Memories of Cromwell and of Cromwell High School


I have enjoyed your efforts in bringing the MHS Yearbook photos to the CHS Alumni website. What a huge undertaking! But what fun it is to try and figure out who is related to whom. I have recognized a few that I would like to pass on to you:

Class of 1922: Blanford Hart, father of Blanford (Hart) Summ '66 Vinal (son was adopted by his stepfather, Roger Summ)

Class of 1923: Elizabeth Johnson, mother of Edward Johnson '58, who performed a magic show at one of my birthday parties. Elizabeth's father owned Caulkins and Post, a fine furniture and interior decorating store in Middletown. She was probably the first married woman I knew who kept her maiden name. Later married Newel Pinkham.

John Franklin, father of Joan '54 and Bob '61 (husband of Anne Henderson '63)

Anna Ralph, I'm assuming she lived in the house on West Street where I grew up. The whole time we lived there, people in town referred to it as "The Ralph Farm." I've never seen a picture of any Ralph or learned anything about the family, so seeing this photo gave me shivers! And isn't she pretty!

Class of 1925: Carl Johnson, father of Carol '50, Herb '53 and Arlene '67. Carl grew up at the Children's Home and worked as a night watchman in the boiler room at Pierson's. His wife Alice worked in the cafeterias at Nathaniel White and later at CHS.

Steve Witkowski, not only was he an Olympic trainer (1956 & 1960), but he was the head trainer at Wesleyan. He also worked at the Middletown YMCA, which is where I encountered him.

Class of 1926: Fred Nordgren, father of Beth '62 (married to Glenn Johnson '62) Fred owned the local hardware store which was located in the old railroad depot (now Glenn Johnson Real Estate) It was always an adventure to shop at "Freddie Nordgren's!"

Leonard Swanson, father of Leonice '57 and Allen '65. Leonard served on the Board of Education with my father.

Class of 1928: John Halsteadt, father of Linda '62, Steven '64 and Bob '65. His wife was our state representative for many years.

Leonard McAllister, his family owned the dairy farm across the street from the Monnes Farm on Washington Road.

Thomas Sellew, father of Susan '65 and Thomas "Rick" '69.

Class of 1929: Everett Dagle, father of Joan '67. Everett worked as a custodian at CHS and often rode his bike to work.

Class of 1930: Kathleen Byrnes, mother of Kim Mutch '74. Kathleen was the sister of Henry Byrnes, father of Donald '63 and Ellen '65 and Margaret '65. Also George Byrnes, father of Gary '66 and Gail '70.

Class of 1931: Lillian Adams, taught French at Nathaniel White. Aunt of Claude '57, Barbara '59 and David '69. I can still remember her showing French newsreels and covering the lens so that we wouldn't see the "scandalous" bikini bathing suits on the Riviera!

Peter Arcidiacano, brother of Johnny The Barber. Owned Peter's Tavern, next door to the barber shop.

Philip Brown, father of Brenda '66. His actual first name was Brendan. His wife, Evelyn Dagle, also graduated in the Class of '31.

James Caso, father of Dorene(Rene) Caso Gugliemino class of '59 and Virginia(Ginny) '64. He was either on the CHS building committee and/or was the First Selectman when the school was built. His name is on the plaque when you enter the school. . Jimmy had greenhouses on the corner of Main and South Streets.

Bernie Neville, father of Nancy '60 and Bob '64. Bernie served as Town Clerk for years, and after retirement went back to Trinity College and graduated in his 70's.

Louis Ruffino, father of Ann '66, Lou '67, Maria '73, Peter '77 and Matthew. Dr. Ruffino was a dentist in Middletown who used hypnosis in his practice as well as to entertain his children's friends. He also played bass in the jazz combo "The Ambassadors" which many of our classes hired to play at our formal dances.

Class of 1933: Rodney McNeil, father of Dennis '67. Owned McNeil's Pharmacy.

Class of 1936: Eleanor Oberg, Oberg's Department Store. Whenever I smell mothballs, I am reminded of this old-time clothing and dry goods emporium on Main Street. They carried everything, but you had to have help finding it!

Carroll Pierce, father of Bob '63 and Jim '66. Carroll worked at Pierson's.

Kathryn Schukoske, mother of Bob '64, Hope '68 and James McNeil '70.

Class of 1938: James Capilos, father of Roger '66.

Joseph Monnes, father of Joanne '66.

Luella Schreier, mother of Janice '67, Gail, Harold '70 and Hollis Huntley '72.

Class of 1942: Henry Johnston, father of Henry '70 and Paul '76.

Norm Leghorn, father of Bob '68, Kent '70 and Beverly '71. Owned Leghorn Nursery

Gert Woike, mother of Diane Wyer '66.

Class of 1943: Frances Ewald, mother of Nan '68, Ray '70 and Beth Brainard '75.

Joe Stroneski, Social Studies teacher at CHS.

Class of 1945: Stanley "Red" Kalish, father of Janet '73 and Paula '76. Red worked with my dad at Pierson's. I remember attending his wedding, probably the first one I ever went to, in the old St. John's Church before it burned down.

Jean Ostergren, mother of Carle '73, Dana '78, Allison '80 and Scott Partridge '82.

Gene Rondeau, father of Peter '72 and David '75.

Class of 1951:Richard Hennessey, father of Kevin '75.

James Mann, our first male teacher (6th grade), he moved up to the Junior High with our class, also coached basketball and track teams at CHS. When he was killed in Vietnam, his father was serving as First Selectman.

Fran Monnes, taught business and coached baseball at CHS. 1966 Baseball Team won CHS's first state title. Now serves on Board of Selectmen.

Don Swanson, worked at Johnson's Grocery. Served as Fire Chief for many years.

Helen Bonvino, taught at Nathaniel White.

Class of 1954: Raymond "Butch" Anderson, brother of Larry '49 and Richard '60. Butch was our Scoutmaster, when he was just out of the Coast Guard. I know his kids went to school in Cromwell, but I don't know their first names.

John Burns, brother of Bill '65.

Charles Dittman, brother of David '58, Ray '60 and Rhoda '64.

Richard Donohue, pianist and teacher, married Lois Franklin '59, active in the Cromwell Historical Society, now serving as president.

Gerry Franklin, brother of Lois '59. Both Gerry and his father Larry worked at Pierson's in the orchid greenhouses.

Richard Pellegrine, taught geography and social studies in 8th grade and CHS.

Class of 1955: Donald Anderson, son of our 7th grade English teacher. His father was in charge of the packing room at Pierson's.

Doris Ostergren, aka D.A. (for Doris Ann), mother of Kevin Hennessey '75.

Class of 1956: Susan Moore, daughter of Dr. Simon Moore, superintendant of schools, sister of Jeffrey '60.

Janice Pierce, sister of Roberta '61.

Paul Young, his father Adolph worked at Pierson's, and his mother Hildur used to take care of me when I was sick.

There are several siblings of people from our era in the Classes of 1957 and 1958, but I don't think I need to tell you who they are. I also noticed several names of Middletown businesses among the MHS grads through the years: Bunce, Camp, Kabatznick, Lowenthal, Shapiro, Wrubel, etc. I also found the ads fascinating when you included them, especially the Middletown Savings Bank admonishing young men to keep a well-tended savings account as an invaluable reference, in the 1930 Yearbook. Are the years that aren't on the website missing from the library, or are they just not uploaded yet?

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  • A note from Rick Callahan:
    • What a fantastic site. I have visited thousands of sites and this one is still one of the best. What you have been able to reconstruct is short of amazing. To any of us that dodged Colin Pushee, or cut a hole in a thick book sneaking a radio in it at World Series time, or remember counting off in 3's for Mr. Denz's PE class, this site is a trip down memory lane that none of us should ever forget. All of our lives have changed countless times, but we always remember the Cromwell High days. Fantastic, simply fantastic.

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  • A note from Roger Capilos:

    • Dear Sue,

    It has been a long time. When you have a high school junior parked in front of your computer it can be like being back in the 60's. No computer access. I really enjoyed the pics of the multi class reunion. If I had been able to attend I'm sure I would have been popular because I would have made everybody look younger.Ever since you made the alumni site available I find Cromwell in my thoughts and dream life more than before. When you drive all day for a living like I do you have plenty of time for memories. I'd like to share some random thoughts.

    If you were young in the 1950's do you remember going to restaurants and diners in Middletown and about 20% of the selections on the juke box would be songs in Italian?

    If you were watching a Yankee game on t.v.( in black and white ) do you remember how Mel Allen would do a Ballentines beer commercial between innings where he would pour a bottle of beer into a long beer glass and than pick it up and than set it down half empty and say " man, that's living." Boy did I want to grow up fast so I could have a Ballentine. I've had a few.

    If you got your hair cut by Fred Marrozi do you remember the green gook that he would rub into your hair. That stuff had to be an earlier version of super glue but I can smell it now like I am back in his chair.

    If you were catholic and attended St. Johns Church do you remember the pre airconditioning days when there would be one large fan set up facing the parishoners and some brutal humid sundays you would stand and kneel suffering just waiting for one whisp of a breeze as the fan slowly pivoted. As the priest was about to give his sermon the fan would be turned off and than I would try to guess how many revolutions the ever slowing blades would make before they came to a complete stop.Sermon. What sermon?

    Did you work tobacco? Do kids still work tobacco? I could talk about tobacco for an hour but suffice it to say when ever a job is tough I can always stop and think its not tobacco. Not one of those rocky fields when you were moving on your knees and the air felt like a wet sponge. But my friends were in rows on either side of me and we talked like all teens do, like we knew something. We knew everything. Wouldn't it be nice to hear that ignorant bliss for just an hour.

    I am sorry I haven't responded to a few friends like Mike Groper who I remember was a quiet guy who became a great athelete over night. And Nancy Dagle and Rich Dagle, hello cousins, what a thrill. I mean it. I'll never forget meeting Rich at McDonalds the day before he shipped out to Nam. That was one of the times I felt my heart break.

    That seems to be enough. If you visit S.F. try and say hello.

    ~Roger.



  • From Dick Nixon


    • I have a followup to my SEEKING query on Charles Probst (Feb 17, 2007).   --I have tracked down the whereabouts of Chuck Probst who was in my class, '60, and left town after the 7th grade.   He went to Radnor (PA) High School '60, Williams College '64, medical school, Army Green Beret, married a nurse from Hawaii, and spent about 30 years in medical practice in Hawaii where he still lives.  He recently retired and he and his wife spend a lot of time traveling the world as serious bird watchers and photographers.  (I caught him leaving for Kenya.) (Susan may put his email address in the EMAIL section.-- This has been done)  

  • From Charlie to me----I asked him he wanted me to post anything on his life.
    •  

    Good to hear back from you. By all means put my info at the Cromwell site. Did quite a bit of family geneology a few years ago. Need to get back to it and fill in some blanks. Chuck