Lisa Kelvin (Korenblat) sweet misty watercolor memories

Eric, I’ve known you since you and David began Kindergarten at Hilltop and have continued to see you over the years while you were at UCSD, your wedding, David’s wedding and other times you’ve visited St. Louis. But, I distinctly remember you being very upset when you drove Riva by the familiar lot known as Hilltop School and it was no longer there. Here are some of my fond memories of that beloved school and neighborhood.

We would all walk to school because we lived too close for the buses to drive us and we would all take too long to walk home (especially in the snow) because it was fun just goofing around. One time at recess, Julie Rosen (Feldman), Felicia Wilson (Moss) and I were trying to build a fire behind some bushes on the west side of the playground near Lori Lipkind’s house and we didn’t hear the school bell. When our teacher came out to get us, we were covered in black soot from the friction of the sticks. I remember hearing about my brother, David climbing into a trash can while in kindergarten and falling out on the pavement. He still has a scar on his chin. At recess, our class use to play in the evergreen bushes, we had a girls and boys fort and we wouldn’t let the dudes in ours because back then we could play exclusionary games. I remember dodge ball on the brick wall in the rear of the building. I hated dodge ball, Julie loved it. There was one time on the swings when Felicia revealed to Julie, Leah and I that she did not have a shirt under her hoodie, she was then asked by Mr. Schlamb to remove it and when she refused and told him the reason, she was sent home to change her outfit. I remember that we were all friends even though we were all different. Hilltop was a place where everyone knew each other and knew everyone’s business because it wasn’t just a school it was a neighborhood. All of the kids from all different grade levels and different backgrounds would play kickball, tennis, football and hockey in the streets until the lights came on-Then your parents’ would yell out the door (in your case, call) and tell you it was time for dinner.

When the rumor about Hilltop closing became true, my class was the first one to enter Reed School. What, a place where we had to be fashionable and not wear Sears or JCPenny clothing? A place where the average mean was a six figure income (in the 70’s) and we had to go to school with three classes per grade compared to one. This was unheard of… But, we got use to it and soldiered on…

After moving from my childhood home in the Hilltop neighborhood and various apartments, Kevin (’87 grad) and I moved to Boston for three years and then to NY for one and back to St. Louis four years ago. Believe it or not, we moved to Olivette, 5 minutes from the old neighborhood. My daughter, Jamie is in kindergarten at Reed and my son, Aaron is attending Ladue Early Childhood Center. We love it! I still talk to parents who have children at Old Bonhomme and they say people request Mr. Schlamb. He’s still the favorite and he still has Mr. Davey Bones. My Mom remains at her castle on Arrowhead and Julie’s Mom is also still in the neighborhood. Leah Bernstein (Silberman) bought her Mom’s house on Iroquois and has been rehabbing it ever since, like the rest of us. They are beginning to tear down homes individually and rebuild the community. Even as the new styles come in, we will always remember the old and have a place in our hearts for Hilltop School.