Cuesta was the first elementary school (or any school) that I attended. Although there were pre-schools such as kindergarten at the time, I did not want to attend as I enjoyed staying home, or at Nonna’s, and playing with my friends. Attending school for the first time was enjoyable by me. I realized play time was over, but never regretted having those times. There were two friends I had at Cuesta (school): Joanne and Frances Trunata. We would meet and play chase with what was called recess, or we may play or talk before school started. I’m not sure how we became friends, but later in life found out that Chuck Mistretta, (my first cousin), knew the family. We even visited their home (though Joanne and Francis were not there). Joanne was the first girl I had a “crush on” for years, but never told her.
The discipline at Cuesta was always controlled by rumors and by strict rules. You never wanted to go visit Mr. St. Paul, who ran the patrols and kept tabs on the discipline during that time. He was like the Assistant Principal and handled the first line of offenses. Beyond him was the Principal’s office where all the rumors originated (such as electric paddles). One day, a student started a fight with me (someone I did not know), and we were sent up the fire escape stairs to see Mr. St. Paul for discipline.
Going up the fire escape stairs was scary enough, but the thought of seeing him was equally scary! He had very dark hair and I’m not sure if he was Latin or Indian, but he had a look that would scare an elementary student (at least me). This does not mean he was a mean person, but I perceived him as a figure of authority and did not want to see him for incidents of misbehavior. I was scared, but I found out he wasn’t that bad, when he realized I was not responsible for the incident. I was given a talk and he then sent me on my way. Of course for me, this was enough and I never wanted to go back to see him (in this way). The second “control” that kept students in line was the rumor that the principal had an electric paddle and no one really wanted to see that! Our teachers had authority and respect and over-all, the students were very well behaved. If you did not behave, some teachers would scold you, while others would slap your knuckles with a ruler. They may have had the authority to paddle, but I cannot recall anyone paddling during that time (at such an early age).
In all classrooms, there was a picture of our first President, George Washington and I was fortunate enough to show that same picture to our oldest grandson, Owen family Flomberg, on a 2011 trip to Washington DC.
(I hope he remembers me pointing that out to him!)
Front of Cuesta Elementary. My Mom attended school there just as I did. Cuesta was torn down in later years. To the left side of the building was the paved lot where I played tag and eventually went up the fire-escape, to see Mr. St. Paul for a fight that I did not start.
We had prayer or Bible reading each and every morning, along with saluting the flag. Everyone saluted and no one seemed to mind. I really enjoyed the moment of silence, when you could have your moment with God. This was done every morning and it was a time to respect your country and your religion. Many times, teachers would offer a prayer or read a script from the Bible.
I went to Cuesta for three years and three years to Desoto Elementary (where Dad taught). I enjoyed both schools for different reasons.
I discovered (later on in life), that Dad decided where I attended school; by knowing the teachers that taught the grades. (I did not realize he was actually deciding on what teachers I was to have during that time).
I was Captain of Patrols at Desoto Elementary in the sixth grade. The most memorable activities or duties were taking my bike around the neighborhood to check on Patrols making sure they were doing their job or at their post. The other responsibility I enjoyed tremendously was being a film operator and setting up the movie projector for the librarian; when she needed to show a movie for classes. Science was a big subject there and stressed much at the time. We had science tables where we would do various experiments. Much was done there and Dad started using science boards with lights as a game in order to answer questions on science and math, including the times table. He was known to be a great science teacher and even to this day, I will meet someone that had him and they tell me how much they enjoyed his class. To this day, I still have a seat that was attached to one of the science tables. At the time, one of the sixth grade teachers, Mr. Leto, from Desoto was selected to teach science via WTVT on Television. He chose me (of course) via my father to be on TV during a science demonstration. I really enjoyed being on TV and thought what a great way to teach! At that time, television was being introduced as a new medium for teaching and his science show (along with another teacher) was watched once a week teaching Spanish.
Desoto Elementary did not have its own playground, so we would use the park across the street. It was next to the bay and was a beautiful park. We would always play kickball, chase, and baseball.
Many plays were performed at Desoto and outside activities were planned for such occasions as Arbor Day, Flag Day, and other holidays. The Arbor Day Pole was one that I really enjoyed participating in; as we would have a pole, to do the routine, and then we would plant a tree on the school grounds. In the lunchroom, there was a small stage (as most elementary schools), where students would be given opportunities to be in plays about our country, (Daniel Boone, Thanksgiving, or Christmas). Most plays were not very long, but you had a chance to learn a part, dress up in a costume, and preform in front of an audience.
Louise Lois and Wilma Fernandez, who were classmates with me in the fifth and sixth grades, were also Patrols (Lieutenant and Sergeant of Patrols). We were close friends while attending elementary school. After that friends I went to school with (including some of my best friends) were lost in time. For example, Larry Shiver, who was a very close friend, was killed in a car accident during high school.
Dad with Mr. Pontius (music teacher), Mrs. Mule (fifth grade teacher), Mr. Leto (sixth grade teacher), and Dad on the right (fifth grade teacher). Photo was taken in the courtyard of Desoto Elementary School in the 50’s. Ray and I took piano lessons from Mr. Pontius. Ray continued and learned to play on the piano well. I took photography developing lessons from Mr. Pontius and learned how to develop my own pictures using a darkroom.
While we were in Elementary School, we all lived in the house in West Tampa (on St. Louis). “More than 100 years after its opening, the school is enjoying a new lease on life, thanks to an award-winning, $1.7 million renovation. Alumni and students say that this investment means a lot.” Neighbors and alumni come by all the time to enjoy the building brought back to its former glory. And students see they’re still valued per Principal Garcia said. Dad would have been proud!
Ray, Bobby, Phyllis and the Broken Bed:
(AKA Uncle Tommy in the Doghouse)
Our Aunt Mary and Uncle Tommy Zambito lived on the next block. We got together often either at Nonno’s house or our house and sometimes Mary’s house. When we did, there was always an adventure! Many times it was playing in the house or outside with activities such as chase. I’d like to share a funny adventure you may enjoy reading about.
The following is a description of one incident that happened when we got together at our house on Saint Louis.
Ray and Bobby became my focus of life and while my other friends were still important, they seemed to be just someone to play with on occasion; as we had bonded with other family members at this age. Our family became a strong unit and we had fun, laughter, and fights along with the realization that when we did fight our father would put us in our place. Sometime it was with a scolding and sometimes it was with a belt. (Mostly just the threat of it!) I can remember it not being that bad, as my brother, Ray and I got into an argument and we both ran around the house placing pillows in our shorts (to protect ourselves) and would laugh, as Dad could not or would not catch us! We may have been hit once or twice, but the thought of it usually kept us straight. We knew when the belt was taken off he was serious, but at the same time we also knew we deserved it. It was not so serious that we could not live with the consequences.
Since we still lived on Saint Louis, my cousin, Phyllis, would come over to play with us. Many times, we played a game of jumping on beds and jumping from dressers to beds. We did that often. All of us jumped on the beds many times. Phyllis, being one of the smallest, decided to follow our attempts and she was the one that broke the bed (although it was due to all of use jumping), as she was the one that just happened to finish it off! That led us telling our parents what we did, but somehow she got blamed for it! Therefore, Uncle Tommy had to come over and repair the bed. This ended our game of jumping.
Many times we would play at Mary’s house and be joined by Jr. or Joe, as Aunt Mary was young and loved to play music for us; telling us stories of traveling to New York and visiting the Empire State Building. A boy Billy Fiedo who lived next to Aunt Mary and Uncle Tommy loved to put together model cars. Sometimes, we would go to homes near West Tampa Jr. High and work on models as well.
No matter if it was building model cars, or something else; I loved making things such as a clubhouse at Wayne Floyd’s home. When our parents decided to raise chickens, and were finished with them, I remodeled the chicken coup to become a clubhouse; using it on occasion to sleep outside.
We were fortunate to have a maid named Cora. She was older and very meek, but did a wonderful job in taking care of the house. She would do chores such as cleaning, ironing, and trying to take care of us. Bobby would lock her up in the closet. She would yell out (using a soft voice), “Let me out!” But, she would never become angry. I felt she knew this was a game with him, and she easily could have easily walked out. Instead, she would ask Bobby to please let her out of the closet. I’m not sure if Ray had a part in this or not. I really think it was a one man plan!
Cora would never eat at the table as she thought it was not right; even though, we asked her and told her she was part of the family. As I got older, I would drive her home as she was becoming older and we did not want her to take the bus. Even though I asked and pleaded with her to sit in the front seat, she would not do so! I found out it was fruitless to continue asking her, as she was set in her ways, The times were different and she thought it was more appropriate for her being Black to ride in the back seat and would never ride up front. It could have been that she thought she would be criticized by others and did not want to take that chance. Times were beginning to change, but years before this when she grew up things were different. Such as in the water fountains in the court house were marked for “white only” and “colored only” but things were beginning to change. Blacks were not allowed to sit anywhere on the bus, just in the back of the bus; I can remember Blacks going to the back with no questions asked.
Winters and summers in Florida:
Winters in the house on St. Louis were cold, just like any home in Florida as they were not insulated. Each year our father would have to drain and fill the oil tank. He did this by going under the house to drain the line of water, that had accumulated in the tank (due to condensation) causing the heater not to work. I remember going underneath the house and holding the flashlight while he worked on the heater. He removed the oil line and let the fuel oil drain removing any water that had accumulated in the copper oil line.
The heater was located centrally in the home and after each bath (during winter time) there was always someone right over the heater to keep warm. In the summers, most homes had an attic fan and windows were left open to cool things off. Even though it was hot, being used to it and did not complain much. Later on, our father placed an air condition unit in his bedroom window making it the coolest room in the house. Then one was place in Mom’s room.
The house was large for the times and we had a dining room next to the kitchen that was separated by French doors. My brothers and I would frequently play kickball from the living room to the dining room. That stopped suddenly one day when we broke some of the dishes in the dining room and were scolded for our actions.
One of my favorite activities was taking blankets or sheets with my brothers and we would make tents in the home. We would spend hours doing this which was so much fun! We would move chairs and various pieces of furniture in order to drape the sheets to form a club or tent atmosphere.
Because our Mom and Dad worked full time jobs, Mom would usually want a break on Thursdays; as that was her day to catch up. Once in a while even she would take a day off! Although her days off were still very busy, she would (at times) let us go to the downtown Morrison’s Restaurant to eat, so she could have a break from the kitchen. Even though I was young, I worried about how much she worked, but as I aged in life I realized it gave her purpose. She enjoyed work and at the same time it provided the necessities needed for her family. It was not a balance, but enough of one that worked for everyone; as during those times working hard was a way of life.
Thursday Nights at Morrison’s Cafeteria:
As hard as Mom worked, she somehow loved to take off Thursdays when she could. She would run the store, make orders, prepare for the following day, clean, sweep, and mop, then go home; and do all the same kind of chores there which included washing the clothes, raising three boys, attending to a husband, and cooking most meals.
Usually, we would go several times a month to Morrison’s. Many times, I would eat at Nonna’s and that may have taken some of the pressure off her, but I’m not really sure. It seemed to be their favorite restaurant. I think it was due to the fact that they offered a variety of quality food that was delicious. It definitely was a treat for all of us and it must have been a treat for her not to cook and clean up afterwards. (Now as I think back, I am not sure how she did it)!
Morrison’s in the 1960’s in downtown Tampa.
When we traveled to Louisiana, we would stop in Tallahassee as they had a Morrison’s. Morrison’s Cafeteria was composed of a full staff: cooks, servers and waiters. If I remember correctly, they were all Black, wore nice clean uniforms, and were always very polite. It was a great place to eat! We enjoyed food that was not part of our daily routine, plus had fun together.
“Thanks Mom, Dad, brothers, cousins, teachers, family, and friends for great memories”! Dennis