We had great weather and a greater time for the Ninth Florida Mini Reunion since the first one in 1997. This time it was three nights in Sarasota at the AmericInn which did a great job and included a wonderful breakfast each day. Including many spouses we approached forty in attendance with the majority being the class of 1951 but we have added several from other class years such as Patty Fulton Franz, Al Anderson, John Erskine, and the "Jackson Sisters" Jane and Sally. Three foursomes competed for the eighth time for the Wilbert C. Brandtonies Cup and for the fourth time the team of Jake Knoedler, Walt Lapinski, Mary Lou Niro DiBartola and Ralph Boyer won. The latter is married to the former Sally Enkoff who was awarded the E.J. McGibbeny Trophy for outstanding assistance and organization for our "Minis." Non-golfers spent most of a day on the thirty acre grounds,mansion and museums of the John Ringling (circus)Museum and it is in fine shape after some decline up until a few years ago. The second day most of us went to the Myakka State Park which is quite beautiful. (Over fifty pictures will be posted in about a week) Some went to the endless quaint shoppes at St. Armands Circle on Lido Key or the Selby Botanical Gardens. We had a wonderful Amish selection at Troyers Dutch Heritage topped off by their huge pie slices. Another night was spent at Madfish Grill and it lived up to its high recommendations. Each evening we mingled and traded yarns in the spacious hotel. Other attendees not mentioned above were Jack Knee, Eileen Erskine Slater, Wayne DiBartola, Hal Steiner, Joan Banker Elmier, Will Schweitzer, Sam Parinella, Al Kaufman, Ken Wuerthele, Al Meder, Gerry Reep, Nancy Wasney Sharick, many with spouses and we helped celebrate the 55th wedding anniversary of Joan Metzger Mills and husband Don who attended Taylor Alderdice. (see picture) Phil McConaghey donated one hundred dollars for he could not attend as he was embroiled in the recent Florida Primary Election. Again, pictures will soon be posted to the Blog. P.S. The Mills honored us by celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniverary at our Daytona Beach Mini and live in nearby Deltona, Florida./s/jack

This is another of the Elementary Schools that fed Baldwin High into the 1950's and has since been closed. Al Kaufman related this to me for he attended along with next door neighbor, the late Wilma Smith Irwin. This is not to be confused with Willock for Willett was up the hilly Churchview Avenue across from the Melrose Theater (also since closed)to the corner of Schuette Road and was two stories containing six classrooms. Three up and three down and a unique feature was that the boys and girls rest rooms were outside! Al says he has a hazy recollection but he remembers the rest room situation but cannot recall if one teacher handled all three grades on her floor or not. Nor, how many in each class but he knows the number was small. Al started our in St. Wendelyn School until his father died and then moved. Perhaps some blanks can be filled in by other alums of Willett. /s/jack

One of the attractions at the forthcoming Mini Reunion in Sarasota is the thirty acre estate of John Ringling who made a fortune putting the circus on the railroad whereas they use to have a limited range on horse drawn wagons. The Mansion, acclaimed art gallery and circus museum may be seen for $13.00 with free parking. I asked Jim to write of his reminisces when it was under the Big Top and came to Pittsburgh. Here it is:

...I remember the Original Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus very well.
I'm not too sure of the dates but it was before the war and while we were still living in South Oakland near what is now known as Dan Marino Field. I was around 8 or 9 years old when it came to Pittsburgh. It set up on vacant land along the Mon River, down along Second Ave. between the J&L Steel Mill and the 18th Street Bridge. We lived right at the top of the steps leading from Second Ave. up to Griffith St. and South Oakland. The excitement in the neighborhood was palpable, especially for young boys like me.
I can vividly recall going down the steps and running down Second Ave to the circus site and watching the workers erecting the tents and the 'Big-Top. Just thinking about seeing that big tent being raised back then can still give me goose bumps. They used real live Elephants to pull the ropes that raised the Big-Top. There were other wild animals, Lions, Tigers, Panthers, Camels, Zebras, Gorillas and Monkeys etc... in cages parked along Second Ave. waiting to be pulled into the lot...by the same Elephants..to their places near the Big-Top or along the Mid-Way. There were huge piles of straw for the animals and big field kitchens where all the workers ate their meals. The hustle and bustle was unbelievable. People kept yelling at us, (small boys) to ..."get the h*** out of the way". After the tents were all set up and the animals had been put inside the compound a fence was erected to keep people out and we were all chased away at that time.
I begged and pleaded with my Dad to let me go to the Circus. Remember it was 1938 or '39 ( I think) and times were still pretty sparse for us, and most of the folks who lived in our neighborhood. The country was still locked in the depths of the Great Depression and times were tough. Not many people had the money to spend on a Circus. But my Dad, after endless cajoling and begging, gave me a dollar bill and told me..."Not to spend more than .50 or there would be H*** to pay when I got back. home."
When I got to the circus grounds and went in I found the price of the Big-Top show was .52 cents. So I passed on it and spent the rest of the afternoon checking out the tents along the mid-way where all the side shows were. For a nickel or a dime you could see the Bearded lady or one of the Freaks or get your palm read. There were Merry-Go-Rounds and a Ferris Wheel and a bunch of skill attractions along the Mid-Way. You could see the 'Star of the Show' the big Gorilla....Cheeze, I can't remember its name!! But I got to see it in all its glory... You could buy penny candy or .05 Cotton Candy, or you could get .05 Popcorn. Because of my financial constraints I spent most of my time watching all the performers going back and forth to the Big-Top and their tents or walking through the animal tents... That was surely a day to remember for me. When I got home that night, there was even more to remember. My Dad raised the roof because I didn't spend the extra .02 to get into the Big-Top. Boy was he mad at me...
It wasn't till the Circus came to the 'new' Civic Arena that I saw it again. I took my family and we had a great time, but it sure wasn't the same as the old Circus that I remember, that's for sure. And seeing the pictures of the fire that destroyed the 'Big-Top' really struck home since I could remember it in all its glory from way back when...
I just remembered that Gorilla's name.... It was GARGANTUA!! I guess the ol' follicles are still working...huh? Whoooop-dee-doooo!! Jim

Jeanne and her late husband Bill Bonomi were both Baldwin graduates in 1950 and lived in Pittsburgh or Bridgeville all their lives.

BONOMI MARGARET JEAN (SNEE)
Age 75, of Bridgeville, on December 27, 2007. Beloved wife of the late William J.; loving mother of Jill Bonomi (Emil) Cable, Kimberly Bonomi (John Theriault) and Lisa Bonomi; sister of Edith Snee (Donald) Dunbar; caring grandmother of Brian and Brandon Jones; great- grandmother of Brandon, Jr. A Memorial Service will be held on Monday at 2 pm at the JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME, INC., 301 Curry Hollow Road, Pleasant Hills. Memorial contributions may be made to Make-A-Wish Foundation, William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh, PA 15233 or the Childrens Free Care Fund, 1251 Waterfront Place, 5th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.
www.jeffersonmemorial.biz
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