1918: Influenza Epidemic

An earlier post told of the horrible flu epidemic which afflicted the U.S. back in 1918. Quarantines were commonplace, and as you can see by the article, even the churches suspended services.

1953: Check Out a Classmate's Website

I received an email from Lee Donehower, Steinert H.S. Class of 1966. He has set up a very nice website dedicated to that Spartan Class. There are also some photos of the Kuser Class of '53 who became the class of '66. Check it out at http://www.lee-pat.net/Steinert/Steinert.html

1957: Emily C. Reynolds

She was a giant among the educators in Hamilton Township. It was a privilege to have been a student during her time as Principal of Kuser school. I was in the Army in Europe when she passed away in 1957, and I recall the shock when Mom Glover's letter came, advising me of her passing.

Miss Kelly's "Reception Grade"

It's nice to know that the beautiful little nook in Miss Kelly's "Reception Grade" room is still just as it was when I was there back in the late 1930's. I still remember sitting in that little alcove, cutting out pictures from "Liberty," Saturday Evening Post," and "Look" magazine.

The Bicycle Ramp

I frequently take a quiet walk around the Kuser School, and rarely do I pass a spot that doesn't hold many childhood memories. This digital photo shows the sloped entrance way to the basement where we used to park our bicycles.
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On a negative note, every plastic window in the school has turned an opaque and ugly brown, due to what I suspect is ultra violet exposure. The company who sold those windows to the Board of Education should be sued! When the bricks on the building were re-pointed back in the 80's, those "windows" were beautiful. Look at them now!

1953: "Reception Grade" Class Photo from Marsha Church King

Thank you Marsha! This and the following 3 posts are from Marsha and her fellow classmates from Miss Mary Kelly's "Reception Grade." They are much appreciated and a very nice addition to the historic heritage of Kuser School. Marsha's Mom provided the identification.

1953: The Principals

What a treasure! Ruth Parker and Emily Reynolds as we knew them! Ruth was a teacher when I was a student at Kuser. Emily was the Principal. Thanks to Marsha Church King, former "Kuser Kat" for this wonderful photo,.

1953: Pages from the Kuser School Yearbook

Thanks to Ms. Marsha Church King, Kuser 4th grade class, whose Mother saved these photos for posterity. If there were more Moms like Marsha's, we would have a much more comprehensive collection of memorabilia. Sorry to say I have not identification, but there may be in the future. Come back another time!

Please note that this graphic was scanned at 300 dots per inch for enhanced clarity. Use your computer mouse to navigate the page up and down and side to side.

1950: Alex Bencivengo

Here's Alex, our star shortstop on the Plaag's Grove baseball field. We didn't have uniforms, we used rocks or bricks for bases, a baseball that was probably re-covered with black friction tape, and a bat that probably was repaired with a nail to mend a split. BUT.....did we ever have a great time playing our version of "sandlot" baseball! The young fellow you're looking at in this post was our star shortstop. Alex had the incredible ability to cover the SS are of the dusty infield like a vacuum cleaner. Alex was a dear friend during my childhood, and we had many good times together. I miss ya Alex, and think of you often. Alex was the "little brother "of Hamilton School Super Neil Bencivengo, cousin to a childhood crush, Madeline Bencivengo.

1937: Kuser Annex Soccer Team

Here's a team photo of Kuser Annex's 1937 soccer team. There will be more material on "KA" as I dig deeper into my collection.

1947 Kuser Annex "CRIER"

Even as Hamilton High School had their "CRITERION" as the official school newspaper, so too did we at Kuser Annex have our class newspaper. This is the cover on the Christmas 1947 edition. The paper was printed via mimeograph. I have digitized all the issues and they are safely preserved for posterity.

Kuser Annex 1947-1948

Here are 3 of my classmates at Kuser Annex in Hamilton High's class of 1951. Alice Schmidt, Lorraine Prieth, and Lucy Spera pose of the camera.

Many of the younger generation are not aware that Kuser School hosted Hamilton High School's 9th grade for those of us who lived in the Newkirk, Liberty, Kuser Road area of Hamilton.

FYI

Many people have told me that they save my "Sentimental Journey" columns and send them to friends and relatives out of the local area. My column is in the "People" section of the Times EVERY OTHER SATURDAY. Tell your out of town friends and relatives who have computer/internet capabilities that they can find my column published online on those weeks when it appears in the paper. The internet site http://www.njo.com is the site where the Times and the Star Ledger post archives, but it is somewhat difficult to get to the 14 day archives. I find it easier and much quicker to go to Google, and in the "Search For" block, enter this string:
TOM GLOVER HAMILTON TRENTON
you will find my column if it is a week when my column is published.

1934: Kuser 4H Club

SORRY FOR THE LENGTHY ABSENCE! FOR THE PAST 2 WEEKS I HAVE BEEN LITERALLY OVERWHELMED WITH VARIOUS COMMUNITY PROJECTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INDULGENCE.

These young ladies are cooking the most delicious dinner for their parents. In my day it was known as "home economics," as I recall. There was no 4H group at Kuser when I attended in the 40's.

1937: Kuser Saftey Patrol

Here's a great example of the neighborhood school concept.
The students pictured are known to many old timers in the Kuser neighborhood. Indeed, that young man on the far left in the second row is my brother, Len, now in his 81st year. Over the years, I have received mail from Ms. Volz. Betty Johnson, shown in the first row, was one of brother Len's grammar school "crushes."

1937: Kuser Annex's Soccer Team

KUSER SOCCER 1932-1933

CLOSE INSPECTION SEEMS TO REVEAL THAT TO BE A SOCCER BALL, ALTHOUGH IT LOOKS SUSPICIOUSLY LIKE A BASKETBALL. I OPTED FOR SOCCER DUE TO THE FACT THAT KUSER HAD A SOCCER FIELD BUT HAD NO BASKETBALL FACILITIES.

THE CLASS OF '32

CHANCES ARE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF VIEWERS OF THIS SITE WHO HAVE RELATIVES OR FRIENDS WHO ARE IN THESE MANY OLD KUSER SCHOOL PHOTOS. IF YOU DO RECOGNIZE ANYONE, PLEASE FORWARD THE INFORMATION TO ME FOR INCLUSION IN THE HAMILTON LIBRARY'S "KUSER SCHOOL" FOLDER. (thomglo@verizon.net)

1944: Class Photo

These kids preceded me by three years at Kuser. As can be seen in the photo, classes were fairly large during that era. Of course, I recognize many of the members, including Dick Soffel, Bob Reed, Rudy Goehrig, Gladys Dilts, Dorothy Glover (Yup, my big sister), and....well, you get the idea.... BASED ON THE SMALL SIZE OF THE PHOTO, I WILL RE-SCAN IT IN TWO SEGMENTS. STAY TUNED.

1931: THE KUSER SCHOOL ORCHESTRA

I HAVE AN INCREDIBLE SERIES OF VINTAGE KUSER SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHS WHICH WERE DESTINED FOR THE RECYCLE BIN IN MY COLLECTION. THIS DIGITIZED VIEW OF THE KUSER SCHOOL ORCHESTRA, 1931 IS JUST ONE OF THEM. THE DIGITAL GEM HAS BEEN FILED IN THE "KUSER SCHOOL" FOLDER IN THE HAMILTON LIBRARY'S LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION., NOTE THE KNICKERS ON THE BOYS! IF ANY VIEWER RECOGNIZES ANY OF THE SUBJECTS IN THE PHOTO, I SURE WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE THE INFORMATION IN THE LIBRARY FOLDER.

A REMINDER FROM TOM

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE THE GRAPHIC.

AND

DON'T FORGET TO LOOK ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THIS WEBSITE TO ACCESS THE PAST ENTRIES ON THIS SITE. THEY BEGIN IN JUNE, 2006. CLICK ON EACH MONTH, AND YOU WILL BE ABLE TO START FROM THE BEGINNING.

1947: Kuser Annex "CRIER"

Imagine if you will, a sixty year old mimeographed newsletter which has been ravaged by age. Take one of those antiques, scan it to the computer, and with the magic of computer technology, all the tears, stains, discoloration, and fading print can be brought back to life, even better than the originals, and printed on much higher quality paper. Here is a page featuring one of my favorite "Kuser Kids,"Charlotte Wilson (Colye) with whom I went from Reception Grade to 12th grade at Hamiton High. The reprinted graphic is from the Christmas, 1947 edition of the Kuser Annex monthly newspaper, the "CRIER." We read once again about the life we lived back there a Freshmen at Kuser Annex, a group of Hamilton Class of 1951 students who attended ninth grade on the second floor of our much loved Kuser School. Here again, generations of the future will be able to access these files at the Hamilton Library's Local History Collection and see how grandma and grandpa or great grandma and great grandpa spent their educational years in the middle of the 20th century!

THAT VERY SUCCESSFUL KUSER FARM CONCERT

TO ANY VIEWERS OF THIS SITE WHO ATTENDED MY MONDAY, AUGUST 28TH MUSIC PROGRAM, "ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS MUSIC," MY HEARTY THANKS. I PRINTED UP 125 PROGRAMS, AND AT THE END OF THE EVENING ONLY 12 WERE NOT DISTRIBUTED, SO YOU CAN SEE THAT MORE THAN 100 LOVERS OF THE MUSIC WE GREW UP WITH WERE IN ATTENDANCE. UNKNOWN TO ME AND THE POWERS THAT BE, THE GAZEBO HAD ONLY ONE LIGHT. AS DARKNESS ENVELOPED THE LOVELY KUSER FARM PARK, I FOUND MYSELF BATHED IN THE LIGHT OF ONLY ONE VERY DIM LIGHT! I ASKED THOSE IN ATTENDANCE IF THEY HAD A PROBLEM "SINGING IN THE DARK" INSTEAD OF "DANCING IN THE DARK," AND I RECEIVED A ROUSING "NO PROBLEM!" THE SHOW MUST GO ON, AND IT DID. THE MANY POSITIVE COMMENTS I RECEIVED ON THE PROGRAM WAS GRATEFULLY RECEIVED. AS I AND THE CROWD IN ATTENDANCE SAT IN COMPLETE DARKNESS, I LIKENED IT TO SINGING AROUND THE CAMPFIRE WITHOUT THE FIRE!

COME SING WITH ME! YOU'LL LOVE IT!

I have been performing my music presentation in many local venues over the past 20-plus years. They have proved to be quite successfull.....not due to any great singing talent I may have but that success lies in the fact that I am bringing music back that we haven't heard in 50 or 60 years. Old songs like "On the Boardwalk in Atlantic City," "Maybe You'll Be There," "Sentimental Journey," "Walkin' My Baby Back Home," and literally hundreds of the songs we grew up with.

Many of the songs I learned while "Kuser Kat" back in the 1940's are part of the program. Long forgotten school music such as "The Erie Canal," "Pomp and Circumstance," "Long Long Ago," "Tying Apples on a Lilac Tree," "Go in and out the windows," "A Capitol Ship" (for an ocean trip was the walloping window blind. No wind that blew dismayed her crew...." Remember?

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! AUGUST 27

Circa 1943: Wartime at Kuser

Here's an article detailing activities at Kuser School during the WWII years. How well I remember "Red Cross Day! I still have one of those little red cross buttons around the house somewhere.

Mary Kelly: A Kuser School Legend

There are very few old time "Kuser Kats" who weren't in Miss Kelly's Reception grade. Back then, Kindergarten was known as Reception grade. Miss Kelly's room still looks much the same as it did in the 20's, 30's, and 40's. I recently visited the school, and Ms Crea, the Principal, allowed me to go through the halls and photograph some of the scenes of my childhood. One of the photos I took was the fireplace in Mary Kelly's room; much the same as when I was a boy. How many of you remember sitting on the floor while Miss Kelly read "Dick and Jane" to us? (And let's not forget Dick and Jane's pets, "Puff" and "Spot!"

Here's an oversized scan of the commencement exercises held by the Class of 1917 at Kuser School. Kuser and Klockner are the two oldest grammar schools in Hamilton Township. I note that the class of 1917 consisted of nine graduates, one of whom was James Bachman. I graduated with James A. Bachman in the class of '51 at HHS. The Bachmans lived on Hobart and Davis Avenue.

1943: Kuser Annex

Here's the cast of what was called the annual "Spring Entertainment" put on by the students of Kuser Annex. For those viewers who are not familiar with "the Annex," it served Kuser neighborhood are students as their freshman year. Students from Kuser, Greenwood, and Homedell spent their freshman year at "KA, then it was on to good old Hamilton High for the Sophomore, Junior and Senior years.

1921: Emily C. Reynolds

Long before she became Principal of Kuser, Emily Reynolds taught the 4th grade. Believe it or not, this historic letter was destined for the recycle bin!

1930: Kuser School Districts

Am I ever glad to have grown up on Hartley Avenue, well within the Kuser School district! This graphic details the boundary line for Kuser School as it was set in the year 1930. There doesn't appear to be much difference to the boundary we still use here in the year 2006.

1940: Ruth Margerum's Third Grade

Ruth Margerum was one of my favorite Kuser School teachers. It was she who nurtured and encouraged me in my music. Here is a classroom photo of the third grade class of 1940 attending to their "Cotton Plantation" project.

Emily Reynolds Leads the Kuser Khorus

Here is a photo, circa 1949-50 with Principal Emily Reynolds leading the Kuser Chorus in a Christmas chorale. When we old time Kuser School alumni see Miss Reynolds standing at the podium, it brings to mind the many times she stood before that very podium on the Kuser stage and led is in a old testament prayer.

...."You shall be like a tree planted by still waters..."

Circa 1949 Emily C. Reynolds

Here she is, a legend in her time. She was the Principal of Kuser School whose entire career was dedicated to the education of children at Kuser Grammar school. If any viewers have other photos of Miss Reynolds, I would really like to include them in the KUSER SCHOOL folder in the Hamilton Library's Local History Collection.

MY ARCHIVES

JUST A REMINDER TO CHECK THE ARCHIVES FROM APRIL AND MAY. YOU ARE VIEWING JUNE ONLY.

1930 Kuser Soccer Team

This is another photo which I rescued from the trash bin. If you recognize any of the boys in the picture, I would appreciate hearing from you.

Kuser Class of 1935 Scan 2 Left

Here's the first of two scans of this extra large graphic showing the graduates. Once again, being a neighborhood school, I know many of the names and faces in the scan, as do many Kuser alumni. In fact, the pretty blonde lady who is in the tenth position from the left in the front row is my cousin, the late Ruth Williamson Gore.

Kuser Class of 1935 Scan 1 Right

This is one of those extra long graphics which require two scans in order to acheive at least a modicum of legibility. The young lady in the second row, far left, is a lifelong neighbor Henrietta "Sissy" Soffel Hawley.

1930's Kuser Cafeteria

Sorry, the actual date on this photo us unknown, however the knickers on the boys date this as sometime in the 1930's. The children are standing in line waiting to be served. The tallest girl in the photo 3rd from left is Magdalena Houlroyd, who went on to become an employee of the Hamilton School system and served as a librarian for many years.

1943 Kuser Keystone Safety Patrol

Here's a photo showing the boys on the fabled Keystone Safety Patrol of the grammer schools of yesteryear. I have identified those I know and if you can add to the list, contact me and the identities will be entered.

1930: Kuser's PTA; ALWAYS THERE!

During nearly 100 years of Kuser's existance, the Parent Teachers Organization has played an active and valuable part in assisting the faculty in fund raisers, and all other types of support. Then, as now, selfless parents volunteered their valuable time to aid the school in various ways. This interesting article gives a thumbnail sketch of the Kuser PTA.

Ca. 1945: Kuser Keystone Safety Patrol

This photo is being segmented which allows for identification of those with whom I am familiar. See the following post for the segmented graphic. Note that there are a number of students whom I do not know. If you can identify him, her, or them, please email me at thomglo@versizon.net and I will revise the photo.

Ca. 1945: Kuser Safety Patrol

This graphic is a work in progress. As you can see, I have segmented it horizontally and added identification to those names with which I am familiar. The bottom row is still in the process of identification. If you recognize any which I do not, please contact me so they can be listed.

Circa 1929: Kuser School

Thanks to my reputation as an "historical data prospector," this very interesting Kuser School requisition for supplies was rescued from the recycle bin. One of the really painful experiences we historical researchers experience is the thoughtless destruction of significant historical papers. This graphic is a good example.

1925: Movies at Kuser School!

Kuser's PTA has always had an active and very loyal parental following. I attribute that fact to the "nieghborhood school" system, where everyone knows everyone and the espirit de corps runs very high. Here we see that the PTA is planning a revolutionary motion picture program.

1909

The very early years of Rosalie Kuser School holds many very interesting historic items. For instance, the property on which the school is located was sold to the township by a member of the Lawton family for $1.00. The land was once a part of the large Lawton farm, which was also noted for its connection with the old Camp Olden Civil War grounds which was in the same area.

1946: The Charm of the "Neighborhood School"

The clipping accompanying this post is an example of "the way we were" during the era of the "neighborhood school." As I read that article, I realized that I knew almost every person listed. I hope I am not here to witness the complete demise of the neighborhood school. Thankfully, Kuser, Klockner, Greenwood, and Lalor schools are keeping the neighborhood tradition, and all point to a glorious past. Maple Shade, Farmingdale, DeCou, Rowan, Willey, Hamilton Square, Groveville, Homedell, Deutzville, Washington, Edgebrook, and Friendship schools served their neighborhoods admirably for many years prior to their demise. The neighborhood school provided a comfortable, familiar learning environment which really went a long way to provide educational excellence. Unlike many parents in today's society, the majority our parents were very active and supportive of all of our school affairs. They were active PTA contributors, were very attentive to our report cards, and attended our many school plays and musicals. We lost a very viable educational system when the neighborhood schools of our past went the way of the passenger pigeon. Long live the survivors!

1946: Hamilton Teachers' Salaries Go Through the Roof!

The Hamilton Board of Education blazed the trail back in 1946 upping the salaries of some teachers to as high as $1,750! (That's a per year figure, folks!) Educators were severely underpaid back in my grammar school years. I can remember Mom Glover saying that teachers should get every bit as much of a salary as a doctor. She would say doctors attend to the physical body and teachers attend and nurture young minds.

THIS ARTICLE WAS SCANNED FROM THE TRENTON EVENING TIMES OF MARCH 14, 1946, AS THE TIMES WAS IN A MASSIVE LABOR DISPUTE, AND MANY OF THE STAFF WENT ON STRIKE. THE STRANGE FONT OF TYPE WAS PROBABLY GENERATED BY A TYPEWRITER. THE STRIKE RESULTED IN THE STRIKERS STARTING THE "TRENTONIAN" NEWSPAPER.

WWII AT KUSER SCHOOL

I have written numerous columns over the years recalling the world war II years through the eyes of a young boy. One of the memorable vestiges of that era at Kuser School was "Red Cross Day." the other was "Defense Stamp Day," when we all saved our pennies and tried to fill our Defense Stamp Book.

THE SECOND COLUMN IN THE "KUSER" ARTICLE has a problem. Look at the column on the right. You will see a space between the lines which is greater than the other between the line spaces in the article. For some reason, the text below the "excess white space" should be at the top of the column, and vice versa. Confused? Sorry for the juxtaposition of text when I edited the graphic.

Somewhere in time

This is an early, circa 1920's or 30's photo which I saved from the trash bin. I have no idea when it was taken, nor do I know the production the children presented. Perhaps a viewer with an over 80 year old Kuser alumnus can identify the photo.

1927 The Kuser Faculty

As familiar as I am with the image of Emily C. Reynolds as I recall seeing her in the 1940's, I find it a difficult task to find her in this nearly 80 year old photo. On closer inspection, I have come to the conclusion that Miss Emily C. Reynolds is the lady in the back row, second from left.

Tom Glover's "Tribute to a Friend"

I composed this poem to coincide with the 75th anniversary of Kuser, when it was my privilege to be the Kuser alumni representative. It pretty much describes the sentiments of those of us who were students there during the 30's and 40's.

Yellow Rose of Texas

Love Me Tender

1927: Dorothy Obert's Graduation Program

Here's a gem from the Library's Local History Collection thanks to Ms. Dorothy Obert, Kuser class of 1927.

NOTE: THE ENTRY UNDER THE GRAPHIC ERRONEOUSLY DATES
MS. OBERT AS THE CLASS OF 1947. IT SHOULD READ 1927

Kuser Annex

• Students who lived in the area served by Kuser School went from eighth grade to ninth grade at Kuser School, attending "Kuser Annex." The Annex was where we spent our freshman year, and then it was on to Hamilton High for the rest of our high school education.
  

Mary Kelly - Reception Grade

Unfortunately a school has never been named for this woman who spent her entire career at Kuser. Ask any Kuser alumnus to tell you about this lady. She taught generations of familes during her long tenure as a "Reception" grade teacher at Kuser.