1951: THANK YOU HAMILTON TOWNSHIP FOR A COMPLETE EDUCATION!

On August 10th 2017, my Hamilton High School classmates from the class of 1951 will celebrate our 66th class reunion with a luncheon from noon to 4 PM at Hamilton's beautiful Stone Terrace (former Italian American Sportsmen Club). Even though 66 years is a very long time ago, the influence Louise Baird had on me as a man shines even brighter in my life as I recall the wisdom which she passed on to those of us who were gifted with residency in her Hamilton High room 300 music courses, Beethoven? Brahms, Sousa? Hammerstein? Berlin? Kahlil Gibran? Shakespeare? Keats? Macaulay, Burke? Yup! They are all firmly imprinted in the impenetrable makeup of the man I have tried to become.

2015: THE WOMAN WHO INFLUENCED MY LIFE AND MADE ME THE PERSON I AM TODAY SOME 60 YEARS LATER

I was one of many fortunate Hamilton High School students who studied and performed under the tutelage of Miss Louise Baird who was the vocal music teacher there from the first year of Hamilton High School until she retired in 1961. I will be forever indebted to her for instilling a love of music and philosophy.

1951: LOUISE BAIRD. A SECOND MOTHER TO JUDY AND ME

As anyone who has followed the hundreds of columns I have written over the years will agree, Miss Louise S. Baird, the vocal music teacher at Hamilton High School during Judy Britton Glover and Tom Glover's attraction to this incredible lady has left an indelible impression on both our lives. Those of us were privileged to have been in her music classes as choral singers will agree that we not only learned how to sing in 8 part harmony, we also learned about the cultural and theological aspect of living. After we graduated together in 1951, my dear wife Judy and I maintained almost daily contact with Miss Baird, or as she was known to her very closest friends, "Ouise" pronounced "Weeze." At the time of our graduation in 1951 Miss Baird was caring for her aging mother and it was that summer that she passed away, leaving Ouise alone and very lonely. Judy and I loved being with her as she taught us the wisdom of the ages as seen in the 5 or 6 scrapbooks that she kept with notable quotations from the likes of Helen Steiner Rice, Kahlil Gibran and other deep thinkers. She also had a delightful piano in her Hamilton Avenue apartment and would always sit down and play our favorite musical pieces. Judy's was "Traumeri," and mine was the "Moonlight Sonata." To be honest, Ouise is largely responsible for the man I have become. She has left me with memories of some of her quotes which she said every man should live by. Three of them are alive and well in my lesson on living: "Greatness is Humble," "The true test of a man's character is what he would do if he would never be found out," "Though you travel the world over in search of the beautiful, you must carry it with you or you find it not," and this gem from Keats: "A thing of beauty is a joy forever; its loveliness increases. It will never pass into nothingness."

1909: CAVALERIA RUSTICANA

Were it not for Miss Louise Simpson Baird, my Hamilton High School Julliard educated music teacher, I and many other alumni of Hamilton High School would never have been exposed to Kahlil Gibran, Italian opera, John Keats, William Shakespeare, Helen Steiner Rice and other cultural giants, now recognized by a relatively small minority in today's society. The above photo of St. Joachim's in Chambersburg announces the operatic presentations being presented back in 1909. Of special interest to me is the presentation of Mascagni's Cavaleria Rusticana which contains the song that "Ouise" (pronounced "Wheeze") Baird taught those of us high school students who were lovers of music. Incredibly lovely music emanated from the room 300 tower at Hamilton High School during my years there. One of the most heavenly pieces she taught us to sing was "Intermezzo from Cavaleria Rusticana," or as we called it "The Prayer from Cavaleria Rusticana." It always brought me to tears it was so beautiful as we sang the English lyrics to this ethereal musical masterpiece in incredible harmony. Certainly Mr. Mascagni is firmly leading a heavenly choir today along with Louise Baird.

1951 - 2014: THE MEMORIES JUST KEEP ON COMIN'

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Over the many years, I have written many columns relating to the excellent education I received courtesy of the Hamilton Township public school system. They were the years that shaped my future and gave me the confidence that I was proficient in reading, writing, speaking, and singing. Whenever I can, I share these gifts with my friends and neighbors; most of whom can tender the same tribute to their education.  One of the greatest influences on my dear wife Judy and me, is the lady we had during our years at Hamilton High School. Louise Baird (we called her "Ouise" prounounced "Wheez,) was not only an incredibly talented vocal music teacher. Through her incredible collection of scrapbooks which she left to Judy and me, she taught us many of the secrets of philosophy and the keys to a happy life.

I put the graphic above together which focuses around page one of the three pages of secrets of a successful marriage and life that she wrote in Judy's yearbook. I treasure those years, and as I look at the two photos of Judy and me as we move into our 82nd year, I have come to the realization that life is so very short. Yes, even 81 years later! As our Hamilton Vice Principal Jim (Jim Crow) Coursen would say to us on many occasions, "Live as though this were the last day of your life.")

1951 - 1992 - 2014: I THINK IT'S CALLED "PROGRESS."

What a joy it was to celebrate the 63rd anniversary of Hamilton High School's Class of 1951 at Mercer Oaks last Sunday, April 13! It was so nice to spend those few fleeting hours recalling those dear old golden rule days with frequent contemporary interruptions referring to arthritis, pain pills, and our various octogenarian physical maladies. Among other things, we discussed the incredible differences found in our school experiences and the society in which we grew up when compared with the drastic societal changes in 21st century America. The above graphic contains a re-formatted column I wrote 23 years ago when even then society's fabric was gradually tearing more and more each day. To the right is a treasure which is indeed a personal treasure to me. My dear classmate Ms. Carol Sine Black (who has an uncanny resemblance to my late Cousin Ruth Williamson Gore) saved the beautiful card with the famous Emerson quote on it. Carol, along with many of the choir at Hamilton High School were taught by Miss Louise Simpson Baird, who not only taught is the beauty of music, but also the elusive search for a meaningful existence. In addition to that classic Emerson quote from Carol, here are two additional quotations which Miss Baird asked us to commit to memory; I memorized them all:

"The true test of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out."

"Make the world a bit more beautiful because you have lived in it."

We all had a teacher or teachers who had an influence on our lives long after we left the hallowed halls of grammar and high schools. For me, there were three: Miss Louise Baird, Miss Julia McClain, and Miss Ruth Margerum. Miss Baird and Miss Margerum were the two teachers who cultivated my lifelong interest in music, while Miss McClain encouraged me to focus on my natural talents of reading and writing way back in the 6th grade at Kuser School. These teachers instilled in me an incredible interest in these fields that has remained with me at the age of 80 plus. Did you also have a teacher or teacher whose influence is with you to this day? I'd be interested to know what school, and what teacher and how you were influenced. 

1983: MARGARET GAYDOS: ANOTHER OF MY 3 FAVORITE TEACHERS

TO ENLARGE THESE ARTICLES, PLACE YOUR CURSOR ON THE GRAPHIC,
RIGHT CLICK, AND CHOOSE OPEN LINK IN A NEW WINDOW.

REMEMBER: TO ENLARGE GRAPHICS, PUT YOUR CURSON ON THE GRAPHIC, RIGHT CLICK, AND CHOOSE "OPEN LINK IN A NEW WINDOW."

This morning, I received a guest book message from a fellow Hamilton High alumnus M. Herrity this morning. We sure have a lot in common. In today's "SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY" column in the Trenton Times, I recall Miss Louise Baird, one of the 3 teachers who had a life-long influence on me. The others are Miss Ruth Margerum, 3rd grade at Kuser School, and Miss Margaret Gaydos, who introduced me to Shakespeare, Longfellow, Tennyson, Whittier, and Kilmer, and many other things cultural. It seems that Mr. or Mrs. Herrity and I have a lot in common when reference is made to the late Margaret Gaydos. She was one in a million in her laid back and relaxed method of teaching. Above are two of the many columns I wrote as I retold my experiences of being a student at Kuser Grammar School. The two columns above relate to my final grammar school year way back in 1947. After a bit of investigation, I learned that Margaret had retired to San Diego and sent her a letter referring to the Kuser School Diary that I had been writing at the time. The graphic above is a response to that letter. My Christian faith leads me to believe that these people who had such an important part of my life will somehow be a part of the eternal life we are promised. Who knows? That promised meeting could possibly be in one of the rooms in one of those many mansions?

John 14:2:

"In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you." What a comforting thought!
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2011: LOUISE BAIRD - MY SATURDAY COLUMN

With my 60th Hamilton High School reunion a scan two weeks away, I am posting a photo of the one teacher out of 3 who had the greatest influence on me. Most of us had that special teacher or teachers who gave us that hard to explain "influence" which remains with us throughout our lives. So it was with me and legions of other Hamilton High School alumni who were lucky enough to be one of her students. My Saturday "SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY" column will be devoted to "Ouise," (pronounced "wheeze"). She was a giant in the fertile soil of Hamilton Township's educational system.

Lee Belardino said...

Tom
Thanks for thinking of me. Without a doubt Louise Baird had a profound influence on my life. I have never met anyone like her. I just wish that I could spent more time with her after graduation as you and Judy did. Thank heavon for that.

Lee

Wednesday, March 14, 2012