1 Comments Posted by BILL MCCRORIE class '54

SUBJECT: MORE FILL IN DATA RE: SALESIAN Grammar SCHOOL:


THE WEB SITE OF "UNQUIETTOMB" PORTRAYS THE SCHOOL AS A "SPOOKY" PLACE WHEN, IN FACT, IT'S REALLY WAS NOT, NOR DID IT HAVE THAT TYPE OF PAST HISTORY.

ANY PROPERTY BEING AROUND FOR A LONG TIME DOES NOT MAKE IT "SPOOKY".

IN THE BEGINNING, THE SCHOOL WAS NOT STARTED AS A "RELIGIOUS" BOYS GRAMMAR SCHOOL BUT MORE LIKE A PRIVATE PREP SCHOOL. THE STUDENTS LIVED IN A DORMATORY ON THE TOP(THIRD) FLOOR OF THE SCHOOL BUILDING. THERE WERE CRITTERS (RATS) LIVING WITH US THERE BECAUSE OF THE FOOD WE RECEIVED FROM OUR "SUNDAY VISITORS" OR PARENTS. FOOD WAS BANNED SHORTLY AFTER FINDING THE CRITTERS LIVING AMONG US. YOURS TRULY WAS ASSIGNED TO CATCH AS MANY OF THEM OF THEM AS POSSIBLE. THE COUNT WAS OVER 10 WHEN I RETIRED FROM BEING THE “TRAPPER”. I DROPPED THEIR BODIES OUT OF THE THIRD FLOOR WINDOW TO THE GROUND IN THE MORNING. AFTER BREAKFAST (FOOD SERVICE WAS IN THE MANSION), I WOULD INSPECT THE DROP AREA. EVERY TIME, WITHOUT EXCEPTION, I FOUND "NOTHING" . . . NO BODY . . . . NADA . . . NOTHING!!! MAYBE THE PLACE IS "SPOOKY". THERE WERE 2 OR 3 HOLES IN VICINITY OF THE DROP?!?!?!

OVER THE 2 YEARS, I CAUGHT SEVERAL "LARGE" FISH IN A POND SOME DISTANCE FROM THE MAN-MADE LAKE. MAYBE THEY WERE “SMALL” BUT THEY SURE LOOKED “LARGE” TO ME! THE PAVILION SOMEONE SPOKE ABOUT WAS BUILT IN 1953.

I WENT TO SCHOOL THERE FOR THE SCHOOL YEARS OF 1953 AND 1954. WHEN WE HAD ANY SNOW OF SUBSTANCE, OUT WOULD COME THE SLEDS AND TOBOGINS (FROM WHO KNOWS FROM WHERE) AND OFF WE WOULD GO, OVER THE HILL, BEHIND THE FIRE-WATER TOWER, AND TRY TO KILL OURSELVES BY RACEING DOWNHILL AT BREAKNECK SPEED.

DURING OUR "SPIRITUAL RETREAT", AROUND EASTER TIME, SPORTS WAS BANNED AS AN ACTIVITY. SO WE DID THE NEXT BEST THING TO BOTHER THE PRIESTS AND BROTHERS ~ PLAY MARBLES. WHY MARBLES? WHO KNOWS!!! MAYBE THEY MADE LOTS OF NOISE IN THE HALLS. WE ROLLED THEM INDOORS IN THE LOOOOOONG FIRST FLOOR HALLS. . . WHAT FUN! ANOTHER TRICK WAS TO HAVE A CARDBOARD BOX WITH VARIOUS MAZES THEREIN. SOME WOULD BE HONEST MAZES AND OTHERS WOULD BE AN OUTRIGHT RIPOFF TO GET THE "PLAYERS" MARBLES. EVERYONE KNEW THE GAME . . . EVERYONE HAD FUN. . .WELL, MAYBE NOT THE PRIEST AND BROTHERS!!! MAYBE IT WAS OUR FIRST CLASS IN "BUSINESS" “BUSINESS LIFE 101"!!! I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE MARBLES WHEN RETREAT WAS OVER!!!

THE TUNNEL THAT A PERSON MENTIONED FROM THE MANSION TO THE SCHOOL IS/WAS ACTUALLY A "UTILITY" PASSAGE FOR HEAT PIPES AND THE LIKE. YOURS TRULY AND JOE GARCIA WENT THROUGH IT A FEW TIMES DURING OUR STAY THERE.

"STOSCH", THE POLISH GOUNDS HELP AND HIS WIFE WERE THE CARETAKERS LIVING IN THE BUILDING ON THE OUTER EDGE OF THE PROPERTY NEAR THE MAIN ROAD. THEY RAISED, SOLD, AND ATE RABBITS.

DON OLIVER, BILL STRINING, JOE GARCIA, KEVIN GERAHITY, FRED BECK, AND MYSELF WENT ON TO DON BOSCO PREP, RAMSEY, N.J. FOR THE 1954 CLASS.

???JOE GARCIA WERE ARE YOU???

BILL McCRORIE ‘54 (NPTC@OPTONLINE.NET)