I grew up in Ponca and I
remember twice being given a tour of Chilocco (don't remember the group or
purpose of the tour now but presumably the person/teacher in charge thought
it would be educational for us.) In the late 1950's or early 1960's I
occasionally drove with my van full of children (you do know we have eight)
from Stillwater to visit my mother and step father who lived near Sedan,
KS. Since I liked to get an early start for our one day trip, I would try
to time it to go to church in Ponca or Newkirk, but this one time I missed
both. A helpful person in Newkirk said that Chilocco had a Catholic Mass
and if I hurried I could make it.
We did, and our family
outnumbered the people who were there for the service! That's about all
that I remember. It just amazes me how much you recall of your early life.
So much has happened to me, travels, business conferences, adult children's
activities that I don't recall that much.
Mary Ellen,
Author of eleven mysteries. |