June 20 is the first day of summer! What are you going to do this season? Swim, bike, go to the beach, or play a sport? These kids clearly chose the last option in this photo.
This picture graced the front cover of the July 13, 1950 issue of The Romeo Observer. It shows a group of boys deciding who's going to be on which side for softball. All of the kids have been identified. From left to right, they are Lee Macklem, Bill Hart, Jimmy Busch, Carl Manahan, Jimmy Ritter, Pete Stuart, Pete Deegan, Dick Roth, George Green, Charles Harvey, Raymond Ritter, Gary Shovan, David McNeven, Bob Mack, and Coach Dan Barnabo.
Dan Barnabo was the Romeo High School athletic director at the time, and he supervised the Summer Playground Program in Romeo as an opportunity for children to enjoy sports and other activites when school was closed during the season. According to the article, "Sports and Fun For Children This Summer," it was sponsored by the Village of Romeo and the school district, and it included "organized sports, games, [and] shop work."
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 3pm, the new "water spray" (aka sprinkler) was turned on at the Memorial Stadium, and kids were encouraged to bring a bathing suit on those days.
The article even includes a weekly schedule for the program seen here.
It shows that children would play sports in the morning at the local grade school, where the Romeo Community Schools Administrative Center is at now. In the afternoon, they would go to the Romeo High School on Prospect Street to participate in work shop. On Wednesdays at 6pm, they would play baseball at the Old Athletic Field.
All children were invited to participate regardless of age and school grade. Coach Barnabo wanted "to give as many children as possible a chance to play together and enjoy their summer vacation."
That's the spirit! Have a great summer vacation.
To access The Romeo Observer, you can contact the Romeo Community Archives at rca@romemodistrictlibrary.org or call (586) 690-4890.
Sources: The Romeo Observer Press, July 13, 1950, p.1