A letter to the editor of Back in the Bronx, printed in the Winter 2021 issue:

I read with great interest the Summer 2020 article about young Lee Harvey Oswald's time in the Bronx. One thing  John Horan left out was that Oswald briefly attended Trinity Lutheran School on Watson Avenue (according to Gerald Posner in his book 'Case Closed', published in 1993) before P.S. 117. I went to Grace Lutheran Elementary School (first located on Bainbridge near 201st and then at Valentine near 199th) for eight years from 1959 to 1967. There were several other Lutheran grammar schools besides Trinity and Grace, and every spring there would be a 'Field Day' athletic competition held at Rice Stadium in Pelham Bay Park (alas, we never won). We also had an annual Spelling Bee contest, held at a different school each year. 

Your letter in the current issue of Back in the Bronx brought back memories.  I graduated from Grace Lutheran Elementary School in 1959, the year you enrolled. The wonderful and dedicated teachers managed eight grades in three classrooms and provided a solid educational foundation.  I met my best friend Arthur in first grade, and we are friends to this day. My first grade teacher was Ellen Schnabel who kept in touch with Christmas cards until her passing.  Arthur and I, along with another first grader named Carol visited her and her husband in Indiana several years before their passing. Carol had a twin brother named Richard, and their Mom was the volunteer librarian for the school.  She came in one day a week to check out books which were also in the principal's office.  We could go to the library one at a time when our grade was not being taught. I was not aware that Lee Harvey Oswald had attended Trinity Lutheran School.  In second grade, one class ahead of me, was Nancy Frehley who was helpful with first graders adjusting to school.  Her younger brother, Paul (whom I did not know) was/is part of the Rock group, KISS.  If you google "Ace Frehley", his bio indicates that he was a student at Grace. I remember when the "new" church was built fulfilling a dream of Pastor Giese.  When the school marched over to 199th and Valentine, we were told to be on extra good behavior in the new church.  In the auditorium adjacent to the church, we had our Christmas pageants.  I was gone before the new school building was built.  Wasn't there also a time, that Grace occupied the former Bedford Park Academy on the corner of the Concourse and Bedford Park Blvd?  My entire time was at the building rented from the Congregational Church on Bainbridge and 201st. After Grace, I went to Our Saviour Lutheran High School on Williamsbridge Rd at the corner of Morris Park Ave.  They had just put up a new building adjacent to the elementary school.  The schools were excellent.  The High School was founded by the Rev. Dr. Berthold von Schenk.  Pastor Von Schenk was an amazing and inspiring pastor and teacher.  You might want to read some of his writings--theological for the most part.  However, in one (the name of which I do not have handy), he describes his ministry and the establishment of the school.  There are some articles about him online. I do remember the annual Field Trip held at Rice Stadium.  Not being athletically gifted, I usually was put on the Tug-o-War.  I had forgotten about the Spelling Bees. Did you have Mr. Stietzel while at Grace?  For most of my time there, he not only taught third, fourth, and fifth grades, but was also the Principal.  Many of us had a degree of "fear" in response to his sternness.  In retrospect, he was quite amazing in teaching young children and dealing with administrative matters.

I'm very glad to hear from you; perhaps you can fill in some gaps in my memory. I went to the Bedford Park Congregational Church building for 1st and 2nd grades (both in the same room, which I believe was at the end of the hall). My teachers were Mrs. Sandler and Mrs. Reuning, respectively. I can't remember the last name of the principal during those two years, but I think it was something like Flory or Fiore. Does that ring a bell with you? I attended the new school (with four classrooms, two grades in each) when it opened, starting in the third grade. Mr. Stietzel taught that term and part of the fourth. Mr. Walter (or Walters) finished out that term. I don't recall the circumstances of Mr. Stietzel's leaving, perhaps a health issue? What I remember most vividly about him is he was missing the thumb and two middle fingers on one of his hands. We were all somewhat scared of him too; he was an ear puller when he wanted to show his displeasure. The principal from 1961 to 1964 was Mr. Koenig, followed by Mr. Stahmer (I don't know how long he was there after I graduated). Paul 'Ace' Frehley was three years ahead of me, but I didn't know him either. Was the old Grace Lutheran Church what became the back part of the new church, located on 199th Street? I went to Our Saviour for my freshman year. Robert Lunz was the headmaster then, and Rev. James von Schenk the minister (his father on occasion conducted a chapel service for the students). I got some research material from the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod - Atlantic Division archives at Concordia College in Bronxville NY. Pastor Giese retired in 1969, followed by Rev. Behling and then Rev. Hempel in 1976.​ Grace Lutheran purchased the Bedford Park Academy in 1981. According to Norwood News, a local Bronx paper, the church and school both closed in 2006.

When I graduated Grace, Walter Fiore was the Principal.  He also taught sixth, seventh, and eighth grades.  He was relatively young.  I don't know much about Grace after I graduated. You are correct.  First and second grade met in the room at the end of the hall.  I believe there were two or three steps up to that room.  The windows were ground level and faced 201st St.  Third, fourth, and fifth grades met at the other end of the hall, and the windows were below street level.  Mr. Stietzel had that room and was Prinicpal for most of my years at Grace.  He was missing some fingers but managed to play piano for chapel if the regular pianist was not there.  (We had chapel every day upstairs in a room adjacent to the gym which we used rarely--using Moshulu Park most of the time weather permitting.  Once a week, weather permitting,  we marched over to the church on Valentine Ave.)  Yes, he was an "ear-puller."  I think spit balls and gum also were relocated to behind the ear when these infractions were caught. The old Grace Church was behind the new church.  On the lower level was the auditorium were the Christmas pageants and graduations were held.  I think I remember my parents telling me that PTA meetings took place there as well.  The worship space was directly above, I think.  Adjacent to the new church was a small building housing the church offices.  There may have been a tiny parking lot as well, but I don't remember.  Did the new school occupy some of that administrative building? I was under the impression that Pastor Elmer Frank Giese's son succeeded him when he retired, but I may be wrong.  I had already graduated. At Our Saviour, Robert Lunz, was the coach/gym teacher/general science and earth science teacher when I started at OSHS. Robert Christian had just succeeded Herbert Geisler as Headmaster. When I graduated in 1963, he accepted a call to a post in Hong Kong, and Robert Lunz became Headmaster. Dr. Berthold Von Schenk retired soon after I began at OSHS.  His son, the Rev. James Von Schenk, succeeded him.  After retirement (to the Catskills, I believe), he continued to teach the Senior Ethics Course (which was excellent).  Students distinguished the two by referring to the "Old Man" and "Pastor Jim."   Both were said with genuine respect.  Sometime after I graduated, Pastor Jim accepted a call to a church in Albany. As a side note, it seems to me that Mr. Stietzel may have been an Adjunct Instructor at Concordia in Bronxville NY.  I am almost certain that he had some connection with that school.

Facing the church on Valentine Avenue, the new school was adjacent to the left, I guess replacing your church offices building.  I think there still was a driveway and small parking lot behind the school. The 7/8 and 1/2 classrooms were on the main floor (separated by a recess with the principal's office on one side). The 5/6 and 3/4 rooms were upstairs (with a library in the middle). In between the two floors were the office of the secretary Mrs. Benz and an entrance to the church. Opposite the front door was a stairwell leading downstairs to an auditorium with a stage in front and in the back a kitchen and large hall (where we had our 7th and 8th grade dance parties). I'm pretty sure this area would have been located under the new church and maybe extending to under the old as well. On the other side of the school and driveway was a private house that I think the sexton and his family lived in. In my one year at Our Saviour I had Mr. Tieman for English, Mrs. Osterreich​ for German, Mr. Ganger for Health, Rev. von Schenk for Religion, Mr. Ahrens for Algebra, Mr. Erdman (one of the two best teachers I had in high school) for History and Mr. Gahl for Earth Science. I don't remember who the gym teacher was, probably because I had no interest in playing sports.

I never was in the new office building.  The student body did get to new church weekly, but I remember the old church better.  I think the new church was completed shortly before my time there ended. One of the things I remember is the "memory work" associated with religious studies.  The verses to be memorized got longer every year.  By the time, I was in eighth grade, we were memorizing Luther's explanations of the Creed, Ten Commandments, etc.  The teachers always said that these various verses would be helpful later in life.  I will admit that many of them come to mind to this very day! Another memory was recess in the park.  We would all march to Mosholu Park.  The athletic types would play softball somewhere in the middle of the park.  Others of us would play hide and seek or King of the Mountain by staking a claim to some other portion of the park.  When recess was over, Mr. Stietzel (or perhaps another teacher) would blow a whistle, and we would all line up to march back to the school buliding. Of the teachers you mentioned at OSHS, I, too, had Mrs. Oesterriech for German.  However, when I had her, she was Gertrude Schweighofer.  The "talk of the town" was her engagement to Alan Oesterreich who was the Physics teacher.  I had her for German III after two years with "the Colonel"  (Colonel Huchthausen) who was amazing.  He was also related by marriage to Dr. Berthold von Schenck.  The other OSHS teachers you named I do not know.

My apartment building was on the corner of 204th St. and Mosholu Parkway, so both the old and new schools were only a few blocks walk from home. I also remember going to the park (the section between Bainbridge and Marion Avenues). Since we were little kids, I think we spent the time running around kicking a soccer ball or playing tag. My grandmother lived on Mosholu by Marion, so I used to go there after school until my mother got home from work. I think Mr. Stietzel lived on Perry Ave. Where you from the neighborhood too? 

You are correct:  The Stietzels lived on Perry Ave between 201st and Mosholu.  From time to time, Mr. S. would have a student carry workbooks to his house so that he could grade them (perhaps with the help of Mrs. S) at night.  I was one such student who got to do this during the time he was teaching a different grade. I lived on Perry Ave also.  However, my apartment building was located between 209th and Gun Hill Rd.  My Mother would walk me to school until arrangements were made for a school bus to pick me up on Webster Ave.  It was the "212" School Bus and Johnny was the driver.  Technically, he was doing us a favor since we lived within a mile of the school which didn't qualify for bus service.  There was one more stop after I got on--also a favor.   For the most part, I walked home.  My friend Arthur's parents would walk me to 204th and Bainbridge--just a little beyond where he lived, and my Mother would meet me there. Like you, I was not Lutheran.  Both Arthur and I (and several others) were Episcopalians and members of the Church of the Holy Nativity on Bainbridge between Mosholu and 204th.  Arthur lived across the street from the church.  We had Perry Ave neighbors who were members of the Presbyterian/Dutch Reformed Church on Bedford Park Blvd (the Inneses and Winfields).  The matriarch of the family was from Scotland and had a strong accent.  On occasion, she would make scones which my Dad loved.  These folks were related by marriage and lived in a private house a few doors up from where my family lived and we were friends.  Often the families would sit on their porch in the warm weather in eager anticipation of the Good Humor Truck! When I started Grace, Mrs. Schnabel taught first and second grades, Mr. Stietzel taught third, fourth, and fifth grades, and Mr. Engelbrecht taught, sixth, seventh, and eighth grades.  After my first year, Mr. Kroll taught first and second, and Mr. Beckmann taught sixth, seventh, and eighth.  I don't remember who succeeded Mr. Kroll.  Mr. Beckmann left after two years (I think) and was replaced for one year by Mrs. Eberle in sixth, seventh, and eighth.  She and Mr. S. would "trade" classes for a period of so and she would teach penmanship.  She had beautiful handwriting.  I don't know what Mr. S. taught in the "trade." I am sure I have some pictures somewhere. One that I remember is in front of the 201st St location with my friends Arthur and David and Mr. S.  One of these days, I may come across it. Another memory:  when the polio vaccine was developed and NYC provided inoculations for all students, parent volunteers marched the Grace enrollment to the public school at Bainbridge and Mosholu.  After getting the vaccine, we also got a lollipop! (I don't remember the year, but my Mom was one of the volunteers.)

I wasn't too familiar with the area north of the parkway and east of Bainbridge, being more of a Fordham Road hang out guy. I remember P.S. 80, the Oval, the Valentine-Varian House (now the Bronx Historical Society headquarters), the Mosholu Library and Montefiore Hospital, which I think was bordered by Gun Hill. I remember your church too. Did you go to movies at the Bainbridge and shop at Honig's? I also used to get Chinese food at Jade Garden and pizza at Napoli's on that block. Where you got your polio shot was P.S. 8. I went to kindergarten there in '58, when the new building opened. Did you know Billy Kaiser? I think he graduated Grace in '63 and Our Saviour in '67.

My Grandparents lived in "Fordham" not far from the NYC Tracks and Roger's (later Sears) Dept. Store.  My Grandfather was a guard at Fordham University.  On Fordham Rd, I remember Cousin's Records where I bought 78's and later 45's.  They had listening booths so that you could preview your anticipated purchase.  There was also a hat store right near Cousins.  I also seem to remember Howard's Men's Clothing.  They were all near each other.   I remember seeing a few movies at a theater near Valentine and Fordham (where the #4 Bus terminated).  My cousins took me to see The Bridge over the River Kwai there.  However, most of the movies I saw were at the Bainbridge (formerly the Mosholu, I think) on 204th St.  Honig's was a wonderful store (corner of 204th and Webster, I think).  I especially liked looking at all of the Lionel Trains around Christmas.  Of course, the Reservoir Oval was a wonderful place.  I could actually see it from my bedroom window. PS 80 is familiar, but I am foggy on its location.  Was it on Mosholu not far from the Oval?  It seems to me that I did some tutoring there when I was a student at Hunter College in the Bronx. We got pizza from Jim's on the corner of Perry and Gun Hill.  I do not know the Jade Garden or Napoli's.  However, on 204th, there was candy store/luncheonette/ice cream place called "Liesegang's" (although there was another name before and after their ownership).  Donald Liesegang was a year ahead of me at Grace and subsequently at OSHS.  After he graduated OSHS, the family moved to Germany where he lives now.  (I did have some contact with him a few years ago.)  When my Mom would take me there for lunch, his mother would always give me bubble gum as a "freebie." The name Billy Kaiser somehow rings a bell, but I can't place him. Montefiore Hospital is familiar--much smaller than it is today.  I remember the (original building which had a green roof which could be seen from the Bronx River Parkway.  The last time I was in the area, that building was lost in a maze of new construction. The Valentine House is also familiar.  That was moved to its current location from somewhere else, but I don't remember where. There was a little park adjacent to the Mosholu Library.  Opposite from the library was the Perry Ave entrance to the subway (the "D" line of the Independent Subway).  That is the entrance we usually used although from time to time, we used the Bainbridge entrance.  I used the library many times.
From time to time, my family shopped at a Variety (mostly hardware, I think) Store on Gun Hill Rd. The owner was Nathan Berkowitz whose adopted son became known as "Son of Sam." I am curious why there is a picture of Berthold von Schenk on your Grace website.  Did he have any history with Grace?  Or did you include him just because?

Cousins was called Cousins Modell when I used to hang out there. Downstairs was the record shop and upstairs they sold weaponry . . . swords, maces, balls and chains, battle axes, gravity knives and stilettos (with the springs removed, since switch blades were illegal). Rather an unusual combination of retail goods, I would say. I remember there were two Gorman hot dog places on Fordham Rd. in close proximity to each other. There was a bookstore on the Concourse near the Loew's Paradise that had a section behind a curtain with a sign reading Be 21 or Begone! Other favorite haunts of mine were Scotty's pool hall on Webster Ave. near Fordham and Steele's Bowling on the opposite side of the avenue a little further north. Webster was never the same to me after they took down the 3rd Ave. El. P.S. 80 was at the corner of E. Mosholu Pkwy N. and Van Cortlandt Ave., which I think met Bainbridge Ave. right at the Oval entrance. The Jade Garden was, I believe, right across the street from Honig's and Napoli was a couple of doors down (towards Perry) from the Bainbridge. Reverend von Schenk is part of the story because Grace parishioners, who wanted a religious education for their children, sent them to the grammar school he founded at Our Saviour. Eventually Grace church rented the Congregation church's meeting house on Bainbridge to start its own school. Besides, I like sepia tone photos. 

The info regarding Cousins was interesting.  I don't think I knew about the upstairs business.  Do you remember the bakeries Cushman's and Krumm's (not sure of the spelling on the second one). I think one was on Webster just south of Fordham, but I am foggy on that.  We used to shop at either Volpe's on 204th or the Buttercake on Bainbridge and 207th.  There was also a Horn and Hardart on 204th and Perry or Hull.  On Sundays, after church my family and my friend's family would walk "up the hill"  (where Bainbridge turned), buy the papers at a little Candy Store on 206th just off of Bainbridge (usually the Sunday News and the Herald Tribune.  Occasionally, the Journal American).  Then we would go to a deli on Bainbridge to get lunch meats, and finally the bakery for rolls, etc.  The families would return to their respective homes.  We would have a simple lunch and have our main meal around four in the afternoon. From your description of the the location of PS 80, that is where I did some tutoring in partial fulfillment of a course I was taking at Hunter in the Bronx. After you left OSHS, where did you finish HS? Another favorite of my family was the Poe Cottage/Museum on Kingsbridge near the Concourse.  Speaking of which, if you would like to read an interesting book, I recommend The Boulevard of Dreams, a history of the Grand Concourse and its days of elegance. I remember going to the courthouse/DMV location to apply for a learner's permit.  The courthouse was/is located at 161st and the Concourse. It was a nice day when I went, and I walked all the way home.  It was a really nice walk--although, in retrospect, quite long. There was also a statue of a soldier on a pedestal in the Bronx River near Gun Hill.  My Dad and I often took a walk just to look at it.  I read some time ago, that the statue had been vandalized, later restored, and relocated--but I am not sure where.  I am certain that the Bronx Historical Society would know--perhaps it is at the Varian House (?).  Somehow, I think it is. I don't remember the bookstore or the hot dog places.  The only thing I remember about Fordham and the Concourse is "Uptown, its Alexander's." Of course, riding the Third Ave El was fun. Do you remember the rattan seats which tore many ladies' stockings!

I never ventured far on Bainbridge north of Mosholu - it was usually just to the library and 204th. I remember the Horn & Hardart; there was also a Woolworth's, a shoe store my mother took me to, and Joe's beauty parlor where my grandmother went for her henna dye jobs - remember all the blue haired old ladies back then? I think these three places were all on the same side of the street as the theater. After 9th grade at Our Saviour I went to Bronx H.S. of Science for 10th. Then we moved to Westchester and I went to Hastings H.S. for the last two years. I got my B.A. at Mercy College, and after a few years waitering and bartending went to Pace University for an M.S. in Computer Science. I subsequently worked there for almost 30 years. I remember rattan seats on the New York Central railroad cars. After moving to Hastings I would often ride the Hudson line to University Heights and take the bus to Fordham Road to meet up with my old neighborhood buddies. Do you remember Mr. Berendt at Our Saviour? I never had him for a class, but I remember we all called him 'Space Ghost' (obviously behind his back), although not the reason why.

Wow!  More memories!  I do remember the Woolworth store and also the shoe store.  Didn't they feature Thom McAnn shoes and maybe Stride Right? I think the beauty parlor was also a barbershop.  Wasn't it on 204th located just off Bainbridge.  Joe Cicero was a short, heavy set man who cut men's and boys' hair in the front of the store and the beauty parlor was in the back of the store accessed by passing through the barbershop part. I did have Mr. Behrendt for history (and maybe civics) during my sophomore, junior, and senior years at OSHS.  He was quite tall and had "cauliflower" ears.  My class referred to him as "Dumbo."  He would tell stories about his summer job at a Connecticut amusement park.  Basically, he was a nice guy.  He would use hand gestures as he taught.  Frequently, he was begin sentences with the word "Nevertheless."  He was also advisor for the Senior Yearbook, for which I was the "business manager" (essentially soliciting ads to support it).  The yearbook committee referred to it as the "Earbook."  I did see him at a reunion held some years ago, and he remembered that I (as a student) was able to find the words to a hymn that he liked.  I was very impressed.  I do believe that he is deceased now. At that same reunion, Mr. Lunz was telling us about his hip replacement.  I believe that the Oesterreichs were there as well.  Also, Mr. Christian (former headmaster) was present.  Since graduating from OSHS in 1963, I believe there were only two reunions.  Too bad.  I would like very much to know whatever became of....

Bill, my friend from the old neighborhood (St. Philip Neri Class of 1967) reminded me the name of the shoe store was Weinstein. He recalls his mother buying him Buster Browns there. I knew Joe Cicero, although not his last name. I don't remember much about his shop; my barber was Joe's on Valentine between 203rd and 204th. Do you remember the gas explosion in July 1967 that destroyed half a block on Valentine between 203rd and 202nd? Sam's candy store was on the 203rd corner. He then opened a new place on your side of the parkway . . . 204th and Perry (I think). Sam looked like a cross between Larry of the Three Stooges and Dr. Zorba of Ben Casey.

You mentioned two places with which I was familiar.  Weinstein's Shoe Store was the one my family used (although I couldn't remember the name of it without your telling me).  The other was St. Philip's Church.  If my memory is correct, that is the one on the Concourse.  I used to stop in there on the way home from Hunter just because...  Churches (especially RC) were open in those days!  It was peaceful, cool in the hot weather, and a nice break on the walk home. I don't recall the explosion you mentioned.  However, there was roof collapse at a parking garage on Webster around 208th (?).  My family kept our car there, but, for some reason, we had left the car "on the street" the night of the collapse.  Many people had no access to their cars for several days. The luncheonette/ice cream store on 204th which I had mentioned previously was Liesegang's when I knew it.  When it was sold, it became Adolph's.  Adolph had worked for Mr. Liesegang and bought it when the Liesegangs moved to Germany. Do you recall naming the part of Mosholu Park below Hull (or Decatur) on the south side "Suicide Hill"?  Apparently, it had steep hills. I don't think I ever went there at all--just passed by. There was also a rather nice park at the end of 204th St (east of Webster).  In the Spring, my Mom would take me there to pick wildflowers (can't think of the name of them--they were very plenteous, all over the place, and easy to return home with a handful).  It was a wonderful tradition! There was also a little hobby shop on Bainbridge just at the "turn" at 204th St.  It was at street level in an apartment building which had somewhat of a flatiron shape.  Further north on Bainbridge (just before 206th) was a sort of variety shop.  Very tiny and totally cluttered, it was where I bought school supplies such as bound marble covered notebooks, three ring binders, notebook paper (wide and narrow ruled), graph paper, rulers (even slide rules/aka "slipsticks"), etc.  I was so proud when I learned how to use the slide rule.  Now, young people don't even know what they are/were!

Yes, SPNS (which we irreverent Protestant kids took to mean Stupid People Never Study) was on the Concourse around 203rd. Although I walked past Liesegang's/Adolph's innumerable times going to the theater and pizzeria I don't ever recall going in. Sam's was my candy store and I was a loyal customer. Hull became Marion on the south side, and the section of park starting there and ending at Webster had a steep hill on the north side of the east end. Help, I need a compass! I don't recall it being called Suicide Hill, but that's certain appropriate for daredevil bike and sled riders. We used to gather our toy arsenals and play war games there, because of the brick building just inside the park near the corner of Mosholu and Webster. If memory serves me correctly it was used by the Parks Dept.  Depending for which army you were chosen, this was the fort to be defended or attacked. I think where you picked flowers is Bronx Park. Did you go down stone stairs to get there? A little south of that area is Ducky Pond (which I think was also called Twin Lakes) and the Botanical Gardens. On the other side of the railroad tracks were the 52nd Precinct and Frank Frisch Field. Your little hobby shop and the cluttered place don't ring a bell with me. I'll run your description by my friend Bill, who seems be more knowledgeable about 204th on the north side than I. 

This is from my friend Bill:

"I remember the flatiron shaped building. My optometrist was on across the street from that  building. Further north on Bainbridge was a fresh fish market and a great Jewish Deli.  I do remember a variety shop which was across the street from Northside Savings Bank near 206th. My mom would buy school supplies and binders there. There was a fruit and vegetable store nearby. I don’t remember a hobby shop being in the flatiron building. There was a delicious bakery on the north side of 204th, near the library and a soda shop with a fantastic juke box further east on 204th. Bankers Trust was on the corner of Marion with Horn and Hardart across the street near Napoli pizza."​

​Regarding the park at the end of 204th St:  Yes, there were some stairs and/or a ramp to get in to the park.  Thank you for reminding me that it was Bronx Park.  Of course, the Bronx Botanical Gardens (later called "New York Botanical Gardens") was across from it.  I enjoyed the Botanical Gardens, and,  while at Hunter in the Bronx, would substitute a visit to the gardens instead of going to class (although only a limited number of "cuts" were allowed per class). The notes from your friend Bill, were great.  He has a good memory.  Sometimes, when my Mom wanted vegetables and fruit, we would stop at the store he mentioned.  It seems to me that it was just north of the Zion Deli which he also mentioned.  I think the North Side Savings Bank was originally in the middle of the block.  After a fire destroyed several stores to the north of the bank, a new complex of stores was built and the bank moved to the corner. My goodness some of the pictures brought back memories--especially of Mr. Stietzel and Pastor Giese.  The more I think about Mr. Stietzel, the more respect I have for him and all that he did with a bunch of grade school students like me.  As I write this, it came to mind how he had us recite the Pledge to the Flag and sing the Star Spangled Banner every day (I think right after lunch or just before dismissal). 

Did most of the kids you started first grade with stick around to the eighth? I think only about half of us were there for the whole ride. Some left during the early grades (a brother and sister on the day of the JFK assassination), others came for the later ones, and then there were those staying for a few in the middle.

​​It seems to me that most of us who started in first grade stayed through graduation.  There were nine of us who graduated:  six boys and three girls.  This included a pair of siblings, one of whom had been "retained" from a higher grade.  At least five of us started together as far as I can recall.

How Lee Harvey Oswald triggered (pun intended) an epistolary remembrance between Charles and Cliff, two Grace Lutheran alumni, with some help by a Catholic kid from the neighborhood.