The Class of 1963

Polaris scans by Jim Bittner, Class of 1963

Mary Margaret Bruce

Bonnie Davis

Sue Satterfield

Susan Toelle

Delaine Vohlken

The Polaris Staff

The Pretz News Staff

Select 1963 Seniors.
The handsome fellow at upper right scanned these for us.

The Junior Class play.

The Senior Class play.

Basketball in the old gym.
#13 is Preston Pearson.
(My parents had season tickets in the front row of the balcony of the old FHS gymnasium. They went to all the home games, and in the 1951 State Championship season, went to all the away games, as well. My father, Ralph Bike, a 1931 graduate, is visible at the far left of the photo. I'm sitting to his left, in the glasses & white shirt.)

115th Anniversary, 1848-1963

Jim Mertins, Class of 1972, found a copy of the Journal Standard from December 31st, 1963.

The paper, reproduced below, showed the top stories of 1963. The biggest story of the year was that Kelly-Springfield would be opening a plant in Freeport and the first tire rolled off the line on December 19, 1963.

Notice the price of the paper was seven cents.

January 16: Freeport has the lowest recorded temperature in the state at -24 degrees.
March 18: First set of triplets born in a Freeport hospital to Mrs. William Brokhausen.
April 16: City Council approves holding 154 acres as an industrial park for Kelly-Springfield plant location.
May 31: Fairbanks-Morse announces the closing of the Freeport plant, transferring operations to Beloit.
June 13: Postmaster Theron Tavenner announces the ZIP code 61032 assigned to the Freeport area.
July 19: Mayor Joe Shelly reminds tavern owners they could lose their license if they don't serve all customers alike without racial discrimination.
August 6: Assistant Chief of Police Earl Marsh promoted to Chief's position.
September 23: J. C. Penney Co. announces it will build a new store at the Freeport Shopping Mall located in the Crestwood area.
October 15: Assistant Police Chief Karl Stroh resigns the department rather than face charges "conduct unbecoming to an officer" including failing to report his knowledge of a house of prostitution.
November 22: President Kennedy murdered in Dallas. Arlens Department Store announces plans to build on South West Avenue
December 19: Robinson's Women's Wear is picketed by the local chapter of Freedom of Residence.
December 21: Picketing called off at Robinson's Women's Wear after they agree to hire a Negro clerk for the holidays.

Top of Page 1 on December 31, 1963.

Bottom of Page 1

Movies playing at the Patio and Freeport theaters on December 31, 1963.

My father's 1963 license plate.

Harold Kissell bought a truck & trailer in Maryland, which issued 20-day temporary cardboard plates. Now my math isn't superior, but if you add 20 days to the issue date, June 22, 1963, do they really expire on July 17? Just wondering.

My 1962-1963 bicycle license plate.

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