1947: CHINA BOY PAGE ONE CAST

1947: CHINA BOY STAGE CRAFT, LIGHTING, ETC

1947 CHINA BOY ADMINISTRATION, ETC.

1947: CHINA BOY INSIDE BACK COVER

1947: CHINA BOY BACK COVER

KUSER SCHOOL MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES

THESE ARTICLES WERE COMPILED INTO A VIGNETTE GRAPHIC. THERE ARE MANY FAMILIAR NAMES THOUGHOUT. THIS IS ONE OF THE MORE CHARMING FEATURES OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL.

1916: PREDECESSOR TO THE PTA

THE BEGINNING OF THE 20TH CENTURY SAW THE LOCAL SCHOOLS GAINING SUPPORT FROM THE PARENTS. EARLY ON THE NAME MOST SCHOOLS CHOSE WAS "THE MOTHERS' CLUB." THAT NAME MORPHED INTO TODAY'S PTA. THEN, AS NOW, THE PARENTS PLAYED A VERY IMPORTANT PART IN THE SUPPORT OF THE TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AND SCHOOLS.

1932: MS CLOWNEY, FACULTY

WHENEVER I FIND FACULTY MEMBERS FROM ANY OF OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS, I FILE THEM IN THE APPROPRIATE HAMILTON LIBRARY LOCAL HISTORY FOLDER. IN THIS CASE, THE "KUSER SCHOOL" FOLDER. CORILLA CLOWNEY WAS A PROMINENT TEACHER EARLY IN THE 20TH CENTURY.

1932: KUSER SCHOOL HOSTS A CARD PARTY

THE SCHOOLS SERVED AS MEETING PLACES FOR VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS BACK IN THE FIRST 30 YEARS OF THE 21ST CENTURY. FARMINGDALE SCHOOL HOSTED A RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION, AND AS ILLUSTRATED ABOVE, KUSER HOSTE THE COLONIAL DEMOCRATIC CLUB. GONE ARE THE DAYS!

1915: KUSER SCHOOL MINSTREL

MINSTRELS ARE NOW POLITICALLY INCORRECT. BACK IN THE 20'S AND 30'S THEY WERE A POPULAR FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT. HERE'S THE KUSER KATS WHO TOOK PART IN THE MINSTREL IN 1915. MANY OF THE NAMES ARE QUITE FAMILIAR TO THOSE OF US WHO GREW UP IN THE HAMILTON-LIBERTY-COLONIAL GARDENS AREA.
IMMY BACHMAN WHO IS OBVIOUSLY RELATED TO THE JAMES BACHMAN IN THE FIRST ROW, FAR RIGHT, WENT THROUGH ALL THE KUSER YEARS WITH ME, GRADUATING WITH ME IN THE CLASS OF '51 AT HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL.

1928 JULIA MCCLAIN, TEACHER EXTRAORDANAIRE

EACH OF US HAS ONE, TWO, OR MAYBE MORE TEACHERS WHO HAD A POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON US. IN MY PERSONAL CASE, I HAD 4. JULIA MCCLAIN WAS ONE OF THEM. SHE DEMANDED PERFECTION AND WAS A STRICT DISCIPLINARIAN. IT WAS SHE WHO ENCOURAGED ME TO SHARPEN MY READING SKILLS, TELLING ME THAT I HAD THE NATURAL GIFT OF ELOCUTION. I DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE MEANT BACK THEN IN 6TH GRADE, BUT I SURE DID LEARN!

HONESTLY, I REALLY TRIED!

YOU KNOW THAT OLD SLOGAN THAT HAS BEEN
TRIPPING AROUND FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS:

"SUPPOSE YOU GIVE A PARTY AND NO ONE COMES?"

WELL, THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENED. THE WEDNESDAY EVENING HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL PRESENTATION WENT EXTREMELY WELL, (AS DID THE KUSER SCHOOL PESENTATION A FEW MONTHS EARLIER). BOTH PRESENTATINS TURNED OUT A PITIFUL FEW HISTORY-ORIENTED CITIZENS. IN THE WEDNESDAY EVENING HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL PRESENTATION, ALUMNI FROM THE CLASS OF '39, '46 AND '47 ATTENDED, AND APPRECIATED THE PROGRAM, SO THAT MADE IT ALL WORTH WHILE. THERE WAS LITTLE INTEREST IN THE KUSER SCHOOL PRESENTATION WHICH IS COMPLETELY PUZZLING, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE KUSER CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

ACCORDINGLY, I WILL CONTINUE GATHERING AND RECORDING LOCAL HISTORY AND PRESERVING IT FOR POSTERITY ON THE COMPUTER'S HARD DRIVE. AS TO THE VERY LOW TURNOUT, I HAVE TAKEN A PAGE FROM THE GOOD BOOK AS WE RECALL THE ADMONITION IN THE "GOOD BOOK:"

"WHEREVER TWO OR MORE ARE GATHERED IN MY NAME...."

I LEARNED A VALUABLE A LESSON: JUST BECAUSE I HAVE A DESIRE TO SHARE LOCAL HISTORY WITH THE COMMUNITY, I SHOULDN'T HAVE ASSUMED THE COMMUNITY HAS THE SAME ZEAL FOR HISTORY. LESSON LEARNED.
I WILL STAY WITH MY POPULAR KUSER MANSION MUSIC PROGRAMS, AT THE SAME TIME CONTINUE MY NEVER ENDING SEARCH FOR HISTORICAL GRAPHICS AND ARTICLES FOR THE LIBRARY'S LOCAL HISTORY COMPUTER.

NO HARD FEELINGS, JUST SOMEWHAT DISAPPOINTED.

1908: KUSER SCHOOL: IN THE BEGINNING

WITH THE KUSER SCHOOL (AND KLOCKNER SCHOOL?) CENTENNIAL LOOMING AHEAD IN THE YEAR 2009, I DECIDED TO BEGIN POSTING GRAPHICS FROM THE EARLY YEARS OF KUSER. ABOVE ARE ILLUSTRATED TWO LEGAL NOTICES WHICH WERE PUBLISHED IN THE LOCAL PRESS IN JULY, 1908, WHEN THE HAMILTON BOARD OF EDUCATION BEGAN THE PROCESS OF PLANNING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ROSALIE KUSER SCHOOL. BOTH KLOCKNER AND KUSER WERE THE PROJECTS OF THE DAY, AND I BELIEVE THE BROAD STREET PARK SCHOOL FIGURED IN THE SAME GENERAL TIME FRAME.

(SORRY ABOUT THE MIS-SPELLING OF "LEGAL;" IN THE LOWER RIGHT BOX IN THE ABOVE GRAPHIC. I TOUCH TYPE, AND APPARENTLY MISSED THE "L.")

Ca 1943: MISS LACY'S ROOM

ANNA LACY WAS MY FIFTH GRADE TEACHER. A NUMBER OF THE PHOTOS IN MY COLLECTION ARE OF THE VARIOUS CLASSROOM PROJECTS. THEY ALL SEEM TO BE FROM THE EARLY 40'S WHEN I WAS STUDENT AT KUSER. THE MEMORY IS FADING AS TO WHETHER ANY OF THEM WERE PART OF MY CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES, BUT THEY VERY WELL MAY HAVE BEEN.

1931: KUSER SCHOOL HONOR STUDENTS

THIS SUNDAY, JOIN ME AS WE SING AND SWING INTO SPRING!

I WILL BE KEEPING THIS MESSAGE ON TOP OF MY POSTS UNTIL SUNDAY

I HOPE TO SEE AT LEAST A FEW OF THE MANY VIEWERS OF MY WEBSITES AT THIS SUNDAY'S KUSER MANSION PROGRAM. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN OLD FASHIONED SING-ALONG, JUST LIKE WE DID WHEN WE WERE SINGING IN OUR PARLORS THOSE MANY YEARS AGO. ONLY THIS TIME, INSTEAD OF A PIANO, I AND YOU WILL BE SINGING TO THE ACCOMPANIMENT OF MY UNIQUE "COMPUTER ORCHESTRA." COME ON OUT. BASED ON PAST PROGRAMS, YOU WILL HAVE A WONDERFUL COUPLE OF HOURS, AND FINALLY GET A RESPITE FROM THAT DARN CABIN FEVER WE HAVE ALL BEEN SUFFERING FROM OVER THESE LONG WINTER MONTHS!

IF YOU WANT TO BYPASS THE CALL FOR RESERVATIONS, E-MAIL ME WITH HOW MANY ARE IN YOUR PARTY, AND I WILL RESERVE FOR YOU. (thomglo@verizon.net)

2009: WILLIAM "BILL"PARENT OBIT

TO THOSE WHO WERE HAMILTON STUDENTS BACK IN THE 50'S, BILL PARENT WAS A HOUSEHOLD NAME. IF YOU PLAYED "HOOKEY" FROM SCHOOL, BILL WAS "THE MAN." HE REPLACED "POP" WATSON AS HAMILTON TRUANT OFFICER. BILL AND HIS SISTER ALICE PARENT GOETZ WERE BOTH INCREDIBLE SINGERS. ALICE HAD THE LEADS IN NEARLY ALL OF THE OPERETTAS AT HAMILTON HIGH DURING HER YEARS THERE. SHE WAS MY TEACHER AT KUSER SCHOOL IN THE 7TH GRADE. SHE WAS A MEMBER OF THE CLASS OF '39 AT HHS.
BILL'S MAGNIFICENT VOICE WAS KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE AREA AND I RECALL ONE OF HIS VISITS TO OUR HAMILTON HIGH CHOIR BACK IN THE LATE 1940'S. HE WILL BE MISSED. BILL LIVED IN HIS FAMILY HOME ON ELLWOOD STREET IN HAMILTON RIGHT UP UNTIL RECENTLY, WHEN HE BECAME INCAPACITATED. THE GLOVER FAMILY KNEW BOTH MR. AND MRS. PARENT WAY BACK IN THE 30'S WHEN WE LIVED ON BEAL STREET.

1909-2009 ONE HUNDRED GLORIOUS YEARS!

WE WILL BE CELEBRATING THE CENTENNIAL OF KUSER SCHOOL IN 2009. IF ANY VISITORS TO THIS SITE HAVE PHOTOS OR OTHER MEMORABILIA FROM KUSER, PLEASE CONTACT ME SO I CAN INCLUDE THEM IN THE KUSER SCHOOL HISTORICAL ONLINE WEBSITE.
thomglo@verizon.net,
Tom Glover, 609-587-2490 (Prior to 1 to 9 P.M. Eastern)
or at the Hamilton Library Local History Collection, Monday - Thursday: 581-4060 XT 4016

2008: LET THE SEASON BEGIN!

I HOPE TO SEE MANY OF MY WEB VIEWERS AT THIS PROGRAM WHICH IS THE FIRST OF NUMEROUS MUSIC/NOSTALGIA PROGRAMS I WILL BE PRESENTING THIS YEAR AT KUSER MANSION. THIS ONE WILL CENTER ON THE ROMANTIC LOVE SONGS WE ALL SWOONED AND DANCED TO, WITH AN OCCASIONAL NOVELTY SONG. MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND I HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.

2008: SCHOOL DAYS IN THE 40'S AND 50'S

HOW DIFFERENT THINGS ARE IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM OF 2008 AS COMPARED TO THE TWELVE YEARS I SPENT AT KUSER SCHOOL AND HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL. AS SEEN IN THE FLYER FROM THE FRIENDS OF HAMILTON TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY, I WILL BE PRESENTING A VERY PLEASANT EVENING RECALLING THOSE YEARS BEFORE COMPUTERS, CALCULATORS AND OTHER 21ST CENTURY "WHIZ BANG" APPLIANCES. WE WILL RECALL THE ART OF MNEMONICS (MEMORIZING THE TIMES TABLES, ENGLISH RULES, CLAPPING THOSE BLACKBOARD ERASERS, VALENTINES DAY, SATURDAY NIGHT CANTEEN, AND OTHER FORGOTTEN EDUCATIONAL VESTIGES OF THE PAST. COME ON OUT...I'M SURE SOME OF YOU WILL LOVE TO SHARE YOUR MEMORIES. IT'S FREE, NO RESERVATIONS REQUIRED, AND REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED.

1931: THE LAWTONS OF HAMILTON

THE LAWTON FAMILY NAME IS LEGENDARY IN THE LIBERTY-NEWKIRK-HAMILTON COLONIAL AREA. SOME YEARS AGO, I WROTE A COLUMN RECOUNTING THE REUNION OF CIVIL WAR CAMP OLDEN VETERANS BEING HELD BY THE LAWTON BROTHERS ON THEIR FARM IN THE AREA OF HAMILTON AND LIBERTY STREET. THE LAND ON WHICH KUSER SCHOOL IS LOCATED WAS PURCHASED FROM THE LAWTONS FOR $1.00. I HAD THE ACTUAL RECEIPT MANY YEARS AGO, BUT UNFORTUNATELY A BASEMENT WATER PROBLEM DESTROYED A NUMBER OF HISTORIC ITEMS WHICH I CARELESSLY LEFT IN A BASKET ON THE FLOOR.

1947: KUSER HONOR ROLL

HERE THEY ARE.....THE HONOR STUDENTS FROM KUSER FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY, 1947. IF THIS WERE THE YEAR 1946, I WOULD HAVE BEEN AMONG THE HONOR ROLL LISTINGS. I WAS AN HONOR STUDENT ALL THROUGH MY KUSER YEARS UNTIL 1947. IT WAS DURING THAT YEAR THAT I DISCOVERED GIRLS AND GAVE THEM MORE ATTENTION THAN MISS AMY BELLE SMITH'S ARITHMETIC CLASS...I JUST COULDN'T GRASP THAT ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA.

1940'S: MISS (MRS.?) MCELHENNEY'S 2ND GRADE

THIS IS ANOTHER PHOTO THAT WAS DESTINED FOR THE RECYCLE BIN. THANKFULLY, I WAS ALLOWED TO GO THROUGH THE TRASH BAG AND SALVAGE IT AND A NUMBER OF OTHER ORIGINAL PHOTOS OF VARIOUS CLASSROOM PROJECTS. MCELHENNY WAS A TEACHER AT KUSER SCHOOL. DON'T MISS THE TWO "SWINGING DOORS SHOWN IN THE PHOTO NEXT TO THE EXHIBIT. THEY GAINED US ENTRANCE TO THE "CLOAK ROOM." REMEMBER THEM?

1951: KUSER CLASS OF '51

THERE'S MY BOYHOOD SHORTSTOP IN THE FIRST ROW, SECOND FROM LEFT, ALEX BENCIVENGO.. DAVE SNEATH, LEFT BACK ROW IN POSITION NUMBER ONE, EDDIE PETERSON, 6TH FROM THE LEFT IN THE BACK ROW, ALSO AN ACQUAINTENCE FROM OUR YOUNGER DAYS IS IN THIS CLASS, ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF KUSER KATS WITH WHOM I AM QUITE FAMILIAR.

1921: EMILY C. REYNOLDS

BEFORE SHE WAS A KUSER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, BEFORE SHE HAD A MIDDLE SCHOOL NAMED FOR HER, MISS REYNOLDS WAS A COMMON, EXTRAORDINARY TEACHER. SHE WAS ALSO A NATIVE OF THE BROMLEY SECTION; HER HOME WAS ACROSS FROM THE FAIR GROUNDS ON NOTTINGHAM WAY. THIS LETTER OF APPOINTMENT AS A TEACHER IS FROM MY KUSER SCHOOL FILES.

1947: KUSER ANNEX "CRIER"

FOLLOWING ARE A FEW PAGES FROM KUSER ANNEX 1947 NEWSPAPER, "CRIER." NOT JUST BECAUSE THIS WAS MY CLASS, BUT MORE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE ENTRIES ARE SO VERY INTERESTING THESE 60 YEARS LATER. THANKS TO BILL "BEB" PETERS AND LORRAINE FEEHAN MAY WHO HAVE BEEN VERY KIND CONTRIBUTORS TO MY KUSER AND HAMILTON COLLECTION.

1947 KUSER ANNEX "CRIER," PAGE 2

1947: KUSER ANNEX "CRIER" PAGE 3 (CARLTON WILLIAMS WROTE "KEYOLE GRANNY")

1947: KUSER ANNEX

THIS IS ONE OF A NUMBER OF KUSER ANNEX "CRIER" SCHOOL NEWSPAPER PAGES I HAVE DIGITIZED. MY FRESHMAN YEAR AT "KA" WAS THE ONLY UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE I HAD IN FOUR YEARS AT HHS. MISS LARZALERE WASN'T MY FAVORITE TEACHER, AND I CERTAINLY WASN'T HER FAVORITE STUDENT. SHE TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO GIVE UP MY AFTER SCHOOL JOB AT KUSER FARM OR FORGET ANY PARTICIPATION IN THE SPRING ENTERTAINMENT, OR ANY OF THE VOCAL MUSIC PROGRAMS. I WAS DEVASTATED, BUT MY MOM AND POP GLOVER NEEDED ALL THE EXTRA MONEY WE KIDS COULD BRING IN, SO I SADLY ACCEPTED THE FACT THAT I HAD TO FORFEIT ONE OF THE LEAD PARTS IN THE ANNUAL 9TH GRADE "SPRING ENTERTAINMEN," THE CHRISTMAS PROGRAM, AND ALL THE OTHER EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.

1947: THEY WERE THE LOVE OF MY LIFE...

....YES, THE LOVE OF MY LIFE ......UNTIL SHIRLEY, MARYANNE, MADELINE, MARY, KAREN, JOAN AND FINALLY JUDY, MY WIFE OF 54 YEARS CAME ALONG!

1923: ROSALIE KUSER SCHOOL

DID YOU KNOW THAT KUSER SCHOOL WAS ORIGINALLY CALLED "ROSALIE KUSER SCHOOL" BACK IN THE VERY BEGINNING YEARS OF KUSER? EARLY ARTICLES IN THE "DAILY TRUE AMERICAN" AND "TRENTON STATE GAZETTE" BEGAN SHORTENING THE NAME TO "KUSER" A FEW YEARS AFTER THE 1909 DEDICATION .

2007: COME BACK TO GRAMMAR SCHOOL WITH TOM!

DICK AND JANE, MULTIPLICATION TABLES, DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES, NO COMPUTERS, NO TYPEWRITERS, NOTHING BUT PAPER, PENCILS AND STRAIGHT PENS, RECEPTIVE STUDENTS AND DEDICATED TEACHERS.....WE'LL RECALL THEM ALL IN THIS INTERESTING PROGRAM WHICH I WILL BE PRESENTING AT KUSER MANSION. I HOPE TO SEE AT LEAST A FEW OF MY VIEWERS THERE!

2007: JESSE ANDERSON: 1933-2007

TOM'S NOTE TO NEWCOMERS TO THIS SITE

DOUBLE CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT AND RIGHT CLICK ON IT TO SAVE IT TO YOUR COMPUTER'S HARD DRIVE OR OTHER STORAGE DISK . MOST NEWSPAPER ARTICLES CAN BE COMFORTABLY READ WITH THE EXCEPTION OF VERY LARGE GRAPHICS WHICH REQUIRE A HI RESOLUTION LCD MONITOR. DON'T FORGET TO SIGN THE GUEST BOOK. COMMENTS PRO AND CON INVITED.

DON'T FORGET TO CHECK THE ARCHIVES

AT THE TOP RIGHT OF THIS PAGE!

(CREDIT THE HAMILTON TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY LOCAL HISTORY,

TOM GLOVER COLLECTION.)

JULY 15 2007: "KUSER KONCERT"

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE AN AUDIENCE FOR "THE MUSIC WE GREW UP WITH!" EVEN THOUGH THE MEDIA IN GENERAL PREFERS TO CATER TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION, WE IN THE SENIOR CITIZEN COMMUNITYSTILL RECOGNIZE GOOD MUSIC WHEN WE HEAR IT....WE CAN ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND THE WORDS!THIS GRAPHIC IS A VIGNETTE OF THE SUNDAY, JULY 15, 2007 KUSER FARM CONCERT WHERE MORE THAN 100 OF OUR CITIZENS CAME FOR AN EVENING OF LISTENABLE MUSIC. SON TOM JR. AND I WILL BE "BACK ON THE FARM" EACH SUNDAY AFTERNOON FROM 6 TO 8, WEATHER PERMITTING.

2007: KUSER FARM SUNDAY EVENING SUMMER CONCERTS

2007: STARTING SUNDAY, JULY 8TH

I will be hosting the early Sunday evening music programs at the Kuser Farm Gazebo this summer from 6 to 7:30 or 8 PM. The success of my outreach programs to senior citizen groups throughout the area over the past 20-plus years led me to believe that I could bring the same musical program to the summer visitors that I have been performing over the years. Most of those who attend the summer Kuser concerts love and respond to the "easy listening" nostalgia type of music, as opposed to the contemporary music of the younger generation. We'll be singing, dancing and listening to the music of Perry Como, Mario Lanza, Dean Martin, Andy Williams, Barry Mannilow, Patti Page, Rosemary Clooney, Don Cornell. Classic country music, easy listening love ballads, silly songs, the 40's, the 50's, the 60's, World War II, you name it, we're probably going to sing it.

ALL SONGS WILL HAVE UNDERSTANDABLE LYRICS!
ALL SONGS WILL HAVE A MELODY!
ALL SONGS WILL HAVE A "G" RATING!

I hope to see many of my senior citizen friends at the concerts, and I encourage them to bring members of the younger generation to listen to "The Music We Grew Up With.
"OH YEAH, I FORGOT TO TELL YOU ABOUT THAT LITTLE CONCRETE DANCE FLOOR IN FRONT OF THE GAZEBO. I WELCOME ALL OF THE DANCERS IN OUR MIDST. WE'LL HAVE POLKAS, LINE DANCING, JITTERBUG, WALTZES, FOX TROTS, OLD FASHIONED "CHEEK TO CHEEK" DANCING AND MAYBE EVEN "THE STROLL!

"THERE WILL BE NO RAIN DATES.

A Mystery Kuser School Stage Play

Thanks to Audrey Homan Sperling HHS '48 for this photo of a mystery Kuser School stage production. There's Marilyn Van Marter, sister of my Hamilton High Class of '51 classmate Shirley Van Marter, Angelo Calabrese, brother of another HHS '51 classmate, the late Lenny Calabrese, Bob Mohr, brother of still another HHS '51 classmate, Lois Mohr.

1945: Kuser Annex

Perhaps one of our viewers remember Mrs.Dunphey. By the time I got to Kuser Annex in 1948 she had moved on so I never had the privilege of meeting her. I suspect that she was replaced by Mrs. Veronica Larkin.

Betsy Scott Fitzmeyer said...

I do so much treasure the memories from Kuser Annex 1946-1947, especially Latin Class, and as co-captain of my cheerleading team. There used to be a picture of the team displayed at KA. I would love to have a copy of it to pass on to my children. Any ideas about whom I should contact??

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