Bowman school was only a few blocks away on Jefferson street, but when I was a kid it seemed like it was at least a couple of miles from home. I'd either walk or ride a bike to school. I remember one day, I had just gotten a new bike (it was used, but it was new to me), and at the end of the day I took the wrong bike home from school by mistake. The cops found me riding it, but they understood it was a mistake and didn't throw me in jail. Sure enough, we found my bike sitting in the bike rack all by itself that evening. I have to admit, the other bike was nicer. Oh, well...
I went to Bowman Elementary School from 1958 - 1962
kindergarten through 3rd. grade.
I lived at 27787 E. 12th. street, Hayward, Ca.
I wasn't really into music much at this age. However, I remember my Mom would watch American Bandstand and I liked the music they played and liked to watch the teenagers dance on the show.
I remember playing outside one evening while the grownups were inside watching the Kennedy - Nixon debate. Little did I know history was in the making that night. My parents loved John F. Kennedy. Little did I know the impact his presidency and assassination would have on me in just a few short years.
Bowman Elementary School
2nd. Grade
1960
3rd. Grade - My last year at... At the end of my 3rd. grade school year, during summer vacation, my family moved to Union City. It was only the next city south of Hayward, but I was just a kid and didn't really want to move and leave my friends behind. It was the start of a new chapter in my life.
My Dad worked at General Motors, but my parents would sell new and used merchandise at the flea market on weekends to help make ends meet. They decided to rent this store with a house in the back for us to live in. Our store was called 'Perez New and Used Variety Store'... at least that's what the business cards said. It was more like a Mexican version of the tv show 'Sanford and Son'. We had all kinds of good junk to sell... you name it, we probably had it!
I would start 4th. grade at a new school... Decoto school.
Bowman Elementary School
1961
