1939 NEWS FROM JUNIOR 4, TRENTON HIGH AND CARROLL ROBBINS

Here's a portion of page 6 of the Trenton Times for February 8, 1939. The Times regularly reserved a page for the various activities of the schools in the city of Trenton. Unfortunately, Hamilton, Ewing, and other suburban schools were not included.

1939: HAMILTON HIGH OPERETTA

The operetta "Hollywood Extra" was repeated again in 1949, with Shirley Whitebread playing the part of "Debby." I looked for Ms. Beatrice Tozour in the 1939 and earlier yearbooks, but was not successful in locating her as an alumna from earlier classes, or from the class of '39.

1939: A ZANY IDEA THAT NEVER TOOK OFF

Imagine NFL teams outfitted in the grotesque padded uniform which was suggested by a few
"safety conscious people back in 1939. Further imagine the entire team wearing these padded uniforms. A pass is received on the 2nd down, and the received walks rapidly to a touchdown!

2009 TRIBUTE TO A SILENT KEY, K2DQR

As an amateur radio operator for more than 25 years, I am sure I "worked" Joe Lewandowski at some time during the past. I am not a collector of QSL cards, so I really can't verify the contact. However, I did converse on many occasions with Benny Civiletti and a number of other Chambersburg Hams, and I would bet that Joe was one of them. Thanks to the Lewandowski family for the tribute to still another "silent key." R.I.P. and 73's, Joe.

1974: AWARDS TO VOLUNTEERS AT ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL

From the "ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL" folder in the Hamilton Library Local History Collection:
The lady to the right in the photo above was a "best friend" to my dear wife Judy for more than 45 years. Bob and Rosemarie McLaughlin and their son Brian were neighbors who lived directly across the street from my Atlantic Avenue home.

1939: The Italian Club at Trenton Central High School

How great it is to share the traditions of our native country! Here we see Ms. Florence Perilli who is the sister of Hamilton's renowned and highly respected Maury Perilli, assisting in providing her singing talents to the Trenton High School Italian Club's activities.

1939: MS.GOLDEN: GIRLS' GUILD AT PEARSONVILLE

In keeping with my tradition of maintaining a blog with the personal touch and also theposting photos of those folks with whom I am acquainted, herewith a photo of a member of the Golden family. Bill Golden, HHS '48 and Karen Golden, a regular visitor to this blog, is Mildred a family member?

1974: Colonial Ladies to Present a Fashion Show

Lovely Patti Willever and her late husband "Cliff" were among the very active members of the Colonial Volunteer Fire Co. back in the 60's and 70's. Here we see Patti with her co-workers looking over material to publicize the fashion show fund raising event.

2009: HAROLD VAN DYKE IS A SILENT KEY

One of my friends on the old DVRA 2 meter radio net was the gentleman above. "Van" was a dedicated radio man and a true gentleman. How I miss those guys and gals who were so much a part of the DVRA "Commuter Net" back in the 1970's. Rest in peace harold, and best 73's.

Tom Glover
WA2RVU

1974: INEZ HOWELL GIVES MERCER THE HOWELL FARM

I became acquainted with Inez Howell way back in the 1940's when Don Slabicki and I worked for Fritz and Edna Kuser. (Inez is Edna Howe Kuser's sister). I recall the day when Don and I "rode shotgun" in the motorcade through the Pennington area during Inez's husband Charles' campaign for congress. Here she is shown handing over the papers to the Howell farm in Hopewell which has become the very popular Howell Living History Farm,

1974: MEDIA BIAS: 35 YEARS AND COUNTING:

As the "Gray Lady" says, "All the News that Fits.." Nuff said.

1974: Notre Dame Trenton Presents "South Pacific"

I am going to assume that the caption above should identify Mark Ackerman as playing the part of Emile DeBeque in the South Pacific program. It sure would be unseemly to see that handsome young man as "Bloody Mary." If any alumni visitors can set me straight, it will be appreciated. In the meantime, I assume there was a typographical error on the part of a Mercer Messenger employee who was not familiar with the role made famous by Ezio Pinza.

1974 ST. JOACHIM TRENTON CHEERLEADING CHAMPIONS

Here's a nice photo of the girls who went to championship status those 35 years ago. There are many familiar names in that photo. There's pretty Doreen Foley, whom I remember from my years as a member of the St. Anthony/St. Joachim's PTA singing and dancing group, "Kay's Follies." More vintage St. Joachim posts can be found by using the "SEARCH BLOG" feature on the top right of this home page. Happy hunting!

1974: Hamilton Democrats Victory Dinner

Here they are, all gussied up at Cedar Gardens for the "Victory Dinner." There's young Gil Lugossy along with the late Monsignor Jim McManimon; both dear friends of mine,

1974: 35 Years ago at Nottingham Junior High School

These students are all tax-paying adults now. Jeff Tarr was a neighbor of the Glover on Atlantic Avenue before moving to more suburban suburbs. Thirty five years! ....seems like only yesterday! Time flies incredibly rapidly as I age.

1974 MERCERVILLE SCHOOL PTA DINNER DANCE

At just about the same time Judy and I were involved in the PTA at St. Anthony Grammar School, so too were Diana and Carl Amoroso at Mercerville. Here we see the ladies who were the "movers and shakers" of the event p0sing with "Frosty" the snow man.

1974: ST. ANTHONY PTA FASHION SHOW

Memories are made of this! These three ladies, Pat Volk, Barb Giori, and Dottie Bargholz were very much a part of my life back during the years when Judy and I were bringing up our children. I have often thought of writing a lengthy treatise on my years as a member of the PTA. Even before I became president of that organization those many years ago, I hold very pleasant memories of the many friends we made, the fun we had, and the very hard work we performed in order to help the finances of St. Anthony Grammar School.

1881: Groveville + Woodward's Mill = A flourishing Community

"The Mill" at Groveville provided employment for many residents of that great little village to the south of Hamilton. The old Anchor Thread plant of recent years was preceded by the Morris Mill and as in the article above, the Woodward Mill. There were probably others and perhaps I will find them as I continue on my search.

1880: Garfield and Arthur Republican Rally

I wonder if any Groveville saavy scholars can tell me when the name was changed to Groveville? Here's an 1880's article wherein the current name of the town was in use.

1974: OUR LADY OF SORROWS PTA FASHION SHOW

Thirty five years have passed since these "OLS" PTA ladies organized a Nevius Voorhees fashion show as a fund raiser for the grammar school. One wonders where they and their then students are in this year of 2009. Unfortunately, the photography in this 35 year old news photo was severely lacking in clarity; hence the "gray" haze.

1940 (cA 1940) Tracy's and Hamilton and Olden

The photo at the bottom is the original black and white version. Above it is the same photo using software that allows for modifying the original to give it a more vibrant appearance. Colorizing a black and white photo is tedious and time consuming, but I consider it a work of art. I was happy to be able to bring back the familiar red Tracy sign with gold lettering. I even made sure that traffic was waiting at a red light. I had originally colored the traffic light green on the bottom. Thanks to Noel and my brother Bud, I was reminded that red lights are on the TOP. Another senior moment. Modern technology? Magnifico!

What memories this photo brings to my aging mind! This was "downtown" for those of us in the area who seldom made the trip to the real bus trip to "downtown" Trenton. If we could walk to the left of those 30's and 40's autos to the intersection of South Olden Avenue, we could make a leisurely visit to George Giberson's little hole in the wall deli. On the corner, as it is today, we would find Rittman's Bar. On the other side of South Olden Avenue, the Goeller Florist shop would hove into view as we wended our way to that charming sand colored church that served St. Anthony Parish before the huge cathedral we see today. The person who shot this photo was standing on the opposite corner and would have been right next to Mr. Schnur's "5 & 10." Ahh, the memories abound!

1974: MAURY PERILLI STEPS DOWN FROM HAMILTON POLITICS

The newest history of Hamilton Township had little in the way of the history that former Mayor Maurice Perilli had on the evolution of Hamilton Township. In his many years as a local political heavyweight, Maury served on the Hamilton Committee, and as the Mayor of Hamilton. It was during his term in office that the Hamilton Library, Police Station, Veterans' Park, and Hamilton Hospital were established. He is a giant in the annals of Hamilton Township, the city of Trenton, and indeed, all of Mercer County,

1974: THE HAMILTON MALL THAT NEVER WAS

According to Maury Perilli, the Mall referred to in the graphic above never got off the ground. I was commuting daily to New Brunswick and completely out of the mix. I had heard that the area of the Morton Tract was to have been the location of the new municipal complex, but assume that the financial situation put the damper on the project, and then along came the Route 130 Hamilton Marketplace development.

Anonymous said...

isn't that funny - this article is much older than i am, so i had no knowledge of the planned development, but i always thought that the two estates boulevards were supposed to be linked somehow!

Monday, February 14, 2011

1989: YOU DIDN'T KNOW I WAS A TV STAR, DID YOU?

It's been 24 years since a LOCAL cable company gave a true LOCAL news channel with weekly programming. Back in the early years of cable in Hamilton Township, the original "Hamilton Cablevision, and then" TKR Cable" maintained studios in Hamilton where true local television could be brought to the citizenry. Hamilton subscribers could tune in to watch LOCAL political candidates, LOCAL football and baseball games, and LOCAL coverage of Septemberfest, Harvest Fest, the Sayen Azalea fest, and other programming of interest to LOCAL citizens. I was one of the personalities who brought local politics, news and other interesting subject to the taxpaying citizens of Hamilton in my weekly "In Focus" program. Then along came Cablevision, and we lost the local coverage when the Hamilton Avenue studios were closed. Cablevision's lame alternative to "Local Access" programming is found in their slogan, “TV that’s close to home.” It is indeed close to home if you live in Monmouth, Ocean, and Somerset Counties. Hamilton gets minimal coverage. I would assume that it's just too expensive to travel from the company headquarters in Wall, New Jersey, when they can save money by covering the football games of Toms River High School, never mind the fact that Hamilton Township covers a huge area insofar as population is concerned. Cablevision's "TV that's close to home" gives us the opportunity to hear the hostess talk with the mayor of Marlboro, NJ, a congressman from Dunellen or Brick or Matawan or countless other a non-Mercer County districts. Where we once had comprehensive coverage of the annual St. Patrick's Day parade, it is now covered by Cablevision who televises the Belmar parade. Where we once had full season LOCAL coverage of our local sports teams, we now get to watch perhaps one football game from Hamilton, and the rest from out of the area. (WE MISS YOU, RONNIE STEWART; YOU GAVE US ALL THE LOCAL FOOTBALL AND BASEBALL GAMES and were the best as a play by play announcer.)

A MAJOR CHANGE IN MY BLOGS

THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE RELATING TO THIS WEB SITE:

WITH OVER 160,000 VISITORS TO MY WEB BLOG, IT IS BECOMING AN EXERCISE IN FUTILITY TO TRY TO MAINTAIN MY HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL AND MY KUSER SCHOOL WEB BLOGS. ACCORDINGLY, I AM GOING TO POST ALL FUTURE POSTS FROM THOSE TWO SCHOOLS ON THIS, MY MAIN AND MOST OFTEN VISITED WEBSITE. I WILL BE PUTTING THIS MESSAGE ON BOTH OF THE SITES SO THAT VISITORS CAN COME HERE AND SEARCH FOR THE SCHOOLS IN THE "SEARCH BLOG" FEATURE.

After you have checked all the posts on www.hhs51.blogspot.com, go to my main website, www.glover320.blogspot.com for future posts. Thank you for your indulgence.

NEW HHS POSTS ARE BEING ADDED. GO TO WWW.GLOVER320.BLOGSPOT.COM

A MAJOR CHANGE IN MY BLOGS

THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE RELATING TO MY WEB BLOGS:

WITH OVER 160,000 VISITORS TO MY WEB BLOG, IT IS BECOMING AN EXERCISE IN FUTILITY TO TRY TO MAINTAIN MY HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL AND MY KUSER SCHOOL WEB BLOGS. ACCORDINGLY, I AM GOING TO POST ALL FUTURE POSTS FROM THOSE TWO SCHOOLS ON THIS, MY MAIN AND MOST OFTEN VISITED WEBSITE. I WILL BE PUTTING THIS MESSAGE ON BOTH OF THE SITES SO THAT VISITORS CAN COME HERE AND SEARCH FOR THE SCHOOLS IN THE "SEARCH BLOG" FEATURE.

1938: Alice Wilhelm's "Tri-Y" Club

I will leave it to those visitors who have family who were at Hamilton High 70 years ago to tell us what the "Tri-Y" Club did. When Alice Wilhelm retired, she passed along many wonderful Hamilton High photos and articles to me. This is one of them.

1943: WHO SAID "YOU CAN'T GO HOME AGAIN?"

This guest book entry from Ms. Kathryn Lacy Wake was posted today. Kathryn is looking for fellow HHS '43 classmates with whom to re-establish contact. Kathryn, it is an unfortunate truth that your generation is sadly lacking in computer involvement. I just wrote about that very thing in my "Sentimental Journey" column in the Trenton Times. I hope you find a classmate who is into computing and reads this, but the chances are mighty slim.

1869: Circa 1869 TRENTON RETROSPECTIVES

One of my favorite folders is the "TRENTON-RETROSPECTIVES" where old timers recall the area as they remember it in their younger years. A retrospective look back from a fellow who was interviewed in 1912 and recalls events of 80 plus years ago constitutes true first person history. The above is the first of what will be a number of those interesting articles which I will be posting.
AS TIME PERMITS, I WILL ADD A "GLOSSARY," IDENTIFYING SOME OF THE PLACES MENTIONED IN SPECIFIC ARTICLES. FOR INSTANCE, THE CEMETERY REFERRED TO ABOVE WOULD BE THE MERCER CEMETERY ON SOUTH CLINTON AVENUE.

1904: MOVING PICTURES

The next few posts will be dealing with movie theaters in the Trenton area. From the very primitive 1904 "moving pictures" exhibited by Lyman Howe at the State Street Theatre and up to the era of the 1920's with its highly flammable and dangerous nitrate film, and into the 1940's when "safety film" was the preferred makeup of motion picture film, Trenton area movie goers loved "moving pictures".

TRENTON THEATRE MISCELLANY

I frequently add material to the "THEATERS" digital folder in the library's Local History Collection. Here's are two interesting graphics

of the Majestic Theater along with news of various theatres of the past in Trenton. Even though there are only a few senior citizens who visit this site, I wonder if any of them can tell me where Chambersburg's Majestic Theatre was located? Don't miss the article on the left dealing with the Gaiety. Note that the huge building had a dance floor and was a popular venue back in the 1920's.

JOE AND RALPH:

YOU GUYS ARE WONDERFUL WITH YOUR EXPERIENCES AND YOUR ADDITIONS TO MY POSTS! PLEASE KEEP 'EM COMING.
YOUR INPUT IS WHAT THIS WEB BLOG IS ALL ABOUT.
WHEN I POST THE MATERIAL I ADD AS MUCH AS I CAN, AND "VINTAGE VETERANS" SUCH AS YOU, AND HOPEFULLY OTHERS WHO WERE THERE "WAY BACK WHEN," ADD YOUR COLLECTIVE KNOWLEDGE AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCES. IT ALL ADDS TO THE RICH HISTORIC HERITAGE OF TRENTON, HAMILTON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA.

Thanks for these comments:

Hi Tom: Most of us know the Gaiety Theatre latter became known as the Olden Theatre. The dance floor on the upper level was turned into six bowling alleys. My brother and I ran the alleys before we built the Hamilton Bowling Lanes on Route 33 in 1955. In regards to the Majestic Theatre, could it be the building on West St. where I believe Landolfi's used to occupy?

Thursday, September 17, 2009

JoeB said...

Tom:
I have been trying to make a list of all the City Theatres and have a note that a movie threatre was located at Chestnut and Morris Avenues, could this have been the Majestic?

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Ralph Lucarella said...

JoeB: I remember the theatre you're referring to on Chestnut and Morris. My mother took me there to see Italian movies and I was very bored. I think the name of that theatre was the Pearl Theatre. I'm not sure of that.

1911:THE BROAD STREET THEATRE

This long forgotten theatre started out as the "BROAD STREET THEATRE," and was ultimately taken over by RKO Radio and re-named the RKO PALACE THEATRE. Please don't correct my spelling on the word "Theatre." For some reason, theaters were always written up as theatres, with a juxtapositioning of the "re -er". During my years of visiting local theaters, the Palace was considered off the beaten path. I do recall going there one time back in the 1940's, and going across the street to a great little store that sold all kinds of novelties. In fact, I remember buying one of those water squirting things that you put in your lapel and squirted on an unsuspecting buddy....also one of those wind up gizmos that you placed in your hand and buzzed hell out of your buddy's left hand. Ahh, the memories do indeed linger!

1983: MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS

Even though this column I wrote back in 1983 related to Hamilton High School, Kuser School and Kuser Annex played a major part in my 12 years of education. As you will see as you read my "Odyssey," the part my fellow "Kuser Kats" played in my grammar and high school career reached a climax on the warm and rainy June night in 1951. Even in this year of 2009, I still feel a very close kinship with all my wonderful alumni from both Kuser and HHS.

Tom Glover’s

Hamilton High School Odyssey

************************

I drove by the place the other day. Something made me go around the block and drive by a second time. As I rounded the corner of Park Avenue and South Clinton, I decided to stop and take a closer look. I pulled over to the curb, parked, and for a minute or two, just stood on the sidewalk, closed my eyes and savored the moment.

One of my favorite movies of all time is the 20^th Century Fox production of "Twelve O’clock High." You may remember the opening minutes of the film, as an aging Dean Jagger journeys back, alone in time, to the very spot where he spent a very memorable period of his life, with very memorable people. The background music, the prop wash from the B-17s readying themselves for another mission, the almost ethereal sound of male voices coming from out of the past in song:

Bless them all, bless them all The long and the short and the tall…”

Dean Jagger was on a nostalgia trip; a mental journey, if you will, into the past. Such a journey may be taken by anyone who has pleasant memories, just sitting there; awaiting recall. As I stood in front of Hamilton High School, thinking about "Twelve O’clock High," I became aware of the warm spring breezes rustling through those familiar Sycamore trees on the front lawn of Hamilton High School. I took a seat on the settee at the base of the equally familiar Hamilton High flagpole. My thoughts of the movie vanished, and were replaced by pangs of bittersweet nostalgia ... sort of a melancholy feeling that I had been here before ... right here, on this settee ... with a lovely girl ... the girl I would ultimately fall in love with and marry. It was spring. It was 1951. I was a senior at Hamilton High.

A strange, almost supernatural sound came to my ears as the breezes whispered through the trees. "Good morning... Hamilton High School ... Yes, this is Miss Gropp. Yes, Mr. Hesser is in ... he's in a meeting. Mr. Coursen? Yes, one moment please.

Six or seven cream-colored Trenton Transit busses pull up to the curb; their doors open and busloads of 1950's type teenagers jump to the sidewalk. Over on the Park Avenue side, Joe Layton pulls up with the "Blue Goose"... repeat­ing the same ritual his competitor is doing on South Clinton Avenue. The "Blue Goose!" What a bus ...beautiful velour seats, a roof-top luggage rack ...a remnant of the depression. Still another Layton bus pulls to the curb. It's "Red." He does have a last name, but we don't know it; all we know is he is a nice guy. He still doesn't have any teeth, he still needs a shave, and his cigarette has a one inch ash hanging from it. How vivid everything is in my mind!

"Richard, Did you read chapter two of "David Copperfield?" "Yes, Miss Cornwell."

"If you read it, Richard, which is highly doubtful, I would think you would have gotten at least one question correct."

"Yes, m’aam," came the plaintive reply.

I pass Miss Cornwell's English class...pausing at the entrance way to Mr. Bird's history class: "Listen, you birds, tomorrow we will have a quiz on chapter 14. Be sure you study."

"Mr. Bird, these shoes are too small."

"It doesn't matter. I can get you any size you want."

"OK. Get me 8-D's in brown." Mr. Bird is moonlights as a shoe salesman for Mason Shoe Company.

As if on a magic carpet, I am standing outside the Park Avenue door of Hamilton High. It's a very cold winter day; too cold to go out past the third telephone pole for a cigarette. I have one cupped in my right hand; my hand is in my pocket.

"Thomas, put that cigarette out and come with me." It's Wendell Phillips. One of his assignments as a teacher is to police the "first," "second," and "third" lunch periods for those of us who choose to break the rules of the school. Mr. Phillips is a small, slight, man. He is very soft-spoken, and at the same time, a strict disciplinarian. He wears rimless glasses, and is impeccably dressed. He has a super white, stiffly-starched white shirt, and shoes so shiny, one's reflection can be seen. His uncanny ability as a faculty detective con­stantly takes us by surprise. He leads me into the office, and matter-of-factly tells Mr. Miss Gropp to write me up for "five hours" of detention. Detention; How we despise it! We miss the bus, and it's a long walk home; especially in the rainy weather.

And now I'm out in the athletic field. It's Friday afternoon, and the end of another week. Don Devine, Kip Breese, and Joe Bartlett are super­vising intramural sports. We're playing softball. My team is batting ...I'm up. At home, when we play softball at Plaag's Grove, I smack the ball a country mile. Why is it when I'm playing high school sports, I can't get a hit? For that matter, I can't field too, either. I don't understand. I'm fac­ing Buddy Rick. Rick is good at all sports. He looks in at Art Perry and winks…..a windup, a sting­ing underarm fastball….. another….. then a third. I'm called out on the third strike...I'm embar­rassed. I didn't even swing at one of them. I'm such a wimp!

Gene Grauer's up next. As I hand him the bat, I hear somebody say something about a barn and a snow shovel. I mumble something about a sore shoulder. I have to have some kind of excuse ...I mean ...three straight strikes...not only that they all saw me miss that fly ball out in right field ...hell, I would have one-handed that if we were playing over at Plaag's...how come? I'm confused.

Now I'm off the athletic field. I seem to be in a shop ...yes..."Hamilton Job Press"...print shop! Who's the teacher?..."Remember boys, FFI and FFL are called ligatures. They are next to each other in the California Job Case. You must learn where each and every letter is stored. Spaces are called "quads "...there are "em" quads and "en" quads.

That Charles Dickens accent! It can only be "Pop" Mitchell ...It is! He sits at his desk with a green celluloid visor over his forehead. It contrasts with what is left of his silver hair. He stops his dis­course on ligatures long enough to rebuke one of his talkative students:

"Mr. Wilson! I shall recite a poem just for you. You would do well to listen to every word. I shall be happy to explain it should you not understand the meaning. Are you ready?

Charlie Wilson is a happy-go-lucky guy. He likes Pop, and Pop likes him. Charlie is a good print shop student. He tells Pop he is ready. "Very well, here it is:

A WISE OLD OWL LIVED IN AN OAK.

THE MORE HE SAW, THE LESS HE SPOKE.

THE LESS HE SPOKE, THE MORE HE HEARD.

WHY CAN'T WE BE LIKE THAT OLD BIRD?

Do you understand the poem, Mr. Wilson?" "Yeah, I do, Mr. Mitchell."

"Very well, if you try to be like that old bird you will have very little trouble understanding ligatures. FFI, FFL..."

The voice trails off, along with the hum of the Hamilton Job Presses. And suddenly, I'm seated in the third row, front section of the Hamilton High School auditorium. It's operetta time. We're hav­ing rehearsals for the 1951 production of "Tulip Time". Louise Baird is playing the piano, accom­panying Bill Baggott. Bill's lovely tenor voice obviously pleases Miss Baird as she plays the piano with a smile of satisfaction. Bill's solo ends and the chorus called to the stage. For the umpteenth time we will go over the one song which seems to need work.

"All right, choir, listen to me." It's Miss Louise Baird. Petite is stature, but with the uncanny ability to demand, and get, attention, and then perfection. "The last time we did this song, some of you basses were growling around off pitch. Was it you, Keith Kauffman?"

"No Miss Baird, it was probably Clark Perry." Clark is a tenor. We laugh at Keith's always­ present sense of humor.

Miss Baird's glasses are tilted on the top of her head, aviator style, as she calls Saundra Smith in to provide the accompaniment. Miss Baird takes up a position at the front of the stage so she can hear the offending voice, or voices. She taps her pencil for attention, and Sandy begins to play. We wait for the introduction, which by now is more familiar than out national anthem, then we sing:

“..TULIP TIME IN HOLLAND IS A TIME FOR MERRY FUN.

MARKET PLACE IS CROWDED, AND THE JOY HAS JUST BEGUN,

WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE, AND WHEN THE DAY IS DONE,

WE WILL NOT FORGET THE HAPPY HOURS...”

Again, the voices fade, and just as suddenly, I'm out of the auditorium. It's a warm June night. School will soon end. It's the last canteen of the year. It's such a delightful evening; almost as if God mandated soft moonlight, rustling leaves, and the heady smell of romance.

"Let's go outside and get some air, Jude."

We hold hands and walk out into the delightful spring evening. I can't explain the vibrant elec­tricity I feel between my hand and hers. I wonder to myself if I'm trembling. She looks fresh and clean as the spring. I'm in love. We face each other ...holding each other's hand. We look at each other and wonder at the strange and beautiful happening. I kiss her. She's soft and fresh, and beautiful. She is becoming a woman ...I'm becom­ing a man.

And now there's a clap of thunder, followed by a brilliant flash of lightning. It's still June, but it's our big day. Graduation! My brother drops me off at the side entrance to the War Memorial Building. Many of the guys are standing on the sidewalk. All of us feign confidence and com­posure. Inside, we're all experiencing butterflies. I walk up to Larry McGlynn. "Hi Stony ! ... `be glad when this is over, won't you?" Joe Kasian saunters over; always ready with that smile. Geez! I've gone through 12 years of school with Joe; from kindergarten to senior. I've grown up with him ...and George Morley, Joan Tart, Karen Peterson, Shirley VanMarter, Charlotte Wilson, Ronnie Tarr, Tony Gies, Elaine Globus, Jess Anderson, Don Slabicki…..all those "Kuser Kids"...I silen­tly wonder to myself if I'll ever see them again after tonight. What an unsettling thought. There's uneasiness about this graduation business. The lightning flashes and it rains….hard. We rush for the protective shelter of the huge awning at the side of the War Memorial. My Uncle Charlie Gaudette comes out in his short sleeves and unlocks the doors. He's the superintendent here, and I'm kinda proud that my uncle has such an important position.

"Hi ya Tommy…. 'Ya all ready for the big night? Tell your Mom and Pop we'll be over Saturday". Almost as an afterthought, he reaches into his wallet and hands me a five dollar bill ...then wishes me well.

And suddenly, we're all on the huge War Memorial building stage. We're sitting on bleachers. The kids in the back row are way up there ...I mean way up...near the roof. The pro­gram begins. A minister delivers a stirring invocation. Reverend John Oman delivers a short, relevant prayer. The minutes tick away. Feet rustle and throats clear, more out of nervousness than necessity. On cue, the choir takes a place in the front of the graduates, center stage. We look down beyond the footlights and see the friendly and familiar face of Miss Baird, as she begins to lead us in song ...her smile is reassuring:

Our harmony is superb. All of a sudden, I realize the beauty of these lyrics. We've been singing this song for 3 years, and I never understood the full beauty of the thing.

“Now the day is over, night is drawing nigh,

Shadows of the evening, steal across the sky.

Jesus gives the weary, calm and sweet repose,

With thy tenderest blessing, may my eyelids close..”

As I ponder the lyrics, I am strangely choked up; my eyes are glistening ...the end is in view. I cast a furtive glance at some classmates...am I the only one with this intense emotional feeling? There's Judy Britton, Shirley Whiteb­read, Phyllis Booz, Joan Delowise, Karen Peter­son, Charlotte Wilson...all crying. Most of the girls are crying ...what about the guys? ...Geez! I have this lump in my throat ...I feel the tears welling up to overflowing. The song ends. Miss Baird looks up at us, a smile of complete satisfaction on her face. She nods and silently sounds the word "good". We assume our places with the graduates. My nose is running ...I need a tissue, and don't have one. Who would have thought I would have needed one? ...I sniff and swallow.

And now, Mr. Hesser is presenting the class to Mr. Howard D. Morrison. We're on our way! They're handing out the diplomas. The applause, as each name is called, seems to emphasize the popularity, or lack thereof, of the recipient. And suddenly, they're all distributed ...there are no more ...this is the end. Twelve years of school ..this is really the end! Am I glad or am I sad? Mr. Morrison speaks the final words:

"And so, to the class of Hamilton High School, 1951, good luck, and may God Bless each and every one of you."

Suddenly the scene changes. I'm out of the War Memorial. It's September ...I don't know what year...yes I do...it's 1983...a school bus rumbles up to the curb on the Park Avenue side of Hamilton High School. Now they call it "Hamilton High School West". Here comes another bus, and another. They're not Trenton Transit ...not Joe Layton...they're all bright yellow and black. 1983-­type school kids hop, skip, and jump to the curb and head toward those familiar old doorways. I'm standing in their midst but they don't seem to see me. Strange! How I envy them! I remember Vic­tor Herbert's song, "Toyland"...how does it go...let's see...

"Toyland, toyland, dear little girl and boy land,

While you are within it, you are ever happy there,

Childhood joy land, dear little girl and boy land,

Once you've passed its portals, you may never return again..."

How true! Look at those Freshmen! Four years of high school still ahead of them! Oh, please enjoy it...Learn! Live every golden minute of it...someone please tell them it's all over so soon ...it ends so fast!

The bell rings; a bell much louder than the bell we had, and they are all in class. The breeze rus­tles through the trees, and ethereal voices, clear and bell-like, echo through the grand old building and a song mingles with the rustle of those big Hamilton High Sycamore trees….

“The New Years Eve, we did the town, the day we tore the goal post down,

We will have these moments to remember.

The quiet walks, the noisy fun,the ballroom prize we almost won,

We will have these moments to remember..."

----- Original Message -----

From: Iamdpw@aol.com

To: Thomglo@verizon.net

Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 11:55 AM

Subject: Permission

Tom-

I sent a copy of an item from your blog to some of my classmates as a suggestion of what we could present as entertainment at our next annual class meeting. It was your piece about "day dreaming" of going back to HHS and recalling pleasant memories of those days.

My question is this- Can we have your permission to quote some (or maybe all ) of that article in our presentation at our luncheon in June? We would of course acknowledge that the words are yours.

Don Whiteley

1946: THE NEW HAMILTON THEATRE

This was RKO's Christmas gift to Hamilton Township way back on Christmas Eve, 1946. The Hamilton was a favorite of my mom and dad. Unfortunately, it went the way of the Passenger Pigeon after a very short time in existance, and today serves as a church,

1910: SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST TENTED CITY

There are certain aspects of historic research which pose identification problems. This is one of them. The article states that the encampment was on Highland Avenue without further information. There is a Highland Avenue in the Cadwalader-West End area of Trenton, and another in Yardville Heights. Looking at maps of both locations suggests that the encampment was at Yardville Heights. The reason being that the area shown in the photo is very expansive and Trenton's Highland Avenue is very short. Don Wright, do you have any information on the possibility that the Adventists set up a tent city in the Heights? My Aunt, Uncle and cousins were Seventh Day Adventists but unfortunately they are no longer with us.