Each year as I began a new session in grammar school those many years ago, the teacher would look at me and say something like, "You're a Glover, aren't you?" And of course I would have to answer in the affirmative. I would bet a Tom Mix Ralston Straight Shooter decoding ring that the McClain girls experienced the same annual classroom situation as they started a new grade! The family resemblence is obvious.
In my extensive White Horse file, I have numerous references to the McClain family. They were right up there with the Gropp, McGalliard, and Parent families in their involvement in civic activities. Julia McClain was the subject of numerous columns I have written, recalling her as my 6th grade disciplinarian teacher. Veronica McClain Larkin was also a teacher and also a disciplinarian at Kuser Annex when I was there in the 1940's. I recall numerous other McClain names, including Charles, and there will undoubtedly be future posts on this distinguished White Horse family. A side observation: Julia and Veronica, along with Ruth Parker, Emily Reynolds, Jim Coursen and all other faculty who demanded self control and discipline would have a very hard time in today's scholastic environment. These card-carrying members of "the old school" were quite firm with the student body.
2 comments:
Tom, I love your stories about the McClain sisters, my mother, Eileen McClain Schulz, is the youngest of the clan and the only living of the nine children of Charles and Julia McClain. Growing up and still today, my mother tells of the stories of growing up in Whitehorse. The families like the Gropps, Maple Shade School, Mass at the McClains house before the mission parish of St. Raphaels was built. My McClain aunts were always ladies and were so good to all their neices and nephews, thanks for keeping their memories alive.
As one of seven Schulz children, all of whom attended Holy Angels School, I know exactly what you mean, Tom, about being readily identified by a teacher! I certainly enjoyed your comments about a few of our McClain aunts (Lillian, Julia, Veronica, Helen, Elizabeth, Mary) and our one uncle, Charles. My mom, Eileen, is the youngest of the McClain children and the only one now living. Recently, I did a "living history" project with mom and learned so much about the early days of Whitehorse and how her family helped make it a great place to live. One story I enjoyed was that my grandfather, Charles Sr., arose at 5 a.m. every Sunday to prepare a fire in the stove to warm tiny St. Raphael's Church for Sunday Mass at the fledgling parish. Every Saturday my grandmother, Bridget Marnell McClain, laid out the vestments for the priest and put clean linens on the altar. She washed and ironed altar linens and the priest's alb every week. Although they had many children to care for, my grandparents were forever faithful to the Church and their community and made the time for these chores every week. They were proud to be Catholic at a time when the Ku Klux Klan burned crosses on West McGalliard Avenue! My mother told me how that terrified the children but only made her parents more resolute in defending the faith and actively participating in the life of their mission parish in Whitehorse. The McClains were truly caring and courageous citizens. We are proud to be their descendants! Best regards, Suzanne Schulz Dressler, Jeffersonville, Pa.
Post a Comment