I attended first, second, and third grade at Lincoln Elementary on Lincoln and 2^nd street in Willoughby, Ohio. It was right across the street from My Aunt Marcile and Uncle Louie's house. Unfortunately, since we were living at their house, my sister Sandy and I got to go "home for lunch" and ate grilled cheese sandwiches "every single day". It was nice of Aunt Marcile to come home every day to cook for us, but gosh, was cheese cheap then or what?! And, I am pretty sure we had lima beans every single night for supper! To this day Sandy won't eat grilled cheese and I won't eat lima beans!! YUK!

When I was about three years old, some mean boy pushed me down, and damaged one of my eyes. So, I had to wear glasses and had crossed eyes. There was another mean boy when I started first grade. He was in third or fourth grade. He teased me and called me "Clarence the Cross Eyed Lion" and "Four Eyes". I remember it was while we were at recess and I started crying and could not quit. So, the teacher finally went and got my sister Sandy to see if she could figure out what was wrong. They didn't know if I was hurt or sick or what. I told Sandy about the mean boy. And she said she would take care of him. That she did! After school, she beat him up, pretty bad. Bet he never made fun of a first grader again! Not, because he was sorry, but because he was so embarrassed about being beat up by a girl! Sandy was very protective of me back then.

This is Al Schuman (cousin), me, Uncle Lou, Aunt Marcile

Tish, Cathy, Kim, and Bruce Schuman.

The picture was taken in 1969 on second street across from the grade school.

Lucky for us that we moved my third grade year to the Erie Street apartments on the river. They were brand new we were one of the first ones to move in. So, we switched schools and went to a grade school on the very north end of Willoughby. We lived far enough from the school, they didn't let us go home for lunch! We got to eat at school! No more grilled cheese! Yippee!

Sandy left in 1964 to live with our Dad in Florida. She tried to get me to go, but I just couldn't leave. I think I must have been pretty impossible after she left. In just a few months my Mom and I and her boy friend were on our way to Florida. I got to see all three of my sisters and was so happy! I attended fourth, fifth and part of sixth grade in Florida.

It was difficult moving so much. It seemed I would just make friends and we would move. And, when we moved it wasn't usually just across town, it was to another state.

One of the best friends I made along the way was while I was living in Florida. I remember it as clearly as if it were yesterday. I was riding my beat up old bike and this girl was staring at me. I yelled at her "take a picture, it will last longer". The girl who was staring was J Lynn Edwards. She was new in town (gosh I should know how that felt!) She had just moved in with her sister and brother-in-law because her parents were killed in a car or plane crash. Now that I think of it, that was as mean as that boy that teased me in first grade. We ended up being "Best Friends". Her brother-in-law was in the service, and they had to move away. I've never heard from her again. I have tried to locate her on the Internet, but since she is probably married, and I have no idea what state she moved to then, or after, it's not likely I will ever find her. Wherever she is, I wish her well!

Then, in 1966, my Mom and I moved back to Willoughby. We lived with my Grandmother (Maida Burwell) in a small apartment on second street just off of Erie Street. It was next to the fire house, so I heard lots of sirens all the time. We found a house on North Erie, by the railroad tracks and moved again. It was quite a way from school, but by the way they measured, was "just under two miles" so I had to walk to and from school. I remember walking in "very deep" snow and freezing all the way! So, when I tell my daughters about "having to walk two miles to school in the snow" it is the truth!

I had several very good friends during the next several years while attending Willoughby Junior High and then South High School. Sheila Ann Bisbee was my best friend then. I cannot remember how we met though. Some other friends were Kris, Geoge Lehman, Tim Hirsch, Dave, Mike and Colleen.

Our eighth grade year we took a school trip to Gettysburg and Hershey. We were studying the Civil War, and if I had known then about genealogy, I might have paid closer attention! One of these days I want to go back there.

Created and Designed by Deborah Grow

Last updated: 07/21/2001

© 5/30/00