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Dean Schwarten

Hi Garry, My guess is Smith Park and McGovern.  

Jim Cejka

Oh Yeah!

Had to think for a while about the top one, I usually saw it from the top front angle. And you're right Dean, times 2.

The top pic is the Smith Park pavillion, looking at it from the bottom level. If you ice skated at Smith, that was where you went in to warm up or put your skates on. In and out that door on a wooden walkway to the rink, which would be to your right of the picture. In the summer, that's where they had the kids programs (and the bath rooms). Whoever took the picture is standing on the 3rd base line of the softball diamond, the one where the MEN played (league teams), and had lights. That area opened out into the wide open areas which were the outfields for the ball diamonds, and where they did the fireworks. If you continued walking straight after you took the picture, you'd come to the hills where we watched the fireworks, and went sledding. The upstairs was a hall that could be rented and where they had the voting on election days. Anyone remember the swimming "pool" at Smith?

The bottom picture is the bridge over the larger of the 2 lagoons at McGovern. The large one was kind of hourglass shaped, and that bridge crossed the narrow spot between the halves. It's not the one they usually had open for ice skating because the water didn't always freeze solid under the bridge (as I found out one time). I also remember running up and down and all around that thing when Mr. Royal had us practicing cross-country. 

Many a good memory at both.

Lauren Dieterich

The top picture is definitely Smith Park. I lived across 35th from the Park until I was 10, when we moved one block West to the Northwest corner of 36th and Sheridan.. Mr. Hagopian, my Homeroom teacher lived a block South on 36th.

Jim Cejka

Dean probably dropped down to see how us folk lived down there over by the Granville/Milwaukee border town area. Smith would have been a "quaint" little park compared to that McGovern one.

William Nelson

We lived only a block south of Smith Park, on 36th Street next door to the candy store and across the street from 36th Street School. I didn't recognize any of the pictures of the park, because we seldom went there. It seemed like we had after-school activities on most nights and were either at our cottage on Lake Poygan, or traveling, on weekends and during the summer. My dad was a teacher, so our hours matched his most of the time.

I was always impressed with the number of nice parks Milwaukee had developed all over the city. I was once offered a position at our company's home office in Columbus, OH. I turned it down and told them, if I had to move back North, we'd move back to the Milwaukee area because we have so many relatives in the area and I liked the city more than most. Not sure that last part is true anymore, but we still see a lot of the good things about Milwaukee from our daughter, who is an official greeter for the city. We're amazed by how many cruise ships include Milwaukee on their itinerary. There are also quite a few tour buses that use Milwaukee as a primary stop. One of my cousins drives Badger Coach Lines buses and I saw them both on "Facebook" about the same time, in the same area, so posted to both. Now, they look for each other when they're crossing paths. Saw pictures from her a couple of nights ago covering the "Night Markets" downtown. That was way too crowded for us. I'm sure there were more folks there on the streets than live in our entire parish (county, to the rest of the country). Just checked; Jackson Parish has about 15,000 residents in 580 sq. mi. At any given time, about half of those are at Walmart, trying to cool down on their dime. :)

Jim Cejka

We lived less than a block away on 35th. (I never new so many of you folks lived so close.) and spent a lot of time there - playing ball in an open space off 35th st, the playground, even that "pool." I got familiar with the pavilion because we lived with my grandparents, and my grandmother was in charge of the polling place there whenever there was an election. I helped set things up, or run over whatever she or someone else forgot. 

William Nelson

Another of your friends, Ken Rabas, lived about 3-houses to the north of us. My favorite memory of that time and his family was on the night my dad brought home our little 17' Airstream travel trailer. The Rabas family came over to see it and all eight of us spent hours in it that night talking about all sorts of stuff. It was obviously cramped, but we all enjoyed that evening together. His dad, his older brother, and I all worked for Globe-Union/Centralab, but in different locations for a few years. We try to visit Ken's family whenever we're up that way. 

William Nelson

Gary,

I've never been in the Smith Park wading pool and deny any such actions. We did our wading in Lake Poygan, which is big enough that you'd never notice!

Jim Cejka

What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet...
~William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, c.1594  [II, 2, Juliet]

And Garry - I plead not guilty. When you're in water that's barely knee deep, such activity would be too obvious.

And Garry - Alex and I made a deal years ago that I'd give up golf so people wouldn't confuse us.

Barbara Blair (Brenzel)

You guys are "too much"!!  Please keep it up!

Barb

Jim Cejka

Garry,

I can offer further proof of my Innocence. Looking at a Google map aerial view of Smith Park, that pool is apparently still there. Should you wish to go and do a DNA sample, I'm sure I'll be absolved. 

(Although reading the Milwaukee news lately, I wouldn't go there with less than a squad of Marines.) 

Lauren Dieterich

I remember reading that the Smith Park pool was going to be replaced with a real swimming pool. That was at least 10 years ago. The last time that I was in Smith Park, the swimming pool turned into a splash pad without running water. The old pool was almost completely filled with concrete, that slpoes from the original edge to about 6 inches in the middle. There was water in it; but, it might have been from rain. If you stood in the very center of the pool, you'd get, maybe your ankles wet. Right now, I'd be surprised if there is anything left of the playground.

Garry Sellers

Jim - In case you didn't follow along, Alex Cejka did win the British Senior Open played in Wales in a playoff in rain and 40 mph gale force winds.  While the other contestants were wearing parkas, stocking caps, and hiding from the wind behind their caddies, Alex was wearing a short-sleeve shirt!  Just goes to show you, Cejkas are comfortable with bluster and generating their own hot air!  The German beat poor Irishman Paddington Harrington, who, if I'm not mistaken, is a bear!  Paddington could have won if he hadn't spent time looking for a den in which to hibernate.

Jim Cejka

Jim Cejka

Alex always checks with me for some pointers when things get a little rough.

Garry Sellers

Jeanne Zinser (Gottschalk)

Garry,

Water Tower & St. Mary's Hospital 

https://viewaukee.com/north-point-water-tower/

Garry Sellers

Yeah - That's right Jeanne. I knew most people would know what it is but I think what engineering function it actually served is fascinating and why the external structure.  Also, has anybody you know ever been inside or to the top of it?  I never knew any of it until I happened across a similar article.  And the original St Mary's moved.  (Why do old photos like this look so stark?  Hadn't trees been invented in the 1800's?)

Jim Cejka

I think St. Mary's kind of outgrew that building.

Jim Cejka

So, how many of us celebrated, or how many missed, World Lazy Day, August 10?

(I can claim some history with that - I believe it came about in response to my studying habits during final exams.)

Jim Cejka

Garry,

Caring is easy - doing something about any of those, or the zillion other special days (except Grandparents Day), . . . I pass..

Jim Cejka

Suggested attire for the next Custer gathering? 

Jim Cejka

My current hairstyle allows the wind to pass through without obstruction. 

Jean Vick (Lovy)

Hi....I am Jean Lovy Vick.  I would like to come to the social on September 30th with my husband.  Does anyone need to know this ahead of the date or can we just show up.  Thank you.

Jeanne Zinser (Gottschalk)

Hey, Jean!

I can help out with the RSVP. Send an email to custer_alumni@charter.net
Add your name & guest names that are attending. Hope to see you on the 30th!