John Adams High School - Clipper Yearbook (Ozone Park, NY)

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if the children of today appreciate the playgrounds they havin to ploy in. TEACHER: lust a moment, Mr. O'Grady. Do you mean to tell me that the children played in woods? Why the children of 40 years ago worked hard on the farms. They had no time for play. MR. O'GRADY: Mum, the children of 40 years ago were human too, CMrs. Covich comes to the front of the rooml MRS. COVICH: Indeed they were. Many were the times I helped myself to my brother's push wagon when he wasn't looking. I climbed trees with the boys while my mother was busy doing something else. Our parents were strict, we had our chores to do around the house, but we played and had fun too. TEACHER: Excuse me again, but, Mrs. Covich, how could you with the clothes of the times, possibly climb trees? MRS. COVICH: It wasn't easy. We wore long skirts with high button shoes. But like all children do, we found a way. Many was the times I had my pigtails dipped in the ink well. fa snicker runs through the rooml MR. O'GRADY: Me grandfather had a farm in the back of the land where a certain City High School stands to- day. Earms of those days had to supply enough food for themselves besides the crops to sell. When we 1-:ere kids, we would spend weeks at the farm to help with the harvesting. After we'd finish work for the day we'd clean up and head straight for the farm house for some of me arandmothers Irish Stew and milk. Real fresh milkfstraight from the cow. We never had a milk bottle on our table. Over farther on Atlantic Avenue there were more farms. To- day it is one of the largest freight yards in the borough of Queens. MRS. COVICH: When my brother first had his bike he used to ride down a hill that is now in the middle of a cemetary. Now the De Metha Ave- nue Bridge runs across that road. MR. OGRADY: There were a lot of hills to ride down. The Old Hollow in Eorest Park was one of the best places for sleigh riding in winter. Kids from miles around use to come pulling their sleighs. TEACHER: This certainly has been very interesting period. You've taught me many things I didn't know about and I must apologize for my holding back on you at the beginning of the peri- od. I'm only sorry that the class has to come to an end so soon. Thank you Mr. O'Grady and Mrs, Covitch, MR. OCRADY: Think nothin of it. lt was a pleasure. TEACHER: Of course we understand that the things presented here this evening are only facts. Many his- torical happenings took place right here in Queens that are written up in History books. But I think its won- derful to be able to say I was there and to be able to tell about these things. Class dismissed. Call hurry out she remains standing at the desk. The door opens and a handsome young man enters. He is well dress- edt JOE: Say what are you all smiles about. You're standing there with the biggest grin on your face. TEACHER: You know loe I had one of the most interesting experiences to- night. Those people actually told me a few things I didn't know about this city. They were here. They saw it happen. 22

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TIME l948 CHARACTERS Tegcher Mr CGrgdy Mrs Covrch ond loe Mgrtm SCENE A smgll but modern lookrng school room ln ct New York C1ty college A snobbrsh looktng young womgn stgnds before g group f older people who gre lntently lrsten mg to her TEACHER Thts evemng lgdles ond gentlemen we wtll conttnue wrth our drscussron of the Hrstory of New York before gnd gfter the consolrdgtro 1 As you gll know we gre soon to cele brgte the comrng together of our frve gredt boroughs lll try my best o rnform you of the hgppenrngs grou d thgt trme Cshe looks down gt her hgnds then up ggounl Oh yes Mr O Grady? CMr O Cxrgdy rrses 1 e IS g drstrngulshed lookrng mon of fo wrth or sllght scor on hrs left cheek MR O GRADY lm not be megnlng to be rude Mum but wouldnt It be we could tell ye g few thmgs? CMrs Covrch rrses she rs mrddle gged well dressed ond very plumpl MRS COVlCH Yes we ltved here lnger ond know more ond hgv runs through the rooml TEACHER Attentton plegse ths m st unsgttsfgctory How cgn lot rust g clgss of legrners tell me g tmng or two? MR OGRADY Well Mum lve DGSW re ntgh o to 5 xegr now hgvent lost much of me brogue But lve seen New York grow out knrckers rnto long pgnts out of bg ren lgnds rnto the commumttes o todgy TE tCHER Thgt s gll Very well but y u r ust remember thot l hgve been t ught the htstory l know l tht k NG lngd better drop gll thts nonsense The clgss f 1ll plegse come to order 21 Ceachzng Zeafher lUNE HELBOCK f 'B 3, 'The room gurets down ond tn tegcher wolks to the desk n the ront of the room She prcks up or book ond goes ropldly through rt looktng for her notes whrch she corn not ftnd Tryrng to cover up sne fgces the clorssl lEA.CHER Mr OGrgdy perhgps l wgs J l1ttle hgsty lf you lrke to tgke the clgss over thls evemng you gre most welcome to do so MR OGRADY Thgnk ye Mum butT wouldnt be wontrn to see your les son go to wgste rlght gheold ld be plegsed rf you would do so tMr O Grgdy gets up gnd goes to tte front of the roornl MR OGRADY Well ye gll knowt t tdlewtld Atrport Jrll D9 completed oon but drd ye know thot on tngt vert spot twenty yegrs goo wgs on o the ftnest f1sh1ng spots ln Queen A regl frshermgns hgven tt Do n gwgys on Lefferts Blvd ond contrnutng on to Aguedu t Rd Tgck there used to be o wood tnstegd of th regulgr fgrm lgnd The chtldren used to ploy rn the tree nd tn the gross tHe chucklesl l fell out of one of those trees Thgts where l got thts scgr l often wond r . , A , I . I . ' 4 f-N 5 o . D ,, , Q . t ' I O e.: ' , I . . if . I . 5 4 . . , 1 QF, 4 I 1 .HAI Ill, Ky ' 1 - Q C f' 4 N- ' i im 'K A - 4 V ' ' L x he ' n i 1 ' 1 . 1 - 1 , ' ' . . ' ' . . . 't - - - . . , . . 7, . . , X ' - -f . ' 2 ' ' 'f' A ' 1 I f 4 U V o e A seen more thcm you. Kg murmur TEACHER: No, think nothing of it . . f , 3 - ee 1 rs L . . T o . ' 1 . 1 l . W ' 1 A f ' 1. s , ' '. he ' '7 n 'S j, s . l y J , e , J , . . Q7 . X A D. ' of - ' 'H . ' wgs, t ' ' ' r- vx Y '. ' E : ' ' ' f A ' A H C ce q r s P 5 I 3 Q e . n B.. ' A ' S g g ' . o ' 7, . ' T A A . , V A gf - A ' . . e

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