1891: A SCHOOL TEACHER'S CLASS BOOK

Unfortunately, the teacher whose class book is shown, chose to fill it with pasted on caricature editorials of Grover Cleveland. All of her names and class room entries have been covered up to the page seen in the right blank page. Still this is an historic relic from the early years of the Trenton school system when the Bellevue Avenue School existed.

1933 AND 2013: HARRISON SCHOOL 80 YEARS AGO AND TODAY

From the growing by leaps and bounds "SCHOOLS-TRENTON" folder in the Hamilton Local History Collection, the above news article from the Trenton Times.

Harrison School is one of Trenton's oldest. I believe the original school goes back to 1903 when the Chambersburg-South Trenton area began to develop. The interesting Trenton Times photo above shows workmen renovating the building. The photo borrowed from the Harrison School website shows that the old building is still keeping the educational flame alive in Trenton.

1908: RELIGION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

My dear wife of 59 years tells me that I am too "simplistic" when I wonder why they had to remove religion from schools. I would add 1 hour to the daily school curriculum and set up 1 hour classes for the Christians, Jewish, Muslim, or any other lesser religion or non religious group that has members of that particular faith attending school. The Christians could celebrate their Christmas during that in school hour, and the other religions likewise celebrate their religions. We could still have a Christmas tree and an Easter Bunny, and those of other faiths, or non believers could have a "Holiday Tree" at Christmas, and a  "Spring Bunny" at America's Easter season; whatever floats your boat. Simplistic? I guess so. 

I also have a "simplistic" solution to the issue of gun control. In my ignorant simplistic solution, I would rather hear the phrase "criminal control." Simplistic? Yup, and I'm stuck with it.

1940: CARMELA DEMARCO ELECTED TO THE HAMILTON SCHOOL BOARD

After her service as a school board member, Carmela went on to become a member of the Hamilton Township Council. She is still active today as a member of the Mercer County Retired Teachers Ass'n. who meet monthly in the Hamilton Township Public Library,

1930's and 40's KUSER SCHOOL "GLEE CLUB" PATCH

Many many thanks to Ms. Alice Feehan Hasty for this incredibly preserved Kuser School "Glee Club" patch, which was proudly worn on our favorite sweater. Lorraine Feehan May, (HHS '49), brought her sisters Alice Feehan Hasty (HHS '41), Mary Feehan Kieffer (HHS '44), and Evelyn Feehan Appleby (HHS '46), to my Kuser Farm program "The Music We Grew Up With" on Sunday, June 28. It was such a pleasure to meet them. The Feehan family lived on Newkirk Avenue next to the Colonial Volunteer Fire Company. For many years Mrs. Feehan was the dispatcher for the fire company.

And Alice Feehan Hasty, thank you again for this wonderful addition
to the Kuser School memorabilia and history folder.

1895: 19TH CENTURY HAMILTON'S RURAL SCHOOLS

This article reveals the importance and power of the farming community in the township of Hamilton back in the 19th century. The villages of Hamilton Square, Mercerville, Broad Street Park, Edgebrook Deutzville and Yardville were surrounded by huge farms that proliferated in 19th century Hamilton Township. As told in the article above those farmers had a very strong civic presence.

1934: HAMILTON SCHOOLS IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE

The great depression even filtered down to the local school system as canbe seen in the article above from 1934. How times have changed!

1974: CARL MOLDOVAN TELLS IT LIKE IT IS

I inserted "LIGHTNING STRIKES THE HAMILTON B.O.E." into this graphic. Even though I have a history of being a fierce supporter of Hamilton's schools, as a senior citizen I find myself wondering why I don't get just a bit of a tax break from the large amount of my taxes which are going to the schools. The amount taken by the Township is not even close to the amount that goes to Hamilton's school system. Like most senior citizens, I feel that we paid taxes all our lives, especially during the time our children went to the schools, and there should be a consideration somewhere in there that we get a bit of relief.

But there I go again, exposing another of my personal "defects:" I'm an alturistic dreamer.

1986: AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK

Did you know that the third week in November is "American Education Week?" I sure didn't, but I do now. Do they still set aside this week to focus on our educational system?

1989: DR. LOIS BRAENDER

HERE IS MS. BRAENDER WHEN SHE WAS AT ALEXANDER SCHOOL. I REMEMBER HER FROM HER TIME AS PRINCIPAL AT KUSER SCHOOL. DR. BRAENDER IS NOW THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES OF HAMILTON TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS.

1921: THE STATE OF HAMILTON SCHOOLS

I found it to be an incredible faux pas to consign documents of this type to the re-cycle bin. Way back in the 1960's I rescued this and numerous other Hamilton documents from the trash bin. This letter is an incredibly interesting narrative on the state of Hamilton's schools in the early 1920's. I suspect there are additional parts to this document, but this is all that I found.