Janice Eaves Powers:
CLASS OF 1956
Galesburg High SchoolClass of 1956
Galesburg, IL
Janice's Story
I was listed as having a happy personality and as being polite. I loved singing in the A Cappella Choir, and I loved PE and English classes. My senior year at Galesburg High School was my favorite because I finally got glasses so I could see better to do my homework. I was also happy that I had gone to a Christian camp. It changed my life. Art class was also fulfilling for me, and I loved sketching historic buildings near our school. It was fun having lunch downtown sometimes, going to "The Tasty Grill" for a hamburger, french fries, and a coke or shake, or to "Coney Island" for a hot dog and chips. Many times, I went home on the city bus for lunch, and Mom fixed my lunch. My favorite lunch to take to school was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. My friends in school were Sandra Wright, a junior when I was a senior, Eleanor (DeWitt) Grady, and Sandy Knowles. Barbara Jacobsen lived in my neighborhood on Grand and Elm, and we got together sometimes to tan with baby oil and iodine! We also memorized all the top 40 songs. It was fun to watch them performed on the "Lucky Stike Hit Parade" with Snooky Lansen, Bill Hayes and others. (I actually got to sing with Bill Hayes at the North Hollywood Christian Church - he's a trained musician and composer). Out here, it's not unusual to meet celebrities.
To enlarge upon the above, and cut to the present, I live in Pasadena, CA, close, and nearly a part of, the Commercial District of South Lake Avenue. My residence is in a 1923 bungalow court, and I have two precious cats. They are Lady Jane Grey, an American Wire Hair and Tabby mix, which I adopted from The San Gabriel Humane Society in October of 2007rescue form October of 2007, and Lord Snowden, a Snowsoe Siamese, adopted from my vet in November of that year, at "The Cat Clinic" (the first cats only practice in the US, founded around 1946. I work part-time at Coldwater Creek womens store, on Lake, as a Sales Associate. It's fun working with people, and helping women choose clothing. I have great coworkers, too. I can actually walk to work when it's not 108 degrees outside (which happened a little too often this summer), but now we're into our "cool" season. I also have sung in the Lake Avenue Congregational Sanctuary Choir (100+ singers), and love it. It's rewarding, and fun, and we have a great orchestra to sing with during the fall and winter months. We usually sing for two services (I'm a first soprano) and also do sacred, gospel, and pop concerts. The highlight of the year is Christmas time, when we sing for two services, and end with,"Peace, Peace, Peace," (on earth), and the congregation sings "Silent Night" during our last verse. During this time, we all hold lighted candles, including the congregation. It gives me chills to think about it. Thos...Expand for more
e who still have some energy, and are free Christmas morning, wear Christmas outfits, and sing for a service, and the congregation joins in on some pieces. Music is my favorite form of worship.
I moved to the Pasadena area in 1962, with my then spouse. I am now single. I've lived in Pasadena and South Pasadena most of the time since coming out here, with some time in Studio City. I used to cry when I drove home after having my voice lesson in Pasadena. I got home sick for it. I worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory from 1963 to 1975, took time off, then worked at The Gas Company in downtown LA, from 1976 to 1994, most of that time as an Executive Secretary. I took early retirement in 1994, took more time off, then worked for temp agencies, most of it at The Gas Company and at ARCO. I really missed the excitement of downtown for a long time when I became employed at Caltech. I liked the tall buildings, the old fire station and historic buildings, the coffee bars and restaurants, even the "sleasier" parts, like Broadway between 7th and 8th Streets. There were mini Asian and Mexican flea markets spilling out of old store fronts,and continuing inside. There was actually still a Kress and a Woolworths dimestore. The old Woolworths still had a lunch counter where you could get a grilled cheese sandwich and a coke! They also had counters with pizza, hot dogs, etc., and all the little (or big) notions we used to find in those stores of pretty much yesteryear. A place still standing in that area, Grand Central Market, is still thriving today. It is filled with mini ethnic restaurants, and also an array of vegetables to choose from, and fresh flowers.
I'll close for now. Oh, speaking of the past, there's a coffee shop two doors away from me, and it's been there about 48 years, so I've heard, and it looks like something you could plop down in the middle of Oklahoma (the way I remember it from driving through in 1966). The name of the place is "Pie 'n Burger." The counter is old and the maple topped stools are falling apart, and even when the plaid wallpaper was changed, some customers thought it was still the old stuff. The owner is tight, but the place is really popular. Their burgers are really good, and they still use a really old soda fountain, and an even older malt and shake mixer (I've heard quieter jet engines, but boy the results beat most mixers around town). The waitresses are all kind of characters, but most are fun to know. The movie, "Waitress," was made in their huge back area, where they make all their own pies. One waitress, Jodell, has worked at "Pie 'n Burger" for over 40 years.
I always wanted to be a singer when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a good idea. As it turns out, they were right.
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