Hi, Carol:

Glad your PC did not loose the photos of Thomas Jefferson Elementary School when it "crashed" in the spring.
When I took the photos of this school building there was no doubt that it was no longer in use and was boarded up
and fenced. It replaced a much older red brick building that sat on the lot next to Tabernacle Baptist Church
in the 600 Block of 30th Street in the East End section of Newport News. I attended 1st Grade, and 2nd Grade
at this school, and after two weeks in the 3rd Grade, I was promoted to the 4th Grade and transferred
to Walter Reed School. Skipping a grade was not a good thing as far as participation in sports in high school.
I found my niche as a Manager with the TYPHOON Basketball program during a very exciting time,
so it was not all loss. It sure affected my social life, for I was far too timid and shy to attend dances in high school.
I hope we can locate a photo of the old red brick building that was also the Thomas Jefferson Elementary School.

TYPHOON Regards,

Joe Madagan ('57) of FL - 08/31/05
Thanks, Joe - so do we!
 

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Carol,

I remember participating in a May Day Celebration at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School when I was in first grade.
My teacher, Ms. Shawell (not sure of spelling) had an old victrola that she wheeled outside and she would crank it
and play records. The boys wore hats made out of oatmeal tops that were painted red and the girls were hats made
out of paper plates and tissue flowers. The boys wore dark pants and white shirts and the girls wore pastel dresses.
The flag pole was decorated and all classes took turns “dancing” around the May Pole.

Do any other Thomas Jefferson students remember anything about May Day?

- Anita Morgan Becker (‘66) of VA - 05/09/06
Thanks, Anita! Let's find out.
 

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I remember May Days at Thomas Jefferson. My teachers there were Mrs. Morris for a few days of first grade,
Mrs. Starling for second grade, and then for third grade my teacher was the wonderful Miss Suttle, who really had
a great impact on many of us.  I remember the Maypole and the ribbons, but nothing specific beyond that,
though I think everyone had a good time...I'm guessing for the boys it was just another opportunity to be outside
chasing each other and the girls! It's amazing that you remember what people wore...hope all are well,

- Jimmy Hines ('64) of Northern VA - 05/18/06
Thanks, Jimmy!

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I am writing because of the recent spurt of remembrances of Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, brought on by the questions about May Day celebrations in school.  I have always been a little disappointed that more hasn't be written about it in the past.  I attended the first and second grades there.  Even though I actually lived within walking distance of Magruder School, my mother, who taught second grade at T. J. at the time, decided to send me there so I could ride back and forth with her.  I have been trying for some time to remember my first and second grade teachers' names, and was glad to see them mentioned today in your newsletter.  My first grade teacher was Mrs. Brockley (I knew it sounded like "brocolli").  My second grade teacher was the other second grade teacher besides my mother.  Let's see, would that be Mrs. Stallings, or Mrs. Starling?

The principal, Ethel Taylor, was sort of related to me by marriage.  My Uncle Lloyd's wife was the former Eunice Taylor, who was Ethel's sister.  Ms. Taylor was an imposing and frightening figure, as I recall, and the only reason I knew we were (kind of) related was that Aunt Eunice would visit her when she came on visits from Lansdowne, PA.

My sister (Mary Sue Nelson - '52 - of VA) has in her possession, because she considers herself the keeper of the family flame, my first grade class picture.  In that picture is Nancy Mitchell (Wynne - '64 - of MD) and  Jimmy DeBerry ('64 - of VA), among others from high school.   I remember Nancy much more clearly from the first grade than I do from high school.  The reverse is true with Jimmy.  I was surprised to see his clearly recognizable face in the picture the last time I looked at it years ago.

As someone suggested in the newsletter today, memories are funny, fragmentary things that can play tricks on you.  But, I do vaguely remember a May Day celebration on the playground at T. J.  In my memory fragment I am not participating, but watching from a distance the girls dance or run around the Maypole interweaving paper colored ribbons around the pole.  I also have memory glimpses of standing in line in the cafeteria holding one of those yellow punch cards.  The smell of that cafeteria at lunch time is something that comes clearly in my mind at the funniest times.  I also remember little, whole loaves of Betty Lewis bread, that I loved.

- Doug Nelson ('64) of VA - 05/13/06
Thanks so much, Doug!
 

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I was just reading more accounts of Thomas Jefferson and realizing just how much I loved school--especially the first years.
I guess that is why I stayed in school so long---January of 2006. Ha-ha! I still go back a few days a week to help out.

Does anyone remember the cafeteria manager? She was a large lady and we called her Miss "Mosquita". I have no idea
what her real name was. Maybe that was her name. Anyway, she would walk around the tables and make us eat our lunch.
"Eat those vegetables...". She even took her knuckles and rubbed the boys on top of their heads if they didn't eat or if they
acted up. Some of us hid our spinach in our milk cartons. What a time! :) Compared to now, our meals at school were fantastic!
I used to love the chocolate cake and coconut pie, parsley potatoes, green beans, .... Oh, stop, Judy!

- Judy Phillips Allen ('66) of VA - 05/19/06
GIGGLES!!!  Thanks, Judy!
 

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Ummmm.........that would be Mrs. Skeeter, the cafeteria lady, as I recall...I remember being sent back to finish my spinach too,
and must have learned from someone else (yeah, right!) about the 'spinach in the milk carton disappearing act'....it fit so nicely. 
I too enjoyed school  lunches... we ate very well back then and all the way through high school, I think...and there were
 no snack or soda machines in the schools at that time...How did we survive that?

 - Jimmy Hines ('64) of Northern VA - 05/19/06
Thanks, Jimmy!  You're a hoot!
 

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Judy Phillips Allen ('66 - of VA) had a question about the cafeteria manager at Jefferson Elementary. I believe her name
was Mrs. Skeeter and she was quite an imposing figure. We first graders were all terrified of her. She had the desserts
on a rolling cart and if you didn’t “clean your plate” she would not give you dessert. I remember hiding spinach
in my milk carton in order to qualify for dessert.

I teach sixth grade at Hines Middle School in Newport News and the food today cannot compare to the cafeteria food
we used to eat.

- Anita Morgan Becker ('66) of VA - 05/22/06
Thanks, Anita!  That seems to be the consensus!
 

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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHA! At least 3 who will admit to carefully storing their assigned spinach in the milk carton
for its trip to where all uneaten and carefully hidden spinach goes...can you just picture that now? I'm in stitches!!!
It must have been a conspiracy to allow spinach to live! Or maybe it was something in the water, which is usually
the culprit of choice. It couldn't have been because it tasted...well...ummm...questionable, at best! At that time
it was a taste one must acquire, I guess, but who would have...acquired it on purpose? I wonder how many have
the courage to give it up and admit committing this unusually selfless act of humanity? Could this have been
a covert operation of Opus Dei? Only time will tell...do your children and the neighbors know? I'd hope not...

 - Jimmy Hines ('64) of Northern VA - 05/22/06
Thanks, Jimmy!  You are a hoot!
 

"Me and Ethel"

Just the perfect Spring day, walking home for lunch, quickly, as usual, I anticipated the lunch my mother had fixed for me. When I got home (Marshall Courts) I found the front door closed and locked. Went to the back door, same thing.  Checked the parking lot...no car!...NO CAR!!! Where could she BE?  She never went anywhere at lunch with out telling me and packing that delicious PB&J sandwich, never!  I checked next door, no one home there either. I needed somebody's bathroom quick!  I ran across the parking lot to Wayne Columbia's mom. She was understanding and let me in to use her bathroom.  She didn't know where Mom was either.  She had LOTS of kids, all ages and her belly was swollen again with another one on the way.  I said "Thanks" and flew out the door and half ran, half walked back to school. I wasn't even hungry any more, just worried. I ran up the cement steps at old T.J. and was going up the wooden steps to the first floor, on my way to the second floor and to Miss Suttle's room, maybe she could help.  As I reached the last step I looked up and there, looming over me was Miss Taylor! 

"Ozora?" 

"Yes, Ma'am?" 

"I need to see you in my office, dear." 

Dear? My little heart was leaping, was I going to die in her office? And for what? I followed her into her dusty smelling, warm office and stood there. 

"You may sit down, dear." 

I sat. 

"I'm afraid I have done an awful thing," she said. I gulped. "I forgot to tell you that your mother called my office around ten to tell me that your neighbor's child fell down the step on the back porch and split his chin.  Your mother, sweet soul, took her and the child, along with your little sister of course, to the Emergency Room at Buxton Hospital.  I was supposed to tell you before lunch, to go to Mrs. Godwin's House to have lunch, and I got busy and I forgot...I'm so sorry!"

Miss Taylor? Apologizing to me? 

"However," she continued," I have done the best I could to remedy my forgetfulness as best I can." 

I sat dumbfounded and relieved at the same time, trying to control my breathing. 

"I know you must be very hungry and if you will be patient, I'll have something here for you in a few minutes." 

Was this the real Miss Taylor?  Sure enough, in about three or four minuets I heard adult footsteps slowly coming up the old wooden steps.  I looked out the door and saw the Janitor coming directly to the office, and in his hand, a gigantic cup with a top. In the other hand a paper straw.  He went to Miss Taylor's desk and sat the cup near the edge close to the center.

"Ezra, would you please pull a chair over beside my desk for Miss Ozora?" 

"Yes'um, Miz Taylor." 

He picked the wooden chair up as if it were as light as a broom and positioned it right behind the 'mystery cup'. 

"Thank you for your help, Ezra, Miss Ozora  is very hungry and I appreciate your running the errand."  

"Yes'sum, I'se happy to help a hongry chile." 

He turned and left to take care of other business. Miss Taylor patted the chair and asked me to come and sit there. I hesitated...

"Come on, I know you are hungry, I hope you like it; it was the best I could do in this location." 

She took the the top off the cup, and there, right in front of me was a huge, ice cold strawberry milkshake!  Why, it must have cost thirty-five cents, and it was MINE! She put the straw in and carefully handed me the frosty cup.  I couldn't drink fast enough, it was cold and thick...the best milkshake ever. My little cheeks were aching from pulling the thick concoction through the straw.  Miss Taylor was talking to me in a soft voice, but I wasn't paying attention until a crashing pain in my head (ice cream brain freeze) made me stop abruptly and I heard the last of her sentence ".....and since your father is a fireman, I wondered if he would be willing to come to Jefferson School for a talk about Fire Prevention?" 

"Um...I can ask him." I said eagerly, then I saw her in a different light.  She didn't look so stern, and I could see gold strands mixed in with the silver, the hair she forever wore pulled back in a severe bun attached with tortoise colored hairpins to the back of her head.  Her face was soft and her eyes were green! Like mine!  She was a person, a real person!!!  She kept talking and I kept tugging on the straw, fascinated by the fact that she was talking to ME !  I don't think she expected me to answer her but just to listen...she had a faraway look in her eyes, and then, "Slurrrrrppppp,"  My straw had reached the bottom and made that awful sound it makes when you try to get the last drop  out of the bottom of the cup! 

"Oh no!" I clapped my hand over my mouth.  "That's o.k., Dear, you were hungry." 

"Excuse me, Miss Taylor, I didn't mean to be rude!"

"That's all right, you excused yourself. I like a child with good manners!" 

"Thank you for the milkshake, it was my very favorite flavor. How did you know?" 

"Well, when I was a little girl that was my favorite flavor, still is to this day!" 

Whoa!!! Miss Taylor used to be a little girl!  My world got a little bigger.

"I suppose it's...Oh my!...you're late for class, I'll walk you up and explain to Miss Suttle." 

She took my hand and we left the office and headed for the steps to my third grade class.  Her hand was soft and warm and she held mine firmly, all the way to inside the classroom.  There she let go, and I went to my desk, while she explained to Miss Suttle.  She left the room and then popped her head back in and said "You will mention that to your father like I asked, won't you?"  

"Yes Ma'am...I will." 

Everyone was looking at me, big question marks in their eyes. 

Miss Suttle rapped the desk with her pencil and said, " All right, boys and girls, turn to page 12, we'll give Ozora a minute to catch up...I heard her voice start to read, "On the shores of Gitchegoome, by the still and ....."  Boy, would I have a HUGE story to tell Mom and Daddy at the supper table!!!!  

Next time Daddy, THEN May Day.  A story a lot of you have forgotten you remember!  Stay connected.   Y'all have a sweet day and be good to yourself !!!! 

"Dimples" aka Sepi