This is the new general comments and discussions page. I know it will take some adjustment for everyone who is use to posting on the front page, but in time, this will be seen as an improvement to the site, and eliminates the need to move posts to an archive because of the front page filling up, like it did in the last week with 150 posts in ten days.
I graduated from Davis in 67. I hope you will post more classes. I recognized Dean Lore. I used to tease him and when he caught me he’d kick my butt. When I was a kid people called me Jimmy, and I have a brother Billy. We both went to Davis. I remember Ms. Hennessy, Mr. Mohrfeld, Ms. Posey the art teacher. An Italian teacher who taught math, and a small man who taught science and married one of the teachers (maybe Ms. Hennessy) I lived in the projects and on Westfield Avenue. It seemed like a rough neighborhood then, but I loved growing up there.
Carl Orth
Susan Orth
Ed Orth
Steve Hardy
Tom Marks
Anthony DeLuca
?? Pelligrino
Susan Tuttle
Jimmy Kearns
Steve Kearns
These are some names I remember from my childhood
Ken,
Thank you for the new post area, In what branch did General Discussion serve? NYUK, NYUK, NYUK! LOL I never could resist a good set-up line!
Triple B,
Three Icons from Three generations, Most everyone at some time has had a connection or memory of these celebrities each with their own contribution to entertainment, Michael, We can all debate his greatest era (Jackson 5, Thriller, Bad etc..) as well as his worst, Farrah (the consumate pin-up) Ed, one of the great set-up men (whether with Johnny or Jerry Lewis) Ken there’s an opening for a good set-up man… HI-YO! LOL
Change is always hard, but this one should be easy to deal with Ken especially if it helps things out for you and the site. I can’t believe we got 150 so fast, kinda nice in a way.
Bake I forgot about the Jerry Lewis connection, that’s true he had some serious chemistry between both Jerry and Johnny hats off to a great set-up man he made them both look better and act better.
Dave, General Discussion must have served in the Army of the Land of Misfit Toys.
Yeah truly a big loss for American icons this week. The big question is… do I make some quick cash on eBay with my Michael Jackson albums, I have most of them in my vast collection of vinyl. Nah, I think I will keep them.
Paul mentioned on FaceBook that local radio icon Irv Homer also passed away (WWDB…I think). I didn’t know of Irv’s work, as I’ve lived out of the area most of my adult years, but apparently many people did.
AND WELCOME to the site Jim Evans… Davis Class of ‘67!
Speaking of Generals, what many don’t know is that Ed McMahon retired as a Brigadier General from the California Air National Guard, that after many years serving there, and as a Marine Reservist after his active duty as a fighter pilot in WWII.
WOW IRV HOMER THE VOICE OF TALK RADIO I USE TO LISTEN TO HIM IN THE LATE 70′S HIM AND SID MARKS, SID WOULD BRING THE SINATRA HOURS MUSIC WHAT A BLAST TO LISTEN TO. SAD TO HEAR OF IRV. DIDNT KNOW THAT ABOUT ED INTERESTING FOR SURE.
To fill in some possible names, etc. from earlier archives – the Esso station at 32nd & Westfield was owned, at least in the mid-60’s, by John Gandy. I knew his family from our church. I’m not sure about the VW on the Davis steps, but I know around spring ‘67, some guys from our class picked up a Bug owned by Miss Lauginger (sp.) one of our 9th grade teachers, parked across from the school on 34th St., & put it on the sidewalk, between 2 trees a few inches from the bumpers. I was there. I have no idea how she got it out of there.LOL. Also in spring ‘67 – we took a class trip to the Phila. Zoo, and awhile after everybody took off in different directions, I remember the teachers coming around telling us we had to leave – turns out a couple of girls had smuggled some booze in, in their purses, & the boys they were with somehow wound up in a monkey cage. We were kicked out of the Phila. Zoo! When we got back to Davis, Mr. Showalter kept us all in the auditorium till after 5 o’clock trying to get the story out of somebody. I think they finally confessed.
Dave, yeah now that you mention the name John Gandy, I recall seeing that name displayed in the office window at the Esso on 32nd. We kids from The 32nd Street Hill hung out a lot there, in the years before it became a Cumberland Farms. Do you remember the guy who worked for Gandy, his name was Ken and he was in his early 20’s, he was a really good mechanic and all around nice guy, and drove a classic late 50’s blue and white Corvette. He use to let us hang at the garage and watch him repair cars, and he’d even let us ride the car lift sometimes… LOL I can’t recall his last name though.
Ken, I never really spent any time at the Esso station, except to fill my bike tires & maybe a soda from the machine. Mr. Gandy passed away I believe in the ’70s, but my parents have had some contact with Mrs. Gandy in the past few years – I’ll see if I can find out from them, or my brothers if they remember Ken – it wasn’t Rogers, was it? There was a Kenny Rogers (not the singer) in that circle of friends, but I can’t remember if he had a “Vette or not. I’ll get back to you…
Speaking of getting in trouble. I recall a class trip to the Franklin Institute, back in the late 60’s. For some reason, I believe the teacher was Mr. Horsely, (that name keeps coming to mind). Anyway, it was the same situation as the zoo. They pretty much let us go on our own, but then we were rounded up and taken back to school because some folks, (and I won’t mention names..gulp), were playing skittle bowl with the pendulum.
James Evans, could the Itialian Math teacher you mentioned be Greek? Mr. Carabasse taught Geometry. Took me a little while to figger out that when he said “take out your campus and find the meat point.” that he meant “take out your compass and find the mid point”. lol
Hi Ken, I haven’t been on in awhile because I have been taken care of my parents who both were in the hospital for over 30 days each. They both have lung and heart problems. My father is doing much better and my mother is in fair condition. My sister Michele now has lung cancer. And of course I think I told you my husband was hit by a car a few months ago. With work and all that is going on with my family and the funerals I have go to with the Haines and people at work Jeannette Hanies double bypass, lately I am suprised I have time to stop by and say hello. I haven’t forgotten about the site. I still try to catch up every once in awhile.Hope all is well with everyone….
Ella-Marie, good to see you back posting, I’ve received your updates on your parents and the sad news about your sister Michele also, she is in our thoughts and prayers; keep me posted on her treatment. And yes it has been a rough few weeks for the family, friends, and former neighbors of the Haines family, with all they have suffered over the past few months. Many people left moving notes to the Haines family on Billy’s memorial page in the Courier. I know you keep in close contact with the Haines, let them know they are still in our thoughts and prayers.
I know that now that this “general comments” page has been moved from the front page, many skip right over the front page, but please take a few minutes to read the updated notices I have added today, they concern issues that have been effecting this site in recent months, weeks, and days. I don’t want to see this site cease being a place to share memories, but if things continue in some directions, that may very well be the fate of this site.
Just wanted to make a comment concerning your rules. I agree that comments should not be derogatory. However, growing up in Camden wasn’t always a bed of roses. But just like a bed of roses, there are thorns and they must be dealt with too. Not all of my memories of Camden are positive ones. I’m sure for most of those here, they weren’t all positive either. Both the positives and the negatives encompass the foundation of who we all are.
A good example; Westfield Acres was a pretty integrated community made of many races. As kids we all played together and never thought of color or race. Then came the first riot in Camden in 1969 and race all of a sudden became an issue. Those who were your friends now had to be your enemy. I can remember many, (including myself), walking around with chains in our hands to defend ourselves. However, the friendship we already gained overtook the “requirement” that we beat on our former friends of a different race. So, when coming into contact with that person, nothing tended to happen and usually both sides parted with words to the effect, he’s a friend, leave him alone. Sadly though, after that, things just weren’t the same. Before the riot of 69, we as kids never thought of race, we just played together and had a great time, and those friendships were never the same.
That was a negative story but its one that should be told.
One other thing. This is a great website and has brought back many memories. Making contact with former friends is something that is quite natural if both sides are willing to make that contact. Thanks to your website I’ve found three people whom I lost contact with many years ago and we’ve renewed those contacts. When you look at the posts on your site, you’ll see that it is, in fact, a social networking site. There are many posts back and forth between individuals. However, I enjoy them just as much as those who are just posting their memories.
Bill,
We all know that Camden was not a bed of roses, we all lived through the riots, and the fights at Wilson in ‘72 that a lot of people called “riots.”
I think a lot of the people that post here realize that those things happened up to 40 years ago, and really don’t hold any ill feelings and are willing to put those memories behind them and focus on the more pleasant ones, as well as the idiosychracies that made growing up in Camden at that time what it was, a once in a life time experience.
I had friends and aquaintances that were of a different race at that time and never felt compelled to react physically when I saw them. In fact, some of the conversations we had back then indicated that they were just as aprehensive as anyone else about the tense situations we ALL were enduring. It was a dramatic time in US history as well as Camden History and we all experienced it, and, hopefully, learned from it.
I, and I think as least a lot of people on this site prefer to focus on the funny, and happy memories of that place we experienced our childhood days
Paul, thanks for your comments. Bill thanks for yours also.
It’s true no one has said growing up in Camden was a bed of roses, and we do all have stories of the bad events, situations, and experiences we all had. No one has ever argued against that here at the site.
The one misconception about this site that needs to cleared up once and for all, and that is the root cause for the past two days of back and forth banter on the issue, is that as the site’s moderator I am somehow responsible for the tone of this site, and also that in my perceived “mighty powers” as the overseer of this site, I prohibit, edit, censor material, and persuade individuals not to post negative memories and comments, and that only rosey, fun, happy memories are allowed. THAT IS NOT THE CASE, NOR HAS IT EVER BEEN THE CASE!!!! And anyone who has been here for any length of time knows that!
I will say this one final time, then as far as I am concerned, it’s a dead issue, and we can all get back to posting the comments we want… I do not, and have never set the tone of this site. If it appears that all the comments on this site only reflect the positive and fun memories from our collective past growing up in Camden, that is not because of me, or what some believe I allow and do not allow on the site.
What it is, is a testament to the fact that, as Paul has said, the majority of the people who regularly visit and post on this site, of their own free will, focus on the positive, happy, fun memories. That says something. And it says something obvious, that I should not have to keep pointing out…. in this forum, with this group of people. What makes up the vast majority of the posts on this site are the things people want to remember and share.
I don’t dictate that anyone share those memories, but I certainly applaud and support that the majority do by allowing this site to continue, despite the many problems and issues behind the scenes, that make running a site such as this a real pain in the ass sometimes. But I willingly do so, because for many, this place has become a place they visit daily, to remember some good times, and let off a little steam with some old friends and often new friends.
I did not plot or choose the direction this site has grown in, the tone was set by those who visit the site and continue to frequent the site.
Anyway… lets move forward, I think through postings and shared emails, most of these issues have now been ironed out, and everyone knows where everyone else is coming from.
As always, everyone should feel free to post whatever they wish to here, share what memories you will, just be sensitive sharing things about individuals, especially named individuals who are not here to defend themselves, or are no longer living. And be sensitive to language… kids do read this site, many of us have kids and grandkids who enjoy reading the memories and stories here, because is gives them a glimpse, certainly not a full picture, but a small window into our youth.
If Mr. Carabasse does visit this site and happens to see my post. I hope he will understand that I kid because I care. After the first couple of days I understood exactly what he was saying. It is sort of like British Humor. Once you get the lingo. You are totally immersed. Because of his teachings, Later, in High School, I and several other students, were able to take Geometry and Algebra 2 in our junior years and actually had no Math course available as seniors. Mr. Vincent Quaresima had the school add a Math class for those students. The reason that we talk about these teachers now and the reason that we remember their names. Is that they had a profound effect on our lives. If I ever see a 4 foot pole casting a 3 foot shadow. I know that a line from the end of the shadow to the top of the pole is 5 feet. So thank you Mr. Carabasse, wherever you are.
Glenn, someplace way back in the archives are some posts about Vincent Quarisima… you can Google him, he produces music now and owns a sandwich shop in California.
And he was certainly on the cutting edge of bringing higher math to Wilson… in our day few went beyond Algebra II and Trig, and only some of those even planning on going on to college attempted Calculus in their senior year. Compare that to today, two of my daughters who are now in high school, have completed Honors Algebra II and Honors Geometry, a double math, as Freshmen, and took Calculus in 10th Grade. My oldest then took AP Calculus this year in 11th, and will take AP Statistics in her senior year… two college level math classes by time she graduates high school, and that is not unusual in this day for college bound high schoolers. Quarisima certainly was forward thinking.
I just added six new pages with pictures… Pelham Place, Remington Street-Lemuel Ave. Walkway, Janess Family Pics, Davis 63-64 Grade 6, Davis 64-65 Grade 7-3, and Davis 65-66 Grade 8. They can all be found on the menus. More pictures to follow in the next few days.
Thanks Dave and Curt Parrish, and Inez Janess for submitting the photos. Dave I have the large class photo you sent in three parts, I need to do some sizing etc… then will post those also. Ken Barr I have the photos you sent, and will get to them too.
That’s it. Mr Carabasse. I don’t know if that is how he spelled it and you are right also about him maybe being Greek with a heavy accent. He tried so hard to get some math problem through my thick head, but not only could I not grasp the problem, but I couldn’t comprehend what he was saying. That is so funny now.
I was reading some old postings, and saw Nicky Hawk. Nicky, I used to hang out with Joey Vincent and Art Hubler. You lived right across the street from Joey. My older brother Richard is still married to Joey’s sister Patty. Anyway Hi. I saw that your Sister posted something too, but I don’t remember her.
It was Carabases – I’ve got a picture right here with his name, & all the teachers & students from Davis 9th grade ‘66-’67, which should be posted soon. Glenn, say hi to your brother Gary – I was in his classes for many years.
Jim and Glenn, Mr. Savas Carabases, retired from the Camden School District just a year or so ago. He taught many of those years at WWHS, and was also on the Superintendent of School’s staff, as supervisor of math programs for all city schools.
Also just heard on the news that Camden’s Charter High School, one of the newer alternative magnet schools, graduated a class of 45 seniors today, and the entire class has been accepted to various colleges. There seems to be a trend in Camden in recent years, with non-traditional high schools, geared towards specific areas, and they seem to be making a difference for many kids.
Harry, I never quite understood back at Wilson why you were called HL Postulate… its finally sunk in, those were your initials….LOL. The big question is… have you had any use for the HL Postulate since leaving high school? LOL
I haven’t had any use for the HL postulate, but Mr. Q should have conferred with Mr. Carabases before attempting to mount that antenna tower on the roof, he would have learned that it was an incongruent situation…..lol
Harry, I remember the day the antenna tower fell, I think us wrestlers were doing our laps around the main hallway when we heard the crash… how no one got killed out in the courtyard is still a mystery… why Russ was not blammed for the crash, as he was no doubt within fifty yards of it when it fell, is a mystery also…LOL RussMac you reading this? Really us wrestlers had NOTHING to do with that…. NOTHING… LOL
yea Ken, i was doing laps out on the dirt track, then cut thru the courtyard and saw the mangled mess strewn all over the concrete, the antenna itself looked like something out of the Road Runner cartoon…..lol…..are you sure the wrestling team didn’t have an additional lasso attached to the courtyard side? let’s see, wrestlers/ham radio club……like oil/vinegar….lol
Hey Dave,
Thanks for the confirmation on Mr. Carabases. I really liked him. Do you have 6th 7th and 8th grade photos in 67-68? I am anxious to see if my little brother and I are in the images. I even remember what shirt I was wearing.
Does any one remember the blond history teacher around that time? Of course I thought she was very good looking, but I can tell you my testosterone level was about 96% of the chemical composition of my small frame.
One more thing. Reading older postings I saw Carl Orth. Carl, I lived in the building to your left in the Westfield Acres. I remember we had quite a bit of fun together.
Jim, the blond Social Studies teacher was no doubt, Helen Samango… she was at Davis, then moved to Wilson with us kids from the Davis Class of ‘72. Most of us had her for one class or another at Wilson. She was quite popular at both schools. I think someone reported that she retired to Florida.
Carl Orth visited the site early on, but did not leave any contact info. His cousin Rich Orth has visited the site a few times, and did leave some contact info…. Rich owns Cape May Tackle and Bait. He may be able to put you in touch with Carl.
Yes Jim I concur with Mr. Brown the teacher was Helen Samango and we all had the hot’s for her ” hubba hubba” Tried as I did to get her for a teacher, ended up with Ms. McKenna. She was a great teacher and brought out the best in me for history if there is such a thing but no beauty pageant trophies for her I don’t think. So Jim your 96% is about right !!!
In ‘67, the teacher you knew as Mrs. Helen Samango was known to us as Miss Helen Nikorovich (still single then, as if we had any channce!). She got married sometime in between, I guess. Her picture is in the 9th grade class picture from ‘66-’67, to be posted soon. Sorry I don’t have any pictures from Davis after ‘66-’67, but possibly one of my brothers may, they were a few years behind me grade-wise. I’ll try to find out.
Jim, you might not remember, maybe someone does, but there was an English teacher named Anita Jackson who was at Davis & moved to Wilson in ‘67, I believe. I know she was still there in ‘68-’69, but she wasn’t in the ‘69-’70 yearbook. I had moved by then. Anybody ever hear what happened to her? She was my favorite English teacher.
Dave, yes Helen Samango was Helen Nikorovich; she also had a sister Kim Nikorovich, who many of us had at Davis for 1st Grade. She taught 1st for several years, some of us from Davis’72, had her in the ‘64 and ‘65 school year, unfortuantely there is not yet a photo of that class, I missed a lot of 1st Grade, including picture day, due to illness.
I think the Anita Jackson you are thinking of, married and became Anita Kane, who taught English at Wilson through the early and mid 70’s. I had her for 10th Grade English, she is the reason I took Journalism in 11th and 12th… she sent me to see Mrs. Gilde one day with my writings, and I later became the editor of the Wilsonian. Mrs. Kane and Mrs Gilde were the two best English/Writing teachers I ever had, I learned more from both about the mechanics of writing than even later college profs.
If you look back on the Davis Memories and Wilson Memories pages, there have been many memories posted about many of the teachers.
Dave…No, Yes I believe so, Definitely YES, and Yes.
Mrs. Kane was as you described except she had dark hair when I had her in the early 70’s. I’ll scan a pic of her later from one of the yearbooks I have and send it to you via email. I don’t want to post a single picture of her, as she has not visited the site
Dave, it is hard to say about Ms. Jackson… she was ten years older in the photo I forwarded to you, and the hair styles had definitely changed… what do you think? From the Davis pic, she appears to be right out of college, at Wilson in ‘76, Ms, Kane was in her early 30’s so that fits.
Also, Ms. Carlin, who I recognize in the Davis class photo, later taught English at Wilson also -I had her Senior year for a mini-course, one semester, on term paper writing.
I will try to get the Davis class photo posted in sections later today.
Also if you look at the page titled “Davis Teachers 1972″ – Helen Samango is pictured top row, far right, with the middle school teachers, you need to click to enlarge that photo, twice actually to get a clear view of the page.
Ken, I’m still not sure if Anita Jackson = Anita Kane, it’s possible; but Miss Nikorovich is definitely Mrs. Samango (or was then, anyway…). May need some more research…
I was just looking at the Davis teachers, (1972). I was amazed to see Mr. Mohrfield with hair. When I had him in the 6th grade, he was pretty much a bald man.
FYI… I have not checked the stats for this site in a few months….I just did… we are at 110,000 hits since we went online in February 2008, with over 3,500 comments posted. There are also 255 separate pages – and each of those pages contains at least one photo, many contain several photos. That is staggering!
Hey Dave,
I don’t remember Anita Jackson, and now I am not sure if Mrs. Samango was going by Nikorovich. I think the latter. How about Ms. Hennessy, anyone remember her? She and the science teacher got married.
Ken, thanks for opening up this forum. It has made me think about people and places I haven’t recalled in decades
I’m not sure when Helen Nikorovich married, she was going by Samango in the ‘71-’72 school year at Davis, many of us had her for Social Studies, and I remember she announced near the end of the year, around graduation, that she would be following our class to Wilson. She taught History, Social and Legal Issues, and a number of History mini-courses when Wilson started offering them around ‘75. She also taught Behavioral Science… which mostly seniors got to take; Paul Skeens and I were in that class, my first exposure to psych classes…LOL. Ms. Samango also owned a boutique in Philly called Stitches – which was no doubt why she was always so well dressed! I think there was an ad for it in one of the yearbooks.
And Bill and James, I think Mohrfeld did wear a rug… LOL.
I have the ‘66-’67 class picture with the teachers, showing H. Nikorovich, who’s class I had been in. This picture should be posted soon, but it is identical to the ‘72 picture, where she’s shown as H. Samango. She was definitely Nikorovich first, then somewhere before ‘72 she became Samango. You’ll see when the picture’s posted.
Also, Miss Anita Jackson was my English teacher at Davis, before I went to Wilson in Sept.’67, and she was an English teacher at Wilson from ‘67-’69. I have yearbooks from ‘68-’69 & ‘69-’70 (even though I wasn’t at WWHS in ‘69-’70, I did attend the graduation & got a yearbook). Even though she’s in the ‘68-’69 book, I didn’t realize till just recently, going over all my High School stuff for this site, that Miss Jackson was nowhere to be found in the ‘69-’70 yearbook, & I haven’t found any info anywhere about her since. It’s a shame – she was always one of my favorites.
Dave Parrish, I just posted the “Davis 66-67 Graduating Class” – the three part photo…. they are all on one page as thumbnails, so viewers need to click on the photos to view. Unfortunately the text (names) are not clear on many, though if viewers enlarge the screen on their computers, from 100% tpo 125-150%, it may come in clearer for some. Thanks for sending in the picture. I will work on the sections some more later to see if I can’t enlarge them better.
Harry and Sandy, I have moved your political discussion to a new page – “NEWS-CURRENT EVENTS -Not Related To Camden Stuff” – this frees up the General Discussions page for posts about East Camden. As we know from past discussions about things in the news, they often get quite lenghty. Everyone should feel free to discuss other issues in the news if you feel moved to do, now there is a separate page for that, just as there is a separate page for sports posts, and Eagles posts, and RussMac’s latest video feeds from 13,000 feet (yeah that’s a joke). Thanks.
For those of you who remember Mrs. Helene Samango (Nikorovich) from both Davis and Wilson, here is some current info about her from a public website for the Palm Beach Florida Classroom Teacher’s Association for which Mrs. Samango is the Executive Director. It’s nice to know such a wonderful teacher is still involved in education.
Who took Behavioral Science with Mrs. Samango at Wilson? Does anyone remember the fieldtrip she took us on to Ancora Psychiatric Hospital? We drove as a class to Ancora in several cars. It was a great learning experience, and we even got to meet Frank “Sintro” Sinatra… hahaha…. a patient who handed out autographs as Old Blue Eyes. I believe it was the same patient, who sat at the picnic table when we were eating lunch, chatting up Mrs. Samango. He told her he was a bus driver for one of the other schools visiting Ancora that day. After awhile, a couple of orderlies came by and escorted “Frank” (it wasn’t even his name as I recall) back to his room, but not before some of us got autographs. Paul Skeens thanks for reminiscing about that class, and that trip, which unfortunatly, you missed.
Does anyone remember the trip to Quebec with the French Club? It was spring break of “75 I think. I found the pictures the other day. That was a nice trip. Anybody else remember that trip?
Ken,
You’re right; I should have been blamed for the fall of the radio tower. Earlier that day it was mocking me, I swear!!! After much consternation, I decided, “I can take it!!!!!” And I did. It fell due to my wicked cross-face.
Paul,
I have a question for you; you stated in one of your posts, “I had friends and aquaintances that were of a different race at that time…”. I’m wondering, are they still of a different race, or was it just at that time? If they are no longer of a different race, how does one go about becoming of a similar race? Just curious.
Ken,
I have to apologize that I don’t know what the controversy was that you referred to in an earlier post. Do I need to know?
When did the tower fall? Where was the tower? What was the tower’s purpose? Is this news or general dis? Am I posting in the right place? I can’t find what all the controversy was about. When did all thid happen? Recently or during our HS yrs?
RussMac, I’d be careful about admitting any role in the falling of the radio tower antenna, the WWHS Ham Radio Club may still be out to get you, and are no doubt relaying a recent description of you via Morse Code around the world, or at the very least around Camden County.
Russ there is no controversy that currently needs your skills and insight, if one arises I will keep you posted!
Sandy, yes the Wilson Ham Radio Club’s antenna, which the Ham Radio Club has been trying to erect for thirty three years has fallen, and there are currently no Wilson wrestlers from the Class of 76, still doing laps around the main hallway to help them do the heavy lifting to remove it from the Wilson courtyard… LOL
Maybe I should explain it this way, a long, long time ago, in a place called Wilson High, a dedicated group of Ham Radio Club members under the direction of Mr. Querisima, attempted to reach out to the larger world by erecting a large antenna on the roof of WWHS. Failing to see the need for the muscle bound brawn of us wrestlers, they never asked us to help haul the thing to the roof with a system of ropes and pulleys. Mind you, us wrestlers were quite qualified to do this task (had we been asked) as we were used to hauling those heavy wrestling mats up three flights of winding stairs everytime we had a meet. BUT, the Ham Radion Club never asked us to help, so we continue running our laps around the main hallway, all the while being quite inspired by the effort the Ham Radio Club was putting in trying to raise the antenna.
And then, when us wrestlers were on about our 35th lap, disaster struck, as the large antenna came crashing down from the sky into the courtyard, narrowly missing not only the Ham Radio Club, but everyone who was taking a short cut across the courtyard. Anyway, since Russ was known for his hooliganism in those days, and he was technically within 50 yards of said disaster, and on previous occasions had shown he had the skills to scale the outside walls of Wilson, he has always been viewed with suspicion as the force that prevented the Ham Radio Club from going global.
RussMac that’s about how it unfolded isn’t it? And that is why we were later left in the Pine Barrens by Mr. Skeens right? The Ham Radio Club had paid him to dispose of us there? LOL
And yes, the above post was intended to get those members of the Ham Radio Club to set aside their Morse Code tappers, and get on the Internet and come post some memories here. Otherwise it is left up to Russ and I to fill in the blanks, and you all know how that will go!
Do u guys remember me being the stat keeper? I think it was sophmore year. I was dating T.Lope then. I had Mr. Lawyer for algebra. I’m so glad I didn’t have to be at practices, but it sounds like they were interesting! LOL
You must of been a stat keeper then Sandy, as we only allowed stat keepers who were dating wrestlers…LOL Yeah I do remember you doing that job. The wrestling team actually went through a number of stat keepers, three, four, maybe five a season. The list of wrestling stat keepers is indeed endless, you, Emma King, Pat Histing, Terry Woodrow, Lucy Palo, Debbie Rickenback, Elyce Galasso, Patty Melleby, Marge Ballengee, Feleta Gaymon, and those are just the ones I can remember from our four years at Wilson.
Paul, yes it is always good to suspect some psych ops interrogation technique at work when Russ starts randomly wandering down certain paths of questioning… LOL
Bill, what’s interesting about Mr. Mohrfeld’s hair, in the ‘70 and ‘71 Davis yearbooks I have, he is for the most part bald, in the ‘72 yearbook he has a full head of dark hair… LOL I don’t think he ever hid the fact he wore a toupee. As I recall he use to walk to school, from around 40th or 41st Street, usually down High Street, it’s very possible he went rugless on windy days. Or maybe he switched off yearly depending on if he had a class that was going to cause him to pull his hair out or not. Anyone recall what street Mr. Mohrfeld lived on? I know this was discussed once before awhile back.
I hope everyone has a great Fourth of July Weekend, stay safe, and as Russ reminded us on another page, remember the significance of Independence Day and remember those that are serving our country today. Many of us who post here regularly have family and friends on active duty, some in harm’s way in Iraq and Afghanistan, keep them in your thoughs this weekend.
To all the men and women and their families who have served, and now serve our great country here and abroad, I thank you for your sacrifices of yesterday, today, and all of your tomorrows, May freedom forever ring.
Cara and I attended a “Tea Party” last evening and received documentation we plan to use to make sure our children are educated as to their responsibility according to “The Constitution of The United States of America” which was designed to give the “power to the people” with “government as servant” of the people. The Fourth of July is not just about “picnics and fireworks”…. it is about “appreciating and protecting” the freedom we enjoy because of the sacrifice of all those who have gone before us. God Bless America!
Where’s all the chatter? Did all of you people have tooooo good a time at the 4th of July celebrations?
Thought of the wonderful times we had at Dudley Grange on the 4th. Great fireworks in the evening and the Westfield Avenue parade in the afternoon.
Remember weaving red, white, and blue crepe paper on the bikes and being in the parade? Bob Simons, who lived across the street from me on 34th Street, and I went as Mr. & Mrs. America in the parade. Mom fashioned me a patriotic dress out of a paper tablecloth. We won first prize which was a “gold” cup, so we had to share it! Boy, we were proud!
Indeed, and a good time was had by all. I had forgotten the bikes with the r / w/ and b weaved through the wheel spokes it was a parade in itself when we all rode together.
Hi, all. I’ve just discovered this site and I am SO enjoying the memory jogs. About specific teachers: I tracked down our Davis music teacher, Mr. Blatt about 4 years ago. He told me that all those songs we had to sing (I’m afraid I remember them all) were chosen by the coordinator if the city’s music program and he had no choice but to follow the curriculum. a brave young man, he was! He had just retired and is living near Tom’s River, I believe, playing trumpet in a Dixieland band in Atlantic City for fun! I first found Mr Carabases who was able to put me in touch with someone else …etc. etc. I remember Miss Nikorvich! And I’ve been trying to get in touch with Miss Anita Jackson (Kane??) for years – one of the best English teachers around. It was her class we moved to, from Mr. C’s math class, when Mr. Bristow announced that President Kennedy had been shot in Dallas.
Hi, when did you have Miss Jackson/Kane? After comparing pictures of the two, I’m pretty sure they’re not the same person. I had Miss Jackson at Davis till ‘66-’67, and I know she moved to Wilson after that. She was there in ‘68-’69, but after I left in’69 & came back to the ‘70 graduation, & got the ‘70 yearbook, I realized she was no longer at Wilson, & no one I’ve contacted from that class seems to know. Ms. Kane was there later, & I have a picture of her, & it doesn’t really look very much like Miss Jackson.
I remember one Fourth of July at Dudley Grange, in particular. It was 1953 and I
was 14 years old and all my friends were down the shore or wherever and I spent the day alone.
First, I watched the parade and then at night I watched the fireworks.
Guess what? I had a wonderful time! I did not “feel” alone…. I just enjoyed the wonderful sunny day and warm summer evening with it’s soft breezes as the beautiful lights exploded in the night sky….. The “feel” of it is locked in my memory….
I just thought of something…. where are the photos of you and Bobby Simon in the parade as Mr and Mrs America? If your parents didn’t take photos, were their any in the Courier Post? It would be nice to see! What year was it?
Dave – I had Miss Jackson both at Davis and in HS at WWHS. Graduated from Davis in ‘65, wilson in ‘68. Poor Miss Jackson sat through one of our required ‘luncheons’ in home ec where we prepared food for our teachers. Good sport. She introduced us to Shakespeare, and then in HS ran the drama club. It was a heroic revival of the club, and we drummed up support for some large productions by running ‘mini theater’ during study halls. After many years of silence, we mounted a musical – The Music Man, in 1968. Like an old Garland/Rooney movie, we faced trauma and triumphed at the 11th hour. The backstage was torched the night before we were to open, and Mr. Bristow had a fit. We had no sound equipment, a handful of props and costumes, and a rather smokey aroma to deal with. We convinced him to let us solider on, and we did! At the end of the show, instead of flowers, Miss Jackson was presented with a brand new, battery operated flashing traffic warning device that ’somebody’ had liberated from a construction site! It was a far cry from the old black smudge pots and we were delighted to see her standing there holding it with tears in her eyes.
Oh, and I remember she coached the entire graduating class at Davis in a choral reading of Poe’s The Bells. It was glorious, but it took a mighty toughness on her part to get some of the guys to buy into it!
Welcome to the site Susan Leviton, Mary Ellen (Henwood) Shortle, and Jerry Henwood, we are glad you found us, and thanks for posting some great memories.
Susan Leviton, you were a year behind my sister Karen Brown at both Davis and Wilson, she graduated Wilson in ‘67.
The younger Mr. Bristow, son of the Wilson principal, was a Social Studies teacher at Davis in the early 70’s, the family also owned a sporting goods store on Haddon Avenue in Westmont. I think the younger Bristow graduated Wilson in the mid 60’s. I think both father and son were named John???
As for trackingdown Miss Anita Jackson, if you are positive she did indeed graduate from Temple, you could probably inquire through their alumni association. It’s apparent now that Miss Anita Jackson, and Mrs. Anita Kane, while they both taught English at Wilson and were exceptional teachers fondly remembered, were two different women.
I have a ‘68-’69 Wilson yearbook that shows Miss Anita Jackson, & in her profile it shows her being a Temple grad. Otherwise, all I know is she’s not in the yearbook for the following year, and have found nothing concerning her since that time. I Googled her name, plus Temple alumni, & all kinds of dead end leads – let me know if you find out anything else…good luck, there are a lot of Anita Jacksons.
Hey RussMac, I added a new link for the world record jump you participated in back in April. The original video from the Tampa TV station was no longer linking, I found the same video on another “jump” site and have attached that to the original page – “Russ McDaniel – Jump Team World Record” – so check it out. The video is about half way down the article that is linked.
Russ, did you make any jumps over the Independence Day weekend?
Also I received an e-mail the other day from Dave Nevius (Wilson ‘76), he is due home from Iraq in about two weeks. Dave was able to keep up with the posts here for a while during his deployment, but then for some reason could no longer link to the site from Iraq. He is due to retire from the Air Force in September with a total of 33 years of military service to our country – both active duty and reserve duty.
Travel safe Dave on your return home! And we look forward to you posting here again.
33 years wow, my hat, coat shoes all off to you my friend Mr. David Nevius. You were not just a side yard we cut through, but a guy we hung out with, had birthday parties with and just had a few laughs from time to time and now you have had my back for 33 years in many capacities, your a good man David and you are in our prayers. It’s time for you to sit down and rest with your family and know we are proud of you and send you our love and respect for a job well done.
I had Anita Jackson in Davis (8th and 9th Grade) ‘65 and ‘66. Also had her at Wilson (Senior year ‘69) and I agree with the sentiments expressed here… she was FIRST-RATE…as a teacher and a person. She had a great sense of humor and could be fun, but not when it interfered with education. As Susan Leviton says above, Miss Jackson introduced us to Shakespeare…and she coached the Davis Class of 1966, also, in a recitation of “The Bells” She had a way of motivating her students to excel and to do their best. I have often thought over the intervening years that she was one of the top three most influential teachers that I had. I also can verify that 1969 was her last year at Wilson. On semester break from college in December of ‘69, I stopped in to try to visit her and a few other teachers and was told she was no longer at the Wilson.
If you are able to track her down, it would be nice to hear how she is doing.
As our teachers reach retirement age, it’s a gift we can give them to tell them we remember what they did for us. We’re more likely than ever to find them with all the electronic searching and connecting we can do. So I hope we can locate the elusive Miss Jackson!
The Miss Anita Jackson we’ve been talking about was in her 20s at the most, when she taught me at Davis & then WWHS. That would have been ‘65-67 at Davis, thru ‘69 at WWHS. If you look at the Davis ‘66-’67 class picture I sent in, she’s on the 3rd section of that picture, and as you can see, she probably wasn’t even 30 yet, at that time. I’m guessing she was 5 to 10 in 1953, at the most.
No, our Miss Jackson wasn’t the great teacher described above. All I ever remember her doing was sitting at her desk. We couldn’t wait to get to Mr. Gambacorda’s (sp?) class, next door. He did all kinds of interesting things and was fun and really knew his stuff.
I remember the same Miss Jackson mentioned by Peggy Marks DeBoard. She was not one of my favorites and I can still visualize her always pushing her drooping bust up and then pushing her hair back. We all dreaded having her for a teacher and thankfully I did not. I can not remember if she taught the 5th or 6th grade. I had Miss Quinn for 5th and Miss Stees for 6th. Miss Quinn had my father when he went to school as did my 4th grade teacher, Miss Williams. A lot of the teachers from that era were not married.
I don’t see our beloved Miss Kane pushing up any fallen boobs, accept me and Kenny in the back of the class LOL. I really think they are 2 different people that happened to go to the same college. Ms. Kane was smart, nice and even had compassion. The Miss Jackson you mention resembles 3 or 4 I can think of but really not, you guys had her all to your own, that’s one teacher I am glad I never had, merely from what you said,LOL no first hand knowledge of course.
The Miss Jackson referred to (from the ’50s, with fallen boobs, etc.), is not the Miss Anita Jackson who was being confused with Ms. Kane. Anita Jackson was in her 20s, 30 at most, in 1967-69, and quite attractive, as well as a great teacher. Two different Miss Jacksons, and one Miss Kane in all this confusion…
Also, I keep forgetting, but the Miss Jackson we knew in the late ’60s, is pictured on the Davis ‘67 Graduating class picture…take a look – not Miss Kane, but definitely not the one teaching in the ’50s.
Ken Barr, I see you are confsuing us all over again LOL… here’s the reality of this whole issue…
1950’s – there was an OLDER Ms. Jackson who taught at Davis.
1960’s – there was a YOUNGER Miss Anita Jackson who taught at Davis and is pictured in the 1967 graduating class photo… this same Miss Anita Jackson, moved to Wilson where she taught until ‘69.
So there were two teachers named Jackson, one was definitely named Anita, the name of the older Ms. Jackson is still in question. Are we sure she was a Mrs… The older Jackson from the 50’s???? She may have been the mother of the young Miss Anita Jackson from the mid 60’s. It’s a possibility.
At Wilson Miss Anita Jackson taught English until ‘69 and Mrs. Anita Kane taught English after Miss Anita Jackson left. We are not sure when Anita Kane arrived at Wilson, but she is pictured in the ‘73 through ‘76 yearbooks!
We are absolutely sure now that the two Anitas are not one and the same teacher, they merely shared the same first name, and both were exceptional English teachers at Wilson – at different times, thought it seems they were around the same age.
It is remembered that Miss Anita Jackson went to Temple. I seem to recall that Mrs. Anita Kane may have gone to Temple too.
Now here’s a new twist to this whole mystery… I have found a reference to an Anita Kane presently connected to Temple University and an educational opportunity program that she administers as a VP of programs and curriculum. I also have an email address for her and will email her and inquire if she is the Anita Kane some of us had at Wilson in the early and mid-70’s. My hunch is that it is her.
Ken Barr, I don’t think we were in the same class when we had Mrs. Kane in 10th. And for the record I never sat in the back in her class, always up front. Of course I was much shorter than you, which probably explains you being sentenced to the back row… LOL
Speaking of “Street vs. Avenue”, isn’t it Remington Avenue, not Street? Or has this been covered elsewhere I haven’t found yet? (not trying to stir anything up, just wondering)
I just joined “Former Camden People – Face book”. I picked “Midnight Train to Georgia” as the song that reminds me most of East Camden. It was a popular song when we left in December 1972. I looked it up on Wickapedia and is listed as a hit in 1973 by Gladys Knight ; but was recorded a year earlier by Cissy Houston (Whitney Houston’s Mom) as “Midnight Train to Georgia – the “Janus” years”.
The spelling of “Janus” is different; but still a “coincidence”.
See…. I AM NERDY…..
Hey Ken,
The Gladys Knight version of “Midnight Train to Georgia” may have been out by the time we got to Georgia:
Cara just reminded me that we were traveling in 2 cars… Bob’s Chrysler and my Rambler. When we got to Maryland, my car broke down and had to be left in a shop for repair. It was less expensive for us to drive back to Camden to wait until my car was repaired….. so we didn’t actually leave until early January.
When we decided to go back to Remington Street to wait… Cara and Debra were “very happy”…. even if we had to “camp” in an empty house. Ha Ha
Thanks to Gary Fioretti for the two new pages of photos… “N.34th and Pelham Place -2009″ (current pictures of the homes Gary, Dave Baker, and the Hale Family lived in growing up) and the page “Tarantini Panzarotti II” (current photos of the Tarantini shop).
Gary, your contribution of photos to this site, recently and in the past – all those class photos from Davis… is truly what this site is all about… sharing memories and reminiscing over images from our collective past.
Thanks to Dave Baker and to your wise Cherokee roots!!!
I’ve renamed and reopened two pages… “Camden-Philly Area SPORTS Chat” and “Camden-Philly Area NEWS and Current Events” – so be sure to post your comments on those topics there.
Hey, you North 32nd Street ‘natives’– in the late 40’s, early 50’s, we had a math teacher at WWHS – Claire K. Dice; great teacher, nice lady. She lived in one of those houses ‘on the hill’. Living alone, when she needed furniture moved or other heavy tasks done, she used to recruit guys from class to go over and help. “Charles Atlas” me (about 130 pounds back then) buddy Paul Fisher and Earl Nass used to help her ocassionally. Do any of you remember her?
Curt, the name does not ring a bell, but then I was not a resident of the street till the late 50’s. My parents moved to 32nd Street around 1950, and left in ‘82. They may have known Claire Dice.
And speaking of the 32nd Street Hill, WELCOME to the site Jeanette (Haines) Ashton and Cindy Kern. We now have three houses in a row from the Hill represented on the site… 222, 224, 226! And from across the street- Ella Marie Gilman!
Here’s a sad, though funny story about when my parents move to 222 N. 32nd in 1950 when my oldest sister Cheryl was just a toddler and my sister Karen was an infant. My parents made settlement on the house and got the keys and arrived to start moving in. They thought they were entering an empty house, but when they opened the front door they found an elderly lady sitting in a chair in the middle of the living room, and nothing else in the house. The people who had recently moved out had left their senile grandmother there. Just left her sitting in the chair when they moved out earlier that day. My dad had to call the police, and they came and carted the woman, who was incoherent and not making much sense, away.
Ken,
At least they didn’t put her out to the curb for people to pick-up! LOL
One persons junk being another person treasure and all that!
Was Clark Griswold your parents former Home owners? LOL
That’s just too damn funny! LMAO
I remember Miss Dice. Had her for geometry when I was in 11th grade, at Wilson. I was surprised you said she was a good teacher ’cause I did so poorly in her class. But, looking back, it wasn’t her but me, as math was my bugaboo. Always got good grades except in math. I do remember having been in the hospital and received a card from her, which astounded me! That would have been the ‘56-’57 school year.
Bake, “Takka” back at ya…that’s Saami(Lapp)!
You know our house on 32nd Street did have a ghost, not the old lady who was left there, but another woman who would appear now and then. Our cat always knew when she was around.
Craig Nash, WELCOME to the site! Hope you’ll stop in often and post some messages.
Ken, That’s quite a story about the old lady! What a blessing for her that your family wanted to occupy the house right away. Think of what might have been…….
Curt, yes very true, had the old woman been there a few days, God only knows how that might have ended. I recall my Dad saying that the prior residents had been renting the house, and the owner sold it (to my parents). The family that moved out apparently told the police they had no room for or funds to care for grandma at the new place. So it was almost like they left her there knowing she would be found, and the authorities would step in. They probably sent her to Lakeland, which at that time had a facility for destitute and homeless older people who could not care for themselves.
I think my parents paid all of about $4500 for that house in 1950… with three stories (plus basement), five bedrooms, two were in a walk up attic that also had two large closets, tall ceilings, and quite a big side and back yard, and a large porch. Of course it only had one bathroom. I don’t know how we managed that with seven people in the house! LOL
The mention of Lakeland brought up memories from Cramer and Davis. For years and years, first Miss Crudo (English and Spanish) and then Mrs. Young (sewing) used to take a Red Cross stationwagon full of kids to Lakeland once a year to perform. I started going when I was in second or third grade! I recall seeing the same ancient people year after year in old fashioned wooden and wicker wheelchairs with the ‘Gray Ladies’ in their starched uniforms moving through the room. We brought oranges and chocolates to pass out after we sang and danced.
And house values: my folks sold our home on Baird Blvd in 1969 for $9,000. It was a lovely home. They probably paid only a little less for it in 1953. sigh.
Paul, Don’t get Bake started, he’ll start to question his use of Cherokee. For the record, while people do show up at this site and then mysteriously disappear never to be seen nor heard from again, I assure you I am not hiding people. As far as I know Debbie Neely has not visited the site. If she does I’ll be sure to let you know.
Sue that is a great memory of Davis trips to Lakeland. And it is really amazing how much housing prices have changed in the last forty or fifty years. Those old Camden homes were built solid too.
Speaking of house prices…we lived on the corner of 34th and Fairfax Drive, two doors down from Davis. My parents bought the house in 1940 for $4,000. Funny thing is when I was in college, ‘58-’62, they were still paying for it and they had never taken a second mortgage, it’s just that their payments were so low! When they re-located to Florida, in ‘65, they sold the house, furnished, for $13,000. It was a pretty little house, but had very little , if any, insulation. In the summer, the upstairs bedrooms were like ovens and when we’d have summer down pours and the low spot at Westfield Gardens at High Street would flood, the water always backed up through the storm sewer into the basement of our house and the house next door. I can still see my father sweeping out the water then disinfecting the floor.
Peggy, many of us knew the Ewing Family that bought that house from your parents. I think in previous posts it was mentioned how they put an in-ground pool in the yard in the late 60’s… it was one of the only in ground pools in East Camden I think.
I remember the floods in Westfield Garden, as we lived on the 32nd Street Hill above the back alley of the Gardens. We could watch the waters rise from our kitchen window. There were a number of really bad floods over the years. I remember one time the waters completely flooded the alley level garages of the Gardens and stopped at the first flood windows above the garages. The managerss apartment and office flooded that time, as they were located on the alley level by the garages, as you came down the back cement steps behind the Esso Station at 32nd and Westfield. Charlie’s Luncheonette would also flood when it was really bad, at 33rd and Westfield.
I think I’ve told you I knew the Ewings, & briefly dated Lillian, the older daughter, who I met through hanging out with Gorden, her brother. Their father either owned or worked for a company that installed swimming pools. I wasn’t around when they installed their pool, though.
Ken,
Fear not, The family’s not ready to break out the face paint. LOL
Paul,
Dateline: 25, June, 1876. Little Big Horn River, Big Horn County, Montana.
After extensive revue of the Seventh Calvary’s roster I couldn’t find any listing of a liaison, translator/interpreter with the last name of Skeens.
Which would’ve surely explained that debacle. LOL
I’m gonna go out on a limb here and presume that one can take phonetics as and elective and doesn’t even have to make an appearance in the class in order to get the credit. LOL
It’s your world… We’re just passengers on the “CRAZY TRAIN” LOL
Bake,
You are referring to the Battle of “Greasy Grass Creek,” in what is now called Crow Agency, Montana. The name on the roster would have been Hamilton (from the “not-Skeens” side of the family
I’m back, been away for a few days looking at more colleges with my oldest daughter.
Ken Barr, seems many were posting general discussions on the “Add You E-Mail” page, but they really belong right here on this page. But hey, people will post where ever. Not a problem.
I don’t think people are all discussioned out – most are now on FaceBook – that is where many are doing their daily chatting and reconnecting with others. As I’ve said many times, if anyone has not yet checked out FaceBook, they should, as everyone is there it seems. And we have an annex to this site there now!
Glad you’re back! We were starting to get lonely, here. Didn’t realize how much we use zzz until it wasn’t updated for several days. It surely makes using this site a lot faster with less wasted rambling.
Hope the college search was successful. It’s a big step and moocho bucks so researching saves a lot of expense and heartache.
June 26, 2009 at 9:29 pm
This is the new general comments and discussions page. I know it will take some adjustment for everyone who is use to posting on the front page, but in time, this will be seen as an improvement to the site, and eliminates the need to move posts to an archive because of the front page filling up, like it did in the last week with 150 posts in ten days.
June 26, 2009 at 9:33 pm
I graduated from Davis in 67. I hope you will post more classes. I recognized Dean Lore. I used to tease him and when he caught me he’d kick my butt. When I was a kid people called me Jimmy, and I have a brother Billy. We both went to Davis. I remember Ms. Hennessy, Mr. Mohrfeld, Ms. Posey the art teacher. An Italian teacher who taught math, and a small man who taught science and married one of the teachers (maybe Ms. Hennessy) I lived in the projects and on Westfield Avenue. It seemed like a rough neighborhood then, but I loved growing up there.
Carl Orth
Susan Orth
Ed Orth
Steve Hardy
Tom Marks
Anthony DeLuca
?? Pelligrino
Susan Tuttle
Jimmy Kearns
Steve Kearns
These are some names I remember from my childhood
June 26, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Ken,
Thank you for the new post area, In what branch did General Discussion serve? NYUK, NYUK, NYUK! LOL I never could resist a good set-up line!
Triple B,
Three Icons from Three generations, Most everyone at some time has had a connection or memory of these celebrities each with their own contribution to entertainment, Michael, We can all debate his greatest era (Jackson 5, Thriller, Bad etc..) as well as his worst, Farrah (the consumate pin-up) Ed, one of the great set-up men (whether with Johnny or Jerry Lewis) Ken there’s an opening for a good set-up man… HI-YO! LOL
June 26, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Change is always hard, but this one should be easy to deal with Ken especially if it helps things out for you and the site. I can’t believe we got 150 so fast, kinda nice in a way.
Bake I forgot about the Jerry Lewis connection, that’s true he had some serious chemistry between both Jerry and Johnny hats off to a great set-up man he made them both look better and act better.
June 26, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Dave, General Discussion must have served in the Army of the Land of Misfit Toys.
Yeah truly a big loss for American icons this week. The big question is… do I make some quick cash on eBay with my Michael Jackson albums, I have most of them in my vast collection of vinyl. Nah, I think I will keep them.
Paul mentioned on FaceBook that local radio icon Irv Homer also passed away (WWDB…I think). I didn’t know of Irv’s work, as I’ve lived out of the area most of my adult years, but apparently many people did.
AND WELCOME to the site Jim Evans… Davis Class of ‘67!
June 26, 2009 at 10:41 pm
Speaking of Generals, what many don’t know is that Ed McMahon retired as a Brigadier General from the California Air National Guard, that after many years serving there, and as a Marine Reservist after his active duty as a fighter pilot in WWII.
June 27, 2009 at 12:42 am
WOW IRV HOMER THE VOICE OF TALK RADIO I USE TO LISTEN TO HIM IN THE LATE 70′S HIM AND SID MARKS, SID WOULD BRING THE SINATRA HOURS MUSIC WHAT A BLAST TO LISTEN TO. SAD TO HEAR OF IRV. DIDNT KNOW THAT ABOUT ED INTERESTING FOR SURE.
June 27, 2009 at 2:37 am
Ken Brown , & Dave Baker,
To fill in some possible names, etc. from earlier archives – the Esso station at 32nd & Westfield was owned, at least in the mid-60’s, by John Gandy. I knew his family from our church. I’m not sure about the VW on the Davis steps, but I know around spring ‘67, some guys from our class picked up a Bug owned by Miss Lauginger (sp.) one of our 9th grade teachers, parked across from the school on 34th St., & put it on the sidewalk, between 2 trees a few inches from the bumpers. I was there. I have no idea how she got it out of there.LOL. Also in spring ‘67 – we took a class trip to the Phila. Zoo, and awhile after everybody took off in different directions, I remember the teachers coming around telling us we had to leave – turns out a couple of girls had smuggled some booze in, in their purses, & the boys they were with somehow wound up in a monkey cage. We were kicked out of the Phila. Zoo! When we got back to Davis, Mr. Showalter kept us all in the auditorium till after 5 o’clock trying to get the story out of somebody. I think they finally confessed.
June 27, 2009 at 10:36 am
Dave, yeah now that you mention the name John Gandy, I recall seeing that name displayed in the office window at the Esso on 32nd. We kids from The 32nd Street Hill hung out a lot there, in the years before it became a Cumberland Farms. Do you remember the guy who worked for Gandy, his name was Ken and he was in his early 20’s, he was a really good mechanic and all around nice guy, and drove a classic late 50’s blue and white Corvette. He use to let us hang at the garage and watch him repair cars, and he’d even let us ride the car lift sometimes… LOL I can’t recall his last name though.
June 27, 2009 at 11:23 am
Ken, I never really spent any time at the Esso station, except to fill my bike tires & maybe a soda from the machine. Mr. Gandy passed away I believe in the ’70s, but my parents have had some contact with Mrs. Gandy in the past few years – I’ll see if I can find out from them, or my brothers if they remember Ken – it wasn’t Rogers, was it? There was a Kenny Rogers (not the singer) in that circle of friends, but I can’t remember if he had a “Vette or not. I’ll get back to you…
Dave
June 27, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Speaking of getting in trouble. I recall a class trip to the Franklin Institute, back in the late 60’s. For some reason, I believe the teacher was Mr. Horsely, (that name keeps coming to mind). Anyway, it was the same situation as the zoo. They pretty much let us go on our own, but then we were rounded up and taken back to school because some folks, (and I won’t mention names..gulp), were playing skittle bowl with the pendulum.
June 28, 2009 at 12:27 am
James Evans, could the Itialian Math teacher you mentioned be Greek? Mr. Carabasse taught Geometry. Took me a little while to figger out that when he said “take out your campus and find the meat point.” that he meant “take out your compass and find the mid point”. lol
June 28, 2009 at 3:44 am
Hi Ken, I haven’t been on in awhile because I have been taken care of my parents who both were in the hospital for over 30 days each. They both have lung and heart problems. My father is doing much better and my mother is in fair condition. My sister Michele now has lung cancer. And of course I think I told you my husband was hit by a car a few months ago. With work and all that is going on with my family and the funerals I have go to with the Haines and people at work Jeannette Hanies double bypass, lately I am suprised I have time to stop by and say hello. I haven’t forgotten about the site. I still try to catch up every once in awhile.Hope all is well with everyone….
June 28, 2009 at 11:11 am
Ella-Marie, good to see you back posting, I’ve received your updates on your parents and the sad news about your sister Michele also, she is in our thoughts and prayers; keep me posted on her treatment. And yes it has been a rough few weeks for the family, friends, and former neighbors of the Haines family, with all they have suffered over the past few months. Many people left moving notes to the Haines family on Billy’s memorial page in the Courier. I know you keep in close contact with the Haines, let them know they are still in our thoughts and prayers.
June 28, 2009 at 2:31 pm
I know that now that this “general comments” page has been moved from the front page, many skip right over the front page, but please take a few minutes to read the updated notices I have added today, they concern issues that have been effecting this site in recent months, weeks, and days. I don’t want to see this site cease being a place to share memories, but if things continue in some directions, that may very well be the fate of this site.
June 29, 2009 at 9:49 am
Hi Ken,
Just wanted to make a comment concerning your rules. I agree that comments should not be derogatory. However, growing up in Camden wasn’t always a bed of roses. But just like a bed of roses, there are thorns and they must be dealt with too. Not all of my memories of Camden are positive ones. I’m sure for most of those here, they weren’t all positive either. Both the positives and the negatives encompass the foundation of who we all are.
A good example; Westfield Acres was a pretty integrated community made of many races. As kids we all played together and never thought of color or race. Then came the first riot in Camden in 1969 and race all of a sudden became an issue. Those who were your friends now had to be your enemy. I can remember many, (including myself), walking around with chains in our hands to defend ourselves. However, the friendship we already gained overtook the “requirement” that we beat on our former friends of a different race. So, when coming into contact with that person, nothing tended to happen and usually both sides parted with words to the effect, he’s a friend, leave him alone. Sadly though, after that, things just weren’t the same. Before the riot of 69, we as kids never thought of race, we just played together and had a great time, and those friendships were never the same.
That was a negative story but its one that should be told.
One other thing. This is a great website and has brought back many memories. Making contact with former friends is something that is quite natural if both sides are willing to make that contact. Thanks to your website I’ve found three people whom I lost contact with many years ago and we’ve renewed those contacts. When you look at the posts on your site, you’ll see that it is, in fact, a social networking site. There are many posts back and forth between individuals. However, I enjoy them just as much as those who are just posting their memories.
June 29, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Hey Glenn Nasuti,
Thanks for the “fun” posting, of June 28, about the Greek teacher’s accent pertaining to: “take out your campus and find the meat point.”.
I needed to have a good spontaneous “laugh” and your posting did the trick!
I’m sure that Mr Carabasse would laugh too, if he reads your post!
June 29, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Bill,
We all know that Camden was not a bed of roses, we all lived through the riots, and the fights at Wilson in ‘72 that a lot of people called “riots.”
I think a lot of the people that post here realize that those things happened up to 40 years ago, and really don’t hold any ill feelings and are willing to put those memories behind them and focus on the more pleasant ones, as well as the idiosychracies that made growing up in Camden at that time what it was, a once in a life time experience.
I had friends and aquaintances that were of a different race at that time and never felt compelled to react physically when I saw them. In fact, some of the conversations we had back then indicated that they were just as aprehensive as anyone else about the tense situations we ALL were enduring. It was a dramatic time in US history as well as Camden History and we all experienced it, and, hopefully, learned from it.
I, and I think as least a lot of people on this site prefer to focus on the funny, and happy memories of that place we experienced our childhood days
June 29, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Paul, thanks for your comments. Bill thanks for yours also.
It’s true no one has said growing up in Camden was a bed of roses, and we do all have stories of the bad events, situations, and experiences we all had. No one has ever argued against that here at the site.
The one misconception about this site that needs to cleared up once and for all, and that is the root cause for the past two days of back and forth banter on the issue, is that as the site’s moderator I am somehow responsible for the tone of this site, and also that in my perceived “mighty powers” as the overseer of this site, I prohibit, edit, censor material, and persuade individuals not to post negative memories and comments, and that only rosey, fun, happy memories are allowed. THAT IS NOT THE CASE, NOR HAS IT EVER BEEN THE CASE!!!! And anyone who has been here for any length of time knows that!
I will say this one final time, then as far as I am concerned, it’s a dead issue, and we can all get back to posting the comments we want… I do not, and have never set the tone of this site. If it appears that all the comments on this site only reflect the positive and fun memories from our collective past growing up in Camden, that is not because of me, or what some believe I allow and do not allow on the site.
What it is, is a testament to the fact that, as Paul has said, the majority of the people who regularly visit and post on this site, of their own free will, focus on the positive, happy, fun memories. That says something. And it says something obvious, that I should not have to keep pointing out…. in this forum, with this group of people. What makes up the vast majority of the posts on this site are the things people want to remember and share.
I don’t dictate that anyone share those memories, but I certainly applaud and support that the majority do by allowing this site to continue, despite the many problems and issues behind the scenes, that make running a site such as this a real pain in the ass sometimes. But I willingly do so, because for many, this place has become a place they visit daily, to remember some good times, and let off a little steam with some old friends and often new friends.
I did not plot or choose the direction this site has grown in, the tone was set by those who visit the site and continue to frequent the site.
Anyway… lets move forward, I think through postings and shared emails, most of these issues have now been ironed out, and everyone knows where everyone else is coming from.
As always, everyone should feel free to post whatever they wish to here, share what memories you will, just be sensitive sharing things about individuals, especially named individuals who are not here to defend themselves, or are no longer living. And be sensitive to language… kids do read this site, many of us have kids and grandkids who enjoy reading the memories and stories here, because is gives them a glimpse, certainly not a full picture, but a small window into our youth.
June 29, 2009 at 5:18 pm
If Mr. Carabasse does visit this site and happens to see my post. I hope he will understand that I kid because I care. After the first couple of days I understood exactly what he was saying. It is sort of like British Humor. Once you get the lingo. You are totally immersed. Because of his teachings, Later, in High School, I and several other students, were able to take Geometry and Algebra 2 in our junior years and actually had no Math course available as seniors. Mr. Vincent Quaresima had the school add a Math class for those students. The reason that we talk about these teachers now and the reason that we remember their names. Is that they had a profound effect on our lives. If I ever see a 4 foot pole casting a 3 foot shadow. I know that a line from the end of the shadow to the top of the pole is 5 feet. So thank you Mr. Carabasse, wherever you are.
June 29, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Glenn, someplace way back in the archives are some posts about Vincent Quarisima… you can Google him, he produces music now and owns a sandwich shop in California.
And he was certainly on the cutting edge of bringing higher math to Wilson… in our day few went beyond Algebra II and Trig, and only some of those even planning on going on to college attempted Calculus in their senior year. Compare that to today, two of my daughters who are now in high school, have completed Honors Algebra II and Honors Geometry, a double math, as Freshmen, and took Calculus in 10th Grade. My oldest then took AP Calculus this year in 11th, and will take AP Statistics in her senior year… two college level math classes by time she graduates high school, and that is not unusual in this day for college bound high schoolers. Quarisima certainly was forward thinking.
June 29, 2009 at 6:23 pm
I always wondered why the next generation was so smart. My 4 nieces seemed to be on some guys list named Dean. Maybe Darwin was right.
June 29, 2009 at 7:54 pm
I just added six new pages with pictures… Pelham Place, Remington Street-Lemuel Ave. Walkway, Janess Family Pics, Davis 63-64 Grade 6, Davis 64-65 Grade 7-3, and Davis 65-66 Grade 8. They can all be found on the menus. More pictures to follow in the next few days.
Thanks Dave and Curt Parrish, and Inez Janess for submitting the photos. Dave I have the large class photo you sent in three parts, I need to do some sizing etc… then will post those also. Ken Barr I have the photos you sent, and will get to them too.
June 29, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Hey Dave Baker,
I can’t believe you did not know that “General Discussions” was a rock group!
June 29, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Glenn…
……I was only on Craig’s List
June 29, 2009 at 9:57 pm
Paul I was on the Deans List but for an entirely different reason.
June 29, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Glenn Nasuti,,
That’s it. Mr Carabasse. I don’t know if that is how he spelled it and you are right also about him maybe being Greek with a heavy accent. He tried so hard to get some math problem through my thick head, but not only could I not grasp the problem, but I couldn’t comprehend what he was saying. That is so funny now.
I was reading some old postings, and saw Nicky Hawk. Nicky, I used to hang out with Joey Vincent and Art Hubler. You lived right across the street from Joey. My older brother Richard is still married to Joey’s sister Patty. Anyway Hi. I saw that your Sister posted something too, but I don’t remember her.
June 29, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Another new page – Pelham Place Kids. Thanks Curt Parrish>
June 29, 2009 at 10:50 pm
Jim Evans & Glenn Nasuti,
It was Carabases – I’ve got a picture right here with his name, & all the teachers & students from Davis 9th grade ‘66-’67, which should be posted soon. Glenn, say hi to your brother Gary – I was in his classes for many years.
June 29, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Jim and Glenn, Mr. Savas Carabases, retired from the Camden School District just a year or so ago. He taught many of those years at WWHS, and was also on the Superintendent of School’s staff, as supervisor of math programs for all city schools.
Also just heard on the news that Camden’s Charter High School, one of the newer alternative magnet schools, graduated a class of 45 seniors today, and the entire class has been accepted to various colleges. There seems to be a trend in Camden in recent years, with non-traditional high schools, geared towards specific areas, and they seem to be making a difference for many kids.
June 29, 2009 at 11:10 pm
yes, Mr. Carabases…..statement/reason at the start of every class……I was known as the HL postulate……remember, hypotenuse/leg…..lol
June 29, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Harry, I never quite understood back at Wilson why you were called HL Postulate… its finally sunk in, those were your initials….LOL. The big question is… have you had any use for the HL Postulate since leaving high school? LOL
June 29, 2009 at 11:27 pm
I haven’t had any use for the HL postulate, but Mr. Q should have conferred with Mr. Carabases before attempting to mount that antenna tower on the roof, he would have learned that it was an incongruent situation…..lol
June 29, 2009 at 11:36 pm
Harry, I remember the day the antenna tower fell, I think us wrestlers were doing our laps around the main hallway when we heard the crash… how no one got killed out in the courtyard is still a mystery… why Russ was not blammed for the crash, as he was no doubt within fifty yards of it when it fell, is a mystery also…LOL RussMac you reading this? Really us wrestlers had NOTHING to do with that…. NOTHING… LOL
June 29, 2009 at 11:45 pm
yea Ken, i was doing laps out on the dirt track, then cut thru the courtyard and saw the mangled mess strewn all over the concrete, the antenna itself looked like something out of the Road Runner cartoon…..lol…..are you sure the wrestling team didn’t have an additional lasso attached to the courtyard side? let’s see, wrestlers/ham radio club……like oil/vinegar….lol
June 30, 2009 at 12:11 am
Hey Dave,
Thanks for the confirmation on Mr. Carabases. I really liked him. Do you have 6th 7th and 8th grade photos in 67-68? I am anxious to see if my little brother and I are in the images. I even remember what shirt I was wearing.
Does any one remember the blond history teacher around that time? Of course I thought she was very good looking, but I can tell you my testosterone level was about 96% of the chemical composition of my small frame.
One more thing. Reading older postings I saw Carl Orth. Carl, I lived in the building to your left in the Westfield Acres. I remember we had quite a bit of fun together.
June 30, 2009 at 12:19 am
Jim, the blond Social Studies teacher was no doubt, Helen Samango… she was at Davis, then moved to Wilson with us kids from the Davis Class of ‘72. Most of us had her for one class or another at Wilson. She was quite popular at both schools. I think someone reported that she retired to Florida.
Carl Orth visited the site early on, but did not leave any contact info. His cousin Rich Orth has visited the site a few times, and did leave some contact info…. Rich owns Cape May Tackle and Bait. He may be able to put you in touch with Carl.
June 30, 2009 at 7:57 am
Yes Jim I concur with Mr. Brown the teacher was Helen Samango and we all had the hot’s for her ” hubba hubba” Tried as I did to get her for a teacher, ended up with Ms. McKenna. She was a great teacher and brought out the best in me for history if there is such a thing but no beauty pageant trophies for her I don’t think. So Jim your 96% is about right !!!
June 30, 2009 at 8:00 am
Jim & Ken,
In ‘67, the teacher you knew as Mrs. Helen Samango was known to us as Miss Helen Nikorovich (still single then, as if we had any channce!). She got married sometime in between, I guess. Her picture is in the 9th grade class picture from ‘66-’67, to be posted soon. Sorry I don’t have any pictures from Davis after ‘66-’67, but possibly one of my brothers may, they were a few years behind me grade-wise. I’ll try to find out.
June 30, 2009 at 8:26 am
Jim, you might not remember, maybe someone does, but there was an English teacher named Anita Jackson who was at Davis & moved to Wilson in ‘67, I believe. I know she was still there in ‘68-’69, but she wasn’t in the ‘69-’70 yearbook. I had moved by then. Anybody ever hear what happened to her? She was my favorite English teacher.
June 30, 2009 at 10:09 am
Dave, yes Helen Samango was Helen Nikorovich; she also had a sister Kim Nikorovich, who many of us had at Davis for 1st Grade. She taught 1st for several years, some of us from Davis’72, had her in the ‘64 and ‘65 school year, unfortuantely there is not yet a photo of that class, I missed a lot of 1st Grade, including picture day, due to illness.
I think the Anita Jackson you are thinking of, married and became Anita Kane, who taught English at Wilson through the early and mid 70’s. I had her for 10th Grade English, she is the reason I took Journalism in 11th and 12th… she sent me to see Mrs. Gilde one day with my writings, and I later became the editor of the Wilsonian. Mrs. Kane and Mrs Gilde were the two best English/Writing teachers I ever had, I learned more from both about the mechanics of writing than even later college profs.
If you look back on the Davis Memories and Wilson Memories pages, there have been many memories posted about many of the teachers.
June 30, 2009 at 10:24 am
Thanks, Ken, was Mrs. Kane a redhead, went to Temple, easy-on-the eyes, I guess 30ish by then?
June 30, 2009 at 10:39 am
Dave…No, Yes I believe so, Definitely YES, and Yes.
Mrs. Kane was as you described except she had dark hair when I had her in the early 70’s. I’ll scan a pic of her later from one of the yearbooks I have and send it to you via email. I don’t want to post a single picture of her, as she has not visited the site
June 30, 2009 at 10:43 am
Ken, Miss Jackson is on the 3rd section of the 3 part picture I sent.
June 30, 2009 at 10:46 am
Also, Ken, Miss Nikorovich is in the first section.
June 30, 2009 at 11:19 am
Dave, it is hard to say about Ms. Jackson… she was ten years older in the photo I forwarded to you, and the hair styles had definitely changed… what do you think? From the Davis pic, she appears to be right out of college, at Wilson in ‘76, Ms, Kane was in her early 30’s so that fits.
Also, Ms. Carlin, who I recognize in the Davis class photo, later taught English at Wilson also -I had her Senior year for a mini-course, one semester, on term paper writing.
I will try to get the Davis class photo posted in sections later today.
June 30, 2009 at 11:23 am
Also if you look at the page titled “Davis Teachers 1972″ – Helen Samango is pictured top row, far right, with the middle school teachers, you need to click to enlarge that photo, twice actually to get a clear view of the page.
June 30, 2009 at 11:38 am
Ken, I’m still not sure if Anita Jackson = Anita Kane, it’s possible; but Miss Nikorovich is definitely Mrs. Samango (or was then, anyway…). May need some more research…
June 30, 2009 at 12:48 pm
I was just looking at the Davis teachers, (1972). I was amazed to see Mr. Mohrfield with hair. When I had him in the 6th grade, he was pretty much a bald man.
June 30, 2009 at 9:55 pm
There is another new page – “Pelham Place – More Kids”… thanks once again Curt Parrish for forwarding the picture.
June 30, 2009 at 11:22 pm
FYI… I have not checked the stats for this site in a few months….I just did… we are at 110,000 hits since we went online in February 2008, with over 3,500 comments posted. There are also 255 separate pages – and each of those pages contains at least one photo, many contain several photos. That is staggering!
July 1, 2009 at 12:02 am
Yes, Mrs Samango. There is a decent image of her in Class of 1970 pictures and teachers.
July 1, 2009 at 12:08 am
Bill, Mr. Mohrfeld must have been wearing a rug. He was always thin on top.
July 1, 2009 at 12:29 am
Hey Dave,
I don’t remember Anita Jackson, and now I am not sure if Mrs. Samango was going by Nikorovich. I think the latter. How about Ms. Hennessy, anyone remember her? She and the science teacher got married.
Ken, thanks for opening up this forum. It has made me think about people and places I haven’t recalled in decades
July 1, 2009 at 1:16 am
I’m not sure when Helen Nikorovich married, she was going by Samango in the ‘71-’72 school year at Davis, many of us had her for Social Studies, and I remember she announced near the end of the year, around graduation, that she would be following our class to Wilson. She taught History, Social and Legal Issues, and a number of History mini-courses when Wilson started offering them around ‘75. She also taught Behavioral Science… which mostly seniors got to take; Paul Skeens and I were in that class, my first exposure to psych classes…LOL. Ms. Samango also owned a boutique in Philly called Stitches – which was no doubt why she was always so well dressed! I think there was an ad for it in one of the yearbooks.
And Bill and James, I think Mohrfeld did wear a rug… LOL.
July 1, 2009 at 7:39 am
Jim Evans,
I have the ‘66-’67 class picture with the teachers, showing H. Nikorovich, who’s class I had been in. This picture should be posted soon, but it is identical to the ‘72 picture, where she’s shown as H. Samango. She was definitely Nikorovich first, then somewhere before ‘72 she became Samango. You’ll see when the picture’s posted.
Also, Miss Anita Jackson was my English teacher at Davis, before I went to Wilson in Sept.’67, and she was an English teacher at Wilson from ‘67-’69. I have yearbooks from ‘68-’69 & ‘69-’70 (even though I wasn’t at WWHS in ‘69-’70, I did attend the graduation & got a yearbook). Even though she’s in the ‘68-’69 book, I didn’t realize till just recently, going over all my High School stuff for this site, that Miss Jackson was nowhere to be found in the ‘69-’70 yearbook, & I haven’t found any info anywhere about her since. It’s a shame – she was always one of my favorites.
July 1, 2009 at 11:02 am
Dave Parrish, I just posted the “Davis 66-67 Graduating Class” – the three part photo…. they are all on one page as thumbnails, so viewers need to click on the photos to view. Unfortunately the text (names) are not clear on many, though if viewers enlarge the screen on their computers, from 100% tpo 125-150%, it may come in clearer for some. Thanks for sending in the picture. I will work on the sections some more later to see if I can’t enlarge them better.
July 1, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Hi!!! to all the new comers.
Harry your something!
Ken this site is really taking off. Good Luck keeping it grounded! LOL
July 1, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Harry and Sandy, I have moved your political discussion to a new page – “NEWS-CURRENT EVENTS -Not Related To Camden Stuff” – this frees up the General Discussions page for posts about East Camden. As we know from past discussions about things in the news, they often get quite lenghty. Everyone should feel free to discuss other issues in the news if you feel moved to do, now there is a separate page for that, just as there is a separate page for sports posts, and Eagles posts, and RussMac’s latest video feeds from 13,000 feet (yeah that’s a joke). Thanks.
July 1, 2009 at 3:24 pm
For those of you who remember Mrs. Helene Samango (Nikorovich) from both Davis and Wilson, here is some current info about her from a public website for the Palm Beach Florida Classroom Teacher’s Association for which Mrs. Samango is the Executive Director. It’s nice to know such a wonderful teacher is still involved in education.
http://www.palmbeachcta.org/aboutCta.asp
(scroll about half way down the page to find Mrs. Samango)
July 1, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Who took Behavioral Science with Mrs. Samango at Wilson? Does anyone remember the fieldtrip she took us on to Ancora Psychiatric Hospital? We drove as a class to Ancora in several cars. It was a great learning experience, and we even got to meet Frank “Sintro” Sinatra… hahaha…. a patient who handed out autographs as Old Blue Eyes. I believe it was the same patient, who sat at the picnic table when we were eating lunch, chatting up Mrs. Samango. He told her he was a bus driver for one of the other schools visiting Ancora that day. After awhile, a couple of orderlies came by and escorted “Frank” (it wasn’t even his name as I recall) back to his room, but not before some of us got autographs. Paul Skeens thanks for reminiscing about that class, and that trip, which unfortunatly, you missed.
July 1, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Does anyone remember the trip to Quebec with the French Club? It was spring break of “75 I think. I found the pictures the other day. That was a nice trip. Anybody else remember that trip?
July 1, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Ooops! It was springbreak “73. Sorry!
July 1, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Ken,
You’re right; I should have been blamed for the fall of the radio tower. Earlier that day it was mocking me, I swear!!! After much consternation, I decided, “I can take it!!!!!” And I did. It fell due to my wicked cross-face.
Paul,
I have a question for you; you stated in one of your posts, “I had friends and aquaintances that were of a different race at that time…”. I’m wondering, are they still of a different race, or was it just at that time? If they are no longer of a different race, how does one go about becoming of a similar race? Just curious.
Ken,
I have to apologize that I don’t know what the controversy was that you referred to in an earlier post. Do I need to know?
Take care, All
RussMac
July 1, 2009 at 4:40 pm
When did the tower fall? Where was the tower? What was the tower’s purpose? Is this news or general dis? Am I posting in the right place? I can’t find what all the controversy was about. When did all thid happen? Recently or during our HS yrs?
July 1, 2009 at 5:45 pm
RussMac, I’d be careful about admitting any role in the falling of the radio tower antenna, the WWHS Ham Radio Club may still be out to get you, and are no doubt relaying a recent description of you via Morse Code around the world, or at the very least around Camden County.
Russ there is no controversy that currently needs your skills and insight, if one arises I will keep you posted!
Sandy, yes the Wilson Ham Radio Club’s antenna, which the Ham Radio Club has been trying to erect for thirty three years has fallen, and there are currently no Wilson wrestlers from the Class of 76, still doing laps around the main hallway to help them do the heavy lifting to remove it from the Wilson courtyard… LOL
Maybe I should explain it this way, a long, long time ago, in a place called Wilson High, a dedicated group of Ham Radio Club members under the direction of Mr. Querisima, attempted to reach out to the larger world by erecting a large antenna on the roof of WWHS. Failing to see the need for the muscle bound brawn of us wrestlers, they never asked us to help haul the thing to the roof with a system of ropes and pulleys. Mind you, us wrestlers were quite qualified to do this task (had we been asked) as we were used to hauling those heavy wrestling mats up three flights of winding stairs everytime we had a meet. BUT, the Ham Radion Club never asked us to help, so we continue running our laps around the main hallway, all the while being quite inspired by the effort the Ham Radio Club was putting in trying to raise the antenna.
And then, when us wrestlers were on about our 35th lap, disaster struck, as the large antenna came crashing down from the sky into the courtyard, narrowly missing not only the Ham Radio Club, but everyone who was taking a short cut across the courtyard. Anyway, since Russ was known for his hooliganism in those days, and he was technically within 50 yards of said disaster, and on previous occasions had shown he had the skills to scale the outside walls of Wilson, he has always been viewed with suspicion as the force that prevented the Ham Radio Club from going global.
RussMac that’s about how it unfolded isn’t it? And that is why we were later left in the Pine Barrens by Mr. Skeens right? The Ham Radio Club had paid him to dispose of us there? LOL
July 1, 2009 at 6:00 pm
And yes, the above post was intended to get those members of the Ham Radio Club to set aside their Morse Code tappers, and get on the Internet and come post some memories here. Otherwise it is left up to Russ and I to fill in the blanks, and you all know how that will go!
July 1, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Do u guys remember me being the stat keeper? I think it was sophmore year. I was dating T.Lope then. I had Mr. Lawyer for algebra. I’m so glad I didn’t have to be at practices, but it sounds like they were interesting! LOL
July 1, 2009 at 6:15 pm
You must of been a stat keeper then Sandy, as we only allowed stat keepers who were dating wrestlers…LOL Yeah I do remember you doing that job. The wrestling team actually went through a number of stat keepers, three, four, maybe five a season. The list of wrestling stat keepers is indeed endless, you, Emma King, Pat Histing, Terry Woodrow, Lucy Palo, Debbie Rickenback, Elyce Galasso, Patty Melleby, Marge Ballengee, Feleta Gaymon, and those are just the ones I can remember from our four years at Wilson.
July 1, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Russ,
Don’t try to entangle me in one of your webs of circle logic!
July 1, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Paul, yes it is always good to suspect some psych ops interrogation technique at work when Russ starts randomly wandering down certain paths of questioning… LOL
July 1, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Welcome to the site Mary Ellen Shortle (Henwood) – Wilson Class of ‘75. We’re glad you found us and hope you will visit often.
July 2, 2009 at 12:46 am
Well, I was getting at the fact that Mr. Mohrfield was wearing a rug. I was just being tactful.
July 2, 2009 at 10:49 am
Bill, what’s interesting about Mr. Mohrfeld’s hair, in the ‘70 and ‘71 Davis yearbooks I have, he is for the most part bald, in the ‘72 yearbook he has a full head of dark hair… LOL I don’t think he ever hid the fact he wore a toupee. As I recall he use to walk to school, from around 40th or 41st Street, usually down High Street, it’s very possible he went rugless on windy days. Or maybe he switched off yearly depending on if he had a class that was going to cause him to pull his hair out or not. Anyone recall what street Mr. Mohrfeld lived on? I know this was discussed once before awhile back.
July 2, 2009 at 1:29 pm
I hope everyone has a great Fourth of July Weekend, stay safe, and as Russ reminded us on another page, remember the significance of Independence Day and remember those that are serving our country today. Many of us who post here regularly have family and friends on active duty, some in harm’s way in Iraq and Afghanistan, keep them in your thoughs this weekend.
July 3, 2009 at 11:28 pm
Make no mistake…. OUR FREEDOM, WASN’T FREE.
July 3, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Amen to that, Ken!
July 4, 2009 at 9:07 am
To all the men and women and their families who have served, and now serve our great country here and abroad, I thank you for your sacrifices of yesterday, today, and all of your tomorrows, May freedom forever ring.
July 4, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Hey Y’all,
Cara and I attended a “Tea Party” last evening and received documentation we plan to use to make sure our children are educated as to their responsibility according to “The Constitution of The United States of America” which was designed to give the “power to the people” with “government as servant” of the people. The Fourth of July is not just about “picnics and fireworks”…. it is about “appreciating and protecting” the freedom we enjoy because of the sacrifice of all those who have gone before us. God Bless America!
July 5, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Where’s all the chatter? Did all of you people have tooooo good a time at the 4th of July celebrations?
Thought of the wonderful times we had at Dudley Grange on the 4th. Great fireworks in the evening and the Westfield Avenue parade in the afternoon.
Remember weaving red, white, and blue crepe paper on the bikes and being in the parade? Bob Simons, who lived across the street from me on 34th Street, and I went as Mr. & Mrs. America in the parade. Mom fashioned me a patriotic dress out of a paper tablecloth. We won first prize which was a “gold” cup, so we had to share it! Boy, we were proud!
July 5, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Indeed, and a good time was had by all. I had forgotten the bikes with the r / w/ and b weaved through the wheel spokes it was a parade in itself when we all rode together.
July 5, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Hi, all. I’ve just discovered this site and I am SO enjoying the memory jogs. About specific teachers: I tracked down our Davis music teacher, Mr. Blatt about 4 years ago. He told me that all those songs we had to sing (I’m afraid I remember them all) were chosen by the coordinator if the city’s music program and he had no choice but to follow the curriculum. a brave young man, he was! He had just retired and is living near Tom’s River, I believe, playing trumpet in a Dixieland band in Atlantic City for fun! I first found Mr Carabases who was able to put me in touch with someone else …etc. etc. I remember Miss Nikorvich! And I’ve been trying to get in touch with Miss Anita Jackson (Kane??) for years – one of the best English teachers around. It was her class we moved to, from Mr. C’s math class, when Mr. Bristow announced that President Kennedy had been shot in Dallas.
July 6, 2009 at 12:26 am
Susan Leviton,
Hi, when did you have Miss Jackson/Kane? After comparing pictures of the two, I’m pretty sure they’re not the same person. I had Miss Jackson at Davis till ‘66-’67, and I know she moved to Wilson after that. She was there in ‘68-’69, but after I left in’69 & came back to the ‘70 graduation, & got the ‘70 yearbook, I realized she was no longer at Wilson, & no one I’ve contacted from that class seems to know. Ms. Kane was there later, & I have a picture of her, & it doesn’t really look very much like Miss Jackson.
dcmjp@aol.com
July 6, 2009 at 12:53 am
Hey Peg Marks De Board,
I remember one Fourth of July at Dudley Grange, in particular. It was 1953 and I
was 14 years old and all my friends were down the shore or wherever and I spent the day alone.
First, I watched the parade and then at night I watched the fireworks.
Guess what? I had a wonderful time! I did not “feel” alone…. I just enjoyed the wonderful sunny day and warm summer evening with it’s soft breezes as the beautiful lights exploded in the night sky….. The “feel” of it is locked in my memory….
July 6, 2009 at 1:02 am
Hey Peg Marks De Board,
I just thought of something…. where are the photos of you and Bobby Simon in the parade as Mr and Mrs America? If your parents didn’t take photos, were their any in the Courier Post? It would be nice to see! What year was it?
July 6, 2009 at 1:11 am
Above: I meant “there” not “their”.
I can walk and chew gum at the same time;
but I can’t type and spell at the same time.
July 6, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Dave – I had Miss Jackson both at Davis and in HS at WWHS. Graduated from Davis in ‘65, wilson in ‘68. Poor Miss Jackson sat through one of our required ‘luncheons’ in home ec where we prepared food for our teachers. Good sport. She introduced us to Shakespeare, and then in HS ran the drama club. It was a heroic revival of the club, and we drummed up support for some large productions by running ‘mini theater’ during study halls. After many years of silence, we mounted a musical – The Music Man, in 1968. Like an old Garland/Rooney movie, we faced trauma and triumphed at the 11th hour. The backstage was torched the night before we were to open, and Mr. Bristow had a fit. We had no sound equipment, a handful of props and costumes, and a rather smokey aroma to deal with. We convinced him to let us solider on, and we did! At the end of the show, instead of flowers, Miss Jackson was presented with a brand new, battery operated flashing traffic warning device that ’somebody’ had liberated from a construction site! It was a far cry from the old black smudge pots and we were delighted to see her standing there holding it with tears in her eyes.
Oh, and I remember she coached the entire graduating class at Davis in a choral reading of Poe’s The Bells. It was glorious, but it took a mighty toughness on her part to get some of the guys to buy into it!
So how do we track her down?
July 6, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Welcome to the site Susan Leviton, Mary Ellen (Henwood) Shortle, and Jerry Henwood, we are glad you found us, and thanks for posting some great memories.
Susan Leviton, you were a year behind my sister Karen Brown at both Davis and Wilson, she graduated Wilson in ‘67.
The younger Mr. Bristow, son of the Wilson principal, was a Social Studies teacher at Davis in the early 70’s, the family also owned a sporting goods store on Haddon Avenue in Westmont. I think the younger Bristow graduated Wilson in the mid 60’s. I think both father and son were named John???
As for trackingdown Miss Anita Jackson, if you are positive she did indeed graduate from Temple, you could probably inquire through their alumni association. It’s apparent now that Miss Anita Jackson, and Mrs. Anita Kane, while they both taught English at Wilson and were exceptional teachers fondly remembered, were two different women.
July 6, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Susan & Ken,
I have a ‘68-’69 Wilson yearbook that shows Miss Anita Jackson, & in her profile it shows her being a Temple grad. Otherwise, all I know is she’s not in the yearbook for the following year, and have found nothing concerning her since that time. I Googled her name, plus Temple alumni, & all kinds of dead end leads – let me know if you find out anything else…good luck, there are a lot of Anita Jacksons.
July 7, 2009 at 11:25 am
Hey RussMac, I added a new link for the world record jump you participated in back in April. The original video from the Tampa TV station was no longer linking, I found the same video on another “jump” site and have attached that to the original page – “Russ McDaniel – Jump Team World Record” – so check it out. The video is about half way down the article that is linked.
Russ, did you make any jumps over the Independence Day weekend?
July 7, 2009 at 11:26 am
Also I received an e-mail the other day from Dave Nevius (Wilson ‘76), he is due home from Iraq in about two weeks. Dave was able to keep up with the posts here for a while during his deployment, but then for some reason could no longer link to the site from Iraq. He is due to retire from the Air Force in September with a total of 33 years of military service to our country – both active duty and reserve duty.
Travel safe Dave on your return home! And we look forward to you posting here again.
July 7, 2009 at 6:42 pm
33 years wow, my hat, coat shoes all off to you my friend Mr. David Nevius. You were not just a side yard we cut through, but a guy we hung out with, had birthday parties with and just had a few laughs from time to time and now you have had my back for 33 years in many capacities, your a good man David and you are in our prayers. It’s time for you to sit down and rest with your family and know we are proud of you and send you our love and respect for a job well done.
July 7, 2009 at 10:45 pm
I had Anita Jackson in Davis (8th and 9th Grade) ‘65 and ‘66. Also had her at Wilson (Senior year ‘69) and I agree with the sentiments expressed here… she was FIRST-RATE…as a teacher and a person. She had a great sense of humor and could be fun, but not when it interfered with education. As Susan Leviton says above, Miss Jackson introduced us to Shakespeare…and she coached the Davis Class of 1966, also, in a recitation of “The Bells” She had a way of motivating her students to excel and to do their best. I have often thought over the intervening years that she was one of the top three most influential teachers that I had. I also can verify that 1969 was her last year at Wilson. On semester break from college in December of ‘69, I stopped in to try to visit her and a few other teachers and was told she was no longer at the Wilson.
If you are able to track her down, it would be nice to hear how she is doing.
July 7, 2009 at 11:00 pm
As our teachers reach retirement age, it’s a gift we can give them to tell them we remember what they did for us. We’re more likely than ever to find them with all the electronic searching and connecting we can do. So I hope we can locate the elusive Miss Jackson!
July 8, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Hey Peg Marks De Board,
The Miss Jackson who taught us at Davis, in 1953, is not the same Miss Jackson
that these guys are discussing, is she?
July 8, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Hey Inez Reams Janess,
The Miss Anita Jackson we’ve been talking about was in her 20s at the most, when she taught me at Davis & then WWHS. That would have been ‘65-67 at Davis, thru ‘69 at WWHS. If you look at the Davis ‘66-’67 class picture I sent in, she’s on the 3rd section of that picture, and as you can see, she probably wasn’t even 30 yet, at that time. I’m guessing she was 5 to 10 in 1953, at the most.
dcmjp@aol.com
July 8, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Inez,
No, our Miss Jackson wasn’t the great teacher described above. All I ever remember her doing was sitting at her desk. We couldn’t wait to get to Mr. Gambacorda’s (sp?) class, next door. He did all kinds of interesting things and was fun and really knew his stuff.
July 9, 2009 at 8:29 am
I remember the same Miss Jackson mentioned by Peggy Marks DeBoard. She was not one of my favorites and I can still visualize her always pushing her drooping bust up and then pushing her hair back. We all dreaded having her for a teacher and thankfully I did not. I can not remember if she taught the 5th or 6th grade. I had Miss Quinn for 5th and Miss Stees for 6th. Miss Quinn had my father when he went to school as did my 4th grade teacher, Miss Williams. A lot of the teachers from that era were not married.
July 9, 2009 at 2:53 pm
I don’t see our beloved Miss Kane pushing up any fallen boobs, accept me and Kenny in the back of the class LOL. I really think they are 2 different people that happened to go to the same college. Ms. Kane was smart, nice and even had compassion. The Miss Jackson you mention resembles 3 or 4 I can think of but really not, you guys had her all to your own, that’s one teacher I am glad I never had, merely from what you said,LOL no first hand knowledge of course.
July 9, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Ken Barr,
The Miss Jackson referred to (from the ’50s, with fallen boobs, etc.), is not the Miss Anita Jackson who was being confused with Ms. Kane. Anita Jackson was in her 20s, 30 at most, in 1967-69, and quite attractive, as well as a great teacher. Two different Miss Jacksons, and one Miss Kane in all this confusion…
dcmjp@aol.com
July 9, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Ken Barr,
Also, I keep forgetting, but the Miss Jackson we knew in the late ’60s, is pictured on the Davis ‘67 Graduating class picture…take a look – not Miss Kane, but definitely not the one teaching in the ’50s.
July 9, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Ken Barr, I see you are confsuing us all over again LOL… here’s the reality of this whole issue…
1950’s – there was an OLDER Ms. Jackson who taught at Davis.
1960’s – there was a YOUNGER Miss Anita Jackson who taught at Davis and is pictured in the 1967 graduating class photo… this same Miss Anita Jackson, moved to Wilson where she taught until ‘69.
So there were two teachers named Jackson, one was definitely named Anita, the name of the older Ms. Jackson is still in question. Are we sure she was a Mrs… The older Jackson from the 50’s???? She may have been the mother of the young Miss Anita Jackson from the mid 60’s. It’s a possibility.
At Wilson Miss Anita Jackson taught English until ‘69 and Mrs. Anita Kane taught English after Miss Anita Jackson left. We are not sure when Anita Kane arrived at Wilson, but she is pictured in the ‘73 through ‘76 yearbooks!
We are absolutely sure now that the two Anitas are not one and the same teacher, they merely shared the same first name, and both were exceptional English teachers at Wilson – at different times, thought it seems they were around the same age.
It is remembered that Miss Anita Jackson went to Temple. I seem to recall that Mrs. Anita Kane may have gone to Temple too.
Now here’s a new twist to this whole mystery… I have found a reference to an Anita Kane presently connected to Temple University and an educational opportunity program that she administers as a VP of programs and curriculum. I also have an email address for her and will email her and inquire if she is the Anita Kane some of us had at Wilson in the early and mid-70’s. My hunch is that it is her.
Ken Barr, I don’t think we were in the same class when we had Mrs. Kane in 10th. And for the record I never sat in the back in her class, always up front. Of course I was much shorter than you, which probably explains you being sentenced to the back row… LOL
July 10, 2009 at 12:41 am
Hey Y’all,
This is great!!!!!! Thanks for the good laugh!!!!!
2 Anitas and 2 Ms Jacksons
Ha Ha
July 10, 2009 at 12:44 am
PS:
The stuff above is even better than “Street VS Avenue”!!!!!
And almost as good as Kenny Barr’s “Plant”!!!!!!
Ha Ha
July 11, 2009 at 11:25 am
Speaking of “Street vs. Avenue”, isn’t it Remington Avenue, not Street? Or has this been covered elsewhere I haven’t found yet? (not trying to stir anything up, just wondering)
July 11, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Dave Parrish,
Oh my gosh! Don’t bring that up again, we almost had a cyber war over that! Ha!
It was decided it was street off 34th and avenue north of 36th St. in Pennsauken.
I your blood pressure holding steady, Ken? Ha!
July 11, 2009 at 2:24 pm
oops…sorry about that…
July 11, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Hey Dave Parrish and Peg Marks De Board,
Don’t get me started laughing again.
My daughter, Cara, is calling me a “Nerd” because of my getting such a laugh from this stuff!
Heck, I was a “Nerd” long before she was born!
July 14, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Hey Ken,
I just joined “Former Camden People – Face book”. I picked “Midnight Train to Georgia” as the song that reminds me most of East Camden. It was a popular song when we left in December 1972. I looked it up on Wickapedia and is listed as a hit in 1973 by Gladys Knight ; but was recorded a year earlier by Cissy Houston (Whitney Houston’s Mom) as “Midnight Train to Georgia – the “Janus” years”.
The spelling of “Janus” is different; but still a “coincidence”.
See…. I AM NERDY…..
July 14, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Hey Ken,
The Gladys Knight version of “Midnight Train to Georgia” may have been out by the time we got to Georgia:
Cara just reminded me that we were traveling in 2 cars… Bob’s Chrysler and my Rambler. When we got to Maryland, my car broke down and had to be left in a shop for repair. It was less expensive for us to drive back to Camden to wait until my car was repaired….. so we didn’t actually leave until early January.
When we decided to go back to Remington Street to wait… Cara and Debra were “very happy”…. even if we had to “camp” in an empty house. Ha Ha
July 18, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Thanks to Gary Fioretti for the two new pages of photos… “N.34th and Pelham Place -2009″ (current pictures of the homes Gary, Dave Baker, and the Hale Family lived in growing up) and the page “Tarantini Panzarotti II” (current photos of the Tarantini shop).
Gary, your contribution of photos to this site, recently and in the past – all those class photos from Davis… is truly what this site is all about… sharing memories and reminiscing over images from our collective past.
July 19, 2009 at 10:51 am
Thanks to Dave Baker and to your wise Cherokee roots!!!
I’ve renamed and reopened two pages… “Camden-Philly Area SPORTS Chat” and “Camden-Philly Area NEWS and Current Events” – so be sure to post your comments on those topics there.
July 19, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Hey, you North 32nd Street ‘natives’– in the late 40’s, early 50’s, we had a math teacher at WWHS – Claire K. Dice; great teacher, nice lady. She lived in one of those houses ‘on the hill’. Living alone, when she needed furniture moved or other heavy tasks done, she used to recruit guys from class to go over and help. “Charles Atlas” me (about 130 pounds back then) buddy Paul Fisher and Earl Nass used to help her ocassionally. Do any of you remember her?
July 19, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Curt, the name does not ring a bell, but then I was not a resident of the street till the late 50’s. My parents moved to 32nd Street around 1950, and left in ‘82. They may have known Claire Dice.
And speaking of the 32nd Street Hill, WELCOME to the site Jeanette (Haines) Ashton and Cindy Kern. We now have three houses in a row from the Hill represented on the site… 222, 224, 226! And from across the street- Ella Marie Gilman!
Here’s a sad, though funny story about when my parents move to 222 N. 32nd in 1950 when my oldest sister Cheryl was just a toddler and my sister Karen was an infant. My parents made settlement on the house and got the keys and arrived to start moving in. They thought they were entering an empty house, but when they opened the front door they found an elderly lady sitting in a chair in the middle of the living room, and nothing else in the house. The people who had recently moved out had left their senile grandmother there. Just left her sitting in the chair when they moved out earlier that day. My dad had to call the police, and they came and carted the woman, who was incoherent and not making much sense, away.
July 19, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Ken,
At least they didn’t put her out to the curb for people to pick-up! LOL
One persons junk being another person treasure and all that!
Was Clark Griswold your parents former Home owners? LOL
That’s just too damn funny! LMAO
July 19, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Curt Parrish,
I remember Miss Dice. Had her for geometry when I was in 11th grade, at Wilson. I was surprised you said she was a good teacher ’cause I did so poorly in her class. But, looking back, it wasn’t her but me, as math was my bugaboo. Always got good grades except in math. I do remember having been in the hospital and received a card from her, which astounded me! That would have been the ‘56-’57 school year.
July 19, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Ken,
Wa-do Di-ga-ne-li (loosely translated, Thank you Brother)
( Wa-doe Dee-gah-ney-lee, phonetically speaking, LOL )
July 19, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Bake, “Takka” back at ya…that’s Saami(Lapp)!
You know our house on 32nd Street did have a ghost, not the old lady who was left there, but another woman who would appear now and then. Our cat always knew when she was around.
Craig Nash, WELCOME to the site! Hope you’ll stop in often and post some messages.
July 20, 2009 at 9:22 am
Ken, That’s quite a story about the old lady! What a blessing for her that your family wanted to occupy the house right away. Think of what might have been…….
July 20, 2009 at 9:50 am
Curt, yes very true, had the old woman been there a few days, God only knows how that might have ended. I recall my Dad saying that the prior residents had been renting the house, and the owner sold it (to my parents). The family that moved out apparently told the police they had no room for or funds to care for grandma at the new place. So it was almost like they left her there knowing she would be found, and the authorities would step in. They probably sent her to Lakeland, which at that time had a facility for destitute and homeless older people who could not care for themselves.
I think my parents paid all of about $4500 for that house in 1950… with three stories (plus basement), five bedrooms, two were in a walk up attic that also had two large closets, tall ceilings, and quite a big side and back yard, and a large porch. Of course it only had one bathroom. I don’t know how we managed that with seven people in the house! LOL
July 20, 2009 at 11:45 pm
I think we tried to get $10,000 for our duplex on Pelham Place, & wound up getting $7000 back in ‘69.
July 21, 2009 at 8:00 am
The mention of Lakeland brought up memories from Cramer and Davis. For years and years, first Miss Crudo (English and Spanish) and then Mrs. Young (sewing) used to take a Red Cross stationwagon full of kids to Lakeland once a year to perform. I started going when I was in second or third grade! I recall seeing the same ancient people year after year in old fashioned wooden and wicker wheelchairs with the ‘Gray Ladies’ in their starched uniforms moving through the room. We brought oranges and chocolates to pass out after we sang and danced.
And house values: my folks sold our home on Baird Blvd in 1969 for $9,000. It was a lovely home. They probably paid only a little less for it in 1953. sigh.
July 21, 2009 at 8:29 am
Bake!
A few posts back…Are you asking Ken “what he did with Debbie Neely?”
July 21, 2009 at 10:02 am
Paul, Don’t get Bake started, he’ll start to question his use of Cherokee. For the record, while people do show up at this site and then mysteriously disappear never to be seen nor heard from again, I assure you I am not hiding people. As far as I know Debbie Neely has not visited the site. If she does I’ll be sure to let you know.
July 21, 2009 at 10:08 am
Sue that is a great memory of Davis trips to Lakeland. And it is really amazing how much housing prices have changed in the last forty or fifty years. Those old Camden homes were built solid too.
July 21, 2009 at 10:38 am
Speaking of house prices…we lived on the corner of 34th and Fairfax Drive, two doors down from Davis. My parents bought the house in 1940 for $4,000. Funny thing is when I was in college, ‘58-’62, they were still paying for it and they had never taken a second mortgage, it’s just that their payments were so low! When they re-located to Florida, in ‘65, they sold the house, furnished, for $13,000. It was a pretty little house, but had very little , if any, insulation. In the summer, the upstairs bedrooms were like ovens and when we’d have summer down pours and the low spot at Westfield Gardens at High Street would flood, the water always backed up through the storm sewer into the basement of our house and the house next door. I can still see my father sweeping out the water then disinfecting the floor.
July 21, 2009 at 10:57 am
Peggy, many of us knew the Ewing Family that bought that house from your parents. I think in previous posts it was mentioned how they put an in-ground pool in the yard in the late 60’s… it was one of the only in ground pools in East Camden I think.
I remember the floods in Westfield Garden, as we lived on the 32nd Street Hill above the back alley of the Gardens. We could watch the waters rise from our kitchen window. There were a number of really bad floods over the years. I remember one time the waters completely flooded the alley level garages of the Gardens and stopped at the first flood windows above the garages. The managerss apartment and office flooded that time, as they were located on the alley level by the garages, as you came down the back cement steps behind the Esso Station at 32nd and Westfield. Charlie’s Luncheonette would also flood when it was really bad, at 33rd and Westfield.
July 21, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Ken,
I think I’ve told you I knew the Ewings, & briefly dated Lillian, the older daughter, who I met through hanging out with Gorden, her brother. Their father either owned or worked for a company that installed swimming pools. I wasn’t around when they installed their pool, though.
July 21, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Ken,
Fear not, The family’s not ready to break out the face paint. LOL
Paul,
Dateline: 25, June, 1876. Little Big Horn River, Big Horn County, Montana.
After extensive revue of the Seventh Calvary’s roster I couldn’t find any listing of a liaison, translator/interpreter with the last name of Skeens.
Which would’ve surely explained that debacle. LOL
I’m gonna go out on a limb here and presume that one can take phonetics as and elective and doesn’t even have to make an appearance in the class in order to get the credit. LOL
It’s your world… We’re just passengers on the “CRAZY TRAIN” LOL
Hang in there my “Dee-Gah-Nay-Lee” LOL
July 23, 2009 at 9:12 am
Bake,
You are referring to the Battle of “Greasy Grass Creek,” in what is now called Crow Agency, Montana. The name on the roster would have been Hamilton (from the “not-Skeens” side of the family
And a heart felt Dab ee Kneel lee to you too LOL!
August 17, 2009 at 8:14 am
Hey Paul did the general discussions move to another area again or is everyone discussioned out ?
August 17, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Ken
It’s all mostly been under “Add Your E-Mail Address Here…”, lately.
August 18, 2009 at 8:42 am
OIC thanks dave
August 18, 2009 at 8:12 pm
I’m back, been away for a few days looking at more colleges with my oldest daughter.
Ken Barr, seems many were posting general discussions on the “Add You E-Mail” page, but they really belong right here on this page. But hey, people will post where ever. Not a problem.
I don’t think people are all discussioned out – most are now on FaceBook – that is where many are doing their daily chatting and reconnecting with others. As I’ve said many times, if anyone has not yet checked out FaceBook, they should, as everyone is there it seems. And we have an annex to this site there now!
August 19, 2009 at 11:13 am
Ken,
Glad you’re back! We were starting to get lonely, here. Didn’t realize how much we use zzz until it wasn’t updated for several days. It surely makes using this site a lot faster with less wasted rambling.
Hope the college search was successful. It’s a big step and moocho bucks so researching saves a lot of expense and heartache.