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| WONDERFUL YEARS ! |
I GRADUATED FROM ST. PETER IN 79. AFTER HIGH SCHOOL I MOVED AWAY BUT I STILL TALK TO A FEW PEOPLE THAT I WENT TO ST. PETERS WITH. PATTY REDINGTON, JUDY SCHMANK. THE FRIENDS I MADE THERE HAVE LASTED A LIFE TIME. WE HAD SO MANY FUN TIMES. WE DID GET IN A LITTLE TROUBLE BUT NOTHING REALLY BAD. BUT WHEN I THNIK OF THE YEARS THERE I CAN JUST SIT AND SMILE. I STILL HAVE ALL OF MY YEARBOOKS . AND THE SHIRT THAT EVERYONE SIGNS ON THE LAST DAY OF 8TH GRADE! THE TALENT SHOW IN 8TH GRADE IS ALSO A GREAT MEMORY FOR ME.DO THEY STILL DO THAT EACH YEAR. IF ANYONE WANTS TO EMAIL ME FEEL FREE TO DO SO. MY EMAIL IS LDUNGEY4@AOL.COM THANKS,LAURIE JONES DUNGEY |
| Posted By LAURIE JONES DUNGEY |
| Fr. Brett |
| Seeing the picture of Brett Schott included in the Fr. Mike Boehm mass pictures brought back so many memories. Fr. Brett came to St. Peters when I was a young adult and he brought such life back into our parish, young life. His singing voice was beautiful and every homily was such a personal message each time. I had the pleasure of getting to know Brett as our spiritual advisor in preparation for marriage. There were some pretty amazing conversations between the three of us, some over dinner and drinks, most over dinner and drinks. He was such a joy on the day of our wedding, he made a point of getting to know our quite large family and including them and was such a friend that day.He graciously acknowledged and included Bishop O'Donnell in our nuptial mass. It was such a special day having those two amazing priests in one place. Brett was the last one to leave the dance floor at the reception. That was a special time at St. Peters. |
| Posted By Becky Harms Carey |
| Teaching in the 50's and 60's |
In 1959, when I substituted at St. Peter School, there were around 1000 children enrolled. Consequently, some of the teachers had to move their desks into the hall to make room for all of the students. Most classrooms had 40 children in them.
In 1960, Msgr. Westhoff called me and asked me to come back to substitute. I had a 2 year old and told him I couldn't possibly teach, so several days later he called me and told me he had acquired a wonderful baby sitter for me. That was so typical of Monsignor. I began substituting in Nov. 1960 and stayed until June, 1986. My years at St. Peter School were wonderful years filled with memories of beautiful children & a caring faculty. I learned what a true Faith Community is. |
| Posted By Colleen Pence |
| Breakfast After Mass |
If you received Holy Communion at the Mass before school, you could go to the basement cafeteria for breakfast. For ten cents you would get three pieces of butter bread and a carton of milk. Sometimes everyone in our group would save money so we could go to Kirkwood Bakery and buy a coffee cake for twenty-five cents. We could take this to the cafeteria for our breakfast. I often wonder what the kids do today.
I was born in 1944. My parents were members of St. Peter so I was Baptized and received all my Sacraments here.
My husband Al and I were married here in 1963. Six months later, we purchased my parents home. We raised our three boys there. We still live at the same address I was born at. So I have many fond memories here at St. Peter. Eighteen years ago , Al started working at St. Peter as the maintenance man. He and Gerry Girard put all new windows in the school, the OFFM, and the rectory the first summer he was there. He has a lot of memories too. He has been in places in all the buildings that most people don't even know they even exist. When he came here, Miss Rice the P.E. teacher, had all the kids say "There's Mr. Al, He's Our Pal". He really gets a kick out of this. He got to know so many kids through the years. Sometimes they come back to say Hi. |
| Posted By Pat Pollman |
| Blessed Eggs |
| At the end of one of the Easter Masses, sometime in the mid 1980's, Fr Bill Kester was presiding. A few weeks before, the Liturgy committee had decided to give away colored Easter eggs to all children who had not yet received first communion. Toward the end of Mass, several large baskets of the colored eggs were brought out and placed on the floor in front of Fr. Bill for him to bless. After starting an impromptu blessing he began to stammer, and then sort of choke, and eventually laugh so hard he was shaking. Several times he tried to regain has composure and start again only to break out into laughter. After the third try the whole congregation had caught the "bug". After ten minutes, with tears streaming down his face, Fr. Bill forced out a very few coherent words and ended the Mass as quickly as he could. |
| Posted By Mike Kerins |
| Maxi, The Teddy Bear |
One of my treasured possessions is Maxi, the teddy bear, that Father Westhoff won for me at a Knights of Columbus carnival held on the grounds of St. Peter School. This must have been in 1942. I vividly remember Father Westhoff asking me to pick a number on a mat stretched out on a counter and his putting a quarter on the number that I selected. The carnival worker spun a big wheel with numbers on it and it stopped on the number that I had chosen. The prize for picking the winning number was Maxi, the teddy bear. The reason that I know that the date was in the summer of 1942 is that I had just completed kindergarten at John Pitman School and my teacher had been Miss Maxi, of whom I was so fond - thus the bear was named Maxi.
Father Westhoff, with his gentle and dedicated manner, has always been a big influence in the lives of our family. My mother, Harriet, was his first convert after his coming to St. Peter. He baptized me and our daughter, Johanna. He prepared our class for their first communion and celebrated the Mass on that occasion. He was the celebrant at the Mass when our eight grade class graduated from St. Peter School . He married Joe and me in St. Peter church. When our children, Johanna and Paul, made their first communions it was at a Mass in our home celebrated by Father Westhoff. At all the important sacramental events in our lives Father Westhoff was involved. He was a mentor, a role model and a friend. Maxi, the teddy bear is a symbol of his generous and giving spirit and his loving presence in our lives. Jane Sulze
note: to see a photo of Maxi with Jane look under the "2-23-2007 Parish Family Memories Night" (last photo) |
| Posted By margaret bommarito |
| Visiting Uncle John and Aunt Tommy |
I grew up in St. Roch's parish (a block east of Skinker at Rosedale and Waterman). Between the ages of 10 and 15, we would frequently visit our Aunt and Uncle who lived on Forest Avenue in Kirkwood. Sometimes we would go out there on Saturday and stay overnight. On those occasions we would go to St. Peter's on Sunday. My Uncle John was notorious for being late, and Sunday Mass was no exception. As I remember it, we would arrive after Mass had started and sit on the side where the choir is now situated. It might have been my size, but I remember having a hard time seeing the altar from where we were. One of my cousins, Kevin - two years younger than I, was not fond of the new church - "It has footprints going up the wall!"
Those visits, and all aspects of them, are fond memories for me. Now that I live in Kirkwood, I especially think of them every time I drive past Forest Avenue, and, of course, every time I go to St. Peter's. I've even come to love the stained glass widows, footprints and all. |
| Posted By Joe Thompson |
| Motorcycle Blunder |
I remember it like yesterday........6th grade......two new male teachers at school....Mr. Baime and Mr. Sherick.
They roomed in a house a few blocks west of school. A softball game was organized one Saturday afternoon at
school with a bunch of friends.......John Komotos, Dan DeVasto, etc....and Mr. Sherick was invited and he said "yes".
So, John, Danny, and I went to Mr. Sherick's to take him up to school. Mr. Baime had a motorcycle parked out
back of their place. Mr. Sherick said he'd be out in a bit and for us to hang loose. We walked around back and
saw the motorcycle. John and Danny dared me to get on it and act like I was riding it for real. Naturally, being
gullible, I got on the motorcycle and acted like I was riding it for real. VVRRROOOMMMM, making all the noises
and such.....tilting it slightly making it look real...........and then..........BAM !!!!!!!! The motorcycle fell over and I was trapped
underneath it!!!!!!!!!!! I'm a dead man, was my first thought.....Mr. Baime will KILL ME!!! Let alone Mr. Sherick.........
I looked for John and Danny to help me, but they ran to the front of the house. Thanks guys.
Well, after a few minutes.........here comes Mr. Sherick with John and Danny around the corner of the house.
ALL of them surprised to see me trapped under the motorcycle. Academy Awards for John and Danny......they should've
been bound for Hollywood with the great acting they did that day.
Mr. Sherick didn't kill me, and neither did Mr. Baime. Mr. Sherick lifted the motorcycle off of me and stood it
back upright. No harm no foul. Then, we all went up to school to play softball. John and Danny had some laughs and
a great story to tell the other guys that day. I laughed along with them.....when you get away with something, you might
as well laugh it off. |
| Posted By Rick Heyer |
| 8th Grade Field Trip |
Wow, 8th Grade......finally arrived...........we all were finally at the peak of grade school.
Time for our big 8th Grade Field Trip.....to Springfield, Illinois.
The day before departure, the teacher told us to dress appropriately.......boys - coat and tie......girls dresses and nice shoes.
After class I was walking out with Danny DeVasto. We talked about what we were going to wear tomorrow.
He said he wasn't going to wear a coat but only a light jacket and tie.
Ok, I guess I'll do the same then. My Mom however, couldn't believe that I could only wear a light jacket and not a dress coat.
But, she let me do just that.
Just before getting on the school bus, my teacher pulled me aside and wanted to know why I wasn't dressed appropriately.
As I was about to tell her, I looked up and saw Danny looking out the window with his dress coat and tie !!!!
I took the scolding from my teacher and she threatened to NOT let me go on the Field Trip.
Luckily, she calmed down and let me go. Everyone was in shock that I got to go. I had a great time.
Being a history buff, even back then, I really liked the sites....especially New Salem Village.....it was a great memory for me and
I've been back to Springfield many times to see the Lincoln sites and New Salem Village as well.........and have taken my
kids with me several times as well. Truly glad my teacher let me go that day..........Thank you.
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| Posted By Rick Heyer |
| Cafeteria - Milk |
An event that took place in 3rd grade has stuck with me all my life.
A day like any other day in the life of a 3rd grader......took a carton of milk out of the cooler to drink with
my lunch. After opening it up and upon taking the first drink, thinking of nice cold refreshing milk, I almost
gagged on what was curdled milk!!!! I walked over to throw it in the trash, when a Nun stopped me and
scolded me for wasting a carton of milk. She said I had to drink it all down before throwing the carton away.
I tried to explain what was wrong with the carton contents, but she would have none of it.
So, I gagged the rest down and shortly thereafter.....threw up the curdled milk outside the cafeteria.
To this day, I can NOTdrink a glass of milk straight up. Chocolate milk yes............cereal with milk yes......but NOT
straight up.
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| Posted By Rick Heyer |
| Cafeteria - Landshire Hamburgers |
| It was a real treat to get the Landshire Hamburgers........or at least I thought it was a treat. Not taking my lunchbox to school one day and getting to purchase my sandwich was a real treat. However, given those little "ovens" they used to heat up the frozen or cold burgers back in the 60's was not good. The package contained a burger, the bottom bun, and then the top bun on the bottom......it was wrapped in that order. After the cafeteria cook gave it to you........the package was HOT.....after opening it up, the burger was HOT......the top bun that you moved to it's proper position was HOT.....the bottom bun which had been in the middle of the package contents...........was NOT hot.....but usually still very cold...............so it made for an interesting way to eat a burger....burn your tongue half way through and then cooling it off with the last bite!!!!! |
| Posted By Rick Heyer |
| Beginnings of Modern Liturgy at St. Peter |
| I remember dressing in cassock and surplice as a 'senior server' when I was in the 10th and 11th grades at Coyle, and kneeling at a pre-dieu on the side of the altar at Sunday mass, reading the epistle and gospel in English over a microphone while the priest said them quietly at the altar in Latin, with his back to the parishioners. That was about 1945 through 1947 in the old church, long before Vatican II. |
| Posted By Paul Gegg |
| Coyle High |
| I remember starting 8th grade in 1943 in the Coyle building; the north-east room in the basement was our home room and Brother Charlie Neumann was the home room teacher. We may have been in the Coyle building in 7th grade also, but I am not so sure of this. |
| Posted By Paul Gegg |
| Church Bells |
| I remember often during the 40s and 50s climbing into the bell tower behind the organ and ringing the church bells in the old church for my dad, who had that responsibility the second half of each month. Particularly scary was the 6pm Angelus on dark winter evenings, when I had to check with a flashlite under the pews, in the confessionals, and other nooks and crannies for any sleeping bums, before turning out the last lights and locking up. |
| Posted By paul gegg |
| Coyle High School |
| The story of Coyle as a high school extends from September 1939 until June 1960 and during this entire period, only two people were associated with the school from start to finish. No nun or brother or teacher can make a claim of being there the whole time--only two people: Father Westhoff and Reinhard Gegg (affectionately known as General Gegg) the custodial/maintenance manager of the building. |
| Posted By Paul Gegg |
| Communion on First Fridays |
| The years were 1950-1952 and I remember Father Westhoff bringing Communion to my dad on the First Friday each month before he passed away. My mother and I would meet him at the front door with candles and of course in silence. |
| Posted By Eileen Devereaux Weyerich |
| Slacks |
| I have trouble remembering the year, but I can clearly remember the scandal-like voices whispering outside of church: "Did you see that? She was wearing PANTS". Yes, there was a time when skirts were the approved wear for ladies and when slacks came along, it took some "getting used to". |
| Posted By Paul Gegg |
| Monsignor Westhoff |
| I remember Msgr. Westhoff being so involved with the school kids. He seemed to know every child's name and would come out to recess and pitch for kickball. The picture in the back of church of Msgr. Westhoff with some school girls is my class, St. Peters class of 1979. It was getting close to First Communion and he sat and talked to us during recess. In the picture are Laura McElvain, Emily Mason, Michelle Bardot, and Katie O'Rourke. Some of my favorite memories include Msgr. Westhoff, he used to sing When Irish Eyes are Smiling to me. He arranged my father's adoption in 1927 and then married my parents in St. Peter's church in 1949. He sent them an anniversary card every year and then oddly enough died the night of my wedding, the last of their six kids to marry. I will always be able to picture him walking across the playground with his black cassock flowing and his very cheerful smile. |
| Posted By Becky Harms Carey |
| Keys Club Teen Town |
| In 1944 and 45 there was a teen town created by the Keys Club (men's organization in the parish). Teen Town was located in a single standing building on Jefferson Ave., previously a real estate office, in the middle of what is now Duffy's parking lot. It was open everyday after school and Friday and Saturday night. My mother, Otie Linn Durbin, was the house mother. She would sit by the front door so she could check everyone that came in. I was young so could not belong but would come after school and on Friday nights, after movies at the Osage or at the Kirkwood Theater (where Stages Box Office is now), I would walk to Teen Town to get a ride home. I remember all the teenagers being very nice to me. Music was always playing and everyone was dancing. |
| Posted By Jane Jensen |
| Dr. H. P. Durbin |
| My parents, Dr. and Mrs. Howard P. Durbin moved to Kirkwood in 1927. My dad was one of three Doctors in Kirkwood. He was Father Westhoff's physician and when my father made his house calls every afternoon many times Father Westhoff rode along. Father Westhoff would go into the homes that he knew, otherwise he would spend the time praying in the car. Even though I was very young when my father died I remember my Dad saying it was very special when Father Westhoff came along. |
| Posted By Jane Durbin Jensen |
| BLUE and BLUE&GOLD BOWS |
| A blue & gold bow was for academic excellence; a blue bow for good behavior. If you earned one of these bows, you would receive it when Father Westhoff handed it out along with your report card on Report Card Day. I received a few blue bows in my time but never a blue & gold bow. |
| Posted By Eileen Devereaux Weyerich |
| Rites of Passage |
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Back in the early Sixties when I attended St. Peter's school I recall the "Rites of Passage". These were not written down or delegated to any one person or group to enforce, but they were carried out none the less. Here are a couple of examples.
The Spit Pit: As I recall there were two such places on the campus. One at the bottom of a steep outside stairwell of the primary building, that led down into the gym. The other in front of the elementary school below the grates right near the Jefferson entrance. At that time most all the boys carried combs in their back pockets and used heavy amounts of Brillcream or Vitalis to keep their hair in place. On any given day someone would grab a comb and toss it into the pit then wait for the owner to climb in or to descend down the bottom of the stairwell. Once in the pit, a swarm of schoolmates would appear and you can figure out the rest. You learned to always have an extra comb at hand.
The Slap Across The Face: The Record Store in town sold cheap toys and fun gag gifts, hand buzzers, soap that made your hands black, neat stuff like that. I bought a package of fake cigarettes and brought them to school one day. They really looked like cigarettes, they were filled with powder and had a red foil tip to simulate a burning effect. I was blowing the powder out of the cigarette in front of my mates when I was suddenly spun around by a nun and slapped across the face; the fake cigarette went flying! Sobbing, I explained to the dear sister that it was not a real cigarette, she just nodded and said she knew that but I was setting a bad example. Another lesson learned.
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| Posted By John Komotos |
| St. Peter's trip to the movie "The Ten Commandments" |
| I remember lining up outside of the old gradeschool, and walking, in single file, to the Osage theatre on Kirkwood road. No talking, and no gum-chewing! The Ten Commandments was quite a movie, and I guess the nuns thought it would be good for us to see it. Sure made an impression on me! I can't remember the year...must have been 1955 or 56, maybe. It seems like the whole school went, because there was a LONG line of walkers....and nuns trying to keep us together...what fun we had! |
| Posted By susan Harris |
| The Corner Store |
| The Corner Store was adjacent to the old primary school and everyday after school St. Peter school students would form a line inside the store. The purpose of the line was our daily requirement for the penny candy which, Mrs. Clue, the owner, sold behind the counter. I would save my milk money or look for soda bottles, which back then one could redeem for two cents a bottle. I could not walk past the store which was on my way home without getting something.
I ran fast when school ended to be in front of the line that sometimes ran all the way around the inside of the store. We learned to memorize the candy we wanted once it was our turn to order or Mrs. Clue, losing her patience, would send us to the back of the line.
Pixi Stix, Mary Janes, Jawbreakers, Bazooka, Pretzel Sticks, Jolly Ranchers, Wax Lips and Teeth and lots more, all for a penny a piece! The candy was placed in a small brown paper bag, the pretzel sticks protruding over the top of the bag, money was exchanged and I would be fortified for the walk home. I would save the jawbreaker for last, every once in a while taking it out of my mouth to see what color layer it had changed to.
The Corner Store fix had its downside which was tooth decay and dentist bills, my father would tell me he would send me to reform school if he would ever see me eating anymore candy after school. Well, the temptation was too great and though I avoided reform school, I suffered mightily each and every time I went to the dentist. |
| Posted By John Komotos |
| School lunch in the old Primary Building |
My earliest memory of eating lunch in the old primary school at St. Peters, was of Mother Marie De Lourdes, yelling through a portable loudspeaker system for us to be quiet. This system was later refined to handheld signs held aloft when the noise level of the students reached an unmanageable pitch. The nuns would hold up various signs, for example, WARNING!, SILENCE!, RESUME SPEAKING.
After lunch we would have recess. The trash collected from lunch including all those wax milk cartons were burned in the schools incinerator. On cold, damp days, when the air was heavy, the ashes from the incinerator were trapped and they rained down on the playground and most of downtown Kirkwood, inciting thoughts of Pompeii! Oh, yes and the smell! |
| Posted By John Komotos |
| Beatlemania at St. Peter School |
| I remember when in 1964 or `65 the height of Beatlemania, a student, Ian Reed, moved from Liverpool England to Kirkwood and he attended our school at St. Peter. It was a mob scene when he first arrived! The girls and some of the boys would swarm his car when his mother dropped him off for school, screaming, shrieking and mobbing the poor kid. It was the same at recess, it was as if everyone had to get near him and touch him. This lasted about a week until it was obvious he was just another fifth grade kid with a neat accent. I did however spend some time with Ian, making a raft and floating it in the swamp where Meramec College is now. We also had afternoon tea at his home on occasion. |
| Posted By John Komotos |
| Msgr. Curtin Teaching Religion at St. Peter |
| I remember Msgr. Curtin teaching religion class one day in the 4th grade when I was at St. Peter. The lesson was on the mustard seed. It was good to have the priests make appearances in class every once in a while. |
| Posted By Don Hesse |
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