Davis School and WWHS Students of the 50's, 60's and 70's

George Gumbrell Says:
March 5, 2008 at 1:51 pm eAlso, remember the farm trucks going around selling their produce.

Ken Says:
March 5, 2008 at 6:54 pm eWelcome Linda Lingenfelter, we’re glad you found the site. Stop in often, as new people arrive daily, and there’s always new comments and pictures being posted.

I did not know you at Wilson (I graduated in ‘76) but I think my wife – Lorrie Matchner (also ‘76) may have… she cheered in 75 and 76, after you graduated. She’ll stop in here one of these days, and say hello to everyone.

Nick Rapanotti Says:
March 6, 2008 at 12:51 am eHey Bob Thomas.

I already e-mailed my sister and I hope she and a few others I tried to contact show up, like Kathy Lee, Pat Kroeplin, Terry Defrancisco, etc…. You are not crazy or senile! I used to see Mr. Barron on a daily basis. There was also a little cigar shop attached to the store on the Westfield Avenue side. Tippy’s was cool. So was pinball. We have 1 pinball machine where I work and I play it daily!! That and the original PacMan.

The person you probably ran in to at UPS was my sister-in-law, Linda Gesell.

Hey Ken, is there any way we can see EVERYONE who came to this page?

Bob Thomas Says:
March 6, 2008 at 11:27 am eChecking back….this is so cool!
Linda Lingenfelter…..thanks for fixing my mistake. You’re absolutely right, it was “Jacks” not “Georges” on the corner of 36th and High. What a miserable man and wife who ran the place. Didn’t realize they were robbed so frequently. What was there to take? My parents always told me that he ran numbers out of there. Maybe that was it. Have you passed this site over to the rest of your “girl-gang”? Chez, Toni, etc?
Would love to hear how they are all doing.
Nick….Hope Barb checks in. Yes, Linda does sound about right (at UPS). I still can’t figure how the conversation got started and how your name came up. Glad you still work the pinball machine. An original PacMan is worth it’s weight in gold. I’ve come close to finding one a few times, but either it isn’t as original as advertised or the electronics are screwed up. It’s a funny thing, but when my son’s friends come over to hang out, they are more interested in my old games, not the Wii, PS2-3, or the other whiz bang new stuff. I even pulled out my old Atari recently and hooked it up….the one with Combat, Breakout,Space Invaders, Pong, etc. They were THRILLED to see the “new” games. Hah=hah!!! I even replaced the phone down there with a dial model. It was a blast watching them call home just to use it. What will they come up with next…..black and white TV????
Ken…sorry I missed the Tippy’s conversation. Did way too many drugs in the 70’s….thought you were talking about Zippy’s and couldn’t figure out where that was…..?????

George Gumbrell Says:
March 6, 2008 at 2:22 pm eOk all you Davisites! WWHS were the tigers. Colors were orange and black. What was the mascot name for Davis, and what were the colors?

Ken Says:
March 6, 2008 at 2:52 pm eThe Pigeons???

Ken Says:
March 6, 2008 at 3:32 pm eIf anyone has pictures they want posted, email them to me in JPEG format, and I’ll put them up. I have Davis yearbooks for 70, 71, 72, and Wilson yearbooks for 73,74,75,76. If you want any pictures from those posted let me know and I’ll scan them.

George Gumbrell Says:
March 6, 2008 at 4:07 pm eWe had enough pigeons hanging around on the ledges at Davis to be named that.

The name was:

the Lions

Ken Says:
March 6, 2008 at 4:26 pm eNick, we all looked like aliens back then… at least you did not get mistaken for Alfred E. Neumann like I did! Hah.

Lions? Oh I remember now, The Lion’s Den, school newspaper!

George Gumbrell Says:
March 6, 2008 at 6:27 pm eHey Nick, Since you are in NC. Do you indulge in boiled peanuts?

terry defrancisco Says:
March 7, 2008 at 1:57 pm eHey Ken,
Thanks for contacting me thru Classmates and giving me the info on this website. I will use it frequently. Nick Rapanotti had just given it to me also. I will make Maryann aware of it. Hopefully, we can all begin networking and reunite some of the old “gangs” again.

Terry

George Gumbrell Says:
March 8, 2008 at 12:05 am eHey Nick, I am glad you enjoy all those, and you should. I like the boiled peanuts and the rest. But do you miss a really good cheesesteak, or something else to eat, that is local to East Camden?

Nick Rapanotti Says:
March 8, 2008 at 2:53 am eWelcome Ter!!!!! Glad you made it. Hey Ken….NO WAY JOSE on the house….I bought the house across the street from my old house in 1984. The duplex. You can see the roof from the site you gave me. George…The is alotta great food down here, but nothing like up north!!

George Gumbrell Says:
March 8, 2008 at 6:19 pm eHey Lorrie, The sewing teacher was Mrs. Young. She patched up a rip in my pants one day, and lectured on parenting the whole time? Your not kidding about the better half, I know the other one! HA-HA-HA! Only kidding Ken! Thanks Lorrie for finally posting something.

Ken Says:
March 9, 2008 at 9:55 am eOkay George, no taking sides, I’ve known you longer! LOL

Skeeter, the Glaser name sounds familiar, was there a girl in the family? I think one of my older sister’s knew a Glaser… maybe a Linda?

By time us 70’s kids got to Davis, they had eliminated Electric Shop (that room became the art room), and the only two shops we had were Wood and Print shop.

Mr Tweed taught Wood Shop and Mechanical Drawing. He would not let you work on wood and the equipment until you turned in a few satisfactory mechanical drawing papers. Nice guy who, if he gained your trust, and you completed the class assignments – pig cutting board (I still have it), napkin holder, etc… he would let you work on extra projects and use all the equipment, except his table saw, only he used that. I think he retired after we had him in 8th Grade.

Dave Billig taught Print Shop. He tended to have his favorites, and only let a few students use the big presses, the rest had to use the small hand operated presses. He married Ms. June, the office secretary. He taught Industrial Arts at Wilson later, and was the assistant wrestling coach there for a while also.

Ken Says:
March 9, 2008 at 10:26 am eWelcome Min Doughty Bolen. I keep finding new names that have found the site overnight!

What years in the 60’s were you at Wilson Min? You may have known my older sisters – Karen Brown (’67) or Cheryl Brown (’65).

Ken Says:
March 9, 2008 at 10:42 am eYeah Nick, before there was a Lance Armstrong, us kids from East Camden could sure rack up the miles on our bikes. I remember a couple trips, George and I would leave early in the morning, and not get back till sun down. Any you old friend… never knew how you managed so many miles on that “Classic” bike you had, with only one speed. Now that was biking! Of course George’s “Tour de France” ten speed was the envy of every kid who ever pedalled a bike in East Camden. George, you still have that bike?

George Gumbrell Says:
March 9, 2008 at 1:06 pm eIn Vermont, bike tours are big, professional to tourist. With miles and miles of open road, winding through mountains and valleys, small towns and hamlets, by rivers, streams and lakes,( that you can swim in ). Vermont is indeed a beautiful state!

How about it: Ken, Paul, Nick, are you up to it! Lets take a ride up here sometime. We can camp out along the way.

Rose Burr Windsor Says:
March 9, 2008 at 2:51 pm eEmail address is: RoyalWindsors@hotmail.com

Charlie “Skeeter” Moy Says:
March 9, 2008 at 10:22 pm eThe site by Cramer Hill Folks:
I used to have that site on my favorites list,and went there often.

Then the link stopped working.

I went there using the link you provided & it works.
I asked if he had problems & here is his reply.

Reply Forum

Subject: Re: Was site down?
Name: dan
Date Posted: Mar 3, 08 – 5:34 PM

Message: yes the site was down for a while yahoo lost it and it took a few months to get it back up.so i think a lot of people think it is shut down.the site has been slow and i hope it will pick up again.i added a voice and web chat page for anyone that would like to use it.i am also looking for more things to add and as soon as i find something that would fit the site i will put it up.if you send me the link to the sharp school site i will post it.i have sent some emails to people that were coming here but lost a lot of them when the site went down.so i ask everyone to pass the word the site is up.thanks everone.
Replies:

So if you used to go there ,he would love to have you back…pass the word to others who used to visit.

Ken Says:
March 10, 2008 at 10:27 am eWelcome Michael Mangold. Enjoyed your posts. Visit often.

Are you related to the Mangold family that lived in Cramer Hill? They had a Mike Mangold, also a John (Jack), and a few other siblings, who all went to Wilson in the 70’s.

Ken Says:
March 10, 2008 at 4:41 pm eWelcome Al Dobbins and Terry Downs; glad you both found the site. There are many previous posts in the Archives to read, including an ongoing discussion about the clothes prop guy We look forward to reading your posts.

George Gumbrell Says:
March 10, 2008 at 9:02 pm eHey Bob, I liked that, you showing them how to make the Hoagies the right way, I like doing that up here too. When I come back to Jersey on my visit, I have a deal for you! If you make some apple and cinnamon donuts for me, I will show you how to make the panzarotti’s. What do you say?

Ken Says:
March 11, 2008 at 6:16 am eSkeeter, you mentioned “Drink-A-Toast” on the Veteran’s Mem. School site… I loved that stuff, I think I was addicted to it. My Mom never bought it, but when I would get a craving for it, I’d ride my bike to my Grandmother’s (she lived at 44th and High then) and she would always mix me up a glass of it. I’ve heard that it is still sold, and can be ordered from a place in Riverside, but I have not been successful in finding anything about it online. If anyone runs across an online source for Drink-A-Toast, let me know.

Charlie “Skeeter” Moy Says:
March 11, 2008 at 2:21 pm eI saw it on the net several years ago,and I think there was a law suit going on over the ownership of the recipe,or manufacruring right,name…etc..

Perhaps they stopped making it.
But it was addictive,probably full of caffiene.

terry downs Says:
March 11, 2008 at 2:52 pm eI really do know how to spell graduate lol

terry downs Says:
March 11, 2008 at 3:35 pm eKen, glad to hear she is doing well. Seven grandkids bless her.

Ken Says:
March 11, 2008 at 3:47 pm eIf you could skate on it… George Gumbrell did! Yep I remember the rink at Cooper, and also Tippen’s Pond in Pennsauken, which is now a wildlife refuge. George, where else did you lace up your skates? Outside of the Cherry Hill Arena that is?

Here’s an ancient bit of Camden history for you, my grandmother, before they built the Ben Franklin Bridge, remembered when the Delaware froze solid enough to walk from Camden to Philly when the ferries were ice bound. (Late 1800’s/early 1900’s). And they say we have no global warming. I never recalled the river freezing from shore to shore solid enough to walk it.

Steve Allen Says:
March 11, 2008 at 6:13 pm eThanks to Bob Thomas for sending me the link to this site…Wow, I spent the better part of today reading everyone’s comments from almost every page. Now I’ll spend the better part of tonite catching up on all the work I didn’t get accomplished. I can’t even begin to start listing all the memories associated with the area, far too many. From the silo’s by the train tracks at 36th St., to playing little league baseball for the “Maruader’s” (sp?), all the stores along Westfield Ave. (Reese & Wilden’s, Kenny’s Butcher shop, Henry the barber, Frank’s shop on corner of 34th, and does anyone remember the record store that was on the opposite corner of Frank’s? Or how about when Mr. Grocer was built on Westfield Ave. Stopped there many times on way home from school to buy my “Fizzies” and Tastykake Choc. cupcakes. (I always wondered why I was hyperactive). And who could forget the mosquito truck in the summer, running behind it in the fog. Good thing they used safe pesticides back then…wait, you mean they didn’t?????? Okay, now I am headed to local pizza place to get a panzarotti and some water ice (closest thing to yum yum except they don’t pinch the cup – if you ever sold yum yum, you know what that means).

Steve Allen Says:
March 11, 2008 at 7:15 pm eYes, I was also a student of Mr. Shaw. I wanted to play drums, but lost a coin flip with Craig Simms, so I ended up with clarinet. Stuck with it from elementary band all the way through Rutgers University marching band. Even a couple years in All-State NJ band and orchestra. Now, my clarinet sits in basement as a lamp. If Mr. Shaw knew I made it a lamp, he would not be happy. I met him a few times AFTER Davis as his sister-in-law was the receptionist at my chiropractor’s office.

I remember Choice liquor store, but I can’t recall the name of the office supply store on corner of 36th.

Bob Thomas Says:
March 12, 2008 at 7:31 am eHey Steve, glad you found the site. Cool, no? I remember Mr. Grocer pretty well. They had a book rack with “dirty” books that I would peruse for what seemed like hours. Also, Penthouse and Playboy out in the open (would also try to peruse that, but never knew when my dad would come in and “catch” me.) Turns out, years later, he revealed that he did the same thing. I use to run into your old gal pal, Janice Peze, from Merrial St. She worked for her brother, Gary Peze, who was (and still is) a local realtor. You mentioned Craig Sims beating you out for the drums. His brother Curt is a neighbor of mine, here in Marlton. I, too, wanted to play the drums, but Mr. Shaw “directed” me to the trombone. I did that in Davis and then switched to a Baritone, which I have in my basement awaiting its conversion into a lamp. PTL that none of us played the tuba, that would make one heckuva lamp! I still play the horn when I’m alone and lonely, or at least bored. My wife keeps asking when I’m going to finish my lamp project. Guess my musicality is a thing of the past. I still play the piano, (much less since I nearly cut off my left hand last June with a chain saw). Mr. Shaw was one cool dude. One of those people who push your life in a certain direction, that you don’t realize how much an impact he had until many years later.

Ken Says:
March 12, 2008 at 8:18 am eBob, you bring up an important topic in your post. I too have heard about a number of cancer cases concerning kids who grew up in certain areas of Camden. I saw a similar question posted on the Stories of the Neighborhood site run by Rutgers a couple years ago, concerning cancer cases with individuals who once lived in some areas of Cramer Hill, and also in some areas of Pennsauken along the River Road corridor. Not to be an alarmist or anything, but as you said, it is something to think about. We did afterall grow up in a heavily industrialized city… add to that the State Street Dump and whatever might have been dumped there over the years, and the river, and the rail yards with all those tankers with mysterious liquids. Well you get the picture.

Hmmmm a tuba lamp… will have to look for one on my flea market jaunts!

And Bob, it’s Spring pruning season, might I suggest this year you hire someone who can juggle chain saws. I know what you went through with that injury last year old friend! Stay safe.

George, didn’t your brother in law have a chain saw accident back when we were in middle school? I seem to recall that.

Charlie Moy Says:
March 12, 2008 at 10:23 am eDoes anyone remember the White Tower? Or Marbett’s.

The White Tower was at Federal & 130,Marbet,s on Admiral Wilson Blvd,at Baird Blvd,behind the McGuire Project.

When I was young & we were living on Main st in N.Camden,I would walk down to the Bridge Plaza.

The White Tower there the guy would sell yo a bag of burgers (10) ,12 if he knew you well for one dollar.

Later in my late teens,early 20’s it was late night at Marbett,s.

Usually well after midnight for one of their Cheeseburger Deluxe platters.
For a buck 25 you got a huge cheseburger,lettuce & tomato & fries. Drink was extra.

George Gumbrell Says:
March 12, 2008 at 2:39 pm eHey Ken, You remember right, my brother-inlaw did have an accident with a chain saw, 30 stitches in his forearm. So I think when it comes to cutting anything with a chain saw, my brother-inlaw and Bob are OUT!

George Gumbrell Says:
March 12, 2008 at 5:56 pm eThanks Al and Skeeter!

Laurie Freeman (Brown) Says:
March 12, 2008 at 10:21 pm eHi everyone! This is Ken’s youngest sister Laurie. I attended Davis (K-8th) graduating 8th in 1976, unfortunetely with the drastic changing of East Camden I did not attend Wilson, instead attending Camden Catholic 1976-1980. It’s great to read about all the earlier memories of East Camden. My freinds and I also lived on our bikes, though being young girls did not venture off as far. I do remember riding to Strawbridge Lake with Carol Comstedt in about the 6th grade (Glen – I do believe Carol was your next door neighbor on 40th). It’s funny how we all spent so much time either by foot or bike during our childhood. We never had rides to our friend’s houses or ball games, etc. If all you parents are like me, you are forever running your children here or there. During summer months we would be out and about in morning return home for dinner then back out till dark thirty. Most of the time our parents might know who we were with but not where we were. Those were the days.
By the time I was in high school alot of families were moving out of Camden, I attended school with a few Davis students and alot of East Camden/St. Joseph families. Also alot of Pennsauken kids. Apparently there were children in Pennsauken but they were not heard of till teen years(lol). or maybe their parents made them come in when they spotted the bycicle gangs of Camden coming down the road. Look forward to reading more posts and sharing memories. Laurie

Ken Says:
March 13, 2008 at 9:44 am eWell…I see my “little” sister found this place overnight! Word of warning, if anyone has a cat, don’t let it on this site, your pet won’t be safe with my sister Laurie here! Dogs are okay they will be safe. It’s just she use to like to kidnap neighborhood cats (usually white ones) and then color them with food dye before releasing them back into the neighborhood. And yes Laurie, I still have that picture of the “multi-colored day-glo” cat (your finest work by the way) someplace in a box of pictures.

Seriously, Welcome Laurie glad to see you here representing maybe the last era of Davis students any of us remember. Hopefully some of your old friends will find the site too.

Ken Says:
March 13, 2008 at 10:42 am eGeorge, our cat won the Davis Pet Show two years running… because of it’s rare coloring! Hahah!

Laurie Freeman (Brown) Says:
March 14, 2008 at 12:11 am eGeorge, It’s a good thing I work alot of evenings and stay up late, I can beat everyone on this trivia – it was Mr. Best. He even subbed elementary classes, I believe it was when I was in around 3rd or 4th grade, so that would be the time frame you mentioned. He had a pretty good fro going too.

Bob Thomas Says:
March 14, 2008 at 7:57 am eDidn’t Mr. Best have a thing going with a singer, Laura Nyro?

Ken Says:
March 14, 2008 at 8:15 am eAnyone one remember Mr Best’s first name? Was it Nathan or something like that?

Ken Says:
March 14, 2008 at 2:58 pm eLaura Nyro was/is a legend, she wrote songs for many, and her own albums and performances took the music world by storm in the late 60’s and early 70’s. I just checked, she died in 1997. She was one of those mystery legends, hit the top, then just decided to step aside for a number of years. I remember reading also that she was preparing to come out of retirement before she became ill with cancer and died.

She wrote the Peter, Paul and Mary hit… “And When I Die.”

Some of her music has been re-released; her original albums are rare. I have some, not all of them.

It’s very likely she did know Mr. Best, as she recorded with Patti LaBelle, and John Ingram, from the musical Camden Ingram family, has toured and played with Patti for years as her drummer. If you recall, Mr. Best was involved in the Philadelphia music scene, and was a bass player, and I believe he played the piano also.

Ken Says:
March 14, 2008 at 3:10 pm eGreat work Skeeter! Pretzels and Boost in one stop shopping – a former Camden kid’s dream! Will have to check them out the next time I am in that area.

Ken Says:
March 14, 2008 at 9:40 pm ePatsy, great to see you posting some memories. The Unruh killings were tragic, and so many who lived in Cramer Hill back then, knew someone affected by it.

Our Dads sure saw a lot of Camden history, they were both from that side of the family that has the deepest roots there, through My Dad’s mother, and your Dad’s father. In the few years before my Dad passed, whenever he would come to visit, he liked to sit at my computer and look at Phil Cohen’s Camden site, it brought back a lot of memories for him. And my grandmother, she was like a walking encyclopedia of Camden and family history, which was part of the reason why I enjoyed stopping at her house for Drink-A-Toast when out riding my bike as a kid. She always had a story or memory to share.

Ken Says:
March 15, 2008 at 9:16 am eBefore WWII, and before Unruh’s family moved to Cramer Hill, he lived at 37th and Westfield (3790), and attended Cramer Junior High. Not sure if he ever went to Davis or Wilson.

In most studies and books on the personality of serial killers and mass murderers, Howard Unruh is actually considered America’s first such psychopath, who for reasons hidden in the dark recesses of their own minds, just go and kill numerous innocent people in a horrific spree.

Ken Says:
March 15, 2008 at 1:16 pm eTerry, I remember the Gilman’s, they lived across from us, and about three houses from the Westfield Towers. There were three Gilman kids – Ella, Michelle, and Billy were their names, but they moved from 32nd, before I got to high school. Jimmy Ormsted lived second house from the bottom of the hill, also about four kids, Jimmy was the youngest, he had older sisters. They too moved around the early 70’s. Jimmy went to Vo-Tech as I recall. The Ivory, Commisso, Janice, and Haines families all lived on the hill also.

I remember the lot betwen Saunders and High… I think we always called it the ‘lot” LOL. I remember whenever it rained, that section of High would flood and you could ride along the hill above the flood. There were mulberry trees in the lot I think. There was also that area behind the row houses on 32nd between High and Saunders, it was the parking lots behind the row houses, and there was a ramp going down into them (behind the homes on both sides of the street). We use to ride our bikes down in there also.

I remember a lot of kids from your neighborhood. Joe DiAndrea, the Karge family, Udzinski family, Nicky Hawk, the Hales, John and Nancy Wertz, Johnny Vincent (he wrestled too)… and that guy pictured in the latest trivia quiz! LOL

Ken Says:
March 16, 2008 at 1:24 pm eNick I didn’t know you were a cousin to the Palumbo family…I know you had relatives all over South Jersey as we use to stop at some of their houses on bike rides. Diane Palumbo was in a number of my classes at Davis, she’s in some of the class pictures I posted. I remember her Dad would bring her pony to the Davis Fair.

Every heavy rain, the garages of the Westfield Garden apartments would flood along with High Street and half of 33rd Street, We could watch the water rise at the Gardens from our kitchen window… our house sat up on the top of the hill above all that.

There was also a “lot” where they later put the Davis parking lot. Don’t know which kids preferred more, the dirt lot, or the paved one. The one memory that sticks about the Davis parking lot was Mr. Walter’s classic black Mercedes, and Miss Notice’s new blue Nova!

Charlie”Skeeter” Moy Says:
March 16, 2008 at 4:36 pm eThere was a Mr. Palumbo who taught at either Davis or Cramer .

Had him for something.

David Nevius Says:
March 16, 2008 at 6:41 pm eThe Ewing family kids were, starting with the oldest, I think her name was Evelyn, then Gordon, Eddie, Kevin, Merry, and Violet. Violet was born around 68 I think. I believe Mrs Ewing passed away in the early eighties.

Dot Ward Says:
March 17, 2008 at 12:50 am e“Harzie” Melleby is now Dr. Harold Melleby…Superintendent of Eastern Regional School District. Charlie Ivory is now Dr. Charles Ivory…retired Superintendent of Pine Hill School District. Davis/Wilson grads have done very well and I’m sure our teachers would be proud of us all!

Anonymous Says:
March 17, 2008 at 10:30 am eHi All,
I guess I am a little before your time at school, I attended in the late 50’s, however I remeber “Tippys” very well, they made the best hoagies in the area. For 50 cents you could get lunch, 35 cents for the hoagie, 5 cents for a bag of chips, and 10 cents for a coke. Those were wonderful days and I have great memories from there.

Josie Wright (Saluto)

Bonnie Says:
March 17, 2008 at 4:22 pm eHi,

I use to be Bonnie Hawk, my younger brother was Nicky, and my older brother was Mike. We all went to Davis and Wilson. We lived on the corner of 32nd and Pelham. We knew the Mellaby’s, the Vincent’s, McCann’s, Hales, and many other’s I can’t come up with the names right now. But, did anyone remember Mr. Orlo’s? The corner grocer that had the penny candy case, and the jewish pickles you picked out of a barrel? I remember Mrs. Orlo wore a navy blue sweater everyday that had to holes worn out in the front. What about Kessle’s grocery store ? They had one daughter Linda Kessle. Our dogs, Molly and Timmy would go hang out in the back of the store and Linda’s dad would give them some choice bones.

Barbara Johnson (Rapanotti) Says:
March 17, 2008 at 6:20 pm eHi all:

My brother just told me about this site. It does bring back memories – some good and some bad lol.

Barb

George Gumbrell Says:
March 17, 2008 at 9:10 pm eBonnie, its great to hear from a Hawk! I was a friend of Nick, and we were in some classes together. Played alot too. I lived on Beideman Ave., between Pleasant and Lemuel. How is Nick, have him come to the site.

Ken Says:
March 17, 2008 at 9:51 pm eBarb Rapanotti, Hello and Welcome. Nick said you would eventually get here I remember you from when we use to come around your house to see Nick… lot of good memories hanging with Nick, you, Paul Skeens… in your pool back in the summer between 7th and 8th Grades.

Bonnie, saw your note about your brother Nicky under another page, great to hear his is doing well. Lot of people here who knew him. Hope he stops in, everyone will be glad to see him.

George Gumbrell Says:
March 18, 2008 at 12:00 am eOK all you Davis and Wilsonites: The cross town rivals, Camden H.S.. What were their school colors? And what was their mascot?

George Gumbrell Says:
March 18, 2008 at 12:21 am ePretty good so far Steve, what was the other color?

terry defrancisco Says:
March 18, 2008 at 12:29 am eBarb Rapanotti..how are you??

George Gumbrell Says:
March 18, 2008 at 12:52 am eHey Steve, It was purple and gold.

Nick Rapanotti Says:
March 18, 2008 at 6:50 am eHey Ter! That’s cool! Tell Donna I now have arthritis in that wrist and it’s all her fault!! (he he). Hey sis! Welcome to the site and HAppy belated Birthday!!!

Ken Says:
March 18, 2008 at 7:02 am eGeorge, they were the Panthers – Camden High.

George, yes many fond memories of the Flyers parade and skipping out of school to go. I think half of Wilson was over there that day at the old JFK stadium. Also remember the walk down Broad Street back to Center City, because the subway was too crowded. Those streets were packed too. I remember a few tipped over cars along the route also, and cars driving by with bunches of people hanging off them.

Ken Says:
March 18, 2008 at 12:56 pm eJohn Stevenson, Welcome, it’s great to see you have visited the site. And thank you for your kind words. Davis School holds such wonderful memories for so many of us. It has been very enjoyable to look back, reminisce, and reconnect; and some wonderful memories are being shared here.

In your years since teaching at Davis, you and your wife have lived a truly engaged life, and that example, like many of the lessons you taught so many of us at Davis, is an inspiration still.

On a lighter note, your maroon Cougar has been mentioned a number of times on this site. There has been much debate over exactly how many people could fit in that car! And… George and I still owe you a lunch, for that unannounced visit to your house in Haddon Heights. Next time you are in South Jersey, you can take us up on that. Of course George will have to ride his bike down from Vermont, but he’s probably still in good shape.

Thanks again, for visiting the site, and also for being the great teacher that you were… and still are.

Barbara Johnson (Rapanotti) Says:
March 18, 2008 at 6:27 pm eHey Terry – I;m doing ok. How about you? I;m living in collingswood now my son is 24 years old (Stephen). He graduated from Drexel last June and is now living and working in Michigan. Next week they ( him and his girlfriend) are moving to Alabama for 9 months for his job. He is a chemical engineer for BASF chemical company. Not bad for a single parent lol. How about you? Married, kids???

Barbara Johnson (Rapanotti) Says:
March 18, 2008 at 6:31 pm eKen and George – Nick had so many friends, I dont remember all of them lol. I wasn’t as popular back then. Quiet and shy – kinda stayed to myself.

Charlie”Skeeter” Moy Says:
March 18, 2008 at 7:50 pm eKen,

Thank you so much for creating the “Looking For” thread & posting the picture of my friends.

I hope I can find Dave.

Those four “Wild & Crazy guys,plus Jessie Wilbourne and myself were inseparable from 56 thru 61.

Its funny how people drift apart and years later,you kick yourself for not maintaining contact.

I was in the Army from 61-64,and they all got married while I was away.

I look at that picture & it brings a tear to my eye,because Bruce,Joe, and Jessie (not shown) are gone.

I found John,but am still looking for Dave Nicholson.

Then after I calm down I look at the picture again and smile,because it brings back soooo many memories of the good times we had,the funny,sometimes crazy stuff we would do.

What a great group of guys.

Thanks again.

Skeeter
ps…I am posting this on the thread with the picture too.

Ken Says:
March 18, 2008 at 10:03 pm eHey Everyone… the site is really hopping. Wanted to Welcome, not only John Stevenson, our first Davis teacher to check in (see his post above on this page), but also Joe DiRenzo, who also checked in today and left his e-mail contact on the E-mail Page.

We are up to 9,685 hits on this site (and none of those are my own) in a little over a month. And already there have been nearly 500 comments posted! This is truly great, and I thank everyone who has participated.

terry defrancisco Says:
March 18, 2008 at 11:29 pm eHey Barb,
Great to hear from you. I live in Moorestown and have three kids. My daughter will be graduating in May from Widener University. My middle boy is a part time student at BCC and a full time EMT in Maple Shade and Moorestown and also for JFK in Cherry Hill. My youngest is a junior at Moorestown High School. He will be graduating (hopefully) next year. I’ve been in touch with Nick for awhile. Keep in touch. This site is so much fun!!

terry defrancisco Says:
March 18, 2008 at 11:32 pm eKen,
If I knew you were heading to the parade, I would have hitched a ride with you. Fools that we were, we thought we were the only ones going over, and going over with a teacher was ok. Ha! Even though my parents knew I was going, when that picture broke, the school wasn’t very understanding. That was such a great time!

George Gumbrell Says:
March 18, 2008 at 11:43 pm eHey Ken, I forget who dropped us off, or picked us up. But we had help! It was a great day, sunny and spending it with a really good friend, and the Flyers.

George Gumbrell Says:
March 19, 2008 at 2:33 am eHey Mr. Stevenson, Thank you for stopping by, I know for myself and others who knew you, and especially Ken and Paul and I, we did, and still love you! You were such a wonderful influence for us, that for about forty years later we will not forget. THANK YOU!!!!!. Please post more comments, we waited so long to Thank You. And we love to hear what you have to say. Take care, and write when you can.

Charlie”Skeeter” Moy Says:
March 19, 2008 at 8:15 am eOK Guys…Question about a Teacher.

It was so long ago,my memories merge,and can’t recall if this man taught at Davis or Cramer.

Every time they held an assembly in the auditorium this african american gentleman would belt out a rousing rendition of out National Anthem.

He possessed a booming operatic type voice.

Given the fact we were into R&R at that time,and the fact we were not very mature ,many of us had to keep from laughing out loud.

Felt sorry for the guy,it was just not our type of voice…lol

I think his name started with an “H”.

But like I said it was like 50 years ago .

Ken Says:
March 19, 2008 at 8:45 am eSkeeter, I think the man you are referring to was my 5th Grade teacher Mr. Horsley. If it was the same man, and it may have been, though he would have been younger when you were at Davis, maybe in his twenties, he became a teacher at Davis in the late 60’s. Mr Horsley did sing opera professionally, in fact during the school year that I had him, he took a leave of absence to travel to Europe to sing with an opera company for several weeks. He was a great teacher, very refined and cultured.

Ken Says:
March 19, 2008 at 8:52 am eTerry, did Miss Butler live on 34th Street, and have a younger brother? I think he too went to Davis, and played in the band, then went to a different high school.

Josie Wright (Saluto) Says:
March 19, 2008 at 9:33 am eHi Bob,
About a year ago we had an “Old Friends Reunion” that was the “Best Ever”. I lived on Beideman Avenue and had a lot of friends that lived in the Westfield Acres. We got a group of about 43 old friends and their spouses together for an awesome time. We all have great memories of back then and it is sooooo good to keep in touch. I’m going to send this website to all my old friends to join in.

Fred LeDrew Says:
March 19, 2008 at 11:56 am eHi Everyone,
Josie Wright advised me of this web site and it sure does bring back great memories of growing up in East Camden. My wife Elaine (Neely) and I now live in CA and we attended the “old friends” reunion in Atlantic City…………..it was really a special night. I attended St Joe’s and Elaine went to Davis, we both attended W Wilson. Elaine lived on Rowe St and I on Merriel Ave.
Best wishes to all,

Fred and Elaine LeDrew

Laurie Freeman (Brown) Says:
March 19, 2008 at 1:03 pm eGreat to see Mr. Stevenson has found this sight. I was probably in one of the last classes that he taught, 5th grade 1973. Great memories.

Barbara Johnson (Rapanotti) Says:
March 19, 2008 at 5:53 pm eTerry: How is Maryann doing? Tell her i said hi.

Barbara Johnson (Rapanotti) Says:
March 19, 2008 at 6:39 pm eSteve:

Ok, my e-mail is bjohnson315@netzero.net if you want to e-mail me.

Charlie”Skeeter” Moy Says:
March 19, 2008 at 8:40 pm eKen said:

Skeeter, I think the man you are referring to was my 5th Grade teacher Mr. Horsley.
*******************************

Actually,since I had alittle time to think about it,I think the man with the big voice who sang the National Anthem was Mr. Hackett…could be from Cramer

Ken Says:
March 19, 2008 at 10:05 pm eBarb Rapanotti, I mostly hung around with Nick the summer after 7th Gr. and the summer after 8th. We were mostly out riding on our bikes, but I do remember swimming in your pool and hanging out in your driveway… though Paul and I usually got chased away by your step dad… the deliquents that we were. LOL

terry defrancisco Says:
March 19, 2008 at 11:21 pm eHey Ken,
Looking at your list of teachers from Davis, we had just about the same exact ones. Mr Horsley was my 5th grade teacher and one of my favorites. I remember this Xmas concert we put on for the school. He was so professional in teaching us how to sing properly. We sang Twas The Night Before Christmas. I remember it was such a big production for him. He was a great guy. Hope he posts.

Ken Says:
March 19, 2008 at 11:32 pm eTerry, that is the guy I remember… Paul Butler. Also knew Barb Dubinik from the Wilsonian staff.

Nick Rapanotti Says:
March 20, 2008 at 6:42 am eHi Ter.
I read your post to Barb. So your daughter is starting at Lockheed Martin in June? My brother Mike works there. His title, to put it shortly, is “Computer Everything”! If she has any problems, have her look him up!

Ken Says:
March 20, 2008 at 9:23 am eNick, yeah I remember our commando raids through the backyards of Paul’s neighborhood. Often on a mission to capture that elusive duck in Alan Chien’s backyard. We almost got him a few times, we were close. Also remember you going over one fence and your hand landed in a big pile of doo, and it wasn’t duck doo, not that it would have been any less traumatic if it was. I still feel bad for you after that night. And I use that as an example to my own kids why they should not jump over fences in the dark!