e and lower grade level classrooms, room 105 was the kindergarten room. The second floor was for middle grades and the 3rd floor for 6th, 7th and 8th grades. There was a gym which also doubled as the auditorium for assemblies and graduations. There was a basement with areas for indoor recess and restrooms. The basement also had a shower room. Most kids hated the shower room because that was where Mrs. Bach checked for cleanliness and health issues. She was the school nurse. In the warm weather recess was held outdoors. There were wooden floors throughout the building except for the gym which had a rubber base floor. The stairs were wide with metal railings. Each classroom had wooden desks with ink wells. In front of the classrooms were blackboards. The alphabet was displayed above the blackboards. A U.S. flag was displayed in each and every classroom.I started kindergarten, but after one day I became a kindergarten drop out. In those days kindergarten wasn’t mandatory; my mother let me stay home until first grade. I could not drop out of first grade, so it was off to school. My sisters would take me and bring me home. It was a short walk, about a block. We’d leave the house at 2143 and cross an alley and go past a number of houses before reaching Hoyne Avenue. On the corner of Hoyne and Evergreen were the Blackstone Grocery Store and patrol boys who controlled traffic. We crossed Hoyne and then crossed Evergreen to the opposite side of the street. We took a right and passed a house and two stores before crossing an alley that was parallel to the school. We’d entered at the west entrance. I had arrived and my career as student was about to begin.
The teachers were familiar with the family since my sisters and brother attended Wicker Park. Fortunately, they had good reputations and I was warmly welcomed. The teachers were pleasant and nice. Eleanor Paulson was the Principal, after retirement she was replaced by Marie Hahn... I remember some the teachers: there was Miss Leonard who I believe taught kindergarten, Miss Smith, First Grade and Library. In First Grade we were introduced to readers such as Dick and Jane and Little Black Sambo. I don’t believe Black Sambo is around anymore. Mrs. O’Connor taught second grade, Miss Carbury third grade and Miss Horwich fourth grade. The students considered Miss Carbury mean and crotchety. She would have kids place their gum on their nose, tape their mouth or have them sit in a corner for misbehaving. She was tough, but the most caring teacher in the school. On Lincoln or Washington’s Birthday she’d made special trips to the Chicago Historical Society to get films to present to her classes. The students didn’t take the time to understand and respect her abilities. Unfortunately, while attending Wicker Park, Miss Carbury passed away. Miss Horwich was another dedicated teacher who took her students to heart. During first grade I missed a lot of class time due to illness: whooping cough, measles and chicken pox. I had to repeat 1st grade. During the next 2 grades my work improved and I made great progress. Miss Horwich supported my efforts by recommending me for a double promotion. I believe I went from 4A to 5A. I skipped 4B. In those days there were two grade levels A and B and two graduations. June and January.
.Sixth grade was a milestone on the road to graduation. You were now on the third floor and ready to take departmental classes. That meant changing classrooms, just like high school. When I reached 7th grade Miss Mueller, the music teacher had retired and was replaced by Miss Parr. By this time the students were getting wiser and unruly. The worse time was when the teacher had to leave the room and all pandemonium would break out. Kids started throwing spitballs, flying airplanes, drawing pictures on the blackboard until the teacher returned and caught them in the act. This required punishment and everyone paid by writing, 100 times, I “WILL NOT xxxxxxxxxxx”. I can remember when Howard got Mr. Arnot, one of the teachers, mad and Mr. Arnot grabbed Howard by the pants and literally carried him to the principal’s office. By the time 8th grade rolled around we were supposed to be young adults and ready to set an example for the lower grades. Our teacher and mentor. Mrs. Heinz, guided us through the last year and helped us graduate and transition to high school. It was sad to leave Mrs. Heinz and Room 306.
The curriculum emphasized reading, writing and arithmetic. I don’t remember many classes in science or geography. There were always spelling bees and math quizzes. Music was a happy time when we sang the songs of Stephen Foster: Old Back Joe, Swanee River, Beautiful Dreamer, and others. We also sang The Battle Hymn of the Republic, God Bless America and other patriotic songs. Gym was held twice a week. Our teacher was Jesse Dunne. During gym we’d play kick baseball, dodge ball, and other games. The gym was equipped with climbing polls, and ringers. We had mats for tumbling and practicing pyramids. Each semester we competed in broad jump, high jump, ball throw and other Olympic events. The gym teacher was in charge of the school patrol. and conduced 7th and 8th grade socials that taught us square dancing and ballroom dancing.
During the school year elections were held for Mayor, School Council, Lawyers and other positions. We had Bow Day and paper drives to collect money for the school. There were special presentations in the auditorium. Christmas was celebrated by gathering around a large Christmas tree on the first floor to sing Christmas carols. The windows and classrooms were always decorated to commentate the holidays and seasons of the year .On graduation day, in June; we’d empty the classrooms and go on field trips to Brookfield Zoo. It cost 25cents and you’d take a brown bag lunch. The bus would leave by 9:30 and be back by 3...
Recess and lunch time was a major part of the day. The school bell would ring at 9AM, signaling the start of school. At the start of class we would recite the Pledge To The Flag to officially start the day. At about 10:15 the bell rang for the first recess. For the 1st and 2nd grades this was normally a period for cookies and milk or laying your head down on the desk to rest. For the bigger kids it was going out to the school yard to play. Sometimes there would be fights or arguments that created excitement in the school yard... Fortunately monitors were on duty to maintain law and order. Around 12 the lunch bell would ring. I lived nearby and went home for lunch. Those who lived further away or their parents worked ate in the lunchroom. Each day there was a hot meal prepared by the school cooks. For Thanksgiving or Christmas a special turkey dinner was served for a nominal fee. I returned to school before 1 PM to start the second part of the school day. At 2:15 the second recess bell rang and we had 15 minutes to go to the bathroom and play. During inclement or cold weather recess was held in the basement. At 3:15 the bell signaled the end of the school day... With books and homework in hand we headed home. When I fist started going to school there was an old wooden mansion that I passed on the way to and from school. I remember two sisters living there; they dressed in black and seemed part of a bygone era. The house was dark and scary; it was probably built in the 1850’s. It was not long after starting school that the sisters were gone and the mansion collapsed. Eventually the house was cleared and the lot became a playground for softball and touch football.
As in most schools there were a few bullies who bantered about at recess or lunch time trying to get money, “You Got A Nikle”. Or there were the talk of fights, “I’ll Get Em After School”. There were a few fights, but mostly a lot of talk. The kids got along pretty well and had friendly conversations before and after school. There was a variety of backgrounds and nationalities. The kids living near North Avenue were probably from higher income families, this was the area were the mansions and bigger homes of historic Wicker Park were located. I would say that most of the kids came from average or low income families.
Sometimes during the year the school would have fire drills, Halloween Parades and parties. I remember celebrating my friend Mitchell’s birthday. His mother would bring a birthday cake and candy. Mitchell lived in a very nice home on Evergreen near Milwaukee Avenue. I believe he came from an influential Russian or Serbian family... Graduation Day was the big day when parents and friends packed the gym. A student, Phil Barsanti, would play Pomp and Circumstance, on the piano. The School Patrol would lead the procession and act as honor guard for the graduates. The ceremony included speeches, a skit, songs, pyramids and distribution of diplomas.
Many of the neighborhood kids attended St. Aloysius Catholic School on LeMoyne and Claremont. Catholics attending Wicker Park were able to be excused at 2 o’clock, on Wednesday’s .to attend catechism. We’d take the walk down Schiller to Leavitt, past the Sabin/Tuley Branch, to Lemoyne and go about 2 blocks to St. Aloysius. We were instructed by Nuns in their full habit. Classes lasted about one and half hours. We were instructed in preparation for First Communion or Confirmation. I received my First Communion in 1949. In preparation for Communion parents bought certain materials, Prayer Book, Religious Chains and clothing for the ceremony. In those days the boys wore dark blue suits, white shirts and dark tie; the girls wore white dresses. My mother didn’t like the idea of buying a dark suit; she thought a light suit was more appropriate... She bought me a light blue suit. Well, that didn’t go over well. The Nuns were up in arms and were considering banning me from receiving first communion. Fortunately cool heads prevailed. I was the only boy in the procession with a light suit. I stood out like a sore thumb. My mother stood up for what she thought was best and became an activist for independent thinking, She raised an important question. What was more important, appearance or the act of receiving first communion?
Wicker Park was a proud school with many outstanding students. We were fortunate to have teachers and students who set good examples. Pat Coffey, who preceded me, went on to play basketball at Michigan State and Tom Nevins became a Professor of Theatre at a University in Wisconsin. In grades that followed, the school produced two judges: Ronald Himmel (Himmelstein) and I believe Barbara Disko. Not all students moved in the right direction, I know of one that shot a milkman and was sentenced for murder. One neighborhood student belonged to an infamous gang that robbed homes. Those were rare cases. The school had a tradition of producing successful people who were able to make the parents, neighborhood and school proud.
Sasiad
