It's September 1957 and School is Back in Session

Good ol' GCS with those triple terraces. From this image, they do not look so imposing, do they?

Greenwood Central School was built on land purchased from the Monroe Tyler estate in 1935 and opened in 1937. In 1949, a School Board was elected which included Marion Streeter, Paul Harkenrider, Gordon Pease, and Clarence Stephen's with Virgil Hussey as District Superintendent.

Under the direction of Howard Lamphier with the assistance of Hugh and Harley Lamphier, along with the general maintenance and cleaning at GCS, some improvements were made to Greenwood Central School over the summer. A new basketball net and backboard was installed outside as well as an additional one in the gym and an automated dishwasher was installed in the cafeteria. Uncle Stan (Murray) do you remember loading this baby? And, every child's favorite for generations, the merry-go-round was installed on the playground.

Janet Lamphier here. I remember tagging along when I was a child. Of course, I was all grown up by this time.

A momentous occasion! Thank you Mr Lamphier. Every child I have known that has lived in or visited Greenwood loved to play on the merry-go-round. We would load it up with kids, holding on as tightly as possible with legs and arms wrapped while the older kids, ran and pushed as fast as it could go. I guess the intent was to see who could hold on the longest. Boys against the girls. Cornells versus Murrays. Townies versus farm. You name it, we created a game of it. The squeals of delight still ring in my ears.

Students, you probably remember your teacher; but, do you remember Margorie Matthews or Doris Cheesman in the office? How about the school nurse, Joanne Holt? Dental Hygienist, Huniclore (sp) Vogt? Or Mrs EM Anderson, audiometer technician?

I remember standing in line in the nurses office to receive inoculations, vision and hearing tests, and the worst that awful tasting red dye tablet from the hygienist. You had to chew it up so she could see how well you brushed your teeth and then you had to brush the dye away to demonstrate. You always hoped you got to go before lunch because after lunch meant more brushing.

Do you remember "the bag" of old clothes in the nurse's office? I had a bad experience with it. While we were in line to go into the cafeteria, another student; I will not call him out, but I remember his name clearly; turned around and "got sick" all over me. I pleaded and pleaded with the nurse to call my mom and have her bring me my own clothes. But alas, I spent the rest of the day in ill fitting, stinky smelling clothes from the dreaded bag.

Do you remember who drove your bus? Was it Harland Waters, Milo Downey, Clair Rollins, Genevieve Smith, Vaugh Smith, Roger Rider, Albert Lamphier or Willey Campbell?

How about those dedicated ladies in the cafeteria, preparing your meals everyday; Ellen Banks, Grace Woodworth and Jenny Downey?

Did you every have to deal with Robert Hoagland, assistant principal and guidance outside agriculture class? Or maybe Milo Downey over your attendance? Come on fess up. Maybe, you were sent straight to Wesley Tenant, principal.

I have a few family stories, but I will keep them to myself. Let's just say, my dad (John Murray) was well known in the office while he attended GCS. He had his own chair. Not because he was bad; he just needed some redirection at times.

Let's see how good your memory is. Leave the name of your teacher and grade in the Facebook Comments.