Polio quarantine

I was eight years old in 1955 when all children were quarantined to their yard. We made it a game – volleyball, golf all over the yard, basketball, Simon Says, kick the can, and phone tag with the Lamers. We used tin cans and string to send messages across the alley tied to fences in each yard. My dad would always listen to baseball on the radio as we played. My mom chipped golf balls into an old fishing net with golf balls my brothers brought home from raiding creeks. We’d get two popsicles for 5 cents from Kokke’s .

Youth Center

Early 60’s the place to be was Youth Center, the gym on Main Street. Teachers supervised. Mr. Rundquist, Mr. Bohne, Mr. Nirschel are some I recall, each with their special trait, a smile, a coach, always helpful, ready to give us a basketball or ping pong paddles. They’d roll out the jute box from the side room, plug in and the girls danced The Twist, Jitter Bug, and Stroll. Basketball, shuffle board, and ping pong were games of choice. We’d run across Main Street to Red’s to buy candy, food, soda and talk. Danny Speering’s dad had a used car lot and Danny would drive different cars all the time. Guys loved to drive past and the girls loved it too. We’d jump in once in awhile and go off to have fun. Ronnie Blaze had a little car and once picked up a bunch of us and we took a ride to High Cliff. I remember the little car floating with us inside laughing. We of course went back to youth center only to walk home with friends. Curfew for me was nine.  Youth Center was open week days in the summer and weekends during school.

Moving

My husband Ralph (Sam) Lamers, Kimberly High School Class of 1965, and I married in 1968. We raised our four children, Kim, Luke, Mike and Joe in Kimberly. I laugh when I tell people I moved five times. First to Walnut Street, then 1st Street, then Paul Drive, then Ann or Anne Street depending what post you’re looking at, and now Thelosen Drive. I love Kimberly. The people are great, our leaders are the best, and I continue worship and thank God for the many blessing, parents, family and friends.

Mary Ann Gossens Lamers

The award comes from the Outagamie County Historical Society and is presented to an individual or group in recognition of research on some aspect of Outagamie County history. Primary criteria for the award are scholarship of the work, quality of sources consulted, quality of presentation, and contribution to the field of local history. The award will be presented at the Society’s annual meeting and luncheon on Monday, February 21st.

Kimberly DX Station
ca. 1937-38

Kimberly Rivals baseball team
ca. 1908