Feb 16, 2000
Hello, Susan. . .
My name is Karl Collins. I started at Logan, 1st grade, in September 1935. Our teacher was Ms. Barstis. A fine and patient lady. I left after finishing 6th grade (that's as far as one could go at Logan at that time) in the spring of 1941. Teachers at Logan, in addition to Ms. Barstis, were Mildred (Smith) Delap, Ms. Houel (sp), Ms. Music, Ms. Lilly, Ms. Graf, Ms. Santee, Mr. Zimmbleman, and one of the finest teachers I ever met, Mr. C. U. Hancock.
Before the WPA lunchroom, many of us ate our lunch at Ms. Austin's little snack shop located in the funny little building at the street that used to be the jail. Then she moved it to the building that was the City Hall, and then the basement of her home on the corner. A bowl of soup or chili (5 cents), a hot dog (5 cents) and a soda pop (5cents). Nourishing and fulfilling! ! ! Hah!
Theodore Paschedag came one day per week (Tuesday) to give lessons on our music lessons. Oh, boy! The memories.
Karl Collins
Gosh, Susan, I'm flattered. Sure, anything you think might be of interest, you can use. I just don't want to come off seeming like a "look at me - ain't I great?" person (even though I really am.) Sadly, it seems not many folks from WF in my age bracket are on the Internet.
By the way, I was a friend of Ella Margaret's brother, Tommy [McCrary]. He and I played cornet in the band together, and we were both in the same Boy Scout Troup, with C.U. Hancock as Scoutmaster. I think perhaps Mary Lee may be related to Bill Eckess who was also in that Scout troup.
I'll see if I can find any pictures, but remember, my Logan School days were in the 1930's and not many of us or our families had money for cameras, film, or pictures.
Also, I had no trouble accessing the site. And, my what a nice site it is. I will be back often. Thank you for your work.
Karl Collins
Susan, here's a little nostalgia to tuck away for the next time you have lunch at the Museum.
If you have enjoyed lunch in the Museum Tea Room, you might be interested in a little history of that room, about when we had lunch there in the WPA Lunchroom.
When we returned to school in the fall of 1936, we found a major change in the school layout. Ms. Mildred Smith's (DeLap) 2nd grade room, which had been the southeast room in the basement (where the Tea Room is now) had been moved to the northwest room on the second floor. In its place, the men of the WPA (Works Progress Administration) had built a kitchen and lunchroom. The kitchen part was in the north end of the room, and long tables with benches had been built in the remainder of the room. The idea was that men who were "on WPA" would plant large gardens and would harvest the crops. The women would can the produce, and prepare it, along with "government surplus" food, and then serve it as lunch to the Logan students.
Logan School was an ideal location for such a program. Located on the very edges of the city, a large number of the children walked long distances from their country homes to the school. A very large number of these children came from families hard- pressed by the depression, and having one good, nutricious meal a day would be a Godsend. For those who could afford it, the charge was 5 cents per day. For those who couldn't afford it, the meal was free.
Since seating was quite limited, we ate in assigned shifts. And the lunch ritual always began with the formation of a line in front of the converted kitchen sink mounted against the wall in the center part of the basement just outside the "lunchroom" door. As each of us reached the sink, our teacher would give us two squirts of "green soap" from an oil-can used as a dispenser. And then we would be watched to assure we did a yeoman job in removing at least a portion of our accumulated grime before eating.
As we entered the room, the filled plates were being set at the tables. We each got the same amount of food, and we each got a serving of EVERYTHING on the menu. We didn't have to eat everything served, but if you wanted a second helping of anything, you must first clean your plate. Since I was a growing boy, "seconds" were essential, and so I learned to eat stewed tomatoes and spinich. So far as I know, developing those wierd tastes has not caused permanent damage.
The menu did not offer a great variety. It was mostly surplus vegetables, either from the gardens planted by the men, or from government stores. We ate lots of potatoes, green beans, cabbage (in season), turnips, and carrots, but seldom did we have meat, and when we did have meat, it was ALWAYS bacon. As I remember it, the recipe used for cooking bacon must have involved the words "thick-sliced" and "over-done." (And there were never any second-helpings of meat.) There was never a dessert. That was a luxury outside the scope of the program. The only drink I can recall was the almost-daily glass of unsweetened grapefruit juice. Now that would put a crease in your smile. It was shipped to the school in large half-gallon cans, and there was never a label.
So the benefits of the program were several. The men and women of the WPA had meaningful work. Kids got a good hot meal, and for many, it was the only nutritious meal of their day. We learned to eat a variety of foods, and we learned somewhat acceptable table manners. All told, I would say it was a most worthwhile venture.
With the beginning of World War II the program was abandoned, but I still keep some great memories. For example, there is a brand of "green soap" on the market today that smells just exactly like "our" green soap smelled at that funny looking sink in the basement. Everytime I smell that soap today, I can hear the "poink poink" of that oil can as we got our two squirts, and I remember looking up into that beautiful face of Ms. Smith for her approval of my hand-washing technique.
Aren't memories wonderful?
Karl Collins
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