EMAIL ADDRESS: tglover320@optimum.net
C'mon you guys, admit it! We all have memories of that first girlfriend, or the "crushes" ).....the ones that got away, if you will.) At one time or other, we were all afflicted by with that male hormonal malady at some time in our youth. I still recall a case of "puppy love" with which I was afflicted in 1943 with the then love-of-my-life, Shirley Whitebread....then, hmmm, let me see, there was Madelyn Lear, Barbara Connelly, Joan Tart, Charlotte Wilson, Millie Long, Shirley Gress, Madeline Bencivengo, Mary Pyrah, Jackie Hamilton, Valle Brewer, and, oh, of course, the love of my life with whom I have spent 53 years of married life, Judy Britton, HHS '51!
I am proud to say that Ray was one of my childhood buddies in our Hartley Avenue neighborhood. Ray was the very first casualty of the Korean war from the Trenton/Hamilton area. He was also a Hamilton High alumnus. As Veterans' Day 2006 approaches, let us say a remember Ray Sypniewski, and all those brave men and women of our armed forces who made the supreme sacrifice.
Here's a photo from our 55th reunion at the Mercer County Park's Boathouse which was held in late September, 2006. Bob Beckett and his lovely wife Pat Stoy Beckett were on hand and it was great to relive the good old days.
With 2007 being a reunion year for my next door neighbors in the class of 1952, I thought I would post this notice of "lost" alumni from that great class. Thanks to Marty Bisbee Bogdan for the graphic which she gave me following the last reunion of the class. Come out, come out wherever you are! 
I wrote this column a number of years ago, relating my memories of my next door neighbors in the class of 1952. With the class of '51 reunion soon to be past history, it's time to think about 2007 and your 55th. If you have any memorabilia for inclusion on this site, I would appreciate it. Your material will be handled with "tlc" and returned promptly. Contact me at thomglo@verizon.net or at the library at 581-4051 - 681-4060.
One of the projects I have embarked on is the digitizing of those issues of the Criterion which have been loaned to the Hamilton Library's Local History Collection. Thanks to Ray and Sandra Holmes Danberry, classmates from the class of 1951, I have three editions to scan and enter into the HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL folder. Here's a sample of one of the digitized front pages. Note that it will be a bit difficult to read unless you have a high definition monitor. The larger the printed page, the larger the file, and consequently, the smaller the type.
With apologies to any class of '51 alumni whom I neglected to include on my graphic. These 4 couples who have all reached the 50+ anniversary of wedded bliss are all I could recall. I was going to post a graphic illustrating the girls I recall and as mentioned in that song, "To all the girls I loved before," but didn't want to jeopardize a happy 52 going on 53 year marriage!
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!
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.
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."
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.
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!
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.
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..........
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.
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."
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."
Here's a great reunion idea! How well I remember the entries under Kuser and Greenwood Schools! Well done, Hornets!
Unfortunately, many of the photos in this great photo disk of those who attended the reunion do not lend themselves to enlarging enough in order to make the name tags legible. This photo of Frank Lugossy and Rita Kleindinst Semler was elgible.
Hello? Where are you? If you know the whereabouts of any of these HHS '56 Hornets, send me an email and I will see that Jacks Lacy or Zoller will receive it.
Here's the sign in sheet indicating some of those who attended the 50th reunion of HHS' class of 1956.
his is the second page of three scans of the HHS faculty from the 40's.
Here is page one of the faculty we all came to know and love. Most of them have passed away, and they are sorely missed. Carl "Ace" Abbott, is still active. I'm not sure, but I think Morris Agress, Helen Sadley, and Harold Bills are also with us. If you know otherwise, please let me know.
These three guys were an integral part of the Hamilton sports program back in the 40's. I recently read an old column in which Ed Marchand gave up teaching because of the inadequate salary. I was one of his students as a sophomore, and always thought hHe was a great "phys-ed" teacher. Once again, thanks to Mr. Lea Terry for this photo.
This is a Trenton Times photo of the school which was taken in September, 1930, when the school opened. Note tha absence of the familiar old Sycamore trees.
These 3 gorgeous ladies were members of the High School Fashion Board, a clever little sales gimmick used by Yard's Department Store back in the 1940's. Yard's always targeted the young ladies in various high schools in the area. After these ladies graduated and moved on another group of young ladies became fashion plates for the store.
h of us has his or her own very favorite teacher.
Thanks to Don Whitely, HHS '45 for these photos. Don donated an incredible DVD presentation to the Local History Collection at the Hamilton Library. These are two of the photos. Don is one of the very few of us in the over 60 generation who have taken the time to learn the computer. Well done, Don!
What a fascinating and very quaint subject! Good manners and courtesy are not in vogue today in most of the school systems, but back in 1938, the clubs were well attended. The young lady second from left in the third row is my cousin Ruth Williamson Gore.
Wow! We sure could use clubs like this in today's schools. Ettiquette has unfortunately been banished to the cobwebs on the back shelf.
Thanks to Martha Bisbee Bogdan for this graphic from a past reunion of my next door neighbors in the class of '51.
