11-02-07 Update noted below.
Your Alumni site received this photo, courtesy of Gary Humphrey, Class of '64. The title of the photo is "Hill School", referred to by some Alumni as North Heights. North Heights is located between 9th and 10th Streets at the corner of Main Street and is the source of many a fond memories for some of you.
Share yours with us. A history of this school, additional photos, names of teachers you remember, school activities, and recollections related to this school would be of interest to your classmates. Help us recall some of the forgotten moments in our past!
Submit items of interest through the "Website Contact" at the top of the page or post it on the Wildcat Forum.
North Heights Was My First School I walked to school...not two miles in the snow, but about 14 blocks. Many of my friends to this day started at the same time I did.
Mr. Mooney was the principal, of the then 7 grades, and was everyone's friend. Ihave forgotten a lot of them, but some of the teachers were Ms, Rowlett, Adams, Russell, and of course our cafeteria lady, Mrs. Weaver.
Several times my dog, Jingles, would come to school, find me, and come in the class. The teachers always made me leave and take him home.
North Heights was probably best known for its Halloween Carnival, held during the early 40's, 50's and into the 60's. People camefrom all over town. There were all sorts of games, especially the cake walk. You were very fortunate if you were able to win one of those cakes. Remember, these weren't store bought cakes.
Fight night was alsoquite an attraction when a few of the boy's from North Heights would don boxing gloves and spar with the rich kids from the downtown school, Central.
We also played basketball against the rich boy's from downtown Central. Boy, did they take a whooping!!!!!
The fire escape was something we used to play on duringthe weekends. We would get wax paper, which would make you go faster) and slide down. There was a water fountain about 6-8 feet from the end of the slide, and you had to make sure you didn't crash into it!
There were all sorts of playground equipment, but the slide was the most fun...and dangerous. The Johnny Strike was like a May pole but with chains. At the end of each chainwere 3 bars hanging below each other. We would cross one bar over the other to lift you higher off the ground, and this would swing you out farther.
In 1963, in Corpus Christi, I moved my church letter (transferred to a new church)and was introduced to the audience as a new member. To my surprise, another new member was introduced as Mrs. Rowlett. She was my 2nd grade teacher, and I hadn't seen her since I left North Heights in 1948.
From my understanding the school is now being converted to Administration offices and Maintenance.
North Heights Crossing Patrol L-R: John Allen Graham, Robert Brockwell, Jordan Westmoreland, John Wayne Green and Gerald Leonard.
1942 First Grade picture
Memories of North Heights School received 10-24-07 and kindly presented by Winnie (Kennedy) Thompson, Class of 1940.
Seeing the picture of the "Hill School" which we calledNorth Heights certainly brought back a lot of memories. I attended classes there my third, fourth, fifth and sixth grades (1931, '32, '33 and '34). I still have my report cards from those years. I especially remember Inez Gilstrap and Lucille Love as my favorite teachers. Miss Love would bring records of classical music and play them followed by a quiz several days later to see how many we could name and recognize. Miss Gilstrap would get out on the playground and kick a football like "one of the boys". The girls jumped rope and the boys played marbles during recess. This was easy to do because there was no grass on the playground. Before Thanksgiving or Christmas we would all gather in the auditorium to celebrate the coming holidays. We sang songs like "Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory of the Coming of the Lord" before Thanksgiving and "Silent Night, Holy Night" before Christmas.
I think the worst thing that happened while there and today I still remember (the fear) taking my first Diphtheria shot. I suppose it was new and every child should have it. Other than that the time spent there was happy. I made life long friends with girls and boys there and later we all graduated together in High School.