Wilbur and The Girl Scouts

Wilbur Shirey has a problem. He wants to invite all the Girl Scouts who invited him to a dance back in 1955 or 1956 to a mini-reunion at our 50th reunion celebration in 2oo9. "I'm buying," he says.

Problem is, no one can remember inviting him to a Girl Scout dance. No one can remember that were Girl Scouts dances. And, to top it off, no one can remember where such dances might have been held. But that's getting ahead of the story. Let's tell it from the beginning:

On March 5, Wilbur Shirey, one of the most congenial and generous of our classmates, writes:
How 'bout if I hosted a reunion of the Girl Scout Troop that was kind enough to invite me to their dances at someplace on Third Street. I'll do that at Frenchville if you guys can locate the rest of the Troop and their spouses. What fun that would be!

Peggy Jo responds:
What dances...are we talking about? There was a building on the side street by the Lyric Theater where the Girl Scouts met which was big enough for such an event. ... I don't remember dances there but that doesn't mean there weren't any.

Editor's Note - We all know that if PJ doesn't remember a dance or dances, it never happened. She was, after all, the Dance Queen of our CAHS Class of '59.

This sets off Wilbur, who responds testily:
Somebody has to remember those dances besides me. They were fun and they were on the second floor of someplace on third street when the tracks were still there. This would have been in 8th grade in 1955 or 1956. Come on Bonnie, your Mother always sponsored the dances. O'Day was invited to every party so I'm sure he was there as was Ash. I think Bill Fuhrer may have been there. Maybe Brigandi. You girls have to remember who you invited, for God's sake!! I'm buying so I appoint Bonnie Wilson Hartsock to chair the Invitation Committee with a license to solicit anyone else's help she needs. This will be a morning or afternoon get together, a decision to be made later. The signs will be Green and Gold or whatever colors Girl Scout signs are these days. We'll figure all that out. What was the Troop Number? Somebody still has their blouse with the numbers sewn on the shoulder!

Again, PJ:
I can' bring any clarity to your situation...sorry. ... I was a GS & still have my pin to prove it.....unfortunately I probably could still fit into the blouse if I had it!

Jerriann Jury responds:
I was a girl scout too --- I don't remember any dances either.

Moving on to another subject, Wil brings up the matter of classmate parties and photos taken during those parties:
Another place there were parties was in (name withheld)'s basement. I was never invited, but I know they had fun. Why don't you (Denny Mollura) try putting out a call for an organizer? ...I think Peggy Jo or Suzy Nagle went to those parties.

Sue Sherkel responds:
I don't remember anyone taking photos at any of the parties that we had at my house - and there were lots of those. In fact, my mother used to say that she never knew a bunch of people to have so many, that we had parties to plan parties to plan parties, that any excuse would do. Many of those were spur-of-the-moment, too. Nobody ever thought to bring a camera. They were also multi-class - friends from '57, '58, '59, '60, etc. That same multi-class bunch had many picnic/parties at Splash Dam in Goshen.We girls also had lots of slumber parties - mostly at Sandy Brown's or my house, or in Helen Adam's brother's "pad" in the Adam's garage. Again, I don't think we even thought to take pictures.

Wil presses his case:
I...am looking for pictures from high school. You (Sue Sherkel) had some pictures from Bobby Lingle's camp after Prom at the last reunion at the Elks or Eagles Club. I know moving is tough on pictures, but would you be able to put your hands on those pictures? ... Can you give me some hope that you might be able to find them?

Again, Sue Sherkel:
I do NOT have any pictures from the after-prom party at Lingle's camp. It might have been YOUR date...who took the pictures that you're remembering; but she hasn't been to any reunions - so it must have been somebody else's. I can't even remember who all was there. (Your date) probably has a better memory of the evening than I do. Ya know, there were lots of parties at my house; but I don't remember anyone ever having a camera there. ...Most of those parties were impromptu, anyway - "cruising" around town in somebody's car, and hearing a yelled message from another car "Party at Sherkel's!", and having to hurry home to forewarn my parents - nobody would have thought to bring a camera. Sorry I can't help.

Wil responds:
I can't imagine who else had those pictures. They were black and white photographs. I think the reason no one took pictures was they were expensive and no one had any money that I knew. Would Joyce Shugarts Undercofler have had the pictures? How 'bout Sandy Brown? ...Maybe Penny Hile? The pictures were on the table where we came in and registered at the Elks (I think it was the Elks.) Who else would have had pictures there? You've got to figure that out because I need the pictures.

Again, PJ:
Like I said, I've missed something so I can't bring any clarity to your situation.....sorry.


Let's review what we know about Wil's being invited to a Girl Scout dance:

1. Wil remembers being invited to a dance or dances by Girl Scouts some place on Third Street in 1955 or 1956.
2. No one, not even PJ who still has her Girl Scout pin and would still fit in her Girl Scout blouse if she had it, remembers inviting Wil to a Girl Scout dance.
3. No one remembers that there were Girl Scout dances.
4. No one remembers where such dances might have been held.


Let's review what we know about B-W photos :
1. Wil remembers B-W photos taken of him at Bob Lingle's party after the senior prom.
2. Wil remembers seeing such photos at a class reunion at the Elks Club.
3. Wil is not even sure it was the Elks Club. ("I think it was the Elks," he says.)
4. No one - not PJ, not Sherkel, not Jerriann, not anyone - remembers seeing such photos or having such photos on display at a class reunion.

IS THERE A PATTERN HERE?

UNLESS THERE IS A DRAMATIC SHIFT IN MEMORIES, WILBUR IS GOING TO BE DRINKING ALONE AT HIS GIRL SCOUT PARTY. NARY A PICTURE IN SIGHT.

-- Dennis Mollura

Remembering Robert Henry

By Dennis Mollura

Every high school class has its share of "stars" and "heroes" -- scholars, athletes, band members, musicians, vocalists, cheerleaders, comedians, student leaders, party people, social activists and the like. They tend to dominate the events and activities of our school years. They are what and whom we remember most. Their achievements and accolades are hard-earned and well-deserved.

Peel back a layer or two of the social strata and you find many other heroes and stars. For me, the tallest among them was my friend and classmate Robert Henry.

I first met Robert in Mrs. Ida Cowder's first grade class at Fourth Ward School. We sat next to each other and shared many a laugh and friendly tussle and tumble, along with other nearby deskmates Dicky Spingola and Johnny McDivitt.

I lost touch with Robert after contracting a severe muscle ailment about halfway through that first year. Our friendship was rekindled, however, when I finally was able to give it another go in the Sixth Grade. It was great being back in school with friends and classmates, old and new.

But the experience was brief as the muscle ailment struck again. Going to school became more and more difficult until, finally, it became impossible to walk the last half block up Market Street and up the stairs of Leonard Grade School.

It was on a bitterly cold day in January that Robert, strong and robust, literally carried me that last half block and up the stairs to Miss Betty Brown's homeroom. He simply picked me up face-to-face in a bear-hug and carried me up the street and up the stairs. He then went to the principal and volunteered to perform this task every day if it would help me continue in school. But it was not to be.

I remember a lot about Robert Henry -- his infectious smile and laugh, his easy-going manner, and his powerful body which enabled him to excel in football, track and volleyball. I remember the day he proudly told the class of the birth of his baby brother Jonathan. I remember his kindness and concern for a classmate who needed a lift.

Tragically, Robert passed away at an early age. I'm not entirely clear on the details, but I believe he contracted a virulent disease while serving his country in the military.

Robert, if I could, I would thank you for the many sweet memories and moments. I would express my deep appreciation for taking it upon yourself to relieve my distress. Most of all, I would thank you for giving a friend one good, last day in the Sixth Grade at Leonard Grade School.

Now This Becomes Even More Fun - Orvie Has Notes!

Received the following e-mail Friday from our classmate Orvis Kline - the man behind the camera for the preponderance of photos in the 1957, 1958, 1959 editions of The Bison. Because he comments on photos which appear on this website, I am breaking his email into segments and republishing the photos to which he refers.
- Dennis Mollura
_____________________________

Hi Denny,
Really great to hear from you!! I wanted to get a quick note back to you so you know I received it and wasn't ignoring you (:~). I'll have more time once wrestling season concludes (for me) this weekend (Regionals).

(Editor's note - Orvis has been a high school wrestling referee for many years in Southeastern Pennsylania and beyond - not surprising, since he hails from the "Cradle of High School Wrestling in Pennsylvania.")

Here's some info I sent to Peggy Jo in an email:

I 've been tuning in to the Blog since you (Peggy Jo) alerted me to it and just love it! (I even made a comment last night!). As I said there - those old pictures really bring back memories! So far - all of the ones shown as "Bison Photo" were taken by me!

Since I was taking a correspondence photography course at the time, I was trying to do my yearbook photos "the professional way." Which meant that I kept notes on most of the photos I took. That includes almost all of the school/event photos that appeared in the Bison during my years as "Bison Photographer".

Actually - the only time I wasn't taking pictures for the Bison was early sophomore year and for about a month our senior year. I have spent about 6 hours going through unpacked boxes looking for that stuff (I never throw anything away!) - but so far I've only found one notebook (just last night), but no pictures or yearbooks! My notes in that one confirm the names posted so far for "Shelf Day."

The only photos that I hope to find are just some originals from Bison photos. Mr. Weidner was pretty strict on keeping any Bison photos - so I mostly had to give everything to him.
- Orvis Kline

Inside Story Behind the Neil Buckley Photo

I've got to make a comment on the Neil Buckley photo and see how many remember the circumstances surrounding Neil's sneaky way he came up with to grow that beard! The picture was taken in the Boys Room on the first floor about 2 days before Mr. "Speedy" Mead ordered it shaved off. I wanted to get that "angry James Dean" look (more correspondence influence!) and he kept smiling until I said " think of Mead ordering you to shave it off - or be suspended!" That got the look you see in the photo! I was proud of that - and with Neil's permission - later won 1st prize in a photo contest at the NY School of Photography - one of the reasons I was accepted for the residence course!

By the way - in case you don't remember - that "beard" thing started at Camp Mountain Run Scout Camp the summer before our senior year. Neil was trying to grow a goatee and we were ragging him about having to shave it off when school starts. He bet us a shake at Quigley's he could make it through the first month before he had to shave it. He told everyone he had burned his chin/face while working with gasoline on his car and wore the funkiest bandage to cover it. I still don't believe he got away with it for almost two weeks before some teacher got suspicious and Mr. Mead got involved. As I told PJ (Peggy Joe Knepp Thompson) - I took that picture about 2 days before he had to shave it!
- Orvis Kline

Identities of Shelf Day Classmates Confirmed

I have found one notebook so far out of all the junk I kept - but was fortunate for it to be the one with reference to the "Shelf Day" pictures I took that are on the site. I can confirm that Denny Mollura, Joyce Moody Fletcher and Wil Shirey are correct in the names. Here's what I wrote all those years ago: "Auditorium Stage - CHS - Shelf Day. 4x5 Speed Graphic w/flash. Standing - L-R, Jerriann Jury, Barb Ondo, Sarah Lyons, Paul Clarke, Pauline Maloni, Helen Adam, Jimmy Stewart, (sitting L-R) Lew Marrara, Chuck Nelson, Dave Schucker."I guess that lesson about documenting pictures was valid!

- Orvis Kline