What do Astronaut Deke Slayton, The Jonas Brothers, and Gavin MacLeod (Captain of the Love Boat) all have in common?
Read on to find out!
(And also discover the sort-of-terrible thing I did when I was in the sixth grade.)
I grew up in Sparta, a small town in western Wisconsin. Sparta was the home of Deke Slayton, one of the original Mercury 7 astronauts; in fact, there is a museum in town that is partly based on his life and career.
When I was about 13 years old and attending one our Sparta High School football games, Mr. Slayton was back in town and was a guest of honor at the game. As he walked through the bleachers to his seat, I happened to be sitting on the front row and he reached out and patted me on the head. So my head has actually been patted by a real astronaut! (One of my three claims to fame.)
My other two claims to fame are these:
So now you know what all those people have in common and I can get on with today’s post which (as you may have guessed), is about the town of my childhood.
When I was visiting Wisconsin in May, I borrowed my sister’s car for a day and happily made the 2-hour trip to Sparta. I was excited because I hadn’t been back there (except for a quick drive through) in two or three decades and I was eager to see if I could still even find my way around. I was also interested to discover what things had changed since my childhood and what things had remained the same.
The aforementioned Deke Slayton Museum was definitely a new addition. (Well, the building was old but the museum was new.) You can’t help but notice the building because of the huge bike out front which is a replica of . . .
this bike in a nearby park. (Don’t you love the biker’s name?)
From the Sparta, WI website.
Sparta is at one end of the 30-mile, Sparta-Elroy Bike Trail so much of its identity and economy are built around a biking theme.
When I was growing up, I rode parts of the bike trail on a fairly regular basis. I don’t think I ever rode the whole 30 miles but Nathan did when he was just about ten or eleven years old. I was amazed by his perseverance and endurance!
My favorite part of the trail, especially on a hot summer day, was the refreshing coolness of the tunnels.
from willtoben.com
The biking theme even extends to the local library.
This library of my childhood was a Carnegie Library, one of 2,500 libraries built between 1883 and 1929 with money from Andrew Carnegie.
Even as a child, I remembered admiring the beauty of that building as I walked up those big steps.
Those steps actually held another memory for me: my friend, Lorrie, and I would go next door to the IGA grocery store and buy two Little Debbie Swiss Rolls for ten cents apiece and then we would sit on the steps of the library to eat them. Lorrie would eat hers the regular way while I would unroll mine and eat it flat. Isn’t it crazy the odd little things we remember?
Another beautiful building, the Post Office, is across the street from the library. When I first started buying stamps there, they were eight cents. When they went up to ten cents and then thirteen cents, I was horrified. What was the world coming to?
What is the cheapest you remember stamps being?
The Monroe County Courthouse completed the trifecta of lovely buildings on that corner.
When I was in Junior High School, I competed every year in the Soil and Water Conservation Speech Contest. I always won for my school which meant I had to go to the Courthouse and compete against students from other schools in the county.
What in the world I had to say about Soil and Water Conservation, I have no idea, but I think it’s interesting that I made it a priority to participate in the contest every year. I’m sure I was very earnest as I shuffled my little (required) notecards and pontificated on a subject I had little knowledge of. I do remember that I always tried to approach the subject from a creative viewpoint and always inserted some humor into each speech which I think surprised (and probably even alarmed) the judges.
From the courthouse, I drove to the outskirts of town to the Spartan Motel.
When I was growing up, I was friends with the four Johnson sisters: Judy, Mary, Karen and Yvonne. Their parents owned the hotel and the family lived in the little front area of the building; their living room doubled as the place where customers checked in and their family laundry room also served as the laundry room for the hotel linens.
The sisters and their mom cleaned rooms and during the summers, they hired me on to help, thereby providing my first real job.
I have two specific memories from that chapter of my life: 1) I was taught how to miter a sheet corner 2) I learned that after I cleaned the toilets, I was to put a little paper strip around the seat that said, “Sanitized for your protection.”
I was curious to see if those strips were still manufactured and sure enough . . .
Has anyone actually seen one of those strips used anywhere within the last decade or two? Just curious.
Eventually, Mary and her husband took over the motel and they still run it today. It was fun to drive around it and revisit all those old memories of lugging vacuum cleaners and dirty linen around during those hot and humid summers. That first job definitely taught me the meaning of hard work.
From there, I drove around and looked at a couple of houses we used to live in. I was amazed that I found my way around so easily after so many years away.
This is a house my family built; my dad and brothers did a lot of the work on it. One of my memories from that house is that my dad hired a deaf electrician who did much of his communicating my writing. In the early stages of the construction, he would take a marker and write on the plywood walls before the Sheetrock went up. So if anyone ever tore this house down, they would find a whole lot of words written everywhere!
The other interesting tidbit from this house is that the little garage you see to the left is where our family of 8 lived during the time the house was being built. Good times!
Here is another house we lived in.
Two memories from this house:
Since I mentioned Lorrie and our guitars, here is a photo of us way back in the day. We named ourselves the Sonrise Singers, wrote our own songs, and traveled around within an hour or two of Sparta singing at various churches. Lorrie was (and is) a talented seamstress and made several sets of matching dresses for us. Are we not so incredibly cute?? (Edited to add: Lorrie left a comment after I wrote this post and said I forgot to mention that our dresses were exactly the same except for our cloth belts which were different colors so that “people could tell us apart.” Ha.)
I hadn’t realized how long-winded I was going to be. I guess you can tell that I am truly middle-aged because I enjoy reminiscing just a little too much.
I’ll complete this tale of memories in another post. And yes, you’ll just have to wait to find out what dastardly deed I performed in the sixth grade . . .
What about you? Do you have a miscellaneous childhood memory that sprang to mind as you were reading this post? I always love to hear about people’s growing up years.
I just saw for the first time ever one of those sanitation things on a toilet a few days ago. So funny, I had to go bad, and could not get “in” to the toilet. It must be a Midwest thing. I live CO, but it was on a hotel that looked just like the one in your post in northern IN.
Jackie,
Another sanitation ribbon sighting! Thanks for letting me know that yet another one DOES exist! 🙂
Oh my — great memories!! You forgot to tell people that for our singing outfits, we each had a different color tie around our waists so people could tell us apart 🙂
Lorrie,
I completely forgot to do that! I will go back in and edit it. 🙂
Enjoyed your trip down memory lane. I remember not having an indoor bathroom until I was in the second grade and our first TV when I was in the sixth grade.
Ann,
Wow! I know you must have been absolutely over the moon when that indoor bathroom arrived in your life!
I did the same thing as you did, recently! I drove to the town I lived in from age 6 to 12, McLean, VA. I hadn’t been there since I was 12. I looked at and took pictures of the 2 houses that we lived in. Amazingly, I was also able to find my way around, even making it to my school, my bus stops and the town pool! Such memories. It was very strange going back and just a little bit sad. But I loved it. I would have loved to park the car in my old neighborhood and walk down to the creek which I knew was running behind one of the neighboring houses. So many hours there catching crayfish and playing on the ice which froze in the winter. And summers catching fireflies while playing hide and seek in the dark. I learned to ride a bike in one of the driveways.
It felt weird to return to the present time afterwards. Where did the time go?
Lesley,
I understand your feelings so well of going back in time to a childhood town. The memories are simply everywhere . . . you can almost hear the voices and see the old scenes springing to life around you. There is no other feeling quite like it.
I’m so glad you had a chance to re-visit that special place. A day to truly treasure.
I too was part of a singing group when I was in Junior/Senior High School. We were a girl’s trio and were called the Bethelettes (named in part for the church we belonged to at the time). I had to laugh when I saw the picture of your dresses. We must have had the same pattern as we had the exact same dresses. I do recall spending a whole night working on those dresses in the church basement. Those were fun times.
Linda,
How funny is that, that you all had the same pattern?? I guess that just shows the exquisite taste we all shared. 🙂
And congratulations on being a fellow singing group member. Wasn’t that so much fun? And the Bethelettes? Such a great name for that era. Thanks for the memories!
What fun memories. What a beautiful American town to grow up in. This is what I think of when I think of America.
A few years ago I got to interview Canada’s first astronaut and write a story for him for the university I then worked at (when he came to give a lecture). At the time he was running for leadership of a major political party (the liberals ) and it was really near to chat with him and meet him. That’s about it for my experiences with astronauts or Jonas Brothers though.
.
Jenna,
How cool to get to interview an astronaut! And yet another Astronaut Connection from my readers. You all are very impressive! 🙂
And I agree, Sparta WAS a beautiful town to grow up in, especially with those lovely, interesting buildings.
Sure loved seeing the sights of Sparta! Going to that pretty library is one of my favorite memories. I didn’t remember you being in that contest–the things you learn reading your sister’s blog. 🙂
Deb,
Yep, I trundled off to the courthouse every year with my little speech.
As you said, it’s a good thing you read this blog so you can discover all these little known facts! 🙂
I have so many memories but the one that came to mind first is the house we moved into when I was in first grade. It was a new home so the yard was just dirt. Dad had to clean it up first to get all the leftover construction debris out, then level it and finally landscape it. He ordered everything from Earl May’s and it all came in one box about 12′ long and 4′ wide. There were 150 hedge plants, 8 fruit trees, 2 dozen roses, and many other trees and shrubs. Dad dug every single hole for the hedge by hand with a post hole digger in the rock hard Colorado clay ‘soil’. My brother and I had to mix up the Ortho Grow and water everything as dad & mom planted it. Oh geez….we carried buckets and BUCKETS of that stuff! It was such hard work but then about 5 years later when everything was established, our yard won a contest! We were all so proud! I do believe that I got my love of landscaping/gardening/yard care from my dad.
Thanks for jogging my memory…..I’m still smiling!! 🙂
LeeAnne,
I can’t EVEN imagine how much work it was so to plant that many trees and shrubs in hard ground.
I think the thing that struck me the most as I read your memory was that I could only imagine how much bonding must have taken place among you with that endeavor. So many families are going in all directions all the time. To do a big project and hard work with your parents and brother and then to win an award for it later must have been a very cool thing for all of you. Bravo!
(And you can come and landscape my yard any ol’ time!)
Good Morning Becky. I too cleaned rooms for a motel but we did not have the strips that we put around the toilets and I have never seen them before. 🙂 I also became their babysitter and would check people in at night. Years later after the couple sold the motel, the father got a job in the same factory that my husband works. One childhood memory that sticks in my head is that we lived in the country and took the bus to school everyday. One day, I was late coming out the long drive way and when the bus stopped, my 5 brothers got on and the driver who also happened to be our neighbor thought that he would be funny and shut the door. I looked up to see this, burst into tears and turned around to go back to the house. Mr. Jackson promptly put the bus in park, jumped out and ran up the lane to carry me to the bus. He was a very nice man. 🙂
Mel,
Hooray for Mr. Jackson!
I would have done the same thing as you–immediately burst into tears. I love that he came out of the bus and actually carried you back. That makes me smile.
So we had a partial link with one of your claims to fame! I am from Wycoff NJ originally one of the towns the Jonas brothers spent their childhood in. Now my daughter who is 15 may be a bit jealous of you actually eating a meal with them :-).
Laurie,
That is so funny. Wyckoff is actually where we ate dinner with the Jonas family.
Steve and I did a concert at their dad’s church back around 1999 or 2000. We parked our RV at their church for several days and Nathan went out and jumped on the trampoline with the boys and we ate a couple meals with them, since their house was next to the church.
Even at that point, one of the boys was on Broadway and their mom was telling us about all the complexities of driving him into Manhattan for rehearsals and performances. Nice family! And in other trivia, the boys’ dad published my very first song!
Well I lived just a town over at that time but my mom still lived right around the corner! I figured it was during their traveling days. I think Nick was the one on Broadway at that point. Funny enough we are taking my 9 yr old niece to see him in concert next week. Smaller world then we all really think 🙂
Laurie,
It IS funny how things come back around from years and years ago. One of the fun and interesting things about life!
It must be so difficult to be so far away from beautiful Wisconsin, especially with family still there. I am biased, I know, but I do love MN and WI. Unfortunately, none of our children have stayed put either.
I love that Sparta still has its lovely library and post office. The town I grew up in in Iowa absolutely destroyed a beautiful Carnegie library in attempting to enlarge it. Does my heart good to see Sparta’s old buildings.
Your musical and speaking talent has obviously been known for some time. Impressive!
Liz,
Actually, the library did have an addition out back since I was last there, but they id a great job with it and the addition doesn’t look out of place. I truly do love old buildings!
And yes, being far away from that beautiful state and my wonderful family isn’t easy but there’s not a whole lot I can do about it. It just makes me look forward to my visits all the more! (And makes me thankful that I have such a special place–and people–to visit.)
My mom was a semi-professional baseball player in Fargo, ND. One day I had stayed with one of her teammates, and on our way to the game we came across someone’s garden. She should have known better, but she and I crouched down and took some carrots. I remember us running away. That was about 65 years ago. As you say, funny how you remember some things. I do remember when postcards were 2 cents.
Sharyn,
How interesting to have had a semi-professional baseball player for a mom. Not many people can say that!
And I loved the story of stealing carrots with her and running away. Seems like the oddest, oldest memories stick in our minds for no reason whatsoever–but it’s so much fun to revisit the past, isn’t it?
Great post! Makes me think of the small town in Ohio where I grew up. I was in Columbus, Ohio about 15 years ago, in a grocery store. I saw former astronaut/senator John Glenn asking a cashier for directions to somewhere. I thought it was funny that he could navigate space, but needed help on earth!
Ann,
“I thought it was funny that he could navigate space, but needed help on earth!” That line made me smile. 🙂
I think it’s interesting that three of us so far have actually been near an astronaut. That seems like a high percentage!
I love those old buildings! So happy to see that they’re still being used – and cared for!
Funny about those “sanitized” toilet strips. I recently spent a total of 12 days in the hospital (two separate events caused by one recalcitrant gall bladder) and the toilet in my bathroom had one of those strips. I was so tickled (because I hadn’t seen one in ages!!!) that I called my husband in to see it. He’d NEVER seen one, so I guess they don’t/didn’t have them in the UK. 🙂
I recall stamps being a dime. I had a penpal who lived in Indiana. We met in the swimming pool at some hotel in Nashville (we were visiting Opryland when I was 9) and exchanged addresses. We wrote for years, but eventually quit writing – probably around the time we were 15 or 16. Her mother was the postmaster of their small town, so she always had the coolest stamps on her letters to me. As you said: funny, the details you remember…
Can’t wait to hear about your dastardly deed!
Stefanie,
Thanks for using the word “recalcitrant.” One of my personal favorites. 🙂
Isn’t that crazy that the toilet strips that used to be so popular are now rarely seen? I can see why they would be used in a hospital but it always struck me as odd to see them in a small motel in a small town. I’m happy to know that at least one other person has had a glimpse of them. 🙂
I hope your recalcitrant bladder has become less recalcitrant these days!
Good memories, I was there going through town with you. Strange the difference between childhood and becoming an adult, the paths and places change but the past stays the same. Ruth
Ruth,
A profound statement about the past and paths and places. I’m glad you enjoyed taking the Sparta tour with me.
One of the Mercury 7 astronauts came to my school when I was a teenager. Sadly, I can’t remember which one. John Glenn was the first one I thought of. He did not, however, pat me on my head.
i imagine your eating Little Debbie flat would make it last longer.
Mrs. Pam,
I’m sorry to hear your head remained unpatted. 🙂 I think it’s interesting to hear that the astronauts seemed to make a lot of school visits–I’m sure they were treated like celebrities
When I saw Lorrie last summer in Colorado, I brought her a Little Debbie Swiss Roll for old time’s sake..
When I was 6, my cousin had a baby girl. She would write letters to me as if they were coming from the baby. First class postage was 3 cents, so she sent them second class for 2 cents (you couldn’t seal the envelope…just tuck the flap into the bottom part of it). And, indeed, there were penny post cards which could be sent for 1 cent.
So many childhood memories triggered by your post, I don’t dare start writing about them or I’ll never stop!
Jan,
I LOVE the idea of writing to a family member in the voice of a baby. How fun is that?! And how frugal to save that extra penny and go second class mail. I had no idea they even did that. And the only difference was not sealing the envelope? Is that so the postal workers could read the mail on their lunch hour to entertain themselves? 🙂 I’d be curious to know the reasoning behind the unsealed envelope.
Thanks for such an interesting comment. And should you feel like you have the time to delve into some childhood memories, we would all love to hear them!
Second class mail . . . now there is a childhood memory! When I was a child back in the day when it was common to mail Christmas cards to just about everyone you knew and not unusual to send (and receive) well over 100 cards, our family mailed them 2nd class.. Sending Christmas cards was a family project best done on a snowy Sunday afternoon while listening to Christmas albums (you all remember record albums, right?). My parents would address the envelopes and. Sign the cards. My brother and I would add our names, slip them into the envelopes, tuck in the flap and add the stamp. As we got older and our handwriting more legible, my brother and I also helped address the envelopes. When the cards were all written and ready to go to the post office, we all had cocoa and Christmas cookies and shared Christmas memories. Our parents often told us about their childhood Christmases. Such sweet memories, indeed!
Linda in Pittsburgh
Linda,
Until you readers mentioned it, I had never realized there WAS second class mail. I guess I think of priority, first class and book rate.
Love the memory of you and your family being a team in the card-sending undertaking. As I mentioned to another commenter, it truly makes me happy to hear of parents and children working together on a project and getting such joy from doing so. And it was just icing on the cake that your parents shared their Christmas memories with you in the process. LOVE it!