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Hi, my mother (who is in her eighties now) has told me numerous times about her years at Norman School in Kansas City MO. The school's principal was Miss Lucy Smoot (gotta love that name!) and from what my mother has told me, her definining characteristic was that when kids on the playground or in the halls would get out of line (like running in the halls) she would blow on her whistle that was around her neck. And if, for some reason, she didn't have her whistle, she would point at the offender and shout "TOOT-TOOT"!!!
I've always gotten a real kick out of that story. My mom attended the Norman School around the early 1930's. I guess I'm posting to see if anyone else here may have known her, or have ever even heard about her. I'm sure most people here are too young to remember Miss Smoot but what the heck.
Just stumbled across your post about Lucy Smoot. Lucy Smoot was my great great aunt (My great grandfathers Sister) She died in 1963 when I was too young to rememeber her. I have done a fair amount or research on her. She was a well respected educator in her day. She is buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Kansas City along with her sister, Lida L. Smoot who as a long time Kansas City school teacher. The two sisters never married and as far as I know lived their entire lives together. Let me know if you want more info. By the way, Norman School is now closed but still standing. The KCMO School district has been trying to sell the propery. I believe it was built around the turn of the century.
Just stumbled across your post about Lucy Smoot. Lucy Smoot was my great great aunt (My great grandfathers Sister) She died in 1963 when I was too young to rememeber her. I have done a fair amount or research on her. She was a well respected educator in her day. She is buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Kansas City along with her sister, Lida L. Smoot who as a long time Kansas City school teacher. The two sisters never married and as far as I know lived their entire lives together. Let me know if you want more info. By the way, Norman School is now closed but still standing. The KCMO School district has been trying to sell the propery. I believe it was built around the turn of the century.
Bruce
Hi, and thanks to you ALL who wrote just to comment, or perhaps simply enjoyed the story! Wow Bruce, so Lucy Smoot was YOUR relation! That is amazing to me. What I did NOT mention in my original post is that my mother has Alzheimer's disease and our conversations only revolve around the "old stories". I just got back from taking her out to lunch and of course we talked about the old days. And again, mom told me all about "TOOT TOOT, MISS SMOOT" and just LAUGHED! It is so good to see her successfully remember something and enjoy a good laugh. One thing to add, is that my mom says she remembers that Lucy Smoot was very athletic and LOVED to play baseball with the boys...not so much with the girls!
By the way Bruce, while packing some of my mom's things I found a page from a magazine with a picture of Lucy Smoot and a writeup telling how she went to attend a camp featuring some famous baseball player - the name slips my mind just now.
Also, thanks for the information re: the Norman School. My wife & I visited Kansas City a couple of years ago and one day we visited the house where my mom grew up on Summit St., and then we visited the Norman School. What a sturdy building - why not use it for something? Why was it abandoned?
Bruce, if you'd care to share more information, I'd sure love to hear more about her. My purpose is to pass it on to my mom so she could enjoy it. She will forget all about it in a matter of moments, but it's OK. Just to see her smile is enough for me. And I'll tell her all about it again.....for the first time.....again and again.
I would be happy to provide you with some additional information on Lucy Smoot. I need to scan some items which I will be happy to email to you. I have a copy of her obit which mentions the story you tell about her interest in baseball. I belive the players she met with in 30s may have been Ruth and some of the other Yankees. I remember seeing a copy of the newspaper story about it when I was a kid but that has been long lost. I would love to be able to get a copy of what you have with her picture as I don't have any except from her obit and one when she was very young.
If your mother attended Norman in the 1930s, it was late in the tenure of Lucy Smoot. She was the principal of that school going back to the ealry 1900s' Not sure when she retired. An interesting story from her obit is that she donanted a full set of first addition Lewis and Clark Journals to UMKC. I actually tracked them down at the University and they gave me a copy of the letter she wrote with the donation. That was in the 1950 long after she retired. I wonder if these journals were at Norman School. I don't know what the fate of Norman will be, the school is vacant and being offered for sale. The KC School district, like many urban districs is a mess. I agree that it is a grand buidling and too bad it is not still being used as a school. I will send you what I have and see if I can find some other facts that your mother may remember.
Do you have a picture of Norman? I drive by it nearly every day and would be happy to take a picture and email it to you.
I would be happy to provide you with some additional information on Lucy Smoot. I need to scan some items which I will be happy to email to you. I have a copy of her obit which mentions the story you tell about her interest in baseball. I belive the players she met with in 30s may have been Ruth and some of the other Yankees. I remember seeing a copy of the newspaper story about it when I was a kid but that has been long lost. I would love to be able to get a copy of what you have with her picture as I don't have any except from her obit and one when she was very young.
If your mother attended Norman in the 1930s, it was late in the tenure of Lucy Smoot. She was the principal of that school going back to the ealry 1900s' Not sure when she retired. An interesting story from her obit is that she donanted a full set of first addition Lewis and Clark Journals to UMKC. I actually tracked them down at the University and they gave me a copy of the letter she wrote with the donation. That was in the 1950 long after she retired. I wonder if these journals were at Norman School. I don't know what the fate of Norman will be, the school is vacant and being offered for sale. The KC School district, like many urban districs is a mess. I agree that it is a grand buidling and too bad it is not still being used as a school. I will send you what I have and see if I can find some other facts that your mother may remember.
Do you have a picture of Norman? I drive by it nearly every day and would be happy to take a picture and email it to you.
Bruce
Hello Bruce,
It's been a long time since we communicated here on this forum. I have a magazine article about your great-great aunt, Lucy Smoot, all framed up. In my message I offered to give it to you, if you'd like to have it. It's now 12 years since I started this discussion, so I hope you see this post and the private message I sent to you.
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