FLASHLIGHT

JULY, 2011

In 1920 "Cool Papa" Bell joined the many African Americans escaping the impoverished south for urban centers of the midwest, bringing their music and their baseball with them. Bell moved to St. Louis because, he later said, “You could just live better and make more money.” Four of his older brothers already lived in St. Louis, where they played for a black semi-pro team, the Compton Hill Cubs, on Sundays and holidays. Soon the wiry (5’11”, 145 lbs.) James was playing for the team too as a knuckleball pitcher while also earning $21.20 per week laboring at the Independent Packing Company and attending high school at night.

The team disbanded in August 1921 and in 1922 Bell joined another semi-pro team, the East St. Louis Cubs. He earned $20 per week for pitching on Sundays. On 3 May 1922 he signed with the St. Louis Stars, a major power in the Negro National League, for $90 per month. He reportedly earned his famous nickname as a rookie with the Stars, when he calmly struck out the feared slugger Oscar Charleston in a crucial situation. The players began calling him “Cool,” which manager Bill Gatewood later modified to “Cool Papa.”

Bell pitched and played the outfield occasionally until 1924, when, at Gatewood’s urging, he made two changes that would be crucial to his later success: He began playing center field exclusively, and he learned to switch hit. (Although a left-handed thrower, Bell had always batted right-handed.) Bell eventually became a defensive star in center field, known for playing unusually shallow because his speed enabled him to reach most balls hit over his head.

While some stories may be exaggerated, his speed was real. He was once clocked circling the bases in an astonishing TWELVE seconds! He stole 175 bases in just under 200 games. His skill with the bat established a lifetime batting average of .341. ( It would be interesting to know how much his contract would be worth if he played in today's market.)

Back in the day we didn't watch a lot of television nor were there computers to take up our time. We had to create our games such as the rubber band gun made with clothes pins kids use to carve. You can find them at garage sales now for a buck or even buy them off of Ebay for just a little more. 

FLASHLIGHT

JULY, 2011

 OFFICER AND TRUSTEE ELECTIONS

Wagner Electric
Retirees' Picnic
August 18th at St. Rita's Church
10:30 am to 1:30 pm
North and South Avenue @ Page Avenue
Admission Fee: $3.00 - light lunch served
For more information contact: Jerry Blankenship 314-808-4209

Character is what you do---on the 4th try.

 JULY, 2011

WALKING THROUGH WELLSTON
By Joyce (Perkins) Sudbeck ‘53
1853 Irving Avenue

Thanks to the diligent efforts of the Flashlight Newsletter and Jim Shaw, I was recently “found” and reconnected with what I think of as my Alma Mater (although, I spent my last year and a half at Normandy High School.)

 While looking back over some of the early ’50’s issues of the Flashlight, my mind began wandering back to the very heart of Wellston - Easton Avenue - and the wheels started turning.

 I won’t pretend that I remember all of the many businesses that lined both sides of Easton Avenue, from Evergreen to Hamilton Avenues, but I do recall quite a few. Imbedded in the memory of these places were other memories that surfaced as I mused.

 Come, take a short walk through Wellston with me, and see if we can spark some special memories for you.

 Let’s start at the corner of Evergreen and Easton -

 Western Auto - I remember taking six “free” Ballroom Dancing lessons, at the Arthur Murray Studio, upstairs over Western Auto. Later on I remember my parents square-dancing there. The second floor was always filled with music and laughter.

 Central Hardware - They had anything and everything you needed. I was saddened by their recent closure.

 The Wellston Theatre - I cannot begin to count the many matinees I attended for the admission price of one thin dime. I remember sitting through the same movie over and over, two or three times. No one ever made us leave after the first showing.

 Walgreen’s Drugstore - Who could forget those delicious “Cherry Cokes” and hand-dipped “Ice Cream Sodas and Sundaes?” I know I haven’t. Yum!

 S.S. Kresge’s - This was my first “real job” where I earned a whopping $.50 per hour. But…you know what? It is all money and it all spends, whether it is a large or a small amount. We made change with red and green “mills.” Remember those?

 Across the Hodiamont Streetcar tracks started another block with the Thom McCann Shoe Store - later replaced by Hill Brothers Shoes.

 Busy Bee Department Store - I bought many, many yards of corduroy fabric there to sew skirts to wear to school with my sweaters.

 Dau Furniture Store - Remember their motto: “What Dau promises, Dau always does.” I guess they did although I can’t remember buying furniture from them.

 J.C. Penney Department Store - Penney’s stores have historically been like “shoppers’ guardian angels” as long as I can remember. After all, they are still around and still going strong. Could we live without them?

 Crossing over and starting down the other side -

 The Victory Theatre - There were enough moviegoers in those days to populate both the Victory and the Wellston, any day of the week. And, we did.

 Morris Variety Store - They had “this and that” such as glassware, and bicycles. Coincidentally, Morris Variety afforded my husband, Harold’s, his first “real job.”

 Woolworth Dime Store - The same fare as S.S. Kresge’s but, again, there was enough business for both. Competition is a good thing.

 Westlake Drugstore - I’m at the corner of Hodiamont and Easton. I probably passed by some stores that I don’t remember.

 I believe Mavrakos Candy Store was just around the corner from Westlake.

 Ah-h-h-h-h! We come to the famous Wellston Loop where the busses turned around. The Hodiamont Streetcar passed right on through, headed for their own, personal Loop. Their Loop was located between Timberlake Avenue, and the continuation of Irving Avenue (where my brother, Bob Perkins ’50, and I lived.)

 Katz Drugstore (also in the Loop) - I am still wearing three pair of screw-type earrings I bought at Katz for $.50 each. “Waste not, want not.” as they say, or “What a pack-rat she must be,” others might say. Okay, I confess. I am. I never throw anything away.

 Marre’s Tavern - I don’t know anything about Marre’s except there was always a lot of activity, shouting, and laughter going on. I think they must have been having fun from the sound of things.

 Neisner’s Department Store - Yet another department store but with enough shoppers to keep them afloat.

 Deluxe (Restaurant?) - Around the corner from Neisner’s, on Irving. They served “heavenly” hamburgers and “delicious” fries. There were always a lot of teens and young people hanging out there. In those days, hamburgers and fries weren’t staples in our diets, so to bite into a Deluxe burger was a real treat. Deluxe was an all-around fun place to go.

 Zorensky’s - Hey guys! How many pairs of Threadneedle Street shoes did you own? They were real class, weren’t they? But, the price…Yikes!!!

 I’m getting weary, how about you? Only one more place to go, and we’ll stop. I believe there was an auto parts store on Easton across from Western Auto where we began this little stroll down memory lane.

 I believe there was a bank, a jewelry store, a donut shoppe, and a loan company somewhere along Easton. Perhaps you may remember who or where they were and how they fit into the “Wonderful World of Shopping” called Wellsto.

 Thanks for walking with me, I have enjoyed your company.
 

Be neither enamored by your success---nor defeated by your failures.