Small school forged big memories
I was just wondering if anyone else went to a one- or two-room school house in the Pine Barrens?
My brother (class of '67) and I (class of '71) had a wonderful time at the reunion, along with our wives. My sister (class of '74) lives in Spain so of course she missed out. It was quite the experience. A folding chalkboard separated the brick building into two classrooms. Students took written tests on pieces of scrap paper. We had no playground equipment other than a ball or two. As a result of our economy we sent thousands back to the school board each year. The lunch room was down the basement, accessed through the coat closet.
Meals were home-made with local produce, except for monthly scrambled eggs. The federal government supplied free powdered mix because they considered us underprivileged. Yuk. Mrs. Wilkins, the ancient cook, profusely apologized but we couldn't waste. Some text books were from the turn of the century with names of parents or on occasion grandparents in their cover plate. I learned to spell airplane as aeroplane. A cop was a constable on patrol. Zeke the Handyman and Br'er Rabbit were our literary moral compass. We spent a lot of time on local history, sang old-timey songs, and even square danced.
One tune still haunts me, My Garden State, I'm so Proud of You! ...when I am far from home, I always get that yearning, that aching homesick feeling that is forever burning, burning. No other place on Earth will ever do, my Garden State I'm so proud of you! I would love to find the sheet music from that one. What an anachronism. I'm still conflicted as to whether we were lamentably disadvantaged or the luckiest pupils in the State!
MILMAY — For more than 70 years, the former Milmay School educated scores of students inside its quaint two-room schoolhouse on High Street.
Youngsters in grades K-5 were taught to read and write, and learned about the world around them. But more importantly — as a group of former students in charge of its reunion party attest — the school has helped forge lifelong friendships that still stand today.
“There were many generations that have gone through there,” Mary Jane Krokos said of her former grade school. “Some of us have become lifelong friends because we were in that unique school. It was a really good time in our lives.”
I was just wondering if anyone else went to a one- or two-room school house in the Pine Barrens?
My brother (class of '67) and I (class of '71) had a wonderful time at the reunion, along with our wives. My sister (class of '74) lives in Spain so of course she missed out. It was quite the experience. A folding chalkboard separated the brick building into two classrooms. Students took written tests on pieces of scrap paper. We had no playground equipment other than a ball or two. As a result of our economy we sent thousands back to the school board each year. The lunch room was down the basement, accessed through the coat closet.
Meals were home-made with local produce, except for monthly scrambled eggs. The federal government supplied free powdered mix because they considered us underprivileged. Yuk. Mrs. Wilkins, the ancient cook, profusely apologized but we couldn't waste. Some text books were from the turn of the century with names of parents or on occasion grandparents in their cover plate. I learned to spell airplane as aeroplane. A cop was a constable on patrol. Zeke the Handyman and Br'er Rabbit were our literary moral compass. We spent a lot of time on local history, sang old-timey songs, and even square danced.
One tune still haunts me, My Garden State, I'm so Proud of You! ...when I am far from home, I always get that yearning, that aching homesick feeling that is forever burning, burning. No other place on Earth will ever do, my Garden State I'm so proud of you! I would love to find the sheet music from that one. What an anachronism. I'm still conflicted as to whether we were lamentably disadvantaged or the luckiest pupils in the State!
