Crane, TX, late 1950s (Odessa, McCamey: neighborhoods, theater, school)

[Old Crane-ite]

I'd like to exchange memories of folks who grew up in Crane in the 50s. I lived there from about 1957 to 1959 (when I was from 7 to 9 years old).

One memory that stands out was the city park...the only patch of rich, green grass in the town. In the summer there were swimming lessons, and we'd all stretch out on that carpet of grass under a tree (!) afterwards.

Mrs. Crane was my first grade teacher, Mrs. Carrolton for second grade, and Mrs. Lively for third (I think). I can't remember who I had in the fourth grade because it was about then we moved away.

Another vivid memory was the dust storms. If mom didn't get the laundry inside in time, we all wore beige, slightly gritty underwear.

There was a drive-in theater on the McCamey side of town. Many a time I fell asleep in the car's back seat after watching Captain Video (which was probably ancient even then).

For some reason I also remember the street lights in the neighborhoods. Many of them were simple lightbulbs mounted in "pie plate" shades.

I did spend a bit of time in the hospital on the outskirts of town. While I was there I heard some guy constantly moaning down the hall. After a couple days he stopped. I was told that he was a teenager who'd survived a head-on collision after playing chicken on the highway. The moaning stopped when he died.

Did anyone else go to the sand dunes between Crane and Odessa? My parents took us out there all the time. In summer it was too hot for the dog to walk on the sand.

Mom drove us to Odessa every September to get any school supplies that we couldn't get at Tobin's Pharmacy or other local stores.

Every so often my brother and I were brought along on a Saturday night to Odessa. My parents and their friends the Terrys would go there for bowling. On the way there was a refinery that was often flaring off, lighting up the surrounding desert for miles around.

I'd better stop now before I really get going.

[conanS]

Well it wasn't in the 50's but,yes, I have been to the sand dunes. We used to take our dirt bikes out there and had a blast!!