Happy 102nd birthday to Lura Simmerman. Lura has been a lifelong resident of the south side of the county and is the oldest former student of the Sherrow School. She is now a resident at the Seymour Nursing Home.
Grandson Nicholas reported that she looked like she was enjoying herself on her special birthday recently. He saw her while visiting longtime family friend, Nellie West, a former Dillon school pupil. He also reported that he ran into Becky Givans, former resident of this neighborhood, who works there and Diane Terrill, who was visiting her mother there. Diane’s mother lived at the bottom of Kindall Hill for many years.
Mildred Uchtman, former Fordland resident and teacher at the Dillon School, was among the large number of south-side residents who were in attendance Sunday morning for the special service in Elkland to commemorate the ending of World War II. Rev. Roy Cantrell of Seymour was the guest speaker. Mildred was there representing her late husband, Chester, who was a WWII veteran. Junior and I enjoyed being there for the service.
The Chateau Charmant, the “castle” in Olga, will play host to the 2nd annual Masquerade Ball benefiting the Fordland Clinic on Oct. 1. The evening will include hors d’oeuvre, dancing and costume contests. Most of the participants last year enjoyed the ‘masquerade’ aspect of the event, wearing masks and “ball” attire. We had such a great time at the ball last year and look forward to attending again this year.
Sorry, I have missed a few weeks in reporting. I have been working in Springfield and have been a little behind in my tasks. I know that you will all understand.
I understand that many in this area attended the re-enactment at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield near Republic. This last weekend was the 150th anniversary of the battle. Nicholas and Sarah enjoyed being re-enactor’s at the historic event. It made me think back several years when they had the battle re-enactment at Vera Cruz, near the Ava area. We attended along with Fordland friends, Ruth Casewell (former resident of Sherrow Bridge neighborhood), Pam Moore and Imogene Sartin. It was a great event and I wish they would do it once more. It really got many interested in Civil War re-enacting, including Nicholas.
After that for several years, we hosted a Civil War re-enactment in Fordland near the treatment plant in the summer. It was always well attended and the re-enactor’s had a great time.
One night of the re-enactment in Fordland they had a ball and needed light. My parents (Philip and Alverta Hargis) were there and they pulled their car up to the sight and turned on the headlights and that provided enough light and everyone danced to period music by the light of the car and the full moon. It was so much fun! What great memories.
Happy Anniversary to our oldest son and his wife, Jerry and Jeri Inman. They have been married for 32 years. They were married in the front yard of my parents’ house on my mother’s birthday. She would have been 103 on Sunday. Hard to believe. Also, Happy Anniversary to Don and Charlene Hartwell who celebrated 23 years together.
We have been enjoying some of these cooler temperatures; hope they linger. Have a great week and hope to see you out this way in the near future.
