50 Years Ago Ever wonder what downtown Madison will be like in 50 years? I can remember what it was like 50 years ago, and I’m concerned that opportunities are being lost here, big time. If you want to see…
50 Years Ago
Smoke-smoke-smoke
“I’d walk a mile for a Camel!” If you remember that cigarette slogan, you must be as old as I am — or close. There must have been 100 different magazine ads depicting some Hollywood star or famous professional athlete,…
Wrong Drinking Age?
Wrong drinking age? We’re in pretty select company here in the U.S.: We’re one of a small handful of nations in the world that believe people can’t be trusted to drink or buy alcohol until they’re 21 years old. Think…
Kings Daughters Hospital – II
KDH The Madison Courier’s editorial this past week — finally — about plans to move the King’s Daughters’ Hospital and Health Services out onto State Road 62 began with the words, “It’s a done deal.” That was after the hospital…
Kings Daughters Hospital – I
KDH Will the King’s Daughters’ Hospital and Health Services abandon downtown Madison after more than 100 years’ presence, leaving a huge hole that will be almost impossible to fill? You say that my opening sentence there was obviously slanted against…
Reparations?
Reparations? When the primary elecion was held in Jefferson County a couple of weeks ago, Hillary Clinton defeated Barack Obama by about 65 percent to 35 percent in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. In Switerland County, it was…
Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin After months of deriding Barack Hussein Obama as a “rock star” in the presidential race, the Republicans suddenly have one of their own: Sarah Palin. Guess circumstances alter cases when it comes to rock stars and a lot…
The Day The Music Died
Elks Building The news went all over E.O. Muncie Junior High that day 50 years ago when I was in the eighth grade. Yes, Muncie had a junior high in those days. Two of the entertainers killed in the tragic…
Mary Kate’s Christmas – part 1
Mary Kate’s Christmas © part 1 By: Wayne Engle South Boston gets cold, snowy winters, and the one that Irish enclave in Massachusetts got in the year 1925 was no exception. Big white flakes were falling on its streets one…
Mary Kate’s Christmas – part 2
Mary Kate’s Christmas© part 2 By: Wayne Engle Mary Kate and Pat had a happy first few months together. Pat was a hod carrier for several South Boston bricklayers. Mary Kate stayed at home, the dutiful wife. Sometimes Pat could…
Mary Kate’s Christmas – part 3
Mary Kate’s Christmas © part 3 By: Wayne Engle Mary Kate, always a practical lass, decided that waitressing where she could get tips would bring in more money to fill the larder than housecleaning. Besides, being Irish, she was gregarious,…
Mary Kate’s Christmas – part 4
Mary Kate’s Christmas © part 4 By: Wayne Engle Black Mike came back in from the snowy night, and Mary Kate said, “Well, Michael, do you think business will pick up, with Christmas coming and all?” “Aye, and it’ll rain…
Mary Kate’s Christmas – part 5
Mary Kate’s Christmas © part 5 By: Wayne Engle Old Hilda, the skinny, angular cook, told her sister the next evening over coffee that when Mary Kate flew into her rage, it was so intense she could actually FEEL the…
Mary Kate’s Christmas – part 6
Mary Kate’s Christmas © part 6 By: Wayne Engle Black Mike went out on the night after his lecture from Mary Kate, got very drunk and morose, and arose feeling terrible the next morning. He also did some deep thinking.…
Mary Kate’s Christmas – part 7
Mary Kate’s Christmas © part 7 By: Wayne Engle Mary Kate took the couple menus and her best smile. “Good evening, folks! Welcome to Dinty Callahan’s, the best meals in South Boston!” she said. “Humph! I should hope so, with…
Mary Kate’s Christmas – part 8
Mary Kate’s Christmas © part 8 By: Wayne Engle Mary Kate returned to the dining room, approached the old couple’s table, and said, “Can I be gettin’ anything else for you folks?” “I’ve asked you twice already for more coffee,”…
Mary Kate’s Christmas – part 9
Mary Kate’s Christmas © part 9 By: Wayne Engle A thousand dollars. The bill was new and crisp, the portrait of President Grover Cleveland staring at her, looking for all the world like her Uncle Seamus back in County Cork.…
Mary Kate’s Christmas – part 10
Mary Kate’s Christmas © part 10 By: Wayne Engle Mary Kate stared at Michael, unable to speak for a moment, tears standing in her eyes but not quite falling. Finally she said, “We’ll come. And thank your mother kindly for…