Commodore Sloat School - Memories of Lion Escape from Zoo?

04/19/02 - posted by Margie (Brown) Whitnah

Have enjoyed reading all the stories having grown up in what I was told was our western neighborhood, "Mt. Davidson Manor," more precisely on Pinehurst Way between Aptos Jr. High and the El Rey Theater. I lived there from birth (1948) until I went off to college, but my parents lived there until we sold the house in 1995.

My parents met living across the street on Moncada Way in the Ingleside. My mother and her family attended Commodore Sloat and Aptos after immigrating from Mexico in the 1920's. Tomorrrow, April 20, 2002, 7-9 pm, Commodore Sloat is celebrating their 80th Birthday of the school with their annual fundraising Silent Auction... All alumni, current parents and other adult friends are welcome for event.

Classmates who graduated from Sloat as 6th-graders in Fall 1959 and Spring 1960 are getting together tomorrow, Sat., April 20 for dinner from 5-7 pm and can email me if you know someone in those classes who wants to come. Lots of memories of Commodore Sloat will be shared and have been in re-connecting many old chums, so we will share them with the Western Neighborhood Project, hopefully, afterwards. (Should have got some flyers!!)

NOW,I have a memory that I wondered if others from Commodore Sloat or other schools remember. One day in about 1958 we all got called in early from noon recess by the Vice Principal, Mr. Schneider, ringing his big brass bell. We later found out that it had been broadcast on the radio that a lion had escaped from the zoo. I think it turned out to be a hoax, but it certainly was exciting thinking about that possibility!

Also, I have appreciated reading about the West Portal Halloween Window Painting Contest. I thought I won a $25 first prize in 1959 for my Merle Norman window decorating, but I suspect everybody was a "winner"...I still have my Certificate of Award and a Gift Certificate (actually photocopied!) that said the prize was for $10 in merchandise or service from the West Portal Ave. Association. Oh, well, it was a nice memory. Congrats to the other window painting "winner" that posted on this web site.

Keep up the great exchanges!!

Margie Brown Whitnah
San Carlos