1959-1960: RUTH PARKER, KUSER PRINCIPAL

They couldn't have chosen a better replacement for Emily C. Reynolds than this lady! She was cut from the same cloth as Miss Reynolds. Both were fair but very strict disciplinarians and at the same time loved and respected by her students.

Betsy Scott Fitzmeyer said...

Ruth Parker was one of the two best teachers I had at Kuser during 8th grade. The other was Irene Gaydos.

I began school at Kuser, which was supposed to be named after my great, great grandfather Henry Lawton who donated the land for the building of the school. In any event, I still cherish my memories of my days at the school, and of Miss Reynolds and Mr. Shockey, the scool's custodian.

7:31 AM

BETSY SCOTT FITZMEYER SAID:

Fascinating! I very much liked the same two teachers, although Mrs. Carnochan (spelling?) was my all time favorite. I recall Miss Parker lecturing us to keep the collars on our blouses down. The latest fashion was to wear them up in celebration of be-bop. Miss Parker would not allow us to use ball-point pens. They were pretty messy when the first came out, but so, too were the ink wells we were asked to use. I loved to watch Miss Parker write. She had a way of "winding up" in a circular motion before she let the pen hit the page.
Henry Lawton was my great grandfather, and William Henry Lawton, my father, was the oldest of Henry Lawton's grandchildren (born 1900). Dad told me that his grandfather wanted the school named after the Civil War Camp because it was on that very land that the soldiers had camped. I would like to talk withBetsy Scott Fitzmeyer to find out what our relationship is. I had not known she existed until I read the article. It would be fun to talk to her if she is agreeable.

Tom's note to Betsy: I changed the spelling of Miss Carnochan's last name to a closer semblance of the actual name, but I can't say that my spelling is correct.

1945-1950: KUSER: STILL THE BEST!

THANKS TO MY FRIEND BILL OPFERMAN FOR THIS PHOTO OF KUSER FROM HIS KUSER 1960 YEARBOOK. BILL LEFT THE BOOK WITH ME FOR A FEW DAYS AND I AM POSTING SOME OF THE CLASS PHOTOS. (SEE PREVIOUS POSTS) WITH SUCH A NOSTALGIC VIEW OF THE SCHOOL AND THAT GREAT PASSING '50 FORD, I DECIDED THAT THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL VIEW AND DECORATED IT WITH OUR SCHOOL COLORS. THANKS, BILLY!

COME CELEBRATE HAMILTON HIGH'S "GOLDEN YEARS!"

ANY ALUMNI FROM HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL'S"GOLDEN YEARS" MAY BE INTERESTED IN THE PROGAM WE ARE PRESENTING TUESDAY EVENING (MAY 15, 2007) AT THE KUSER MANSION AT 7:00 PM. BROTHERS LEN AND BUD GLOVER ALONG WITH JESS ANDERSON AND I WILL BE RECALLING HIGH SCHOOL SCHOOL YEARS AS WE LIVED IT IN THE 1930'S, 40'S AND 50’S. WE WILL RECALL HARVEY HESSER, JIM CROW, “SNEAKY PETE,” “CACTUS JACK,” LOUISE BAIRD, FLORENCE CORNWELL, TOONE TOWN, FIVE HOURS DETENTION, RUSS AYRES’ HOT DOG STAND, RUSS AYRES’ PRIOR’S DONUTS, SMOKING OUT PAST THE 3RD POLE, AND OTHER LONG FORGOTTEN HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL MEMORIES. IF YOU WERE A HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ANYWHERE IN THE U.S. DURING THOSE YEARS, YOUR EXPERIENCES WILL BE WELCOME. THIS IS AN INFORMAL COFFEE KLATCH WITHOUT THE COFFEE.

RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED. CAL 890-3630 AND LEAVE A MESSAGE ON THE KUSER FARM MACHINE.

KUSER SCHOOL MEMORIES TONIGHT MAY 8 AT KUSER MANSION

ANY ALUMNI FROM KUSER SCHOOL'S"GOLDEN YEARS" MAY BE INTERESTED IN THE PROGAM WE ARE PRESENTING TONIGHT MAY 8 AT THE KUSER MANSION. BROTHERS LEN AND BUD GLOVER ALONG WITH JESS ANDERSON AND I WILL BE RECALLING GRAMMAR SCHOOL DAYS AS WE LIVED IT IN THE 1930'S AND 40'S. WE WILL RECALL EMILY REYNOLDS, MARY KELLY, MISS ABROMOVITZ, JULIA MCLAIN, RUTH PARKER, MABEL CARNALL, LOU RADER AND JEAN LARZALERE FROM KUSER ANNEX, AND OTHER LONG FORGOTTEN GRAMMAR SCHOOL MEMORIES. IF YOU WERE A GRAMMAR SCHOOL STUDENT ANYWHERE IN THE U.S. DURING THOSE YEARS, YOUR EXPERIENCES WILL BE WELCOME. THIS IS AN INFORMAL COFFEE KLATCH WITHOUT THE COFFEE.

RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED. CAL 890-3530 AND LEAVE A MESSAGE ON THE KUSER FARM MACHINE.

PLEASE SIGN THE GUESTBOOK!

FOR SOME REASON, I FIND THOSE WHO ACCESS THIS SITE HAVE NOT BEEN SIGNING THE GUEST BOOK.

YOUR COMMENTS, POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE AND YOUR SUGGESTIONS, ARE IMPORTANT TO THE CONTINUANCE OF THIS SITE. TAKE A MINUTE AND SIGN, EVEN IF YOU SIGN AS "ANONYMOUS."

KUSER FARM GAZEBO SUMMER SUNDAY CONCERTS

Bing Crosby, Patti Page, Perry Como, Mario Lanza, Joni James, George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Eddie Fisher, Glenn Miller,..........
I will be hosting the Sunday evening “gazebo concerts” at Kuser Farm Park throughout the summer of 2007. Each Sunday from July 8^th through August 26^th, from 6 to 7:30 or 8 P.M., we will bring a nostalgic evening of music under the stars. Each week will feature an hour and a half or two of classic love ballads, country music, Irving Berlin classics, “Tin Pan Alley” favorites, Broadway tunes, music of World War II, the 40’s, the 50’s, and even some of the smooth and understandable songs of the 60’s and 70's. Sing along or just listen and enjoy! For those dancers in our midst, that great little concrete dance floor in front of the gazebo welcomes you when we roll out the barrel with polkas, jitter bugs, line dancing, and good old fashioned cheek to cheek dancing. The media has decided that our music doesn’t fit their target audience. Viewers of this website and my "Sentimental Journey" columns in the Trenton TIMES ARE my target audience! The programs are free of charge. Bring a folding chair or a blanket and settle back and remember the music we grew up with.....indeed the era when music was music!

I look forward to seeing many of you beginning onSunday, July 8^th.

There will be no rain dates.

STAY TUNED...More information will be forthcoming.

SENIOR CITIZENS' KUSER SCHOOL MEMORIES

ATTENTION FELLOW "KUSER KATS" OF ALL AGES!

ON TUESDAY EVENING , MAY 8, 2007 AT 7:00 PM AT THE KUSER FARM MANSION, I AND MY TWO BROTHERS, BUD AND LEN GLOVER, WILL BE PRESENTING A PROGRAM ENTITLED, "KUSER SCHOOL: GRAMMAR SCHOOL MEMORIES." WE WILL BE RECALLING OUR YEARS AT THIS WONDERFUL INSTITUTION OF LEARNING.

THOSE IN ATTENDANCE WILL LEARN WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE FOR STUDENTS AT KUSER DURING THE 1930'S TROUGH THE 1940'S.

LEONARD GLOVER ATTENDED KUSER FROM 1930 TO 1938. WILLIAM "BUD" GLOVER FROM 1933 TO 1941, AND THOMAS "TOM" GLOVER FROM 1939 TO 1947, DURING THOSE YEARS EMILY C. REYNOLDS WAS THE PRINCIPAL, AND THE LEGENDARY "RECEPTION GRADE" TEACHER WAS MISS MARY KELLEY.


KUSER SCHOOL WILL BE IN THE NEWS DURING THE NEXT FEW YEARS AS WE APPROACH THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS FOUNDING IN 1909.

THE PROGRAM IS FREE OF CHARGE, BUT RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED. SEATING IS LIMITED, SO CALL NOW TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT. 609-890-3630
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, EMAIL ME AT thomglo@verizon.net
Publish

1947: KUSER ANNEX AD PAGE

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING PAGE FROM OUR KUSER ANNEX NEWSPAPER, "THE CRIER."

1948: THREE OF MY CLASSMATES

HERE ARE THREE OF MY CLASSMATES AT KUSER ANNEX IN 1948 (HHS '51). TO THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW ABOUT KUSER ANNEX, IT WAS HERE THAT KIDS IN THE LIBERTY-NEWKIRK-HAMILTON-CEDAR LANE AREA ATTENDED OUR 9TH GRADE BEFORE GOING OVER TO HAMILTON HIGH TO BEGIN OUR SOPHOMORE YEAR.

CIRCA 1920'S: EMILY REYNOLDS REQUISITION

Another document which I consider to be of historic interest. Why? Simply because it gives a very good idea of the tools of the trade which were in use back in the early years of our Hamilton educational system. I looked in vain for printer cartridges, copy paper, ball point pens, and other school necessities, but found none! I did note a requisition for pen holders. Hmmm, that must be one of those new fangled writing instruments that they dip in that glass bottle with a black bakelite top with a swivel opening....I think they call it an inkwell.....must be the forerunner of today's inkjets.

1937: Kuser Graduates

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: I GIVE YOU THE CLASS PHOTO FROM THE CLASS OF 1937, KUSER SCHOOL. AS I HAVE STATED MANY TIMES, KUSER IS A "NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL," AND I RECOGNIZE MANY OF THOSE IN THE PHOTO AS BEING MY NEIGHBORS BACK IN MY YOUTH.

1922: Thank you note

Would you believe that this rare treasure from one of Hamilton Township's most revered educators was destined for the trash bin? Thanks to then-Superintendent Al DeMartin, I was allowed to preserve these documents for posterity, Why in the world would anyone consider trashing this historical material? Sadly, there is probably still material stored away in the dark closets around Hamilton Township's many buildings, but they are not appreciated for their historic value, and will ultimately and quietly be placed in the recycle bin. SAD!

1944: Kuser School 4th Grade

Hey, that's my little brother Donny down there in the 3rd row, far left! And there's his buddy Donny Bargholz on the opposite side, next to that poor young lady whose photo is torn off! Does anyone from that class (HHS '57) have a complete copy of this photo? If so, would you scan it and send it to me so I can post it?

A TOM GLOVER REMINDER FOR NEWCOMERS

A TOM GLOVER REMINDER FOR NEWCOMERS

If this is your first venture to my "Unofficial" Kuser School website, welcome!

1) THE GRAPHICS CAN BE ENLARGED BY CLICKING THE IMAGE. IT WILL OPEN FULL SIZE. IF YOU ARE USING AN EARLIER VERSION OF INTERNET EXPLORER, WAIT FOR THE BLUE AND GOLD ICON WHICH WILL APPEAR TO THE LOWER RIGHT OF THE GRAPHIC.
2) IF YOU WANT TO EMAIL ANY OF THE GRAPHICS TO YOURSELF OR YOUR FRIENDS, LOOK DOWN TO THE RIGHT AND SEE THE LITTLE ENVELOPE ICON. CLICK ON IT AND FILL IN THE BLANKS.
3) YOU WILL NOTE THAT THERE IS A "COMMENTS" OPTION NEAR THE ABOVE-MENTIONED ENVELOPE ICON. IF YOU HAVE ANY, BY ALL MEANS SEND THEM IN.

AS THIS SITE GROWS, YOU WILL PROBABLY SEE INFREQUENT DUPLICATE GRAPHICS; IGNORE THEM....THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY THERE AS A RESULT OF A MALADY I HAVE ACQUIRED WHICH IS KNOWN AS A "SENIOR MOMENT!"

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, CONTACT ME AT thomglo@verizon.net

From Tom Buker - a 1954 Kuser Kat

Following is an email I received from Mr. Bob Buker. The Buker family resided on Charlotte Avenue. Leland ("Leon") Buker and his wife Rose were dear friends during my years at St. Anthony's in Hamilton. Tom sent this email, and due to the fact that it refers to Charlotte Wilson Coyle (Kuser 1947), Bob Buker (Kuser 1954), and brother Tom who grew up in the Kuser neighborhood, I felt that it should be included on the Kuser School website. Following is Bob's email:
================================================================

Good Morning Tom,
My name is Robert Buker and I am a graduate of Kuser School in 1954. My brother Tom also attended Kuser but graduated from a school in Ewing when we moved there in 1958. He sent me your web site information and I really enjoyed looking at it except for the part about Charlotte Wilson. Charlotte grew up on Charlotte Ave living next to my Grandparents who resided at 11 Charlotte Ave. My grandparents were Rose and Leland Buker. My parents Leon and Ruth Buker, my brother Tom and I lived at 46 Charlotte Ave. I spent a lot of time with the Wilson’s over the years and Charlotte was my baby sitter on numerous occasions and I remember her playing the piano in their living room. When ever I would see her I would call her Fo Fo. I called her that because when I was very young I could not say Charlotte. It has been years since the last time I have seen her but she was always a special person and always laughed when I called her FoFo. Charlotte was a close friend to my Aunt, Margarite Curran (Buker) who at 91 resides in Morris Hall. I am very sorry to find that she passed away.

I wanted to let you know that I have the 1954 graduation class photo at Kuser School. I am going to try to scan this photo in and send it to you. I think I can identify a lot of the people pictured in it. I went to school with the same kids at at Kuser for 8 grades then 3 years at Hamilton and then we moved to Ewing and graduated from Ewing HIGH IN 1959. I will email you the photo and I will look for others that I might have from Kuser.

Bob Buker

1951: Kuser Class of 1951 Photo

Long

Long live the neighborhood school! I see Alex Bencivengo, Dave Sneath, Billy Mozer, Eddie Peterson, , and as I looked real close I think I also recognize Bobby Goodwin in the second row, far left.

1955: Kuser School Safety Patrol 1954-1955

This is 1/3 of the entire class photo. In order to maintain a very legible scan it has been segmented into 3 parts. The original class photo would be much to large to fit in this window, and the details in the photo nearly impossible to see.

SEGMENT 2 OF 3 BELOW

THANKS TO JIM GELTCH FOR CORRECTING THE YEAR OF THIS PHOTO. JIM IS A KUSER CLASS OF 1956 ALUMNUS, AND HE POINTED OUT THAT THE PHOTO IS THE SAFETY PATROL FOR THE 1954-1955 SCHOOL YEAR.
MANY THANKS FOR THE CORRECTION, JIM.

1955: Kuser Safety Patrol, 1954-1955 Part 2

See part 3 below

THANKS TO JIM GELTCH FOR CORRECTING THE YEAR OF THIS PHOTO. JIM IS A KUSER CLASS OF 1956 ALUMNUS, AND HE POINTED OUT THAT THE PHOTO IS THE SAFETY PATROL FOR THE 1954-1955 SCHOOL YEAR.
MANY THANKS FOR THE CORRECTION, JIM.

1955: Kuser Safety Patrol, 1954-1955 Part 3

This is the 3rd of 3 segments.

THANKS TO JIM GELTCH FOR CORRECTING THE YEAR OF THIS PHOTO. JIM IS A KUSER CLASS OF 1956 ALUMNUS, AND HE POINTED OUT THAT THE PHOTO IS THE SAFETY PATROL FOR THE 1954-1955 SCHOOL YEAR.
MANY THANKS FOR THE CORRECTION, JIM.

1949: MY WEEKLY READER!

Few indeed are the "Kuser Kats" who didn't subscribe to the "My Weekly Reader." It was a staple for most kids in the 40's in Hamilton Township grammar schools, and indeed schools throughout the nation. Ahh.....sweet memories of those dear old golden rule days.

1938: My Classmate, Karen Peterson

Here she is, the girl with whom I went through 12 years of school. We began our education right here at Kuser School, class of '47 and then to Hamilton High, class of '51.

1947 Kuser Annex Christmas Entertainment

What memories this program brings! It has been severely compressed in order to allow for complete legibility. This program was presented back before they expelled God from the public schools. You will notice that my name doesn't appear in the program. The reason? Miss Jean Larzalere didn't like me. (The feeling was mutual.)

1981: My Very First Column

HOW TIME DOES FLY! I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT I HAVE BEEN WRITING A COLUMN FOR NEARLY 26 YEARS. THE GRAPHIC ACCOMPANYING THIS POST REPRESENTS MY FIRST INCURSION INTO THE FIELD OF JOURNALISM. THE MERCER MESSENGER WAS A WONDERFUL LOCAL INTEREST COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER. "THE WAY WE WERE SURVIVED AT THE MESSENGER UNTIL THE PAPER FOLDED IN THE EARLY 1990'S, AT WHICH POINT I TRANSFERRED IT OVER TO THE PRINCETON PACKET'S HAMILTON OBSERVER. COMMUNITY WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS IN THE TRENTON AREA ARE NOT TOO SUCCESSFUL WITH THE COMPETITION OF THE DAILY TRENTON TIMES AND TRENTONIAN.

Charlotte Wilson: 1933-2006 KUSER CLASS OF '47

Judy and I were shocked when Jim Coyle called and told us of Charlotte's untimely death on January 6th. Judy and Charlotte were like sisters all through their childhood years, living just around the corner from each other, and hanging together through thick and thin. Indeed, Charlotte told Judy she was the reason she converted to the Catholic faith. I started school with Charlotte all the way back in Miss Kelly's Reception grade and through all grammar school and 4 years as a classmate in HHS '51. Charlotte was a straight "A" student all the way through school. I will always remember her as a wonderful, kind, and dear friend. As to Judy, with a tear in her eye, she said "She was my very best friend." May the Good Lord welcome her into his heavenly kingdom.

A TOM GLOVER REMINDER FOR NEWCOMERS

If this is your first venture to my "Unofficial" Kuser School website, welcome!

1) THE GRAPHICS CAN BE ENLARGED BY CLICKING THE IMAGE. IT WILL OPEN FULL SIZE. IF YOU ARE USING AN EARLIER VERSION OF INTERNET EXPLORER, WAIT FOR THE BLUE AND GOLD ICON WHICH WILL APPEAR TO THE LOWER RIGHT OF THE GRAPHIC.
2) IF YOU WANT TO EMAIL ANY OF THE GRAPHICS TO YOURSELF OR YOUR FRIENDS, LOOK DOWN TO THE RIGHT AND SEE THE LITTLE ENVELOPE ICON. CLICK ON IT AND FILL IN THE BLANKS.
3) YOU WILL NOTE THAT THERE IS A "COMMENTS" OPTION NEAR THE ABOVE-MENTIONED ENVELOPE ICON. IF YOU HAVE ANY, BY ALL MEANS SEND THEM IN.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, CONTACT ME AT thomglo@verizon.net

1922: Harold Wildblood's Promotion Certificate

What an interesting document! Thanks to my friend Alan Wildblood for submitting this fascinating Certificate of Promotion for his father, Harold Wildblood. Note that the terminology is different from later years: "Primary Grade" became "Reception Grade," and "1st Grammar Grade" became "First Grade." Also note that over the years, Emily Reynolds exquisite handwriting, including her signature has remained steadfastly consistent. Many thanks, Alan!

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.
===================================
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.