Rosalee May (Rosie) O'Day (Mason)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all you Lancers!  Sorry this is a little belated. Things have been pretty hectic around here, but I wanted to let you all know how much I have enjoyed all the conversations on the website.  It is so fun to hear what everyone is doing and where your interests lie. (Bob, I must come up to Boise and see that beautiful lodge of yours).  We have another year to keep up the chatter. I hope more of you Lancers join in, if for no other reason than to tell us of the latest addition to your family or your recent travels.

On another note, I have gotten several calls wondering what we are going to do for the 70th birthday bash this year.  We have discussed having another informal event (such as the Friday night mixer at the 50th), maybe even at the same venue.  It would be nice to hear from all of you if you would like to voice your ideas. 

Finally, Mrs. Balsley is trying to find out who the valedictorians were for all her years at Hilltop. I was pretty sure ours was Nancy Nixon. Is that correct?

Best to all.  May this new year be filled with good health, happy families, and PEACE. 

Bruce Wilson

Rosie:

I'm pretty sure it was Nancy, who became Scanlon. I thought someone posted the progam here at one point.

Apparently the honor was shared by Los Tres Amigo/Amigas

"In Today Already Walks Tomorrow"

Challenge - Patricia Stirnweiss

Opportunity - Nancy Nixon

Responsibility - Frederick Longworth

Terry: 

1935 is pretty far back there. George will find one though. Oldest I'm seeing right now is 1950.

I recall that place in San Diego for SSN. It was upstairs.

Bruce Wilson

In reading back through some of this, I noticed that George pointed out that Rita Hayworth lived at 319 Fifth Avenue.

Would have been an exemplary Fiesta de la Luna queen, no?

Jerry Pedrotti

Add my belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year wishes to everyone.  You don't hear much from me but I do read and enjoy all the postings.  An informal 70th Birthday event would be fun and maybe I would actually finally get to one of these Hilltop events.  Best to all.

Treasa Struble (Skiles)

I agree. An informal gathering for a birthday celebrations is a great idea. No fuss, no muss; just good times!

Bruce Wilson

OK - What did John Wilson teach?

Pamela Sue Bellevan (Selvig)

I think a 70th event would be a great idea.

Pam

Bruce Wilson

My milk route experience was in Detroit where Milky reigned. I wonder if he danced on top a bottle and if any video of Johnny Downs will ever surface.

I also wonder if folks who show up on Classmates, but not here, are just unaware of this site.

Bruce Wilson

Google has one today, but I like this one better.

And, the Elizabeth Montgomery of Chula Vista is not the one who became Bewitched. 

Bruce Wilson

Little known SD facts. 

San Diego's only suspension bridge crosses, ... you guessed it? ...

Maple (not Maypo) Canyon. I don't know any of these folks.

On further review, it appears that the bridge is across the Kate Sessions portion of Maple Canyon.

Bruce Wilson

Neither Terry

Nor Mickey W.

Terry Lee Maple

I don't know how I managed to grow up without a visit to Maple Canyon, but "I Want My Maypo" was my campaign slogan. I'm so glad Bruce mentioned Mickey Wright. Somehow I missed seeing Mickey at the reunion. He is such a great guy. He lived down the street from me and his next door neighbor was Lannette Hughes. Lannette had a great personality. I don't know if Bruce has discussed her fate with Mickey. I'm sure he would be concerned. Mickey, if you read this blog, you and I were team-mates for years and years and I rmember you as a terrific athlete and always a good sportsman. The next time I am in Chula Vista we've got to sit down and spin some yarns about our youth.

Bruce Wilson

Terry:

We just saw Mickey and Peggy at Christmas-time. They live in Julian. I don't think they ever lookin here, but I'll let him know how to find you.

For all you hardcore Johnny Downs fans (I know you're out there).

Here's Johnny 

Shows up about 7 minutes into it.

Bruce Wilson

More CV trivia:

Raymond Chandler (creator of the Phillip Marlowe series and many others) was hospitalized briefly in what has been described as a Chula Vista Clinic or Sanatorium in July of 1956. Could it have been Vista Hill where a bunch of us used to hang out (John Dixon's father was the director) in hgh school and for a while after?

From 50 Year Anniversary Brochure

GA 2-6188

VISTA lULL SANITARIUM One of Chula Vista's most interesting organizations is the Vista Hill Sanitarium, owned and operated by the Vista Hill Psychiatric Foundation at 3 North Second Avenue. Only short-term acute psychiatric patients may share the 66-bed capacity of this unique institution. Men and women of all ages are accepted. Facilities are available for acutely disturbed patients. A wide range of therapies (including occupational) are offered, as are exceptionai recreational opportunities and organized picnics and other social events. The medical staff is composed of 10 psychiatrists plus 10 on courtesy staff, all in private practice. All are either certified or eligible for certification with the American Board of Psychiatry ap8 Neurology. Psychologists, occupational and recreational thetapists, aides, attendants, dieticians all(~ others complete the staff of 37 full time employees. The Sanitarium, a member of many hospital and sanitarium associations, has developed an enviable reputation since 1946, and is now planning an outstanding psychiatric treatment and day 'care center, with out-patient clinic, expected to be completed in 1962, at which time the present facilities will be converted for geriatric care. _

Chula Vista Hospital (on F, not G) opened in 1944 only two years before I showed up.

Bruce Wilson

I do not remember the "South Bay" being called that when we were growing up and thought it was a more recent term.

However this is from 1930:

Swiss Park 1953

George Bracey Gillow

Terry, I could not find any Sweetwater HS Yearbook from 1935 on-line as Bruce mentioned.

I asked Maribel Gavin, who is now principal of Sweetwater, if they had one. She had people at the HS and District search, but the oldest they could find was 1960.

I noticed there are a  number of 1935 Yearbooks from other schools on E-bay and one from SWHS could possibly show up. I suggest doing the "Follow this search" function where they give you an email notification if the item shows up.

George Bracey Gillow

I WANT MY MAYPO

Here is an old commercial:

Terry Lee Maple

I don't know what happened to my uncle's yearbook but I do know that he milked cows every day so he had enough money to buy a suit for graduation and purchase a yearbook. My father never graduated from old Su-Hi but Grady did. They were both lifelong fans of Sweetwater athletics except when my brother (Chula Vista) and I were playing them. In those days, for boys raised in Nebraska, milking cows was the country equivalent of delivering the paper.

George Bracey Gillow

HISTORIC TROLLEY SERVICE IN CHULA VISTA

There was a time, up until about 1925, when you could board a trolley/street car at the corner of 3rd and K streets (near the lemon packing plant) and travel to downtown San Diego, the Zoo, Mission Hills or even to La Jolla.

Below is a picture of a trolley at the corner of 3rd and Fst. and then a picture of the historic trolley routes.

George Bracey Gillow

TROLLEYS THEN AND EARLY 1980S

The trolleys that served San Diego and Chula Vista, in the first part of the 20th century, ended operation in 1948. The new trolley service began in 1981 and has been very successful.

Two of the vintage trolleys were restored and operate on a loop in San Diego downtown area on the existing new trolley line. We took a ride on the old trolley a few weeks ago. They run on half hour schedules. You can board at any of the MTS trolley stops and prices are the same as the regular trolley. It is a worthwhile fun ride. 

Here is the Vintage Trolley website:

 http://www.sdmts.com/schedules-real-time/vintage-trolley .

The following pictures are of a training car in 1980 before operation began. The lady on the left is Bonita resident Judy Bauer, who with then SD councilwoman Maureen O'Connor, was co-chair of the Metropolitan Transit Development Board. To the right is Ray Blair SD City Manager. With the assistance of South Bay State Senator James Mills, they brought trolley service back to San Diego County. Judy Bauer was also a member of the Chula Vista Elementary School Board and the Sweetwater High School Board--both at the same time.

George Bracey Gillow

SAN DIEGO TROLLEY TODAY

The San Diego Trolley system has been very successful. The project was highly criticized at first. Critics felt that there would be no customer base for a trolley system in San Diego and that the cars would run empty.

Also, there was criticism of the honor system where there is no ticket collection, just spot checking. 

Well, the trolleys are almost always full of passengers and the system has been expanded over the years.

Spot checking of passengers has found that very few did not pay. There were times when criminals were arrested on trolleys or at trolley stations and found to have paid tickets.

The trolley is mostly surface but goes underground at San Diego State University. There is an underground station on campus.  

Below is the trolley today and the SDSU station:

Bruce Wilson

Sweetwater:

On Amazon

I found "Red and Gray" Sweetwater yearbooks for 1940 (earliest), 1944, 1945, 1951, 1952, 1953 and others.

Many are listed as currently unavailable.

You can get a 1951 for $80.00. I would be curious to see it, but not at that price.

Bruce Wilson

I have yet to ride the trolley. Keep meaning to.

We did do the Seven Bridges Walk the other day out by Balboa Park. My favorites are the Spruce St. and Vermont St. Bridges. 

If I was going to skip one due to either time or distance constraints it would be the bridge at Georgia St. and University.

There was a photo of Spruce back a few posts. Here is Quince St.

Bruce Wilson

Royal Gorge Suspension Bridge, Colorado.

Shayne may have walked it?

Bruce Wilson

Here's a bit more interesting Seven Bridge Walk (Ghana)