Long ago on independence square (Commerce: investments, high school, date)

[MRG Dallas]

WCHS, yes, i remember The Classmen quite well. A classmate who I keep in regular contact with remembers them even better. They were THE local band in the mid-late 60s. I was unaware of the Truman and Newbeats connection. Graduation Goodbye, as noted, was used as a shout out on WHB as far back as I can remember.

I went to RJHS with the beautiful (and I DO MEAN BEAUTIFUL) Liz Brown Dimmel.

A Google search shows Charles Dimmel lived for many years after all, until 2004.

[pearjas]

Hi everyone. I'm still around. Been going through some life changes, including a job change of all things. Still around the square all the time though! I wanted to post this link to show an update of what 800 West Maple Avenue now appears to be. I am not sure if there's a way to embed the picture, which I prefer much more. I've only found the link to be useful as far as pulling the picture up. It's in the same Flickr photo collection I've been working on for quite some time. Hope everyone is doing well!!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/indepe...7680701458296/

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by pearjas

Hi everyone. I'm still around. Been going through some life changes, including a job change of all things. Still around the square all the time though! I wanted to post this link to show an update of what 800 West Maple Avenue now appears to be. I am not sure if there's a way to embed the picture, which I prefer much more. I've only found the link to be useful as far as pulling the picture up. It's in the same Flickr photo collection I've been working on for quite some time. Hope everyone is doing well!!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/indepe...7680701458296/

Thanks, pearjas. As you know, I walked past that station a zillion times as my grandparents lived just 3 or so lots down on the same side. Not sure what brand it was way back when, but it was a Texaco at one time I believe. So sad to see how that block has been decimated by destruction on the south side and failure to upkeep the north.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by pearjas

Hi everyone. I'm still around. Been going through some life changes, including a job change of all things. Still around the square all the time though! I wanted to post this link to show an update of what 800 West Maple Avenue now appears to be. I am not sure if there's a way to embed the picture, which I prefer much more. I've only found the link to be useful as far as pulling the picture up. It's in the same Flickr photo collection I've been working on for quite some time. Hope everyone is doing well!!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/indepe...7680701458296/

Congrats on the new job, I hope it lasts a long time and you prosper in it. Thanks for keeping us up on changes Uptown.

[Kev 2732]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

There were also a few years when they bought vehicles of various colors. I remember the worst examples of that being a baby blue station wagon (Plymouth, maybe) and this mustard yellow monstrosity...

I'm glad I don't remember the mustard yellow. It looks like the light bars have come a long ways since then. My mother had a friend who worked for IDP in the early 70's, I don't know in what capacity, but she drove a VW bus. I don't recall if it was marked or not. I never knew for certain if it was hers or IPD. Would IPD have owned a VW vehicle?

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by Kev 2732

I'm glad I don't remember the mustard yellow. It looks like the light bars have come a long ways since then. My mother had a friend who worked for IDP in the early 70's, I don't know in what capacity, but she drove a VW bus. I don't recall if it was marked or not. I never knew for certain if it was hers or IPD. Would IPD have owned a VW vehicle?

That particular light bar was only installed on a couple of the accident investigation unit vehicles. On the backside of the white box was a double-ended arrow that could direct traffic left, right, or both ways. The white box contained a scissor jack that would elevate the light bar for greater visibility. Although it seemed like a good idea it was a mechanical nightmare and created quite a bit of wind drag on the vehicle. They lasted only about year.

The PD had 2 VW vans in the early 1970s. One was white and tan, used by the crime lab for crime scene investigations. The other was blue and white used for community outreach/crime prevention and the Police Explorer Post.

[WCHS'59]

From the Alexandria Gazette, Alexandria, Virginia, August 14, 1862

[CaseyMO]

Okay, Independence historians, I need you to put your detective work to use. What year did Independence Jr. High become Palmer Jr. High? Thanks.

[WCHS'59]

MAD can probably provide more accurate information but a list of yearbooks for Palmer shows 1965 as the oldest issue of the PATRIOT on that website.

However, reading inside the 1965 publication, it says vol II.

That apparently means vol I was issued in 1964. Using that date the name change probably occurred in September 1963, maybe.

The yearbook name for Independence Junior High was The Cub, a takeoff on the Bears of William Chrisman.

[CaseyMO]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

MAD can probably provide more accurate information but a list of yearbooks for Palmer shows 1965 as the oldest issue of the PATRIOT on that website.

However, reading inside the 1965 publication, it says vol II.

That apparently means vol I was issued in 1964. Using that date the name change probably occurred in September 1963, maybe.

The yearbook name for Independence Junior High was The Cub, a takeoff on the Bears of William Chrisman.

I was thinking that it was early 1960s. I was at Independence Junior High from Sept. 1957 - May 1959. Many of my classmates believe we went to Palmer, but I never heard of Palmer until after 1959. Although, I might have been delusional. I need to find the proof. I looked at the yearbooks earlier today, but I think I may need to look again. Thanks.