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Cynthia Bourn (Clark) (1968)

Glad to see people are back communicating! I happen to be in Woodland as we speak . The family home of 52 years is being sold and you know, people can accumulate a LOT of stuff. One of the many items we came across was a receipt from Didions in 1961. 14 gallons of gas and 1 qt. of motor oil for $5.49 and I'm sure it was done by one of the nicest men ever. Lots of other receipts as well that brought back memories of growing up here in the 50s and 60s. Along with the great memories here. Yes Tim, I do remember a number of those dances and Tuni, Cotillion flashed through my mind as well. Wasn't it every Thursday night starting in January? Ok back to packing china crystal, magazines, stuff mom can't even explain why it was kept, the ever popular photos that no one can identify and we still have the garage to go. Keep those writings coming!

Stephen Meier (1968)

Hi Cynthia,

Speaking of old houses -- our families both moved to Woodland in 1961 and bought two of the oldest houses in town.  You ended up in the handsome Beamer House, if I remember.  We ended up at 160 Pendegast, "the old Bush Place," where the brick part of the house had been built in the 1860s.  With my Dad's untimely death in the early '80s my mom found the house too much to handle, but I am so happy to know that the Bourns spent over half a century in their historic home.

Here's a story for you.  My Dad bought the house from the Conners, who had lived there after the Bush family.  When it came time for the closing, Dad asked for the keys.  "What keys?" Mr. Conner said.  "We don't have any keys."  It turned out they had lived there many years, raised their family there, and never once locked the doors.  FInally my Dad asked, "What did you do when you went on vacation?"  He said, "We made sure the doors were closed!"

That's Old Woodland for you.

Walter J. "Wally" Summ (1967)

My mother and Cecile Bush were dear friends.  Mom would love to tell people that Cecile Flowers (her maiden name) married Bill Bush.  She got the biggest kick out of that.  That's right Steve, old Woodland.  I'm sure most everyone has heard people tell about how they would go to Tahoe for the weekend and not even bother locking their house.  Cecile's sister was named California Flowers Michalak. 

Tuni Gravink (House) (1964)

Yes, cotillion was on Thursdays, and we even had a formal like dance. I did not want to go through the arch and have my photo taken, and Steven Wegner talked me into it. He said your folks are out there with the camera , and you just have too. I gritted my teeth all the way down that walk and did the arch way, and you know what? I do not know where that picture is to this day? I sure don't have it.

All those dances yes , i remember them, and i saw the jive thanks to my aunts and uncles. I thought they were a bit spastic at first, but too a kid hey, it was cool. I used the dancing when my uncles babysat me, to get to stay up and see a show i wanted to see. I told my uncle i would tell dad he was kissing his girlfriend, and yes i got to watch the show!

I too, went to Kindergarden in the basement of the high school, and Robert Millsap and i were both sent to the coat room for what we say no, but not then "Time out."  There was sa hole in the wall and we watched the high school students through there, and thought we were getting away with something big. We were!

Yes, at the fairgrounds everyone seemed to hang out around the beer joint. Then there were fights. As a real young kid, i remember my dad taking my sister and i to the carnival part on a Sunday afternoon, and dad sensed something was coming down. Us being young kids following dad around but gawking at it all, we did not see the fight coming down, and dad rolled us down on the ground, and got us out of this big circle that had been formed, and someon had a switchblade, i just saw a knife and got real scared. Dad said thats it we are going home dumb pachukes. We went home.I thought my dad was pretty smart and strong he saved us was all i could think of from that knife.

Many of us took dance lessons on the second floor of the building where Morrisons was for such a long time. Mrs. Ward was the dance instructor. That is where  i learned tap and ballet. 1,2,3, 1,2,3, can i sit down now?

Yes, we grew up in a age of innocence really. People did not lock their doors, and keys were left in their cars. You slept with the front door open and the screen door did not get locked so you had some cool air during the hot nights of summer. Many of us did not have a/c right away.  Were i live yes i can and have left the garage door open at night (just forgot to close it). No one stold anything but; you do have to worry about the coyotes and other critters getting in your garage.

Does anyone remember where the old mom and pop hamburger stand was on 1st street and its name?  Here's one were could one get a Silver Fiz? and what was it? Tim you should know this one. Tuni

Joel Childers (1966)

Seems like the little frostie joint at First and Bush (?) was always called "The Frosty". It was across from the Yolo Grocery. We stopped many times for a swirly cone dipped in chocolate on our way to or from the municipal pool on those 90+ August days in Woodland. I hated cotillion, but I was quite flattered that Tooti Geer (sp?) asked me to take her to the cotillion ball at the end of the season. That was my first official date. Two years later at the ripe old age of 15, I asked out a girl for the first time. I took Linda Pasenen (sp?) to the high school dance. She never went out with me again. Must have been my two left feet. 7th to 10th grade were so awkward. 

Tim Tucker (1965)

I'm thinking it was Kent's for a long time then became Al's.................Both served really good burgers.

Walter J. "Wally" Summ (1967)

Was it ever called Rich's Drive-in?

Tim Tucker (1965)

Wally, Rich's was on West Main, next to Pioneer Market.

Aileen Jull (Martinez) (1964)

To Janet Crippen Robinson:  You are totally right.  You never know what your spouse is made of until he is forced to perform as your caretaker.  After I had emergency surgery and a long recuperation, he jumped in and gave me all the help and attention I needed and then some--going beyond my expectations, not once but twice.  It definitely builds a sold foundation of love.  To me that is a successful person.

Theresa Eve (1964)

Joel, I will have to join in with the Not Fond of Cotillion.  I did not know anyone at those dances, never danced and when I did it was all wrong.  I hated those nights and my parents thought it was so good to learn the dances and to meet people.  Terrible memories.  I do, however, remember the Frosty near the Yolo Grocery.  Great little place for Root Beer Floats.  My first summer dates were there.  Can some of the guys who own classic cars put in a picture of the car and the owner's name.  That would be fun to see.  I know there are a lot of them out there.

Mike Miller (1966)

Yes Tom. Foster Freeze was home of the silver fizz which was sort of like a vanilla 7up. They also had the best roquefort burger. 

Tuni Gravink (House) (1964)

Yes, the home of the Silver Fizz was the Foster Freeze on West street. The chery ones were good. I believe Craig may be correct on Mrs. Santoni being the dance instructor for cotillion classes. I do not think too many of us really wanted to be there. It was and awkward time for all of us. What have to dance with each other, get out of here so to say.

Many Woodlanders did go to Tahoe for weekend jaunts, and some were lucky enough to have cabins, or be able to afford to rent one for a week and have a vacation there too. We went and we used to walk to Bijou Beach. We carried our own intertubes, and towels, and dad and mom carried the rest. I can still remember walking over the bridge to the song of Valore (pretty sure spelling is very incorrect here), it was a big hit then. I think i was every bit of 6 or 7 then. We used to go where the big shopping center is now (next to where Cecils Liquours used to be, to ride horses, and further up the road was a drive in movie. Mom would pack snacks, and we usually fell asleep half way through the movie.  Then parents could drop their kids off at the quancit hut in back of Harveys, and they had cots lined up, games, small kids swiming pools, and all kinds of stuff. They had babysitters there 24/7 and parents could go inside gamble , see a show whatever, and then come back and pick up their kids as; children were not allowed in the casino's. Not even to the resturaunts. We used to drive up as far as we could (at least as far as the pavement went, and some dirt road area, and have picnics to what is now the area where they ski. We would look at the view of the lake which was spectacular, and hear the dynamiting going on while we ate. They were starting to build the ski lift and ski area up. We would eat sometimes at McDonalds farm, just down the street from Craig Penroses grandparents little motel. It was quaint and nice then, and it was still small, not all built up yet. But that is how it is almost everywhere now. 

We also used to go as kids on some Sundays to the A&W and have the Pappa, Mamma, and Baby burgers with root beer floats, and they would put the tray to our car windows. We thought that was so cool. It was. Now, Sonic trys to duplicate it. Not the same.  Tuni

Richard Branscombe (1963)

Theresa,  Here is our car.  Yea, lets see others,

Walter J. "Wally" Summ (1967)

Hey Rick,

I'll bet that little buggy there is even faster than your 1965 Impala SS with a 396ci 425hp engine and Muncie 4-speed transmission.  I'm I right?

Theresa Eve (1964)

Great car picture, the first - finally!!!  Now I know more classic cars are out there with owners!  Let's see them pop up and let us all enjoy your work plus make us smile at those days gone by which we love.  The reunion for the Class of 1964 is coming up this September 20th.  I asked Smokey Rico to gather some classic car members to roll those babies around the Reunion doors, just to set the tone of "Days Gone By".  Love it!!!  Keep them coming on the Forum!!!

Theresa Eve (1964)

Thank you Robert for the information on Mrs. Santoni.  You are always good with the details.  Mrs. Santoni  knew her dances for sure!  Enjoyed reading about her life and her family. She was something to try and teach us how to move in grace.

Don Gray (1962)

Re: Yolo Cnty Fair & Cotillion,

"The Yolo County fair was always one of the best county fairs in California and I believe remains the only free fair.  In more recent years we would go to the fair to see people we hadn't seen for a year or years."

I AGREE Very Much!  Good old days. Much more enjoyable because it epwas small and "folksy" compared to the Sacto State Fair, which was commercial-industrial-anonymous in tenor & tone.

(Re: the WHS social experience):  Some kids didn't have to fear anything because no one was going to put them down, other kids lived in constant fear because they might not do something perfect.  Dances could be a perfect venue for this culture.  If you were a commoner, nerd, outcast, or fringe kind of person you better dance really well, or stay off the floor.  I still don't dance.....LOL

Sorry you don't dance.  It's good exercise at our age,(69) and have always enjoyed dancing, especially after taking dance lessons from Mrs. Santoni in the Beamer  School multiple-purpose/gym room in winter 1957-58. I went to Plainfield Elementary all 8 years before WHS and after kindergarten at Holy Rosary, and I could dance pop (post-Buddy Holley/Elvis/Dick Clark-American Bandstand stuff) but learning basic waltz, fox trot, even a little touch of tango, gave me a great deal of confidence so I never felt inadequate or shy on the dance floor, even when I was a poor scholarship kid from a farm town in the Valley as a freshman at Stanford in autumn 1962.  Or maybe it's because I was/am one-half Italian-American and have natural rhythm?  :-)

Richard Branscombe (1963)

Wally, you are exactly right on the details.  You knew the old Chevy well. 

I use to take $10.00 bets that I could make the round trip from Woodland city limit to Davis city limit in ten minutes.  Didn't get rich but paid for the gas.  Had to average 100 mph.  At 120 there was no steering left.  It was now very aero dynamic.  One night we were making the trip and there was a new stop sign on West Main about half way to Davis.  I started to break, but had nothing left at 60 mph.  I asked my passenger if he saw anything to the left, I didn't see anything to the right, no sheriff, so I jumped back into it and made it in 10 minutes.  That was the last time for that little trick.  Took it to BEE LINE the next day to have the brakes fixed.  He couldn't believe how hard they were.  It took four tools per drum to turn them.

Sherry knew I liked that car, but I loved her, so I sold it so we could afford to get married.  A good swap.

She bought it for me for our 40th anniversary.  I dumped about 15 grand into it.  It has a 327 vet engine with hemi pistons.  WOULD NOT THINK OF DRIVING IT OVER 60.  The steering is called SUICIDE or bump steering.  You never know where you could end up, literally!  Too much power, but looks great.

Theresa Eve (1964)

Here is my dad's 1950 Chevy, which I loved, as did he.  I wish I could have saved this car!  Lucky you Richard to have Sherry buy you the car you loved.  Some cars just have meaning!!!  I learned to drive in this Yellow Chevy with the black top.  Loved the story about your car Richard.

Walter J. "Wally" Summ (1967)

Rick,

Let's see if I'm still batting a thousarnd after this one......you sold that Chevy to John Somero !!! 

Good to hear from you old friend.

Tim Tucker (1965)

Robert, I thought you lived in Oregon !

James Crandall (1961)

I'm a little jealous of those of you that had the "Cotillion" experience.  For 3rd thru 8th grades my family was living in a great little neighborhood in Sacto.   During the 6th grade most all of my classmates took social dance lessons to learn the "graces"    My mother I guess was quite the flapper during the twenties and knew all the dances of the times.   She insisted that if I wanted to learn to dance that she would teach me.  You already know where this is going.  I mean what good was the Charleston, Black bottom, turkey trot during the 50's?  When she finally realized what I had missed, she signed me up for a commercial dance school teaching the swing for pre-teens.   I was so elated to have those lessons but still felt I had missed an oppurtunity to better bond with my classmates.  I was a dancing fool during my high school years.  Went almost weekly to the Saturday Night Dances that the Mormon Church put on in Sacramento, and the frat dances at the Govenors Hall at the old fairgrounds.   Sadly at WHS I only went to four dances.  Two Sadie Hawkins dances asked out by WHS girls and two Proms with my then current Marshall High School girlfriend.  In college I took a folk dance class to meet a PE requirement and of course to meet gilrs.   The instructor recruited me into the performance troupe and I have been hooked ever since.   My wife and I have been active in local folk dance like groups and have run the gamut from Balkan, Israeli, Turkish, Irish, and the best and most enjoyable from a social standpoint, Scottish Country dancing (those folks know a thing or two aboot fine ales and a wee drift of single malt whiskey).  

After the 8th grade my father decided to move us all out to the "farm" to save him the commute each day.  So that is how I ended up at WHS ripped out from the comfort of classmates I had known and into a rural high school (that is scarey enough by itself)   with long established cliques.  The only person I knew at school that first day was Danya Maier.  But I survived.

Richard Branscombe (1963)

Wally, I honestly don’t remember who I sold it to.  Bought it from Campus Chevrolet in Davis for $3200.

It was a half year production and only 200 were made with that engine.  It probably is in the junk yard but Oh what it would be worth today!   It suffered from low-end torque.  They made a lot of 396 s  but never at 425 Hp again.   66 saw the 427 @ 425 Hp.   

We promised Mom we would never race each other.  So, we didn’t exactly.  We started one behind the other, the Pontiac couldn’t keep up.  We were done.  That Pontiac left a lot of Dodge 413’s in the dust though.  It was a lot better built car then the Chevy.  It just weighed about 2000 lbs more.

Theresa, That would be a great car to have today.  Life doesn’t let us hold on to much of the physical past, which I’m sure is a good thing.  But most of us still have our memory’s.

We have been blessed by God!

Joan Richter (Lucchesi) (1960)

@Robert: I think that your yellow parriot is a bunch of yellow pansies! ;) I think that Bill Bush lives in Montana. Some of my friends that played MahJong with Cecil went to visit her there before she passed. She was living with or near him at the time. I remember her beautiful roses in the backyard. I hope the new owners have kept them up.

Walter J. "Wally" Summ (1967)

Hi Rick,

Yes, it was John Somero, class of '67, who bought your 1965 Impala.  Regarding the Pontiac, are you referring to your brother Lee's 421c.i.  Bonneville(1964?) with 3 two barrel carbs?  I can truly say that I traveled through the quarter mile in both vehicles.  They don't make 'em like that anymore.

To Robert Cowing:  I'd always mistakenly thought that it was David Bush who had built the trains.  I believe that he moved to a state like maybe Montana.  David moved Cecile there too.   I believe that they have both passed on now.