12/11/05 - NNHS Newsletter -
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
"O Christmas Sun! What holy task is thine!
To fold a world in the embrace of God!"
~ Guy Wetmore Carryl
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12/11/05 - NNHS Newsletter -
"O Christmas Sun! What holy task is thine! |
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Dear Friends and Schoolmates,
| Today
is the third Sunday in Advent.
I had assumed that being
a Sunday, this would be a short Newsletter. I was wrong!
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| For you history buffs out there, it was 51 years ago today that USS Forrestal (CVA-59) was christened, right there in Newport News. Remember? Even I remember that! |
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From Gloria Woolard Price (Hampton HS - '65) of FL - 12/10/05:
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This is the first time I haven't been
able to open a newsletter. That's because about thirty minutes after I issued yesterday's newsletter, the server went down yet again - and stayed down for several hours. I hope they solve their issues shortly. Meanwhile, according to my stats, not many of you read yesterday's Newsletter. While that may have worked last year, this year the issues have a serial effect, so unless you read the editions in order, I'm afraid they won't make much sense. So here's that link again: http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/12-10-05-NNHS-Deck-the-Halls.html Thanks, Gloria! |
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From Joan Lauterbach Krause ('60) of VA -
12/09/05 - "email connections":
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Hi,
My mail has been also doing some funny
things. A mail from my daughter "popped" in while I was reading the
"daily mail". I moved the mouse to click it and it disappeared - never to
return. I think the current cold front grabbed it and is holding it
hostage until I pay the heat bill. :) :) Mail to my niece in Myrtle Beach
SC "has been delayed" according to the
postmaster@hotmail.com. Whatever that means.
And this note to me was delayed for a day-and-a-half!
I knew my head needed "defragging" but
maybe the whole system needs a treatment. :) :)
GIGGLES!!!
Oh, let me give you my new mailing
address....... October 5th found a house (and I had given up finding what
was needed). By November 7th, bought a house, sold a house, packed a
house (after living in it for 33 years), moved into a house, and have been
unpacking every day since. What does one do with old photographs, old
china, old silver plate, old cut/pressed glass and old linens? No one
wants them. Replacement.com already has enough of each pattern. The Fine
Arts Shop is "overstocked". All the ancients in my family knew I would
love and appreciate their treasures. I do (did). But I have ended up
with enough tubs (plastic) full of "stuff" to fill a garage. Which
needless to say I no longer have. Any ideas, and please don't say eBay.
I would definitely be a lost innocent (?) lamb in that world of wheeling
and dealing. Anyway, that is my current life in a nutshell. :) :)
Any ideas for Joan out there?
It's a bit cold for a yard sale. A consignment store, perhaps.....
You're talking to a packrat of the worst kind here. I still have
nightmares about things I relinquished - and I desperately need to dispose
of more. The very thought makes me ill....
Have a Happy Day. You, too, Lady! Thanks!
Joan Krause
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From Bill Campbell ('54) of VA - 12/10/05 - "NNHS 65 Website":
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Hi Carol.
Ever since I discovered your wonderful
website, I can't seem to pull myself away
from it. I just keep clicking on link after link, each one seeming to
bring back fond memories of the places and people on the page. I am
particularly impressed with your sorting out the different schools in NN,
and I am convinced that, above all, education was the principal
common ingredient in all of us who were fortunate enough to have lived at
that particular place at that particular time. We all just seemed to take
it for granted that we should listen to our teachers and parents.
Thank you, Bill! I'm
so glad you're enjoying it!
Two links that are dear to me are the ones
for Wee Wisdom Kindergarten
and Marshall Courts. My father,
William F. Campbell, was one of the many men who migrated to NN
from North Carolina in the early '40s to work in the
shipyard. We lived in Thomasville,
NC, and, when my dad came to NN to apply for the job as a machinist, he
found that the pay would be more than he and my mother made together as
workers in the Amazon Cotton Mill in Thomasville. So, he took a job in the
shipyard and applied for an apartment in Marshall Courts, which was just
being completed at the time.
We were one of the first families to move
in, at 866 36th Street, on March 22, 1941. I am enclosing a clipping from
the March 15, 1941 Daily Press, which announced the opening of the
government-subsidized project. There were (still are) 10 apartments in
each row of most of the 2-story apartments, but we were the only occupants
in the 860s row for a few days. The Peninsula Dairy, located on
Jefferson Avenue between 35th and 36th Street, left complimentary quarts
of milk on each of the 10 doorsteps, assuming that people would be living
in all of the units. Since no one else lived there but us, my brother and
I thought that we lived in the entire building, so we went and collected
all 10 of the quarts of milk and brought them to my mother. We were very
upset to find out that only 1 quart belonged to us and that we would have
to share the building with 9 other families.
As you know, Marshall Courts was just one
of the many projects that were built for the low-income families who were
brought here to work in the shipyard. So, one of the things that has
perplexed me, even today, is how my parents could have afforded to send
me to Wee Wisdom Kindergarten when I was 5 years old. No one in my family
who would know the answer to this is alive, and I don't know how I could
find this out from anyone else. The teacher, and owner of the
kindergarten, was Mrs. Walker, and she came around to pick up several of
us urchins in her woody station wagon with 'Wee Wisdom Kindergarten'
emblazoned on the doors. I am attaching a photo of that station wagon as
it sits in the alley in front of our apartment, with Mrs. Walker at the
wheel.
I don't know who was responsible for
providing me the opportunity to attend Wee Wisdom, but I shall be
eternally grateful to whoever it was, because it enabled me to learn to
read, do arithmetic, and socialize with other kids, before I ever started
to school. Because of that experience, I never felt intimidated by anyone
or any subject matter, and I was always able to stay 'a jump ahead' of the
teachers. That kindergarten was my 'Head Start'.
I have hundreds of pictures, and thousands
of fond memories, of Marshall Courts, Seven
Oaks, Wee Wisdom, Thomas
Jefferson Elementary, Walter Reed
Elementary, and NNHS, and I will send
some of the pictures to you.
Carol, I want to thank you for all the work
you do in maintaining this 'labor of love', and I am sure that everyone
who sees it agrees with me.
Thanks,
Bill Campbell, NNHS 1954
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WOWZERONI!!!
Thanks so much, Bill! |
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| Wee Wisdom Kindergarten Station Wagon with teacher and owner Mrs. Walker at the wheel | March 15, 1941 | ||
I posted the Wee Wisdom image on the page, and cleared a spot thereon for another which I found lately but haven't had time to post: http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/our-schools.html http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/wee-wisdom-school.html I haven't been able to deal with that precious Marshall Courts clipping yet, but I'll try for first thing in the morning! Thanks so much! |
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From Tom Norris (Hampton HS - '73) of VA -
12/10/05:
| Hey
Carol ... We can add another December birthday to the list ... 
Janice Pratt McGrew (HHS-67),
12/7/49. We've decided to make it a birthday "week".Well, Tommee, this is a fine time to tell me, I must say! How are we supposed to harass her if you don't spill the beans in time?? Sigh. Ah, well - Happy Un-Birthday, Janice! Another Pearl Harbor Day baby, hmm? I've added you to the page:
http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/Happy-Birthday.html
No, indeed!
There's no hurry, really.
After Christmas
will be just fine!!! There
are only so many 14 hour blocks in each day...... You, too! |
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Thanks, Babe! I'm very short on time now, but I'll try to post this where it belongs tomorrow morning: | ||
| 1978 | |||
| Tom Norris and his 1965 GTO | |||
From Janice Pratt McGrew (Hampton HS - '67)
of VA - "Tom Norris's birthday":
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Hi Carol,
I see that you are saying happy birthday to
Tom Norris (Hampton HS - '73 - of VA) in
today's newsletter but
his birthday is not until Monday, December 12. You have it right on the
birthday webpage. I am sure he appreciates your acknowledging his
birthday even if it is a couple days early!WHAT?!? Wait a minute..... How'd that happen?!? Lemme check here.... http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/Happy-Birthday.html Oh, no!!! Yesterday was 
Glen Davenport's ('63 - of VA) birthday - not Tom's!
Oh, no. I know what happened. The problem is, I've always confused December 10 with December 12. I have this problem every year. I have absolutely no idea why this is, but it's true. I don't have the same problem with October 10 and October 12. Ummm - I'm sorry??? "I am not making this up." Okay, happy
belated birthday to Glen, and Happy Un-Birthday to Tom, too!
I know that Tom has not emailed you the outcome of the Hampton - Stone
Bridge football game so I will beat him to it. Hampton won 15 to 7 --
YEAH. We did not get to the game even though it was played at Todd
Stadium in Newport News. Had other commitments.
Speaking of John B. Todd stadium, do you have any information about Dr.
Todd on your website? He was a graduate of NNHS and went on to William &
Mary. His dental office was on 28th Street between Washington Avenue and
West Avenue. He was my family's dentist until his death. I have vivid
memories of sitting in his dental chair -- ugh!!
Well,
uh, not directly. We do have his son,
John Todd of AK, President of the Great NNHS Class of 1964:http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/REUNION-PICTURES-2004.html http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/alumni-list.html http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/band-59.html Wait a minute. I haven't been doing too well in the
family relationships department lately. If for some reason John and
Thank you for all you do, Carol. I enjoy the newsletter and look forward to reading it.
Janice Pratt McGrew
Thanks, Janice! |
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From Joe Madagan ('57) of FL - 12/10/05:
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Hi,
Carol ('65 - of NC) and 
Dave (Spriggs - '64 - of VA):
Dave, if you are heading to
Fort Monroe at Old Point
Comfort anytime soon to pursue the old
Sherwood Inn that was on the
base, kindly take a photo of the Armed Forces "Y" so it
can be added to Our Old Stomping
Grounds as part of the
Fort Monroe page. Sometime back, I wrote a long electronic
missive to our esteemed Webmistress recalling some
great times as a TYPHOON enjoying this facility with its heated indoor
swimming pool and gym. The TYPHOON and Krabbas used to have some great
basketball games on that old court. Guys like Paul Cowling
and Bee Becouveracous from Hampton would show us
their stuff when they took on the guys from "Newpert News" in a game of
buckets. I believe it is important to prove to Carol that this facility
really existed before she will consider using the material.
It's not that I don't believe you,
Sweetie; it's just that I'm a lazy bum. If an image or two exists
for a page, I'm not required to think. Thinking is totally against
my principles. It's usually painful. Generally speaking, by
the time I actually have such an idea, I've forgotten why I wanted it.
And you've caught me at my laziest season, particularly where thinking is
involved. I have that huge cantata tonight, and oh, yes - I'm in
charge of one myself next Sunday morning. And people keep
getting sick and deployed and going on vacations and I have to keep
rewriting and shuffling and arranging, and yes, even thinking!
I'd even scheduled myself for a flute duet on "What Child Is This?",
and the other gal's little boys are ill, and her husband is deployed! ARGHHH!!!
And the next Sunday is Christmas morning, and guess what? I
have to do it all over again, only differently!!! So I can all but
guarantee you that I'm not going to do anything else useful for the next
couple of weeks, unless it's totally by accident. But David, do capture the shots if you have the chance. You know how wildly thrilled I always am to receive your gorgeous images. I might even be so overcome that I'll actually make that page. In my sleep. Ah, sleep. I remember sleep......... After that, I will
start working on her to publish a few memories of the USAF Civil
Air Patrol where the Krabbas and TYPHOON worked together very
well learning about flying and how to conduct search and rescue missions.
The aircraft were kept at the air field at
Fort Monroe and for years we met
in the courtyard buildings inside the moat at this old Army post. The Army
Pilots were great when it came to letting the CAP Cadets fly with them as
Observers on weekends. Several Cadets went on to become USAF Pilots after
graduating from NNHS. Two in the class of 1957 come to mind,
Yes. Absolutely. That's quite important and really must be done. I'll trust you not to forget that (because you have one of the most amazing memories I've ever seen, and seem to remain unflappable while I'm going not-so-quietly even nutsier than I already am) and we'll talk about it again later. Did I mention two of my six sons are moving back home in January??? TYPHOON Regards,
Joe Madagan ('57) of FL
Thanks, Adonis!
Naaaaah. |
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From Bill Campbell ('54) of VA - 12/10/05 -
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Hi Carol:
To follow up on
Joe Madagan's ('57 - of FL) letter in the
12-10-05 Newsletter, I
too remember Mr. Walton driving through the alleys, with his little horn
tooting, 'Ta-toot ta-toot ta-toot ta toot', selling fresh fish off
of his truck. Also, at night, the sound of old Walt, the bread man (Walter
Carney), yelling out, 'Walt, the bread man, heah ee comes', and
pushing his homemade breadwagon, from which he dispensed all sorts of
baked goodies. We would always buy a square of sweet potato pie for 5
cents, unless he had run out by the time he got to our alley.
Mickey Marcella ('54 - of VA) told me that Walt would go to Beck's Betty Lewis Bakery at the end of the business day and buy, at a good price, all of the bread and pastries that Beck's had not sold. Then, he would push that cart over the 25th Street bridge, down Jefferson Avenue, to the East End area, where he would push it on into the night, until he had sold all of his wares. I think that Walt also got bread from Nolde's, on Virginia Avenue, because we were able to buy 'Nolde's, Nolde's American Made, the freshest thing in town' from Walter. Then, there was Shorty, who drove his wagonload of fresh crabs through the alleys, in season, and yell out, 'Hey, Shawty got crabs'. And, the ubiquitous ice cream truck would come by with its bells ringing. When my brother, Bobby, and I would say 'ice cream', the other kids, who weren't fortunate enough to have been born in North Carolina, had the audacity to mock our accent! Fruit trucks, (Wawwww-tuh-mellan), and vegetable trucks came through so often that we needed very little from the grocery stores, which were 'way over town' anyway. Colony Farms Market on Virginia Avenue, Colonial Store on Huntington Avenue, A&P at 35th and Washington, Florida Orange Store on Washington Avenue between 32nd and 33rd Street. And even with the availability of all of these in-place and mobile food services, the 'mom and pop' groceries, like Bostic's, Helmer's, Halperin's, Seymour's (which became Shriber's, which became Flax’s), and several others, always seemed to have enough customers to remain in business. I lived in Marshall Courts from 1941 until 1954, (probably a record, since we were one of the first families to move in and one of the last to be forced out by the NNRHA), I delivered papers, both Daily Press and Times Herald, all over Marshall Courts and Seven Oaks, delivered groceries for Bostic’s Grocery, attended Thomas Jefferson and Walter Reed Schools before NNHS, and, in the process, I got to know a lot of people, of all ages, and nothing is so dear to me as the relationships that were formed during that time and the memories of the people, places, and things from that era. I am so happy that I found this website, and Carol, even though you were only in the 1st grade when I graduated from NNHS, I feel that I know you because of the common ground this site provides. Thanks again. Bill Campbell (’54) WOWZERS!!! Thanks, Bill! Wait a minute - first grade?!? That can't be right! Oh, yeah, hmmm, I suppose it is. Hmmm. Well, no matter. Even if you don't know me now, you certainly will before two weeks have passed. The world is divided into two types of people: those who are very private in nature, and those who are open books. Of a surety, I belong to the latter category. The other path requires far more energy than I wish to expend. First grade, you say? Well, what do you know about that? My, my, my..... |
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From Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 12/10/05:
| OOPS!!!! I meant to say "Armistead and KING ... not Queen!!! D It's okay, Brown Eyes - I fixed it. No one will ever know. It'll be our secret. Thanks for telling me. http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/12-10-05-NNHS-Deck-the-Halls.html |
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From Wayne Stokes ('65) of VA - 12/10/05:
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CBD,
Tires and tire selling companies. Not
too far east (toward Buckroe) of the LaSalle Avenue overpass at Mercury
Boulevard (approximate location of the "space park") is now "Merchants
Tire and Auto Centers". As
Dave (Spriggs - '64 - of VA) has
stated, there are a number of businesses in that area inclusive of a
K-Mart on the left, KFC on the right at the intersection of the K-mart
entrance signal light, beside that a car repair shop. Then there was/(is?)
a Blockbuster Video rental store and next to that used to be General Tire
Sales (Merchants is there now).
General Tire Sales did not sell only
"General" tires, but all brands available at the time. I don't think
"General Tires" were on the market at the time General Tire Sales was
started. Dave, visit 201 W. Mercury Boulevard to find the now gone former
site of General Tires. You'll find Merchant's there now. Good hunting!
Take Care!
Wayne
AHA!!! More clues; more leads! Thanks, Wayne Honey! |
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From Fred Field ('45) of CA to
Joe Madagan's ('57
- of FL)
- 12/10/05 - "30th Street":
Sorry, Fred; I've not yet heard from Fred since his retirement. Perhaps he'll read it here. |
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From Jean Poole Burton ('64) of RI -
12/10/05 - "Hi from JeanB":
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I also think that
Sidney Lust was a very ironic name for a drive-in movie...funny it
did not occur to me when I was a teenager!
We just got back from two glorious days in NY with our daughter. Went to see the Radio City Christmas show, lunch at Sardi's where they have caricatures of famous people all around on the walls, watched the ice skaters at Rockefeller plaza and saw the tree there as well as the beautiful tree at Lincoln Center, went to the NY public library, a very beautiful building, walked Fifth Avenue and saw the store windows, went to St. Patrick's Cathedral and prayed, and to top it all off, it snowed. Everyone should do this at least once! Hugs, Jeanb Well, I would, if I weren't such a big chicken! GIGGLES!!! I'm glad you had such a wonderful trip, Jean! Merry Christmas! |
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Time grows short and I must run Y'all take care of each other! TYPHOONS FOREVER!
Love to all, Carol
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NNHS CLASS OF '65 WEB SITE:
http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com
PERSONAL WEB SITE:
http://www.angelfire.com/weird2/cluckmeat
"I only have two kinds of days: happy and hysterically happy."
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It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
(It Came Upon a
Midnight Clear was written by Edmund Hamilton Sears in 1849. The carol started
life
as a poem written by its author who was a minister living in Massachusetts at
the time. The music
for It Came Upon A Midnight Clear was composed by American musician Richard
Storrs Willis
in 1859 who was inspired by the words of the poem.)
It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, goodwill to men
From heavens all gracious King!"
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled;
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world:
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.
O ye beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
Oh rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.
For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold,
When the new heaven and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace, their King,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.
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"It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" midi courtesy of http://www.lockergnome.com/midi/ - 11/22/05
"It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" lyrics and history courtesy of http://www.carols.org.uk/it_came_upon_a_midnight_clear.htm - 12/05/05
Metal Advent Ring Image courtesy of http://www.churchcandlesonline.com/index.php/cPath/26?osCsid=e1789a29efd663b7d5d3fc8f36c35486 - 11/23/05
Third Candle Advent Wreath clip art used to form Divider Line courtesy of http://www.twoheartsdesign.com/images/clipart/catholic/advent/ - 12/03/05
Crab clip art courtesy of http://www.geocities.com/agent99bm/ - 10/02/05
Animated Rolling on the Floor Laughing Boy courtesy of http://www.animationfactory.com - 04/06/05
Lemme make it through Christmas, and I might stop being such a brat.