The Ashtabula Days

I grew up in Ashtabula, Ohio, during which time I attended State Road School until 6th grade, then Saybrook Jr. High, and graduated from Ashtabula High School. I was in the Cooperative Office Education program and worked for two law offices (at different times in my life).

Ashtabula In The Fifties

My favorite memories are of Ashtabula in the late fifties. Those were the days when one could "hang out" at ABC Lanes, Felix's Pizza, Manners Big Boy, Walnut Beach, Lake Shore Park, (those were some of my favorite places anyway) catch a movie at Shea's Theater or one of the Drive-In Theaters, or just park on Main Avenue and watch the "cool cars" going down the street. After graduating from AHS in 1959 I had a job as a legal secretary and bought my first car. This is the only picture I have, so you'll have to imagine it in its glorious colors of chartreuse (yellow green) and black -- I never did see another one like it!

My 1956 Chevy Glade & Herb at Jewel's

Glade Olin Orchestra

Way back in 1933 my mother, who played piano, started a dance band called the "Glade Olin Orchestra" (named after herself). My dad, Herb Makynen, played trombone/baritone in her band, and in 1937 they were married. Mom never took any piano lessons and could not read music, playing only "by ear". They played for dances at the "Jewel's Dance Hall" in Austinburg, Ohio, for over 25 years. In the beginning, when it was "Boyer's Dance Hall", Mom received $2.50 and her band members each got $2.00 per night. Mondays and Fridays were square dance nights, and Wednesdays and Saturdays the band played "modern" music. They kept up with the latest music by listening to the radio. After Mom quit playing for dances, Dad continued to play with other local dance bands in the area for several years, and until her death in 1995 they played as a duo for many functions both in the Ashtabula area and in the Haines City - Winter Haven area of Florida. Most recently Dad was playing with "Porter's Fun Bunch" at area festivals and parades. Sadly, he passed away in December 2003.

Musical Family

God blessed my brother, Russ, and me with similar musical talents. Russ was in the Ashtabula High School band, and after graduating in 1964 he went on to become a member of the U. S. Air Force Band at Dayton, Ohio, and their dance band, "The Kittyhawks". Like Dad, he played trombone/baritone. He married his high school sweetheart, Edith Sims, and they have a son Bob and a daughter Andrea, both of whom were in the Ashtabula High School band. Bob was also in a local rock band for several years.

While I was not involved with music in high school (because my schedule didn't permit it) I started piano lessons at age six and continued for 10 years. I liked to play "by ear" like Mom, but I also enjoyed learning to play classical music. Remember when Ashtabula had a TV station? There was a program called "Home Town Teens", and I was on that show a few times playing piano solos. Although I didn't know him at the time, the guy who was to become my husband was on one of the shows the same night I was, as a member of a local band called "The Polka Dots".

I also liked to sing, and I would sing along with Mom and Dad and Russ (on drums) playing. My cousin Gert Olin, who lived in Michigan, would come to visit each summer, and we would sing duets with Mom's orchestra at the dance hall. It was also fun to sit in at the piano with the band once in awhile.

Other Musicians

Back in the 50's and 60's there were some other up and coming bands in the Ashtabula area -- names like Bob Bilicic, Fritz Nemitz, Sonny Hayes, to name a few. Russ Humphrey, the bass player who was in the "Polka Dots" before he joined the U.S. Navy, returned home in 1960 to become a member of each of these bands (at different times). Another musician and mutual acquaintance gave Russ my phone number, and in 1961 we were married. He was a dairy farmer at the time, and I learned how to be a farm wife and eventually the mother of four children.

The Children

Bonnie was a 1980 graduate of Edgewood High School in Ashtabula. She was in chorus and really loved music. We moved to Pennsylvania that year, and she eventually joined a classic rock band as a singer and keyboard player. She didn't have lessons, either, and played "by ear" like Grandma. She sang in a female gospel group called the B-Attitudes for about five years. Now she is choir director at her church and occasionally performs at the New Castle (PA) Playhouse.

Alan was in the Edgewood Class of 1982, but he graduated from Lakeview High School in Stoneboro, PA. Although he was in chorus in junior high, he eventually dropped out and didn't further his musical talents. While he was away from home in the Army, we formed a family gospel group (Russ & I plus Bonnie, Don and sometimes Paul). I guess I'll always wonder if he would have joined us, had he been here. He likes to listen to music, though, and so do his two children.

Don, who would have been a member of the Edgewood Class of 1984, also loved music. At Lakeview he was in the marching band, symphonic band, chorus, ensembles, and was chosen to take part in District and Regional Band and Chorus concerts. He was also the Drum Major for the marching band during his Junior and Senior years. He went on to Penn State University, where he was a member of the Marching Blue Band and a chorus, having the opportunity to travel to various places in the U.S. and Canada with both groups. He still loves to play with music and created some of the music midi files which I use on this website from time to time.

Paul, a few years younger than the others, had just completed kindergarten when we moved to PA. While he was in chorus and band at school, and played tuba in the marching band, he didn't take his music very seriously. We were able to talk him into performing with our family gospel group once in awhile, however. Now he has fun doing impressions (very good ones) of Garth Brooks and others.

My musical talents are now used mostly in church, where I'm the organist. I also play an electronic keyboard there, and sometimes Russ plays along on a harmonica. He also plays bass at the early morning contemporary service.

Ashtabula Links:

The Star Beacon (Ashtabula's Online Newspaper) The Ashtabula Netizens Page (URLs and E-Mail Addresses of Ashtabulans) Phyllis Pugh's Excellent Ashtabula Page Ashtabula-Dot-Net (Authoritative Website of Ashtabula County, Ohio

What We're Doing Today

Russ has been an IBA Dealer since 1976, and we moved to PA in 1980 when he became a Distributor for this area, as well as northeastern Ohio. We have three dealers who work for us, traveling from farm to farm to supply them with items they need for their dairy farming operations. Russ mans the warehouse, and I do the bookwork for all four guys. That keeps me pretty busy, and with all of my other computer projects, also, I spend quite a lot of my time right here at the desk. We travel to several meetings during the year.

Having been a dairy farmer in the past, Russ just couldn't quit altogether, so after we moved here we raised our own beef and some turkeys on the 10 acres that we have. Now that all of the kids have flown the coop, he's retired from farming. His hobby is restoring antique John Deere tractors. He is a member of the Mercer County Antique Power Association and enjoys going to all of the local shows and exhibiting at least one tractor. Most recently he has been working on his classic car -- a 1980 El Camino.

E-Mail Me: Whytmare@earthlink.net Song playing: "In the Mood" sequenced by Don Humphrey This page last updated: 12/30/07