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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!