Someplace to Go “I always loved the woods surrounding Ishpeming and always had a secret hideaway there.” The words of Kelly Johnson, a designer of some of the world's most spectacular aircraft, including the F-104 Star-fighter, and two reconnaissance planes of mystery and daring: the U-2, and the S-R 71 Blackbird. Called an 'engineering masterpiece', the Blackbird was capable of flying 3 times the speed of sound, and with the utmost stealth. In his long career at Lockheed, Johnson was instrumental in the creation of more than 40 aircraft. He said that he made his decision at the age of 12 to design aircraft. Perhaps some of his dreams of magnificent flight began in his hideaway. This yearning for a sanctuary, a refuge, a place to dream, someplace to be alone, or with your best pals, has been around for a long time. Maybe you called it a clubhouse, a tree house, a fort, or just “the shack.” Several of our alumni have agreed to share their shack experiences. Step up to the rail and join me for a sarsaparilla, Pilgrim. Paul Kirschner, class of ’53, writes that he and Ted and Keith Anderson and Duane Wil-liams “built a “Western bar” in an old shed at-tached to the CCI standard half-barn in his back-

yard in North Lake Location. It was built to specifica-tions from the western movies we saw at the Ish-peming Theater on Saturday afternoons. We cut down several small trees that the CCI unknowingly donated to the project, and built a bar with a wooden plank for a rail, and then re-enacted the movies we had seen.” Paul says that “the master shack builders of my generation were the Nelson twins, who had shacks scattered in the woods around Mud Lake, behind the North Lake School. I'm sure any boy from our Location of that time par-ticipated in the building of a shack.” In town, another group of enterprising kids from around North Second Street; Al Goodney (’54), John Pontii (’54), Pard Bess (’54), George Ostlund (’54), among others, had their shack sitting near the infa-mous Ishpeming peat bogs, which burned and smol-dered in the summer months, leaving a smoky, odif-erous haze over the nearby neighborhoods. Al says they were often driven out of the shack by the hor-rific smoke. (Maybe all that smoke wasn't entirely due to the peat bog, eh?)

Continued on page 5

From Mr. Hammar to “Hype”

I first met “Mr. Hammar” as my junior high math teacher. He unknowingly sat me next to the guy I had a crush on. We (the guy and I) were very good in math, so we talked rather than pay attention. For the first time in my life, I had to “stay after” school for talking. I remember being hired by Mr. Hammar to teach second grade at the Birchview School in l972. I remember Mr. Hammar offering me a first grade teaching job following a retirement in l973. In l974, his eyes filled with tears as the superinten-dent told me that I had been “pink-slipped” for the following year. Mr. Hammar didn’t give up on me. He called and talked to Mr. Northey in Negaunee about hiring me for first grade in Palmer. I taught there for five years. In 1984, after being a stay-at-home Mom, I was ready to go back to work. I became the Christian Education Director at our church. Guess what?? Mr. Hammar was on the committee who hired me. As the years went by, Mr. Hammar became “Hype”

and we were friends. A friend who always had respect for my abilities, and me, a friend who would greet me with “Good morning, young lady,” and a friend who I could laugh and joke with. This fall, my husband and I stopped at Mr. Ham-mar’s house to return some items I had borrowed from Ann Marie. “Hype” was seated comfortably in his chair to watch the Packer game. He noted Bill’s Vi-king jacket and invited him to take it off, sit down, and watch the game. We stayed!! When the game was over, he simply said, “You can leave now, and take that jacket with you!!” (VIKINGS 28 Packers 27) In the last few months, we would see “Hype” in church and someone would always ask him how he was doing. “I’m still standing up and looking down” was his glib reply. On March 27, 2009 Mr. Hammar lost his battle with cancer. Not lost, however, are the memories of how he touched many lives, especially mine.

- Sheryl (Swanson) Schrandt ‘67

2 – BEACON LIGHT – Spring 2009

Guido “Mr. Congress” Bonetti If one looks around Ishpeming, a man’s generosity, kindness, and love for the town can be seen. The football field score-board, and the Congress Pizza are a couple landmarks that serve as reminders of Guido Bon-etti’s contribution to Ishpeming. Besides being a clean-cut busi-ness man with a bow-tie, Guido was a friend and a supporter of the Ishpeming community. Guido was born February 28, 1918 in the Princeton Location near Gwinn. He was the third child of A. Louis and Elvira Bon-etti. Guido’s father founded the Congress, and had his sons, Guido and Geno, working and learning the family business that Guido would eventually take over. In high school, Guido's favorite subject was math. He could do any math problem in his head without having to pull out a pa-per or pencil, a skill he still used into his seventies. Also, he was really inspired by Coach Watson when he played Varsity Boys’ Basketball. After Guido’s graduation from IHS in 1936, he served in the United States Army during WWII from 1941 to 1945. After the war, he returned to Ishpeming to work at the family business. Guido had a high involvement, dedication and passion as part-ner and owner of the Congress Lounge and Pizza. He helped the Congress become what it is to-

day: A place where friends and family from all over the country could reunite. Guido’s son, Paul, now owns and operates the Con-gress, keeping alive the tradition his grandfather started. Guido offered the same passion and dedication he had for his restaurant to the Ishpeming community. He served as presi-dent of several organizations throughout his life: The United Fund, Chamber of Commerce, The Diplomat Club, and Rotary Club. Other organizations he do-nated time to were St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Ish-peming U.P. Catholic Appeals, and the Miners First National Bank Board. He also raised funds for various places and events in Ishpeming, such as Ishpeming’s Bell Memorial Hospi-tal, Bay Cliff Health Camp, and various annual celebrations. Additionally, Guido put a lot of time, effort, and heart into the Ishpeming Booster Club. His in-volvement on the basketball team when he was in school sparked his interest in donating his time and money to IHS athletics. Whenever funds needed to be raised, Guido stepped up and made sure the job was done. Anyone who had worked with Guido knew he was committed to his task and had high expecta-tions of those he worked with. Nick Joseph, another IHS alum (’66), worked closely with Guido as a fellow businessman and

friend. “Guido was a mentor,” says Nick Joseph. “He taught me and oth-ers the lesson of how it was…what it meant to help the community and what you owed to the community.” Guido passed away October 18, 2007 at age 89 in the town he lived, worked and did so much for. For Guido, the work he did was not for personal gain, but human interest. “He always stressed to me to make things better than what they were before,” says Joseph. At the Ishpeming Alumni Soft-ball Tournament this year, Guido Bonetti’s name will be displayed on the scoreboard in his honor. There is no question why IHS would honor this alum. Whether you grew up with Guido, chatted with him in the grocery store, or were one of the lucky kids who received five quarters for a dollar at the Congress, he certainly had an impact on the people who met him as well as the Ishpeming community.

-Kate Annala

If something you read in this issue reminds you of a place, a personal story, or a favorite teacher, let us know!! We want to hear from you with ideas. Maybe Defense Stamps, kindergarten trials and tribulations, or the ladies answer to “Shacks” are food for thought. We need your input! If you would like to contribute, or become a member of the Beacon Light committee, please contact the Association’s office.

Mark Your Calendar! The annual I.H.S. Alumni Open House will be held on

Friday, July 3, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. We hope to see you there!

Readers Can (and Do) Write!

Class Get-Togethers and Reunions Please contact the Alumni Association Office if your class has a gathering that is not listed.

Class Date Location Time Contact & Other Information

1940 Second Thursday of each month Country Kitchen 9:00 a.m.

1941 Second Tuesday of each month Varies 12:30 p.m. Betty Bannon at (906) 486-6283

1947 First Friday of each month Country Kitchen 9:30 a.m. Barbara (Husby) Nuorala at (906) 486-9283

1948 Last Tuesday of each month Country Kitchen 9:00 a.m. Joanne (Belstrom) Gaboury at (906) 485-5261

1949 Second Wednesday of each month

Country Kitchen 9:00 a.m. Jean (Stone) Johns at (906) 485-4322

1949 Thursday, July 2, 2009 Country Kitchen Noon Jean (Stone) Johns at (906) 485-4322

1950 First Thursday of each month Country Kitchen 8:30 a.m. Jan (Lofaro) Boase at (906) 486-6966

1952 Third Monday of each month Jasper Ridge Noon Barbara (Graham) Johnson at (906) 226-0898

1952 Thursday, July 2, 2009 Jasper Ridge 6:00 p.m. Celebrating 75th birthdays. Contact Terry Thomp-son (906) 486-6816

1953 Second Thursday of each month Jasper Ridge Noon Barbara (Medlyn) Gauthier at (906) 486-6281

1954 Fourth Thursday of each month Jasper Ridge 11:30 a.m. Al Chapman at (906) 486-9241

1954 Thursday, July 2, 2009 Elks Lodge 6:00 p.m. Al & Joan (Tasson) Goodney (906) 485-1009

1955 First Thursday of each month Jasper Ridge 11:30 a.m. John Ruusi at (906) 339-2315

1956 Third Monday of each month Country Kitchen Noon Pat (Wirtanen) Garrett (906) 486-8380

1957 Second Wednesday of each month

Jasper Ridge 11:30 a.m. Spouses are welcome. Clara (Valente) Kutchie (906) 486-8246

1958 Third Thursday of each month Jasper Ridge 12:30 p.m. Lynn Ketchem at (906) 486-6107

1959 Third Wednesday of each month Jasper Ridge 1:00 p.m. Sheila (Anderson) Thornton (906) 485-4470

1959 Sunday, June 28, 2009 Wawonowin Country Club

Sheila (Anderson) Thornton (906) 485-4470

1962 Last Friday of each month Country Kitchen 9:30 a.m. Sandra (Greenwood) Smetana (906) 485-4845

1964 Fourth Monday of each month Jasper Ridge Brewery 6:30 p.m.

1969 Friday, July 3, 2009 Venice Supper Club 7:00 p.m. No formal invitations will be sent. For more infor-mation, contact Jackie (Anderson) Heikkila (906) 228-0304.

1984 Friday, July 3, 2009 Venice Supper Club 7:00 p.m. Paul Olson, paultolson@sbcglobal.net

1979 Friday, July 3, 2009 Elks Lodge 6:00 p.m. Cost is $10 per person. Contact Donald Bluekamp (906) 475-5044 for more information.

1944 Friday, July 3, 2009 Venice Supper Club 1:00 p.m. Luncheon buffet, $7.50 per person. Betty (Lehmann) Rosten bjrosten@charter.net

Spring 2009 – BEACON LIGHT – 3

Ishpeming Schools...Did you know?

Ishpeming High School students have the highest Michigan Merit Examination scores in Marquette

County. (Our IHS scores are so good, other schools aren’t even close.)

Children at the elementary level have access to the core academic curriculum and music, art, computers,

physical education, and library.

Ishpeming High School will be recognized in November as one of three Michigan high schools (the only

school in the Upper Peninsula) celebrating 100 years of continuous accreditation (high academic stan-

dards, qualified teachers, student activities) by the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges.

There are computers in every classroom plus computer labs in every building.

4 – BEACON LIGHT – Spring 2009

The Path to Glory When one is inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame, you can be cer-tain that there is a unique, personal journey that leads up to such an honor. We recently interviewed one of our Ishpeming grads who was an inductee into the UP Sports Hall of Fame in 2002, and found some inter-esting and even surprising facts that led to his path to glory. This is his story… I grew up in northern Michigan in the 40’s and 50’s. For a boy, during the endlessly long winters in the Up-per Peninsula, that meant you either played basketball, or you watched it being played. In our town, a mining community, each neighborhood was occupied by a different ethnic group. You rarely ventured into another neighborhood without consequence, unless it was to compete. Each area had a team, and the competition was spirited to say the least. This rivalry carried over to all of the seasonal sports: football, baseball, and bas-ketball. I always enjoyed the compe-tition and thought I was pretty good for my group. (Most of my neighbor-hood was made up of girls.) We played intramural basketball in grade school. Finally, in the eighth

grade, it was announced that Coach Watson would hold tryouts for an eighth grade team, and that team would play

aga ins t o the r schools. Fur-thermore, uni-forms would

be issued to those who

m a d e

the team! Holy wah! That was the thing dreams were made of! Th e n e x t M o n d a y , thirty-seven boys showed up for the

week-l o n g

tryouts. We ran and shot, jumped, passed and rebounded, and gener-ally had a ball. Friday was the big day! Coach Watson said he would put a list on the bulletin board of those who had made the team and would issue uniforms. Friday’s practice was kind of crazy, and it seemed that no one could do anything right. There was a lot of stumbling, falling, and missing bas-kets. Everyone wanted to look good so that we could see our names on that magical list. Finally, the coach blew his whistle and gathered us all around him. He thanked us all for coming and trying out, and encour-aged those who didn’t make the team to keep practicing and maybe some-day… At that point, I looked around the group at those that I felt would be cut and I really felt sorry for them. They had tried hard all week, too, but some had to go. Coach Wat-son said, “Those whose names ap-pear on the list, report back here at 3:30 pm on Monday.” Thirty-seven boys have never taken a stairway that fast in their lives! Down the stairs, around the corner and into the locker room we flew. Straight ahead of us on the bulletin board was a single sheet of paper. THE LIST! THE TEAM! THOSE WHO GET THE UNIFORM! We all mobbed around the board, and I strained to read it through the bobbing heads in front of me. “Must have missed it…read again.” “Missed it again.” Boys were drifting away now, some crying, some elated. Now I could read the sheet more clearly. Twelve names were on the list. Mine was not. Even now, fifty some years later, I still feel the hurt. I loved playing basketball, and would have done anything to play. And I didn’t make the eighth grade team! I couldn’t wear my school’s uniform. I was now part of the group that I had felt sorry for earlier. My chickens had been thoroughly counted before they had even been hatched. I finally un-derstood the cliché that had never made sense to me before. My parents could see the effect of my failure, although neither of them could understand my agony, since they were not “into athletics.” Pa

said, “If you want it, then work at it and practice every day.” My path to glory had begun with a stark piece of white paper on a brown cork bulletin board in the steamy, sweaty locker room. That very day I took my bas-ketball and headed for the play-grounds. For two to three hours every day for the next year, I played basketball, mostly alone on the court. The court at the playgrounds was slightly elevated, so if you missed a shot the ball would bounce off down the slope. Some things be-came quickly obvious to me. If I did-n’t miss, I wouldn’t have to chase the ball. If I shot softly and missed, the ball wouldn’t roll so far. If I could judge where the ball was going to hit the rim while still in the air, I could usually get to it before it bounded away. Pretty soon the grass began to grow back around the court. The neighbors were less bothered by the sound of the ball hitting the rim…falling through the net is a lot qui-eter. My left hand became more us-able and I could dribble with both hands and not look at the ball. I tried and made twenty free throws in a row! I could spin the ball on my finger and actually felt out of place if I didn’t have a basketball in my hand. Now if I could just make the damn team!! Finally, my dedication paid off. One year later, I made the high school Junior Varsity team and got to play occasionally. As a sopho-more, I made the Varsity squad and was the starting center on a state championship team. The following year I made the All-State team of Michigan, and repeated the honor along with the High School All-American team as a senior. That called for another HOLY WAH! Participation in athletics gave me the confidence to get involved with other school activities, and to run for offices within these organizations, which eventually forced me into pub-lic speaking. All of these activities have shaped me as a person. I am, what I am, what I am. My own per-sonal path to glory had its roots (I am convinced) in Coach Watson’s eighth grade “you made the team” list. Thanks, Coach.

- Terry Thompson ‘52 Terry Thompson (’52) during the 1950 basketball season

Spring 2009 – BEACON LIGHT – 5

Ishpeming High School Alumni Association Donation Form Date_______________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ ________________ Name (please include maiden name if applicable) Class of ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Street City State Zip Alumni Association donation for operating expenses —suggested annual donation in the amount of $25 or more (tax deductible) Please make contribution payable to the I.H.S. Alumni Association _________________________ Alumni Association donation for scholarship fund (tax deductible) Please make contribution payable to the I.H.S. Alumni Association _________________________

Mail To: Ishpeming High School Alumni Association, 319 East Division Street, Ishpeming, Michigan 49849

Bill Schrandt, (’67), writes: “As a youngster, we lived in three neighborhoods in Ishpeming, and I was involved in more than one shack. I recall those in the Al Quaal area, and west of the Ishpeming playground. But the one I re-member most is the one we had when we lived on the west end of Division Street. Our neighborhood was one block west of Lake Street and included Division, Supe-rior, and Johnson streets. For those familiar with this area back in the late ’50’s and early ’60’s, we had more kids per square inch than any other section of town. We built our Tree House on either railroad or city property: we were never sure, nor did we care. The tree itself was a large maple that had three main trunks which separated into a natural “Y” about 8 feet from the ground. We con-structed the walls and floor from materials we scavenged from the city dump. The shack had a door in the floor of the first level, and openings large enough to accurately fire pea-shooters at passers-by. You either had to climb a makeshift ladder or a rope to gain access to the place. I do not recall having any rules for being a member, other than if you helped with the construction, you were a member.” Two alumni of the class of ’53, who shall remain name-less, but whose initials are T.T. and D.T., built quite a shack at the foot of the bluff on the South side of town. Since it was understood to be a “No Girls Allowed” area, my girlfriend and I dared to enter when no one was around, considering it worth the risk. This shack was even complete with a tar-paper roof, which we later learned caused some distress at their homes due to the boys throwing their tar-covered clothes into their moth-ers’ washing machines. (You know who you are.) There seemed to be a definite social hierarchy, too; the kid whose property the shack was built on had special rights—he’d be the leader, the ruler, the president. Kim Swanson, (’63), gives a detailed description of shack-building protocol: “Our shack was made of some-what distinct materials. Since the leader of our “army” was the grandson of the owner of Kemp’s Furniture, we had access to the large, heavy cardboard boxes in which

home appliances were delivered. The “best” building ma-terials were the refrigerator boxes, which if stood on end, provided a room in which we could stand upright, and if laid side by side could serve as a “hallway” between vari-ous “rooms.” There was a “reading room,” complete with each member’s favorite comic books, and where a con-tinuous game of Monopoly was conducted, even though the game often ran on for days with the evidence of each player's wealth sitting on the board undisturbed. I do not use the term “army” lightly, as our shack was run by a definite set of military rules, dictated by our leader. Demerits, including 10 for failing to cover the place with a heavy tarp we used to ward off summer thunderstorms, were not uncommon. Exclusion from us-ing the shack for a specified period was a typical punish-ment for those with a designated number of demerits. We had big discussions at our “secret” meetings about our inability to exclude our leader's sister and her friends from our shack. We did agree, under pressure, to allow the girls some time alone there, although this was a sig-nificant blow to our pride, let alone the embarrassment when other neighborhood boys learned of our failure to prevent this. As we “matured” and discovered that girls were not quite the “monsters” we had believed, we grudg-ingly accepted having them as part of our “auxiliary army.” As with the discipline instilled by our rules and demerit system, the acceptance of girls using our shack was likely a positive lesson for a group of boys growing up in Ishpeming in the 1950’s.” One final note. When space was scarce at the Lockheed factory, and Kelly Johnson needed a place to work, with guts and determination he built a shack of old crates and boxes and a circus tent canvas for a roof, and therein designed the prototype of the F-80 Shooting Star. May the tradition of The Shack live on. Build them to be safe, and fun, and above all...keep the dreams. (References: Wikipedia, and the autobiography of Clarence Kelly Johnson: Kelly: More Than My Share of it All. )

- Sue (Bussiere) Blomgren, ’56

Someplace to Go (cont.)

6 – BEACON LIGHT – Spring 2009 Ishpeming High School Alumni Association

319 East Division Street

Ishpeming, Michigan 49849

Phone: (906) 485-1381

Fax: (906) 485-1422

E-mail: alumni@ishpemingschools.com

Web site: www.ishpemingschools.com/alumni

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

ISHPEMING, MI 49849

PERMIT NO. 22

Your Assistance is Appreciated!

Without your continued financial support, the future publication of this newsletter is in jeopardy. In order to maintain the quality format and infor-mation we have been able to provide you, we rely heavily on your donations.

BEACON LIGHT STAFF Natalie Bertucci ‘05

Jan (Lofaro) Boase ‘50

Barbara (Medlyn) Gauthier ‘53

Al Goodney ‘54

Clara (Valente) Kutchie ‘57

Thomas Lucas ‘68

Sheryl (Swanson) Schrandt ‘67

Terry Thompson ‘50

Ishpeming Fourth of July 2009 Schedule of Events

Friday, July 3

9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Alumni Open House, IHS Gym

7:30 p.m. - Blue Notes Concert, Downtown Ishpeming

Saturday, July 4

8:45 a.m. - Firecracker 5K Race/1 Mile Walk, Al Quaal

10:00 a.m. - Kids’ Parade, Lineup at Mather Inn

10:30 a.m. - Annual 4th of July Parade, Downtown

Noon - Community / Family Picnic, Al Quaal

Dusk - Fireworks, Al Quaal

30th Annual Alumni Softball Tournament—July 1-4

For more information, contact Tim Hares 485-4697