Jeanne Newby
I just came across one such clipping declaring some fun antics in Webb City among the juniors and seniors. I would like to share the story and some of the names. Maybe one of you can help me with the date.
It seems a group of juniors decided to take it upon themselves to give graduating seniors a “free” haircut. This group was given the name “Outlaw Band,” and their goal it seems was to keep the seniors from getting “swelled up.” From now until graduation, the members of the high school senior class will be kept in a state of abject fear by the unruly junior class, which has organized an “outlaw” band and sworn vengeance on the “swell head” seniors.
Hair cuts “free gratis” will be the main number on the program and every senior is said to be doomed to have his locks shorn. The fashionable haircuts, “Teddy bear,” “pompadour,” “feather edge,” and all the others will be handed out one at a time to seniors as they are caught hurrying home from class play practice or any other convenient time.
A regular collection of tonsorial implements is now in the hands of the juniors and they await only an opportunity to display their talents.
Another newspaper article came out reporting that the hair cutting activities had begun. Four seniors and a junior are minus their long curly locks this morning, the result of the class fight that has started between the senior and junior classes of the high school. The seniors lacking some hair are Sam Jenkins, Richard Herrod, Stanley Nelson and Roy Mountjoy, and one junior, Lyle Billings.
The fun started yesterday evening at the close of school, when the junior boys got a bunch together and visited the Y.M.C.A. Here they found Richard Herrod and soon had his hair cropped short. They next visited a nearby newsstand and found their next victim, but here is where the trouble commenced. Reinforcements for the seniors arrived and a general mix-up ensued, but after a half hour’s struggle the three senior boys were overpowered by greater numbers and the ability of the junior barbers displayed.
Revenge was forthcoming, however, for the senior boys caught the unlucky junior, Lyle Billings, as he was going home last night and clippers were used to advantage. Both sides are preparing for more. Both declare they will not stop until every member of the opposing side has had his hair cut.
Alas, there were only the two newspaper articles in the box, so we are unable to report how many of the young men were victim to the barber tools. If you know of this story and can add to it, we would appreciate the update!
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Here is a short memory by the late Kenneth Kneeland, as he recalls the pasture land located between Fourth and 10th streets on Jefferson Street.
We lived at the corner of 11th and Jefferson. The area from 10th to Fourth Street was all pasture. There were no houses or buildings, it was our playground. We organized track meets, football games, dug underground rooms and built tree houses, etc. I started to grade school at Eugene Field in 1920. The Eugene Field grade school was at the northwest corner of Fourth and Oronogo on a hill.
One of our highlights was the band concert on Friday night at Memorial Park. It was a good place to see and talk to girls and walk them home. Almost everyone was poor, but we enjoyed life.
The mines and factories closed at noon on Saturdays and that was payday. Everybody came to town to shop and pay bills. Kress dime store was the center of town. The Coney Island stand was on the north side of the dime store. Kress did a thriving business on Saturdays. It was a time to see and visit with friends and neighbors. It was a fun time for young people and old alike.
The Civic Theater changed movies four times a week. Prices were 10 cents on Saturday afternoon, 25 cents on Sunday and Monday, 10 cents on Tuesday and 15 cents on Wednesday and Thursday. Helen Jeffries and I rarely missed a show during the middle 30s.
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Memories, memories, memories… a fun trip to take in your mind! Even more fun if your friends and family join in on the trip!
