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Monday, April 02, 2007

HHS ALMA MATER


NOT MANY FOLKS REMEMBER THAT HHS HAD AN
OFFICIAL ALMA MATER SONG. WE ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH
"HAMILTON HIGH WE'LL SERVE YOU, EVER WE'LL LOYAL BE..." BUT THE ABOVE SHEET, PRESERVED BY KATHY CSORGO ANNACCARATO, WAS COMPOSED BY BARBARA OR ELEANOR COHEN BACK IN THE 1940'S OR 50's. IT IS SUNG TO THE TUNE OF THE CORNELL UNIVERSITY ALMA MATER.

1960: CLASS NIGHT,

STILL MORE FROM THE EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF
KATHY CSORGO ANNACCARATO. AS I READ THIS CLASS NIGHT PROGRAM,
I RECALLED THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR IN MY GRADUATING YEAR OF 1951.IN ADDITION TO "CLASS NIGHT," WE ALSO HAD A PROGRAM KNOWN AS A BACALAUREATE SERVICE. YUP, BEFORE GOD WAS EXPELLED FROM THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WE ACTUALLY HAD MEN OF THE CLOTH, JEWISH OR CHRISTIAN, SAYING PRAYERS. IF THERE WERE ENOUGH FOLKS WHO FOLLOWED THE ISLAMIC RELIGION IN HAMILTON BACK THEN, WE WOULD HAVE GLADLY HAVE BOWED OUR HEADS IN PRAYER AND RESPECT. HOW QUAINT! HOW ABSOLUTELY PRIMITIVE! WOW, WERE WE "UNENLIGHTENED!" OH YES. WE ALSO HAD A POLICE PRESENCE IN THE HAMILTON SCHOOLS. EVERY YEAR OR SO, OFFICER "BOOTS" SNYDER WOULD COME AND TALK TO US ABOUT SAFETY.
NOW THAT WAS TRUE POLICE PRESENCE!

1960: CAROUSEL

HOW WELL I REMEMER HOW LOUISE BAIRD LOVED THE MUSIC WHICH EMINATED FROM THIS CLASS! GEORGE BOLGE AND THE EVER LOVELY KAY SALVATORE WERE PERFECTLY CAST. BOTH GEORGE AND KAY WERE VERY TALENTED VOCALISTS AND ACTORS, AS WERE ALL HE MEMBERS OF THE CAST OF THIS, MY VERY FAVORITE MUSICAL. I STILL REACH FOR A BOX OF KLEENEX NEAR THE END OF THE PLAY WHEN BILLY COMES BACK FROM HEAVEN DURING THE COMMENCEMENT SERVICE, AND THE CHOIR BEGINS SINGING, "YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE."


1960: MORE FROM KATHY CSORGO ANNACCARATO


I WISH THERE WAS JUST ONE STUDENT FROM EACH OF THE HAMILTON HIGH CLASSES THROUGH THE YEARS WHO SAVED THE MANY BITS OF MEMORIES WHICH KATHY DECIDED TO SAVE FROM THE TRASH BIN. JUST LOOK AT THE GREAT LITTLE VIGNETTE OF A FEW OF THESE TREASURES.

Saturday, March 31, 2007

FROM MY FRIEND, PAUL WOOLVERTON

Too Busy for a FRIEND?

I RECEIVE MANY emails with some very touching sentiments. However, this one rose to the top of the pile! It touched me to the extent that I am going to post it on all of my websites. It certainly is food for thought and soul-searching. Indeed, at mid-point in the text, I had to reach for a Kleenex as my vision became blurred. Thanks, Paul, and thanks to "Lois R," whom I assume was the originator of this heart warming message.

One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name.

Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down.

It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers.

That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual.

On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. "Really?" she heard whispered. "I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!" and, "I didn't know others liked me so much," were most of the comments.

No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another. That group of students moved on.

Several years later, one of the students was killed in Viet Nam and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. He looked so handsome, so mature.


The church was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last one to bless the coffin.

As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. "Were you Mark's math teacher?" he asked. She nodded: "yes." Then he said: "Mark talked about you a lot."

After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher.

"We want to show you something," his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket "They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it."

Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him.

"Thank you so much for doing that," Mark's mother said. "As you can see, Mark treasured it."

All of Mark's former classmates started to gather around. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, "I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home."

Chuck's wife said, "Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album."

"I have mine too," Marilyn said. "It's in my diary"

Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. "I carry this with me at all times," Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued: "I think we all saved our lists"


That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again.

The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be.

So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late.

And One Way To Accomplish This Is: Forward this message on. If you do not send it, you will have, once again passed up the wonderful opportunity to do something nice and beautiful.

If you've received this, it is because someone cares for you and it means there is probably at least someone for whom you care.

If you're "too busy" to take those few minutes right now to forward this message on, would this be the VERY first time you didn't do that little thing that would make a difference in your relationships?

The more people that you send this to, the better you'll be at reaching out to those you care about.

Remember, you reap what you sow. What you put into the lives of others comes back into your own.

May Your Day Be Blessed As Special As You Are








Thursday, March 29, 2007

1960: Ladies and Gentlemen, Kathy Csorgo HHS '60!

Isn't she lovely? Thanks to Kathy, we have a treasure trove of early 1960's grammar and high school memorabilia. Kathy has carefully preserved many wonderful mementos from her years at Steinert Grammar School, and from her class of 1960 at HHS. As time permits, I will be digitizing many of the items in Kathy's collection including the 1960 presentation of Carousel, wherein Billy Bigelow as portrayed so ably by George Bolge, while the ever lovely Kay Salvatore provided the role of Julie Jordan. How well I remember my Aunt Louise Baird raving about the unusual musical talent of that class! Stay tuned, and many, many thanks, Kathy, you are a tribute to the Hornet bee hive!

1960 HHS SENIOR BALL

To an emotional senior citizen like me, the quaint "dance book" that the girls in my generation took to the dance evokes memories of a custom which unfortunately has passed into extinction. Back in those innocent years, we didn't have to have a police presence in school, and our dances and sporting events went on without the fights, drugs, and other societal cancer which caused many schools to do away with programs which taught us the social graces. How sad! Thanks Kathy, for this treasure from the past. It will join an HHS '42 dance book which is in the library's HHS Folder.

1960: THANK YOU KATHY CSORGO!

THIS INTERESTING BIT OF HHS MEMORABILIA FROM THE CLASS OF 1960 COMES TO US FROM KATHY CSORGO ANNACCARATO, WHO HAS SAVED MANY WONDERFUL MEMENTOS FROM HER SCHOOL YEARS. I AM POSTING HER MATERIAL HERE AND ON MY LOCAL HISTORY SITE WWW.GLOVER320.BLOGSPOT.COM

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

PRESS RELEASE

EVERYBODY’S “BLOGGING!”

I WILL BE PRESENTING A SHOW AND TELL PROGRAM EXPLAINING MY LOCAL HISTORY INTERNET SITES. THE PROGRAM WILL BE PROJECTED ON THE KUSER MANSION CINEMASCOPE SCREEN.

INCLUDED IN THE PRESENTATION WILL BE A SAMPLING OF MY 3 WEBSITES,

WWW.GLOVER320.BLOGSPOT.COM, WWW.HHS51.BLOGSPOT.COM,
WWW.KUSER-SCHOOL.BLOGSPOT.COM

· YOU WILL LEARN HOW ANYONE WITH A COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS CAN SET UP AND CREATE A PERSONAL WEBSITE COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE.

THE PROGRAM WILL BE PRESENTED AT THE KUSER FARM MANSION ON TUESDAY, APRIL 10TH AT 7PM. ADMISSION IS FREE BUT RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED
CALL 609-890-3630 TO RESERVE A SPOT.


Monday, March 26, 2007

CLASS OF '57 LISTING OF MISSING ALUMNI


FROM LYNN HAMMER OF THE REUNION COMMITTE OF THE HORNET CLASS OF '57, THE FOLLOWING MISSING ALUMNI. "IT'S 2007, DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR CLASSMATES ARE?"
JOSEPH T. DARWICKI
STANLEY DOWBRIA
KATHERINE EPPLI
MARY GREEN SCHIEVE
DOLORES M. HERRITY
LINDA R. HUDLER
CAROL A. KIMBLE
JANET KITCHNER SCHOEN
CAROLE LOCKETT
BETTY L. MUHN TINDALL
AMY NORCROSS
DAVID PRESSLEY
KATHERINE A SALTER
JOAN SCHECK
CARRIE M. SIMON
MARIE K. SIMON

IF YOU CAN HELP, CONTACT LYNN HAMMER AT

LHAMMERHAMILTON@AOL.COM



Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Bob Poksay, HHS '53 AND Joe Poksay, HHS '43

I received the following email from Bob Poksay. The Poksay family grew up in the Cornell Heights area of Hamilton, where I recall my friends the Mesday boys lived. Bob's email serves two purposes. First, it establishes him as a member of the class of '53 at HHS, and second, provides a moving tribute to his brother, Lawrence Joseph Poksay. Lawrence was a member of the "Greatest Generation" who passed away recently. Bob thinks his brother was from HHS '43, and I will see if I can verify that. As you will read in the email Bob sent, Lawrence had a very distinguished career in the U.S. Air Corps during WWII, and then as a pilot of Air Force 2! Thanks very much for the heads up, Bob, and be assured your brother is in our prayers.
=================================================================
BOB'S EMAIL:

Tom:
My name is Bob Poksay, HHS class of '53, formerly living in Cornell Heights. My dad owned the store at the bottom of the hill. I appreciate your work in keeping HHS classmates informed. I am enclosing the obituary of my brother, Lawrence "Butch" Poksay. Like many of his classmates, he left HHS toward the end of his senior year to enter the service. He piloted a B-17 during WW ll and later flew Airforce Two for several Vice Presidents of the USA. Perhaps sometime you will have use for info on one of our departed heroes. I believe he was in the class of '43.


Bob

Robert A. Poksay, O.D., FAAO
2 Wintergreen Way
Sewell, NJ 08080-2190
856 582-7525
seedoc3@comcast.net



Lawrence Joseph Poksay

Lawrence Joseph Poksay NOVATO, CA - Lawrence Joseph Poksay, most recently of Salem, OR, but also a longtime resident of Novato, CA, passed away Friday. Mr. Poksay was born March 17, 1925 in Trenton, the eldest son of John and Anna Poksay. When he was 17, "Butch" enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet. Upon graduation he served in World War II where he was based in Thorpe Abbotts, England with the noted 100th Bombardment Group and copiloted "Kleen Sweep," a B17 bomber (a.k.a. The Flying Fortress). After World War II ended, Mr. Poksay served as a reservist in Fort Dix until he was recalled back into the service during the Korean War, where he served as an instructor pilot at Bolling AFB in Washington, DC at Rhine Main AFB in Frankfurt, Germany for troop carriers, and at Stead AFB in Reno, NV for Strategic Air Command (air rescue operations). Mr. Poksay later joined forces with the 89th Military Air Wing at Bolling AFB; this operation relocated to the newly-constructed Andrews AFB in Washington, DC. It was here that Mr. Poksay served with Special Air Missions (SAM) for Presidential Fleets under the JFK and Johnson administrations. While with SAM, Mr. Poksay served as the pilot for Vice Presidents Johnson and Nixon and U.S. and foreign dignitaries. He was transferred to Wiesbaden AFB in Germany for three years wherein he continued his service with SAM. In June 1966, Mr. Poksay transferred to Hamilton AFB in Novato , where he retired from the USAF as a lieutenant colonel in October 1968. In all, Mr. Poksay very proudly served his country for over 28 years. Besides flying, Mr. Poksay also enjoyed motoring around in sports cars, power boats, and last but not least, huge RVs. Mr. Poksay was preceded in his death by his wife of 49 years, Mary Michalczyn Poksay. He is survived by his daughter Linda Poksay of Santa Barbara, CA; his son Thomas Poksay (Lisa) of Novato, CA; two grandsons, Andrew and Alexander Poksay, also of Novato, CA; and his brother Robert Poksay (Alma) of Sewell. Lawrence is also survived by his companion Ruth Gruzdiz of Salem, OR, formerly of Novato, CA. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Friday with a vigil service at 11 a.m. at Keaton's Redwood Chapel, 1801 Novato Blvd., Novato, CA. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Anthony's, 1000 Cambridge, Novato, CA followed by an Honor Guard burial service at Valley Memorial Park, 650 Bugeia Lane, also in Novato, CA.


JUNE 20, 2007, THE FOLLOWING UN-SIGNED EMAIL WAS RECEIVED FROM A RELATIVE OF THE MESDAY FAMILY. YES, CLARENCE WAS THE NAME THE WRITER HELPED ME TO REMEMBER. SORRY I CAN'T CITE THE SOURCE OF THIS EMAIL BUT IT WAS OBVIOUSLY WRITTEN IN HASTE.

He was next to the youngest.... His name was Clarence. Recently, the last Mesday brother, Harry passed away. All of the brothers, visited Poksay's at one time or another. Me too! lol

Thank you for you kind attention to this matter...

HHS REUNION SOUVINIRS


These are in the Local History Collection at the Hamilton Township Public Library, and being preserved for posterity.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

FROM THE HHS '50 WEBSITE: DEPARTED CLASSMATES

SOME TIME BACK I LISTED THE WONDERFUL SITE,
BEING MAINTAINED BY OUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS IN THE CLASS OF 1950.
(www.hhs50.com)

I HAVE TRANSPOSED THE LIST AND PRESENT IT HEREWITH. THERE ARE MANY MEMBERS WHOM WE ALL KNEW AND LOVED:
==================================

ANDREAS, Robert E. - 1977

BARLOW-CRAY, Jane E.

BECKETT, William R., Sr. - 07/05/03

BEJGER, Joseph B.

BELLOWS, Bruce M. - 06/50

BIRKENSTOCK-ANDERSON, Anna Mae - 10/15/98

BOGART, Jr., Charles S. - 05/76

BRENNAN, James, P. - 09/04/04

BROOKS, Walter, T. - 02/76

BROWN-TINDALL, Elizabeth B.

CAHILL-JESTER, Mary Anne - 05/12/01

CASH, Edward H. - 08/23/99

Clark, Albert L. - 09/21/06

COLUCCIO, Antoinette

CONNELL-LAMBERT, Joan V.

CORELLI, Wayne O. - 09/02/99

CUBBERLY, Jr., Frederick

DALY-ROSIER, Margaret M. - 01/04/04

DAVIS, Samuel J.

DENNIS, Donald W - 12/24/01

DUVIN, Karl - 06/21/88

ELLIOTT, John G. - 12/04/94

ETCHELLS, Ronald K. - 1990

FABIAN, Jr., Andrew - 10/20/86

FORSYTH, Benjamin J. - 09/01/03

FRENCH-MOORE, Wilma J. - 01/17/04

FRIEDMAN, Stephen J.

FURFEY-SEITZ, Dolores A. - 09/12/03

GASTON, Jr., G. Russell - 08/18/86

GREY, Edward E. - 01/13/94

HEAD, Robert - 07/08/02

HOLZBAUER, W. Elwood - 06/28/82

JOHNSON, Joseph W. - 10/17/01

JOHNSON-McMULLEN, Alice M. - 08/84

JONES-GOMOLA, Elizabeth O. - 11/15/97

JONES, Joseph - 10/20/99

KELLEY, Barbara L. - 1950

KOERNER, Lawrence R. - 12/85

LAUER, Elmer B.

LEVERETT, Solomon - 6/12/82

LEWALLEN-KLINK, Evelyn M. - 02/15/06

LIPPINCOTT-ROWLEY, Geraldine M. - 01/87

LOVEMAN, Elizabeth M. - 1988

MAAS-BRADBURY, Joan E. - 12/07/2006

MANION, Martin T. - 1989

MANN, Doris E. - 01/30/82

MARCHESI, Glenn B. - 09/99

MARQUARDT, Jr., William T. - 11/98

MARTIN, James W. - 12/17/98

MCMANIMON, Roger T. - 04/12/06

MERK, Jr., Andrew - 12/28/80

MILLER, Richard

MUELLER, Jr., Rudolph - 10/5/02

NORCROSS, Floyd C.

ORAVSKY, Louis S.

PARKER, Jr., Leslie E. - 09/08/97

Pelke, Robert O. - 09/16/06

PIERSON-KINNEY, Marilyn - 4/11/05

PLUMMER, Lawrence E. - 12/19/98

POWELL, Joseph C. - 04/17/96

PRIETH-STUMBAUGH, Elizabeth F. - 06/18/98

PRZEMIENIECKY-HENDERSON, Alice - 10/04

PUSHMAN, Paul C. - 10/03/99

RIDOLFI, Jr., Benjamin, F. - 02/27/04

RUESS, Ferdinand - 07/06/99

RUSSO, John - 12/83

SATTERTHWAITE-HOOK, Lois M. - 03/15/03

SCALES, David J. - 09/17/97

SCHAFFER-KENT, Dorothy A. - 11/23/05

SCHRUM, Jr., Albert A.

SCULLY, William J. - 03/26/06

SEABRIDGE-CLAYTON, Virginia A. - 06/11/98

SKWARA-CRADDOCK, Dolores T. - 12/29/99

SLAYBACK, George L. - 01/28/01

SMITH, Joyce M.

SOLEY-FORSYTH, Georgine - 05/17/05

SOLES, David C. - 01/31/07

STEWARD-BABBIT, Joyce C. - 12/98

STRALEY, Jr., Carl S. - 09/24/96

TIDGWELL, Henry M. - 12/21/94

THOMANN, James R. - 11/25/03

TREBBI, George F.

TROLLE, James T. - 07/05/05

VAN HISE-SOLES, Joan A. - 10/02/05

WATERS, Harry

WATTERS, James S. - 06/01/06

WEBER-BRINDLEY, Joan H. - 02/02/07

WELSH, Jr., James N.

WEST, III, Howard M. - 11/88

WHITTAKER-FERRI, Doris

WILSON, Calvin C. - 03/73

WILSON, Imogene M. - 09/29/77

YAGO, Jr., John - 06/11/88

ZWICK, J. William - 08/31/99

A REMINDER TO NEWCOMERS TO THIS SITE

CLICK ON THE GRAPHICS
TO ENLARGE TO LEGIBLE SIZE

1951: DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE CLASS

THANKS TO CLARK PERRY AND SYLVIA BEESBURG FOR A LIST OF DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 1951. FOLLOWING IS THE LIST OF NAMES OF CLASSMATES WHO HAVE PASSED ON.
IF WE MISSED ANY MEMBERS,OR IF THERE ARE ANY ERRORS,
PLEASE CONTACT ME AT

THANKS, CLARK! - THANKS SYLVIA!
==============================================
BILL BAGGOTT
DICK BEETLE
BEVERLY BEIGER
GEORGE BLACKWELL
GEORGE BRAZINA
JAMES BRITTAIN
ANN BROWN
GERALD "JERRY" BURKE
LEONARD CALABRESE
EMILY CALLAHAN
RAY DANBERRY
ANTHONY D'ANTONIO
JOAN DAVALA
TERRY DEAN
BOB DEPEW
SHIRLEY ECKERT
TONY GIES
GENE GRAUER
FRED GROVE
NANCY HAMBRIGHT
BOB HAYES
JOHN HOSCHEK
ROBERT INNIS
WILLIAM JACKSON
GENE JONES
JOE KASIAN
HELEN KNOLL
MILDRED LONG
BILL LAWSON
JEAN ANN LIND
PAT MCGARRIGLE
ANN PROVOST
HORACE "BUDDY" RICK
FRANCINE ROTH
JOE SCHAFER
BILL SEITZ
VADA SINCLAIR
AL SIMCZAK
FLORENCE SMITH
BARBARA A. STRUPP
BETTY J. SUSTICK
JOE SWEENEY
MARILYN TURKINGTON
STAN TYGER
SHIRLEY WHITEBREAD
HOWARD WILKINSON
CHARLOTTE WILSON

Monday, March 12, 2007

1951: TERRY DEAN'S HHS

THIS INCREDIBLE ENGRAVING WAS TURNED OUT BY ONE OF OUR MANY CLASS OF 1951 ARTISTS. TERRY OUTDID HERSELF WITH THIS EXCELLENT RENDERING IN PEN AND INK OF OUR ALMA MATER. THIS WILL MAKE A GREAT TEE SHIRT TRANSFER FOR SUMMER WEAR.

Sunday, March 11, 2007

2006 HORNET MARCHING BAND

STANDING TALL!
Are there any Hornets who
posed for this photo
on Saturday? If so,
will you send me
an email identifying
the group? If so,
please email me
at thomglo@verizon.net

HHS Our Marching Unit



STANDING TALL
Any of the group who posed for me
on Saturday identify
the Hornets in
the Photo?
If so, please send
me an email so I can post it!

Friday, March 09, 2007

1951: Anna "Annie" Provost: Robson: 1933-2007


I just received a notification from Ann's husband that Annie passed away on February 3rd. Always ready with that smile and a really winning personality, Annie will be missed. Till we meet again in the final reunion in the sky, Annie, see you then.

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

HHS '57 PLANNING THEIR 50TH

A REMINDER THAT THE 50TH REUNION OF THE CLASS OF 1957 HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 22, 2007 AT THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HALL IN HAMILTON TOWNSHIP. THE COMMITTEE IS LOOKING FOR LOST MEMBERS. EVEN IF YOU DON'T PLAN TO ATTEND, SEND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO HHS57REUNION@AOL.COM, OR CONTACT
JERRY DEPEW AT 587-5047.

HHS '56: Progress report Carol Delp Goldack

From Fellow class of '56 classmate Jack Lacy, this email of a class of '51 classmate:

Jack writes:
====================================================================
Below is a message received today from Stan Glodack, husband of Carol (Delp) Glodack, our HHS56 class mate, about Carol's recovery from recent surgery. Their address is: 107 Endsleigh Ct., Robbinsville, NJ 08691.

Jack


In a message dated 3/7/2007 12:27:45 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, StanG91419 writes:
Hi All:

Carol is still in the Univ. of Penn.
She is doing better today with pain for the first time.
They are being cautious with Carol because of her history of hemmoraging and stroke.
Hopefully she will be home Thurs. or Friday.
I`m at the hospital staying with Carol.

Stan

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

HORNET ALUMNI HELP NEEDED!

Following is an email I received from Pat Gardner, HHS PTA President, soliciting assistance from Hornet alumni. Does your reunion treasury have a surplus? If so, what better place to send it?
==================================
Dear Hamilton High School West Alumni, Hello. My name is Pat Gardner and I am the current President of the HHW PTA. I am writing on behalf of the Hamilton High School West PTA to request your support of the PTA Scholarship Drive. The HHW PTA does not perform traditional fundraising activities like selling candy, pizza or candles. At the high school level there is so much fundraising that goes on for sports, clubs and extracurricular activities, it is difficult to compete with these larger groups. How does the PTA raise money? The PTA receives a portion of the membership dues and we work at the Blockhouse during home football games. This year with the rainy fall weather and no Thanksgiving Day home game we find ourselves under budget. Last year the PTA gave out scholarships to eight deserving graduates. Rather than cut back on the number of scholarships we offer, the PTA decided to reach out to the HHW alumni and ask for donations. The PTA needs to raise $2000. All donations would be earmarked for the scholarship drive. Donationas are tax deductable. There is no limit on the amount. Donations can come from individual alumni or from a whole class. Checks should be made out to HHW PTA and in the memo section please put Scholarship Drive. To acknowledge all those who participate in the PTA Scholarship Drive, a banner listing all the supporters will be displayed at the blockhouse during next years football games. Please send donations to:Helga Travaglini HHW PTA Treasurer2720 S. Clinton Ave.Hamilton, NJ 08610 Thanks for your consideration. If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to contact me at tpgardner@aol.com. Pat GardnerHHW PTA President

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

FRANK METZGER: 1937-2007

Mr. Frank Metzger a fellow Hornet from Hamilton High class of 1954

passed away this week. Frank was a prominent Hamiltonian who

served on the Hamilton Township Council back in the 1980's. His close

friend and colleague, Jack Lacy, former Hamilton Council President

sends this email which is a poignant eulogy to Frank. Many thanks,
Jack.

If there are any other classmates or friends who would like to add to this post please contact me at thomglo@verizon.net.

============================================================
Tom...
I sent you Frank's official obit from today's paper. Sorry, but haven't found any appropriate photos yet. As I said in an earlier post, much of the material from that part of my life was lost in my houase fire in '98. But, I'll keep looking.
If you'd like to include some quotes from me, here goes:
"I've known Frank since we were in Hamilton High together although then I knew him as the big brother of my class mate, Charlie or "Bub" as he was known to his family. Later Frank became one of my principal insurance advisers providing all my family with Allstate coverage of our automobiles, then Tenant Homeowners coverage and finally full-scale Homeowners Insurance. I'll never forget him urging that we incorporate a (then) new-fangled rider in the homeowners policy that increased the value of the home each year according to its market value. In 1998 when our house burned down Frank's foresight so many years before was a Godsend."
"When we became colleagues and two-term running mates on the Hamilton Township Council I was forever impressed with Frank's uncanny ability to listen to hours upon hours of public testimony and debate on an issue and then summarize all of that in one or two sentences. He had a special talent for recognizing the core differences and stating them very simply. In an age when politicians often spend as long summarizing as the debate to which they are referring Frank's one or two succinct sentences were a most refreshing change. And, that's from a former politician who has been kindly referred to as 'verbose' while others have harsher descriptions of my orations."
"No matter what the situation Frank's sense of humor was exquisite. He could see and verbalize the humor in just about any set of conditions and that talent certainly served often to lighten what otherwise might have been a ponderous calamity."
Hope those help some...
Jack

Saturday, February 24, 2007

1951: HHS Washington Trip

Remember the Plaza Hotel? Remember the girls filling balloons with water and dropping them on us as we hung out the windows on the floor below? Remember how we tried in vain to gain access to the girls' dorms on the floor above? But most of all, do you remember when the Perry and Kline twins drove the room detective crazy as one tried to enter the girls's dorms on one side of the the building, only to repeat the same effort on the other side.....? "Hey! how did you guys get over here? I just chased you from the other side of the building......"

HARMLESS FUN: NO DRUGS, NO DRUNKEN ORGIES, NO FIGHTS, ONLY THE AGE OLD MALE DESIRE TO SATISFY OUR CURIOSITY AND EXPLORE THAT EVER PRESENT "FEMININE MYSTIQUE!"

1947: The White Horse Circle

CHECK OUT THE DISINTEGRATING WHITE HORSE TAVERN! I WAS ONLY 14 WHEN THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN, BUT I SURE WOULD HAVE FOUGHT "TOOTH AND NAIL" TO PRESERVE THAT HISTORIC OLD STRUCTURE IF I HAD ANY COMMUNITY INFLUENCE BACK IN THOSE YEARS WHEN HAMILTON HAD A COMMITTEE FORM OF GOVERNMENT. WE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF OURSELVES FOR FAILING TO PRESERVE THAT HISTORIC BUILDING!
This was the way the circle was back in the 40's and early 50's as Don Slabicki, Jess Anderson and I came back to Hamilton from a trip to "Hamburger Heaven" in Bordentown, or perhaps a visit to Millside Farms down in Burlington County for one of their notorious "Banana Boats!" Hang a right at the circle as you exit Route 206, and then a left as you enter South Broad Street, and you will get a chance to stop in at "Scotty's;" a favorite Hamilton High hangout for my generation. Point of interest: Did Scotty's have a fountain....milk shakes, cokes, etc.?

Thursday, February 22, 2007

1951: The Staff of our yearbook, "Retrospect"

Ahh yes, there are a couple of young ladies who I loved from afar in the above vignette, including the lovely lady I have been married to these 53 going on 54 years. Every time I post a nostalgic graphic from our school years, I recall the words to that great song, "The Way We Were;" ".....can it be that life was all so simple then, or has time re-written every line..." Life was indeed less complicated back then.

ABOUT THE GRAPHIC: I DID A BIT OF JUXTAPOSITIONING (IS THAT REALLY A WORD?) WITH GRAPHICS FROM OUR YEARBOOK. IN ORDER TO COMPRESS THE FILE AND MAKE IT MANAGEABLE, THERE WERE A FEW ADJUSTMENTS TO EACH PHOTO.

Monday, February 19, 2007

HHS '51: Ray Danberry - 1933-2007

IT IS WITH DEEPEST REGRET THAT NOTE THE PASSING OF RAY DANBERRY, OUR CLASSMATE FROM THE CLASS OF 1951. OUR PRAYERS GO OUT TO SANDRA AND THE FAMILY.
I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER RAY AS OUR BURGOMASTER" ("BURGOMEISTER"). I PLAYED THE PART OF HIS LACKEY, A CHARACTER NAMED "HANS" IN OUR 1951 HAMILTON HIGH PRODUCTION OF "TULIP TIME." RAY PLAYED THE PART LIKE A SEASONED TROOPER. ON A RECENT VISIT TO MY OFFICE AT THE LIBRARY, RAY AND I RECALLED THE PART IN "TULIP TIME" WHERE HE PHYSICALLY PICKED ME UP AND MOVED ME FROM POINT "A" TO POINT "B" AS CALLED FOR IN THE SCRIPT. WE HAD A GREAT LAUGH WHEN I CHALLENGED HIM TO TRY TO PICK ME UP THESE 55 YEARS LATER, WITH THE ADDED 100 POUNDS OR
SO I HAD ADDED TO MY FRAME.
THERE'S ANOTHER REUNION IN THE HEREAFTER, RAY;
WE'LL MEET YOU THERE.

Sunday, February 11, 2007

AN IMPORTANT REQUEST

PLEASE, PRETTY PLEASE!
ARROW DOWN ALONG THE RIGHT SIDE OF THIS SCREEN, DOWN TO THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE "ARCHIVES," AND CLICK ON THE "SIGN MY GUESTBOOK" ICON. I NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU! WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? HOW CAN I IMPROVE THE SITE? YOUR INPUT IS IMPORTANT AND I WILL RESPOND IF YOUR ENTRY REQUIRES A RESPONSE.

TEMPUS DOES INDEED FUGIT!

Brigette Bardot 71
Stella Stevens 68
Sophia Loren 71
Gina Lollobrigida 78
Deborah Kerr 94 (WOW!)
Lena Horne 88
Kay Starr 83
Patti Page 78
Annette Funicello 63
Barbara Eden 71
Angie Dickenson 74
Doris Day 81
Joan Collins 72
Julie Christie 64
Leslie Caron 74
Carroll Baker 74
Ann-Margret 64
Debra Padget 72
Julie Andrews 70
Ursula Andress 69
Rita Moreno 74
Jean Simmons 76
Julie Newmar 72
Kim Novak 72
Jane Powell 76
Debbie Reynolds 73
Shirley Temple 77 (NO!)
Jane Russell 84
Kathryn Grayson 90
Esther Williams 82
Elke Sommer 65
Gale Storm 83
Jill St John 65
Liz Taylor 73
Mamie Van Doren 74
UNBELIEVABLE!!!
HOW IS IT THAT THEY GET OLD, AND WE DIDN'T?

Friday, February 09, 2007

A TIP FROM TOM

PLEASE GO TO THE VERY TOP OF THIS PAGE AND SEE OTHER LOCAL INTEREST WEBSITES WHICH I HAVE DISCOVERED. DON WHITELY'S INCREDIBLY INTERESTING HHS 1945 SITE HAS EXCELLENT REMINISCENCES OF HIS GROWING UP IN YARDVILLE HEIGHTS. (www.donwhiteley.com). HHS50.COM IS IN EXCELLENT SITE WITH VERY COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION ON THAT GREAT CLASS of '50 WHICH PRECEDED THE EVEN GREATER CLASS OF '51!

AND FINALLY: THERE ARE PITIFULLY FEW PRE 1960'S HAMILTON ALUMNI LISTED IN THE OFFICIAL HHS WEBSITE. IT IS AN UNFORTUNATE FACT THAT AS WE GO BACK INTO THE 40'S AND EARLIER, THERE ARE FEWER AND FEWER ALUMNI LISTED. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE CLASS OF 1952? CHUCK TAYLOR AND DON WRIGHT ARE THE ONLY ENTRIES FROM THAT CLASS.
WHY NOT VISIT AND ENTER YOUR NAME? CUT AND PASTE THIS URL:
http://www.hamilton.k12.nj.us/secondary/hamiltonwest/Alumni/email2.html
While you are at the site, check the many interesting areas.

1936: Legendary Ralph Abel's HHS Baseball Champions

I honestly don't know whether I posted this in an earilier entry or not, but with baseball season just beyond the horizon, I will take a chance and present it again.
==================================
THANKS TO MY FRIEND ALAN WILDBLOOD FOR THE FOLLOWING EMAIL WHICH POINTS TO AN ERROR IN THE DATE ON THE TEAM PHOTO IN THE GRAPHIC ON THE LEFT. FOLLOWING IS ALAN'S EMAIL AND MY RESPONSE. THANKS AGAIN, ALAN!
==================================
From: Alan Wildblood
To: Tom Glover
Sent: Sunday, February 18, 2007 10:50 AM

Tom,


I have been viewing the HHS baseball team. Your text and the caption say 1936 but the file name says 1937. I know that Elmer Baggley, who is in my family tree, was born in August 1920. If he was a junior it would probably be 1936, if a senior 1937. Saul Gilman was my teacher and Joe Bacskay the father of my classmate.


Lois is overjoyed that the Steinert Class of 1966 (Marsha and Lee's) contributed generously to the Brearley fund and hopes they will have enough for a bench.


Alan


=============================================================


Hey Alan:


An explanation and a faux pas. The lower engraving is seperate from the upper; in fact, I inserted it into a space below the baseball photo. I believe the lower is indeed 1936. You will note that there is no "header" on the upper photo with a date as there is in most of my graphics. In retrospect, the top photo was undated and taken from an old scrapbook. I will assume from your email that it is 1937. Thanks for the correction.


Tom

1943-1944: HHS Girls' Tri Hy Y Club

This is another of the original photos which came to via Alice Wilhelm, as detailed in a former post.

1939-1940: Hamilton High's Tri Hy Y Club

Before Miss Alice Wilhelm retired and moved to Florida back in the early 1980's, she gave me her complete collection of memorabilia which she had saved over her many years as a teacher at Hamilton High. Along with Louise Baird, Alice was one of the original teachers at the school when it opened in 1930. She was the leader of the girls' "Tri Hy Y Club," and left me with a few photos of the group. I see my sister in law in this photo, the late Jean Connelly Britton.

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

1930: HAMILTON HIGH BEFORE THE LANDSCAPING



The flagpole and settee are there, but there is no shrubbery and the 75 year old Sycamore trees are conspicuous by there absence.

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

1949: MY WEEKLY READER!

Of course I know that this little weekly classic to which we all subscribed is a fugitive from grammar school, but I thought I would share it with those who do not visit my www.kuser-school.blogspot.com site.

1951: HHS CLASS OF '51 25TH REUNION

WOW, THIRTY YEARS AGO!! Were we ever this young? Those classmates who attended the 25th those many years ago are pictured in this, and the following two posts.

1951: HHS CLASS OF '51 25TH REUNION

1951: 25th REUNION,

Monday, February 05, 2007

1951: The Criterion and Tulip Time

If you have a larger LCD screed and not an older cathode ray monitor, you will probably be able to read the fine print. The size of the graphic plus the limited size of the web page results in a very
compressed graphic.

1951: 50th Reunion


This, and the next photo were taken with my old 3.1 megapixel digital camera. Unfortunately my current camera malfunctioned, and as a result, I got no real good photos of our more recent 55th reunion which was held at the Mercer County Marina.

1951: "Tulip Time"



What wonderful memories! I can still sing the music from this great old operetta. It was the first performed by Hamilton High in their first year of 1931. It was repeated again in 1941, and ten years later, in my year, 1951. The high schools stopped performing the "old fashioned" operettas, which very effectively relegated Gilbert and Sullivan, and other masters of the craft to the musical graveyard.

1949: Beverly Cowell, Singer Extraordinaire

Beverly was once of the sweetest personalities in the cast of "Tulip Time," our 1951 operetta.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

1952: 55th Reunion Year - Missing Alumni , 1992


Hamilton High's class of 1952 will be celebrating their 55th reunion in this year of 2007. From my Hamilton High School folder in the local history collection, posting the a graphic which was given to me by Martha Bisbee Bogdan when the class was preparing to celebrate their 40th back in 1992. I assume the "missing persons" will be pretty much the same this year. My former next door neighbor Shirley Sneath Benton was living in Arizona the last time I spoke with her daughter.

Monday, January 22, 2007

DON WHITELEY, HHS CLASS OF '45

HERE'S NEWS OF A WONDERFUL NEW WEBSITE!
I JUST RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM A FELLOW HISTORIAN,
MR. DON WHITELEY, WHO HAS JUST STARTED
A NEW LOCAL INTEREST WEBSITE. DON GIVES US AN EXCELLENT LOOK BACK AT LIFE AS IT WAS LIVED IN THE 1930'S AND 40'S. HE RECALLS GROWING UP IN THE YARDVILLE HEIGHTS AND YARDVILLE AREA. CHECK IT OUT; IT'S REALLY GREAT!
WWW.DONWHITELEY.COM.
THANKS, DON.

Friday, January 12, 2007

1947: Mercerville School


Here are two of my HHS '51 classmates hard at work on a Valentine's Day dance at Mercerville School. I didn't see much of Betty Sustick at Hamilton High but Sylvia was a very familiar personna as one of the star alto voices in Louise Baird's HHS choir.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

1947: Charlotte Wilson Coyle 1933-2006



Judy and I were shocked when Jim Coyle called and told us of Charlotte's untimely death on January 6th. Judy and Charlotte were like sisters all through their childhood years, living just around the corner from each other, and hanging together through thick and thin. Indeed, Charlotte told Judy she was the reason she converted to the Catholic faith. I started school with Charlotte all the way back in Miss Kelly's Reception grade and through all grammar school and 4 years as a classmate in HHS '51. Charlotte was a straight "A" student all the way through school. I will always remember her as a wonderful, kind, and dear friend. As to Judy, with a tear in her eye, she said "She was my very best friend." May the Good Lord welcome her into his heavenly kingdom.

Monday, January 01, 2007

BE SURE TO VISIT THE OFFICIAL HHS WEBSITE

A REMINDER: MINE IS THE UNOFFICIAL WEBSITE FOR HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL. IF YOU ARE A HORNET AND HAVE NOT REGISTERED ON THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE AS AN ALUMNUS, I SUGGEST YOU COPY AND PASTE OUR ALMA MATER'S WEBSITE:

www.hamilton.k12.nj.us

If you have a problem with the above hyperlink:
  1. GO TO WWW.HAMILTONNJ.COM
  2. ON THE LEFT OF THE PAGE, ARROW DOWN TO "LINKS" AND CLICK ON IT
  3. LOOK FOR THE HAMILTON TOWNSHIP PUBLIC SCHOOLS WEBSITE AND CLICK
  4. LOOK FOR THE SCHOOLS DIRECTORY AND CLICK
  5. CLICK ON HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL WEST
  6. CLICK ON ALUMNI AND ALSO THE HISTORY LINKS AND DO YOUR THING.
  7. REMEMBER TO ADD YOUR NAME TO YOUR CLASS AND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
HAVE A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!

TOM

Thursday, December 07, 2006

1957: Here comes another 50th!

Following is an announcement of the 50th reunion of HHS '57Mark your calendar. Thanks to Lynn Hammer, HHS '57.

=========================================================
Lynn writes:

The Hamilton High School class of 1957 will hold their 50th reunion on September 22, 2007 at the Knights of Columbus in Hamilton.
Anyone who wishes to help on the reunion committee, or update their address, can email HH57Reunion@aol.com or call Jerry DePew at 587-5047.

===========================================================

Monday, December 04, 2006

1952 HHS 55th Reunion

This from Chuck Taylor Class of 1952:

I wanted to let it be known that I no longer live in Hamilton Township and can be reached to receive alumni news. If any classmate would like to be in touch to inform me of class reunions, etc., I would welcome hearing from them.
Chuck Taylor

(contact Chuck at: chuckfay@verizon.net)

Thursday, November 23, 2006

FYI

Many people have told me that they save my "Sentimental Journey" columns and send them to friends and relatives out of the local area. My column is currently being placed on page 2 of the Times EVERY OTHER SATURDAY. Tell your out of town friends and relatives who have computer/internet capabilities that they can find my column published online on those weeks when it appears in the paper. The internet site http://www.njo.com is the site where the Times and the Star Ledger post archives, but it is somewhat difficult to get to the 14 day archives. I find it easier and much quicker to go to Google, and in the "Search For" block, enter this string:
TOM GLOVER HAMILTON TRENTON
you will find my column if it is a week when my column is published, along with other activities in which I have been involved over the recent past.