My husband, Charlie, was raised in Greenville, SC. He went to elementary school, junior high and high school through his junior year. And, then, he, his mom and dad moved two weeks after he completed his junior year to Charlotte, NC. Major trauma for a 16-year-old. New school, new friends to make, little connection with the city or the school.
Although I've attended every high school reunion from my class of '65 at Antioch High School, Charlie has never attended any of his at either school. He lost contact with all of his friends with whom he had grown up in Greenville, and didn't have connection with those he graduated with in Charlotte.
However, last year, he began connecting with friends from Greenville on Facebook, and found out that a 50th reunion was being planned for last weekend. He was invited to attend.
As the time grew nearer, he pulled out his yearbook from his junior year and started studying faces and names and relating stories to me about who all of these people were. I felt as if I already knew many of them, especially some of the guys who lived near him. These were kids with whom he had camped out in their back yards and rode bicycles with, girls he had had secret crushes on.
So, last Friday morning, we began our trek to Greenville, SC. I had only been there twice - both times to attend funerals, one for Charlie's cousin's wife, and one for his dad. We were just there for a short time and, of course, had no time to really see the city where he had grown up. This time was for a celebration, and I intended to enjoy finding out more about my husband's childhood.
This is a great link to a story that appeared in the Miami Herald a couple of weeks before we left that will give you an idea of what this wonderful small city, that would remind one of Mayberry on steroids, is like. I had no idea what to expect, but came away absolutely in love with Greenville.
We got to Greenville mid-afternoon and attended the first function for those coming in early at Smoke on the Water, a local restaurant and watering hole. Charlie instantly knew so many of the people there although he had not seen them in 51 years. He constantly had a huge smile on his face. After the late afternoon function, we invited all those staying at the Hyatt with us to come up to our suite for wine and cheese and just to have more time to talk and renew friendships. About 30 people showed up and at 11:30, the last ones left. Lots of memories were shared and friendships were picked up just as if it were 1958 again.
On Saturday morning, we had a tour of Greenville High School. The city has just completed a restoration of this beautiful campus to the tune of $44 million. I was so impressed with the sheer size of the grounds and how beautiful they were. There is a magnolia tree out in front of the school that must be 150 years old. The auditorium has been restored exactly as it was, complete with the same seats that were all taken out and refurbished. Charlie even showed me the stairway where he and his girlfriend and stood and "made out" between classes. This was such an incredible experience for him.
Lunch that day brought back even more memories. One of his friend's family had owned the Pickwick Pharmacy, which was a local hang out. Charlie had worked as a "soda jerk" there while he was in high school. He had told me so many times about the chili dogs they served and how good they were. Well, Annabelle is no longer there to make the chili, but her recipe lives on long after her and is still made every day. I have to say, that was probably the best hot dog I've ever had anywhere. Charlie's friend, Dwight Odom, took over the pharmacy when his dad retired, and now Dwight's sons have taken it over from him. There was even a banner outside welcoming the Greenville Red Raiders, Class of '59, when we drove up.
After lunch, we drove around Greenville and I finally saw the apartments where Charlie first remembered living. We drove from there to his elementary school, Augusta Circle Elementary, just to see how far he actually walked to school. It's hard to comprehend today that a parent would allow a 6-year-old to walk a mile twice a day and cross a main street. But the Greenville then, was much smaller than the Greenville today.
When we drove down into the subdivision where they moved and he lived the rest of his time there, he began immediately pointing out houses and who had lived here. There was Bobby Campbell's house and in his backyard, they would camp out at night. We saw Mary Ellen Simon's house, and Mickey Brown's house. There was Vanda Outlaw's house, where Charlie went to borrow her typewriter to type a term paper. He truly had a trip down memory lane.
On Saturday evening, we attended the BIG function at the Poinsett Club, Greenville's most prestigious private club. There was a memory room with lots of pictures and memorabilia. The music was all 50/60s and everyone danced and just had a wonderful time.
Just watching Charlie was enough for me. To see him relive some wonderful memories with old friends he hadn't seen in half a century, and to watch him continually smile the entire weekend made the trip worthwhile. To see the pictures of this wonderful weekend, click here Greenville High School 50th Reunion.
Because we had such a great time, I've gotten the bug to begin planning my 45th reunion for next year!!! Anyone what to help?
Although I've attended every high school reunion from my class of '65 at Antioch High School, Charlie has never attended any of his at either school. He lost contact with all of his friends with whom he had grown up in Greenville, and didn't have connection with those he graduated with in Charlotte.
However, last year, he began connecting with friends from Greenville on Facebook, and found out that a 50th reunion was being planned for last weekend. He was invited to attend.
As the time grew nearer, he pulled out his yearbook from his junior year and started studying faces and names and relating stories to me about who all of these people were. I felt as if I already knew many of them, especially some of the guys who lived near him. These were kids with whom he had camped out in their back yards and rode bicycles with, girls he had had secret crushes on.
So, last Friday morning, we began our trek to Greenville, SC. I had only been there twice - both times to attend funerals, one for Charlie's cousin's wife, and one for his dad. We were just there for a short time and, of course, had no time to really see the city where he had grown up. This time was for a celebration, and I intended to enjoy finding out more about my husband's childhood.
This is a great link to a story that appeared in the Miami Herald a couple of weeks before we left that will give you an idea of what this wonderful small city, that would remind one of Mayberry on steroids, is like. I had no idea what to expect, but came away absolutely in love with Greenville.
We got to Greenville mid-afternoon and attended the first function for those coming in early at Smoke on the Water, a local restaurant and watering hole. Charlie instantly knew so many of the people there although he had not seen them in 51 years. He constantly had a huge smile on his face. After the late afternoon function, we invited all those staying at the Hyatt with us to come up to our suite for wine and cheese and just to have more time to talk and renew friendships. About 30 people showed up and at 11:30, the last ones left. Lots of memories were shared and friendships were picked up just as if it were 1958 again.
On Saturday morning, we had a tour of Greenville High School. The city has just completed a restoration of this beautiful campus to the tune of $44 million. I was so impressed with the sheer size of the grounds and how beautiful they were. There is a magnolia tree out in front of the school that must be 150 years old. The auditorium has been restored exactly as it was, complete with the same seats that were all taken out and refurbished. Charlie even showed me the stairway where he and his girlfriend and stood and "made out" between classes. This was such an incredible experience for him.
Lunch that day brought back even more memories. One of his friend's family had owned the Pickwick Pharmacy, which was a local hang out. Charlie had worked as a "soda jerk" there while he was in high school. He had told me so many times about the chili dogs they served and how good they were. Well, Annabelle is no longer there to make the chili, but her recipe lives on long after her and is still made every day. I have to say, that was probably the best hot dog I've ever had anywhere. Charlie's friend, Dwight Odom, took over the pharmacy when his dad retired, and now Dwight's sons have taken it over from him. There was even a banner outside welcoming the Greenville Red Raiders, Class of '59, when we drove up.
After lunch, we drove around Greenville and I finally saw the apartments where Charlie first remembered living. We drove from there to his elementary school, Augusta Circle Elementary, just to see how far he actually walked to school. It's hard to comprehend today that a parent would allow a 6-year-old to walk a mile twice a day and cross a main street. But the Greenville then, was much smaller than the Greenville today.
When we drove down into the subdivision where they moved and he lived the rest of his time there, he began immediately pointing out houses and who had lived here. There was Bobby Campbell's house and in his backyard, they would camp out at night. We saw Mary Ellen Simon's house, and Mickey Brown's house. There was Vanda Outlaw's house, where Charlie went to borrow her typewriter to type a term paper. He truly had a trip down memory lane.
On Saturday evening, we attended the BIG function at the Poinsett Club, Greenville's most prestigious private club. There was a memory room with lots of pictures and memorabilia. The music was all 50/60s and everyone danced and just had a wonderful time.
Just watching Charlie was enough for me. To see him relive some wonderful memories with old friends he hadn't seen in half a century, and to watch him continually smile the entire weekend made the trip worthwhile. To see the pictures of this wonderful weekend, click here Greenville High School 50th Reunion.
Because we had such a great time, I've gotten the bug to begin planning my 45th reunion for next year!!! Anyone what to help?
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