Here's a subject we all can share with the class: "Fondest memories of growing up in the Pitman area". If any of these are not the way you remember them feel free to make the corrections and if you send your list I'll forward it to the class. Lorraine is putting our memories in a booklet which will make good reading for our grandchildren and great grandchildren.
l. Rich Koblinski duking it out with some other guy in a circle of guys down by the railroad tracks. He did this regularly.
2. Walking to school with Bill Hadden and Mabel Lynne Eckman and smashing pennies on the railroad tracks as the train came by.
3. Swimming out to the raft at Alcyon Lake.
4. Going to the lake at night with Russ or Bill and catching frogs to take home to eat.
5. Aunt Ruthie's English class having to recite Macbeth in front of the class while Russ Pape drove by in his car with a whistle in the tailpipe.
6. Strapping bicycle inner tubes on our exhaust pipe to sound like passing gas driving down the street.
7. Camping trips with the boy scouts at Pine Hill
8. All the beautiful girls in the class and being too shy to ask them out because I thought I didn't have enough money from cutting lawns to take them to the nice places I thought they wanted to go. And knowing for sure they wouldn't go out with a dorky guy like me.
The guys that worked at the ice house for $1 an hour had a lot more money.
9. Alice Wilson and Barb Whitehead taking my clarinet in 8th grade and putting it in the girls bathroom knowing I wouldn't go in there.
10. The great decorations in the gym for prom.
11. Holding one of the doors shut so the teachers couldn't come out in the hallway as Jim Exler rode his motorcycle through the school. And Jim cramming 13 of his friends in his old pink Ford convertible down by the Sweet Shoppe.
12. Ralph Jones smashing beer cans on his head and getting kicked out of school for his Mohawk haircut.
13. My first car, a '47 Chevy that had to be pushed home because it didn't run. What did I expect for $65.
14. Bill and Russ working on the car to get it to run because I was not a mechanic.
15. Driving to Russ's catholic church on Sunday with Bill after our Presbyterian class got out (led by Bud Emery who used to talk about what a hangover was like-in his words 50,000 little Murphy men trying to break out of your skull with hammers). Then putting Russ's seat all the way back, stealing his seat cushion and knobs so when he came to find us all we could see was the top of his head over the side of the door.
Boy, I could go on and on, which eventually will happen , but if you would like to add your comments, here's your chance.
Burt Revell
I do indeed intend to add my own 2 cents worth to this one, but please keep going Burt. You are on a roll....Love, Mary T. (By the way, who called me Moose? Not Goose, as in Goose Tatum and Mr. Barton. But Moose....)
Having not really grown up in Pitman, or as some may say not really grown up at all. I thought I would share my first impression of my new town and fellow classmates.
It seems that I had been in town about a month when we had a dance at the Gym. I had only met a few people in the class and was trying to fit in.
Somebody by the name of Ralph Landolfi had driven his farm truck to the dance and a group of well meaning people decided to play a trick on the new Kid.
They thought it would be fun to take him out in the country and see if he could find his way back to Pitman.
Now I was not familiar with the area and all the roads seemed to go in circles, so it was not hard to get me disoriented. Anyhow we all piled into the back of his truck on the guise of stealing pumpkins and took off for parts unknown. They found the perfect field to leave me in and everyone got out and started carrying pumpkins back to the truck.
Now they had to find a way of getting away with out me. Someone got the idea that if they got the police involved it would seem more like an accident, so they had the police come out and take them home. How they new I did not relish being involved with the police in my first month in Pitman I will never know. I thought it was strange that when the police showed up and asked everyone to get in the truck that nobody else seemed to want to not get caught.
By the way, I was hiding under a pile of brush only ten feet from the truck with the police shinning a flashlight right at me while everyone got back on the truck having a good time.
When the truck left I had no idea where I was or how far it was back to town. I remembered going south on Delsea Drive and turning left, so I started backtracking . Going in what I thought was the right way. I finally came out on Delsea Drive and worked my way home.
My hats off to the people who thought this WELCOME TO PITMAN initiation up. It worked great. Gus Gustafson
We moved to Pitman from Indiana, PA when I was in the middle of the fifth grade. The house my parents purchased from the Robbins family wasn't available yet so we lived in the beautiful Pitman Hotel for two weeks. Needless to say I didn't have a friend in the world but Jim Exler lived across the street and quickly befriended me. For a long time he was the only friend I had and I really appreciated it. Thanks Jim.
This one is for the girls. Does anyone remember a pajama party at Joan Kayser's house. A policeman came in the middle of the night, and we all piled in his car and he took us to the diner in Glassboro for breakfast. We were all wearing pajamas. Someone asked if she could sound the siren on the way back, can't remember if he let her or not. Did this really happened ? Pat Kohler
I need to get in on this and now I finally have some free time to write.
First I have to comment on the pumpkin stealing incident. I remember that we left from the Old Clothes' Dance on Mischief Night and it was mostly kids who rarely got into trouble. Gus, I knew nothing about "trying to get the new kid." I thought then, and still do, that we really were going to steal pumpkins. I thought the field had already been harvested, so only the small ones were left. Like Guy I was pretty scared. The Glassboro police wanted to call our parents. Was funny that we had to sit at tiny tables in the Glassboro library since the police station wouldn't hold us. Then the Pitman police came and escorted us back to Pitman. We were all told to go directly home and "confess" to our parents. First I had promised to take Danny Delasandro home. I did that. Then I had Dotty Davis with me so I took her home and went in to explain to her parents that I'd gotten her in trouble. Her dad thought the whole thing hilarious and immediately called my dad, saying he was the Glassboro police and were holding his daughter. I always thought Ralph Landolphi was the only one who actually got into trouble because it was his truck. You should hear the comments today when I'm teaching a Bible study and tell about the incident!
How many of you remember Mrs. Thumb's nursery school, Jack and Jill, and went there? I don't remember much except that it was all day and we took naps. I slept in the Snow White bed for my naps.
The other thing I tell Bible study classes about is how we used to sneak into the haunted house. The house behind the Catholic Church. I think it was Jane Morris, Carolyn Webb, Bobby Dick, George Quigley, Jack Tibo (Don't remember How his last name was really spelled!) and I. I think it was the summer after 7th grade. The next year, the year of the town's 50th Anniversary, Guy, we needed to find a place to live because the building we lived in was being torn down to make room for the new telephone company building. My dad thought of the haunted house I'd told him about exploring, and we ended up renting it. That was some house. We lived there about 9 months until we built a house on Lakeside Ave.
Pat remembers a pj party at Joan's. I must not have been invited to that one, but I remember the great pj parties at Jane Morris's and walking to Rip Tee in the morning for breakfast at least once. Also the late Saturday night parties at Judy Allen's our Senior year to watch the scary ( Ha!Ha !) movies with the weird guy Zacherly in a tux and his pal Igor. Also the fabulous imitation Jack Hitchner did of him for an assembly!
That's what I think of right now. I'm sure there's lots more stored in this old head. Watch out or Lorraine and I will start reconstructing Broadway as it was in the 50s again like we did one night a few years ago at Jane's. Skip Leach got in on that too.
Love you all, and love remembering,
Lynne McW . Hendrix
Hey Guy, the lake that froze first was Glen Lake, I never skated on it but I have fond memories of skating on Alycon Lake. Yes I loved the stock car races, but my Dad always snuck me in the races in his car trunk. Does anyone remember the p.j . party at Jane Morris’s house; we were on the phone all night pulling pranks on poor souls who were trying to sleep. Hey gals does anyone remember breaking into the house on Tyler Mills road? I don’t know what we were looking for but we had fun!! Decorating for the proms; walking across the stage at the Broadway Theatre (which is now closed) going to the “Night Club” ( Masonic Temple) and partying until wee hours of the morning (now I can’t even stay up to see the ball drop in N.Y. on TV ) Those were the days, good times, good memories.
Re: PJ Party at Joan Kayser's
Yes, Pat. It really happened!!! I definitely remember the pajama party, but I couldn't remember where the party was, so that answers a question for me. I remember going to the Glassboro Diner with the policeman in our pajamas. "In those days" weren't we wearing baby doll pajamas? I don't know how many of us there were, but the car was packed. I seem to remember Anna, maybe Joy and Karen, Carolyn, Helen? Speak up girls. Let's try to remember who was in on this adventure. I can't remember if he let us sound the siren or not, either. Seems like he may have let us sound the siren just a little.
Elsie Williams
to Guy Warrick
Do you remember the night we all broke in to the swim club that was not open yet to take a swim when the cops came. We all ran in every direction. Several of use went down the tracks and laid on the tracks to hide. Quit a few were apprehended be the police. There must have been twenty of us there that night. I think Roy Howey was one of the ones who got apprehended. Does any one remember this.?
How about climbing over the wall at Alcyon Speed way on Friday nights. I don't think we ever paid. Oh the days at Alcyon lake is it still there or have they turned it in to a condominium?
David Liddle
Hi my dear classmates:
Wow you were all crazy even then. I can't imagine that one of you wasn't seriously hurt especially around the railroad tracks.
Wow! the first day I came to PHS it was the beginning of the most wonderful days of my life. BOYS! BOYS! BOYS!
Now when we came to Pitman we did bring some cutes with us, us being Joy, Bernice, Patsy K., Karen, Elsie and myself.
Besides the boys, there were all the sports. I had never been in organized sports before or even really involved in city life.
We MANTUA people had a great time in our town, even Ralph Jones did get in trouble on our territory but Pitman was great. How we loved the Sweet Shop. Of course, we had to catch the Woody bus to Mantua after sports. Many a day I had to walk up the hill that now is the home of K-Mart, Kohl's , and Home Depot.
I did grow up on Lake Avenue at my grandparents house sleeping over many days and was familiar with the stock car races. Oh to sit in her yard on 4th of July afternoon and hear them. I don't think I ever went to them (not even to sneak in). I don't know if any of you went up to Sunset auditorium on the hill for games and pie eating contests on 4th of July. I used to win those running contests every year. I probably ran against some of you and didn't even know it.
Oh those pj parties that we girls had. My how my dad hated them. It seemed like he spent all night chasing the boys away. Yes, Elsie, pictures show that we wore baby doll pajamas. The picture I have shows me in a long nightgown, probably flannel. I guess it was at my house that time.
How about parties at Doug Tozour's pool and Anna's house? Weren't all of our parents the best? Mine drove me all over the place.
How lucky we are to have had those wonderful days, especially those days at PHS. I have been printing these stories out to save. I just don't want to forget any of them. Thanks for such a great laugh. Love to all of you and God Bless each and everyone of you. Love, Ginny
PS We might all be in the Pitman Manor someday sharing them. The Manor will never be the same. Do you think they will let us have dances at noon time. Would that be great!!! How blessed we would all be just to be together and remembering these great times. If you forget, I'll read them to YOU!!! (that's if I will be able to remember where I filed them?)
I just want to add something as a lot of our classmates will read these messages. I remember going to the Giansanti residence many of Friday nights for partying and dancing. Ann's Mom and Dad were the perfect hosts and the piazza was also great. So how about all of you who read this send Anne a get well card to cheer her up. I send her a card each month and hope you all do the same. Her address is Anne Krajicek 4900 Genoa Ave. Vineland , N.J. 08081 Thanks Ralph "Oaf"
I moved to Pitman in '53 from Washington , D.C , and lived on East Holly. In high school the best times were dancing at lunch time and eating at the Sweet Shoppe. Who remembers Charlie Knoor ? There was a banker who lived on Lakeside who took an interest in me and straightened me out and also gave a mowing job to make my first money making job. I will also never forget being elected president of the class and crowning Ann Collins our junior year. Ask some of the classmates if they remember the Telephone incident in Mantua! Who was with me when we caught Paternoster and his "Girl" at Alcyon Lake late at night. Judy Allen's parties were great. I spent more time walking and hitching to Mantua ,but it was fun. the teachers who took a interest in me will never be forgotten, like Repinski, Allen, Bloomingdale. Wright & coach Waddel . I could go on but I will always remember all who were part of my life back then and now.
I remember sneaking into the swim club one night after closing time and when the police came, we hid on the roof. I don't think anyone got caught. The ironic thing was that I had a membership.
I remember Gus coming out to Hillcrest Farm where I lived and getting snowbound. Since he couldn't drive back to Pitman, Gus and I spent most of the evening with Jim Kincaid’s tractor pulling cars up the snowy hill on Delsea Drive.
I remember the time we defended our new football scoreboard by stocking the low roof over the street entrance to the gym with pumpkins and bombarding Glassboro when they came driving by. One kid jumped out of a car looking for a fight until about 50 people from the football field came at him. Seems he dived over the trunk of a convertible and through the back window to speed his getaway.
At times my mother would have to work late and she would give me a couple of dollars to buy dinner. That meant only one thing; the Sweet Shop for a cheese steak (35 cents as I remember) and soda and then the rest into my pink convertible's gas tank. If I really needed gas, I would make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at home and put all of the money in the tank.
I climbed a tree on the backstretch of Alcyon Speedway one time and go poison Sumac so bad my eyes swelled shut. I was a mess. After that, we just waited by the main gate each evening and after the 3rd race, they would let us into the infield. Later on Roy Howey would get his dads passes and we could get in and sit in the grandstand.
There were so many things that made growing up in Pitman special but most of all it had to be the PEOPLE.
Jim Exler
Can anyone remember if this story was true? After either our Junior or Senior Prom, (58' or 59') that our personable Bobby Dick, on a trip to Atlantic City, had a run in or run up on a cow? From what I recall, as I was not there, but this cow unleashed some unwanted waste on Bobby's rented tux? I'd heard the story and have laughed over the years if it was true. I can see Bobby doing that, whether true or not......Paul
Ms. Wells English class,in our Senior year, gave us the best vocabulary any person could ever want in their life. Just thought I'd throw that in, cause I'll never forget her for that. Take care....Paul
OK guys … I’m not usually one to chime in, but I’ve been reading these things going back and forth, and my brain won’t shut off --- and I hate it when it does that!
Who remembers when Woodland Ave. went all the way down through the Alcyon woods to the lake? We used to ride our bicycles through there all the time and nobody ever worried about where we were or what we were doing. Gayle, do you remember riding our bikes there with ropes tied to the handlebars, pretending that we were riding horses? (This goes waaaaay back to grammar school days.) Sometimes we took a picnic lunch and ate it by the stream --- that same stream that we used to straddle and walk through the drain pipe, and where we imagined we were solving a mystery about a hobo who left campfires?
And speaking of those woods, does anyone remember hiking through the woods to the “Sewer Plant” and sidestepping along that cement wall which ran right along the stream with our backs to the chain link fence, for no real reason other than that we could? There was no place to go when you got to the other side. I think there was a spring back there too, and we always had to get a drink, in spite of the slimy moss that covered the rocks.
Do you remember the playground sessions at Betty Park, where we made lanyards and went on hikes (sometimes to that same sewer plant)? How about Bible School at the Christian Missionary and Alliance Church, where we learned, along with the songs and Bible stories, to make baskets?
I remember the Sweet Shop too, mostly because it was the only place I ever found which sold “ Tak -A-Boost”. Wish I could find some of that today. I also remember sauntering home from school by way of Broadway and checking in at the Wynette Shop to see what was new (not that I could afford to buy it, but it was something we had to do anyway) . I remember, too, sometimes stopping at Irene Wagner’s mother’s store (which was somewhere across from the movies) to get one of those big sugar or raisin cookies she sold. I think they were 5 cents. Also, does anyone remember sitting at the counter at the SunRay Drug Store on the corner where Bob’s Hobby Shop is now, on a hot summer day and sipping a “Zombie”?
How about those social dancing classes at the Episcopal Church from sixth through eighth grades? Did anyone else’s parents make them go? I think the teacher’s name was Mrs. Boyer? Even though I was one of the major wallflowers at those classes, my mother made sure I had a brand new dress for each one of them, and she made them herself. We did eventually get those steps down for the foxtrot and waltz, didn’t we? And we learned how to introduce someone to a reception line. I can’t say I ever really made use of that knowledge, but I guess I could have, if I had the occasion!
I was one of the kids who went to Summit Ave. School from Kindergarten through 2nd grade, then to W.C.K. Walls through 6th, then back to Summit. We took a sort of roundabout way to get to Walls School, which included cutting through Michael’s lane off Holly Ave., then meandering by way of Penny’s candy store on West Ave. before we ever actually got to the school grounds. If there wasn’t time for Penny’s in the morning, then we hit it on the way home! When we went to Summit, we cut right across those railroad tracks (third rail and all), rather than walk all the way up to Holly Ave. Remember that Summit Ave. School had a boys and a girls entrance, and you weren’t allowed to go in the wrong one? What was the purpose of that? The bathrooms were in the basement of the school, and if the teacher didn’t see you waving your hand around in the air, sometimes you ran pretty fast to get down there! When you were bad, you were punished by having to stay in the “cloakroom” – remember that dark passageway with cook hooks on both sides? And, if you were very good, you might have been lucky enough to stay after school and take the erasers down to the basement for the teacher and clean them on that sort of vacuum cleaner machine that resided down there.
I remember the Tiny Tots nursery school too, Lynne. I wasn’t lucky enough to go there, but sometimes I would go to visit my aunt after school and I would cut through the Tiny Tots yard and climb over the fence to Aunt Jane’s house. Incidentally, when my aunt moved from that house on Edsam Ave., Carol Boyle moved into it.
I grew up on Oak Ave., when it was still a dead-end street with only 3 houses on it. At some point, they tore up all the tomato plants that were on that whole lot between Oak and Broadway and built the Pitman Garden Apartments there. Then we could really have fun. I remember Ronnie Saqui and Kenny Taggart lived there for a while. We would strap on those old Union Flyer roller skates (the ones you tightened with a key hung around your neck) and skate around and around the apartments. In the winter, when the Dilks family who lived up on the corner of Broadway and Woodland, right next to the apartments, went to Florida, we had an even better place to skate. It was fun to skate around the apartments, but the sidewalks were really rough. If you crept up onto the Dilks property, you had the thrill of skating down their sloping driveway and onto their shuffleboard court, which were as smooth as silk! Now, Oak Ave. goes all the way through to Spruce Ave. (I think) and doesn't look at all like it did.
Well, I guess I remembered enough, now. Hope these strike a cord with somebody. I apologize for being so “wordy” but that’s one of the reasons I don’t write more often – I never know when to shut up! Gail Lynch Jenis
I remember my first day at Pitman Penal Colony all so well. It seems like just yesterday on that cold and foggy September morning that the prison bus pulled up at 3:15 AM....no solace for me as I watched dozens of my fellow inmates with their sorry and pitiful faces smushed against the bus windows and starring so remorsefully at me being caught.
I could read the twisted mind of the miserable bus driver that day as he thought, "looks like I caught myself another of them there Sea-well country busees ."
It seemed like within seconds the bus past through the barbed wire gate entrance to the dreaded PHS. We were immediately greeted by a cross between a beady-eyed Mr. Peepers and Ming the Merciless, AKA Chief Warden, Henry Cooper. Within no time I was apprehended by Assistant Warrant Officer, Ralph Easton, who highly resembled a product of matting gone wrong between Boris Karloff and a light-skinned Mrs. King Kong. It took many years for my ears to stop ringing from his bellowing "Out of the Halls Ledden , NOW!" I never could find room 101.
One final memory was my first meeting with Ruth Wells. Truly this was the actress who starred in the Bride of Frankenstein when she screamed at me, "I taught your brother in 55 and I've been waiting for you."
And so went my first day. Before I knew it that old gray prison bus pulled up at 9:20 PM sharp. Only one day off of my 40 year sentence, how depressing. As I sunk into my seat on the bus next to my good friend Steven Simmerman , I confided in him my plans to tunnel out of PHS. He informed me that no one has ever escaped alive. Then he also mentioned that I might want to meet this girl named Elsie Tunnicliffe . Well, Sir, he was right about Elsie. She truly gave me a purpose not to escape. The rest is history. Thank you Steven for such good advise , but much more gratitude to you Elsie for saving my life.
Dale Ledden
This is fun isn't it? I spent my whole career at Summit Ave School. Remember well the separate boys and girls entrances. Seems awfully strange now but I guess we accepted it without question then. What was the principal's name? Miss Atkinson? I can't imagine anyone questioning her authority. Also remember cleaning erasers in the basement. Wasn't the janitor's name Mr. Williams? We were great pals as I recall. I spent a lot of time down there. Coal for the heating system was there? I seem to remember that. I also recall Carol Boyle cutting her arm on the chain link fence. What a traumatic experience that was. Carol, I wonder if you still have the scar? The rowdier crowd used to play Kill Soccer on the hard, stony field of the playground - the goals being the fence on either end. How did no one get killed? Does anybody remember how terrified I was of the sliding board? I'd climb the ladder but freeze at the top and everybody behind me would have to climb down while I retreated in shame. Still remember the embarrassment. Do not remember Mr. Doyle throwing Charley down the stairs. That must have been some sight. I recall Mr. Doyle as not being a really big man. Intense however. If I'm remembering the right person. 7th grade? Can't recall all my teachers but Mr. Barton (Bart - but not to his face) who made us memorize poetry as punishment for misbehavior; Miss Allen (6th grade?) was my favorite of all; Miss Henry, Mrs. Francis ( what a nice lady!), Mrs. Clunn (?) in 8th grade who was an old friend of my grandmother and woe to me if I ever said a disparaging word about her at home. Broadway theater also a big memory. My uncle used to take me to the Saturday matinée when I was too young to go alone. The poor guy, how did he ever stand it? The cartoons were the best. Decibel level must have been off the scale. My father's best friend, Spic Beckett - how's that for a politically incorrect nickname? - was the projectionist so I got free passes and don't think I ever missed a show. Children's tickets were 14 cents as I recall. Then it went up to a quarter. They had live shows back then too didn't they? I also remember paying $3.45 for my first pair of Levis. That was the equivalent of the first pair of long pants for the previous generation. Bought them at Bill's, a little clothing store a few doors north of the news agency. Still wearing Levis, haven't had to buy a new pair for a while but expect they must be $100 by now. Many happy memories of growing up in Pitman. Looking for a place to retire to now and would love to be able to turn back the clock and find such a small town in this current time. I visited Pitman in 1995 and it seemed to have changed a lot to me. I can not tolerate cold - north Florida is too cold for me - south Florida is much too crowded and hectic so I don't know where I'll end up. In my mind it will probably be Pitman however in some way.
To Dave Liddle : Friday night stock car races is on my list also. It is true that we never paid to get in. We either climbed the fence back behind the grandstand or somehow conned the guard on the back gate to let us in. That whole area must have been quite a deal in its day. Our 8th grade graduation coincided with some anniversary of Pitman - 50? 75? - I think we tried to recreate that area as a background for the event so we researched a lot of old photos. At that time there were still some remnants of the former golden time - big posts from the boardwalk along the lake, the old merry-go-round house and of course the track - which originally was a horse racing track as I recall. After stock car racing ceased the grandstand and other structures stood there abandoned and desolate - I'm sure that must be all condos by now. Back then the old stables were still there and I liberated a lot of oak 2X12s for use at my nursery. Have been watching the Olympics and since I live in Florida we never see ice or snow but does anyone else remember how cool it was in the winter when the lakes froze and we could go ice skating? I forget the name of the small lake over by where my aunt lived - help anyone? - but it froze first and Alcyon Lake followed later if it stayed cold enough. Big bonfires on the lakeshore. I also seem to remember being involved in the pumpkin incident. Or a pumpkin incident at least. However I can't recall the police being in on the prank. In my version it was the Glassboro cops who caught us and they took us to the station and we were all scared spitless - at least I was - probably that our parents were going to find out what we'd been up to. I don't think hard time was a consideration. A couple of other memories with apologies to the people involved: Does anyone else remember Bobby Dick's wrestling match with the Itasca Indian? Or George Brooks being made to wear angel wings in grammar school? Thanks for the memories.
Good idea for a topic. I'm going to start thinking about a list. A couple thoughts about yours:1 . The first thought that came to my mind was that the other combatant was Henry Fox. But then I seemed to be recalling Batsy Riddleman getting pummeled by Henry Fox. I do recall that Richie had no fear and would fight anyone.2. I also put pennies on the rail. I also seem to recall that there was a 3rd rail back then that was "live" and we were warned in the strictest terms not to go near it. Amazingly I can't ever recall anyone being electrocuted, which is very strange considering how crazy some of us were.3. I can recall an annual ritual of swimming out to the float during Easter break no matter the temperature of air or water. Then lying in the sun trying to warm up enough to brave the swim back to shore. My best memory of the lake was back when the high dive was on the float and Zeke Joslin got a new bike for his birthday. So on a dare he carried it up the ladder and attempted to ride it off the diving board. The stunt ended badly of course with various broken bones and the bike lost at the bottom of the lake. The funny thing about these memories is I have no actual way to know if they really happened or not. They certainly feel authentic but then so do many dreams. What I'm saying I guess is that I realize that I've reached the point of life where I can no longer fully trust my memory and that's a little scary. Take care, Guy
By the way, what ever happened to Bonomo Turkish Taffy? Gayle, remembering you falling against the bike rack and cracking your tooth, also playing cowboys and indians , Mr. Burns little hole ( cellar entrance ) was the ranch house . Miss Green at Walls School made you hold up your fingers if you wanted to go to the restroom, one or two. She made the boys and girls wait and Naomi Moore wet the floor ( it was in the second grade). My mother told me that if Miss Green ever made me wait to use the restroom I was to come straight home. Doing as I was told ,one day, Miss Green did not acknowledge my request, so I marched out the door and straight home .
That ended Miss Greens restroom policies. Miss Wofbrandt was also interesting. She told me to stay after school one day(talking in class).I didso, with my head down as told, she left and forgot I was there and I was locked in the room. Mr. Burns heard me knocking on the door and let me out. Can you imagine if any of these practices were in place today. The teachers would no longer have a job and a law suit would be in order. I remember playing touch football on Holly Avenue with Charlie McEvoy , Rich Ramberg , John Wallace and a couple other boys. Rich Ramberg was color blind, usually wearing two different color socks. Mornings in HS , I would meet Carol, Pat Golway and Irene Harvey on the corner .
We would head up Holly Ave. If Barbara Turners was flying by she would pick us up. Often Jean Bellabuono with brother Nick would stop and give us a ride. They had this old green four door car and jammed anyone in that would fit. It is 1:47 AM , more memories later. Sweet dreams classmates. Lorraine
Guy, Yes Matthew Doyle was a rather small man, very good looking with a horrible temper. I was also present when Carol Boyle caught her arm on the fence, leaving flesh on the fence. The day I picked up my class ring I went over to Carol Boyles house to show her. As I approached the house I saw an ambulance pulling away and someone waving to me. When I reached her house her brother Mike answered the door and said that Carol just left in the ambulance. I thought he was teasing me as he always did. In fact Carol had a ruptured appendix and was in the hospital for two weeks. Carol really had some bad luck. Do you all remember the pep rallies on Friday nights. We would march down Broadway onto E. Holly Ave and back to the high school to a bonfire. If we won the game on Saturday ( which was not often) we would again march down Broadway with the band. The night before the Pitman - Glassboro football game the Glassboro guys would ride through town and beep horns and yell out the car windows. I also recall pumpkins being thrown at our Itaska in the park. Does anyone recall an assembly when someone (I think it was Ralph Jones) had on a grass skirt and someone was chasing him with a lawn mower? This is such fun, but off to bed, my eyes are drooping. I'll plug in later. Lorraine
Hi good friends and dear classmates,
I met Carol Boyle on the corner where I was a safety patrol, the first day she attended school in Pitman. We have been great friends ever since. Carol used to have "kissing parties" in her basement on Edsam Avenue. We played neat little games like "Post Office" and "Spin the Bottle". Dancing school at the Episcopal Church was great. We always waited to see if any of the boys would ask us for the first and last dance prior to the evening of the class. We learned to dance the "box step". One night at the dance class the boys pulled a cute trick. They switched the signs on the men's and ladies restrooms. I can remember going down to what I thought was the ladies room and it was my first introduction to urinals. Of course at the time I did not realize what they were. UGH!!!!!
My father used to go to the races on Friday nights. He had a specific tree by the merry-go-round house that he would climb to watch the races. He always took a six pack of beer. If my mother wanted him to come home, I knew exactly where to find him, tree and all. When I started dating we drove into the infield and watched the races from the roof of our car. I can still hear the hum of the race cars. Pitman was packed with cars crawling on Holly Avenue the night of the races.
We were allowed to put on skits at Walls School. We did "I Love Lucy". I was Lucy, Gayle Heppard was Ricky, Pat Golway - Fred Mertz and Gloria Granata -Ethel. Summit Avenue was neat. Does anyone remember our teacher Mr. Doyle throwing Charles McEvoy down the steps. How about the condition of Summit Ave School? If you dropped a bag of marbles on the floor they would have gone three thousand ways. Mrs. Curry would play the piano each Friday for the last two periods if we were good. Both of the classes would go to her room ( which held a piano) and we would sit two to a seat with the little brown song book and sing like crazy. I don't think any classroom in New Jersey has a piano now.
How about how the boys dressed-DA haircuts with a curl in the front, square toed shoes with white socks, wide legged pants-rolled up. If they smoked, a cigarette was placed over the ear (rather than a pencil) and the pack of cigarettes was rolled up in their sleeve. COOL The girls always wore skirts, no slacks allowed, with bobby socks ( how uncool ). High school sweaters were popular , wearing your boyfriends was for couples going steady.
Do you remember using pens that needed to be dipped into an inkwell, then we graduated to the Esterbrook pen that held the ink, I think the brand of ink was Scripto ? I do remember hiking through the sewer pipe, but it was only run off from the streets. How about Andersons field behind their house on Elm Avenue. There was always someone "parked" and "making out". Do kids park or make out anymore?
The Broadway Theater, we used to have one person pay the admission price, go to the ladies room and open the window and five others would crawl in through the window. God, we were bad. The Sun Ray Drug store with the soda fountain. The Sweet Shop, who was Sweet Shop Sandie ? Who was Marie from Philadelphia that did the "dirty dig". What was the "dirty dig"? Gayle Heppard , Ginny Mariachi and I sang in the talent show in the seventh and eighth grade. We used to practice at my house and Frank Tozour used to be outside listening to us sing.
Mr. Cooper used to go up and down the stairs in the high school and chant "keep to the right and you won't be left". At Christmas time we all danced through the halls in a chain and sang carols. Mrs. Chiomento made the girls take one shower a marking period in order to pass. I guess she thought we didn't bathe at home. I always wondered where in life I would use the "hula".
Enough for tonight, love you all, thanks for all the cherished memories. Lorraine
I have to agree with Gayle Heppard that I also was a "good kid". When your Father is the Mayor of the town and your best friend, Kathie Leitch is the daughter of the Presbyterian minister - you stay out of trouble!!!!! How many remember going to Green Valley after dances at the high school? There was also a lot of picture taking before proms at Ginny Langford's "castle" house in Wenonah and some fun pool parties there also. There were fun and interesting parties at Donna MacGibney's house too. Remember prim and proper Ann Ferris making all the boys button the top button on their shirts and when she called on you in class, you had to stand up straight beside your desk. I was so scared of her!!! Then she started dating Paternoster and loosened up (in more ways then one!!!)
To Gayle Heppard Snyder:
Good morning, Gayle. I just read once more your recollections of life in the Walls School neighborhood and wanted to offer my own memories of them and a few others.
For a few years my parents and I lived in an apartment house on Cedar Avenue. Across the street lived the Smith brothers, Bobby and Vickie, and next to them lived Bob Morton and his family. I attended Walls School and was in your second and third grade classes, with Miss Green, Miss Evelyn Wolfbrandt . I don’t recall too much of Miss Green, but I do have some interesting memories of Miss Wolfbrandt’s class, including these: listening to “Tubby the Tuba,” skipping around the room in time to music, and opening and closing the closets in the back of the room where we hung our coats and jackets; those doors swiveled when we opened and closed them. Miss Wolfbrandt lived in Glassboro. She later married and became Evelyn Huber.
Our music teacher then? I can’t think of her name but I do remember her teaching us to sing the scales.
Do you recall Billy Edwards? He was a very shy and skittish kid, blond-haired, and could run very fast. And Bill Sterling and Ronnie Sutphin ? What became of them? One night Ronnie, my Uncle Lewis, and I went to see the horror movie “The Thing” when it played at the Broadway Theater. At a very frightful moment in the movie, when “The Thing” lashed out from behind a door, Ronnie dove for the floor in front of us and then said “I’ll see you later, Jack, I’m going home.” He left the theater. Lewis and I stayed. True story.
I also remember riding my bike by your house on Lake Avenue. Once in awhile you would be outside and we would chat.
Well, you take care, Gayle. Let me know if you recall any of these details.
Here are a few more of my fond memories of growing up in Pitman. They are not in any special order, just a few random but pleasant memories.
1. Buying and savoring the snow cones sold by old Mr. Penn on East Holly Avenue during the summer, and also the ones sold at Little League and Babe Ruth League games.
2. The Fourth of July parade: How many fire trucks and White Star Laundry trucks? And the fireworks, at one time set off across from Sunset Auditorium, then transferred to Alcyon Lake beach.
3. Watching high school football games on Saturday afternoons, and especially the Thanksgiving Day games against Clayton.
4. Playing baseball for Coach Bob Waddell and riding with him and the team to away games. “Don’t spare the horses,” he would tell the driver as we pulled away from the curb.
5. Dances during lunch time at the high school
6. Escaping junior choir practice with Jim Exler one Thursday evening in order to see the movie “Dragnet” at the Broadway Theater
Gotta run. More later. Have a good day, everyone. Stay in touch.
Jack
Reading the comments from our classmates makes me a bit homesick. Here’s my attempt to share some of my fondest memories of growing up in the Pitman area:
1. I lived in Pitman, then Sewell, and returned to Pitman and lived there until 1964. Moving to and from gave me a chance to meet and get to know a lot of classmates.
2. Playing baseball in Little League, Babe Ruth League, and in high school: My coaches were Ray John, “Lefty” Ewen , Bill Albers, Bert Fey, and of course the famous Bob Waddell, known not only for his sports savvy but also for his cigars. All of these men were excellent role models / second father figures for us. I think all of us who played for them appreciated their advice about sports and life in general. Thanks to them and my teammates, including Charlie McEvoy , Ken Girard, Larry Woidell , Jim Wakling , Steve Simmerman , Bob Harrison, Frank Knox, Johnny Wallace, and the late Bob Cressman , for all the good games.
3. Wonderful memories of the carnivals and “block parties” on Pitman Avenue and the dances at Sunset Auditorium in the summer.
4. Wonderful memories, too, of the Saturday night dances at Pitman High School, where we paid $.50 “stag” and $1.00 “drag”, $.10 for Cokes, and watched Gus do the “dirty dig.” I can still hear the rumble from the glass-pack mufflered cars as they cruised by the gym.
5. Thanks for Del and Bert Fey for giving their time and efforts for young people in Pitman in those years.
6. Walking to Pitman High School with Larry Moss. Never a dull moment. Now, of course, he is the renowned editor and publisher of the Harleysville News & World Report.
7. Teachers: Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Curry, Mr. Doyle, Mrs. Dubois, and Mr. Parker, from grades 6 to 8, at Summit Avenue School and Kindle School. They were excellent teachers. I thank them for their patience and understanding of a kid with a nervous stammer in early adolescence.
8. Swimming at Alcyon Lake.
9. First serious romance with Bette Montgomery.
10. Performing Roland for you at the assemblies and at a pep rally. You probably do not know that that impersonation began in a boys room at Pitman High School. Just for the heck of it one day after lunch, I combed my hair, parted it in the middle, and tried to imitate the voice of John Zacherle as Roland. I forget now who else was in that boys room, but whoever they were, they urged me to do more. You know the rest.
11. Friends, classmates: Rather than name them, I thank you for your friendship and hope to see you within the next year.
12. To be continued. Thanks, Burt, for making this space possible.
Jack
Honey Konopka lived three houses north of the Wood bus terminal. She excelled as a pitcher on some softball team and she definitely was " drop dead gorgeous ".
I'm wondering if Lorraine recalls miss Parvin putting a peanut on your cot if you took your nap. I sometimes pretended to be asleep. Gayle
Yes, Jack Hitchner , I recall all those things. I couldn't stand Mrs. Huber . When the boys were bad she made them sit on her lap n the kids would all giggle. I think there was something wrong with her. I also remember your sitting behind me in her class. One time it was valentines day n all the cards were in a decorated box. Then they were handed out by one of the kids. Fond memories were the amount u received from the same person. I remember Billy Sterling came to school several times in jeans [or dungarees] as they were called then. He was sent home cause jeans weren't allowed. They couldn't afford anything else. Jeans were against the code. Ronny Sutphin was very bright. I recall.
Remember the penny sales we had? Lorraine would remember. We'd bring in things we were tired of n charge just pennies. It was held in the basement at walls school. I remember the items I bought. Mrs. Green had one eye but she saw everything. Yes, I remember Roland . He made u quite popular. Remember when u lived in a cottage behind the hurshes on Grandview ? Also when you're dad worked with my mom at the bank. I never knew u rode past my house on lake. My aunt Ruth was in your moms circle of friends. Gayle
Lorraine, I recall miss green. She had one eye but still could see everything . Remember Billie Hess could never finish his milk at snack time n he would have to stand in the hall n finish it. He was little like Naomi . Yes I remember her wetting her pants.
Do u remember how Miss Wolf rant would make the boys sit on her lap when they misbehaved? That was when she'd read us a story up front of the class. She also had candy hidden in her drawer that she'd sneak when we were supposed to be doing our lessons. And when we did those skits in Mrs. Hughes's class she got so exasperated with us one day that she told us we'' brewed a pot that stunk''. She should have to teach these kids today. Do u remember that.
Yes I tried to find the piece of tooth because I knew my mom would be furious. Johnny Wallace was chasing me. Whatever happened to him? I guess I thought I'd super glue the tooth together. By the by, Mrs. Hughes had a glass eye.
You know, thanks to Ruth wells, I cannot stand to hear the English language mangled. Today even the professionals slaughter it, even the newscasters. Seems to be my biggest issue--cant help it. Plus the English upbringing. Anyone else feel that way? Gayle Heppard
Gail, I , too, recall bible school at Christian Missionary Alliance church. We wove baskets once. They were supposed to flare out at the top n mine turned in like a ball shape. I didn't get a good grade but I liked it. Gayle
Dale Ledden , u-r such a character. U really keep me laughing. Lorraine, u can really recall the details. Life was so much fun then. And we were all healthy. Remember cops n robbers at Margie O Hallorans house, Lorraine ? I hated the bathrooms at Walls School. The toilets had brown seats. There was always one or 2 toilets that wouldn't flush. Mr. Burns was the janitor. Yuk. I was a terrible germaphobic .
I also remember Penny's candy store. The only time I had some candy or a Popsicle was when I'd find a nickel or dime. I thought I'd hit pay dirt . Remember the little pie tin with icing n a tiny spoon? How about the wax bottles with colored water. Remember the wax lips, tongues, teeth, n mustaches n the mouth organs at Halloween . Those were all from Pennells . St Patties day they sold licorice pipes. Remember when someone put a frog skin in Emmett Kurtz sandwich at lunch. Poor Emmett . That came from bio. Lab.
Doug Tozour , if it weren't for u I'd never have passed chemistry. Hated that class. Mr. Cooper was a character. My mom tells me about his antics when she had him in school. They far surpassed his actions when we had him. Remember Ralph ''eats em .'' he would sit at his desk n pick his nose. About made me sick. Then he'd walk up n down the aisles n peer down the girls blouses. Repulsive! Gayle Heppard
I remember the dances at the Episcopal church too. It was fun but I hated the reception line. It was so embarrassing having to introduce your date. The parents stood shoulder to shoulder so it was a running commentary. I remember honey Konopka . She was from Wenonah , I think, n so pretty, I thought. Anyone remember her? Wasn't Jack Hitchner ''Roland '' with Igor ? Lynn? I remember Ginny Mariachi n I doing patience n prudence at a talent assembly. As I recall it was pretty good. Then Carol Boyle n I did a tap dance to jingle bell rock. That was for Mrs. Chiomento . I loved gymkana . That was the best. My girls did it too. We were stationed in myrtle beach n I did not want my girls to attend school in that state, especially high school. Talk about podunk ! Don't get me started. They are bottom on the educational totem pole. Gayle
Yes, Gail , I recall traipsing thru the sewer pipe on Woodland. Etc. Wasn't it fun. I also still have my skate key. Do u? I recall pretending our bikes were horses too. Gloria Granato n I used to that too. I remember all the cats u had on N. Oak Ave . When they built a house next door to your house Naomi Moore moved there. Her daughter was my daughters friend in HS. So many memories. Ginny Langford's dad had a green Buick skylark convertible with wire wheels. Boy was that sharp. We'd put 50 cents of gas in it , then tool around like big shots. U can still get tak-a-boost gang. Its in the soda dept. Gayle.
Boy, where was I when all this good stuff was going on? Probably being miss goody 2 shoes. I was wrapped up in my fiddle. One night I attended a pj party at pat Fraziers house n injured my fingers . My next am lesson had to be canceled. My mom was furious. I was always afraid I'd get in trouble so I walked the straight n narrow. Boring huh. I remember the sweetshop too. My memory is hot chocolate with marshmallow n a hoagie. Yum! .
Gayle Heppard Snyder
The first week of May in Pitman was "Youth Week". Do any of you recall? Students from town would take the roll of mayor and council and we would tour the boro hall. Tuesday night was to ride the fire engines. Thursday night was "talent " night and Friday night was the junior-senior prom. I don't remember what happened on Wednesday night. Saturday night of that week, the under classes had a dance in the gym where the prom was held the night before. I think that the theme for our senior prom was "Under the Sea'". How about the wonderful entertainment we had after the movie, all to the thanks of "Mac Maguire" who was a radio personality from Pitman.
My grandson lives in Temecula, California and he had to drive one hour away to San Diego for his prom. (By the way, he was prom king). Talk about sitting on the edge of your seat. Our after prom was always fashioned in order to keep anyone from drinking and driving.
Oh well, California is still the land of fruit and nuts,. (Sorry Jim and Sharon, Gloria, Ken, Evan and Ronnie S.) Pitman's prom is tonight and I hope the kids have a great time. I doubt anything today could ever top our even match our growing up in the fifties. Lorraine
Hi Jack, I do remember Billy Edwards, Billy Hess, Don Stewart and Ronnie Sutton. Ronnie lived on W. Holly Ave, the last house before Fultons . Ronnie Suttons family moved. Bill Hess, Bill Edwards, Bill Sterling, Don Stewart, John Wallace (white), Don Stewart all got left back at some point. We also had a boy Joe Lehman, and Alan Block, that came and went in our class. I hated Mrs. Huber, she kept me after school one afternoon, made me put my head down on my desk. She left the building and forgot I was still there. I had to bang on the door and Mr. Burns came to my rescue. My mother went to school the next day and gave Miss Wolfbrandt what for. In later years, when George and I were married we lived in Glassboro on Cornell Road. Miss Wolfbrandts brother and sister-in-law lived across the street from us. Billie Sterling and Eddie Parvin used to chase Pat Golway and I home, carrying long branches with stickers and threatening to hit us. Pat and I found a tree and climbed it until they left. I also remember that in kindergarten and first grade we took naps in the pm. I can still see Miss Parvin asleep on the bench in the basement while we pretended to sleep.
More later. Lorraine
Thank you for asking me for my memories of Pitman. I grew up on Lincoln Ave, and had a wonderful childhood in that area. There was a lot to do in the summer, everything came alive. There was the park, Sunset where we roller skated on rainy days and pretended we were celebrities on the stage, tennis matches, horse shoe tournaments. Then there were baseball games down the street and arts and crafts at the play ground. Bible classes and games at Lizzy Temple. And who could ever forget the Friday night dances at the Firehouse on West Ave. The dances at Sunset, the Catholic church , and the Block dances. The fashions then were terrible, you had 2 choices in shoes, Penny Loafers or Saddle Shoes. How about the starched scratchy slips, and the Hoop skirts. And then we went to long tight skirts with thick white socks. I can't believe we walked all over town with our hair up in curlers and scarf on our heads, I guess we thought we were sexy, ha . And we actually slept all night in those curlers, WOW!
We always had fun at the lake, out at the float we played tag, and often had scratches from nails and a few splinters here and there. The guys would cannonball us all the time, but once, Jerry Jaggard and Dave Horner did that to me, and I thought I was not going to come up for air. I think that was the last time I ever went out there. Remember the pretzels with mustard, and the frozen candy bars on a stick at the snack bar? Lorraine and I would be the first ones laying out in the sun every year, we were shivering, but that was OK. as long as we got our tan early. I'll never forget that little car you had, we sure did have a lot of fun . We had to stop every so often to put water in the car.
Winters were fun ice skating at Glen Lake and Alcyon Lake. We used to go sledding down West Ave, at least we tried, every time the girls would start to go down the hill, the boys would jump on. Then we would crash, I don't think we ever got to the bottom of the hill. You guys always made it so hard for us back then! Talk about abuse. ha .
I asked my Dad if I could have a party at his house, I guess he thought I was just going to have a few people there, so he left the house for most of the night. I'll never forget the look on his face when he got home. The house was full of kids, and really trashed. That was the last party I ever had. It took a long time for us to get the house looking normal again.
Remember Sunday's. Nothing was opened except for the newspaper store and a small store down by the lake, and they were open only in the morning. We had a lot of fun at the Methodist Church, I was in both choirs, and at Christmas time we would decorate the church. We had to carry lit candles up the aisle and up to the balcony, and no one caught on fire--amazing! Friday night after choir practice we would all go to the movies. Do you remember the 3-D movies on Saturdays. I know one movie was a cowboy and indian film, those arrows were pretty scary. After the movie we would walk home, one night Richard and Ernie Becket jumped out on us, we ran halfway up Laurel Ave; before we realized who they were. Did anyone ever figure out who the man was that used to jump out on girls with nothing on except a black cape! Most of the time I would run as fast as I could down the middle of Laurel Ave. All my friends left me at West Ave.
I loved the Sweet Shop. We would leave there and go to Lake View , we met a lot of interesting people along the way. One night friends pulled their car up to talk and ran over Tina Sutters foot, then someone through her purse in the lake. Walking through town, the cops stopped us, thinking Tina was drunk, because she was walking funny, and her foot was swelling. They were really nice and took us home. It was Friday the 13th! We would get a lot of people together, go to a secluded place, play loud music, drink Roll and Rock beer, and smoke. Lorraine would take her candy bar, soda, and toothbrush. She was the only smart one in the crowd.
I have really enjoyed the letters from everyone. I will get back to you later, with more memories.
Judy Lockwood