[ See also Blog No. 1 ]
[ See also Blog No. 2 ]
[ See also Blog No. 3 ]
[ See also Blog No. 4 ]
[ See also Blog No. 5 ]
[ See also Blog No. 6 ]
[ See also Blog No. 7 ]
[ See also Blog No. 8 ]
[ See also Blog No. 9 ]
[ See also Blog No. 10 ]
[ See also Blog No. 11 ]
[ See also Blog No. 12 ]
[ See also Blog No. 13 ]
[ See also Blog No. 14 ]
[ See also Blog No. 15 ]
[ See also Blog No. 16 ]
[ See also Blog No. 17 ]
[ See also Blog No. 18 ]
[ See also Blog No. 19 ]
[ See also Blog No. 20 ]
[ See also Blog No. 21 ]
[ See also Blog No. 22 ]
[ See also Blog No. 23 ]
[ See also Blog No. 24 ]
[ See also Blog No. 25 ]
[ See also Blog No. 26 ]
[ See also Blog No. 27 ]
[ See also Blog No. 28 ]
[ See also Blog No. 29 ]

BLOG No. 14 ~ GARY WOLFSTONE  : 

"I missed my Class Reunion ~ Attica (Iowa) High School Class of 1961"

WELCOME TO GARY WOLFSTONE'S BLOG ~ If I had remained in Iowa, I would have graduated with the Attica High School Class of 1961 (Attica, Iowa).

   Although Ron and Ruby had exetended an invitation to me, I was in the middle of a jury trial at the time ~ I regret that I missed the reunion.

   I have many fond memories of Attica High School, and sadly some of my friends from the crew at Attica have already passed away. The faculty was great: Mr. Holdefer (math and physics); Mrs. Gilderbloom (English); Mr. McCurdy (social sciences); Mrs. Hellman (biology); Mr. Timmerman (home room teacher); and Oscar Hammond (our Principal and history teacher). The skating trips (sitting beside a lovely young lady on the bus) and mustering up the courage to put my arm around a girl on the ride to and from Knoxville.

   I still keep in touch with Ron Rogers who lives in Knoxville and manages his rental properties, but I have not returned to Iowa for seven decades. One of our mutual friends, Larry Kirkwood (whose family owned a dry cleaning business in Knoxville), was an artist who died prematurely. Our address was Vande Kamp, Rural Route 1, Knoxville,Iowa and our telephone was three longs and two shorts (the old crank phones that were so common in the early 1950's).

   My little brother Chuck Wolfstone died at the age of 64 so I can no longer reminisce with him about our exploits on the milk route and our lunches in Albia, Iowa (the famous tenderloin sandwiches). I recall getting my haircuts from a woman named "Gertie" who owned a barber shop in Attica. I remember the soft drink cooler - a large open vat of ice cold water - at Delno's grocery store. I remember the trips to Knoxville on the week-ends, parking on the square, and visiting with anyone who walked past (walking around the square) from neighboring farms.

  Growing up on the farm with the Vande Kamps was hard work, and I picked up many country-boy skills ~ I can milk a cow with my bare hands; I can drive a tractor and plow or disc all day long; and I can ride a horse bare back at a full gallop. At an early age, I was the proud owner of my own single shot .22 caliber rifle and learned to respect firearms.

  On balance, I had a good fetching up in Iowa. I will always treasure those memories as "the good ole days!"

  The below photo was taken in Attica, Iowa on July 16, 2011.