CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM. PLEASE NOTE MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS TGLOVER320@OPTIMUM.NET THANK YOU FOR VISITING!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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! 
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.
