THIS IS SURRATTS FOUNDATION E-NOTICE 2009-1 OF JANUARY 1, 2009

Hello Hornets:

Here are some items that may be of interest:

1.  2008 ANNUAL CAMPAIGN A SMASHING SUCCESS.  Thanks to the generosity of the donors listed below, the Foundation's 2008 Annual Campaign was the most successful annual campaign to date.  Thanks to all of our donors (and volunteers) for their selfless generosity that makes the Foundation's activities possible!

2.  FOUNDATION RECEIVES FIRST "GOODSEARCH" DONATION.   Thanks to those of you performing your internet searches on goodsearch.com, the Foundation just received its first charitable donation from Goodsearch.  (The Foundation receives a donation from Goodsearch equal to 1.3 cents per search, plus 3% of purchases made through Goodsearch's 800+ online retailer partners "from Amazon to Zappos".)

Please consider setting your web browser home page to goodsearch.com's Yahoo-powered search engine.  You'll need to indicate "The Surrattsville High School Foundation, Inc." as your designated charity.

Here are the details.  Go to http://www.goodsearch.com.  In the indicated box, designate The Surrattsville High School Foundation, Inc. as the charity to receive donations from goodsearch's advertisers each time you search the web.  Then use goodsearch.com to do your web searching.  (You designate goodsearch.com as your homepage on your computer by going to http://www.goodsearch.com/MakeHomepage.aspx.)

3.  "LOST AIRPORT" INFORMATION SOUGHT.  We received this interesting inquiry from Dana Shifflett: "Hello Henry, hope this finds you well.  If there's room for it in the Surratts News, would you consider posting the following for me?  I'm interested in learning whatever I can about an airport which used to exist in close proximity to where Burroughs Jr. High is located, at the intersection of Livingston and Farmington Road East between Accokeek and Piscataway.  Airport name, owner's names, years of operation, anecdotes, articles, pictures, contacts and any other info are welcome.  I was told of the airport when I was a kid; it was long gone by that time, but I think I recall an old beacon tower in the area as late as 1960.  Other than that, the only evidence I've seen that an airport was ever there is Airport Road, which is weak but I'm assuming it had to be named after something.  Thanx, Dana"

If you have any leads, please send them to Dana at dmshifflett@iwichita.com.

{Ed. Note:  Anyone have any Hyde Field stories to share?  And is it still there?]
 
4. "BOOMERANG" ORIGIN INQUIRY.  We also received this historical inquiry from Richard Neilan (82): "Hi Henry:  I hope this message finds you well.  Do you happen to know why was the SHS yearbook is called the "Boomerang"?  Does anyone know the history of how that name came to be associated with our yearbook?  Richard"

Does anyone have any information on this they can send to Richard at richardneilan@hotmail.com?

5.  GREAT NEW PHOTO ON WEB SITE.  There's a great new photo on the Foundation's web site at www.surrattsville.org, sent in by Judy Miller (70) along with this note: "Hi Henry: My father, Thomas V. Miller, Sr., is the blonde haired boy standing on the teacher's left side.  My father told me his first grade teacher was named Mary Edelen. This could be his first grade or second grade class. It would be interesting if any other Clintonites could pick out their parents.  Notice none of the children are wearing glasses, some have on warm jackets, others have no coats. Could this have been one of those scary roaring 20s giant flash cameras --  is that why everyone looks so frightened? Some do look malnourished -- certainly none are fat.  Their eyes are a bit haunting.  Judy"

[Ed Note: If you can help us fill-in the caption for that absolutely wonderful photo, please send me an email at hsmith@smithdowney.com.]

6.  CLASS OF 89 PLANS REUNION.  The Class of 89 is planning a reunion.  Please contact Debbie Owen Pell at dpell@comcast.net for information or if you have any contact information for 89 grads or members of their families.

7.  GIRLS' SPORTS TEAMS.  In response to the comment about the lack of girls' sports teams at Surratts during the 68 - 71 era, we received this very interesting email from Debbie Long (71): "Hey Henry: I was on the so-called girls track team.  I think it was in 10th grade in 1969.  I was the high jumper.  We only had one meet that I remember.  The gym teacher invited me and I agreed once she said we would get out of class to practice.  I practiced so much that I could hardly jump when the day came.  My best jump was 5'2".  Girls were only allowed to do a scissors kick over the bar.  I never knew why.  Shame on my memory but I don't remember the name of the young gym teacher who worked so hard to get a program going.  I believe it had fizzled out by the next year. Debbie"

[Ed. Note:  We'd love to have any other memories about successful, or short-lived, girls' athletic teams at Surratts.]

8.  MEMORIES OF INSPIRATIONAL FACULTY AND STAFF (Con't).  In our ongoing search for inspirational Surratts faculty and staff, we received this great email from Ellen Talbert-Miller (61, Former Faculty, Former Administration): "Dear Henry:  In response to your request for remembrances of former teachers who made a difference in our lives, I would like to share some thoughts about Lillian Holland, teacher, guidance counselor, and colleague.

First, as a student at SHS, Class 0f 61, and then as a teacher and administrator there, I was privileged to know Lillian for close to 50 years. She was my biology teacher, chemistry teacher, guidance counselor and, when I returned to SHS in 1966 to teach, she was a valued mentor and friend.

She spent 30+ years at Surrattsville serving as an inspiration and role model for both her students and colleagues. A mutual friend once said that Lillian had a ladylike old school sensibility combined with a modern mind that made her unique and totally adaptable to all the changing situations encountered in education. I couldnt have said it better.

Lillian was a truly gifted person who along with several other wonderful teachers took care of me when I returned to Surratts to teach. She was a major influence in my life and my career choices and she will be missed.

When told of her passing, several of my classmates remembered her just as I did as a superb teacher who served as a role model, particularly for her female students, encouraging us to pursue degrees in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics at a time when women were just beginning to challenge gender bias.

She was one of several inspirational teachers who helped us believe that women could do anything at a time when the empowerment of women was in its infancy. She touched many lives at Surrattsville during her service there, she made a difference!  Sincerely, Ellen"

9.  100 YEARS OF SURRATTS HISTORY (Con't).  Here's the latest installment in our continuing celebration of the 100th birthday of the School.  It is a continuation of the absolutely fascinating, undated, unsigned document from the Surratts House archives (written by a Surratts grad from 1921 who returned to Surratts to teach after college).

" ... By the time I was ready to graduate from Surrattsville, automobiles had replaced most of the horse-drawn vehicles, but I was still driving the five miles from my home using "Old Flora" as the source of power.  By community effort a frame gymnasium, a separate structure, had been completed on the school grounds and was used for exhibits, programs, and graduation exercises, as well as basketball games and dances.  Mrs. Anna Flowman McKay was our principal when I graduated in 1921.  There were eight in our graduating class, four boys and four girls.  Only two of the eight had started in first grade together.  The others had come from the wider community and other states.

After two years of training at Towson I came back to Surrattsville, and taught in the very room where I had started school as a first grader.  Mr. Milton Somers was my principal.  The same double desks were there, the same chalkboards and "Uncle Jimmy" Hawkins was there as our custodian as he had been for years before.  A single electric light hung from the cord in the center of the ceiling and a time clock controlled the bells, but the old gong still hung in the hall.  While I was there as a teacher, our first P.T.A. was organized.  I remained for four years and then enrolled in American University to complete work for a degree.

After I left, the old Surrattsville High School I had known disappeared, to be replaced by the larger and more facilities now embracing an elementary, a junior high and a senior high in separate locations.  The old familiar school busses have replaced the pony carts and buggies.  But, as in the days of yore, it's the good teachers who provide good learning experiences for the children, who make the real difference in the quality of our education.

[Ed. Note: Might someone be able to identify, from the various historical clues,  the author of these wonderful Surrattsville memories?  We'd love to put a name to this little bit of history.]

10.  POSSIBLE 2010 EVENTS.  As previously noted, the Foundation Board is considering whether to hold any form of "All Classes/Faculty/Staff" events in 2010, either similar to those held in 2000 and 2005, or different in scope.  If you would like to volunteer to work on such an event, please send me an email at hsmith@smithdowney.com.

11.  FASHIONABLE ALUMNI BUMPER STICKERS/WINDOW DECALS AVAILABLE.  As previously noted, the Foundation is now making "Surrattsville Alumni" bumper sticker/window decals available.  (A sample is found at http://www.surrattsville.org/photos/index.shtml.    Note that the actual size is 4" x 4" rather than the size shown on the web site, and they have a white background and green lettering.)

These stickers/decals are of the "static peel-off" variety, so they have "repositional adhesive backing," and attach, and detach, easily from bumpers and windows with no muss or fuss.  The suggested donation for the decals is $2.50.  If you'd like to show your Hornet pride by displaying one on your vehicle, please send your donation and your mailing address to Henry Smith at 815 Stoneleigh Road, Baltimore, MD 21212, and we'll mail a decal to you.

12.  CLASS OF 64 PLANS REUNION.  The Class of 64 is planning a 45th reunion in February 2009, in the form of a three night cruise to the Bahamas!  The Class reports that "all are welcome to join us."  For details, contact Jaime Seaman (64) at Steprepp@aol.com or 954-316-7498. 

13.  CLASS OF 59 PLANS REUNION.  The Class of 59 is beginning its planning for its 50 year reunion on June 6 and 7, 2009.  Please contact Laura Owens at chubby041@yahoo.com if you have any information on 59 grads or members of their families.

14.  CLASS OF 84 CONSIDERING REUNION.  Class of 84 grads who are interested in working on, and/or attending, a 25 year reunion are asked to contact Gary Stallings at gstallings@yahoo.com.

15.  GREAT REUNION PHOTO ON WEB SITE.  A great group photo of the Class of 86's recent 20th Reunion is now posted on the Foundation's web site at www.surrattsville.org.  Congratulations to 86 on their very successful event!


I hope this e-Notice finds you well and looking forward to a great 2009!

All the best, Henry Smith (71), hsmith@smithdowney.com



MANY THANKS TO THESE DONORS TO THE FOUNDATION'S 2008 CAMPAIGN!

Steve Profilet (71)
Chuck Teubner (64)
Pat Becker Oles (71)
Janet Goddard Sullivan (54)
Vivian Bounds Edelen (Former Faculty; 1938-1942)
Linda Dorsey Blum (66)
Vicky Simontacchi Young (57)
Sally Weingarten (77)
Bill Harris (71)
Ellen Talbert-Miller (61 and Former Faculty), In Memory of Harrison (Bo) Waite (70)
Denise Hope (72), In Memory of Robin Danielson (72)
Nancy Miller (67), In Memory of Virginia Mitchel McLaughlin (64)
Bob Marr (71)
Deborah Cox Marr (72)
Donna Rae Sturtevant Smith (70)
Henry Smith (71)
Judy Gordon Mentlik (65), To Celebrate the Marriages of Nancy Oursler Maynard (65) and Larry Schillings (65), and Marion Thompson (65) and John Restifo (65)
Helen Bovbjerg Niedung (54)
Jeanine Carroll Maclary (73), In Memory of James R. Carroll, Jr.
Chris and Merry Chovan Romine (65), To Celebrate the 98th Birthday of Laura Chovan (Former Faculty)
Paul Monaghan (59)
Nancy Oursler Schillings (65), to honor Best Friends in the Class of 65
Tom Travis (72)
Sally Travis (72)
Coach Lew Jenkins (Former Faculty)
Carrie Jessee Loftus (69), In Memory of Robert "Bobby" Jessee (71)
Dave Weber (65)
Millie Biedenkapp (Former Principal)
Joan Penn Revis (61)
Homer Revis (56)
Brenda Karnes (Former Faculty), In Memory of Lillian Holland
Anne Noyes (Former Faculty), In Memory of Lillian Holland
Reynaud Smith (72)
Mike Gifford (84)
Dan Bayne (71)
Frances Mae Harrison Chaney (55)
J. Paul Rickett (69)
Gloria Blandford Rickett (71)
Vicki Forsht Williams (65, and Former Faculty), In Memory of Eugene Colgan, Principal, and in celebration of life long friendships from 1965
Ayla Dickey, for the Jennie Denison Bayne (c. 29) Memorial Scholarship
Beverly Statler Thrift (69)
Dennis Thrift (71)
Anon, In Memory of Col. Francis R. O'Clair
Brenda Karnes (Former Faculty), In Memory of Principal Eugen Colgan and Col. O'Clair,     President of Parent Boosters
Scott McWhirt (71)