The house where I grew up on Harold Street in Allendale, PA, about three miles from New Brighton. My father, Howard, his father, Allen, and my uncles helped build this house.
I didn’t go to kindergarten. I attended Kenwood Elementary School, on Oak Hill in New Brighton, PA., for first and second grades. My first grade teacher was Mrs. Young, in 1957. She had her first baby during the year she was my teacher. I was kinda the teacher’s pet. She selected me to be the one to run to the office for help if she should get sick in class (during the time she was pregnant)–a job I never needed to do. I remember that she brought the baby to class after it was several weeks old for us to look at and touch, if we wanted.
My second grade teacher was Ms. Johnson. I don’t remember if she was a Miss or a Mrs.
One distinct thing I remember from either my first or second grade years was that when we got to the building one morning there was a lot of activity. The teachers hustled us off to our classrooms but we could tell something was wrong. Later in the morning the teacher told us the the school janitor had died just after he came to the building in the morning. He was an older man and had apparently had a heart attack or something. He was the grandfather of one of the students in the school. They had to take that student out to be with his parents before they announced the death to the rest of us. This is my first clear memory of someone I had known dying.
Wow, do you have a great memory!! I don’t recall the activity the morning the janitor died………and the school was on Oak Hill, not Grove HIll.
And do you remember singing with all of the other grades every Friday afternoon in the entranceway and on the stairs?
Connie,
Now that you mention it, yes I do. Do you remember what kinds of songs we sang? I’d love to see (and post) a photo of us on the stairs singing.
Dave
Connie,
I corrected the hill on which Kenwood was located. Thanks!
Dave
I don’t have any photos of us singing, nor do I know any place to get them, but I seem to remember singing patriotic songs, and rounds, like ROw,Row,Row Your Boat–or maybe not!! LOL
Hello Connie and Dave…do you remember “marching” out of Kenwood School at lunch time and in the afternoon. I was one of the “honored” piano players….I can still sit down at the piano and play that stupid march….however, I don’t even remember the name of it! I remember that I had to play until everyone cleared the building. Then I would take off running so I could get home in time to have lunch and not be late getting back to school.
Do you remember Miss Zimmerman leading the singing on Friday afternoons — and using her pitch pipe to get us in tune. Can’t remember the name of the teacher who accompanied our singing. She was a third grade teacher…something like Miss Holztman??? I do remember singing rounds, but aren’t coming up with any particular songs.
Merrie,
Hi, thanks for visiting my site and commenting. Be sure to check back from time to time as I’ll post more memories of my school years in New Brighton.
I didn’t remember singing on the stairs until Connie mentioned it. I’m wracking my brain to try to remember marching out of the building but it isn’t coming to me. I’m not surprised they did this though…those were different times. I’m sure it’s a vivid memory for you because you were playing the piano.
I don’t remember who led singing or the pitch pipe. I guess singing wasn’t a big thing for me. I can only pull vague memories of all of us standing on the stairs and singing rounds.
Thanks for trying to help jog my rusty old brain cells.
Wow I googled Connie Budde and couldn’t believe it when I connected to this site. You all made me rather teary-eyed!! and Merrie do you remember in high school you playing while everyone marched in and I turned pages for you!!