SEGMENT: CHILDHOOD ACTIVITIES, CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, & FAMILY
Ray Ackerman>ISM Interviews A-L>ISM Interviews A-L, Segment 2
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- FAMILY
- Had an uncle that lived at the home place, one uncle that lived south of Morton, and another that lived east of where Ray is now that had a farm, all on his father's side. Each of his aunts had a farm. Often got together for family dinners. Had an older brother, older sister, and sister fifteen years younger.
- CHILDHOOD ACTIVITIES
- Was alone a lot and would invent his own games. Enjoyed playing Croquet. Had a league and kept score by the colors, says that blue and orange always won, didn't realize that those were Illinois colors. Invent games of baseball by throwing a golf ball against the porch. Would also play by standing in his gravel driveway, use a broom as a bat and hit rocks over his machine shed. Had friends in Morton that he would play with. Would roller-skate to school or take a scooter, sometimes rode a horse or rode his bicycle.
- CHILDHOOD WORK
- Would milk cows, gather eggs and kept records.
- CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
- Went to a one-room county school house 8/10 of a mile from his house. Eight grades were in the school, once in the 9th grade you'd go to Morton Township High school. Remembers the teacher would get there early in the wintertime to start the furnace. Outside bathrooms but soon got indoor bathrooms with a tank. About 20 in the school. Different country schools had baseball teams. Spent two months in the first grade. Remembers proposing to his second grade teacher.
- TRANSPORTATION
- Highway paved in front of his house in 1924.