Streator Schools

[Guest]

Yes, Susie had a sister. The sisters co-edited the 1962 publication "Memoirs of Heenanville." Both women taught in Streator schools for many years.

[toshiko]

Was her name Zita?

[Guest]

Her name was Mary Ellen. Where did Susie teach after the Heenanville School closed?

[toshiko]

It seems to me she was a substitute at St Mary's. For some reason I thought Zita was her sister. Mary Ellen does not ring a bell, but Susie sure does. She was nothing to sass at that was for sure. But back then we would not have thought of sassing back. At least most of us. We were too afraid.!!!

[John]

Does anyone remember Miss Richie?

[JobGuest]

Butch said:

Does anyone remember Miss Richie?

Butch:

If you are referring to Dessie Richie, the long-time eighth grade teacher at Garfield, I remember her well. In my day, Garfield was hood heaven; only Plumb School could rival Garfield for really bad kids.

Dessie had no discipline problems in her classes. Like a gunslinger of old, she had a reputation. She was also a good teacher.

[John]

That's her, I couldn't remember her first name. She lived on South Park St. I had her for a teacher in grade school.

[Guest]

Butch said:

That's her, I couldn't remember her first name. She lived on South Park St. I had her for a teacher in grade school.

She would sit out on her porch with a couple of other women who lived in the same house and eyeball me when I was walking home from the library. Like a good little brown-noser, I would always say: "Hello Miss Ritchie."

[toshiko]

Wasn't there a Ms Richie that taught at the HS? too?
I believe she lived w/ her mom. I think she taught PE and was the cheerleading coach. She had a toy/fox terrier that her mom was allergic to and my family took it and raised it.

[DumDave]

Eileen Driscoll taught @shs in the 60's. She was a hard, tough, non- nonsense English teacher. As Seniors @s.H.S, she made us go back & relearn how to spell, how to diagram sentences & Read Read Read! She probably never had a student go to college & fail Freshman English. I never truely appreciated her until I got to College & realized how well she had prepared me for reading & writing papers. The skills she taught me, carried me though my working years. No doubt, Ms. Driscoll was the best teacher I ever had. Too bad I didn't know it at the time.....
-Dave

[dsklutter]

I too remember the Szabo sisters, they were one of the
houses on our paper route...very nice, always paid their
bill. I am sure they were retired then, always had something
for you when you went to the house. Never had them
as teachers though.

[Guest]

_____________________________________________

What teachers inspired you?


The best teacher ever at Oakland Park was Mrs. Coffey.
The meanest was Mrs. O'Leary. But she taught "me" personally the best leassons of life, responsibility,discipline, and the meaning of education. Too bad though i thought she was a mean ol' bitch who hated all boys. Took me long time to figure that out.

[DumDave]

Two points.
#1 Did any of you have a teacher by the name of Gamble? At least one or both of them became principals.
Reason is that my father & thier father were fishing buddies & I spend seveal a night visiting them. i alos got to go fishing with Mr. Gamble & my Dad in Reelfoot Lake,Tenn. & in and around Branson Mo. (Before it got famous)

#2 Schools we squids went to.
Plumb (not me)
Greeley
Northlawn (grade school)
Grant
Northlawn (Jr. HS)
Funny, the only school still standing is Northlawn.
In 1963 we had one squid each in our family graduate from Streator Grade School, Northlawn Jr High School & Streator High School.
-Dave

[Zahena]

There was a Miss Zita D. that taught at St. Mary's School for
many, many years. Didn't have her as a teacher but she was
a neighbor and was a great person.

Louise Gamble was a principal back in the 60's and she also
had a sister who was in the educational field but don't remem-
ber if she was a teacher or a principal also.

Remember Della Swanson @ SHS. She was also another great
person.

[Job]

Della (AKA Ma) Swanson was a legend. I took "Ma" Swanson's General Business class even though it was not in the College Prep program. Every year, she would give an emotional pitch for some guy who was in the TB Sanitarium in Ottawa. I gave up my lunch money after hearing her pitch.