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Thursday, August 31, 2006

1947: "MOODS IN MUSIC"

On the threshold of another reunion, I am posting this bit of memorabilia for HHS '47 as they prepare for number 60 in the year 2007. I embellished the program a bit, inserting my file copy of Louise baird on the front cover. Notice the wonderful songs we sang back then!

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

HHS 51 55TH REUNION

Classmate Pete Fless announces the 55th reunion "Gala" for the class of '51. There will be a cash bar and complimentary Hors D'oeuvres. The social affair will be held on Friday evening, September 22, 2006 from 6 to 10 PM at the Boat House Marina, Mercer County Park.
General directions to Mercer County Park: At the "five points"in Mercerville, go out Edinburg Road and stay on it and note that it merges with "Old Trenton Road." Stay the course and look for the entrance to the park on the left. For more detailed directions, go to www.mapquest.com. 'hope to see y'all there!

1947: Alice Schmidt, HHS '51

Alice contacted me a year or so ago with a fascinating reminiscence of her years of living in the Bromley section. She told how she and Joan Holland (another lovely gal I carried a torch for back in the old days) lived and played in the area, recalling Cook's Greenwood and Johnston Avenue store, the Palombi store, and other fabulous local lore from the Bromley area. Here she is seen in a clipping I saved from many years ago. The young boy with her has to be her brother, only because the family resemblence is strikingly obvious.

1947: Kuser Annex


How well I remember that cute little "Sis" McGlynn. Hey, I also remember "Pretty Peggy" Trolle, too! Don't you love those bobbysox and Saddle shoes Sissy is wearing? By the way, her name is Alvilda. The last I heard she was living in a small town in central Pennsylvania. They were practicing for our spring entertainment, "China Boy," starring Carl Williams as the China boy. I was to have been in one of the leads, but I crossed Miss Jean Larzalere, who felt that I should give up my after school job and come to all the practices. I couldn't do that 'cause my mom needed the money. Bottom line, Jean Larzalere was completely unsympathetic to my plight, and banished me from ALL music and thespian entertainment at K.A.

1951: Happy Times

You will note that there are a number of 1951 clips being posted at this time. The reason is obvious. We are getting ready for our 55th reunion at the Boat House at Mercer County park, and this is my website, and accordingly I am executing "executive privilege!" What a joy it is to read there fascinating Criterions which Ray and Sandy Holmes Danberry dropped of at the office for me to digitize! For the past 2 weeks, I have been back in 1951 remembering all my classmates. By the way, details on our reunion is posted on this site. I think you will find it in the June Archives. Just enter "Reunion" at the box above which reads "Search this Website."

1951: HHS Honor Society and Honor Roll

I must admit that I didn't apply myself as I should have when I was in high school. I was on the honor roll every single marking period from Kuser School first grade right up to 7th grade. When I reached 8th grade, I discovered girls, and from then on I was only an average student. Miss Florence Cornwell was furious with me for changing from the Academic course to General. My real life ambition was to be a teacher, but my Mom and Dad couldn't afford the $900 tuition to State Teachers' College! Miss Cornwell was a perceptive, and somewhat emotional teacher. I remember turning in a book report on "The Great Gatsby," and below the B+ I received, was the note from her, "Thomas, you have a flair for writing. You should develop that skill." It was only in 1981 when I began writing that I recalled her perceptive side.

1951: Candy Frenking and Tom Glover in the news



Here's a fascinating clip from the April, 1951 edition of "The Criterion." I must admit I have no recollection of desiring to eat during class! Perhaps I was looking forward to 3rd lunch and a hot dog from the late Russ Ayre's yellow and red hot dog push cart! As a point of interest, before Russ was banished from Park Avenue side the school, many of us opted for his hot dogs rather than the bland offerings of the cafeteria. Russ moved from the high school to South Broad Street, next to the Colonial Cemetery, and created a traffic problem there, and was moved again. I remember seeing 5 or 6 eighteen wheelers lined up along South Broad Street, partaking of his delectable hot dogs. He ultimately settled on a commercial spot on Route 206, a site which still exists and I can assure you that they still serve Russ's incredibly delicious hot dogs, and yes, the last time I was there, the yellow push cart is still there! I'll bet there is not one reader who remembers when Russ came around in the morning with those delectable cream donuts from Prior's Donut store on South Clinton Avenue! There was never a kinder more likeable man than Russ Ayres. Despite his handicap, he was always a cheerful guy, ideed, a real gentleman, and we miss him.

HEY CLASSMATES! HERE COMES NO. 55!

HHS CLASS OF 1951 ANNOUNCES OUR 55TH REUNION

Classmate Pete Fless announces the 55th reunion "Gala" for the class of '51. There will be a cash bar and complimentary Hors D'oeuvres. The social affair will be held on Friday evening,
September 22, 2006 from 6 to 10 PM at the Boat House Marina, Mercer County Park.
General directions to Mercer County Park: At the "five points"in Mercerville, go out Edinburg Road and stay on it and note that it merges with "Old Trenton Road." Stay the course and look for the entrance to the park on the left. For more detailed directions, go to www.mapquest.com.
'hope to see y'all there!

Sunday, August 27, 2006

CONCERT RESCHEDULED 6/28 7 TO 9 PM

MY CONCERT AT KUSER FARM PARK HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER. IT HAS BEEN RE-SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW EVENING, AUGUST 28 FROM 7 T 9 PM. NOTE THAT THE STARTING TIME IS DIFFERENT FROM THE ORIGINAL TIME IN ORDER TO ALLOW FOR WORKERS TO GET HOME AND HAVE DINNER. NOTE ALSO THAT I MADE A MISTAKE BY LISTING THE MONDAY RAINOUT STARTING TIME AS 6 PM. I WILL BE IN CONTACT WITH THE TOWNSHIP TOMORROW AND ASK THAT I BE GIVEN AN ELECTRIC OUTLET IN ORDER TO FULFILL THE PROMISED 6 PM STARTING TIME.

Thursday, August 24, 2006

1951 Tulip Time Players

With the reunion of my class of 1951 just around the corner (See the announcement elsewhere on this site. "Search this blogsite" for Reunion. It is probably in the July archive.) Many thanks to Ray and Sandra Holmes Danberry for saving this long forgotten treasure. Leon Belardino, you're looking great! So are you, George Mozer, Vance Johnson and in fact all of you look great! A special tug of my heart is in the lower left, the late Shirley Whitebread Applegate, one of my dear girlfriends from Miss Ruth Margerum's Kuser School Third Grade. Next to Shirley is our accompanist, Sandy Smith, without whom we would never have made such beautiful music. I'm not sure, but it looks like Arlene Seabridge second from right. If it isn't, my apologies. As I look at this long forgotten photo, I am reminded of the beautiful voice of the late Bill Baggott. (Back row, second from left, next to me.) In the lower right, Beverly Cowell. Bev and I sang a duet in our Sophomore or Junior year, "The Things We Did Last Summer." Remember, Bev? Vance Johnson, second from right in the back row, removed himself from the lead in our operetta and his role of "Burgomeister" was taken over by Ray Danberry. Oh those bittersweet memories!

Saturday, August 19, 2006

1948: Henry Kauffman

In my years at HHS, I never once heard a negative statement against Mr. Kauffman. He loved his job and he was good at it. I know he and his son and my classmate Kieth will forgive me if I put one to many "f"'s in his name.

1948: Faculty and Administration "A" to "D"

Take a close look and bring back some great memories! Carl Abbott tooling into the parking lot with that yellow Buick convertible, Louise Baird leading our choir into another blockbuster musical proram, Jim Coursen doling out 5 hours to the guys who tried to hustle a six pack of beer on the school grounds, Harold Bills coming to school in his Navy officer's uniform and all the girls swooning, Mr. Byrd moonlighting as a shoe salesman, FLorence Cornwell chastising me for getting a pass to go to rehearsal for the operetta during her class time, Harlan Darling..........

HHS The Tarr Brothers

These two guys had a real penchant for sports. Both of them were active in nearly all competitive contests at Hamilton. "Jake," older brother to Ronnie was an upper classman who was a basketball star in his own right. Ronnie went right through school with me from Miss Kelly through graduation in the class of '51.

1951: The Choir, 1951

We made such incredibly beautiful music together! How I miss the incredibly beautiful harmony we sang as all of us got goose bumps listening to ourselves singing in EIGHT part harmony. I will never forget the unbridled, etheral beauty of our rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone," and "Now The Day Is Over."

Friday, August 11, 2006

August 27, 6 to 8 PM Mark Your Calendar!



On Sunday, August 27, 2006, I will be presenting a musical singalong and dance program at Kuser Farm Park in the gazebo. My program is called, "Once Upon a Time There Was Music." The program is from 6 to 8 PM and will allow all of us who like to drive while there is still light to get home early! No reservations required and the program is free, so bring a folding chair or a blanket and come back to what will prove to be a bittersweet nostagic "Sentimental Journey!" We'll be remembering and singing the songs of Patti Page, Joni James, Rosemary Clooney, Perry Como, Frankie Laine, Don Cornell, Tony Bennett, Glenn Miller, Andy Williams, and all those great artists with whom we in the over 50 generation grew up. There's a concrete dance floor adjacent to the gazebo, and it is available for those of you who remember how to jitterbug, polka, waltz, stroll, and of course, I didn’t forget the line dancers! I hope to see many of you there. Rain date is the next night, Monday, August 28, same time.

HHS CLASS OF 1951 55TH REUNION


HHS 51 55TH REUNION

Classmate Pete Fless announces the 55th reunion "Gala" for the class of '51. There will be a cash bar and complimentary Hors D'oeuvres. The social affair will be held on Friday evening, September 22, 2006 from 6 to 10 PM at the Boat House Marina, Mercer County Park.
General directions to Mercer County Park: At the "five points"in Mercerville, go out Edinburg Road and stay on it and note that it merges with "Old Trenton Road." Stay the course and look for the entrance to the park on the left. For more detailed directions, go to www.mapquest.com. 'hope to see y'all there! Unfortunately, Judy has a committment for that weekend and will not be able to attend.

Friday, August 04, 2006

1943: The HHS "Victory Corps"

This is the first time I have heard of this patriotic HHS organization. I do have a news article in the Hamilton High School folder with the photo of a jeep that students purchased for the U.S. Army. Apparently the fundraising for that jeep was due to the efforts of the "Victory Corps."