Remembering Flynn Park

Something that brother Jim wrote me about Flynn Park today reminded me of the Flynn Park Elementary School reunion that the Class of '51 had in 1999. That year also happened to be the 75th anniversary of Flynn Park.

I was living in Woodstock, Ill., about 330 miles north of University City, and I had decided to ride my motorcycle to U. City for the event. Luckily, the weather early that October was good. I arrived at the school at about 3:00PM and before school let out for the day.

I knew it was important to go straight to the Principal's Office, and so I did. It was in the same room as in 1951 (I remember it well), and I walked into the small, crowded secretary's office. Two women were there, and I'm not sure just what they thought when they looked up and saw me. I was wearing jeans, my motorcycle jacket, motorcycle boots and I was carrying my helmet.

I didn't say anything, and eventually one of the women asked, "Can we help you with something?"

I stuttered and stumbled over my words. "Umm, uhhh, well, I was t-t-told to go to the Principal's Office. I was afraid, and so I ran away. That was in 1951. Mrs. Rossi's not still here waiting for me, is she?"

They laughed and said, "No, you're safe. She's not here."

I think Mrs. Rossi was Principal at Flynn Park for 25-35 years. By 1999 she had taken her ruler and headed north to the Great Elementary School in the Sky, where I'm sure she was keeping things in order.