 | Faye Graves, a native Wichitan, attended school at Friends and Wichita State, concluding at Midwestern Theological Seminary. He has been active in media for many years with Channel 12, KIRL, KFDI, KOOO AM & FM (Omaha), KFRM & KICT 95, as an owner, manager, producer, director and announcer. He has served as President of the Haysville Board of Education. He has also served on several national boards of the Southern Baptist Convention. Faye currently serves as Executive Pastor and Director of Administration and Education at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1415 S. Topeka, Wichita. You may contact Faye by e-mail fmgraves@amenibc.org, or by phone at (316) 262-1452. |
Nostalgia
2010-09-01 10:47:00
Remember...
Do you remember getting ready for a new school year when you lived in South Wichita in September?
Answer: Boy, those are some memories. When I was growing up, I did not look forward to going back to school after the Summer vacation. I don’t imagine I was much different than the rest of the kids. I remember my parents going with me to register. We traveled downtown to the bookstores to buy school equipment at Goldsmiths and Orrs bookstores. My folks always bought me two sets of winter clothes; 2 shirts, 2 pair of jeans and a pair of shoes. I remember on the first day meeting my new teacher and writing my name on the board next to my desk number so she would know me. Then I would get my assignment for my hook in the coat closet. I lived on South Water so I always walked to school whether it was snow, rain, sleet or any kind of weather. I attended Harry Street Grade Elementary. I can still drive by and see my old kindergarten room. No kidding…it’s still there after all of these years, on the far Northeast corner of the building.
When I went to that school, they actually had a real, old building on the Northwest that was separated from the newer building farther East on the school ground. That building was demolished many years ago. I was more interested in what was across the street. There was a Watt’s drugstore, and just east were the offices of Dr. Edgerton. Further east in the same building was the dentist, Dr. Reester, who also led the neighborhood band that played once a week, in the summer at a park by the fire station, in the 1300 block of South Broadway. There was no TV at this time so the concerts were well attended by many of the neighbors and even folks from across town. This park was located in the next block North of Hamilton School and the Faith Baptist Church. Today it is Immanuel Baptist Church.
On Harry Street, just east of the dentist’s office, was a great hamburger stand where you could actually buy hamburgers for 5 cents and soda pop for the same price. In the next block East, was Neil’s drugstore that had a great magazine rack where the kids would sit and read comic books and not buy them. Management always made us stop.
School days bring back many memories like the Duncan YOYO champions that performed on the sidewalk outside the drug store and sold many YOYOs to the kids. If they learned the tricks enough to do them well, they were awarded a shiny Duncan jacket which they wore proudly, almost like a letter jacket in high school.
The teachers back then were very strict. There was no goofing off in class that did not carry a penalty of writing the assignment on the black board or staying after school.
September brings back lots of memories of those old school days in South Wichita.
