Ferndale High School - Reflector Yearbook (Johnstown, PA)

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gibbon and Leroy Weimer were co-editors of the 'fLondon Journalf' I remember in our high school days, Shirley often said that her experience of working on the Courier would some day be an asset to her. Virginia said too, that Dick Gill was the prominent photographer in Johnstown who now took all the pictures for the Reflector. Moving around in the crowd, I saw Chick Barnitz, coach of Notre Dame, hurrying my way. I was thrilled when he gave me a ticket to the first football game to be played with my college Alma lkiater on the 10th day of September. Gladly I accepted the invitation. The first speaker of the second eve- ning was Cleo Oelschlaeger, who related her experience as being a beauty culturist in Hollywood. She told me after the speech that Anna Bowman was starred in the famous picture School Daysfl During the second evening, I met lklary Jane Kaushep and her husband, George Howard, who were writing a book of everyday life. I had already read several books written by this couple. I also talked with Josephine Doerr who owned and ran an exclusive ladies' apparel store in Jerome. She and her friend Louise Vickroy had gained renown all over Pennsylvania for the dresses they designed and sold. The main attraction of the evening was an animal performance by Harry and William Daniels, an attraction with lions, second only to f'Daniel in the lion's den.', The beautiful girl who performed with them and who was said to have been able to make the animals smile when she ap- peared, was Jane Brubaker, the once well known belle of Ferndale. Standing by the entrance to the grounds stood two familiar people. Sure enough, it was Ruth Strayer and Mary Grace Redick, who told me they owned a prosperous farm in Benscreek. They were still unmarried, but had been con- sidering serious the question of marriage for the last few years. They commented that they needed male help on the farm. Taking these two friends with me, we were traveling around the grounds when we noticed Fern Weaver Brend- linger and her husband Robert, who were quarreling over the prize they should choose for having won at bingo. Bob wanted a boy's erector set while the prac- tical Fern insisted on a 25-lb. sack of sugar. They told us about the excellent hospital service given at the Lorain hos- pital where Rita Adams was head nurse and Christine Beltz, a stenographer. After the last event of the evening, a 500 foot jump into a pile of hay, done by Richard Heslop, l started to my hotel. I was startled to hear Walter Nosal call me and ask if he might take me home in his 1929 Ford. Knowing that Walter al- ways knew the town gossip, I asked him about our old school friends. He and Bill Pugh were inventors and were now working on a new kind of wig. Walter said when he last heard of Jane Gerber and Anna Dill, they were preparing for a double wedding ceremony. They were to marry bankers from New York city. I was also glad to hear that Julia lVIuches- ko had become the head Red Cross nurse, because it had always been her am- bition. It took Walter entirely too long to tell m -e about two other classmates. Through laughter and tears he finally said that Lovica Baker and Judson Hershberger were having a contest to see who could keep quiet the longest. The thing that made it funny was that they were a married couple living in the same house. Walter said that it was only a fad and that this couple had even gone out for the tree-sitting contest and had won. Louis Koontz was the weather pro- phet who took turns with James Ed- wards in getting up every other morn- ing to see the sun rise. Walter promised me he would see me the following evening at the carnival and THE 1936 REFLECT OR

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SENIOR PROPHECY As I picked up the evening issue of the Texas Tribune, August 17, 1956, I was agreeably startled to read the head- lines Ferndale Will Stage It's Largest Old Home Week. Then and there, I made up my mind to attend this 50th an- niversary of Ferndalels Old Home Week, from August 28th to September Znd. Connecting my rambling thoughts, I meditated for a few minutes on high school days. Oh, how we used to visualize this annual carnival and reunion with its gay crowds, old friends, swing rides, and exciting bingo games. This particular year, invitations were being sent to all Ferndale High School graduates. I stepped into the gorgeous stream lined autogyro, owned and operated by an intimate friend of mine, Clair lNIoors, for- mer graduate of Ferndale. What luck! Overstuffed seats were available. Hap- pily and comfortably seated, I began to think of Ferndale, my destination. It certainly seemed home-like to be back in good old Ferndale and especially on the carnival grounds. I thought I recognized his voice-sure- ly, it was Charles Rukosky announcing: 'fLadies and gentlemen, who are listening in all over the United States, this year Ferndale has been honored by being asked to broadcast the special events of the 50th Annual Old Home Week. We now pre- sent Jane Hurrel in a specially arranged tap dance with music furnished by Eleanor Levergood's 30-piece l'Rythmners.'l This high school tap dancer certainly had kept her charm and gracefulness during the score of years since we had graduated. Again the familiar voice of the an- nouncer said, 'fWe present now the one and only Clyde lVIiller-known as HCrooning Clyde. The award, a Frigidaire, given to Clyde for his unusual voice performance, was said to have been donated by Jack Baum who monopolized the Frigidaire business in the U. S. Betty Suthard, wife of lNIr. lkiiller, said house work was made much easier when Clyde was around croon- ing to her. We present now the Honorable President of the U. S., Harry Davis, for- mer student of Ferndale High School, spoke the announcer. Harry certainly ob- tained hig goal, for in P. D. -class 20 years previous, he declared he would be President of the U. S. in 1950. I had never heard such an excellent radio speech given by a President. Walkiiig around the booth, stopping here and there, I noticed at the doll stand, a friend of mine, Dick Ivloore. He told me he had been in the doll business ever since graduating and had since made his fortune. From Dick, I learned too, that Mr. Frank Keller had resigned as prin- cipal and to lVIary Jane Humphreys was given the honor of being the first woman principal since the origin of F. H. S. Dick also said that two other positons on the faculty were held by two former students -John Repp, boys' coach and Ethel Ikiae Saintz, girls, coach. Another delightful surprise! I went down to the one time Stuver's barber shop to find it now operated by Barton Roberts, assisted in hair dressing by Alma Larson and Doris Spangler, who were busily en- gaged in giving automatic permanent waves. I was forced to wait awhile till the line of fifty had diminished. In the long line of people, I noticed a diistinguished looking man dressed in :n long tailed coat. At his turning, I recog- nized Earl Stahl. He came over, gave me a hearty handshake and immediately asked me to tea the following day. He said that I must reacquaint myself with his charm- ing wife, Lynn Cauffliel, and his two faithful deaconesses in the church of which he was pastor, Ella Hindman and Clare Brubaker. On entering the carnival ground the second night, I saw Virginia Craig, ath- lectic instructor at Hood College, and Ros- elyn Huber, hockey 'expert at Temple. From them I learned that Shirley Fitz-

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SENIOR PROPHECY show me a few more of our friends. I had just finished dressing the next morning when I heard a loud rapping at the door. I opened the door, agreeably surprised to see Mary Catherine Simpson, Mary Lou Zimmerman, and Anna Po- lippo who were called the 'fl-larmony Sistersu from way down South. As old maids do when they get to- gether, we discussed people. Nlary Lou told me that Dorothy Wendell was sell- ing Fords at the Ford Ikiotor Company in Michigaii. Dorothy always did have a weakness for Fords. Janet West had married Henry Ford, IV and had thus secured Dorothy her highly paid job. lblarjorie Rogers had won the knitting prize for three consecutive years. The coats, sweaters, and suits she made were sold all over the world. The morning paper told about the world peace movement headed by William Shiber. Ruth Shull was his admirable secretary who efficiently wrote down every word he spoke. I was anxious to get back to the car- nival grounds that evening. Walter ar- rived promptly bringing with him Glen Griffith, the comedian of the evening. Glen had taken Will Rogers' place in saying wise thiings. Faye Rhodes, nurse of the carnival. was handing out programs. Looking down over the schedule for the evening, I saw that two friendly nivals, Ray Lip- hart and Harold Erickson, were to box for the heavy weight championship. The referee for the game was to be lVIargaret Kovach. These three had t1'avelled to- gether ever since graduating. At the Chuck-o-luck booth stood Jack Creek and his wife Nellie Stemmer dressed in hunting clothes. They were playing this game to win the handsome gun displayed in the booth. Jack told us that he had heard a spe- cial announcement over the radio a few minutes before he had come that Helen Barnitz had won the Nobel prize for writing and that Irene Plachy had been chosen for the champion typist, receiving a 350,000 prize. Presented :in this evenings program was the Kirchner sisters in a carriocha dance. These two, indeed, were skilled performers. Going home that evening I met Vir- ginia Fleegle, missionary from Africa, who was on furlough. She said that Jean Border had been sent to Africa as a gov- ernment research worker. As we rode, we noticed big bills posted on the street car saying that the heir to Duke of Eng- land's fortune was Romayne Coleman, formerly his court jester. The last day of the carnival rolled around. I hoped that I might see or hear something of my remaining class friends. A chorus from Broadwayls 60 most beautiful girls was heard as I entered the carnival. Bessie Baumbaugh, Anna Mar- garet Frambach, and Anna Ford, former Ferndale girls, were honored in being se- lected for this. It certainly seemed good to hear about and see most of my old school comrades, but since the carnival was over, I decided to journey southward on my way home. I arrived at Atlantic City just in time to see Frances Bixel and Elizabeth Reiman try for the swimming championship. I was escorted into the dining room by the aristocratic club host, Lewis Locke, whom I was overjoyed to see because I hadn't heard about him since 1936. Margaret Clark, he Qsaid, was pro- prietor of the largest hotel in Atlantic City and Bertha Berkey was her assist- ant. There were hundreds working for them. The chief cook was Bertha's life- long friend, IVIargaret Cruickshank. In Florida, I visited Dorothy Slagle who owned and operated an orphanis winter home. Never in the history of Ferndale had any class gone out into the World and attained as high a success as the graduation class of 1936. ELEANOR RODGERS