One of the features of the Lebanon Daily News’s coverage of the local high school scene was their Teen Forum feature where six teens from a local high school were asked to write a very short answer to a question. The questions were of varying quality but given the brevity of the space allotted for … Continue reading Teen Forum
Elco
Library Club
As I’m said before, my former high school classmates frequently have told me that I can remember many things about high school that they’ve long since forgotten. Well, here’s something that I have very little memory of: Library Club. When I started 8th grade at the newly built Eastern Lebanon County High School (Elco), I … Continue reading Library Club
Or Am I Losing My Mind?
The email from Cindy Behney was distressing. The former Suzanne Berger was going through some very difficult and tragic times. Among other things her brother Charlie had passed away in February. As I wrote in The Moyer Connection, Suzanne was a high school classmate (Elco class of ’67) and her brother was a year behind … Continue reading Or Am I Losing My Mind?
The Spitting Image
“He’s the spitting image of Jimmy!” cried my uncle Allen. The “Jimmy” he was referring to was me, “Jimmy” being what everyone in my family called me. Still do. What’s left of them, that is. At least those that are still talking to me. The “he” was Dennis Heberling, a fellow Richland inhabitant, three years … Continue reading The Spitting Image
Mike Sites, Troublemaker
I only recall Mike Sites from seventh grade. Where he was before that, I have no idea, but when we started seventh grade, there was Mike—although he may have been around before that, as I have a very vague recollection that he was not unknown to me before then. I don’t recall him after seventh … Continue reading Mike Sites, Troublemaker
Gratias Tibi Ago, Domina Spitler
My Latin teacher at the Eastern Lebanon County High School was Mrs. May Wike Spitler. She was a good, even a very good, teacher of Latin. I recall going through the five declensions of the nouns and the four conjugations of verbs. Amo, Amas, Amat, Amamus, Amatis, Amant. (Hey, I just did that from memory … Continue reading Gratias Tibi Ago, Domina Spitler
Thank You, Mr. Walborn!
I went to a relatively small high school in a predominantly rural section of Pennsylvania, so one might think that my teachers were not necessarily of the highest caliber. There were a few rotten apples to be sure, but there were also some terrific instructors that I recall fondly. In particular, we had at … Continue reading Thank You, Mr. Walborn!
Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot? — Part 2
During our senior year we had an exchange student from Norway named Nana. She was a bright, vivacious girl, insatiably curious, and very friendly. Our minister and his wife, the Reverend and Mrs. John Rodgers, hosted her stay at the parsonage in Newmanstown. Her English was excellent, so idiomatic, in fact, that it was easy … Continue reading Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot? — Part 2
Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot?
After high school I kept in touch with some classmates for a few years, but in those days where all we had were long distance phone charges and snail mail, keeping in touch wasn’t as easy as it is today. It was perhaps inevitable that the letters stopped flowing. Then a few years ago Elco … Continue reading Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot?
Quick Recall of Specific Facts
During my junior year in high school it was decided to put on a contest between the junior and senior classes that was modeled after television’s GE College Bowl hosted by Allen Ludden. I have no recollection of whose idea it was or how the contestants were selected, but it was the Library Club, … Continue reading Quick Recall of Specific Facts