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03/09/09 05:13:30 pm, by Michael Happy
Categories: Dobel Street, Metro Detroit

Mr. V.'s counterpart: Harriet Weatherly

Harriet Weatherly meant absolutely nothing to me until Sunday evening, when her name came up twice within three hours.

Around 2 p.m., former Holy Name stalwart Dennis Suszynski arrived at planning meeting for the March 28 H.N. keeping-in-touch party and told me that he had tracked Harriet down last week. When I gave him a quizzical look, he informed me that Harriet worked for the Detroit Rec Department at Fletcher Field during the same era as Frank Verbanac, Mr. V.

Dennis said he looked Harriet up online and then visited with her at her home. He said she's in her 70s, retired, doesn't drive at night anymore, but remembers fondly her work in the old neighborhood.

[More:]

A few hours later, I opened up my hotmail account at home and discovered this message from Joyce (Guzek) Kulig:

Well this year most of my family will attend the reunion. Usually I am in Florida at this time. This year we are looking forward to seeing old friends and school mates. You're honoring Mr. V. Great !! But what about Harriet Weatherly? She was always present and a big help to Mr. V. She also volunteered her time to Dubay Park by French Road. She made our summers happy with her crafts and games. If you saw Mr. V., you also were seeing Harriett. She was a great athlete and right arm to Mr. V. I had six brothers so I was a tom boy and admired her efforts for us kids. So let's not forget her.

Does anybody else out there remember Harriet? Should we consider honoring her on March 28 with Mr. V.?

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Comment from: wick [Member]

I honestly do not remember her but vaguely recall a lady who worked for Parks & Rec at the park of Dubay & French Rd.

Permalink 03/11/09 @ 09:02

Comment from: geraceyvette [Member]

I distincly remember every summer for a couple Saturday mornings going to Fletcher Field for arts and crafts with my sisters. Tables set up under trees by the sand box. I recall 2 or 3 ladies, "the helpers" but thier names just aren't registering. One would of had to be her, right? She brought white bisque plaques in shapes of roses, frogs, fish, etc. for us to paint. Each one about a dime a piece. Also were shiny vinyl strings in assorted colors to make gimp chains. The helpers always had to start them for us then we'd take over the easy part. It certainly wouldn't hurt to mention her even if her name was not synonomys with Mr. V's. Apparently they worked together but arts and crafts (memorable for some) 2 or 3 Saturdays out of the year isn't going to measure up to full seasons of sports teams and events. Probably considered "sissy" stuff back then.

Permalink 03/11/09 @ 14:06

Comment from: d.p. [Member]

Harriet had red, curly hair. She was in charge of supervising crafts for the kids. I don't recall how many years she worked at Fletcher. I recall that one craft that was popular was making a key chain by weaving different colored strings of nylon/plastic. I wasn't into crafts so I didn't have any real conversations of substance with Harriet. She was popular with the kids though.

I also recall that Mike Resmer had a helper/sidekick named Fred who drove an orange corvette. Hard not to remember the orange 'vette.

D.P.

Permalink 03/12/09 @ 06:19

Comment from: wick [Member]

Can't say I was into crafts back then? The only lady I ever recall assiting Mr. V was Tommy Megan's mom ( who kind of help coach Tommy's team one year. If this lady worked on Saturday's that what explain why I don't remember as Mr. V always had the weekends off.

Permalink 03/12/09 @ 09:01

Comment from: batgirl76 [Member]

I was Fletcher's 'park lady' in the mid-'70's and also grew up in the neighborhood. The Detroit Rec Department had usually had a 2 person team working at the larger playgrounds during the summers. I do not recall Harriet but recall spools of plastic lacing hidden in my park kit seeing that 'crack the whip' on legs wasn't an approved 'activity' by the city. :-) So yes, Michael, you should honor Harriet.

Permalink 03/16/09 @ 07:12

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