3 posts
May 06, 2009
11:00 AM
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I lived in Riverdale and attended Hawthorne Elementary School from the 4th grade through the 8th grade. Mr. Train was principal the first year, then Ms. Williams took over. I only remember the neighborhood with good memories. We were able to walk everywhere including downtown. Everyone who walked downtown had to stop by the old firehouse at the end of the bridge and check out the fish in the fountain that was next to it. The fountain was especially interesting in the winter because the water froze into an ice sculpture. I don't know if the fish were left there for the winter or not. We went skating at the old Skateland on the second floor of a building downtown. I don't remember which street it was on, maybe Fourth St. On the way home we would stop in the Arcade and buy a "frostie" cone. There is nothing like it around today.
In those days, the 40s and 50s, girls only wore skirts or dresses to school except for Field Day. Boy were a little more casual, but always long pants, no bermudas (they were unheard of then).
Almost all shopping was done downtown. There were no shopping malls. There were a few stores around the city, but the most stores were downtown. There was Rikes-Kumler, Elder-Johnson, the Home Store, Donenfelds, Thals, Gallagher Drugs, Kresges, Woolworths, Adlers, Lerners, Maud-Muellers Candies, Mr. Peanut, Baynham Shoes, the Metropolitan, and many others I can't remember. There were also several movie theaters: Lowes, Keiths, Colonial, State, Victory, and Mayfair (burlesque). We ate at the Virginian Cafeteria on east Third, about 1/2 block from Main St. many Sundays. In the Arcade, besides frosties, there was Culps Counter and Cafeteria and the place that made the greatest sandwiches (can't remember name). Ate many, many times at the Chinese restaurant in the basement on Ludlow St. - I think it was Chung Sun. Years later it was closed for sanitation concerns. There was an elderly waiter there who never wrote down your order and never made a mistake.
Hawthorne was a small school. There were two 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades and only one 4th through 8th. We got to know our classmates very well. In those days the PTA was very active. My mother was President for a while. She also sold penny candy at noon to make money for the PTA. She directed a Spring revue for two years. I felt I got a very good education there. The classes had 25-30 students and you stayed with the same teacher all day except for gym and music. I learned the most English grammar from my 7th grade teacher. She was in her first year. She brought Heath Bars and gave them to the class. This was a big deal, to get a "whole candy bar". We did a lot of activities that required class participation that year and I have some photos of the geography maps we made. Miss Calihan was my teacher in the 5th grade and then in the 8th grade. She was an excellent teacher. I was a little bit afraid of her, but I liked her.
I lived on a part of Herman Ave. that is no longer there. It was under what is now I-75. We lived there when the houses on Stillwater St. and the east side of Best St. were torn down to make Riverside Dr. Even when it was finished Riverside Drive was not as busy as it is today. On the levee where the Jewish Temple is now located was what we called the "project". I don't know if it was special housing for low income people or what. There were a lot of kids that lived there and there was a playground in the middle. Up the street from my house was one of the old metal drinking fountains - the ones that stood-alone and you put your foot on a pedal to get the water to come up.
I loved that old neighborhood. It was very different sort of life than we have today. I could write a lot more, but I'll let someone else have a turn.
Last Edited by on May 06, 2009 11:03 AM
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Peggy Gilbert
7 posts
Jul 13, 2009
9:19 PM
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jakspot@sprynet.com I didn't grow up in Riverdale but my deceased husband Roger Gouge did. I don't know your age group but he would have been 69 this past April. His home was at 150 Best St. He attended Hawthorne school and colonel white. Did a hitch in the army and I met him in 60 when he came home. We married in 65 and he passed away in 97. I met a lot of his friends over the years we just might know some of the same folks. Thanks for the mention of riverdale, it brought back a lot of good memories.
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BillE
1 post
Feb 18, 2012
8:17 AM
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I also attended Hawthorn School. Was there from ‘49 to ‘52, first, second, and third grades. Mrs. Williams was the principle, don’t remember my 1st grade teacher, but 2nd was Mrs. Black and 3rd was Mrs. Carr. As I think back, maybe Mrs. Carr was a first year teacher. It is kinda strange that I can still remember some of them names of the kids I played with, not their last names, but only their first.
I may be wrong, but at recess the boys and girls did not play together, we were segregated. At the start of the school day ‘they’ rang a big hand held bell.
One thing that has stuck in my mind thru all the passing years is the house that was to the left (as you face the front door of the school) had a gorgeous tulip garden each spring. In fact, I believe their daughter was in my classes.
I believe there was a ‘rec building’ off to one side of school. Big white structure?
We lived at 122 Wilbe Street, that has since been torn down. Looking at Google and Bing Maps, it seems a lot of the houses have been ‘removed.’
In the summer of ‘52 we moved to California and I have only been back in Dayton 3 times since then. Needless to say, a lot has changed.
I just found this site and it is fun to remember when life was so simple (for us kids). As I stated above, if I REALLY think, so much comes back from the depths of my addled brain.
I have a question, what high school would we have attended? It would be the class of 1961. Seems it may be fun to see if any names pop up that may ring a bell.
Thank you…
Bill
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miiames
3 posts
Apr 07, 2012
6:09 PM
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Guess I am the baby here, I went to Hawthorne from 1954 to 63, K thru 8, went to Colonel White for one year then to Patterson, graduating in 1967. Grew up with 2 brothers and sisters on McPherson St, the block they now call White Allen Ave.
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NRA_Life_Member
7 posts
Jul 06, 2013
10:27 PM
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WOW. We were at Hawthorne at the same time. I went to K & 1st grade there. That would be 1959 & 60 for me. Looks like you got a couple of years on me. We lived at 11 West McPherson St. The building doesn't exist anymore but it was right behind a bar and next to Russ' Market on the corner with Main St.
Small world.
Last Edited by NRA_Life_Member on Jul 07, 2013 11:19 AM
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