Talk:Reflectorville
Submission from Mr. Donald Mack
The four story house just beyond the bridge was home to the Walters family, I believe. I lived just beyond and uphill to the right on Abstract Ave. from 1934 until 1959. I walked that double track bridge hundreds of times (much to the dismay of my mother) to Oak School, a small four room school located on Ballenger Street that is now an apartment building. Miss Price and Miss Workman were my teachers at Oak School.
I also attended St Norbert’s school classrooms located above the church, then attended what I knew as Central Jr. along Saw Mill Run Blvd., then Carrick High School. I have always been curious as to the name Reflectorville associated with that area of Edgebrook and Saw Mill Run Blvd. Could there have been a facility that manufactured reflectors for mine and railroad lamps located there during the coal mining days? No one seems to know.
I would like to offer a note in conclusion concerning Carrick High School. Due to family disruptions and my inclination to laziness, I dropped out of Carrick High. As time passed and I began to understand the workings of the world I attended various aviation mechanic schools, flight schools, and flight engineer schools, and flew aircraft ranging from DC-6 to 747`s for forty years. I was fortunate enough to travel much of the world. Please bear with my self aggrandizement; I will get to the point. I also became astute enough to amass a fortune, in spite of the fact I was a drop-out. When I requested of Carrick High School to honor my military acquired GED certificate and issue a diploma, they refused to do so. I was able to find another source after some difficulty which enabled me to meet the requirements of an employer. If anyone associated with your historical organization knows people at Carrick High perhaps they could pass my story to them in hope that they may offer a bit more help to those who are attempting to rectify the mistakes of their youth. I apologize for my ramblings and I do look forward to seeing more info about the area that I grew up in.
Sincerely, Donald Mack
