EPISODE 864 1914 student body Parkdale C.I. OLD PICTURES
alan skeoch
Long long ago I began buying old historical photographs. Then got interested in other
things in life. Forgot about my photos until Marjorie got into a clean up mood.
Hence these two mounted pictures of the students of Parkdale Collegiate Institute
were found again….which I will give to John Maize for the PCI archives.
But first look at the boys in the photo and imagine the life he faced in the 20th century
(then look at the girls the same way)
THE STORY OF ‘SEVEN’ SMITH, A STUDENT THEN ADULT IN THE 20TH CENTURY
MY name is Steven. Nicknamed “Seven”. I was born in 1900. Little did I know that my life would
be so miserable. There is an old adage ….MAY YOU LIVE IN INTERESTING TIMES.
MY life has been a constant flow of interesting times. Not pleasant really.
EPISODE 864 1914 student body Parkdale C.I. OLD PICTURE
INTERESTING TIMES BE DAMNED
NAME STEVEN “SEVEN” SMITH (fictional) born 1900 ,,, follow decades of my life below.
I was seven in 1907
-1914 World war One began…poison gas, trench warfare, death and decay
I was 17 in 1917
-turned 18 joined army…horrors unending..
-1919 Spanish Flu…global pandemic
I was 27 in 1927….
Then in 1929 the stock market crashed
-no jobs, no income, no chance of normal life
-Great Depression
-no chance of marriage
I was 37 in 1937
-then two years later in 1939 World War II broke out
-I was young enough to volunteer….air force gunner Bomber command….fear of death daily
I was 47 in 1947
-atom bomb and Cold War made life on earth chancy….Strontium 90
-Korean War
-built bomb shelter…felt hopeless
I was 57 in 1957
-Strategic Ar Command keeps Bomb laden B 52’s in air all the time
-got a brief glimpse of the good life…bought a car
-debts
I was 67 in 1967
-centennial
-retired with small pension
-small apartment…health problems
I was 77 in 1977
-retirement home
1 was 87 in 1987
-end of story
NOW suppose “Seven” Smith was one of the girls in the photograph, would her life be more or
less miserable?
OF COURSE THIS NEVER HAPPENED AND MOST PEOPLE FOUND JOY IN THEIR LIVES IN
SPITE OF WORLD CATASTROPHES.