Remembering Life at Turner Elementary
By Terry Duber
Sixth Grade
If there was a class "cut-up" among us at Turner School, it was Neal Ronzheimer. In sixth grade he was in the habit, when the teacher, Mrs. Reynolds, left the room, to run to the door, which would be left open, to try to see where she was headed - the office, the washroom, wherever, so he could guesstimate how much time he had to goof off. Bouncing a rubber ball off the front wall was always an option.
Well one day Mrs. Reynolds left the room but evidently she had forgotten something, made a U-turn and headed back to the classroom. The collision between the two of them occurred just in side the doorway. Neal got the worst of it. Mrs. Reynolds seemed totally unfazed by it while Neal fell backward, landing on his rear end. He scrambled to his feet and ran back to his seat amidst much laughter in the classroom. Mrs. Reynolds, perhaps believing that Neal had learned his lesson, gave him a way to save face by telling him something like "Neal, if you really have to go to the washroom so badly you had better go ahead."
Summer Between 4th and 5th Grades
How many of you knew that Neal Ronzheimer and Jeanine Dusek were cousins? I think it was the summer between our fourth and fifth grades at Turner School that the Dusek family moved to West Chicago, and while they were looking for a home, they bunked with the Ronzheimers for a while. Since the Ronzheimers had, I think, six kids of their own, that must have been one crowded bunkhouse.
Well, Neal, Jeanine and I where in a vacant lot near Neal's place and Neal introduced me to his cousin. During our talk Neal said that Jeanine was a pretty fast runner, so the three of us had a footrace, which Jeanine won rather easily. I had been used to being the "fastest kid in the class", but I realized that with Jeanine's margin of victory there was no use asking for a do-over. Jeanine said something like, "Oh yeah - I LOVE to run!". I was impressed and smitten.
Of course, what is life but a long acceptance of learning that you are not the biggest, strongest, fastest, riches, healthiest, handsomest, funniest, etc etc person on the planet. But I'll tell you, no one in my West Chicago days - not Dave Nicoloff, not Reggie Haag, no one ever beat me as badly as Jeanine beat me that day. Which leads to an observation: What were the athletic outlets for girls back in the day? They could tryout for cheerleader, they could play lots of intramural field hockey or whatever else they did in GAA. That's about it. Things DO change for the better.
If there was a class "cut-up" among us at Turner School, it was Neal Ronzheimer. In sixth grade he was in the habit, when the teacher, Mrs. Reynolds, left the room, to run to the door, which would be left open, to try to see where she was headed - the office, the washroom, wherever, so he could guesstimate how much time he had to goof off. Bouncing a rubber ball off the front wall was always an option.
Well one day Mrs. Reynolds left the room but evidently she had forgotten something, made a U-turn and headed back to the classroom. The collision between the two of them occurred just in side the doorway. Neal got the worst of it. Mrs. Reynolds seemed totally unfazed by it while Neal fell backward, landing on his rear end. He scrambled to his feet and ran back to his seat amidst much laughter in the classroom. Mrs. Reynolds, perhaps believing that Neal had learned his lesson, gave him a way to save face by telling him something like "Neal, if you really have to go to the washroom so badly you had better go ahead."
Summer Between 4th and 5th Grades
How many of you knew that Neal Ronzheimer and Jeanine Dusek were cousins? I think it was the summer between our fourth and fifth grades at Turner School that the Dusek family moved to West Chicago, and while they were looking for a home, they bunked with the Ronzheimers for a while. Since the Ronzheimers had, I think, six kids of their own, that must have been one crowded bunkhouse.
Well, Neal, Jeanine and I where in a vacant lot near Neal's place and Neal introduced me to his cousin. During our talk Neal said that Jeanine was a pretty fast runner, so the three of us had a footrace, which Jeanine won rather easily. I had been used to being the "fastest kid in the class", but I realized that with Jeanine's margin of victory there was no use asking for a do-over. Jeanine said something like, "Oh yeah - I LOVE to run!". I was impressed and smitten.
Of course, what is life but a long acceptance of learning that you are not the biggest, strongest, fastest, riches, healthiest, handsomest, funniest, etc etc person on the planet. But I'll tell you, no one in my West Chicago days - not Dave Nicoloff, not Reggie Haag, no one ever beat me as badly as Jeanine beat me that day. Which leads to an observation: What were the athletic outlets for girls back in the day? They could tryout for cheerleader, they could play lots of intramural field hockey or whatever else they did in GAA. That's about it. Things DO change for the better.
Remembering Turner Elementary School
By Reid Simmons
Like many of us, I started attending Turner School when it first opened in 1953. Third through sixth grades. Although that was a long time ago, I still have a few memories of the school and my time there.
First - the School Building
Turner School circa 1993 courtesy of Google Earth 2016
As a third grader, my impressions of the new school were based on where I had previously attended school: Washington Elementary and its kindergarten annex. Gravel playground. Very old, dark building in need of repair. Creaky floors. Scary, especially the basement where the washrooms were and where the inside entrance to the band/orchestra room was located.
Turner School, on the other hand, was brand new, bright, shiny and in perfect condition. The only scary things about the new school were the occasional air-raid and tornado drills. It had a hugh grassy playground. The floor was solid and tiled throughout the building, including the combination lunch room and gymnasium. I remember the lunch tables and benches folded into the wall when not in use. Basketball hoops were located on the north and south ends of the gym.
The photo above shows the parking lot is now paved and a huge addition to the west side of the building (the lighter colored roof) takes up a rather large part of the grassy play ground we enjoyed through the 6th grade.
Turner School, on the other hand, was brand new, bright, shiny and in perfect condition. The only scary things about the new school were the occasional air-raid and tornado drills. It had a hugh grassy playground. The floor was solid and tiled throughout the building, including the combination lunch room and gymnasium. I remember the lunch tables and benches folded into the wall when not in use. Basketball hoops were located on the north and south ends of the gym.
The photo above shows the parking lot is now paved and a huge addition to the west side of the building (the lighter colored roof) takes up a rather large part of the grassy play ground we enjoyed through the 6th grade.
Second - the Playground
March 1957 Turner School - Mrs. Reynolds' 6th grade class. (Photo from the Reid Simmons collection)
The playground was huge and had grass everywhere. The only gravel to be found was in the parking lot where students never played. I recall there was a merry-go-round, swing set and other things for the littler kids on the south end of the building. Also, there were two baseball fields on the far west end. A big one in the northwest corner and a smaller one on a slight hill in the southwest corner. I got my first hard lesson on baseball rules playing softball on that hill!
I remember going to bat. Kathie Jahns was on the mound. There was at least one runner on base but I’m not sure if it was first or second base. I don’t even remember the count when I finally connected with one of Kathie’s pitches, but I do remember what happened next! As I rounded first, the outfielder was throwing the ball to third base so I continued to second. A double!
The ball was thrown to Kathie who was sizing up the next batter. She turned around to see if her fielders were where she wanted them and if the base runners were taking too large of a lead-off. Then she stepped off the mound and walked over to second base and tagged me with the ball. “You’re out!” she yelled.
“Out? I can’t be out! My foot’s on the base!” I argued.
“There can only be one runner on a base at a time,” she explained. “You’re the second runner so you’re out!” So much for my double! Lesson learned. Fortunately, I didn’t hold a grudge and didn’t stay mad at her for very long. After all, it's hard to argue with someone when they're right!
I remember going to bat. Kathie Jahns was on the mound. There was at least one runner on base but I’m not sure if it was first or second base. I don’t even remember the count when I finally connected with one of Kathie’s pitches, but I do remember what happened next! As I rounded first, the outfielder was throwing the ball to third base so I continued to second. A double!
The ball was thrown to Kathie who was sizing up the next batter. She turned around to see if her fielders were where she wanted them and if the base runners were taking too large of a lead-off. Then she stepped off the mound and walked over to second base and tagged me with the ball. “You’re out!” she yelled.
“Out? I can’t be out! My foot’s on the base!” I argued.
“There can only be one runner on a base at a time,” she explained. “You’re the second runner so you’re out!” So much for my double! Lesson learned. Fortunately, I didn’t hold a grudge and didn’t stay mad at her for very long. After all, it's hard to argue with someone when they're right!
Third - the Walkway
February 1955 Turner School - Mrs. Perrow's 4th grade (Photo from the Reid Simmons collection)
Turner School had a long, wide, paved sidewalk running from National Street to the front of the school and around to the rear of the building. Why, you ask, would I remember the sidewalk? Let me explain.
When the Go-Kart track opened in West Chicago, I just had to have one of those karts! Unfortunately, my parents quickly put the kibosh on that idea. Too dangerous. Too expensive. Did I mention too dangerous? But I think my dad realized there might be another alternative so he and my uncle gathered some parts: an old power mower and hand mower, a couple pieces of angle iron, an old Barber-Greene tractor seat and steering wheel, a few feet of rope and some pulleys. They removed the cutting blades and handles from both mowers and, a little welding later, I had a rear-engine, open-wheel, “A”-frame speedster! Top speed 4-5 mph (downhill on smooth pavement). OK, it wasn’t exactly the speedster I was hoping for but it was a lot of fun for a couple years!
When the Go-Kart track opened in West Chicago, I just had to have one of those karts! Unfortunately, my parents quickly put the kibosh on that idea. Too dangerous. Too expensive. Did I mention too dangerous? But I think my dad realized there might be another alternative so he and my uncle gathered some parts: an old power mower and hand mower, a couple pieces of angle iron, an old Barber-Greene tractor seat and steering wheel, a few feet of rope and some pulleys. They removed the cutting blades and handles from both mowers and, a little welding later, I had a rear-engine, open-wheel, “A”-frame speedster! Top speed 4-5 mph (downhill on smooth pavement). OK, it wasn’t exactly the speedster I was hoping for but it was a lot of fun for a couple years!
Now you’re probably wondering what this homemade “kart” has to do with the Turner School walkway. At the time my “speedster” rolled off the production line, the block I lived on, north Claremont Avenue, did not have a sidewalk all the way around, so the Turner School paved walkway quickly became my favorite summer time “race” course! Of course I still had to drive my speedster about 150 feet on National Street to get to the safety of the Turner "speedway".
Finally - The teachers
While I can't remember the name of my third grade teacher, I do have fond memories Mrs. Perrow (4th grade), Mrs. Keys (5th grade) and Mrs. Reynolds (6th grade).
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In an email from Terry Duber dated 9/1/2019:
Our third grade teacher's name was Mrs. Carlson.
Turner School main entrance January 19, 2019 - Courtesy of Bill Nolan
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West Chicago Press, May 11, 1967 (Scanned from West Chicago City Museum)
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