Wichita Christian News and Information

I remember very well the July’s in the early 40s. School was  out for the summer. I would pack up my books and belongings and walk home as my parents didn’t pick me up in their automobiles.

So I would get my stuff together and walk home with a free feeling that only I would sense when school was officially out for three whole months.  My family would usually plan short mileage trips but we would go on several due to my father’s job. He was a paint contractor and had many projects to complete.

However, we would go to Branson and swim at a motel pool during the day and at night go see the Presley’s or some other music show.  I think it was great when we would rent a motor boat for the day and go out on Table Rock Lake, have our picnic lunch and dinner or maybe fish or drive around on the lake.

Or we might just go to Oklahoma City or Tulsa or go to the zoo. There were always a lot of things to do.

Of course everyone looked forward to the Fourth of July. We sometimes would go to a rodeo and it would end with a big fireworks show. There usually was a carnival with thrilling rides for us kids and then we had our own firecrackers to shoot during the day.  Many trips to our

Grandparents farm was always fun because the weather was hot and we would sleep outside to get fresh air. In the city we would lay cots down on the front porch like nearly every one else in the whole neighborhood.  

Summer was also fun because we made many of our own toys out of wood such as pistols. We rolled an old tire down the street with a stick and made orange crate scooters with old roller skate wheels.  

We always had a lot of fun in Julys of yesteryear. There were drawbacks such as no air conditioning, color movies, or TV, pretty much just radio.

But you know, we did not know the difference and still enjoyed summer.  You have a good one and God bless you all.

Faye Graves, a native Wichitan, attended school at Friends University and Wichita State, concluding at Midwestern Theological Seminary. He has been active in media for many years with Channel 12, KIRL, KFDI, KOOO AM & FM (Omaha), KFRM & KICT 95, as an owner, manager, producer, director and announcer. He has served as President of the Haysville Board of Education. He has also served on several national boards of the Southern Baptist Convention. Faye is the former Executive Pastor and Director of Administration and Education at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1415 S. Topeka, Wichita. You may contact Faye by e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or by phone at (316) 262-1452.