Phoenix, Arizona / Sunday, September 16, 2012 © 2012 by JPB Publishing Ltd. Avenue Weather: Partly cloudy with possible late afternoon showers. High 102 / Low 79 On the INSIDE: Editorials A2 / Nostalgia A3 / Crossword A4
Former JDA resident Barbara Bueker Stewart marks 8 decades of earthly existence
(BP) - Former long-time Avenue resident Barbara Bueker Stewart today joins the Joan De Arc octogenarian club, entering the rarified ranks of the oldest surviving original street denizens at the age of 80. Born in Detroit MI in 1932, Bueker Stewart lived on Joan De Arc Avenue with her husband Carl and four children from 1963 to 1977. Through the years, Barbara developed a solid reputation as a friendly and gracious neighbor, but also as a rather opinionated avant-garde artist and occasional troublemaker. Barbara credits her longevity to a combination of “relatively clean living” and “pure stubbornness.” She insists her long life has been a necessary one, given her particular circumstances. “I had to live this long to look after my children, some of whom refused to grow up at the appropriate time,” she laments. When asked to comment on this remark, son John Bueker said, “Well I don’t think that’s a very nice thing to say about Charlie and Barbie.” Earlier this year, Bueker Stewart’s oldest child Susan observed her 60th birthday, a milestone that appears to have been far more traumatic for Barbara than her own arrival at the 80-year mark. “My oldest child is 60… 60!” she continues to repeat to family, friends, acquaintances and random passers-by. To top it all off, Barbara’s eldest grandchild, Susan’s daughter Camille Maselli Corder, turned 40 in August. The women in this family evidently procreate at precise 20-year intervals. Bueker Stewart reportedly plans a relatively sedate birthday observance today, in stark contrast to the lavish surprise 75th birthday bash thrown in her honor in 2007. A quiet lunch with immediate family members appears to be the only scheduled event. Plans to put old Barb in the home have been drawn up, but appear to be on hold for the time being. Meanwhile, the planning for her 90th birthday celebration is already in its preliminary stages.
Sue Bueker Nolan reunited with long-lost Beatles album By J. Beaver
Five decades after purchasing and eventually losing her copy of a popular early Beatles album, former Avenue resident and pioneering hippie Sue Bueker Nolan was recently presented with a replacement copy of the LP as she celebrated her 60th birthday at an iconic Phoenix restaurant. At a festive birthday gala in July at the Macayo’s Central location, Bueker Nolan was presented with a vintage, original-issue monophonic copy of the Fab Four’s Something New. This is the precise edition of the album that she and brother John Bueker purchased on a legendary trip to the A.J. Bayless store at Westown Shopping City back in 1964. Released on July 20, 1964, Something New was the third Beatles LP on Capitol Records, featuring an eclectic mix of obscure early tracks like “Slow Down” and “Matchbox,” in addition to eight original Lennon and McCartney numbers from the group’s wildly successful film A Hard Day’s Night. This particular collection of Beatles tunes is still highly regarded among American baby boomer fans of the foursome. The disc soon appeared for sale at the Westown Bayless store, and Sue Bueker immediately began scheming a way to acquire this cool new Beatles record. Desperate for cash to match the $3.99 price tag, she was forced to recruit her youngest brother John’s financial assistance, taking 45 precious cents that he had managed to squirrel away for some silly toy in which he was interested. After at last accruing the necessary financial wherewithal, the two siblings travelled to Westown, purchased the coveted album at Bayless, and then posed for photos with their prize in front of the house at 3219. Over the years, the Bueker copy of Something New saw countless playings on the living room stereo console, resulting in a completely worn out record by the early 1970s. The album sleeve had long since disappeared by then, and the record itself entered oblivion around the time the Buekers left the street in 1977. Its ultimate fate remains unknown. Clearly thrilled with the nostalgic birthday present, Sue Nolan fondly recounted that fateful trip to Bayless 48 years ago for gathered family and friends. “We walked, barefoot. Do you remember the high mound of dirt that ran along 31st Avenue? We walked on that, regretting that we had no shoes on the whole way!” she recalled with a laugh. “I’m very happy that Sue has the album again after all these years,” a reflective John Bueker observed as he wandered back through the Macayo’s parking lot. “However, I would really like to get my 45 cents back now, if that’s not too much to ask.”
Last original “shake roof” disappears from Surrey Heights By J.Beaver
An enduring era of Surrey Heights history recently came to a sudden close as the last remaining original cedar shake roof was replaced at the old Rose residence at 3121 W. Joan De Arc Ave. The “lifetime cedar shake roofs” were touted as one of the premier amenities offered when the original Surrey Heights homes were built and sold in the early 1960s. The sturdy and attractive roofs proved to be as durable as advertised, with only a handful being replaced in the first three decades of the neighborhood’s existence. “I can remember climbing up on that roof and getting splinters from those damn things,” sentimental former resident John Bueker reminisces. “It was not a kid-friendly environment.” The shake roof at the Bueker home was replaced in the early ‘90s, having survived for over 30 years. The average life of the “lifetime” roofs appears to have been around 35 years. How the shake roof at 3121, the former Rose residence, managed to survive for over 50 years is unclear. “That last one must have been in pretty bad shape when they finally removed it,” observes Bueker. “But hey, it did just about last for an actual 'lifetime.' I think Rick Rose, wherever he is, must be proud that his roof lasted the longest of them all.” _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________JDA
On the INSIDE: Editorials A2 / Nostalgia A3 / Crossword A4
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