My students had a project to find out the stories of their grandparents. This is example for one of the responses:
Dear *****,
I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the youngest of four, born to *** and ******. My twin sisters,**** and ****, were about a year older than me and my brother, ***, was three years older. I lived my first year or two or three in Bay Village, just west of Cleveland until we moved to 365 Beach Street of Berea, Ohio. This is about 40 minutes southwest of downtown Cleveland driving or by bus. My Dad also did take a train into his office in Cleveland and I remember walking with him to the train station occasionally in the morning and meeting him when he returned at night. When we four kids went with Mom to downtown Cleveland and Dad's office we always dressed in our finest and rode a bus both ways. When I was 13 we moved to Hinckley, which is directly south of Cleveland and about an hour drive away. Pat did his last year of high school at Berea, my sisters and I went to Hinckley Middle School for two year, than transferred to Brecksville High School further east and where we graduated from. In Berea we walked five or six city blocks to Elementary School and then, I did my seven and eighth grade at Berea High which was a little closer but still a long walk. There was little busing in those days. School in those days was about the same as it is now. In Elementary we had one teacher for the full year and than started having different classes and teachers beginning with the seventh grade. Recess was a big thing and I was a favorite with the girls in the 5th and 6th grades. In Hinckley we usually rode a school bus to and from, but occasionally would ride my bike and later rode a small motor scooter Dad bought for me. In my tenth grade at Hinckley I was the only student who signed up for Geometry and so my class was held in the principles office where I read my book and worked out problems. Also, one day I was called to the principles office to meet with him and a Sheriff's deputy. It seems that one of my so-called friends, the night before, broke into every locker in the boys' gym except mine, which made me a prime suspect. I played on a six man football team at Hinckley. In my 11 and 12 grades I drove myself and others to Brecksville High School. I played on their basketball team, football and track. Also, I remember our History teacher assigning a writing of our family histories. My Latin and English teacher, Miss Fitting, was outstanding and she made schooling a top priority with me and my classmates. Because of her I was elected to the National Honor Society. I have always said since that it takes only one great teacher like her to make a school successful in educating its students. My earliest job, I believe was in Berea and I was a part-time clerk on a rolling grocery store. It was an old bus filled with fresh fruits and vegetables and the proprietor would drive around through the neighborhoods like an ice cream truck selling his wares. I got fired from that job for trying to drive the bus a short distance. i was only 10 at the time and did not have a driver's license. I also delivered an afternoon newspaper in Berea. My father was a patent attorney and, yes, he inspired me to become an attorney also. In fact, my first job after law school was in his office in Cleveland filing foreign patent applications for his clients. I worked there two years than found an opening for a general practice attorney in Newark, Ohio. My mother never worked other than as a volunteer and she died from a heart disease when I was 12. My father remarried a year later and my step mother never worked either other than taking care of us kids. Just a little bit more. Traveling? Prior to age 12, my Dad always seemed too busy to take a vacation and take us on trips like your Grandma and I use to do with your Mother. However, following the death of my mother, Dad and our Aunt Edna took us to the Black Hills of South Dakota where my Dad grew up. That was a great trip. As far as "hanging our with our friends", we would, in Berea, play games with them in the evenings, such as kick the can, and walk with them downtown to the movie or to buy a soda. But we had no malls to meet them at. In Hinckley there was a ice cream parlor across from our school we often went to meet them. Chores? In Berea I do not remember having any. But in Hinckley our home sat on 2 and half acres next to a lake and I got the job of mowing the grass every season. My brother was always gone, like at the Naval Academy, and my sisters strongly felt that mowing grass was a boy's job not a girl's job. I had a power mower I walked behind, but believe me after four or five seasons of that I had my fill with that chore. That is the reason I now own and live in a Condo with no yard work. Back to schools, I should also mention that I was elected to be president of my senior class of Brecksville High. If you need anything more, please let us know. Love Grandpa ****
Dear *****,
I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the youngest of four, born to *** and ******. My twin sisters,**** and ****, were about a year older than me and my brother, ***, was three years older. I lived my first year or two or three in Bay Village, just west of Cleveland until we moved to 365 Beach Street of Berea, Ohio. This is about 40 minutes southwest of downtown Cleveland driving or by bus. My Dad also did take a train into his office in Cleveland and I remember walking with him to the train station occasionally in the morning and meeting him when he returned at night. When we four kids went with Mom to downtown Cleveland and Dad's office we always dressed in our finest and rode a bus both ways. When I was 13 we moved to Hinckley, which is directly south of Cleveland and about an hour drive away. Pat did his last year of high school at Berea, my sisters and I went to Hinckley Middle School for two year, than transferred to Brecksville High School further east and where we graduated from. In Berea we walked five or six city blocks to Elementary School and then, I did my seven and eighth grade at Berea High which was a little closer but still a long walk. There was little busing in those days. School in those days was about the same as it is now. In Elementary we had one teacher for the full year and than started having different classes and teachers beginning with the seventh grade. Recess was a big thing and I was a favorite with the girls in the 5th and 6th grades. In Hinckley we usually rode a school bus to and from, but occasionally would ride my bike and later rode a small motor scooter Dad bought for me. In my tenth grade at Hinckley I was the only student who signed up for Geometry and so my class was held in the principles office where I read my book and worked out problems. Also, one day I was called to the principles office to meet with him and a Sheriff's deputy. It seems that one of my so-called friends, the night before, broke into every locker in the boys' gym except mine, which made me a prime suspect. I played on a six man football team at Hinckley. In my 11 and 12 grades I drove myself and others to Brecksville High School. I played on their basketball team, football and track. Also, I remember our History teacher assigning a writing of our family histories. My Latin and English teacher, Miss Fitting, was outstanding and she made schooling a top priority with me and my classmates. Because of her I was elected to the National Honor Society. I have always said since that it takes only one great teacher like her to make a school successful in educating its students. My earliest job, I believe was in Berea and I was a part-time clerk on a rolling grocery store. It was an old bus filled with fresh fruits and vegetables and the proprietor would drive around through the neighborhoods like an ice cream truck selling his wares. I got fired from that job for trying to drive the bus a short distance. i was only 10 at the time and did not have a driver's license. I also delivered an afternoon newspaper in Berea. My father was a patent attorney and, yes, he inspired me to become an attorney also. In fact, my first job after law school was in his office in Cleveland filing foreign patent applications for his clients. I worked there two years than found an opening for a general practice attorney in Newark, Ohio. My mother never worked other than as a volunteer and she died from a heart disease when I was 12. My father remarried a year later and my step mother never worked either other than taking care of us kids. Just a little bit more. Traveling? Prior to age 12, my Dad always seemed too busy to take a vacation and take us on trips like your Grandma and I use to do with your Mother. However, following the death of my mother, Dad and our Aunt Edna took us to the Black Hills of South Dakota where my Dad grew up. That was a great trip. As far as "hanging our with our friends", we would, in Berea, play games with them in the evenings, such as kick the can, and walk with them downtown to the movie or to buy a soda. But we had no malls to meet them at. In Hinckley there was a ice cream parlor across from our school we often went to meet them. Chores? In Berea I do not remember having any. But in Hinckley our home sat on 2 and half acres next to a lake and I got the job of mowing the grass every season. My brother was always gone, like at the Naval Academy, and my sisters strongly felt that mowing grass was a boy's job not a girl's job. I had a power mower I walked behind, but believe me after four or five seasons of that I had my fill with that chore. That is the reason I now own and live in a Condo with no yard work. Back to schools, I should also mention that I was elected to be president of my senior class of Brecksville High. If you need anything more, please let us know. Love Grandpa ****
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