Wilmette Public Library Local History Digital Collection

Margaret Dingee McClure (1900-1996) oral history

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Track 1, Transcript p. 1-3: Track 1, Transcript p. 1-3
Transcription: TRACK 1 RA: Would you like to tell me your name? MDM: My name is Margaret Dingee McClure and now I live at 375 Woodland Road, Highland Park, but until I was 21 I lived at 912 Lake Avenue, Wilmette. When we were married... when I married Lawrence McClure in 1921 ... we moved to Evanston for two years and then came to live in my husband's family house which was at 219 Broadway and I lived there until 1935. So, really, I lived in Wilmette for 35 years. RA: I see. Uh, and then, uh, you - did you... most of your school life was spent in Wilmette? MDM: Oh, yes. I went to the grade school over on Central Avenue and 10th Street through from first grade to eighth and then I went to New Trier High School in Winnetka. RA: Oh, yes. And how large was - were the schools at that time? MDM: Oh, they were small. They were small. RA: How many to a class approximately? MDM: Oh, I would say about 25 and I can remember when I was in fourth grade we had double desks and, of course, Wilmette was a completely white community at that time, but one Black family had moved in and... RA: And how early was that? MDM: When I was in fourth grade and as I am now 80, you will Margaret Dingee McClure, cont. 2 see that that was very early in my career and I drew the colored girl - the Black girl - at my double desk and when I came home and announced it, there was no shock, horrified reaction. It was, "Well, what of it?" She was an awfully nice girl and that was my first experience with the Black people - that I shared a desk with one at a very early age. RA: So. MDM: And very happily. RA: This is where all experiences would hopefully begin and would be happy. My own was a very happy one, too, with the other race - and consequently I deal with many races in the volunteer work that I do. Tell me, you started in New Trier when it was very young then? MDM: Yes, indeed. It was a very... it was a small school. RA: How many were in your graduating class? Do you remember that? MDM: No. I would have to look that up, but it was comparatively small. I would say maybe 250. RA: That sounds like a pretty big class. MDN: Well, when you consider all the communities that were involved, I.... RA: Communities? Were there four? MDM: Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Glencoe and the communities just to the west of them - Northbrook, Northfield. Now I think that's pretty small. I could look it up, I suppose. Margaret Dingee McClure, cont. 3 RA: No. That is not necessary, but it's interesting that you mentioned Northfield and Northbrook. Were they originally a part of New Trier? MDM: Oh, yes. We had - we had them from those communities and, at that time, you see, here in Highland Park there was only one school for Highland Park and Deerfield and it was called Deerfield-Shields. RA: That's right. MDM: So, you see, these western communities did not have their own secondary schools at that time. RA: This, I believe, we are prone to forget with the high school as it is now developed was rather a late development in our cultural pattern. MDM: We had wonderful teachers though. Very wonderful. RA: Who were some of your teachers? MDM: Miss Ulrjck was my teacher in Greek and Roman History and she was such an inspiration that my love of Greek and Roman things dated from that period. I was always into Greek gods, heroes and men. I can remember, of course, she soft pedaled the unattractive things and the only impression we got was a complete, lofty society so that when later on I found the Greek culture was really founded on the most abject slavery, it was really a very sad awakening. All my illusions (Laughter) were shattered. And we had a wonderful teacher for American History, a Miss Raymond.
Creators: McClure, Margaret Dingee, 1900-1996, Interviewee; Adler, Rhea Saul, 1906-1990
, Interviewer
Media Type: Audio; Image; Text
Item Type: Audiocassettes
Description: Interview with Margaret Dingee McClure by Rhea Adler in Wilmette, Illinois, October, 1981.

ABSTRACT:
Early years, homes, schools
New Trier High School years, subjects, teachers
Social life - Carnegie Library - Annie Long, librarian - Musically educated --
moved to Highland Park several years after marriage to Lawrence McClure
Ravinia - property owned by Jewish Charities of Chicago - 1936 concerts began
after Mr. Eckstein's attempt had failed in early '30's --an historic view of the
development of Ravinia 1936-1981
Family picnics in Grandma,s orchard - home grown peas, home made ice
cream on Fourth of July awaken by fire- crackers, winter, Christmas
dinner at Grandma's, Thanksgiving with other side of families -- Panushka
family --Grandpa was from Prague via St. Louis --Mother and siblings
attended Evanston H.S. but Mother was in first New Trier H.S. graduating class -
1901
Parents married in Evanston
Two Dingee Pickle Cos, -Squire Dingee Co.-- an S. M.
Dingee & Son, - Evanston - a blight descended and they
could not grow pickles here -- Removed to Wisconsin -- Squire Dingee Co. sold
to Ma Brown who sold to Beatrice
Food Co.
Pickles contracted from individuals in area, methods of sale and making
From horse and buggy to jet age
Mementos of early years - Christmas tree ornaments -- from Dingee and
McClure families -- Santa Claus --candles -- fire
Human relationships - Grandma - Maiden Aunt - neighbors Wreck of Lady Elgin -
Grandma Dingee's contribution to victims
Chicago Opera Co. - Auditorium Theatre - Harold and Edith Rockefeller
McCormick's support
Date of Original: October 1981
Subject(s): Farmers
Oral histories
Wilmette Public Library
Wilmette (Ill.) -- Residents
Personal Name(s): McClure, Margaret Dingee
Local identifier: R 977.31 Mc
Language of Item: English
Copyright Statement: Protected by copyright: Uses other than research or private study require the permission of the rightsholder(s). Responsibility for obtaining permissions and for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Copyright Holder: Wilmette Public Library
Copyright Holder Contact Information: 1242 Wilmette Ave.
Wilmette, IL 60091
U.S.A.
Recommended Citation: McClure, Margaret Dingee, and Rhea Saul Adler. Margaret Dingee McClure. Wilmette, Ill: Wilmette Public Library District, 1981.
Contact: Wilmette Public Library
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