Lincoln High School
Class of 1953
A
Drive to YESTERDAY by Diane Linneman Bicknell
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It was a lovely warm day in
early March and my husband suggested we take a drive around in our old
“stomping grounds” to see all the changes that have taken place. We have lived in Bothell now for 12 years
and don’t get back to the old neighborhood often.
We checked out the east side
of Green Lake and saw the “big hole” - an entire city block devoid of anything
but a hole with some dirt where a major construction project is waiting… On toward Green Lake itself to see the
multitudes of people enjoying the path around the lake, joggers bikers, dog
walkers by the hundreds. It was like a
huge anthill filled with people that were enjoying the area on this lovely warm
sunny day. Round past the Pitch n’ Putt
and up onto the road to lower Woodland. This is where the covered picnic areas
are located and the hillside where our Day Camp got together when we were
children. Now we go north and go under
Aurora Avenue on Linden. I pointed out 3 different little houses, that were
once “corner grocery stores”. Remember
them? Your mom would send you to the store for bread, or milk, or even pop and
it was only a block away from your home.
We continued straight up Linden Avenue and we turned on 72nd
and down to the parking lot of what used to be Zion Lutheran church. I literally grew up there from baptism,
confirmation, youth group, choir, teaching bible school and married there. This was with my life long friends at my
side: Betty Hiller, Barbara Plenge, Joyce Polasik, Barb Kimbrough and me -
Diane Linneman. It was here I got my
camera out, as the life long “landmark” is no longer where Twin Teepees once
stood. Instead it is a half finished Condominium. Who ever dreamed that would
not always be there?
Even my church is no longer Zion Lutheran it is occupied by
the MeKane Yesus Evangelical Lutherans and the name Zion no longer appears on
the outside of the church. I didn’t go
inside but walked all around the building. The grounds were overgrown and the
walkway slippery from moss growing on it. Our own Gene Bensene's father Carl Bensene was
minister there from 1940-1963. He married Bud and me. Our choir director was
Stanley Weiss (also Lincoln High Band Director). Dick Evans, Gene Bensene,
Carolyn and Fred Zimmerman, Lloyd Kinner and many,
many other Lincoln grad's attended there. I was
surprised to find that one of the neighbors still lived nearby and she was in
the yard and spoke to me - however it turned out to be the daughter. She bought
the house from her parents and she looks exactly like her mom. We had a great visit.
Onward to the most special visiting place LINCOLN HIGH
SCHOOL... We turned up the street from
Stone Way and parked in the front of the entrance thinking just to stop for a
few minutes and take a few pictures.
The pink trees in front were in bloom, but there seemed to be a lot of
activity, people going in and out. A
fellow walked by me and I told him I was class of ‘52-53 and he stopped and we
talked. It seems on this day it was an
Open House for the schools that would be moving into the Lincoln building in
fall 2010. They included: McDonald Grade School and Queen Anne Elementary
school.
My new friend asked me about being mid-term and how did that
happen. I explained how in the “olden
days” kids started grade school in January. I went to John B. Allen, which he
hadn’t heard off, but knew it now as the Phinney Ridge Community Center. Also, when it came time to graduate you
either went to summer school if college was in your plans, or you
stayed around
for the additional time and had an extended big time in your senior year! In some ways it was somewhat confusing for
me especially since many good and close friends did graduate in ‘52 and I
played around until ‘53. But it was
really worth the time. It was filled with Chanters, Drama (we put on Hit The
Deck)
and Office Training and early dismissal.
Besides who wanted to give up those fantastic, huge, morning
Cinnamon
rolls for 5 cents. By this time someone
was pulling out of a parking spot and I asked Bud to park the car I was going
in!!!
When attending Lincoln I most always entered by the north stairs
that brought you out by the study hall.
That area is re-configured now.
Going up the main entrance and the double set of stairs was a bit of a
challenge for me and there was no banister on the first set, so I grabbed Buds
arm. At the top to the left is the
Solders Plaque on the wall and if you go left the original drinking fountain is
still on the wall also. The north staircase is closed in by a wall
as is the
hall area (fire doors I suppose).
Looking at the stairs I didn’t even think of going upstairs, but I did
recall the hundreds of times I went up from first to second to third floor and
didn’t give it a single thought! Guess that’s the difference between being
17-18 and now 75!!
There are no open cage lockers in the hallways like we had. They
are all metal pretty blue half-size lockers, not full up and down either, guess
that’s why the kids have to carry heavy backpacks.
I continued on down the hall to what used to be our Study
Hall. It is now, and has been for quite a while, the library. The stage area is gone and the computer lab
rooms are located in its place. At the
other end where we entered the library is walled off. Turning to leave the area I spied an old friend; the “original
clock” from our old study hall is still there.
I did walk around outside the hallway to see what that area is used for
it was hard to tell, but appeared to be
work areas of some kind, perhaps
Library usage.
We did wander down by the offices, but didn’t want to intrude
and they were closing for the day. But
how wonderful and unexpected it was to find the doors open and school having an
Open House just on the day we happened by.
I’m delighted as I’m sure many others are, that the building,
that was once Lincoln High School continues to be an “interim” school for many
others to enjoy. We have our own
memories and the building continues on giving memories to others.
Diane Linneman Bicknell
PS: We arrived home as our
daughter Debbie and husband John were taking us to dinner to celebrate my
birthday. We got in the car but stopped
at our clubhouse instead, where 50 or so friends, neighbors and friends of our
children were waiting for my arrival.
It was a surprise 75th birthday party for me! I was totally
100% surprised!
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stood. Instead it is a half finished Condominium. Who ever dreamed that would
not always be there?
Stanley Weiss (also Lincoln High Band Director). Dick Evans, Gene Bensene,
Carolyn and Fred Zimmerman, Lloyd Kinner and many,
many other Lincoln grad's attended there. I was
surprised to find that one of the neighbors still lived nearby and she was in
the yard and spoke to me - however it turned out to be the daughter. She bought
the house from her parents and she looks exactly like her mom. We had a great visit. 
fellow walked by me and I told him I was class of ‘52-53 and he stopped and we
talked. It seems on this day it was an
Open House for the schools that would be moving into the Lincoln building in
fall 2010. They included: McDonald Grade School and Queen Anne Elementary
school.
stayed around
for the additional time and had an extended big time in your senior year! In some ways it was somewhat confusing for
me especially since many good and close friends did graduate in ‘52 and I
played around until ‘53. But it was
really worth the time. It was filled with Chanters, Drama (we put on Hit The
Deck)
and Office Training and early dismissal.
Besides who wanted to give up those fantastic, huge, morning
Cinnamon
rolls for 5 cents. By this time someone
was pulling out of a parking spot and I asked Bud to park the car I was going
in!!! 
Solders Plaque on the wall and if you go left the original drinking fountain is
still on the wall also. The north staircase is closed in by a wall
as is the
hall area (fire doors I suppose).
Looking at the stairs I didn’t even think of going upstairs, but I did
recall the hundreds of times I went up from first to second to third floor and
didn’t give it a single thought! Guess that’s the difference between being
17-18 and now 75!! 
I continued on down the hall to what used to be our Study
Hall. It is now, and has been for quite a while, the library. The stage area is gone and the computer lab
rooms are located in its place. At the
other end where we entered the library is walled off. Turning to leave the area I spied an old friend; the “original
clock” from our old study hall is still there.
I did walk around outside the hallway to see what that area is used for
it was hard to tell, but appeared to be
work areas of some kind, perhaps
Library usage.
and they were closing for the day. But
how wonderful and unexpected it was to find the doors open and school having an
Open House just on the day we happened by.