Magical Mystery Tour of Our Old Stomping Grounds
Saturday, October 22, 2005

PART I, 10/28/05:

   On 10/24/05 I gave you an abbreviated report of the weekend.  This would be the more complete version.

   You do recall how we were offered a guided tour through Our Old Stomping Grounds, do you not?  Well, incredibly, only nine of us took advantage of this opportunity, but that played to our advantage at least twice.  So here are the players:
 
DRIVING: NARRATING: SECOND SEAT: THIRD SEAT: FOURTH SEAT: BACK SEAT:
HS PHOTO UNAVAILABLE
Dave Arnold ('65) of VA  Dave Spriggs ('64)
of VA		 Jean Poole Burton ('64) of RI Carol Buckley Harty ('65) of NC Eleanor Buckley Nowitzky ('59) of NC Pam Smith Arnold ('65)
of VA 		Janice McCain Rose ('65) of VA Fred Rose of VA Mike Miller ('65)
of NC
  
   Let me say at the outset that the three women in the second seat had a near terminal case of the raucous, rowdy giggles the entire time, and no doubt drove the six normal people quite insane, but they did have fun! 

   See, I should have kept a log of the exact order in which we visited everything, but on those rare occasions when I wasn't laughing, I was too mesmerized by what I saw to record anything.  I think the first images we shot were at the Mariners' Museum Park, and you've already seen some of those.  My sister wouldn't let me crawl up on the lion, 'cause she didn't trust me not to fall and break my leg...

   And we went downtown and saw a whole bunchalotta places.  We drove down West Avenue past the Library, and then we spotted the house where they held Tri-Hi-Y and Y-Teens in the seventh grade, and I actually recognized it out of the clear blue.  If you're not impressed, you just don't realize how many of my brain cells have gone the way of all flesh.

   We pause to interrupt our narrative for a case in point.  Janice had to remind me of the entire Y-Teen experience, and how we caught the bus at Walter Reed and came downtown to that house for meetings.  (No, I didn't date Janice, but we were best friends.)  After much difficulty, I do vaguely remember all that.  But then she started in about how we Y-Teens took a trip to DC and visited the Washington Cathedral, and we covered our heads to enter and she somehow lost her glasses.

   I would have bet big money (and it's obviously a good thing that I don't gamble) that I had never seen the Washington Cathedral, not the outside, not the inside, not then, not later.  But she's adamant on this point, and that we were together.  The closest I can come to remembering is of standing in the vestibule and picking up a hankie to cover our heads so that we could enter.  If anyone can supply any further details of this whole episode which transpired in 1959-60, I would be eternally grateful.  That was the year my daddy died, and I'm afraid I was in a bit of a fog.....

   (And the fact that I don't remember this when it obviously happened is no indication that I snuck out of my bedroom window at night to go meet guys.  That scenario remains totally impossible!)

   But back to our story.

  
   We thought it would be fun to take our pictures outside our beloved high school.  As it is now known as Huntington Hall and billets Navy troops (though it is owned by Northrup-Gruman), we knew that for security reasons it would be impossible to go inside.  So we parked the van and skipped merrily off to school.  As we did so, several of the Naval personnel began to emerge from the building.  While we were chatting with them and taking their picture, Pam and Mike, in the spirit of "nothing ventured, nothing gained", walked into the building and asked the Pinkerton guards if they could take us on a tour!  And after a brief pause for permission, THEY AGREED!
 
Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:11 AM
 
Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:17 AM Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:27 AM Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:27 AM Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:27 AM
Jean, Dave, Mike, Carol, Janice, Eleanor, Pam, and Dave on the front stairs Pam, Mike, Dave, Dave, Eleanor, and Captain Paul Lilly of the Pinkerton Agency, in the old gym Mike, Dave, and Dave
in the old gym		 Janice and Fred
in the old gym
Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:31 AM Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:31 AM Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:32 AM Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:39 AM
Eleanor and Dave in Julie Conn's Office Eleanor in Julie Conn's Office (Eleanor served as Julies secretary during the '58-'59 school year.) Looking down into the old gym (I just this moment realized the floor is NOT sporting its big "N"!) Janice by one of the lockers in the band wing
Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:42 AM Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:47 AM Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:53 AM Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:54 AM
Pam, Mike, and Jean climbing the steps to the third floor Eleanor, Dave, and Pam going back down again Dave, Jean, Pam, Eleanor, Mike, Janice, and Captain Paul Lilly Officer Taniesha Holmes, Carol, Dave, Jean, Pam, Eleanor, Mike, Janice, and Captain Paul Lilly

   The moral of this story is, "Ask, and it shall be given unto you."  And we had an incredible fantasy actually come to life.

   After this we went to see other wondrous places, but we'll save that for another Newsletter.  Stay tuned.

PART II, 10/31/05:

   If I haven't made it clear - and the childlike expressions on our faces haven't amply demonstrated the joy
that we felt - I'd just like to once again thank all those who made this magical time possible.  I'm not sure
that I even know all those responsible, as I do so dislike checking into details on something as enchanting
as this was, but I do know that these people deserve a special thanks: Kathy Pilgrim Clark ('63 of VA)
for suggesting it originally; Chip Clark ('65 of Northern VA) for apparently encouraging this in such a way
that brought it into fruition; Dave and Pam Smith Arnold (both '65 of VA) for arranging for the
transportation; Dave Arnold for driving us; Pam Smith Arnold and Mike Miller ('65 of NC) for convincing
the Pinkerton guards at Huntington Hall into not only letting us in, but for giving us a guided tour "within
these sacred walls" once more; the Pinkerton guards themselves, Captain Paul Lilly and Officer
Taniesha Holmes for their courteous accommodation of us, and Mr. Michael McPherson, whom we did
not meet, but who granted us permission for the tour of the building: Fred Rose (of VA) for his good
natured taking of countless photographs on the myriad cameras which were handed to him, and most
especially to Dave Spriggs ('64 of VA) for his matchless expertise, knowledge, and recall in narrating
and pointing out to us the cherished places of our youth and the former homes of our friends.

   This was an amazing opportunity for all who were privileged to be a part of it, an unforgettable delight,
truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and if our exuberance at times spilled over the top, it was merely an
indication of our deep appreciation and gratitude to the sacrifices made by those who loved us enough
to arrange it for us.  On occasion I may be prone to exaggeration, but I am not stretching anything when
I say to one and all, thank you, from the very depths of my being.

  From Janice McCain Rose ('65) of VA - 10/24/05:

Saturday, October 22,
2005, 9:28 AM - #59		 Saturday, October 22,
2005, 9:29 AM - #22		 Saturday, October 22,
2005, 9:30 AM - #63		 Saturday, October 22,
2005, 9:31 AM - #22
Mariners' Museum Park
Dave, Janice, Jean, Pam, Mike, Carol, and Dave Dave, Carol, Eleanor,
and Fred - "No...he's not attacking"		 Dave, Carol, Eleanor,
and Fred		  
Saturday, October 22,
2005, 10:14 AM - #66		 Saturday, October 22,
2005, 10:54 AM - #22		 Saturday, October 22,
2005, 10:54 AM - #23		 Saturday, October 22,
2005, 10:55 AM - #73
First Floor Stairs "Front Door of NNHS" "Leaving Our School" Huntington Hall
Jean, Dave, Mike, Carol, Janice, Eleanor, Pam, and Dave Eleanor, Captain Paul Lilly of the Pinkerton Agency, Carol, Pam - and some Naval personnel wondering what on earth is happening Eleanor, Pam, and Carol  Formerly known as NEWPORT NEWS HIGH SCHOOL!
This, of course, is but a fraction of the priceless images Janice sent me -
but we'll get to the others soon.  Thanks so much, Janice!

And please thank Fred once more for taking
so many shots for the rest of us!
Saturday, October 22,
2005, 1:19 PM - #75
Buckroe Lighthouse
Mike, Carol, Jean, Eleanor, Janice, Pam, and Dave

   From Eleanor Buckley Nowitzky ('59) of NC - 10/28/05:

Saturday, October 22, 2005, 10:32 AM - #8 Saturday, October 22, 2005, 10:32 AM - #9 Saturday, October 22, 2005, 10:32 AM - #10 Saturday, October 22, 2005, 10:32 AM - #11
Mariners' Museum Park
Dave, Janice, Jean, Pam, Mike, Carol, and Dave
Saturday, October 22, 2005, 10:33 AM - #12 Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:19 AM - #13 Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:19 AM - #14 Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:27 AM - #15
Mariners' Museum Park First Floor Stairs The Old Gym
Dave, Carol, Eleanor, and Fred Jean, Dave, Mike, Carol, Janice, Eleanor, Pam, and Dave Dave and Mike
Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:27 AM  - #16 Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:28 AM  - #17 Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:28 AM  - #18 Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:28 AM  - #19
The Old Gym
Mike, Captain Paul Lilly of the Pinkerton Agency, Pam, Dave, and Carol  Captain Paul Lilly, Mike, Dave and Carol Captain Paul Lilly, Dave, Carol, Dave, Mike, Janice and Fred Captain Paul Lilly, Dave, Pam, Fred's arm, Dave, and Mike
Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:28 AM  - #20 Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:28 AM  - #21 Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:29 AM  - #22 Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:33 AM - #23
The Old Gym
Jean, Carol, Pam, and Fred Fred, Carol, Pam, Mike, Dave, Dave, and Captain Paul Lilly Carol, Mike, Pam, Dave, Dave, and Captain Paul Lilly  
Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:33 AM - #24 Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:33 AM - #25 Saturday, October 22, 2005,  11:40 AM - #26 Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:41 AM - #27
The Old Gym Original Locker on the Third Floor Outside Room 315
    Janice Pam and Janice
Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:47 AM - #28 Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11:52 AM - #29 Saturday, October 22, 2005, 2:24 PM - #32 Saturday, October 22, 2005, 2:24 PM - #33
Second Floor Stairs Second Floor Hall Buckroe Lighthouse
    Mike, Carol, Dave, Eleanor, Janice, Pam and Dave

Thanks, Eleanor!  These images are just fabulous!

Magical Mystery Tour

- Paul McCartney and JohnLennon

(The Beatles, Recorded: April 25-27, May 3, November 1, 1967)
 

Roll up, roll up for the mystery tour.
Roll up, roll up for the mystery tour.
Roll up AND THAT'S AN INVITATION, roll up for the mystery tour.
Roll up TO MAKE A RESERVATION, roll up for the mystery tour.
The magical mystery tour is waiting to take you away,
waiting to take you away.

Roll up, roll up for the mystery tour.
Roll up, roll up for the mystery tour.
Roll up WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING YOU NEED, roll up for the mystery tour.
Roll up SATISFACTION GUARANTEED, roll up for the mystery tour.
The magical mystery tour is hoping to take you away,
hoping to take you away.

Roll up, roll up for the mystery tour.
Roll up, roll up for the mystery tour.
Roll up AND THAT'S AN INVITATION, roll up for the mystery tour.
Roll up TO MAKE A RESERVATION, roll up for the mystery tour.
The magical mystery tour is coming to take you away,
coming to take you away.
The magical mystery tour is dying to take you away,
dying to take you away, take you away.

"Magical Mystery Tour" midi courtesy of http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/2729/index2.html
at the suggestion of Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 04/15/05
Thanks, Dave!

"Magical Mystery Tour" lyrics courtesy of http://www.iqm.ro/beatles/plyri.html - 11/09/05
from this site given to me in the summer of 2003 by Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA
Thanks again, David!

Animated Cheering Smiley clip art courtesy of Al Farber ('64) of GA - 08/18/05
Thanks, Al!

 Peach Flower Divider Line clip art courtesy of http://www.wtvzone.com/nevr2l82/bars5.html - 04/05/03

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