Editor’s note: Ann S. (Gray) Conley, who now lives in Topeka, grew up in Lawrence and worked at the Castle Tea Room in the late 1940s and early 1950s. These are some of her memories about her time there.

The year was 1947 when my father, professor E.S. Gray, died instantly from a massive heart attack at our home on Barker Street. It was the night before Easter Sunday, and my mother had been upstairs putting riglets in my hair. She was called downstairs by my brother, who had been sitting right next to my father.

During the next year, I felt a great need to help out with the finances even though I was at a tender age of 10. “What can a 10-year-old do?” I asked myself. I often rode my bicycle past the tea room while heading home from McAlister School (which has since been torn down and is now a vacant lot).

On a whim, I decided that perhaps they could use some kind of help even though I was young. I gingerly and hesitatingly climbed the broad cut stone mason steps and entered the big doors of the tea room and asked for the owner.

As I waited, I noticed the magnificent rooms — some with stained glass windows and also a beautiful, beautiful fireplace in the Cherry Room. Out came a very short, blond-headed mature lady named Libuse Kriz-Fiorito, otherwise known later to myself and others as Miss Kriz, or as I eventually called her “Miss Libby.” She was a proud woman who had come from Czechoslovakia and was very independent and intelligent. She had always wanted to own a tea room, and the Castle suited her to a T.

I told her that I was there inquiring about a job that a 10-year-old could do. I am sure she was shocked. She, Miss Quinlan and “Doc” all said they would think about it and call me back. Sure, everyone says that when you’re applying for a job, so I never expected to hear from them again.

A week later, I got a call from Miss Libby to come in and they would discuss some options. They decided that I could come in right after school and start with setting the tables, after which I could get the salads ready to put on tables. Then as the people were served I could go around with the coffee pot on arm and a basket of rolls and delicacies on the other. Nobody went without a refill of coffee and rolls!

My attire was a beautiful, ruffled lace apron with a towel draped over my arm to clean up any spills. Every evening my mother set my hair in ringlets. I felt just like Shirley Temple when dressed up. I worked from 3:30 p.m. to closing. I had ridden my bicycle to school, thus that was my transportation home also (in the dark). I had my thermos in the basket from school lunch, and as I rode home in the dark, I hurried up and down the curbs so much that the thermos would jump out of the basket. I went through a number of thermos fillers.

Sometimes when business was slow I would grab a handful of black olives (with seeds) and sit on the back servant’s staircase and spit the seeds out over the railing on the west side of the stairs. I’ve always wondered if all those dozens of seeds were still there — that was some 60 years ago!

Then there was the time I was serving appetizers and some lady backed out of her seat just as I was going in back of her. There went the appetizers! In this case it was a glass of tomato juice. I was so embarrassed I didn’t want to go back into the room, but Miss Libby insisted I finish my job.

There also was a time, when on a Sunday as I delivered the coffee and rolls, Mr. B.A. Constant stuck a $5 in my hand. I was in seventh heaven! Sundays were always brunch time, and everyone served themselves from the plentiful array goodies.

Each room at the Castle was done in some authentic source of wood. One room was cherry, another oak, another walnut. It was simply magnificent.

When the crew knew that the State Labor and Health Department was coming to inspect, I was sent up the back stairwell to the third-floor ballroom. Never did they venture up that fair. I was only making a nickel an hour. I think during my four years of working there, I graduated to 20 cents an hour.

Then came my junior high years and I had to quit because of all my other activities. However, I did thoroughly enjoy the years spent at the Tea Room and all the people I became acquainted with. I served many a reception, party and wedding reception. The Castle was known to be the most beautiful house at that time, and it was!

Thank you, Miss Libby, Miss Quinlan and “Doc” for believing in me and giving me my first chance at a job.