1941: KUSER PTA ACTIVITIES

This little, seemingly insignificant article detailing the affairs of the Kuser PTA will be of interest only to those of us who recall Kuser School in the 30's and 40's. For me personally, Mrs. Jesse Anderson was the mother of one of my best friends, the late Jess Anderson, with whom I went through all my years at Kuser and on through Hamilton High as we both graduated from the class of 1951. Mrs. Lloyd Cherry was the Mom of Kuser student, Lloyd Cherry who I believe was in the class of 1945, but I am not sure. And of course, Mabel Carnall was my second grade teacher; one of a number of teachers who had snow white hair. Dr. Herman Cohen delivered all ot the Glover children. He was our family doctor and had two "Straight A"Kuser students, Barbara and Eleanor.

KAREN PETERSON BROWN, KUSER '47

What a joy it is, as I go through the pages of my newspaper collection, to find people with whom I have walked at some time during life's lengthy journey. I have been posting photos of World War II veterans who served valiantly during the years of "Greatest Generation." It is special when I find very close friends with whom I went to school. Thus it is with Karen, who spent all 12 years with me as we journeyed through the excellent Hamilton Township public school system. I was moved to write a short poem, along with Karen's photos and the results are depicted above. Love ya, Karen!

PLEASE SIGN THE GUEST BOOK

ATTENTION KUSER ALUMNI:

IF YOU WANT TO BE KEPT UPDATED ON THE PROGRESS AND EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR THE 100th CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF KUSER SCHOOL, PLEASE USE THE GUESTBOOK TO REQUEST INCLUSION ON OUR LIST OF ALUMNI, OR EMAIL ME AT

thomglo@verizon.net.

IF YOU KNOW OTHER ALUMNI WHO ARE NOT ON THE COMPUTER, SEND ME THEIR MAILING ADDRESS AND WE WILL SEE THAT THEY ARE KEPT UP TO DATE.

BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS.

1918-1937 "KUSER IN THE NEWS"

I have painstakingly assembled this vignette of just a few Kuser School related articles from the distant past, adding a few embellishments which will be attractive to visitors to Kuser related history some 50 or 60 years hence. Of particular interest to me is the "Broadcaster," which was the Kuser newspaper back in the 1930's. The "Broadcaster" illustrated above has been digitized page by page and reposes in the "KUSER SCHOOL" folder in the Hamilton Township Library's Local History Collection.

1950: THIS WOULD APPEAR TO BE 1st OR 2nd GRADE

This photo is from my collection of old Kuser School class photos. The young boy on the extreme left, second row seems so familiar, but I can't seem to identify him. Any assistance from members of the class illustrated will be appreciated.

1982: Dedication of the New Kuser Courtyard

THIS DELIGHTFUL PHOTO FROM ERIN BROWN (SZEJNER), KUSER 1986. Many thanks, Erin, this makes a wonderful addition to the Hamilton Library's "KUSER SCHOOL" folder and also to the Kuser School archives;

Erin wrote:

Here is a cute photo from when they dedicated the "new" courtyard back in the Spring of 1982. I was in 1st grade (Mrs. Young) and each class had to get dressed up in early 20th century clothing - I remember it was an all day event with a ribbon cutting ceremony and original Kuser relatives were in attendence. Thought you would enjoy (see attached photo).

Erin Brown (Szejner)
Kuser Class of 1986

1941: KUSER CLASS OF 1941 PHOTO ALBUM

This is such a cool album! My brother Bud is in this class. These Kuser Kats went on to be in the class of 1945 at Hamilton High. It was my privilege to present "The Music We Grew Up With" at their annual reunion luncheon.

1980: KUSER KINDERGARTEN

Here's a re-touched photo from Kuser Kat Erin Brown(Szejner) from the Kindergarten class at Kuser 1980-1981. Many thanks for adding to our grammar school history files, Erin!

1939: KUSER SCHOOL

THIS IS AN ESPECIALLY RELEVENT PHOTO FOR ME. IT IS THE WAY KUSER LOOKED ON MY FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL BACK IN SEPTEMBER, 1939. I WAS ASSIGNED TO MISS MARY KELLEY'S "RECEPTION GRADE." I CRIED, MOM GLOVER CRIED, MISS KELLEY TOLD MOM TO GO HOME, THOMAS WOULD BE QUITE ALL RIGHT. HE WAS.

ATTENTION KUSER SCHOOL ALUMNI!

I have received an email from Kuser Principal Roberto Kesting announcing the first formal meeting of the Kuser School Centennial Celebration. I know there are some visitors to this site who are "Kuser Kats" and have expressed an interest in being kept informed as to the activities surrounding the planning for this memorable and historic celebration. If you are interested in being kept informed, or are interested in attending as an alumnus (as I am), contact either Mr. Kesting at the address below, or email me.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF
THE FIRST CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION MEETING

The first Kuser School 100th Anniversary meeting will be held this Tuesday, September 9th @4PM. This will accommodate parents and alumni that wish to participate. The first meeting will be held at 4PM. The meeting is open to parents and alumni are cordially invited. The initial agenda will be a discussion of each committee's objectives and activities. We will solidify our memberships in each committee. Mr. Kesting stated that his goal is for our committees to be self-sufficient and our future meetings will be to discuss progress in each committee.Thank you for your support in this exciting endeavor!Roberto KestingPrincipalKuser Elementary School70 Newkirk AvenueHamilton, NJ 08629(609) 631- 4155 ext. 3850rkesting@hamilton.k12.nj.us

PLEASE EMAIL ME. RE: THE KUSER SCHOOL 100TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

THE CENTENNIAL OF KUSER SCHOOL WILL BE CELEBRATED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR 2009. MONTHLY EVENTS WILL CELEBRATE THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BEST GRAMMAR SCHOOL IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD. WE ARE CURRENTLY TRYING TO COMPILE A LIST OF KUSER ALUMNI EMAIL ADDRESSES. THERE ARE MANY WHO ARE NOT ON THE COMPUTER. IF YOU HAVE FRIENDS OR RELATIVES IN THAT CATEGORY, PLEASE GET THEIR PERMISSION TO INCLUDE THEIR MAILING ADDRESSE.

PLEASE EMAIL THE INFO TO ME AND I WILL SEE THAT THE ORGANIZERS OF THE CELEBRATION RECEIVE IT

I AM KUSER '47. BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOURS! IF YOU WERE A KUSER "KAT" AFTER THE SCHOOL CHANGED TO A K-5, PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR YEAR.

EMAIL: thomglo@verizon.net.

1913: BACK IN 1913, THE PTA WAS "THE MOTHERS' CLUB"

Whether they were known as "The Mothers' Club" or the PTA, grammar school parents have always been a valuable asset to the education system. Even though Halloween is two months away as I post this interesting Kuser School fundraiser, it is obvious that Kuser had great support from the parents in the local area.

1934: KUSER 4-H CLUB

HERE IS MUTE TESTIMONY TO THE FACT THAT HAMILTON WAS INDEED A RURAL FARMING COMMITY RIGHT UP TO THE 1940's, WHEN HAMILTON BEGAN THE PROESS OF BECOMING THE HIGHLY POPULATED COMMUNITY OF TODAY.

1927: KUSER SCHOOL TO BE ENLARGED

This public announcement is believed to be a request for authorization to add to the original 1909 Kuser School. "wings' were added to the existing building, and a large area around the back of the school with a court yard in the center, resulting in the Kuser School as it exists today. I had been under the impression that the above expansion was in the year 1924, but this is the apparent date.

1909: CENTENNIAL ON THE WAY!

THIS ARTICLE FROM MY EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF KUSER SCHOOL MEMORABILIA WILL BE A PART OF THE DIGITAL GRAPHICS COLLECTION WHICH WILL REPOSE IN THE "KUSER SCHOOL" FOLDER AT THE HAMILTON TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY'S LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION. IF YOU ARE A KUSER SCHOOL ALUMNUS, BY ALL MEANS KEEP WATCHING THIS SITE; THERE WILL BE DETAILS ON THE VARIOUS CELEBRATIONS WHICH WILL BE HELD THROUGHT THE TWELVE MONTHS OF 2009. IN FACT AT THIS WRITING, THE CELEBRATION KICKS OFF IN DECEMBER, 2008.
===========================
AN ASIDE: I AM COMPLETELY INTRIGUED BY THE STATEMENT IN THE ARTICLE THAT THE SCHOOL WAS ON
"THE KUSER TRACT, NEAR OLDEN AVENUE."
I HAVE FOUND NO MAPS WHICH INDICATE THAT THE KUSER PROPERTY EXTENDED BEYOND KUSER AVENUE (TODAY'S LEONARD AVENUE).

1989: Dr. Lois Braender

FROM THE "NOTABLE PERSONS" FOLDER IN THE HAMILTON LIBRARY LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION, HERE IS DR. LOIS BRAENDER WHEN SHE WAS AT ALEXANDER SCHOOL. I REMEMBER HER FROM HER TIME AS PRINCIPAL AT KUSER SCHOOL. DR. BRAENDER IS NOW THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES OF HAMILTON TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS.

ONCE AGAIN, FROM KUSER SCHOOL, ONE OF HAMILTON'S TREASURED "NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS," THIS PHOTO FROM ONE OF MY "HAMILTON SCRAPBOOK" FEATURED IN THE MERCER MESSENGER. ONE OF THE MORE CHARMING FEATURES OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL WAS IN THE FACT THAT THOSE OF US WHO ATTENDED CAN USUALLY FIND BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF CLASSMATES WITH WHOM WE ULTIMATELY ATTENDED SCHOOL. FLORA WURFEL IS THE SISTER OF MY HHS '51 CLASSMATE, AUDREY WURFEL KISH, AND ALICE SCHENCK IS PROBABLY RELATED TO BILL SCHENCK, A CLASSMATE FROM MY YEARS AT KUSER. LORRAINE MAY, THERE'S YOUR SISTER ALICE.

1952: Banking Day at Kuser School

How appropriate that I would be fortunate enough to receive this Trentonian photo of the Kuser School Banking Day program from Helen Lawton, a fellow "Kuser Kat." The centennial of Kuser School will be observed with a year long centennial celebration beginning in December, 2008 and running through each month of the centennial year of 2009. Details will be forthcoming. Those visitors to my site who want to be kept updated, please email me, and I will include your name in my email files for future information. Thanks Helen for this great photo. It is being preserved for posterity in the "KUSER SCHOOL" folder at the Hamilton Library's Local History Collection.

1947: CHINA BOY; KUSER ANNEX ANNUAL SPRING ENTERTAINMENT

THE NEXT 6OR 8 PAGES COMPRISE THE COMPLETE PROGRAM FROM KUSER ANNEX'S 1947 SPRING ENTERTAINMENT. MANY THANKS TO HHS '51 CLASSMATE ALICE SCHMIDT MULLEN FOR SAVING THESE TREASURES OVER THE YEARS. I HAVE A COPY OF THE PROGRAM, BUT IT IS TOO WORN TO POST, AND DOESN'T HAVE NEARLY AS MANY AUTOGRAPHS AS THE EVER-POPULAR ALICE SCHMIDT HAD. THANKS ALICE, ONCE AGAIN, YOU'RE THE BEST!

1947: CHINA BOY INSIDE FRONT COVER

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.)