1983: THE LATE, GREAT FARMINDALE SCHOOL

I HAVE BEEN WRITING FOR THE LOCAL PRESS FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS. IN ALL THOSE YEARS, I ONLY MISSED ONE DEADLINE, AND THAT WAS FOR AN EMERGENCY VISIT TO THE HOSPITAL FOR GALL BLADDER SURGERY. 52 WEEKS IN A YEAR: 520 COLUMNS WHILE I WAS WRITING FOR THE MERCER MESSENGER, NOT COUNTING A SHORT TERM COLUMN IN THE TRENTON TIMES FOR ANOTHER YEAR OR SO PLUS MY CURRENT BI-WEEKLY "SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY" COLUMN IN THE TIMES MAKES FOR A HUGE COLLECTION OF COLUMNS. WHEN I STARTED, THE COMPUTER WAS JUST IN ITS BEGINNING STAGES AS A "PERSONAL COMPUTER." THE WORD PROCESSOR I USED WAS A RELIC CALLED "WORD STAR." I AM DIGITIZING MY COLUMNS AND HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT IT WILL BE A MONUMENTAL TASK. THERE ARE TONS OF PAST COLUMNS. MY FAVORITES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THOSE DEALING WITH MY SCHOOL DAYS, AND GROWING UP IN MY HARTLEY AVENUE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE ABOVE ARTICLE WAS ONE OF MY EARLIER ONES DEALING WITH FARMINGDALE SCHOOL.

This rare ledger sheet from Farmingdale School represents a document from one of Hamilton's oldest grammar schools. It dates back to the earliest years of the public school system. Farmingdale was one of the oldest schools in the township. The ledger has numerous names of township citizens who attended the school, and I suspect it would be an interesting reference to those who are interested in local genealogy.