Cahokia High School Baby Boomers Alumni

[les1972]

I played baseball two years in the St. Joe League. My team finished last both years. Certainly prepared me for later life.

Les W. '72

[Linda R]

I'm glad I don't live in Cahokia now, we live in Iowa out in the rural area not far from the Quad Cities .
I did have some good times growing up there with my friends, although I've not kept in contact with very many of them. I graduated in 71. My best friends were Marilyn Meinders and Christine Sitzes.I wasn't one of the more popular girls.
My family lived on Melvin Drive and both my parents lived there until they died a few years ago. I remeber going to school at Elizabeth E Morris for 5-6 grades, our 5th grade teacher some years later married the 6th grade teacher-all us girls had a crush on Mr. Baker. One of my favorite teachers in high school was Mr. George.
My husband and I will be married 35yrs. on Nov1. We have 3 children:Jason, Jacob and Heather. They are all married with children of their own. Our oldest son and our daughter live close by so we get to see them and 5 of our grandchildren often. Our other son and his family live upstate New York so I get to see them about 2 times a year. We have 6 grandsons and 2 granddaughters. We are blessed! Linda

[Judy]

Hi, Linda! There seems to be alot of us Parklane Manor Kids on here! Well, at least lived in Parklane part of the time! I remember the Sitzes sisters, did they live in the back of the subdivision near me? Or did they live closer to the Gillisons? I am trying to remember how the streets ran in the subdivision. I drove through last summer and showed my daughter-in-law where I grew up. I had to take her to the Lady of the Snows Shrine. She grew up in a small town near us and she had no idea what the shrine was. Her friends and she had decided it had something to do with winter or actually snow. She was amazed when she found out what it actually is. Anyway, it surprised me how many people still live in the subdivision from when we were kids. It is nice to hear about you family. Judy Weston Pilger '71

[kerri]

Hi all; I graduated from CHS in mid 80's, so I don't qualify as a "baby boomer", but I have great memories of growing up in Cahokia, and I do enjoy reading everyone's posts! I lived in Parklane Manor (Melvin Dr.) my entire life, and my parents are still there. There are a few "original" neighbors, but almost everyone else has moved. It's sad to me to see how much Cahokia has changed. My parents are one of the few left who are still trying to get Cahokia back on track, but I am afraid it may be past the point of no return.
My dad was president of the Jaycees in the early/mid 70's, so all 5 of us Craig kids got to help in the haunted house; the 3 older boys were usually jumping out at people as they went through, but me (I was the "bratty" little sister) and Joe always got stuck as ghosts at the front handing out candy! There was also the 13 Star Day picnic, Santas' Cottage. We always had so much fun.
Summertime was the best; Mr. Softee, the swimming pool, and neighborhood hide and seek! We would play "block against block" on Melvin Drive, and the streetlight on our corner of Melvin and Armand was always base! Quikway was just up the street, so we were always scrounging up soda bottles for money to get a soda or candy bar. My brothers put up a basketball hoop on the streetlight, and the UPS guy would always stop and shoot a few hoops if we were out there.
I can't remember what I did yesterday, but I have vivid memories of growing up in Cahokia and remember everything from back then!
Cahokia just seemed like such a tight knit community, and everyone looked out for everyone. All the parents knew each other, so you knew if you acted up on a different block, you would still get in trouble!

[CherylK2]

kerri, first welcome! You are a baby boomer to us! Isn't it funny how we all remember the silly things we did in the subdivisions. Even with the age difference. I grew up in the Parklane Manor on Kenneth in the sixties! And we still play the same games and did the same stuff. Just had a different store to go to. Hide and seek and car ghost. I went to all the concerts at the JC Hall. I am in contact now with someone from what is probably the site for citizens, and I am with your family. Getting to our goals is very difficult. In my own opinion, the YMCA equipment money could have gone a long way to clean things up and help beautify the Village. Remember, I grew up in the '60s and ran around in the early '70s. It was a beautiful little place.

[Linda R]

Hi Judy,
The Sitze sisters lived around the corner and down the block from me. Our address was 121 Melvin Dr. We lived across from the Burris'. Christine and her husband Mike Richmond-a distant cousin of mine still live in the subdivision on Leonard. Her sister has beed gone for several years-suicide. I don't remember but a few of the neighborhood kids, just mostly the ones from our graduating class. Do you remember the Mannings? They lived down the block from us and on the other side of the street. Is there anyone else out there from the class of 71? Linda (Freeman)R.

[CherylK2]

I remember Debbie Burris. I liked her. I can't remember too many people who weren't on Kenneth.

[Judy]

Linda, I remember the Mannings. I was trying to remember how the streets ran. I can picture them, but I can't remember all the street names. Lazarcheff ran around the East side of the subdivision, right? I can't think of the street that ran north and south that was next. Then Melvin, was Kenneth next or something else? Exercise for the brain!LOL!!! That is sad to hear about Debbie. I remember their family well. I'm glad you are posting on the site, I don't know if anyone else from '71 is on here. I know Greg Blosser signed the guestbook, but he hasn't posted that I know of. I have e-mailed a few people. Hope your Mother's Day was a good one! Judy '71

[Linda R]

Judy,
I don't remember the names of the streets either. I do know that Leonard Dr. is the street behind where the Burris' lived. I'm not good with directions but my hubby is and he says I lived on the south side of Melvin which means that Leonard Dr is the next street south. Could check it out on the map since my sister lives om Leonard. My hubby's from Iowa so he can't help.
I had 71 year book out the other day looking through it to see who all I could remember. There's alot from our class that I remembered, but not many from 72 which was my cousin's graduating class. He lives in Belleville, Clyde Ray Brown. He wasn't from our neighborhood. He lived in the one across the highway from the drive-in.
I had a good Mothers Day. Went to our oldest son's house after church. He had to work, but still spent time with his wife, her mother and her mother's parents and our grandchildren. Our other two kids called and I'll see our daughter on Weds. along with her two boys. When we got home we planted some phlox and tomorrow we have some more flowers to plant. We are both tired and thought we'd see if the Cardinals are playing. We see they already played and got beat. Oh well! I think I'll turn in early tonight. I was up too late last night. My desktop crashed and I was trying to figure out what do with it. I'm glad I have my laptop. Linda

[les1972]

I knew Clyde. He was in my eighth-grade art class and I think a couple of classes in high school. Last time I saw him was at the 20-year reunion in '92.

Les W. '72