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THIS IS SURRATTS FOUNDATION E-NOTICE 2009-2 OF FEBRUARY 1, 2009
Hello Hornets:
Here are some items that may be of interest:
1. THANKS AGAIN TO 2008 ANNUAL
CAMPAIGN DONORS. As we
previously reported, the Foundation's 2008 Annual Campaign was the
most successful annual campaign to date. Thanks again to the
very generous 2008 donors on the updated list below!
2. POSSIBLE 80/81 REUNION.
The Classes of 80 and 81 are trying to put together a reunion in the
summer of 2010. Interested grads -- or folks with contact info
on 80 or 81 grads -- should contact Teresa Blandford Pepper at
teresa.pepper@verizon.net
or
teresa@dlpinc.net.
3. 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.
4. HISTORICAL PHOTO CAPTION.
We received this info about the great historical photo recently sent
by Judy Miller (70) and posted on the Foundation's web site at
http://www.surrattsville.org/images/photos/gen2009/1926firstgrade.jpg.
(Please send me an email at
hsmith@smithdowney.com if you can
help us further fill-out the caption to that wonderful piece of
Surratts history.)
"Dear Henry: The dark-haired boy on the far left in the front row is
my father, Joseph F. Hart (1916-1994). I have enjoyed the
website so much, and being a "Clinton girl" have especially enjoyed
the historical info and personal reminiscences. My family
owned the golf driving range and miniature golf course at Jenkins
Corner, later known as "Malfunction Junction". My grandfather,
Joseph S. Hart, my father, Joseph F. Hart and I all attended
Surrattsville. As a first grader, I was in the last class to
be in the "old" school when all twelve grades were there.
Thanks, Janice Hart Carter (64)"
5. GIRLS' SPORTS TEAMS.
We received this interesting response to our request for information
about girls' sports teams at Surratts:
"Henry: We didn't have sports teams for girls but we did have
the Girls Athletic Association. We also went on field days where we
would go to other schools and compete against the girls from their
school. I think we may have gotten ribbons or something. It was
always a lot of fun to go on those days. We would leave on the bus
early in the morning, go to the competing school and come back in
the afternoon. The GAA is featured in the pictures in the
yearbook and we did after school sports. I didn't feel
slighted. We had a lot of fun.
I remember too that we used to play field hockey. In PE in the
spring we had a choice of softball or tennis. I always used to
choose tennis and Nila Toribio Straka and I hit those courts as much
as we could. It initiated in me a love of tennis and in my twenties
I spent five hours a day playing tennis, rented a house by tennis
courts and other than working spent a great deal of time on the
courts with Charlie Yowell (70) and Todd Redlin (70). I
enjoy the e-Notices as they bring back old memories that have been
lying dormant in my brain. Terry Rynkiewicz McCandlish (68 )"
6. HYDE FIELD INFO.
We received a great number of emails loaded with fascinating
information about Hyde Field, Clinton's own well known aerodrome:
"Hi Henry: In the 1930s my grandfather purchased a farm at
the southern end of the runway at Hyde Field Airport. My
parents (Cecil Padgett (46) and Alma Foster Padgett (48)) built a
house next to my grandfathers house and raised four children, all
Surratts grads, Jim Padgett (70), Carolyn Padgett Nicholson (70),
(married to Reb Nicholson (71)), Nancy Padgett Spada (73), and
myself, Sharon Padgett DuLaney Keefer (77).
My father as well as his brother (Bob Padgett (60)) were small
engine pilots back in the day. My father courted my mother by
buzzing her house as well as other houses in and around Piscataway
Road. My uncle wound up working for the Smithsonian restoring
antique airplanes at the Garver Facility in Silver Hill. Dad
delivered mail for the Clinton Post Office for 30 years as a rural
carrier and would occasionally catch me hanging out at Millers
Field and cutting school.
It was a noisy childhood at the end of the runway. There was
the ever present buzz of airplanes either taking off or landing,
depending on which way the wind was blowing that day. There
were antique airplanes made of canvas, biplanes, kit planes,
helicopters, and any other flying machine someone could think of to
build or buy. The Goodyear Blimp even came and visited for a
few days. They flew so low to the ground that we could see the
pilots in the planes as they flew over our back yard and they would
wave.
There used to be a restaurant at the airport that sold beer.
There was one Saturday afternoon when we heard a crash and saw a
Piper Cub stuck nose first in the field next to our house. The
pilot had apparently visited the restaurant and fudged his take
off. He strolled over to our house and asked if he could use
our phone. There were other funny stories but also some tragic
stories. Some of the crashes did not have survivors and our
house had some near misses.
Anyway, I just wanted to send one of the stories that came to my
mind when I read your shout out for Hyde Field. Thanks for the
e-Notices! I always share the info with my parents who always
begin reminiscing about teachers and old classmates. Sharon M.
Keefer"
"Hi Henry: You asked if Hyde field still exists. It does
and has it's own web site.
http://www.hydefield.com/.
Take care, Don Stapleson (72)"
"Henry: Hyde Field is indeed still there, but apparently not
for much longer as surveyor's sticks are said to be sprouting all
over the place. Websites to check:
http://www.hydefield.com/,
http://www.airfields-freeman.com/MD/Airfields_MD_PG_S.htm.
Dad kept his planes at Hyde and I all but grew up there. Worst
of it: In January 1958, one of his partners crashed and died in
their Bonanza, in the woods on the north side of Thrift Road, to the
SE of Hyde. The best of it: lots. I have comments on the
airfields-freeman website."
"Hello Henry and all the Surrattsville Hornets. I hope everyone had
an enjoyable Christmas and a good start on the new year. This
note is in response to the question concerning my second home,
namely Hyde Field. My friend, Bobby Padgett, and I would hitchhike
to the airport after school and go aviating. Bob had his pilot's
license and a friend owned a vintage Aeronca Champion aircraft. The
conditions that we arranged were that we could borrow the aircraft
but we had to leave it in the same condition as we found it. Our
intentions were for me to take flying lessons and get my ticket
also. Alas, that never came to pass; too many other diversions in my
youth. Enclosed are two photos of Hyde Field taken in 2005
while attending the Surratts reunion. One photo shows the new name
and the other is of the tower. (If anyone is interested is
seeing photos of an Aeronca Champ aircraft check out this web site:
ttp://motors.shop.ebay.com/items/aeronca-champ_W0QQ_newuZ1QQ_sopZ1
The aircraft Bob and I flew was considerably more basic than the one
listed on eBay.) Regards, John Curry (60)"
[Ed Note: John's photos are on the Foundation's web site at
www.surrattsville.org.]
"Hi Henry: Concerning the airport that one person was looking
for: the name was changed many times in the late 40s and 50s, but it
was mostly known as Croom Airport.
Now concerning Hyde Field Airport: I can give you some information
as my dad was the manager of Hyde Field for many years from the late
50s and up until around 1973 or 1974. I grew up on Hyde Field and
learned to fly there and took Dave Jeter (67) for his first airplane
ride there. He also owned a flying club and rented out the seven
airplanes we owned until the gas prices and shortage of the Carter
days. At that time he sold out the restaurant and flying club to a
contractor who later lost it all to the bank that held the loans on
the planes.
The airport itself was owned by Mr. Authur C. Hyde who kind of
looked like the guy who played Goldfinger in the James Bond movie.
Mr. Hyde had bought the airport as surplus from the Navy after WWII.
It had been used as a training field for pilots. Mr. Hyde also owned
the Congressional Airport in Rockville until it closed and was
turned into Congressional Shopping Center in the early 1960s.
Mr. Hyde also owned many office buildings in Maryland as well as AZ
and FL. I remember in the mid 1960s I along with my older brother
painted every building on the airport during the summer and after
school. I made enough money that I was able to save it and in 1967 I
bought a brand new 1967 Chevelle SS 396 four speed that saw many
nights doing the 1/4 mile on Route 5 just north of Woodyard Road.
In 1968 I left for a trip to Vietnam and after my return to the
airport I was supposed to take over running the airport and flying
club, but I had lost interest in flying so I never took over from my
dad. We left the airport and really paid no more attention to the
airport dealings. I did see on the internet that a doctor now owns
it and sorry to say it might as well be gone as he has removed most
all the trees and sold off all the gravel.
There is a aerial view of the airport on the internet. I lost the
web address, but just put Hyde Field Airport into your browser and
it will come up. The view shows that there are maybe 10 airplanes
left there and the runways all have a big white X on the ends
meaning closed to all traffic. The airport, which used to have two
runways, one of 3250 feet in length and the other which we called
the "short runway" of 2400 feet in length. The airport closed after
911 since the doctor who owned it refused to invest in better
control of the airport and who flew out of it. At the peak of its
life the airport had just over 450 airplanes there. It was home to
the following WWII airplanes, several of which I got to ride in: a
B-17 bomber, a B-25 bomber, a P-51 fighter, a P- 38 fighter and a
F-86 jet which was only for display and never flown.
The P-51 fighter was owned by the the nephew of Al Capone and I
watched him land that red, white and blue P-51 one day. The
P-38 was donated to a group in Texas that restored warbirds for
history. I saw the P-51 a couple years ago as it is now restored and
flown out of Kissimmee Airport here in Florida. It is named Crazy
Horse and is one of only a couple two seater P-51s still flying.
Also, for the sum of $2500.00 you can get to fly it for one hour.
The price might be more now due to gas prices. Crazy Horse returns
to Maryland each year to do a stint in the U.S Navy at Pax River in
Southern Maryland. They teach the jet pilots what it is like to fly
a real fighter plane without computers. Grover Stanley (67)"
"Hi Henry: I still keep my plane at Hyde Field. A physician
bought the field several years ago at a tax sale for $500,000. This
guy fell into it. He was allowed to mine gravel netting him about a
$20 million profit. He has really upset all of the pilots and
associated general aviation businesses on Hyde as he is in the
process of subdividing the field and plans on developing it into
mixed use. He will net another $125 to $135 million just from the
land. I will be moving my plane to St. Mary's County airfield
when he finally closes the airport. Hyde Field was renamed
Washington Executive Air Field several years ago. With all of the
security problems we acquired due to 911 we as pilots and business
owners learned to live with the new security. Hyde Field has a
historical designation and he will be allowed to close it. As for
the other airport to my memory a field further south is Maryland Air
Park which is currently getting some much needed upgrades. Hyde
Field and College Park are two historic general aviation airports
which have both been in operation since the Wright Brothers.
Best regards, Sam Purll (71)"
"Henry: Hyde Field is still where it always has been. Since
9/11, it had it's problems staying open, doing business, because of
its proximity to Washington, D.C. But, it survived!
Anyway, I lived for awhile near the manager of Hyde Field during its
"prime." A very interesting person, who has long since passed
away. Ginger Trapanotto (64)
"Henry: Hyde field still exists (http://www.hydefield.com).
The grand plans for this facility never materialized (thank goodness
- sorry investors) as it was to have been upgraded to a jet port
(good grief). Lying in the valley to the west of this is
Potomac Airfield (formerly Rose Valley - after Mr. Shaw's beloved
wife). In Accokeek, the place you are looking for is called
Airport Lane (not road):
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=Airport+Lane+Accokeek,+MD&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=title.
I have sent a message to a lady that operates a website
"http://www.accokeekmd.com" as she
may have access to historical data, that does not come up in a quick
google search. More that you want can be found here too -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accokeek,_Maryland
Regards, Jeff Thorne (70)
7. ... AND THAT OTHER AIRPORT IN
ACCOKEEK. We also received
this great update from Dana Shifflett about the mystery of the lost
airport in Accokeek:
"Hello Henry: Time to update you on my "Lost Airport" search.
Fifty-six of your readers responded to my request for information,
some of them more than once, and I've spent a lot of time answering
e-mail. Of these, three nailed the place.
>From Ernie Reese (65): "As I recall that was the Piscataway
Airport and as I remember was a grass field."
>From Debbie Lucier Sparshott (71): "I grew up on Schall Road,
which is between Airport Lane and Livingston Road. I, too, had
remembered hearing there was an airport there at some point in time.
We moved there around 1955 I think. I called my father and he
called one of our old neighbors there, Bill Labanowski. Bill
moved there before we did, but the airport was already gone when he
got there. He said it was located behind our house (between
Schall Road and Airport Lane) and went from Berry Road to
Livingston. He said there used to be a transformer for the
airport located at the corner of Airport Lane and Berry Road, but I
don't remember it. My father said a lot of the farm land in
that area belonged to the Unkle family, but didn't know if they had
any interest in the airport. I often wondered where our road
got its name (Schall). He suggested trying the land records in
Prince George's County. I'd be curious to learn the history
too."
Finally, an e-mail from Sharon Keefer which answers Debbie's
question about Schall Road:
"Hi Dana, I just spoke with my father and he remembers a small
airfield in the Piscataway area that closed around WWII. He
said the airfield was owned by Doug Schall who was an airplane
dealer and sold Luscomb (not sure of the spelling) airplanes.
He said he went there as a teenager and it had one airstrip and was
very small. He said he didnt believe the airfield has a name
but was in the Piscataway Estates area. Hope this helps!
Dad laughed when I told him someone was asking about that old
airfield. He said he didnt think anyone would have even known
it existed at one time."
Several respondents referred me to Paul Freeman's excellent website
www.airfields-freeman.com/index.htm
which has extensive coverage of old Maryland airfields. I
forwarded the above info to Paul and got this reply:
"I've been told about that field before. Certainly the
present-day Airport Lane is a dead giveaway. Yet I've never
been able to confirm the presence of an airport there through my
most basic means (seeing it depicted on a vintage aeronautical
chart). I have Washington Sectionals from 1939, 40, 44, 45,
47, 51, and 60 - pretty decent coverage - and none of them depict a
field there. And I have a great book called "Maryland Aloft",
which seems to describe just about every grass patch in the state,
yet it makes no mention of an airfield in Accokeek and Piscataway.
So I'm guessing it must've been overlooked on the charts, as a
pretty small field. I've generally not added a writeup to my
site unless I can post some dated historical source document, like
an aero chart, "confirming" that there was indeed an airfield at a
certain location. So I wish I could find a depiction of that
one."
By the way, Paul's coverage of Hyde and Rose Valley is quite good.
I spent a lot of time with Dad at both. I'm able to pick out
the concrete ramp we built in front of our hanger (#23) in his
aerial photos of Hyde.
So now I have a name: Doug Schall. If anyone has any info to
offer on this fellow, and anything else on his airport for that
matter, I'd like to have it. If I ever again venture that far
east of Kansas I'll set aside time for research in Upper Marlboro.
There are a couple of websites dedicated to Luscombe aircraft, and I
may be able to learn more about Schall through one of them.
Anything I've tried to do through the FAA has so far been a complete
failure. I intend to give the Air & Space Museum a shot, as
someone suggested. Another respondent suggested contacting the
Accokeek VFD; given that VFDs are in no small way social
organizations, that's not a bad idea at all.
At this point, my best guess about Schall and his airfield goes like
this: Freeman's inability to find this field on any of his
section charts suggests the airfield was not there long. There
was intense interest in general aviation in the years immediately
following WWII - some folks thought everyone would own airplanes,
just like they owned cars - and Schall intended to cash in on it as
a dealer (Luscombe). Within four or five years, he realized he
wasn't going to make it and, with an eye on developments like Fort
Washington Forest, Whitehall and Calvert Manor, decided to go that
route with his land before his creditors took it all. Had that
happened, I doubt they would've name the streets for him and his
airport.
Then again, maybe the Airfield existed before then - Luscombe was in
business then - and closed because Schall enlisted, or because there
was no fuel or material for general aviation during the war, or
because the opening of Hyde in 1940 gave Schall more competition
than he could handle.
I'm not done. Dana,
dmshifflett@iwichita.com"
And we received this info from Elizabeth Gleisberg (78)
"Dana and Henry: You might want to take a look at
http://www.airfields-freeman.com/DC/Airfields_DC.htm.
I also wrote to the person who manages this site for abandoned
airports to see what they could find. I think it may have been
called "Piscataway Airfield". I also found this also: "Aircare
One Potomac Airfield: Category: travel & transportation
airlines & airports 4.45 miles Neighborhood: District 5, Piscataway
10300 Glen Way 0 Fort Washington, MD 20744-2574. It's off Rose
Valley and nestled between Allentown, Old Fort and Piscataway Roads
in Fort Washington.
Now I took eight hours of private lessons myself at an airport in
that area that I can only identify by the airport designator PGA out
of my logbook back in 1983. I am wondering if it is the same
place. I just remember I could see the Potomac when I flew and
had to dodge the big airliners coming into DC flying up the river!
Take a look at
http://www.airfields-freeman.com/MD/Airfields_MD_PG_S.htm#potomac,
and
http://www.airfields-freeman.com/MD/Airfields_MD_PG_S.htm#hyde.
I will let you know if I find out more because my curiosity it
peaked now as well!
Thanks for churning up those old memories of my first days of
flying! Elizabeth"
8. REPORT FROM CLINTON.
We received this great report from our on the ground Clinton
correspondent, parent Marge Allen (parent of Pete Allen (71):
"Hello from Clinton: Re: the "lost" air field, I clicked on
Rose Valley Air Field and up came a lot of information about lost
air fields in Maryland! As usual, I enjoyed your SHS updates!
The Ross family [Bob and Catherine, of the PTSA] continues to bring
fresh ideas to this school and others in the system. We are
friends of Charlie and Rosemary Sellner who are Clinton "old
timers;" they live close to Stephen Decatur. Charlie attended
the old Surrattsville school all 12 years! He has lots of
tales to share. In North Clinton, bounded by Coventry
Lane, Old Branch Avenue and Kirby Road, we pride ourselves in our
multigeneration and multicultural togetherness. We have a
stronger community.
Also, I'm in touch with Dana Shifflett! The field is NOT
Rose Valley, but the owner of the Potomac Air Field mentioned some
contacts which will be followed. There is an Airport Road near
Burroughs Middle School, a link. I like to help solve
mysteries! Here's wishing you a Happy New Year!
Marge Allen
9. AERIAL IMAGES OF PRINCE
GEORGE'S COUNTY. And speaking
of views from the air, Jeff Thorne (70) passed along this
information that might be very interesting to some of our readers:
"Henry: If there is anyone amongst us who is a cartographer or
a very tolerant individual, another resource for data can be found
here -
http://www.pgatlas.com. This
web site is being provided for public use by the Maryland-National
Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). The web site
contains numerous geographic layers of information as well as aerial
imagery of Prince George's County. Users will be able to pan and
zoom around the map, display and print attribute information, search
and display data by map location, measure distances, query the
database, and print maps. Jeff"
10. BOOMERANG INFO.
We received this email in response to our question about the origin
of the name of the Surratts yearbook:
"Richard: I was told the yearbook is called the Boomerang
because it keeps coming back, year after year. Cindy Jarvis
Hendrick (80)"
11. HORNET COVERS DISTANCE FOR
GREAT CAUSE. We received this
note about a Hornet who will soon be covering some distance for
charity:
"Dear Surrattsville Alumni: I'm writing to tell you about a
team I'm a part of, a team of people getting ready to take
extraordinary steps (many, many steps!) to help fight breast cancer
here at home and throughout the country.
On May 2-3, Julians Style Me PINK (Calvert County) team will be
among thousands of people dedicating their weekend to walking as
part of the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. We'll walk at least the
distance of a marathon (26.2 miles), and as far as a marathon and a
half (39.3 miles). Either way, it's a very long walk.
Together, we'll spend the next few months training (that means
getting off the couch) argh!!, fundraising (check our site
frequently for local fundraising events), and preparing for the
event. It's the biggest physical challenge I've ever taken on, but
I'm very excited about doing it because I know it will make a real
difference to the millions of people affected by breast cancer. Just
think about how many people you know that have been affected by this
cancer over the years.
EACH team member commits to raising at least $1,800 to participate;
our cumulative goal is $ a lot :). Please help to support our
efforts and the breast cancer cause by making a generous
contribution. You can make your donation online by simply clicking
on the link at the bottom of this message (double check that you see
my name), which will bring you to our team page where you can learn
more about our team members and reasons for walking.
Thank you for your support. Cindy Shelton Ryan (75)
p.s. You can find out more about the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer by
visiting
www.avonwalk.org
(http://www.avonwalk.org/).
[Ed. Note: Cindy's page is at
http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR/Walk2009/WashingtonDC?px=4520647&pg=personal&fr_id=1760&et=pF3Ra6TMzTZvlDiQPHCpjg..&s_tafId=321762.]
12. THE LOST SWIMMING POOL.
We received this inquiry, about yet another Clinton mystery, from
Jeanne Anderson McNamee (81):
"Henry: I am in search of some information. I have a bet
going with my five sisters and don't know where to begin to get the
information I need to win. I had swim lessons as a child in an above
ground pool, which I believe was located behind Surrattsville Junior
High School. They claim that I am dreaming, and that there was no
pool in Clinton where we could get swim lessons. Any chance that any
of your alumni remember the pool and/or would have photos? I
am sure that I am correct!
Also, one of the kids who we had swim lessons with used to show up
with their mom -- and they had a pet monkey. Yes, monkey.
My sisters rolled on the floor laughing at this fact. I'd love
to find that family! Thanks for any help you might offer!
(If you have any information that might help Jeanne, please reach
out to her at
jeannemcnamee@aol.com.)
[Ed Note: My brothers and I learned to swim at what we called "the
Marlboro Pool", with Mr. Zubrod ("Mr. Z" as our great swim teacher.
The pool was next to the Frederick Sasscer school grounds, and its
site is now occupied by the Upper Marlboro police station.
Might any of our readers swam at that public facility?]
13. 100 YEARS OF SURRATTS
HISTORY (Con't). Here's the
latest installment in our continuing celebration of the 100th
birthday of the School. It's an undated newspaper article from
late 1956 by Gerald G. Herndon from an unidentified newspaper, and
describes what was perhaps the first Surratts "All Classes
Reunion.":
"Clinton Reunion to Revive Many Surratt Legends.
Surrattsville, as a town, doesn't officially exist. Soon after
they hanged Mary Surratt, postal authorities give it the name of
Clinton. But mail a letter to Surrattsville today and it will
fly like a homing pigeon to the modern community of Clinton, 13
miles from the District, southward along the old Leonardtown pike
route that John Wilkes Booth used in his flight after the
assassination of Lincoln.
Nowhere is the old name more proudly displayed than on the
Surrattsville Junior and Senior High School which will mark its 50th
anniversary with a party Friday. The principal, John M. Pryde
(a yankee, once), and the students are eager to describe their pride
in the school and its name. A member of the senior class
there, a pretty 17 year old girl, said: "We feel that the school is
a part of our history." She added: "No student believes that
she (Mary Surratt) was guilty."
In the last few years, historical studies, books, articles, even
television dramas, have appeared which support the view that Mrs.
Surratt was unjustly executed as one of the conspirators in the
Lincoln assassination plot. The inhabitants for Surrattsville
have believed in her all along.
At the gala party the high school seniors are sponsoring, guests
will recall the old tales and legends -- Booth's gallop south, his
stop at Mary Surratt's house, her visit there earlier in the day
carrying a pair of binoculars. The widow Surratts's
century-old house on the Old Leonardtown pike, now Route 381, still
stands. An elderly woman, the sister of the owner of a Clinton
supermarket, lives there alone.
A combination Christmas party, dance and reunion of the school's 50
graduating classes is planned by the Surrattsville students from 9
p.m. to midnight Friday in the school gymnasium. There are 84
seniors in the Class of 1957 at Surrattsville. There was one
graduate in the first class of 1907, Miss Blanche T. Hurtt, a
Government employee in Washington, who said, with regret that she
will be unable to attend the party.
The seniors, however, have located addresses for nearly 900 of the
school's 1.013 graduates. Even before 1907 the schoolhouse
existed on the present site. Prior to the construction of the
Surrattsville Elementary School in 1953, the old school was the last
one in Prince George's County in which all grades were taught in one
building.
Friday night, when the reanimated legends will be talked of by the
old timers in the school corridors, there will be an atmosphere of
youthful gayety. The young seniors, proud of the name they are
convinced was unjustly treated, have arranged to provide the
returning classes with music, dancing and, if their money holds out,
a 50-pound, tiered anniversary cake.
14. DON'T FORGET TO SEARCH ON
"GOODSEARCH". As
reported in the last e-Notice, thanks to those of you performing
your internet searches on goodsearch.com, the Foundation recently
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.)
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. CLASS OF 64 PLANS REUNION.
The Class of 64 is planning a 45th reunion in February, 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.
18. CLASS OF 59 PLANS REUNION.
The Class of 59 is beginning its planning for its 50 year reunion on
June 6 and 7. Please contact Laura Owens at
chubby041@yahoo.com if you have any
information on 59 grads or members of their families.
19. 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.
20. HORNETS RE-UNITE TO MAKE
MUSIC. We just learned that,
on February 28, after a performance by the current St. Mary's
College of Maryland Jazz Ensemble, there will be reunion jazz
concert at St. Mary's College, featuring Hornets like Surrattstock
performers Wayne Tatum (74) and Don Stapleson (72) and Harry Hafer.
Bob Levy is putting the concert together, and information is
available from the College's music department.
21. HORNET EDUCATORS RE-CONNECT.
We received this "small world" email from former faculty member Ron
Cunningham:
"Henry: Thought you would be interested in this information
about Tom Dehart, Class of 1969, that you might want to include in
an upcoming Surratts News email. Tom, a retired principal, is
now a staff specialist in the Division for Leadership Development
with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). In
December, along with a colleague, Tom conducted training on a
state-wide initiative for principals and vice-principals in Charles
County Public Schools. Tom and his colleague did a great job for
staff and everyone enjoyed hearing of our shared Surrattsville
history.
In the interest of reminiscing and having some fun, I went home to
get my 1969 Surrattsville yearbook and during lunch, Tom and I had
an opportunity to flip through the pages. Tom also caught up with
his favorite drivers ed teacher, Chuck Wineland, now assistant
superintendent for supporting services with the Charles County
school system.
Adding another measure of fun to the day, some of my colleagues got
the yearbook and during the day scanned our pictures to display on
the LCD projector for everyone to enjoy. The entire group all
had a good laugh at the then and now looks of the three of us.
In addition to a good training, we enjoyed the opportunity to
reminisce.
Regards, Ron"
22. MEMORIES OF BY-GONE AUTO
"TECHNOLOGIES" AND OTHER ANACHRONISMS.
We received this nice walk down memory lane from Larry Carter (70):
"Henry: I wanted to send you the email I received below. Youve
probably seen it but if not I thought you might get a kick out of
it. I had forgotten all about curb feelers. My stepfather had them
on his cars. I havent seen nor thought about one in 45 years or so.
The things really worked. You could hear and feel them when they
starter brushing up against the curb. You never saw a skinned up
white wall tire on a car that had them installed! Larry
I came across this phrase yesterday: "fender skirts". A
term I haven't heard in a long time, and thinking about "fender
skirts" started me thinking about other words that quietly
disappear from our language with hardly a notice like "curb
feelers". And "steering knobs" (also known as "suicide knobs."
Since I'd been thinking of cars, my mind naturally went that
direction first. Any kids will probably have to find some
elderly person over 50 to explain some of these terms to you.
Remember "Continental kits?" They were rear bumper
extenders and spare tire covers that were supposed to make any
car as cool as a Lincoln Continental. When did we quit
calling them "emergency brakes?" At some point "parking
brake" became the proper term. But I miss the hint of
drama that went with "emergency brake." I'm sad, too,
that almost all the old folks are gone who would call the
accelerator the "foot feed." Didn't you ever wait at the
street for your daddy to come home, so you could ride the
"running board" up to the house? Here's a phrase I heard
all the time in my youth but never anymore - "store-bought."
Of course, just about everything is store-bought these days.
But once it was bragging material to have a store-bought dress
or a store-bought bag of candy.
"Coast to coast" is a phrase that once held all sorts of
excitement and now means almost nothing. Now we take the term "world
wide" for granted. This floors me. On a smaller scale,
"wall-to-wall" was once a magical term in our homes. In the
50s, everyone covered his or her hardwood floors with, wow,
wall-to-wall carpeting! Today, everyone replaces their
wall-to-wall carpeting with hardwood floors. Go figure.
When's the last time you heard the quaint phrase "in a family way?"
It's hard to imagine that the word "pregnant" was once
considered a little too graphic, a little too clinical for use
in polite company, so we had all that talk about stork visits and
"being in a family way" or simply "expecting."
I always loved! going to the "picture show," but I considered
"movie" an affectation. Most of these words go back to the
50s, but here's a pure-60s word I came across the other day - "rat
fink." Ooh, what a nasty put-down! Here's a word I
miss - "percolator." That was just a fun word to say.
And what was it replaced with? "Coffee maker." How dull.
Mr. Coffee, I blame you for this.
I miss those made-up marketing words that were meant to sound so
modern and now sound so retro. Words like "DynaFlow" and
"'Electrolux." Introducing the 1963 Admiral TV, now with
"SpectraVision!" Food for thought - Was there a telethon that
wiped out lumbago? Nobody complains of that anymore.
Maybe that's what castor oil cured, because I never hear mothers
threatening kids with castor oil anymore.
Some words aren't gone, but are definitely on the endangered list.
The one that grieves me most, "supper." Now everybody says
"dinner." Save a great word. Invite someone to supper. Discuss
fender skirts. Someone forwarded this to me. I
thought some of us of a "certain age" would remember most of these.
Just for fun, pass it along to others of "a certain age"!
I hope this e-Notice finds your 2009 off to a great start!
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)
Melissa Gilcrest (69), In Memory of Lily Gilcrest, 1921-2008, mother
of four Surratts grads
Joe Capone (79)
... AND MANY THANKS TO THIS (EARLY)
DONOR TO THE 2009 CAMPAIGN!
Steve Profilet (71)
Bob Marr (71)
Debbie Cox Marr (72)
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