Hi,
I know its hard to believe but, the 15th of this month I will be moving this
site again to a new address www.corcoran1956.com! This should make
remembering the site address easier and if I have to change servers again
the address is mine and it will go with me.
Per Wayne's note about the movies costing 14¢. He's right! I remember
getting a quarter for a movie & bag of popcorn and having a penny left
over for a rainy day. Five rainy days got you a candy bar. The
dog had to wait outside the movie but, he got half the candy bar. The
bad part was; he knew any candy bar was half his.
Dave Gilbert
Baton Rouge, LA USA - Saturday, March 09, 2002 at 09:48:48 (CDT)
Hi Everyone, Last year as I was playing on my computer, I found a website called "Classmates" or something like that. I never thought it would bring any results after all this time being away from Corcoran. Zane Newsom talked me into joining the Air Force after Don Jennings and Eddie Coffman were killed in the accident on the way to COS. I passed the physical, but he didn't for some reason, and I was off on a long and never ending trip around the world. I was sent to Yale University to study Chinese, and that was really fun for a young kid from Corcoran. I would go back to Yale in 1959 and 1962 for more training. They were really fun years. I bought my first car in 1959, and three months later got to drive back to Corcoran from New Haven the week before Christmas, through blizzards and other weird weather, but I made it home in only 7 days, Christmas Eve. I took my baby sister to Mode-O-Day to buy her something for Christmas. A tall, absolutely beautiful young lady came up to us and said, "Hi Billy". I told her I
didn't know who she was. She said, "Sue Ginsburg, silly." I was really shocked, the last time I had seen her, she was still shorter than I was. In 1962 while I was at Yale, the Buffalo Bills were playing an exhibition game at Yale Bowl with the New York Jets, and I got to see Wayne Crow at the practice field when the team showed up. That was the last contact I had with Corcoranites, until I got an e-mail from Rosemary yesterday. It is
unbelievable to make contacts with people so far from the past. I retired from the Air Force in June, 1977, and stayed here in Ohio. I went to work for the Social Security Admin talking to Old people and sick young ones. The first day I went to work here in Cincinnati, I met a young lady working at our office that for some reason that I really got along well with, but I didn't know why. Many years later I was looking through the Harvester from 1955, and I saw someone in one of the pictures that looked exactly like the girl here in Cincinnati. It was Jacque Polzin. Now I reached that advanced state of maturity that I have retired from that job too. I am really pleased to have found an avenue of contact with the old group. Thanks, Rosemary.
Bill Connally
Cincinnati, oh USA - Tuesday, February 19, 2002 at 09:39:58 (PDT)
Hi Classmates and Friends, I am sitting here in Truckee, Ca buried under 6 feet of snow, with a glowing fire, a
brandy (not Lucky Lager), and my wife Pat, who is recovering from surgery and doing well. All my thanks go to David and Rosemary for getting our
web site up and running so we may all say hello now and then. It is fun to read what all of you remember of our old Corcoran and satisfying to learn we were mostly on the same page even then. I too remember the fog, the DDT spray in many ways: leaning out the window of the team bus to watch the side of the road for the bus driver to get us home...running through the spray and breathing deeply!!...swimming the canal at Roses' dairy while the cow barn was being pumped into the water...picking cotton on Sat morn and then going to the movie and staying until dark watching Roy Rogers, Gene
Autry, Charlie Chan all for 14 cents. .the thrill of running on the field for Friday nights and hoping for more thrills after the games...band trips to San Francisco and
LA. .hot summer days and warm summer nights listening to Al Radka on the radio playing the requests from Mels' Drive-In ....I am sharing my time between Truckee, Ca and Palm Desert Ca but people think that I have the seasons mixed up. But, I can't ski in the desert. My best wishes to all of you, I will keep in touch. Wayne
Wayne Crow
Truckee, Ca USA - Wednesday, February 06, 2002 at 19:34:35 (PDT)
I've sent site change of address announcement emails to the 25 known addresses and two were returned, Bobby & Shirley Dunnehew and Gene & Elvira
Ruiz, as address unknown.
We will be sending letters to all the known mailing addresses. Elvira where are you?
When's the next class reunion?
The next reunion or gathering is between now and June in Tunica on the Mississippi.
Rosemary, Bob, Patty, Bill, Barbara (Rosemary's sister) and I will be there. Everyone come, its
just a short 36 hour straight through drive from Sacramento.
Dave Gilbert
ml1245@cox.com
Baton Rouge, LA USA - Wednesday, January 30, 2002 at 04:16:48 (PDT)
Hi All,
I too remember all the Mosquitoes. My Dad worked for the Mosquito Abatement Company there in Corcoran and once
in awhile I'd get up with him at 4am and we'd go out in the Company Jeep and he'd start spraying for all those little critters. Talk about adding to the Fog, what a thick mess that was. Good thing he knew the town & all the alleys or we would have been having breakfast in some of your kitchens as it was impossible to see in all that thickness.
Hope everyone has a wonderful up and coming 2002. Keep in touch and sure do miss you guys. Love, Patty
Patty (Shepherd) Elrod
Chanute, Ks USA - Tuesday, January 22, 2002 at 15:22:23 (PDT)
All the talk about mosquitoes and DDT reminds me about when we lived in
Hanford during the 60's ,after they stopped spraying, and our youngest son came down with encephalitis. That was scary.
The Hanford doctors said he had the flu! It took Dr. Smith in Corcoran to
get him in the Corcoran hospital and the correct treatment. I wish my boys had a little DDT to run in.
This was a time when they didn't have a replacement for DDT (disclaimer) , of
course.
DDT mainly effect birds and the strength of their egg shells.
Dave
David Gilbert
Baton Rouge, LA USA - Sunday, January 13, 2002 at 10:11:13 (PDT)
HI ALL,
I REMEMBER THE DDT FOG. I RAN IN IT TOO. GUESS THAT'S WHY WE ARE ALL BRAIN DAMAGED.
I ENJOYED THE COMMENTS FROM JACQUE, JIM AND DAVE. WE MOVED TO CORCORAN IN 1940.
I REMEMBER ALL THOSE THINGS. SERENA'S LAST NAME WAS SHANCEZ, I THINK. BECAUSE HER SON'S NAME WAS JOAQUIN SANCHEZ, THE FAMOUS RODEO CLOWN.
I REMEMBER THE GERMAN PRISON CAMP WEST OF TOWN. BUT, CAN ANYONE REMEMBER THE NAME OF IT?
I ALSO REMEMBER THE WATER TOWER AT THE RAILROAD STATION. WHERE THEY FILLED THE STEAM ENGINE'S WATER TANK FROM THE LONG ELEPHANT TRUNK LIKE SPOUT THAT SWUNG OVER THE TRAIN.
THE LAKE WHEN IT WAS DRYING UP AND ALL THE BIG CATFISH THAT COULD BE CAUGHT BY HAND.
THAT WAS FISHING. THE HORN THAT BLEW WAS A
SIREN THAT ALSO BLEW AT NOON , 1:00 & 5:00 AND WHEN WE HAD A FIRE, A
BLACKOUT AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT BLEW FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER WWII. YES, I HAVE SOME FOND MEMORIES OF CORCORAN.
BRAD
BRAD GILTON
VISALIA, CA USA - Sunday, January 13, 2002 at 05:03:44 (PDT)
Hi everyone, Class of '56
Even though we have never missed a class reunion . . . the one thing I did miss and still do to this day wish I could have gone on the senior trip. When we moved back to Hanford their great senior ditch day was in Fresno at the Swim Park. Remember it was the round pool. When I told my new classmates about the Corcoran Class Senior trips they wouldn't believe me. They said no way that an entire senior class could be gone for TWO weeks. Boy I wish I could have been there with all of you! You know to this day I don't know what or where you guys went. Next reunion everyone can fill me in on what I missed.
Jim G
Jim Gonsalves
Tulare, ca USA - Wednesday, January 09, 2002 at 22:19:50 (PDT)
Hi,
Corcoran:
I remember... trying to sleep in summer without air conditioning.
...the sound of the Boswell's
cotton gins with their huge single cylinder engines running and missing.
...the noise of Santa Fe
steam engines switching cars at night.
...the smell of the Hansen's stock yards when the wind was
right.
...street dances with rock and roll, knowing the radio would run down the car battery.
...the land so flat and without a tree.
...Bob Springer always watching for booze.
...going all
summer without shirt or shoes.
... that you could stand at one end and see way past the far end.
...driving around and around the drive-in.
...the will-of the-wisp we couldn't catch on Porterville highway.
...Rosemary driving in 10 minutes to a place 20 miles away.
...swimming in a ditch or reservoir
you wouldn't stick your foot in today.
Have a Nice Day,
Dave
David Gilbert
Baton Rouge, LA USA - Wednesday, January 09, 2002 at 16:23:29 (PDT)
Hi everyone,
I really enjoy reading all the young memories that keep coming up in the chat room. Some of the comments such as Jacque's about the mosquito spraying jeeps. To this day I talk about how we use to run right behind the jeep while it was spraying and I know David, Stan, Winfield and all of us guys use to think it was great fun! When I talk to our kids and grandkids about growing up in Corcoran and tell them about NOBODY locking doors at home, the cars had keys in them and the windows rolled down and my home on 1515 South Wigdal was never locked and never had a key (if there was one) and there probably was but my folks new I would lose it playing football down at the lawn at the high school. One of the other top events was when Corcoran built the first municipal pool and all of us swam to our heart's content . . . Didn't have to try to find somebody's private pool to ask to swim in. And more accomplishment for the town is that I think it started the first little league baseball league in the surrounding area. ANOTHER FIRST!
As you can see, once a Panther, always a Panther!
Jim and Arlene (adopted Panther)
P.S. -- Arlene was asking if any dates have been set for the next reunion.
Jim Gonsalves
Tulare, ca USA - Tuesday, January 08, 2002 at 06:22:55 (PDT)
I talked to Barbara Goodrich Weaver yesterday and I started thinking about Corcoran. Does anyone else remember the hay barn that burned for at least a week one summer...seems like it was south of where the Goodrich's lived. How about the sugar beet factory that held Japanese prisoners at the end of ww2 or the German camp west on Whitley out of town. My dad use to go out there to speak a certain dialect when they were stumped. Also, how about Serena (sp?) that lived by the dump and was reputed to be the best mule skinner in the valley and the pictures of the mule skinners at the Corcoran Journal office. I still remember riding out Whitley Ave when I was 5 or 6 and seeing the "lake" with the barns and houses way out in the water. The horn that would sound usually at night when a levy broke and last but not least how about when the DDT was fogged all over town to kill the mosquitoes and everyone always went outside long before they should have...wouldn't the tree huggers have a field day with that!
jacque polzin
USA - Friday, January 04, 2002 at 20:18:34 (PDT)
Merry Christmas Everyone.
With Love,
David and Rosemary
D. Gilbert
Baton Rouge, LA. USA - Tuesday, December 25, 2001 at 17:51:17 (PDT)
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS. LOVE BRAD GILTON
BRADLEY GILTON
VISALIA, CA USA - Monday, December 24, 2001 at 13:38:53 (PDT)
Merry Christmas/Feliz Navidad y Ano Nuevo and Peace (la Paz) to all of you. I'm looking forward to Reno and seeing all of you again. David the class should thank you for all your hard work with this site. Not many classes are as fortunate. Soon, jacque
Jacque Polzin Thomson
San Luis Obispo, CA USA - Sunday, December 23, 2001 at 20:59:17 (PDT)
Hey,
Some good news! An agreement has been reached with Excite @ Home to continue Cox @ Home service. The agreement allows Cox @ Home high-speed Internet service to continue as they transition over the next
three months to their own network. A Judge has to approve the agreement.
David Gilbert
Baton Rouge, LA USA -
Wednesday, December 05, 2001 at 11:30:31 (PDT)
Hi,
I am Barbara Goodrich's sister. While looking at classmates, I saw your web and wanted to say hello. I loved the pictures of your classes, especially seeing Barb in some of them. I hope you find your missing classmates. Barbara is still living in Ventura, Ca.
Judith L. St.Clair
Virginia Beach, VA USA - Tuesday, November 13, 2001 at 19:20:29 (PDT)
Greetings!
Thanks to Rosemary and David and Jacque Thomson for finding me. What fun to be in touch after all these years -- almost 50, if you can believe that. I moved to Carpinteria in 1952.
Many fond memories. Wish I had pictures. I'll look again, but loved looking at the ones on the site -- jogging the old memory. Among them: "Chew Chowchilla" and other memorable games -- band and orchestra gambits, including the Rose Bowl parade.
Best wishes to all,
Julie Hirsch Wedekind
San Francisco, CA USA - Sunday, November 11, 2001 at 10:07:10 (PDT)
Hi,
I have put all the first thru fifth grade class pictures that I have on the site.
I have my sixth grade picture
(Mrs. Darter's class) and Rosemary has half of hers. (Mrs. Huff's class) There were
five
classes in the sixth grade, three (I think) in the fourth and two in the third thru
first. I don't believe there were
kindergarten pictures. As you can see, there are a lot of class pictures missing.
I can add room for the additional class pictures. You can get the class pictures to me by: E-mail, snail mail or... whenever you are in
Baton Rouge, drop them by. There are copy businesses that will turn your
picture into a floppy disk that you can mail. If you send by email, insert
the images in the email. If you need help call me at 225 928-5583 or my toll free
number 888-213-5564. My address is 1245 Melanie St., Baton Rouge, LA. 70815
Also, I would like to have
a page of pictures for every reunion. Send family pictures and we will do
a family page. We don't have any pictures of the tenth reunion.
I need Elinore Taub's Birthday. Better yet, does anyone know her married name.
PS Julia where are you.
David Gilbert
BR, LA USA - Friday, November 09, 2001 at 12:41:27 (PDT)
Just found out about this page. What a great idea. It's been a long time since I've seen so many names of old schoolmates. Since I attended Corcoran from K through 12, I know every name listed. Just sitting back and trying to remember those special moments. Hope to hear from many of you and will sure try to make the next reunion and most important...I WILL KEEP IN TOUCH.
Bill Rose
Bill Rose
Columbia, MO USA - Friday, October 12, 2001 at 17:35:23 (PDT)
Dave, David aka Squeeky
Testing our new address on email . . . The other day I was going to call you to see
if you received our email. As suspected you did not receive it. In that note I was telling you guys how much we enjoyed the Bakersfield reunion.
I also read the Corcoran Class of 56 Website -- GREAT JOB!
We also brought up the chat room and really enjoyed reading some of the letters such as Betty Grant talking about the girls beating the guys in dominoes! Reading Patty Shepherd's note made me laugh about the time my Mom threatened me about something that if I didn't straighten up she was going to make me take tap dancing lessons . . . I guess you don't remember but I know how to tap dance as I did take lessons at Patty's house. Mom wasn't kidding.
Jim aka Rip (Rip Van Winkle woke up to find something called email)
Jim Gonsalves
Tulare, CA USA - Sunday, October 07, 2001 at 15:08:30 (PDT)
We Got Henry Clark back on the member list with his email address.
Hi Henry,
Dave
David Gilbert
BR, LA USA - Friday, October 05, 2001 at 21:10:45 (PDT)
I've added a link from Gaylord Westbay's name to Wall Memorial in DC.
New pictures in the photo albums.
David Gilbert
Baton Rouge, LA USA - Wednesday, October 03, 2001 at 12:28:53 (PDT)
Dave:
I enjoyed receiving your letter with the list of missing classmates. I recall many of them, but with some, my memory is slightly fuzzy. I visited Corcoran over Labor Day. It seem changed in many ways, but the same in others. I miss many of the buildings that have been razed. Can't believe all of the fields I remember as empty with so many homes on them.
Sorry I missed the class reunion. Will try for the next. Please let me know the dates as soon as decided so that I can try to get them off. I will try to send some of our "earlier" pictures from school, and the names of those I can remember. Of course, I have to find my photo album. Since I have moved (after 32 years), I can't find half of the things I boxed up.
Hello to all of the class of 56. We need to keep in touch. Sorry that I have been so lax in doing so.
Barbara Goodrich Weaver
Ventura, CA USA - Wednesday, September 26, 2001 at 21:02:33 (PDT)
Hey Jacque,
I give up, but I've never heard of the Bronx cheer. I'm sure I would never do something like that. Anyway, you gave me the ideal to add sound to the two member lists. You will notice something loading after the lists are up. Thats the sound loading. Turn on your speakers and wait for the ball to stop turning.
Dave
David Gilbert
, LA USA - Monday, September 24, 2001 at 17:57:35 (PDT)
No Dave I don't hear him speaking.....a Bronx cheer is when you stick your tongue out, make a noise, and flap your hands beside your ears! I remember you making great faces when you were a verrrrry young boy and I'm sure the Bronx cheer was one of them, right? Jacque
Jacqueline Thomson
USA - Sunday, September 23, 2001 at 17:09:58 (PDT)
Hi Jacque,
I read your nice note and first the tiger that should be a panther is a lion. I can't get him to talk? Did you hear him talk? Does he talk to you often? A Bronx accent! Amazing.
Dave
USA - Sunday, September 16, 2001 at 20:16:38 (PDT)
Hi,
I had been trying to think of something to say about the events that happen in New York last
Tuesday, but didn't know how to share my feelings. Today I got this email from a train
buddy in England who pretty well summed it up.
Dear Dave,
Following on from our brief and enjoyable exchange through ebay over the past months, I would like to write just a few lines to convey my absolute heartache for the unbelievable, despicable events that has brought such devastation to your great city of New York.
I have not been there, nor am I a US citizen, but I truly believe New York City has always held a special place in the hearts of many people worldwide for whatever reason, and this act of terrorism has touched them all.
I wept as the unimaginable scenes were flashed live across the world and I have been close to tears throughout the last few days, especially as all of Europe fell silent for 3 minutes alongside stranded US citizens as a indication of unprecedented grief.
There are overwhelming displays of emotion and sympathy from the British people, particularly in recent scenes from Buckingham Palace which you no doubt witnessed on your television, and the message is strong, this attack is upon all of democracy.
Your County has not only full support from our armed forces and Government, but of the everyday people too.
As somebody said on that terrible day, " Today, we are all New Yorkers".
Your country is in all our thoughts.
Best wishes,
Rick Pendle, England.
Thanks,
Dave
David Gilbert
Baton Rouge, LA USA - Saturday, September 15, 2001 at 05:24:13 (PDT)
Love the tiger....especially the Bronx cheer he gives...reminds me of David Gilbert when he was about 10! Patti it's nice to see your picture after all these years, Shuffle, hop, step, brush, ball point.....I still remember. Only thing is I lost my tap shoes at least 40 years ago. Should have saved them they would have been antiques by now. How about hearing from a few more of you. Brad put the last comments in on June 25th!!! Dave the site is wonderful, Thanks for all your hard work. soon Jacqueline Polzin Thomson
Jacqueline "Jackie Polzin" Thomson
USA - Saturday, September 08, 2001 at 23:21:38 (PDT)
DAVID, GOOD WORK. THIS SITE GETS BETTER EVERY DAY. HOW ABOUT GETTING ALL THE NAMES ON THE 1ST GRADE CLASS PICTURE. I CAN NAME A FEW. I'LL WORK ON THE ONES I KNOW AND SEND THEM TO YOU. BRAD GILTON
Bradley Gilton
VISALIA,, CA USA - Monday, June 25, 2001 at 20:26:54 (PDT)
Dear Corcoran Classmates,
So many little thoughts, sights, and sounds trigger memories of our many years of
friendships. So many times I have wished Kansas was closer to California but the distance between us has keep me from sharing time with so many of you that I went to school with.
I had kept in touch with a small few in the past but now that I spoke with David Gilbert and was able to get on the Corcoran Guestbook Site.
I am hoping to be able to E-Mail any of you that still remember this girl that was a Friend, Majorette, Dancer (Shepherds Dance Studio) and hopefully we can now nurture the special gift of our past friendships through the
internet. Would love to hear from you.
Affectionately,
Patty
Patty (Shepherd) Elrod
Chanute, Ks USA - Friday, June 15, 2001 at 20:24:18 (PDT)
THE WEBSITE IS A GREAT IDEA. IT LOOKS GREAT.
WE REALLY ENJOYED 2001 CLASS REUNION. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE EVERYONE AND EVERYONE LOOKS GREAT.
WE HAD A VERY ENJOYABLE TIME FROM THE TIME WE ARRIVED UNTIL WE LEFT. I REALLY HATED THE GIRLS BEATING THE BOYS IN DOMINOS BUT SOMEONE HAD TO DO IT.
MAYBE THEY CAN GET IN A LITTLE PRACTICE BEFORE THE NEXT REUNION. WE ARE ALREADY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT.
THANKS TO JOAN AND STAN, THEY DID A REAL GOOD JOB.
SID & BETTY
Sid & Betty Grant
Visalia, CA USA - Monday, June 11, 2001 at 13:45:11 (PDT)
The picture of old friends singing "Moments to Remember" at the last reunion reminds me that I need to be reminded of names of old classmates who came and went through the years. So I say put everyone on the list who ever attended school with us. As the days grow shorter we need all of the friends we can get!
Wayne Crow
USA - Monday, May 28, 2001 at 14:11:36 (PDT)
I would prefer to see everyone's name on the list, including people like me who went from kindergarten to the middle of my junior year with the class. Someone reading the list might have a current address for the "lost" classmate. As for the deceased members of the class it's always nice to know "the rest of the story", instead of questioning why they were not on the list. I was a great pleasure seeing all of you in pictures, I'm sad that I missed the reunion. Next time for sure. Jacque Polzin Thomson
Jacqueline (Jackie) Polzin Thomson
San Luis Obispo , Ca USA - Wednesday, May 23, 2001 at 12:14:41 (PDT)
Yes, a complete list would be very interesting. I don't remember names well, but when I see them ...
aha, I remember! Told a little tale to my younger sister regarding Tommy McDonald just 2 weeks ago.
Unfortunately, I couldn't remember Tommy's name. Now I do. Thanks. (The tale included Tommy's
fantastic spit-shined shoes and how I used my sisters new coat to buff up those shoes to show my
folks the type of shine I wanted for my shoes. Mom wasn't very interested in shiny shoes ... but
she did give me some down-the-country for treating my sister's coat as a buffing rag!)
Yeah, let's list us all, and thanks for getting this put together.
Cleveland, TN USA - Tuesday, May 22, 2001 at 10:19:27 (PDT)
Who wants to go first
Dave Gilbert
USA - Saturday, May 19, 2001 at 08:45:56 (PDT)