A Trip down Memory Lane by Alan Taylor

Living in Wellston and attending High School in Wellston, Missouri during the 50’s was definitely unique and exciting for me! I believe that I could just go back to my old home room seat in Mr. Thoss’s room and sit down in my front row seat near the window and answer roll call.

My home was located at 6503 Hobart Avenue. Some of my old friends and Classmates vividly remembered include Bob Tiernon, Jim Greasner, Charlie Sutton, Bill Mottin, Tom Moore, and Herb Eberle etc.

Jim Greasner lived just a few houses from me. He was an exceptionally nice person and my friend. Sometimes he would pay my way into the movies just so he'd have a friend to go with. Jim and I made a 22-caliber zip gun one time -- I am convinced no one was ever aware of this. One day Jim and I started wearing white hats to school but this didn't last very long because some unknown kids would keep stealing our hats!!

Bob Tiernon was seated directly behind me in homeroom class. Charlie Sutton and I worked on electronic gadgets together in our basement laboratory and I introduced Bill Mottin to his wife (Phyllis ). Tom Moore was one of my 'cruse around town' buddies and Herb Eberle was in my gym class. Herb was the only kid that could climb the rope to the top of the gym while holding his legs straight out.  (Wonder if he still could do that?)

Wellston was a very safe place to live in the 50’s. There was virtually no crime that I am aware of and no one damaged school property. (No one ever locked their front doors!)

Downtown Wellston had everything you might want to purchase from automobiles to shoes. Of course, we all went to the Wellston and Victory theaters as much as possible. The DeSoto Plymouth Auto dealership was located on the corner just across from Wellston High School and Central Hardware was located within a stones throw also.

I wonder if anyone remembers going to the Fox Theater to see THE HOUSE OF WAX and THE FLY in 3D?

I obtained my driver’s license on my 16th  birthday and walked to school very few times from this date. My first automobile was a black 1948 Chevrolet with twin spotlights and loud, dual glasspac mufflers. During my senior year I purchased a 1955 Nash Metropolitan and this little machine got 40 miles to the gallon.  (I sure wish I was driving that car today with gas headed to $4.00 a gallon!!)

During my junior and senior years in high school, I worked for Steak 'n Shake in St. Ann as a carhop and always had a pocket full of spending money. Steakburgers sold for 27 cents back then. Whata bargain. To this day I still will drive a great distance just to buy a Steakburger from Steak n Shake.

I wonder if anyone remembers Sam the Watermelon Man located on Natural Bridge and Goodfellow or Jones Ice Cream Store on Page Ave., both so-o-o yummy! And I certainly remember Mark Price and his Cushman motor scooter too.

Does anyone remember Col. Kappel our civics teacher? I remember that there was almost no one who gave the Col. the respect he deserved nor do I believe anyone learned very much in his class! He was still a very good person.

One of my favorite classes was Science and one of my favorite teachers was Mr. Williams. He was also in charge of the chess club. He was absolutely an exceptionally nice man.

Sincerely,

Alan Taylor