Peter Melonas:  

We lived across the street from Lowell, yet Mr Frye, the Principal, always "complained" to Mom about our being late! Remember when those metal , enclosed fire escape chutes were added to the school? Remember the drills when we had to go down them! The smell of the polish and resin on the wood floors was intoxicating. And the stairs up to the Prioncipal's office forbidding. 'There was a corridor separating the lower classes from the 6th, 7th and 8th grades. And there was a long, dark corridor used to enter the auditorium. Mr Krizmis was the first teacher I had ever ebncountered who had us put our desks in a large circle instead of rows. Remember the milk days? Each week we had to remember to bring in our cents for either white or chocolate milk. It was really bad if that was forgotten; it meant no milk for the following week EXCEPT, when milk was passed out, if a classmate who had ordered the milk was not present, that pint was given out by lottery! My Mom was the only pregnant one when we graduated. You see my brother, Dean, was born 14 years after me. I was Salutatorian and had to give the opening speech. Dean was born in August so when we graduated in June, Mom was really "big". Embarrassing to a 14 year old guy. I begged our Principal, Mr Frye, not to let my Mom anywhere near the front row. He promised but sure enough when I got up to give my speech, there he was proudly marching Mom down the center aisle to the front row! The front playground wasn't used much excep...Expand for more