2008: HAMILTON HIGH: The "Golden Years"

This is the title page of the "ASTOUND!" multimedia presentation which I presented to the public at Hamilton High's 75th anniversary celebration a few years ago. For at least 10 years, I have been sorting, choosing, scanning, and adding to this presentation so that at the present time it is quite lengthy (about 30 minutes) but quite interesting. I have arranged the program chronologically from the establishment of the school right up to the mid 1950's, where I encountered a serious gap in my yearbook collection. "Astound!" software is similar to Powerpoint, but has animation features which I don't find in Powerpoint. Unfortunately, "ASTOUND!" is obsolete. I will be working on converting the program to Powerpoint. It will be a very long and tedious process. The "Golden Years" presentation is "open ended," which allows me to add material as time permits. If and when Hamilton Township is able to once again support evening community programs, this will be projected on screen on the huge Kuser Mansion theater Cinemascope screen.

1951: Karen Peterson Brown

What a joy it is, as I go through the pages of my newspaper collection, to find people with whom I have walked at some time during life's lengthy journey. I have been posting photos of World War II veterans who served valiantly during the years of "Greatest Generation." It is special when I find very close friends with whom I went to school. Thus it is with Karen, who spent all 12 years with me as we journeyed through the excellent Hamilton Township public school system. I was moved to write a short poem, along with Karen's photos and the results are depicted above. Love ya, Karen!

1951: Carol Sine Black Remembers

One of the real joys of maintaining my websites lies in the fact that I am hearing from many of my friends and classmates from the past. As the old saying goes, "old Friends are the best friends." Carol was one of the many lovely ladies who made up the choir at Hamilton High during the late 40's and early 50's. It was so great to hear from her after all these years. By the way Carol, even as you pictured fellow classmates from memory before going to our yearbook, I didn't need to refer to our yearbook, either when I saw who sent the email to me. I immediately pictured the pretty young lady pictured above.

Carol wrote:

Tom:

I enjoyed reading all your information on your sites and can't believe I didn't know about them before this. Mercerville School and HHS certainly aren't the same anymore but I was lucky to have been able to experience the good years at a time gone by. Also, Trenton -- the movies, busses, and great department stores of days gone by.

How I remember the quote you mention that Miss Baird instilled in all of us; "travel the world over-"-- I found a card with that quote on it years ago and have kept it and look at it often, remembering her every time. There's so much to comment on that I wouldn't know where to start but be assured they are all good memories.

It was fun to hear of some classmates ('51) who contributed to your articles and I could actually picture them without going to my yearbook. That in itself is an accomplishment!

I'll bet you don't remember (silly me) Hughes ice house (and a small store) at the intersection of Nottingham Way and Rt. 33. When I was in Mercerville School and also when getting off the bus from Hamilton, it was the place to stop for a soda and hang out with the "gang." (That term doesn't have the same connotation today!) It's been awhile since I've been out that way but I believe it was replaced by a fast food restaurant many moons ago, one of the original ones, not Burger King or McDs. You know, when a hamburger was 10 cents. I'm not sure that's there anymore.

I have to get back on the sites and really spend more time going over all the articles again. It's amazing --thank you for doing it.

Carol

P.S. My brother-in-law was in the Seiler family (meat packing) business. I'll have to ask if he knows anything about the Trenton Sausage Co. Seiler's was also in business for a good many years and was well known not only in Trenton but all over NJ and PA.

2008 Jack Knarr of the Trentonian's Yearbook Story

HHS 1942 was the class from which brother Len, and my sister in law, the late Kathleen Britton graduated. The fantastic story of the old yearbook being found within the walls of a home in Trenton where it had reposed for so many years was beautifully handled by the Trentonian's Jack Knarr.

1956: FROM JACK LACY, HHS '56

The following information has been received from Jack Lacy regarding still another Hornet who has passed. Following in Jack's email:

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

Hi All !

HHS56 classmate Carole (Ferguson) Ovelman informed us today of the passing of classmate Joan (Hutchinson) Finewood on October 5. Joan lived in Lyons, NY. Unfortunately, our numbers continue to dwindle.

Jack Lacy
Communications Chair
HHS56 Reunion Committee

jrlacy@aol.com

1978: SENIOR PROM QUEEN FINALISTS

I would never want to be a judge charged with picking the prom queen from the lovely young ladies in the photo. I have started going through newspapers from the 70's and 80's. There will be more Hamilton High West posts from that era in the immediate future; stay tuned.

1941: When Scholastic Excellence Prevailed at Trenton Central High School

What a great story! Imagine Trenton having a school with an excellent scholastic record. Thus it was at Trenton High and also in Trenton's Junior and grammar schools. Where did we go wrong?

1941: Hamilton High's "TULIP TIME" Repeated as tenth anniversary operetta

Tulip Time was the first operetta presented at Hamilton High in 1931. It was repeated again in 1941 as seen in the above graphic. My class of 1951 also carried on the tradition and presented it as the 30th anniversary of the schools music-drama program. It would really be great had the school continued the custom right up to the present time. The quaint and innocent story line and lovely music would have brought an entertaining presentation to the audience.

1949" Remembering those Saturday Night Canteens

Iwrote this column back in 1983. It has aged well. Indeed, as time moves on and the years pile on, the canteen of which I wrote gains a certain amount of nostalgic charm. How well I recall those canteens! What a problem it was when I was an "underclassman" still tooling the rural streets of Hamilton Township on my bicycle. All those other guys had their drivers' licenses and could pick up their dates, go to the canteen and stop in at "Toone Towne" for an ice cream soda or a coke. The only dance I knew was the "two step," taught to us in 5th or 6yh grade at Kuser School. I was intimidated when I saw guys like Ray Kelvy dancing like Fred Astaire with his date. Back then "Coke" was Coca Cola. We never knew there was such a thing as cocaine until we had to visit the dentist for an needle. How innocent we were!

1971: Hornet J.V. Soccer

Thanks again to Lea Terry for this photo of the guys from the 1971 Hornet soccer team. Hamilton's soccer teams over the years have been extraordinary. Some of the 40's and 50's Hamilton teams I recall included Bobby Soffel, Lee Cook, Don Cook, and Thomann. All Group 4 champs.

1949: Thanks to Lea Terry for this photo

In the photo he's identified as Bernie Hughes. We knew him by the nickname, "Pinky" Hughes. Lea Terry let me copy many of his photos when he visited my table at the 75th anniversary of Hamilton High. Ed Marchand left the teaching profession because he couldn't live on the meager salary he was paid at the time. He was my "phys ed" teacher along with Don Divine in my Sophomore year.

1939: 70 Years ago! Will there be a reunion?

1954: JANET NILSEN MCGLATHERY: A SAD FAREWELL

A Goodbye to a Wonderful Friend
by Marion Goldenberg Schwartz
Hamilton High School, Hamilton, NJ, Class of 1954
September 12, 2008
Janet Nilsen Meglathery, Hamilton High School Class of 1954, passed away on May 23, 2008. I am deeply saddened. Following is the Obituary in the Asbury Press:

I just learned of her death and have been crying off and on for a few days. I have lost a great friend. She was my neighbor and buddy through elementary schools (Rowan, Willey, Lalor), through Hamilton High School and beyond our 1954 graduation. We shared a love for fun and for the absurd. Janet was very intelligent with a well developed, albeit droll sense of humor. We survived fights in elementary school about, for example, whose legs were more bowed! Together and in groups, we went swimming, skiing, ice skating, to the “Feast” in Chambersburg, to parties, to dances and to the movies in downtown Trenton. We just hung out, grew up together and shared our secrets and our dreams for the future.
Her mother Hilda, from Norway, was a skinny dynamo, who was always very well dressed and who fussed over Janet to a fault. She had a great sense of humor and taught me how to make fattigman, Norwegian cookies! I loved her as well! When they took a trip to Norway to visit relatives, they brought back lovely souvenirs for me.
In high school, Janet was a good student. She was a three year Modern Dance Club member and a two year member of All State Orchestra. She played the violin. She was captain of the Orange Sports Team and was a three year member of the hockey and basketball teams.
She was especially loved by me, Marilyn Block Lister and John Gibbs, also classmates of hers in 1954. Our lives in the fifties were carefree, unsophisticated and truly “happy days”.
Janet and Marilyn Block Lister were bridesmaids, when I was married in 1962. After we were all married and had children, we lost touch only to meet one more time at a bittersweet lunch, which included John Gibbs and Frank Giacobbi, when we celebrated our 50th year reunion. I never saw her again, even though we vowed to get together.
The worst part of getting old is the increasing loss of beloved family and friends. These are people who shared your unique place in history. But how lucky I am to have known someone to whom it was so hard to say goodbye. “A friend hears the song in your heart and sings it to you when your memory fails” (anonymous author).
Rest in peace, my old friend, Janet, you are loved and will be missed by so many.

1954: MARION GOLDENBERG'S TRIBUTE TO A BEST FRIEND

OLD FRIENDS ARE THE BEST FRIENDS. MARION GOLDENBERG SCHWARTZ, HHS '54 POSTS THIS TRIBUTE TO HER BEST FRIEND WHO RECENTLY PASSED AWAY. MARION GOLDENBERG AND JANET NILSON WERE INSEPERABLE COMPANIONS IN THEIR EARLY YEARS. IN MY NUMEROUS EMAILS FROM MARION, IT BECAME OBVIOUS TO ME THAT SHE HARBORS VERY PRECIOUS AND BITTERSWEET MEMORIES OF THE HAPPY YEARS SHE SPENT WITH JANET NILSEN FROM THE CLASS OF '54. JANET PASSED AWAY RECENTLY.
I AM ADDING A QUOTATION TO YOUR WONDERFUL SENTIMENTS AS POSTED ABOVE, MARION. LOUISE BAIRD WAS MY FAVORITE HAMILTON HIGH CHOIR AND VOCAL MUSIC TEACHER WHEN I WAS AT HHS. SHE ASKED US TO COMMIT THIS TO MEMORY. IT IS A REFRESHING SENTIMENT, AND EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NEVER MET YOU NOR JANET, I THINK IT FITS BOTH OF YOU. YOUR FRIENDSHIP CERTAINLY EPITOMIZES BEAUTY:

"THOUGH YOU TRAVEL THE WORLD OVER IN SEARCH OF THE BEAUTIFUL,

YOU MUST CARRY IT WITH YOU OR YOU FIND IT NOT."

I have received an email from Kuser Principal Roberto Kesting announcing the first formal meeting of the Kuser School Centennial Celebration. I know there are some visitors to this site who are "Kuser Kats" and have expressed an interest in being kept informed as to the activities surrounding the planning for this memorable and historic celebration. If you are interested in being kept informed, or are interested in attending as an alumnus (as I am), contact either Mr. Kesting at the address below, or email me.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF
THE FIRST CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION MEETING

The first Kuser School 100th Anniversary meeting will be held this Tuesday, September 9th @4PM. This will accommodate parents and alumni that wish to participate. The first meeting will be held at 4PM. The meeting is open to parents and alumni are cordially invited. The initial agenda will be a discussion of each committee's objectives and activities. We will solidify our memberships in each committee. Mr. Kesting stated that his goal is for our committees to be self-sufficient and our future meetings will be to discuss progress in each committee.Thank you for your support in this exciting endeavor!Roberto KestingPrincipalKuser Elementary School70 Newkirk AvenueHamilton, NJ 08629(609) 631- 4155 ext. 3850rkesting@hamilton.k12.nj.us

1929: HAMILTON HIGH CONSTRUCTION DISPUTED

THESE TWO ARTICLES WERE A COMPLETE SURPRISE TO ME. I HAD NO INFORMATION ON THE CONTROVERSY WHERE LOCAL INDUSTRIALISTS DIDN'T WANT THE HAMILTON BOARD OF EDUCATION TO BUILD HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL. RATHER, THEY FELT THAT HAMILTON STUDENTS SHOULD CONTINUE BEING BUSSED TO
TRENTON HIGH SCHOOL, AND THE MONEY ALLOCATED FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL SHOULD BE CHANNELLED TO A JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

ATTENTION KUSER "KATS"

THE CENTENNIAL OF KUSER SCHOOL WILL BE CELEBRATED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR 2009. MONTHLY EVENTS WILL CELEBRATE THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BEST GRAMMAR SCHOOL IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD. WE ARE CURRENTLY TRYING TO COMPILE A LIST OF KUSER ALUMNI EMAIL ADDRESSES. THERE ARE MANY WHO ARE NOT ON THE COMPUTER. IF YOU HAVE FRIENDS OR RELATIVES IN THAT CATEGORY, PLEASE GET THEIR PERMISSION TO INCLUDE THEIR MAILING ADDRESSE.
PLEASE EMAIL THE INFO TO ME AND I WILL SEE THAT THE ORGANIZERS OF THE CELEBRATION RECEIVE IT

I AM KUSER '47. BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOURS! IF YOU WERE A KUSER "KAT" AFTER THE SCHOOL CHANGED TO A K-5, PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR YEAR.

EMAIL: thomglo@verizon.net.

2008: HHS CLASS OF '53 ANNOUNCES THEIR 55th

I HAVE POSTED THIS ON MY MAIN WEBSITE, WWW.GLOVER320.BLOGSPOT.COM, AND ALSO ON THIS SITE. FIFTY FIVE YEARS! WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE?

A NOTE FROM TOM REGARDING KUSER ANNEX

POSTS RELATING TO KUSER ANNEX CAN ALSO BE

FOUND AT MY KUSER SCHOOL WEBSITE,

WWW.KUSER-SCHOOL.BLOGSPOT.COM

1950: HEY, THAT'S MY WIFE!

This photo was in Judy's collection. She was on a date with Bill Beckett, HHS '50. Judy, Bill Hellewell and Alvilda "Sissy" McGlynn were HHS '51 classmates, and of course, Judy Britton Glover and I have been happily married for 54 years as of this year of 2008.

1950" REMEMBER THOSE ANNUAL CLASS ELECTIONS?

Here's an interesting bit of memorabilia from the class of '50. Carl Pack Vs. Bill Flury for class president. For the real nostalgiacs among us, the green creature sitting on top of the "C" for Bob Clayton who was a Vice Presidential candidate, is a "Schmoo." You may remember that little critter as being featured in Al Capp's "L'il Abner" comic strip. Speaking of Al Capp.....Daisy Mae, I miss you!

1950: "JAKE" AND RONNIE TARR

Jake went to be a teacher in the Hamilton system. He was the consummate athlete, excelling in any and all sports in which he participated. Brother Ronnie went through every year of Kuser School with me, right up to our graduation year at Hamilton High class of '51.

1944: VERONICA MCCLAIN

Here's another Hamilton faculty member from the White Horse McClain family. Veronica McClain Larkin was one of our faculty at Kuser Annex in the late 1940's. Her sister Julia was the sixth grade teacher at Kuser School. Like her sister Julia, Veronica was a teacher from the old school. She demanded and received respect from her students.

.

1950: CRITERION FOR JUNE, 1950 PAGE 1

I tried to placing 4 pages together, but when I posted them as a single graphic, the text was too small. I could read it on my 17" LCD monitor, but it is illegible on the smaller screens and I am sure on the old style "CRT" monitors. So here is page 1. Pages 2, 3, and 4 follow. What memories!
Carl Pack, Eleanor Brazier (who was dating my cousin, the late Dick Walker back then), the late Jack Yago, Jimmy Thomann, Jimmy Brennan, and last but by no means least, the very handsome Bill Beckett (who was dating my dear wife of 54 years back then, Judy Britton.)

GO TO PAGE 2 BELOW, AND THEN TO 3 AND THEN 4.

HHS 50: CRITERION JUNE, 1950

1950: HHS CLASS OF 1950 "FAREWELL PROGRAM"

I RECEIVED AN EMAIL RECENTLY FROM BOB RUSH, HHS '50. EVEN THOUGH HE WAS IN THE CLASS BEFORE MY HHS '51, I IMMEDIATELY REMEMBERED BEING IN A CLASS WITH HIM, BUT I CAN'T SEEM TO REMEMBER WHERE, WHEN OR HOW. IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN WHEN I WAS A SOPHOMORE AND IN MR. MAURICE QUIMBY'S CLASS, BUT I CAN'T BE SURE. BOB, IF YOU'RE READING THIS EMAIL, DO YOU REMEMBER? (BOB DIDN'T INCLUDE HIS EMAIL ADDRESS WHEN HE SIGNED THE GUESTBOOK.) HERE'S AN INTERESTING PROGRAM FROM HHS '50. THEY WERE A VERY ACTIVE CLASS. HHS '50 ALSO HAS A WEBSITE AT http://www.hhs50.com/. THEY HAVE BEEN VERY FASTIDIOUS IN KEEPING A RECORD OF DECEASED, LOST AND ACTIVE ALUMNI.

1946: HHS ANNUAL DRAMA PRODUCTION OF "JANIE"

HERE ARE THE GRAPHICS CATHY McHALE, HHS '46 SENT TO THE LIBRARY FOR OUR EXTENSIVE HAMILTON HIGH WEST DIGITAL DATABASE. "JANIE" WAS THE DRAMA PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR 1946. EACH YEAR, HAMILTON HIGH PRESENTED AN ON STAGE PRODUCTION.

1946: HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA CLUB

1945: SIXTY THIRD REUNION OF THE CLASS

IT WAS MY PRIVILEGE TO BRING "THE MUSIC WE GREW UP WITH" TO MY BROTHER BUD GLOVER'S 63rd REUNION AT WASHINGTON CROSSING INN LAST MONTH. THESE FOLKS ARE SINGERS AND HAPPILY SANG ALONG TO SONGS FROM THE WWII ERA.

1946: CLASS OF '46 WASHINGTON TRIP

HERE'S A PHOTO OF THE CLASS OF '46 TAKEN IN FRONT OF THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL ON THEIR WASHINGTON TRIP. MY SISTER IN LAW, DOLORES BRITTON PAUL WAS A MEMBER OF THE CLASS AND IS IN THE 4th ROW, FAR RIGHT IN THE PHOTO, SECOND GIRL IN FROM THE RIGHT

(NEXT TO RALPH JONES.)

Thanks to Lee Wallace for this photo from the

collection of the late Grace Wallace, HHS '46.

1988: HAMILTON CLASS OF '88 ANNOUNCES THEIR 20th REUNION

Class of 1988 – 20th Reunion for
Saturday November 29th, 2008
Nottingham Ball Room
$85 per person, $165 per couple
For more information contact:

George Kostin @ gkooze@optonline.net

or

609-306-6199

1954: HHS '54 JANET NILSEN MEGLATHERY

THIS PHOTO FROM MARION GOLDENBERG, CLASS OF '54. THE YOUNG MAN IN THE PHOTO DANCING WITH JANET NILSEN WAS ONLY IDENTIFIED AS "TOMMY." THIS WAS A 1950'S PARTY IN THE GOLDENBERG BASEMENT.

1954: MARION GOLDENBERG SCHWARTZ

HERE IS A CONTEMPORARY PHOTO FROM MARION GOLDENBERG, HHS '54, ANOTHER "CLASS WITH CLASS" DURING HAMILTON 'S GOLDEN YEARS.

1954: MARION GOLDENBERG SCHWARTZ REMEMBERS

HERE ARE A FEW PHOTOS FROM MARION GOLDENBERG SCHWARTZ, HHS '54. THE PHOTO FROM 1949 SHOWS MARION SITTING ON HER SCHWINN GIRL'S BICYCLE. THOSE SCHWINN'S WERE THE CADILLACS OF THE BICYCLE WORLD BACK IN THE 40'S AND 50'S, BEFORE THOSE SKINNY TIRED "RACING" BIKES CAME ON THE SCENE. THANKS FOR THE PHOTOS, MARION, THEY ARE A WELCOME ADDITION TO THE HHS WEBSITE, CLASS OF '54.

1954: 1950-51 HHS BASKETBALL TEAM

THANKS TO LEA TERRY FOR THIS PHOTO. THESE GENTLEMEN WENT ON TO BECOME THE CLASS OF '54 AT HHS. I HAVE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF COMMENTS ON THIS HHS WEBSITE VIA EMAIL FROM THE GUESTBOOK WEBMASTER. UNFORTUNATELY, THE WRITERS DIDN'T LEAVE THEIR EMAIL ADDRESS FOR A REPLY. I APPRECIATE THE POSITIVE COMMENTS. IF YOU WANT A REPLY WHEN YOU SIGN THE GUESTBOOK, PLEASE MAKE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS AS PART OF THE MESSAGE. LINDA FROM THE CLASS OF '73 WOULD LIKE TO KNOW OF ANY PLANS FOR THE 35TH REUNION. IF ANYONE HAS INFO, PLEASE CONTACT ME AND I WILL POST IT. MARION G. FROM YARDLEY, THANK YOU FOR THE EMAIL. I APPRECIATE YOUR POSITIVE COMMENTS, AND HOPE YOU WILL BE A REGULAR VISITOR.

1987: HHS "KEY CLUB"

1989: HAMILTON HIGH WEST NEW DRUM MAJORS

HAMILTON HAS ALWAYS PRIDED ITSELF ON THE HORNET BAND, THE INCREDIBLE SUPPORT GIVEN BY THE PARENTS, AND OF COURSE, THE LOVELY DRUM MAJORS. IT HAS BEEN 20 YEARS SINCE THE ABOVE PHOTO WAS TAKEN; ANOTHER 20 YEARS ADDED TO THE MAGNIFICENT HERITAGE SURROUNDING HAMILTON TOWNSHIP'S OLDEST (AND IF YOU WILL PERMIT A LOYAL HORNET TO OPINE,) THE BEST HIGH SCHOOL EXTANT!

HORNET HELP NEEDED RE: HAMILTON LOYALTY SONG

DOES ANYONE KNOW THE ANSWER TO BRIAN'S QUEST FOR INFO ON HAMILTON'S LOYALTY SONG? BRIAN'S REQUEST FOLLOWS, ALONG WITH MY REPLY. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE COHEN SISTERS FROM HHS '52 WERE INVOLVED SOMEWAY.
=======================================
BRIAN WRITES:Hello Mr. Glover,My name is Brian Maher. I am the Director of Bands at Hamilton High School West. In addition to my "musical duties" within the District, I am also very interested in history, especially that of this band. I was wondering if you, or your readers, could solve a mystery for us. I'm looking for information regarding "Loyalty", the Hamilton High West Fight Song. I'm looking to find out who wrote the words ("Hamilton High will serve you... ever in loyalty..."), who wrote the music, and if anyone knows in just what year it was written.I'm assuming that it would date before there even WAS a Hamilton High School West, since it just refers to "Hamilton High".I believe it was an original song written just for our school (as opposed to our Alma Mater, "Far Above Cayuga's Waters", which is Cornell University's Alma Mater)I thought if ANYONE would know, or might have information about "Loyalty", it would be you.Great website, by the way. I read a little each day (until my eyes hurt!... I'll need glasses soon!)Thanks again,Brian MaherDirector of BandsHamilton High School West


HI BRIAN: MANY THANKS FOR THE EMAIL. "HAMILTON HIGH WE'LL SERVE YOU.EVER WE'LL LOYAL BEPLANNING TO MAKE OUR FUTURE,WE PLEDGE FIDELITY, RAH RAH RAH,WE WILL BE TRUE AND FAITHFULIN ALL THE WORK WE DOBACKING OUR HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL, AND THE TEAM WITH THE SPIRIT TRUE.." I SEEM TO RECALL ELEANOR OR BARBARA COHEN FROM HHS '52 WROTE THE WORDS TO THE ALMA MATER, BUT I AM NOT REALLY SURE. ADDITIONALLY, I DON'T KNOW WHO WROTE THE WORDS AND MUSIC TO THE LOYALTY SONG. IT MAY HAVE ALSO BEEN THE COHEN SISTERS. I WILL POST THIS EMAIL AND YOUR S ON MY WEBSITES. PERHAPS A CLASS OF '52 VISITOR WILL BE ABLE TO SOLVE THE MYSTERY. DID YOU REPLACE TOM RECHTENWALD? WHEN YOU SEE MS. SUE PROULX, TELL HER I SEND MY REGARDS. TOM GLOVER

2008: Yanping Wu: A Librarian's Librarian

This young lady is a relatively recent addition to the staff at the Hamilton Township Public Library. The article accompanying Ms. Wu's photo has been extracted from a press release from Hamilton Library Trustee Jack Lacy. Ms. Wu is a real asset to our library and community.

1947: HAMILTON HIGH DEBATES

"PS&D" WAS A FAMILIAR TERM TO THOSE OF US WHO ATTENDED HAMILTON HIGH IN YEARS PAST. IT WAS USUALLY THE DOMAIN OF THE HONOR STUDENTS WHO WERE HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE WE "AVERAGE" STUDENTS. OF COURSE, MOST OF THOSE PUBLIC SPEAKERS AND DEBATERS WERE IN THE "ACADEMIC" COURSE OF STUDY.

1938: KUSER ANNEX SPRING ENTERTAINMENT

THE SPRING ENTERTAINMENT WAS AN ANNUAL PRESENTATION AT KUSER ANNEX. FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH "THE ANNEX," IT SERVED THE LIBERTY-HAMILTON-COLONIAL GARDENS AREA AS THE 9TH GRADE FOR THOSE WHO LIVED WITHIN THE BOUNDARY.

HHS '42 AND '45: REUNION LUNCHEONS

MARION: HHS '54

I RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING GUESTBOOK EMAIL FROM A HAMILTON HORNET FROM HHS '54. I FELT THAT A RESPONSE WAS IN ORDER. IN CASE THE WRITER PREFERRED ANONYMITY, I WILL ONLY USE HER FIRST NAME. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO RETURN EMAIL ADDRESS. ACCORDINGLY, I AM USING THIS POST TO RESPOND.

MARION, MANY THANKS FOR THE COMMENTS. I HOPE YOU WILL BE A REGULAR VISITOR TO MY WEBSITES. AS YOU HAVE PROBABLY SEEN, THIS, AND MY KUSER SCHOOL WEBSITES HAVE FEWER POSTS THAN FOUND IN MY MAIN WEBSITE, WWW.GLOVER320.BLOGSPOT.COM. YOU ARE A CLASSMATE OF MY FRIEND, GIL LUGOSSY. 1954 IS ONE OF THE YEARBOOKS WHICH IS NOT INCLUDED IN MY COLLECTION.

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

MARION WROTE:


Tom, It is a pleasure to see how diligent you have been in keeping the past alive! What a thrill! I was raised in Hamilton Twp since the age of 2 and was graduated from HHS in 1954! I am married to my best friend for 47 years, have three kids, who are all married and have presented us with 9 grandkids! We are still living in the house we built 41 years ago in Yardley. I am retired after 37 years of work as a Master's level nurse (full scholarship, U of P for both bachelor's & master's degrees! I served after retirement as a consultant to the CDC & HRSA, MCH, Genetic Disease Branch in the field of newborn genetic screening! I LOVE your site & will send you some of my photos as well. Keep up the great job!

1956: PASSING OF HUSBAND OF JOELYN FERRETTE LOMBARDI

THE FOLLOWING FROM JACK LACY REGARDING STILL ANOTHER PASSING.

Hi All...

Today I received an email from HSS56 classmate Joelyn (Ferrette) Lombardi informing us that her husband Buzz passed away Dec. 26, 2007. If you would like to communicate with Joelyn her address is: 1108 Park Ct., Cinnaminson, NJ 08077, 609-829-4866, cedar4@hotmail.com.

Jack Lacy



FRANCIS A. LOMBARDI

Cinnaminson, NJ resident Francis A. 'Buzz' Lombardi, age 69 of Cinnaminson, passed away onDecember 26, 2007 at Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden, NJ. Born in Haddon Heights NJ, he resided in Cinnaminson for forty-three years. He was an educator in the Willingboro School system for five years and the Moorestown School system for thirty years. Buzz also retired from the United States Army Reserves as a Lieutenant Colonel. He was also active in the ......
Burlington County Times (Published: 12/30/2007)

ABOUT THOSE HISTORY PRESENTATIONS: I TRIED

YOU KNOW THAT OLD SLOGAN THAT HAS BEEN

TRIPPING AROUND FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS:

"SUPPOSE YOU GIVE A PARTY AND

NO ONE COMES?"

WELL, THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENED. THE WEDNESDAY EVENING HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL PRESENTATION WENT EXTREMELY WELL, (AS DID THE KUSER SCHOOL PESENTATION A FEW MONTHS EARLIER). BOTH PRESENTATIONS TURNED OUT A PITIFUL FEW HISTORY-ORIENTED CITIZENS. IN THE WEDNESDAY EVENING HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL PRESENTATION, ALUMNI FROM THE CLASS OF '39, '46 AND '47 ATTENDED, AND APPRECIATED THE PROGRAM, SO THAT MADE IT ALL WORTH WHILE. THERE WAS LITTLE INTEREST IN THE KUSER SCHOOL PRESENTATION WHICH IS COMPLETELY PUZZLING, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE KUSER CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. HOWEVER, I, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN GATHERING AND RECORDING HISTORY HAVE TAKEN A PAGE FROM THE GOOD BOOK AS WE RECALL

THE ADMONITION IN THE "GOOD BOOK:"

"WHEREVER TWO OR MORE ARE GATHERED IN MY NAME...."

I LEARNED A VALUABLE A LESSON: JUST BECAUSE I HAVE A DESIRE TO SHARE LOCAL HISTORY WITH THE COMMUNITY, I SHOULDN'T HAVE ASSUMED THE COMMUNITY HAS THE SAME ZEAL FOR HISTORY. LESSON LEARNED.

I WILL STAY WITH MY KUSER MANSION MUSIC PROGRAMS, AND CONTINUE MY NEVER ENDING SEARCH FOR HISTORICAL GRAPHICS AND ARTICLES FOR THE LIBRARY'S LOCAL HISTORY COMPUTER. NO HARD FEELINGS, JUST A BIT DISAPPOINTED.

ANOTHER HAMILTON ALUMNUS PASSES

FROM JACK LACY,

ANOTHER UNPLEASANT MESSAGE ON THE PASSING OF A HAMILTON HORNET. THANKS, JACK:


Hi All...

Once again it's our sad task to report a passing, this one of the husband of classmate Mary (Pietrowski) Johnson. Condolences may be sent to Mary and family at 119 Central Ave., West Trenton, NJ 08628.

Jack


Thomas H. Johnson

Thomas H. Johnson TRENTON - Thomas H. "Ounce" Johnson, 74, died Tuesday at Capital Health Systems at Fuld. Born in Trenton, he was a lifelong area resident. Thomas was a former basketball P.A.L. coach of the "Bullets", a passionate NY Giants, Chicago Cubs and soccer fan. He enjoyed chess, jazz and loved to read. Thomas was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean Conflict and he retired from General Motors after 30 years of service. He is survived by his wife, Mary Decker-Johnson; two daughters and two sons-in-law, Maryann Decker-Stout, Susan and Charles McStravick and R. Darren Hampson; four grandchildren, Alex, Mary, Kaitlin and Matthew; a sister-in-law, June Perrine and a brother-in-law, John A. Pietrowski; and his nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10:30 a.m. Saturday in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 137 West Upper Ferry Road, West Trenton. Calling hours will be from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday and from 9:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the M. William Murphy Funeral Home, 935 Parkway Ave., Ewing. Burial will be private.
Published in The Times, Trenton, on 6/5/2008

1950: FROM THE LATE JIMMY THOMANN HHS '50

THE POST FOLLOWING THIS ONE IS JIM THOMANN'S VARSITY LETTER. THE GRAPHIC ABOVE IS A COMBINATION OF VARIOUS NEWS ITEMS AND MEMORABILIA, SOME OF WHICH CAME FROM A DONOR OF JIMMY'S HIGH SCHOOL YEARS, AND FROM MY COLLECTION OF NEWSPAPERS. THE LATED JIMMY BRENNAN WAS ALSO IN HHS '50

1949: VARSITY LETTER OF THE LATE JIM THOMANN HHS '50

JIMMY WAS A MEMBER OF HHS '50. HE HAD MORE THAN ONE VARSITY LETTERS AND EXCELLED IN SPORTS. I KNEW JIMMY FROM HIS KUSER SCHOOL YEARS, WITH THAT EVER-READY FRIENDLY SMILE AND A VERY WARM PERSONALITY. HE PASSED ON IN 2003.

1951: JOIN ME THIS WEDNESDAY EVENING!

HERE'S AN EXTRACT FROM ONE OF MY MANY HAMILTON HIGH COLUMNS, "THE BEACH PARTY," RECALLING OUR HAMILTON CHOIR'S MOONLIGHT EVENING AT "LAKESIDE." (GROPP'S LAKE) IN 1951

A PRESS RELEASE FROM HAMILTON TOWNSHIP:

“Graduation Day:
A Day To Remember”
At Hamilton’s Kuser Farm Mansion
Free Admission
===========****************==============
Join Tom Glover in an incredibly nostalgic evening as he presents a digitally projected on-screen presentation entitled, “Hamilton High School: The Golden Years.”
Tom’s presentation took many months to put together. It traces the history of Hamilton High from its opening in 1930 through the early 1950’s.
After the digital on-screen presentation, we will recall “Class Night,” “Baccalaureate Service,” and most of all the annual Graduation Ceremony at the Trenton War Memorial Building.
The program will be presented in the 45-foot dining room
of Kuser Farm Mansion on Wednesday, June 4th at 7:00 p.m.

This will be an evening to enjoy
at Hamilton’s Kuser Farm Mansion.

Advance Reservation Required
Free Admission
Call (609) 890-3630 at Kuser Farm Mansion

Entrances Located at: 390 Newkirk Avenue
and also Kuser Road at Ferrante Lane
Hamilton (Mercer County), New Jersey

1945: PATTY POPE AND DON WHITELY HHS CLASS OF '45

THIS COMING THURSDAY I WILL HEAD OVER TO THE WASHINGTON CROSSING INN TO BRING THE MUSIC OF THE 40'S TO BROTHER BUD'S CLASS OF 45 AS THEY CELEBRATE THEIR ANNUAL REUNION LUNCHEON. WE'LL BE REMEMBERING THE HAPPY YEARS SPENT AS ALUMNI OF THE GREATEST HIGH SCHOOL IN AMERICA, BAR NONE!

2008: AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE AND PRESS RELEASE

I HOPE TO SEE A FEW VISITORS TO MY WEBSITE AT THE KUSER FARM MANSION PROGRAM WHERE I WILL BE PRESENTING A PROGRAM WHICH IS VERY APPROPRIATE FOR THE GRADUATION SEASON. THE ON SCREEN PROGRAM, "HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL: THE GOLDEN YEARS" IS A COMPUTER GENERATED PROGRAM HERALDING THE HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL FROM ITS INCEPTION IN 1930 AND UP TO THE 1960'S. NEARLY EVERY CLASS IS REPRESENTED IN THE HALF HOUR PRESENTATION. FOLLOWING THE ON SCREEN PRESENTATION, I WILL RECALL ALL THOSE WONDERFUL HIGH SCHOOL MEMORIES: SATURDAY NIGHT CANTEENS, TOONE TOWNE, WENDEL "SNEAKY PETE" PHILLIPS, MAX JORDAN, JIM "JIM CROW" COURSEN, CHARLES "POP" MITCHELL, AND MANY OTHER VESTIGES OF THOSE DISTANT YEARS. CALL AND RESERVE A SEAT TODAY. YOU WON'T BE SORRY. WHEN YOU CALL THE NUMBER BELOW, MS. DENISE ZEMLANSKY WILL ANNOUNCE VARIOUS KUSER FARM ACTIVITIES. WAIT FOR HER MESSAGE TO FINISH, AND AT THE "BEEP" LEAVE YOUR RESERVATION(S). SEE YOU THERE!
==================================

FOLLOWING IS THE HAMILTON TOWNSHIP PRESS RELEASE:
“Graduation Day:A Day To Remember”

At Hamilton’s Kuser Farm MansionFree Admission

Join Tom Glover in an incredibly nostalgic evening as he presents a digitally projected on-screen presentation entitled,

“Hamilton High School: The Golden Years.”

Tom’s presentation took many months to put together. It traces the history of Hamilton High from its opening in 1930 through the early 1950’s.

After the digital on-screen presentation, we will recall “Class Night,” “Baccalaureate Service,” and most of all the annual Graduation Ceremony at the Trenton War Memorial Building.The program will be presented in the 45-foot dining roomof Kuser Farm Mansion on Wednesday, June 4th at 7:00 p.m.This will be an evening to enjoy at Hamilton’s Kuser Farm Mansion. Advance Reservation Required, Free Admission

Call (609) 890-3630 at Kuser Farm MansionEntrances Located at: 390 Newkirk Avenueand also Kuser Road at Ferrante LaneHamilton (Mercer County), New Jersey

1948: KUSER ANNEX

THESE LOVELY LADIES WERE CLASSMATES OF MINE AT KUSER ANNEX. FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNAWARE, KUSER ANNEX SERVED AS OUR FRESHMAN YEAR AT HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL. THOSE WHO LIVED IN THE NEWKIRK, HAMILTON, CEDAR LANE AREA WERE ASSIGNED TO "K.A." IN THE PHOTO, ALICE SCHMIDT MULLEN, LORRAINE PRIETH, LUCIA SPERA DIPOLVERE.

1948: WAS THIS THE SENIOR PLAY?

ANY HORNETS FROM HHS '48 WHO CAN IDENTIFY THE PRODUCTION THESE FOLKS ARE ENGAGED IN? HOW ABOUT IDENTIFYING THE OTHERS IN THE PHOTO?

1948: 60 YEARS AND COUNTING

2008 WILL BE THE 60TH REUNION YEAR FOR ALL MY FRIENDS FROM THE CLASS OF '48. THEY WERE A TRAIL-BLAZING CREW WHO WERE NOTED FOR THEIR VOCAL AND INSTRUMENTAL MUSICAL TALENT. REMEMBER JACK HARTMAN, BOB REED, DICK SOFFEL, RUDY GOEHRIG? I WILL BE POSTING NUMEROUS HHS '48 BITS AND PIECES AS THESE HORNETS CELEBRATE THEIR 60TH.