“Police opened fire on a parade of striking steel workers and their families at the gate of the Republic Steel Company, in South Chicago. Fifty people were shot, of whom 10 later died; 100 others were beaten with clubs.” Dorothy Day
police go on rampage during 1937 Memorial Day Massacre
I mourn for all the soldiers who lost their lives protecting America’s freedoms, Paul Curry, who died of the coast of Vietnam, and all the labor militants who sacrificed to help gain a living wage and safety protections for their comrades. As is his annual tradition, former rank-and-file union stalwart Mike Olszanski reminded Facebook friends of the 1937 Memorial Day Massacre at Republic Steel. He wrote: “SWOC, Lodge 1010 lost four members at the Memorial Day Massacre: Alfred Causey, Earl Handley, Kenneth Reed, and Sam Popovich. John Sargent, several times president of Local 1010, was there and survived to tell us about it.”
I received this inquiry from Margaret Ford:
My paternal grandfather, Joseph Zolondz, was killed at U. S. Steel in Gary in the early 1940’s when a tornado blew in and severely damaged a smokestack (chimney).In all there were four men killed that day. My mother told me the story. She said she knew my dad and his family, but they were not married at the time. One of my brothers saw the plaque at the steel company with the men’s names on it, but I am unable to find a story on it. My grandfather and the family lived in New Chicago, Indiana at the time, and my dad had seven siblings. How do I go about finding information about my grandfather’s death? I live in Granger, IN, but have siblings still in the region. Any help would be appreciated.
Danica Patrick crash; below, Jerry Trump
Danica Patrick, participating in her final Indianapolis 500, crashed into the wall on Turn 2 of Lap 68. In the stands, Packers QB Aaron Rogers watched. Post-Tribcolumnist Jerry Davich wrote about 80-year-old Crown Point resident Jerry Trump, who attended “The Race” for the 70thstraight time. When his dad first took him in 1949, the trip took over five hours because I-65 didn’t exist. He recalled that the 1951 winner was driven by Lee Wallard and owned by Murrell Belanger, who had a Crown Point Chrysler dealership. Jerry’s worst experience was in 1973. Salt Walther crashed and was badly burned on the first lap; then rain postponed the action for two days and shortened the race on the third after 133 laps.
Linda Teague and Angela Lane
Linda Teague passed away; daughter Angie wrote this touching notice:
We lost my mom, Linda Teague, yesterday and we dearly miss her today and always. She fought a long hard battle with ALS, and was able to overcome obstacle after obstacle so that she could still be a part of our lives but her body finally couldn't take it anymore even though her mind was willing. Although we knew this day would come, it doesn't make it any less difficult and I wish she could have stayed with us longer. But, I know that she is at peace now and no longer in pain. She was a wonderful mom and grandma and she will live in our hearts forever. Love you Mom! XOXO
I first met Linda when she worked at the Kmart in Miller. After it closed down, she became an A student at IUN and received a Bachelor’s degree in Allied Health with a specialty in Medical Coding. Despite the ravages of ALS – during the past year she could communicate only by blinking – she lived to see grandkids James and Becca mature into talented and personable young adults.
photo above by Miranda, below by Alissa (of Miranda, Carly, Jimbo, Josh)
Carly and Miranda at Krka National Park
Alissa, Josh, Miranda and friend Carly spent the night before catching flights to London. Final destination for Alissa and Josh was Valencia on the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Miranda and Carly were headed to Dubrovnik, Croatia, on the Adriatic. Josh has been listening to Spanish music and plans on visiting Madrid for a live concert. One reason Miranda selected Dubrovnik is because scenes from Game of Throneswere filmed there. Also, it’s just a day trip to the waterfalls at Krka National Park. Phil, meanwhile, is in Long Beach, where in 1986 Toni and I attended an Oral History Association conference on the RMS Queen Mary, converted to a troop transport ship during World War II. In 1967 the Cunard Line retired the Queen Mary after a voyage from Southampton, England to Long Beach, where it remains permanently moored.
Laura Dern starred in the harrowing HBO film “The Tale,” a true story written and directed by Jennifer Fox, about a 13-year-old sexually abused by a female riding instructor and male track coach. Fox began examining her past after her mother, played by Ellen Burstyn, came across an eighth grade paper she’d written titled “The Tale.” In the biopic we learn that this odious behavior was common practice for the two coaches. When they wanted to involve the 13-year-old in a four-way with a collegian, she rebelled and broke off further contact.
A conversation with a high school classmate got me thinking about my 12th grade homeroom at Upper Dublin in Mrs. Margaret Davis’ large Home Economics classroom. It contained folks I’d once been friends with but whom I’d drifted apart from due to the school’s academic tracking system. I was particularly fascinated by Italian-American Marianne Tambourino, who talked like the girls on American Bandstandfrom South Philly, exotic, tan-skinned Charmayne Staton, who was every guy’s fantasy, and red-haired Gaard Murphy from Maine, who sported a deep New England accent. I was somewhat of a class clown, hoping to get their attention. I gave and received back rubs from some of the girls at day’s end but don’t think I worked up the nerve to approach Marianne, Charmayne or Gaard. In my 1960 yearbook Marianne wrote: “To a very nice boy who made my homeroom bearable.” So, who knows, maybe I rubbed her back. Charmayne died young. I’ve been friends with Gaard since the 1980 reunion and Marianne since our fiftieth in 2010.
I recall Buck Elliott saying that Mrs. Davis had a great figure. Previously, I hadn’t noticed, but after that, I enjoyed getting a rise out of her. Each student was required to take a two-week turn doing the morning Bible reading. Every day I read the same verse, Ecclesiastes 11:1-6, beginning, “Cast thy bread upon the waters, for you shall find it after many days” and ending with “in the morning sow thy seed,”which I found to be risqué. Nobody seemed to notice. The verse is from a letter by King Solomon of Israel, son of David and Bathsheba, advising sinners that generosity and hard work will in time be rewarded. In my yearbook Gaard wrote: “Be good to your teachers. Think of what you did to Mrs. Davis.” Her best friend Linda Rutherford, no doubt dating college upperclassmen by then, wrote: “To a nice boy who can really be a pest. I’ll never forget Ecclesiastes in homeroom.” At our fiftieth reunion, I apologized to Music teacher Mr. Foust for my at times unruly behavior. He replied, “Oh, you weren’t so bad.” I’m certain he experienced much worse.
I spoke to Steve McShane’s students about their oral history assignment: to interview a bowler. My main point was that memories are tricky and so follow-up is important. One student interviewed her 93-year-old grandmother and got her aunt to provide details on things granny was fuzzy on. Citing my own experience, I initially had no recollection of bowling with my family or being in a youth program but did recall asking Vic how he did when he’d come home from bowling, incidentally smelling like cigars (the only other time the “Old Man” smoked cigars was playing poker). He carried an average in the 180s and threw a ball that started near the right gutter. The only way I could have known that was to have bowled with him. In high school I’d outbowl most of my friends, and that must have been from having experience. While dating, Toni and I bowled on a team with two others, but I can’t recall who they were or where the alley was. We went to an establishment in Maryland that to our amazement used miniature balls and short, squat duckpins. I suggested students inquire about the history of their subjects’ leagues. My Sheet and Tin League at Cressmoor Lanes once consisted entirely of steelworkers. Our present league, Mel Guth Seniors, is named for a bowler who recently died. Previously, it was similarly named for Rob Tucker, Sr.
The kid I was when I first left home
Was looking for his freedom and a life of his own
But the freedom that he found wasn't quite as sweet
When the truth was known
I have prayed for America
I was made for America
I can't let go till she comes around
Until the land of the free
Is awake and can see
And until her conscience has been foundWas looking for his freedom and a life of his own
But the freedom that he found wasn't quite as sweet
When the truth was known
I have prayed for America
I was made for America
I can't let go till she comes around
Until the land of the free
Is awake and can see
Terry Bauer, back left; Yuan Hsu front middle
Dee Van Bebber and I finished third in duplicate after being mostly on defense. Terry Bauer reported on competing in the Grand National Team Finals in Southfield, Michigan, with Taiwanese native Yuan Hsu, who used a strong Club precision bidding system developed in Taiwan and now very popular among experts that Terry normally does not play. Teammate Mike Brissette told Newslettereditor Barb Walczak that Terry played above his potential, gained a lot of insight and was “a big nuisance against the precision players.” I told Terry about flying to Taiwan after a month in Hong Kong. He said his daughter will be moving to Honk Kong soon. “You’ll have to visit her,”I interjected. “I’m planning to,” he replied.
Dave and I hope to visit the Estonian coastal city of Talinn while in Finland. Rick Stevens’ Scandinavia asserts: “Getting off the boat in Talinn is a bigger cultural step than you will take anywhere else in the Scandinavian region.” Originally called Reval, it thrived during the fourteenth century as a member of the Hanseatic League, a mercantile and military alliance centered in Lübeck, Germany. I know about the League because of my former IUN colleague Rhiman Rotz. In contrast, two hundred years ago, Helsinki was a mere village.
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