| E-Notice |
THIS IS SURRATTS FOUNDATION
E-NOTICE 2011-9 OF SEPTEMBER 1, 2011
Hello Hornets:
Here are some items that might be of
interest:
1.
2011 ANNUAL CAMPAIGN OFF TO A
RECORD START!
As we previously reported, in the
hope of having the Foundation's most successful annual campaign to
date, the Foundation Board decided to commence this year's campaign
in June, rather than the traditional September.
We're hoping that many of you who might have
been inspired to contribute in the past, but have not done so, might
consider making a contribution to this year's campaign.
As previously noted,
we would have an absolutely off-the-charts campaign if each of our
e-Notice readers would go to the web site at www.surrattsville.org
and make a credit card or PayPal donation of just $5!
(Just look for the "Donate" button
at the bottom right of the home page.)
And of course contributions are
welcome by mail, and a donor form is pasted below.
Remember:
the Foundation has no overhead, so
every contribution dollar goes directly to supporting the great kids
at Surratts.
And no contribution is too small
(or too large) to make a difference.
(Of course, the Foundation does not share any
information about its donors -- or its e-Notice subscribers -- with
anyone for any purpose, nor does the Foundation do any solicitations
of any kind other than these e-Notice announcements about these
annual campaigns.)
Many thanks to the remarkably long list of
generous early donors listed below, and thanks to all of our readers
for considering participating in this year's very special annual
campaign!
2.
LARGEST COMPUTER DONATION TO SCHOOL SINCE FOUNDATION'S
EARLY DAYS.
Thanks
to the efforts of Sally Saker Weingarten (77), and to the generosity
of Steve Austerer and his colleagues at 2nd Solutions,
the Foundation recently delivered to the School the largest donation
of computers (30) and monitors (45) since the earliest days of the
Foundation. Because of
the extraordinary generosity of these and other donors of computer
equipment, Surrattsville has gone from a school with very limited
computer capacity when the Foundation was established in 2000 to a
school that now proudly reports computers throughout the building
and a number of fully equipped computer labs.
Many thanks to Sally, Steve and the all of the other generous
donors of computer equipment throughout the Foundation's history!
3.
SEARCHING FOR WORDS AND MUSIC TO
SURRATTSVILLE ALMA MATER.
The
Foundation is assisting the School in its search for the now lost
words and music to the Surrattsville alma mater.
Please send me an email at
hsmith@smithdowney.com if you happen to have the words and/or music
to the alma mater, or any information about its composer, lyricist,
vintage, etc.
4.
A TOWN WITH NO HORSE NAME.
We received this email from
Ruth Maitland (72):
"I'm replying in regard to Sheila
Carlson's item about the derivation of the Clinton name. I, too,
remember being told by some source that the name Clinton came from
the name of a horse.
Ruth"
And we received this email from Neal Dawson
(73): " I saw somewhere
on Wikipedia, or perhaps it was in one of those articles you
referenced during the buzz on The Conspirator, that after Robeystown
(named after the new Postmaster, like Surrattsville had originally
been), the final Clinton name derived from a NY Senator who got it
named after his adult son (or something similar) by pulling
political strings.
Perhaps they thought it would be significant because of its
proximity to the nation's capital.
The horse story has no merit that I can see.
Neal"
And we received this email from Bob Wilson
(78): "In the late
1800s many towns in the US were named for DeWitt Clinton, builder of
"The Big Ditch," aka the Erie Canal. No horsing around.
Bob"
Finally, we received this very
informative, and authoritative, email from Laurie Verge, the
Director of the Surratt House Museum and an internationally
recognized expert on the Surratt story:
"A
friend recently sent me the latest e-newsletter that you produce for
Surrattsville. I just had to write and say that, as director
of Surratt House Museum for 28 years and a worker there for
eight years before that, I would like to have a long discussion with
that social studies teacher of yore who started the story that the
town’s name was changed to Clinton because that was the name of
Booth’s horse! We have had to correct it so many times.
The horse that Booth rode out of Washington
on was a mare – so Clinton would be a pretty dumb name for a female
horse. Somewhere between the Navy Yard Bridge and
Surrattsville, Booth’s horse tripped and fell. His accomplice,
David Herold, speaks of this in his statement to the authorities,
and some historians think that this is when Booth broke his leg –
not in jumping from the presidential box at Ford’s Theatre.
In any case, when Booth remounted, he
switched horses with Herold because Herold’s horse was what they
called a single-foot pacer, which meant a gentler ride. We
know the name of that horse – Charley – because it was rented from a
stable. And don’t laugh at the obvious pun of “Charley Horse!”
The best guess as to
where “Clinton” came from has been this: The name was changed
to Robeystown in 1865, and then to Clinton in 1878. The
postmaster general of the U.S. at that time was a descendant of the
famous New York politician, DeWitt Clinton. Some feel that he
named new post offices after his famous ancestor. The last
time that I checked, there were close to thirty states with at least
one post office named Clinton or a derivative of that (Clinton
Grove, etc.). When I finally retire, I hope to research as to
when each of those post offices were created. If they all fall
in the last quarter of the 19th
century, we might be on to something.
Laurie"
5.
FOUNDATION FACEBOOK PRESENCE
CONTINUES TO GROW.
The Foundation's Facebook Group
– called "Surrattsville Alumni" – continues to grow, and now has
over 1250
members.
This is a great, and free, way for
folks to stay in touch.
Similarly, the Class-specific
Facebook Groups – that have names like "Surrattsville 1969,"
"Surrattsville 1971,"
"Surrattsville 1973" and the like
continue to grow.
Please consider joining the
Surrattsville Alumni Group, and your own Class-specific Group, to
get the latest news on alumni events.
6.
BOOMERANGS AVAILABLE.
The Foundation has a limited
supply of yearbooks from 1991, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006.
If you'd like one of these
yearbooks (which are available for $15 including shipping and
handling), please send me an email to
hsmith@smithdowney.com.
7.
ALL CLASSES/FACULTY/STAFF
DIRECTORIES AVAILABLE.
Thanks to the herculean work of
Pat Becker Oles (71), the Foundation's 2000 Alumni/Faculty/Staff
Directory has been updated for 2010, and now includes fascinating
"what I'm up to" paragraphs from those who submitted directory
information.
If you would like a copy of the
Directory, send a $20 check payable to the Foundation to:
Henry Smith, One W. Pennsylvania
Avenue, Suite 950, Towson, MD 21204.
8.
"SURRATTSVILLE ALUMNI" WINDOW
STICKERS AVAILABLE.
Pat
Becker Oles (71) also kindly handles the Foundation's "Surrattsville
Alumni" window stickers project.
Pat notes that the stickers are
not
the "static cling type," that stick to the inside of a window.
Instead, they are the "stick to the outside type," that can stick on
a window or bumper, and use "repositional adhesive" (meaning no
sticky residue).
Information about purchasing the
stickers can be found on the web site at surrattsville.org.
9.
CLASS OF 97 PLANS REUNION.
The Class of 97 is busy
planning its 15 year reunion for mid-summer 2012.
The Class has a web page at
http://shs1997reunion.blogspot.com/2011/05/shs-class-of-1997-2012-15yr-reunion.html.
Please contact Monica Crown at
monicacrown@gmail.com if you would like information on the event or
if you have any contact info for members of the Class of 97 or their
families.
10.
A GREAT DAY OF GOLF FOR A GREAT CAUSE ALMOST HERE.
The
Christmas in April Prince George’s County Chapter, whose Executive
Director is Mary Kucharski (76), is holding its 22nd
Annual Christmas in April Prince George’s County – Susan Denison
Mona Golf Tournament on Monday, September 26, 2011 at the Andrews
Air Force Base golf course (as made famous by the recent
Obama-Boehner golf summit!).
Great player, and sponsor, opportunities are still available.
Contact Christmas in April at 301-868-0937, cinapg@aol.com,
or christmasinaprilpg.org for more information.
11.
NEW ALUMNI ASSOCIATION'S EVENT FEATURED IN GAZETTE STORY.
We received from
Elencia Wiley Cole (90) a link to this nice August 24 Gazette
article about the Surrattsville Alumni Association recently formed
by Elencia and other grads:
"Surrattsville Alumni Honor Late Coach --Inaugural Alumni
Association Event at Clinton School
Pays Tribute to Jim Butler, by Terron Hampton, Staff Writer
Four weeks
ago, the Surrattsville High School Alumni Association didn’t
officially exist.
Saturday morning, the organization had its kickoff gala at the
school’s gym while also remembering a past member of the Clinton school’s
family, the late boys’ basketball coach Jim Butler.
The
event featured a live DJ, music, an alumni basketball game and free
Zumba lessons.
Elencia Cole, a 1990 Surrattsville
graduate said the idea came to her a short time ago and rapidly
gathered steam.
“This
is the first event under the Surrattsville Alumni Association
banner,” she said. “Everybody is giving back and that’s what this is
about. We’re giving back to our high school because this is where we
came from.”
Hundreds of Surrattsville graduates
turned out for the festivities, including one especially
distinguished alumnus. Maryland State Senate President Thomas V.
Mike Miller Jr. (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach, a member of the
first graduating class at Surrattsville High in 1960, was on hand
and showed his pride for his alma mater.
[Ed Note:
The author likely meant "… a member
of the last class – 1960 -- to graduate from the old school building
at Brandywine and Surratts Roads …"]
“This is one of the oldest schools in
Prince George’s County, and although it’s had its ups and downs, it
is a great school,” he said. “I’m very proud to have graduated from
here in 1960. I’m very proud of the students, especially the ones
that have come back to reinvigorate the school.
“I
spoke with [Prince George’s County Public Schools] Superintendent
William Hite last week, and we’re getting a new weight room and band
room. Re-energized, we have nowhere to go but up.”
Cole said the alumni association will embark
on an aggressive push, which will include a mentoring program,
kickball league, skate parties and other activities, with proceeds
benefitting Surrattsville High.
A major component of Saturday’s
activities was honoring Butler, who coached boys’ basketball at
Surrattsville from 1980 through 2004 and led the program to its last
state championship in 1997. Butler, who also coached at Bladensburg
from 2005 through 2010, died in December.
Several
of Butler’s former Surrattsville players prepared video tributes to
their former coach, which were displayed during halftime of the
basketball game.
Butler’s widow, Margaret, was on hand
and was moved.
“James was really dedicated to
sports and he loved basketball, that was his heart,” Margaret Butler
said. “His life was for basketball. He loved the boys. He was always
proud of their accomplishments. And this shows that they love him.
They appreciate what he did for them and to know that they won’t
forget him means a lot to me and my family. I think it’s a great
thing.”
Cole said she has begun talks with the
Board of Education about dedicating the school’s gym in Butler’s
name. “Coach
Butler was a leader, and that’s what he instilled in us,” said Paul
“Shake” Rogers, a 1997 Surrattsville graduate and a member of the
1997 state championship team. “He encouraged us to not only be
better athletes, but to be better people. Every time we came away
from our home, he made it feel like we were coming into his, whether
it was the classroom or gym.”
Here's hoping you all
were treated kindly by the earthquake and by Irene!
Henry Smith (71)
In Memoriam
Glenn G. Evans (54)
passed away on August 8, 2011. He is survived by Donald Evans
(64) and Sandra Evans Lyon (66).
MANY THANKS TO
THESE DONORS TO THE 2011 CAMPAIGN!
Patricia Becker
Oles (71)
Steve Profilet (71)
Bob Marr (71)
Debbie Cox Marr
(72)
Thomas V. Mike Miller (60)
Vicky Simontacchi Young (57)
Valerie Parker Allard (73)
Bob Freitas (70)
Linda Dorsey Blum
(66)
Coach Lew Jenkins
Helen Bovbjerg Niedung (54)
Melissa
Gilcrest (69)
Henry Smith (71)
Donna Rae Sturtevant Smith (70)
Susan Loweth Melton (63)
Judy Gordon Mentlik (65), In memory of
Gloria Grady (65), Linda Soper (65) and my 65 "brother," Richard
Gordon (65)
Patti Williams Makielski (74), In memory of Kathy
Williams Sheppard (76)
Judy Crawley Gibson (71), In memory of
Debbie Bastek (71), "a tough cookie who is gone too soon"
Duke
Coleman (53)
Carmen Gines Frotton (65),
In memory of Richard Gordon (65)
Paul Rickett
(69)
Gloria Blandford Rickett (71)
Tom and Sally Travis (72)
Lawrence Romjue (57), In memory of Lois Marie Osgood (57), "26 miles
– Santa Catalina"
Richard Grace (81), In memory of
Rhonda Nairn (81)
Mike Blair (71)
Suzan Martz Holmquist (62)
Patrick McMenamin (71)
Vicky
Simontacchi Young (57)
Lee Hessberg (68)
Lois Barrett Hessberg
(70)
Carol Fite Mothershead (65)
Larry Mothershead (65)
Mike Boyle (69)
Jim Casswell
Bonnie Harris
Scott Sonntag
(71)
John Shultz (80)
Kelly Shultz (80)
Paul Monaghan (59)
Mike Boyle (69)
Vicki Forsht Williams (65, and former
faculty), In memory of Eugene Colgan and Marie Grouby
Marie
O'Clair, In memory of Marie Grouby
Jean White Monroe (71)
Vera
Twigg
Anne Noyes (former faculty)