08/14/2026
A Girl from Mazon
By Carol Jean Mair Dickinson
As a long ago resident of Mazon, I love reading Facebook and the website from my old hometown. Bill Hill’s post was a great accounting of a boy growing up in Mazon. I am a little bit older than Bill, but I do remember Wanda and Jerry who were around my age. Bill made me want to share my experiences as a girl growing up in Mazon.
My family moved to Mazon in 1949: my dad - Don Mair, my mom - Norma Mair, and my little brother Donnie. I was 4 and Donnie was 1. Don Mair was an agent for Standard Oil and made fuel deliveries to many farmers and residents in the area; many like our family also heated their homes with fuel oil. Like Bill, whose article touched my heart, I have bragged to many over the years of the magical childhood I experienced in Mazon, Illinois. My family moved to Princeton in 1960 so Dad would have a better chance of growing his business. We moved in April of 1960 when I was a freshman at MVK and about to celebrate my 15th birthday.
In 1951, I started school in the old building across Rt. 47 from town. There were seven kids in my grade: Dianna Cromwell, Kay Henderson, Larry Knop, Ronnie Olson, Minnie Sanches, Carol Sereno and me. Miss Myrtle Misener was our teacher for first and second grades. Then on to third and fourth grades with Mrs. Mae Carter. In fifth grade, some of the country schools were closed. Our class, taught by Miss Mabel Welch, was then made up of several more students, four of us name Carol! Our sixth-grade class with Mrs. Douglas was held in the old high school gymnasium building but by seventh grade, we had moved into the new grade school. Mrs. Burkhart, Mr. Laab, and Mr. Johnson were our teachers in seventh and eighth. In 1959, when we graduated from eighth grade, besides 6 of the originals, we had added Doug Nelson, Carol Barr, Judy Swearingen, Jimmy Johnson, Jerry Walker, Nancy Wilhelm, Janice Phillips, Jean Curl, John Lefton, Carol Sanders, Marsha Hermann, Billy Warning , and Albert Homes.
As a small business owner, my dad always encouraged our family to give our business to other small business owners. So I, too, remember the Misener Clover Farm store and Beck’s grocery, Schoen & Isham Hardware, and Mr, and Mrs. Hough at the drug store. I loved the D&R restaurant with cokes, root beer and French fries for a nickel or a dime. All our mail came to Box 21 at the post office. Dr. Breisch delivered two more little brothers to our family, Richard and Steven. And when two of our cousins lost both their parents, David and Jim Mair came to live with us as well and they both graduated from MVK in 1958 and 1960 respectively.
My parents were active in the community. Dad belonged to the American Legion and Masons and both parents were active in Eastern Star. As a girl, I belonged to Brownie Scouts and then Girl Scouts. I am a retired Accountant now and I still remember the responsibility of collecting 5 cent dues at Brownie meetings and keeping track of who paid. Scout camping was always a fun experience: Day Camp in Morris, camping locally and attending overnight Girl Scout Camp. I also remember marching in local parades.
The Methodist Church was also an important part of our family life. When I was 12, Rev. Henry Crede confirmed me, and I am still a proud and active member of the United Methodist Church today. In Mazon, I attended Sunday School, Bible School and was a member of the Junior Choir. In the summer I attended Church Camp. I also baby sat for Rev. and Mrs. Crede’s two young children. Mom was a Sunday school teacher and active in the women’s church organizations.
4-H was also an organization I was a part of. I especially remember Mrs. Wallin who gave me special attention in her home on one of my sewing projects. Other skills I learned were cooking, baking and entertaining.
The Grundy County Fair was one of the most important events in Mazon. School was actually suspended during Fair days. My memories include entering my 4-H sewing and cooking projects to be judged. There was also a fashion show where we modeled the outfits from our sewing projects. One year I participated in Party-a-Month at 4-H and I remember submitting a scrapbook I had created, fully of party ideas, to be judged at the fair.
The Methodist Church ran a food stand at the Fair. I was so excited when, probably at about the age of 12, I was allowed to start working at the stand. My waitress duties included taking food orders from the customers and delivering their food to the counter. I still remember dipping my hand down in that icy cooler to retrieve bottles of “pop.”
Showing cattle and horses and other farm animals was also an important part of the Fair. And I remember going over to the horse barns to meet up with Kay Henderson and see the beautiful horses they brought to show. And lastly, the carnival rides. After working so hard attending to all that business, it was such fun to ride the Ferris wheel, and tilt-a-whirl.
Being the only girl in our household, Mom made sure I had the opportunity to participate in appropriate activities. For a few years, I took tap dancing and ballet lessons from Mrs. Doris Pellouchoud. I remember the fabulous costumes our moms created for our performances in the dance recitals. I also took piano lessons from Mrs. Madison. I remember the beautiful grand piano in her living room. Carol Sereno and I often took our lessons one right after the other and Mrs. Madison even found some duets for us to play together.
My husband and I went to Princeton High School together and married young. He worked at Caterpillar in Aurora for almost 40 years. We now have three grown children and three grandchildren. Along the way, I got an Accounting degree and have enjoyed a long career in that field. I worked at Aurora College in Aurora and then was hired at Farmers Insurance in their Aurora Office. Eventually we moved to Los Angeles where Farmers Home Office was located and retired from there. We had purchased lakefront property in Hot Springs, Arkansas in 1993 and when we retired in 2004, we built a house on that lot. Alas, it was not a house to grow old in, so we moved into a one-story home in town in 2019. What attracted us most about Arkansas was the weather: four seasons and mild winters. You all know those northern Illinois winters can be brutal!
I have so enjoyed reading about the Sesquicentennial Celebration on Hey Mazon! I actually attended the Centennial celebration 50 years ago. I had my six year old daughter with me and introduced her to Miss Misener, my first-grade teacher. My parents attended, too, and I did find my way to the Sereno house and met up with Carol Sereno Walker. I will always hold Mazon as a special place in my heart. Wish I could be there again to celebrate.
Love to all.
Carol Jean Mair Dickinson
