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"The High Diving Board At The Park" topic already has some discussion of the park. It might be good to have a separate topic for all of our other Highland Park memories.
I took swimming lessons there twice. The first time I took them when I was elementary school age. In high school, I took them to encourage my cousin, Dr. Bill East, so he wouldn't have to take them without someone he knew.
That summer, Bill and I volunteered to help our teacher each week with handicapped kids taking swimming lessons. Once one of them emerged, reached up into my arms, and uncontrollably spit right in my face. Even then, it was a rewarding experience. Bill says that I try to give the impression that we were doing something great, but the truth was that we just wanted to see our beautiful teacher in her bathing suit. Bill's explanation might be more accurate than mine.
Of course, the Dentzel Carousel is a fond memory for all of us. It was really exciting, as a kid, to try to outrun everyone else to get there first and ride your favorite animal. At our 1995 Class Reunion, some of us rode the carousel. I was disappointed that none of them go up and down any more.
My brother Spud, our father John, and I played Church League softball there. Those games were competitive, exciting, and fun. The night that East End Methodist beat 15th Avenue Baptist, and Daddy's good friend, their manager Lucky Bryant, was one of the highlights of Daddy's life. Somehow, we talked Frank Cochran into letting me play shortly before my 15th birthday, contrary to the rules at the time. That's the only time I remember ever bending any rules. 15th Avenue and First Baptist recruited players from all over the city. Of course, they signed them up for Sunday School first.
Industrial League fast pitch softball was fun to watch. Coach Billy Allgood was an outstanding pitcher. Southern Pipe had one of the better teams.
Babe Ruth League baseball played on its field on the edge of the park. I loved watching Sonny Fisher, R.V. Skelton, Charlie Gray, and others play there. One Sunday afternoon, someone hit a high popup behind home plate. At the crack of the bat, my mother starting yelling, "It's gonna hit me, it's gonna hit me." Unbelievably, several of us stood up and watch the ball's entire flight, until it came down and hit mother on the top of her head. She was not seriously hurt, but the rest of us looked and felt silly.
We had family and church gatherings there. We enjoyed eating under the pavilions and playing country jake afterward.
Many times we would swim in the pool and then eat a snowball at that wonderful snowball stand. The duck pond, alligators, swings, seesaws, barbecue pits, and the jungle gym also bring back fond memories.
The Kendallwood Play School was also at Highland Park. I know nothing about it, except that I saw it there. I never even went inside.
What fond memories do you have of Highland Park?
_________________
Jeff "Corky" East
Class of 1960
I thank my God in my every remembrance of you, Meridian, and the wonderful childhoods some of us had.
Last edited by Jeff East on Tue Aug 30, 2005 12:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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I guess it all depends on what you were jumping on. 
(jumping up and down, waving my arm in the air).