| Author | Message | ||
     Steve Weintraub Citizen Username: Stevew Post Number: 15 Registered: 4-2006 |
This thick little booklet (3.5" x5.5") was given out to students when they first arrived at the school. I'm not sure how long it was used for, but I came across editions in CHS's archives spanning several decades. I think they stopped printing it in the 60's. I've scanned just the first bunch of pages; everything else is school policies, class schedules, activites, etc. If anyone is interested in seeing other pages let me know. I bought this copy off of eBay, and it (along with the activities ticket) belonged to one May Schwebemeyer (note that she circled and x'd her homeroom, Room 211). If anyone knows who May is, let her know so I can return her book and activities ticket, it still has credits on it!         | ||
| les Citizen Username: Les Post Number: 124 Registered: 6-2001 |
Wow - this is so interesting - I'd love to see more! Thanks for sharing! | ||
| Steve Weintraub Citizen Username: Stevew Post Number: 16 Registered: 4-2006 |
Update: I've actually located an address for Ms. Schwebemeyer (it's not hard to find...). I might just see if she's around and wants her items back. | ||
| Steve Weintraub Citizen Username: Stevew Post Number: 17 Registered: 4-2006 |
Here's a few more scans. I liked the entry on Secret Societies: "Secret societies are opposed in Columbia because they are injurious to the spirit and reputation of the school, and they are subversive in their effect upon the student body as a whole." Can't have any Commies in the hallowed halls! The other scan is of Columbia songs. Can you imagine anyone singing those with a straight face today?   | ||
| Frederick Schmid Citizen Username: Carlfrederick Post Number: 71 Registered: 3-2006 |
Steve, I attend Columbia 1955-58 and we did not receive a Columbia High Lights so it was probably discontinued before this time. The floor plans are most interesting because when I attended in the mid 50s, it was almost the same except that the principal's office and high school administration were in the area marked the Board of Education. When I attended Clinton School in 1945-52, the Board of Education was located at Clinton School. It is interesting to realize that when Ms. Schwebemeyer attend Columbia, the building was less than 10 years old. Appreciate your postings. Thank you. | ||
| Steve Weintraub Citizen Username: Stevew Post Number: 18 Registered: 4-2006 |
Thanks for the info, Frederick. The BOE was always moving around; I'm sure they were very happy when Fielding vacated to give them a permanent home. I always find original floor plans fascinating, as they reveal the original intentions for rooms that, by my day (class of '85), had changed purpose dramatically. For example, I get a chuckle that there was actually a dentist's office: "A dental clinic is maintained in the school for the purpose of protecting the teeth of the pupils. Dental examinations are given each year, and if the teeth are in need of treatment the parents are notified. If requested, the dentist will give the necessary treatment for a nominal fee." - pg. 70 Also, what was designed as a dressing room for the stage became what I knew as the Stage Crew office (see my recent photos to see how neglected it has become, linked in this thread: /discus/messages/3517/121394.html?1151640534 ) Regarding Ms. Schwebemeyer, I need to be utterly and pointlessly pedantic: she attended CHS 1940-1943. As the building took in its first students in the fall of 1927, the building was 13 years old when she first attended, not less than 10. | ||
| Psychomom Citizen Username: Psychomom Post Number: 262 Registered: 5-2005 |
That Columbia Highlights seems somewhat familiar, I believe I received one when I started there in 1968, albeit a more updated version. I remember it having the floor plans and the cheers and the words to all the fight songs....like "Roar Cougar Roar" which was sung very loudly every time the team got a touchdown. The activities tickets were sold for $5 and it got you preferred seating in the bleachers at the football games, discounts to plays, stuff from the bookstore and I don't recall what else, but each time you used it you got it punched. | ||
| Frederick Schmid Citizen Username: Carlfrederick Post Number: 72 Registered: 3-2006 |
Steve, Thanks for the corrections. I noted that in the Columbia High Lights, the one statement was authored by C. H. Threlkeld. He was the School Superintendent in the forties through 50s. He was quite a professional. I remember bumping into him at Clinton School quite often and I really believe he knew each of the kids in the system, because when ever I asked him about a friend in another school, he could make a sensible comment. Dr. Threlkeld lived on Elmwood Avenue just around the corner from Lancaster Avenue. He was followed by Dr. Herbert McDavitt, who atarted in the system as the Principal of Clinton School and then was promoted to Assistant Superintendent and then finally Super. He was an incredible educator. When I attend Rutgers University, I was doing a psych experiment and needed to run a test on high school students. I ask Dr. McDavitt, if my partner, who went to Clinton School with me, could do the test. He explained that to do so would just about break every rule in the book, but he looked at me and said, "you have just about broken every other rule here, why not a few more". We ran the experiment and recruited about 10 more students to Rutgers for the psych department. I always felt that I had access to the Superintendent's office and brought a number of things to their attention. They never ignore me and always wanted to hear what the students had to say. I felt like I was a participant. In fact, their inclusiveness gave me a confidence I still enjoy to this day. Thanks Steve for helping in awaking many wonderful memories. Frederick | ||
| Steve Weintraub Citizen Username: Stevew Post Number: 19 Registered: 4-2006 |
Frederick - Glad to! This fury of research is part of a larger project I am endeavoring in. In the short term, I plan on putting together some material for publication on my website. Watch this space. | ||
| Suzanne Ng Citizen Username: Suzanneng Post Number: 833 Registered: 3-2002 |
I found Ms. Schwebemeyer listed in the 1930 census (age 7)... she was living with parents in Elizabeth, NJ. She would have been given this booklet as a 14.y.o. freshman ? in the Fall of 1937. (1930 , her name is given as Marie (or Maria).) her father died in 1977 (Linden, NJ) , her mother in 1988 (Brookside, Morris Co, NJ) Further research shows, sadly, May Schwebemeyer Heller died in Sept 2005. An obit was published in the Madison (NJ) Eagle on Sept 16 2005. She was a resident of Chatham, but died at a Senior Center in Brewster, MA. I couldn't get free full access to the obit to see if survivors were listed. BTW, there is a 1943 edition of the CHS yearbook, Mirror, currently on eBay, offered by a seller in Maryland. Starting bid is just $4.99 | ||
| Suzanne Ng Citizen Username: Suzanneng Post Number: 834 Registered: 3-2002 |
More digging (and I would have combined posts, but it was more than 20 mins old) ... May Schwebemeyer Heller, enjoyed art and nature, 80 (Madison eagle, 9/15/05) Funeral services were held Monday, Sept. 12, at the Wm. A. Bradley and Son Funeral Home, 345 Main St., Chatham, for May Schwebemeyer Heller of Chatham, who died Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2005, at the Epoch Senior Health Care Center in Brewster, Mass. She was 80. Born in Newark and raised in South Orange, she lived in Springfield Township before coming to Chatham in 1955. Mrs. Heller worked in sales and merchandising at Hahne’s in Newark from 1945 to 1950. She was a graduate of Columbia High School in South Orange, and received an associate’s degree in art from LaSalle Junior College in Massachusetts. Mrs. Heller was a member of Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church in Chatham. She enjoyed art and making decorative dried flower arrangements, and loved animals, nature, the outdoors and traveling to Maine, her family noted. Her husband of 54 years, Clifford Heller, died previously. She is survived by two sons, Jeff and his wife, Martha, of Ramsey, and Mark and his wife, Carol, of Chatham, Mass.; a sister, Joan Stein of Chester, and two grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Dallas. Interment followed in Fair Mount Cemetery, Chatham. Memorial contributions may be made to Saint Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center, 575 Woodland Ave., Madison, N.J. 07940. [ Her son. Jeff, is listed in switchboard.com ] | ||
| Steve Weintraub Citizen Username: Stevew Post Number: 20 Registered: 4-2006 |
Wow, detailed research, Suzanne! I had simply found her entry in the 1995 Alumni directory (it lists two children, Jeffery and Mark), and cross-referenced it with an online phone directory confirming the Chatham address. Columbia was only 10-12th grades back then, so being 17 as a sophomore doesn't sound right. She was in the class of '43, and her notes in the book and activities card indicate it as the '40-'41 school year, which makes sense for an entering Sophomore. So either the Census is wrong, or kids just went to high school later back then It is sad news May recently passed away. Staring at this booklet and little card, the pencil marks are as fresh as the day she scribbled them, I almost feel like I know her. Edit: Oops, just saw your updated post, Suzanne. So ok, the census was wrong It sounds like she had a very full life, thanks for the additional information. | ||
| extuscan Citizen Username: Extuscan Post Number: 667 Registered: 6-2001 |
Steve- This alone makes me want to continue what we've (you've) been doing. You've pretty much tapped me out.... I think I've relayed all I know. If there is anything else I can do, let me know. I greatly look forward to the end result. I this CHS really needs a memory page... and each memory needs to be probed, and brought out in detail. There are so many snippets out there, from alumni, that really need a fleshing out. I know the audience is narrow, but those that appreciate this stuff really appreciate it! -John | ||
| Steve Weintraub Citizen Username: Stevew Post Number: 21 Registered: 4-2006 |
John - I agree. From my visit to the library and archives, the information is there, it just needs proper organization. Hopefully that will happen if Fanning gets his grant (did you get my 3,000 word email about my trip?). For now, I pretty much have all the information I need for my project, but I will also try to assemble a good picture of things from the architectural end and put something together online for folks. Steve By the way, I have confirmed that the Heller family sold the High Lights and Activities card as part of an estate sale. | ||
| Suzanne Ng Citizen Username: Suzanneng Post Number: 835 Registered: 3-2002 |
Census would have been pretty close to correct age, but the enumerator writes down whatever someone tells him. The High Lights was dated Sept 1937. Mrs Heller was born in Feb 1925 and died in Sept 2005, If she rec'd the book as an entering Sophomore in Sept 1937, she would have been 12. Maybe the booklet was not published every year? Class of 1943, would have made her 18 at graduation, which would be correct. I love researching family trees, etc... especially now that so many primary sources are available online.! | ||
| Steve Weintraub Citizen Username: Stevew Post Number: 22 Registered: 4-2006 |
The Booklet is the 1937 edition, this doesn't mean she received it in 1937. May attended CHS for three school years: 1940-41, 41-42, then her senior year, 1942-43. So she was an entering sophomore for the 1940-41 school year, which is what she dated in pencil in the book (also, her activity card is dated for the 1940-41 school year). Born 1925 makes her 15 as a sophomore, which would be correct. This also shows why the 1930 Census listing her as 7yo is incorrect; she was actually 5! | ||
| Steve Weintraub Citizen Username: Stevew Post Number: 23 Registered: 4-2006 |
Here's what the little holder for the Activity card looks like. I was wrong about the activities card, it's dated for the 1941-42 school year. I guess sophomore May got social  | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider  Post Number: 15029 Registered: 1-2003  |
I feel sad to know that she died. Is that weird? | ||
| Frederick Schmid Citizen Username: Carlfrederick Post Number: 93 Registered: 3-2006 |
No, it is not weird. There is the desire to reach out, but that is not possible. And, it was a matter of a few months. "Had we just been a little earlier." Tom, your feelings underscore how fragile life is. | ||
| Steve Weintraub Citizen Username: Stevew Post Number: 35 Registered: 4-2006 |
Yeah, Frederick puts it well. Knowing a bit about her life now, I'm honored to own a piece of it. |
