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.

1909: The New Rosalie Kuser School

Did you know that Kuser and Klockner schools started out as "twins?" Well, they did! Klockner still maintains the architecture you see here on the original Kuser as it looked on opening day, 1909. In 1924, "wings" were added to each side of Kuser to accommodate an increase in the population of the Kuser area.

1944: The Milk Board

Only "Kuser Kats" from the 30's and 40's will recognize this familiar photo. I often pulled the milk wagon around the halls, diligently checking the order for who gets "white" milk and who gets chocolate. Yes. back in my early years, you could choose chocolate! Delivering the milk each morning before recess was more fun than standing out on the back steps clapping the blackboard erasers.

Amy Belle Smith: Eighth Grade

This gentle lady had charge of 8th grade math at Kuser. It was in her class where I set a record. I had been on the honor roll every marking period in every year until I was exposed to long division and equations; the latter subject being the introduction to algebra. I didn't fail Mrs. Smith's "Arithmetic" class, but I didn't maintain the "B" or above average to maintain honor roll status. Mrs. Smith's hobby was collecting bells. She had an enormous collection. She attributed her interest in bells to her middle name of "Belle."

In an email to me, Lorraine Feehan May reminded me that

"Miss" Smith was "Mrs." Smith. She wrote:

I remember Mrs. Smith, Miss Lacy, and all the teachers at Kuser. Mrs Smith taught us how to cast out nines. Anyone else remember that?

THANKS TO RAY BELL OF GROVEVILLE

FOR THIS LONG SOUGHT PHOTO OF MRS. SMITH.

1938: Another Classroom Project

These boys built an airport, complete with a tower, airplanes and a hangar.

Kuser School "Glee Club"

What a charming appellation! "Glee Club!" When was the last time you heard that long forgotten name for a choral group? I was a card carrying member of the "Glee Club," through every year at Kuser School, 3rd grade through 8th. When I got to Hamilton High, it was mercifully changed to the "Choir." These young ladies are all in white blouses with a sprig of holly on their blouses. Some of the girls are wearing green skirts, and others are wearing red. Oh, yeah....we also sang......(a gasp of horror here, please!)..... religious Christmas songs! We even mentioned the Diety whose name was spelled the same as the season CHRISTmas!

Circa 1947 Anna Lacy's 5th Grade

This is a photo which really brings back memories of my years at Kuser, especially in Miss Lacy's and Miss Gaydos' class. These two classes were "famous" for "classroom projects." I remember in Miss Margaret Gaydos' class, we all worked on a project wherein we built an Elizabethan Theater as it was during William Shakespeare's era. Miss Gaydos was a lover of the works of Shakespeare and some of it rubbed off on us kids.

1940: Kuser's Production of "The Toymaker"

These folks ultimately went on to become the class of '45 at Hamilton High, which just happens to be brother Bud Glover's class.

WHAT, ANOTHER GUEST BOOK?

I am having TONS of trouble finding a satisfactory guestbook hosting service. It is my hope that this one will be the final choice. This guestbook will allow me to respond to those whose emails require a response.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT AN "ICQ" IS, SO PLEASE IGNORE IT.

Kuser School Class of 43

Here's a pristine photo of some of the girls from the Kuser class of 43. Katherine "Kay" Kovacs, back row, far right, lived right up the street in my Hartley Avenue neighborhood.