Hawthorne Feedback

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Hawthorne Time and
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Name: Britt Stonebraker () on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 at 20:39:19
Email: thatbritts(at)yahooDotCom
City and State: San Marcos Ca
Maiden: huh?
Class: 1978
Message: I think Tammy is real near class of 78 I remember the slides @ rosecrans and western, they had trampolines there too. so now tell, What year was your senior year??

Name: Tammy () on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 at 19:38:19
Email: tam_tam@9250@yahoo.com
City and State: Aliso Viejo, CA
Message: This is in Gardena: Does any remember the big blue slide on Western and Rosecrans, across the street from the go-carts? We had to climb up so high with these burlap sacks and go down the slide. It was so much fun! Nice to hear from you Jill! I'll be in Mission Viejo on Thursday doing a test. We should do lunch sometime!

Name: Jill McFarlane () on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 at 18:51:10

Email: jmcfarlane99@sbcglobal.net
City and State: Mission Viejo, CA
Class: 1977
Message: Glad to see my sis Denean post something, I think she posts once every two years. Tammy, you have mentioned so many places that I had forgotten about, but remember them so clearly now. Thanks for the stroll down memory lane. Ingrid, my sis and I lived on Tarron too, who was your friend? Maybe we were neighbors, I think my Mom knew just about everyone on that street. It is truly a small world. I read that Lee Boswell also went to Cimarron Ave, what street did you live on Lee? Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving and are gearing up for Christmas.

Name: Bob Melendrez () on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 at 18:03:57

Email: Strongheart@pacificwest.com
City and State: Lawndale, CA
Class: 1971
Message: John, I heard that the computer photo came out of a "Popular Mechanics" edition from 1954. Looks more the command con of a nuke submarine... DIVE! DIVE!
Hey Bob, Well it sure isn't a Steve Jobs/Steve Wosniak/Bill Gates design.

Name: Enza Nicocia () on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 at 16:08:25

Email: antiquenza@aol.com
City and State: SoSunny, SoCal
Maiden: Buon Natale!
Class: 1972
Message: Happy Be-lated Birthday to Wadae, Wade, Wadae. Hey, your birthday falls on Turkey Day.......how appropriate! ;))))) (Just trying to get back at all the times you 'ribbed' me on the Lakers.) Are we even yet?!?! Hey, does anyone out in Sherman Oaks Hills know of any great 'Santa Claus Lane' neighborhood's I take my fav niece Christina (little sister Annie's daughter) to. You know, for me, it's just not Xmas until you experience the joy through the little ones eyes. THEN, it's Xmas! (And, of course, you've maxed out your credit card. :))
One way to keep from maxing out your credit cards: BURN'EM!!

Name: Tammy () on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 at 15:54:15
Email: tam_tam_9250@yahoo.com
City and State: Aliso Viejo, CA
Message: Denean - maybe we WERE classmates! I remember Mrs. Gardner had a pet chicken named Thursday. Once she brought a rooster to the schoolyard, never figured that out, and then afterwards the hen "Thursday" had chicks running around. I remember we had to bring in milk money - I think it was either .30 or .40 at the time.
To this day I remember Mrs. Gardner teaching the class about remembering the colors of the rainbow, a song something like: Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Purple - all mine .....

Name: Denean McKinney () on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 at 14:47:39
Email: deneank@aol.com
City and State: Redondo Beach
Maiden: McFarlane
Class: 1980
Message: Hi Tammy and to all that read all her memories of Hawthorne. I attended Cimmarron from 1967 to 1971. I had Mrs. Gardner in Kindergarten, we were probably in the same class. My sister (Leslie Jill McFarlane) and I grew up on Tarron Avenue behind the school until 1971 when my parents moved to 129th Street & Ocean Gate. The Swedish Smorg was my favorite. I remember pretty much all you talked about, except the people (could it be my age?).

Name: Ingrid Larson () on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 at 14:36:57

Email: bradanding@juno.com
City and State: Long Beach, CA
Maiden: same as it ever was...
Class: 1974
Message: Tammy, I grew up way at the west end of 120th - near Aviation. But I remember a lot of the things you posted because my best friend lived at the east end of 120th - I think the name of her street was Tarron. I remember going to Lindburg Nutrition and the Boston Store. I couldn't tell the time frame you were referring to - but I spent a lot of time going over to that neighborhood in the mid to late 60's.

Name: Tammy () on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 at 12:28:10
Email: tam_tam_9250@yahoo.com
City and State: Aliso Viejo, CA
Message: I sure hope someone here remembers some of the people from the old neighborhood!
Tammy, give it a little time as lots of people only check this page every few days.

Name: Tammy () on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 at 11:40:41
Email: tam_tam_9250@yahoo.com
City and State: Aliso Viejo, CA
Message: I didn't attend HHS but I grew in Hawthorne anyways. Hope I don't bore y'all with my memories of the early-mid-late 60's, just thought I'd share them and maybe jog your memory as well: OK I grew up in Holly Park section of Hawthorne (east side), off Van Ness and 116th street. I remember a family - the Gilliland's - who lived a few doors down from me, there was a boy named Charlie. Now Charlie had a sister who owned a horse. She used to ride her horse down our street on occasion. She would then ride down 116th and go into the back of the Thrifty Mart shopping center. Where she kept her horse stabled was always a mystery to me. I do remember there was a red barn w/a corral that sat behind the K-mart off of Imperial and Western Avenue. Anyone else remember it? Speaking of riding, I used to ride ponies at the stables on Artesia off of Normandie. There were also stables off Rosecrans/Aviation and on Inglewood Ave. next to the RR tracks. There were the El Fig stables off of Figueroa and Rosecrans too.
The last I saw Charlie Gilliland he was working as a mechanic off of LaBrea and Centinela back in the late 70's.
Once when I was 4 I watched the local kids rollerskate and ride bikes on the front area of the church down the street. I can still hear those rinky dink metal wheels...lol. There was an empty field east of Crenshaw and 120th, where Lowe's stands today. My older brother one night found an old wooden rowboat there, took it home and tore it apart with a hammer - until he swung it, missed the wood and it gashed deep into his shin!
Anyone remember the red haired, freckled faced kid that wore glasses, I think his name was John Birch (sp?). He was a little "slow" if you know what I mean. I wonder what ever happened to him? My brother built a "club house" up in our garage and John and he would go inside it, talk, read magazines, etc. Then there were the Goldhammers, I remember the boy's name was Alan. Bobby Riggs lived across the street and little Stewie and Jack-Jack lived a few doors down from us.
I heard that Bruce Lee once lived in the Holly Park tract. Can anyone confirm this?
I remember one Halloween on 115th Street someone dressed up as a big furry monster and us kids were throwing rolled up newspapers at him.... lol
Cork 'N Bottle Liquor was at the end of 119th at Crenshaw. I used to buy candy from there with my brother. I drove past it right after the deadly robbery that took place there in 1980. Then it was torn down.
To this day I have a weakness for glazed-raised donuts because of the Helms Bakery Truck stopping at our house.
Remember the big gray CalFed building in the shopping center on Imperial/Crenshaw with the huge digital clock/thermometer that slowly turned around? That is how we kept the time! There was a Du-Par's coffee shop on the bottom floor. Who could forget Little America Toy Store, Stacy Drugs, Boston Store, King Saul's Restaurant (next to the T-Mart). Across Crenshaw was another shopping center that had Sad Sack, Mel's Sporting Goods (site of 1974 Patti Hearst shootout) various stores/taverns and on the other side the Imperial Theater (now boarded up). I loved that smorgasborg Taste of Sweden that was next to the theater. Whatever happened to smorgasborgs anyways? Next to that was a liquor store. It is gone too. Across the street was a Lawry's restaurant, they used to make Barbie Doll cakes. On the other side of Crenshaw is another S/C where the 5 Torches nightclub used to be. Mr. Pastry Bakery made the best pastries/cakes in the world. It was run by a couple of elderly ladies with thick accents. We always shopped at the Food Giant, there was a huge sign of a farmer with a basket of produce on top of the building. I recall there was an altercation between a security guard and an actor named Kirk Calloway back in the late 70's. Kirk lived in the neighborhood behind the store. His family demanded a boycott of Food Giant afterwards, it made the news in the Herald. It may have been Food King at the time. I remember shopping at Woolworth's a few doors down.
Anyone remember Dino's Italian Restaurant further north on Crenshaw? It burned down years ago, made the best garlic bread I've ever had.
Brolly Hut on 112th and Crenshaw made the world's best burgers and pastrami sandwiches.
I barely remember Kiddy Land off of 117th and Hawthorne I must of been around 3 or 4. I loved going there. I also remember those tiny trailers next door to the park. Does anyone remember that old ferris wheel standing by itself in a field off of Imperial, past Western? I want to say it was past Devil's Dip - could this be the same ferris wheel that was used at Kiddie Land?
My brother and I attended Cimmaron School. When he was in the 3rd grade he had a teacher Mrs. Horton. I remember once going to his classroom to see him. Mrs. Horton had my brother up at the front of the class giving him the lecture of a lifetime, and I think she had grabbed him by his neck collar. My brother then went to St. Francis Cabrini, and he was expelled soon afterwards. Then it was on to Henry Clay. I attended James Kew, then on to Hawthorne Christian later.
Later in life I used to check out boys at the Electronic America arcade in the newly opened Hawthorne Mall, and had my teeth fixed and braces put on by Dr. Holcheck whose office was across the street from the mall.
And those are the fondest memories I have of Hawthorne!
Well Tammy, I think you just broke the old record for the LONGEST feedback in Ctown history.

I would like to elaborate but it would take another 5K of webspace. I will say that the 5 Torches was my dad's favorite place. It was really a nice dinner house in the 60s and early 70s. Now I'll let someone else comment. I know someone must remember a few of these places.

Name: David Neuschafer () on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 at 11:39:48
Email: Dendan2@aol.com
City and State: Vista, California
Class: 1959
Message: John, I've really enjoyed reading about everyone's memories of the old streetcars. That picture you posted, (On Karen Graham's input) was something else! Hard to believe Hawthorne ever looked like that...The background looks more like the wild boondocks of deep south Lawndale during the early 50's...a place where no lower car would dare venture into! Great Job! You should get another dual glass-pack, rev'd-up to red line, salute for all your hard work here at... "The Site".
Well thanks Dave, glad you're enjoying it. I know lots of Leuzinger grads check out the website and some, like you, even add to the mix. That's what it's all about and thanks for adding in your 2cents.

Name: Kelley () on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 at 11:12:39

Email: surfbabe@charter.net
City and State: Englewood, OR
Maiden: Currie
Class: 1967
Message: Is DZ trying to pull our legs..If you believe this than you probably have seen The Peach Boys..Love you Elizabeth but this story doesn't ring true..

Name: Elizabeth Estrada () on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 at 01:08:25

Email: dzlizzy31@hotmail.com
City and State: Redondo Beach,CA
Class: 1969
Message: Oh John, it was way better than that. For breakfast I had fresh coffee, brewed in my new percolator and flavored with just a smidge of Hazelnut coffee creamer. I fried bacon and eggs and toasted whole wheat bread just the way I like it. For Thanksgiving dinner I ate marinated filet mignon grilled over an open fire and I served it up with a lovely tossed green salad, of my own making. After dinner I drank rum in my hot coffee, had a smoke and counted the stars...Ain't nothin like it Man! Oh, and without a doubt...the best roasted marshmallows EVER! Next trip will include my new kayak! Holy Guacamole I'm gonna gitter done!
Sounds like a fun trip, Liz.

Name: Chris Prewitt () on Monday, November 29, 2004 at 22:40:50

Email: cjprewitt@juno.com
City and State: Fullerton, CA
Class: 1967
Message: I found an article that Jack O. Lantern was around last Year.
Thanks Chris....

Name: Elizabeth Aleccia () on Monday, November 29, 2004 at 20:03:00

Email: dzlizzy31@hotmail.com
City and State: Redondo Beach,CA
Class: 1969
Message: I've got to thank Mrs. Pat Higgins and Mrs. Gloria Creed for the years of leading our Girl Scout Troop and teaching us how to camp. Their words and lessons echoed in my mind these past four days, as I camped my way up Hwy 1, all the way to Big Sur. I had my fire roaring and tent up and stove cooking within minutes of parking my car. What a beautiful time of year to see the California coastline. We've had some wet, early storms so every hill and valley was bright green and the wind blew away every cloud. It was glorious! I am thankful for the 'Blue' State of California and for The Girl Scouts of America! If Dennis Higgins, class of 1968 or Christie Higgins, class of 1969 or any of the Creed Sisters are reading this...please give your mothers my deepest gratitude. Hawthorne Mothers Rule! Lizzy
Hey Liz, Were you killin' your own food too, or did you opt for the more "New Millenium" way.....KFC or McDonalds?

Name: TS () on Monday, November 29, 2004 at 20:00:03
Email: tam_tam_9250@yahoo.com
City and State: Aliso Viejo, CA
Message: I remember the refinery well painted as a Jack-O-Lantern at the refinery.
There is a piece of history that I remember and I wonder if anyone else may remember it. It was called Devil's Dip or Devil's Ditch, off of Imperial Hwy. and Western, east of the K-Mart. It was a place where kids used to ride dirt bikes and bikes in the late 60's. Also I remember maybe 1965-67 an abandoned ferris wheel sitting in a field off Imperial east of Western. My mother used to visit a friend at a trailer park and the ferris wheel was sitting just east of the trailer park. Can anyone else remember that far back?
I remember Devils Dip. Just went by there about a month ago and it is unrecognizable.... Gone forever as a bicycle/motorcycle/4 wheel drive fun place. The Ferris Wheel, I don't remember.

Name: joseph () on Monday, November 29, 2004 at 18:58:46
Email: mailander
City and State: los angeles inner city ca
Class: 1975
Message: Juan, TE AMO, HOMBRE!!! and now that all this Red Car flotsam is floating into your site like the sweet lines of a long lost epic, I'd like to remind people of another piece of San Pedro folklore: that oblong tank at the Union Oil Refinery that the company used to paint like a jack-o-lantern every Halloween. They also had a spherical tank that they used to paint like a baseball, which brandished the cursive Dodger logo--and I think it might have looked like a Christmas ornament this time of year too--I think they stopped doing this circa 1970, but I will leave the hard factchecking to some ancient resident Nestor (i.e., Class of 1968 or previous) whilst I spin another incredible-but-true tale like brave (if past-peak) Ulysses.
Hey joseph, I remember the jack o lantern in the past 14 years that I've nested here in Lomita. The Dodger baseball I haven't seen in years but do remember it. Thanks jose and TE AMO TAMBIEN, HOMBBBBRRREE!!!!

Name: Alan Nelson () on Monday, November 29, 2004 at 18:45:43

Email: boatcop@boatcop.com
City and State: Parker, Az
Class: 1973
Message: It's interesting to see who us Cougs are married to, and which other local School they went to. (Banning is local???) My only question is who decides who gets top billing when both went to Hawthorne?
That Banning High is in Wilmington. The top billing issue is just how it came to me from whomever sent it. That way I stay out of trouble.

Name: TS () on Monday, November 29, 2004 at 17:32:04
Email: tam_tam_9250@yahoo.com
City and State: Aliso Viejo, CA
Message: Ramona Hill was a wonderful place to raise my sons. I just left there this past August. I was told about that nice house on the top of Ramona Hill that was owned by the Greasby's. What a small world.

Name: Keith D. Jones () on Monday, November 29, 2004 at 14:40:20

Email: cmi50@yahoo.com
City and State: Kona, Hawaii
Class: 1976
Message: We had some great parties at the Greasby house. Yes it was very nice. And that was it on top of the hill on 130th. I think my brothers wife lived down the street from there not sure though. Ingrid Shulte

Name: TS () on Monday, November 29, 2004 at 10:35:00
Email: tam_tam_9250@yahoo.com
City and State: Aliso Viejo, CA
Message: To Wade Greasby: Did your family own that beautiful home on the top of Ramona Hill on 130th Street? We just moved from that hill ourselves, we lived on the corner of 130th and Ramona.

Name: Hofman, Bernd () on Sunday, November 28, 2004 at 19:32:14

Email: BFWH43@AOL.COM
City and State: Rocky Mount, NC
Class: 1966
Message: John, great job on this website. I only found out about it from my sister yesterday. It sure brings back alot of memories. I will definitely be writing my classmates. Thanks for all your hard work on this. Bernd
Hi Bernd, Thank you for the nice thoughts and enjoy the website.

Name: reina () on Sunday, November 28, 2004 at 03:55:12
Email: purplemonkey8019@yahoo.com
City and State: hawthorne california
Maiden: rivas
Class: 1999
Message: hi everyone
Hi Reina.....

Name: EL ROJO () on Saturday, November 27, 2004 at 11:04:02
Email: I-DY-HO
City and State: KUNA, ID
Maiden: JUSWANNABE
Class: 1920
Message: Hey John you blew off JJ's mention of the Boise State Football team like an also ran.A feather off a Ducks back. Boy they sucked this year. sc, yea they're the best, sometimes. But this Boise State team are the 59 Cougs personified. No respect, non BCS conference, etc,etc. Watch them. 2nd youngest team, to a man, in the NCAA. Longest win streak in the nation 21 straight, 14-0 on ESPN. They're the Wannabes.Dan Hawkins of BSU is a Great coach, reminds me of " The Coach". But no one will ever be him!This program runs on nothing but guts, because there is no funding like the Pac10 teams. But they are the COUGS of 2004. Trust me you'll hear more from them in the years ahead, if they can keep Hawkins at the school. sc? Ah you know my love for them. I'll root for them against any team out of the Pac10. Other than that, I hope Tommy Tro..I can't say that word, I think I'll throw up, breaks a leg. Go Bronco's! Also the Bruins. Oh who by the way, just might...just might put sc in the also ran category. Crossing my fingers. My love to all you Tro.. fans,can't say the whole word, makes me gag alot:-))MAY THE BRONCO(COUGARS) BE WITH YOU! Jake N jude.
Thanks Russ for your in depth WAC football analysis, but today is SC and Notre Dame and it just don't get no better'n that.

If I have another team beyond SC it's Fresno St. Last 4 games (since Boise St) outscored their opponents 218 to 45. Sorry folks, I know this isn't Hawthorne related. El Rojo and I apologize.

Name: Andrea () on Saturday, November 27, 2004 at 10:40:28

Email: ValleyofMyDolls@aol.com
City and State: hawthorne
Maiden: Rossi
Class: 1982
Message: Hi John,{sorry I coudnt find your email address to write you directly]. I know more people are wondering, but why cant people who have married spouses from another country, etc, add themselves to the cougartown married list? Is the answer it will be too many to fill the page? thanks!!!!!! :}
Hi Andrea, Because the list is to see who married someone from a local area school. It doesn't matter what country they are from, as long as one of them graduated from HHS and the other one graduated from a local area school, ie. Leuzinger, Westchester, Redondo, Inglewood, etc. (some of the ones listed above are pretty far out but were added anyway).

Name: Sandra Perez () on Friday, November 26, 2004 at 16:05:19

Email: sanna@cox.net
City and State: Encinitas, CA
Maiden: Perales
Class: 1988
Message: Hey guys, thank you to all who have responded to my request for stories about my great teacher, Ms. Leda Griffin (HHS-69). I have learned so much more about her through these stories and I especially enjoy reading how she touched people's lives with her kindness. Please please keep the stories coming and if any of you have any pictures to share, please send those along too. Once again, thank you. And to Sue King and you, John, (not Mr. Baker, that was his father's name :) ) thank you for posting my dedication on the "favorite teacher's" page. It really does mean a lot to me!
Sincerely, Sandra
Hi Sandra, Glad to add Ms. Leda Griffin to our Teachers Page for you. I can tell you were inspired by her and know she meant the world to you. If anyone has a "Teaching" picture of her, please send it along and I'll post it with Sandra's story.

Name: Wayne Dickey () on Wednesday, November 24, 2004 at 22:58:34

Email: impalawayne@aol.com
City and State: Paris ,France
Class: 1969
Message: My first Thanksgiving out of the states. Yes I'm going to miss all the good food. But I want to wish every Cougar in Cougartown a happy and healthy and safe Thanksgiving. Today Donna and I will be touring Paris France. Then off to London to spend some time with my cousin Lynne Cruise HHS1964. Wayne and Donna
Have a fun time you two and have a happy Thanksgiving anyway.

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