EMAIL ADDRESS: tglover320@optimum.net
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."
