THIS IS SURRATTS FOUNDATION E-NOTICE 2009-2 OF FEBRUARY 1, 2009

Hello Hornets:

Here are some items that may be of interest:

1.  THANKS AGAIN TO 2008 ANNUAL CAMPAIGN DONORS.  As we previously reported, the Foundation's 2008 Annual Campaign was the most successful annual campaign to date.  Thanks again to the very generous 2008 donors on the updated list below!

2.  POSSIBLE 80/81 REUNION.  The Classes of 80 and 81 are trying to put together a reunion in the summer of 2010.  Interested grads -- or folks with contact info on 80 or 81 grads -- should contact Teresa Blandford Pepper at teresa.pepper@verizon.net or teresa@dlpinc.net. 

3.  CLASS OF 89 PLANS REUNION.  The Class of 89 is planning a reunion.  Please contact Debbie Owen Pell at dpell@comcast.net for information or if you have any contact information for 89 grads or members of their families.

4.  HISTORICAL PHOTO CAPTION.  We received this info about the great historical photo recently sent by Judy Miller (70) and posted on the Foundation's web site at http://www.surrattsville.org/images/photos/gen2009/1926firstgrade.jpg.  (Please send me an email at hsmith@smithdowney.com if you can help us further fill-out the caption to that wonderful piece of Surratts history.)

"Dear Henry: The dark-haired boy on the far left in the front row is my father, Joseph F. Hart (1916-1994).  I have enjoyed the website so much, and being a "Clinton girl" have especially enjoyed the historical info and personal reminiscences.  My family owned the golf driving range and miniature golf course at Jenkins Corner, later known as "Malfunction Junction".  My grandfather, Joseph S. Hart, my father, Joseph F. Hart and I all attended Surrattsville.  As a first grader, I was in the last class to be in the "old" school when all twelve grades were there.   Thanks, Janice Hart Carter (64)"

5.  GIRLS' SPORTS TEAMS.  We received this interesting response to our request for information about girls' sports teams at Surratts:

"Henry:  We didn't have sports teams for girls but we did have the Girls Athletic Association. We also went on field days where we would go to other schools and compete against the girls from their school. I think we may have gotten ribbons or something. It was always a lot of fun to go on those days. We would leave on the bus early in the morning, go to the competing school and come back in the afternoon.  The GAA is featured in the pictures in the yearbook and we did after school sports.  I didn't feel slighted. We had a lot of fun.

I remember too that we used to play field hockey. In PE in the spring we had a choice of softball or tennis. I always used to choose tennis and Nila Toribio Straka and I hit those courts as much as we could. It initiated in me a love of tennis and in my twenties I spent five hours a day playing tennis, rented a house by tennis courts and other than working spent a great deal of time on the courts with Charlie Yowell  (70) and Todd Redlin (70).  I enjoy the e-Notices as they bring back old memories that have been lying dormant in my brain.  Terry Rynkiewicz McCandlish (68 )"
 
6.  HYDE FIELD INFO.  We received a great number of emails loaded with fascinating information about Hyde Field, Clinton's own well known aerodrome:

"Hi Henry:  In the 1930s my grandfather purchased a farm at the southern end of the runway at Hyde Field Airport.  My parents (Cecil Padgett (46) and Alma Foster Padgett (48)) built a house next to my grandfathers house and raised four children, all Surratts grads, Jim Padgett (70), Carolyn Padgett Nicholson (70), (married to Reb Nicholson (71)), Nancy Padgett Spada (73), and myself, Sharon Padgett DuLaney Keefer (77).  

My father as well as his brother (Bob Padgett (60)) were small engine pilots back in the day.  My father courted my mother by buzzing her house as well as other houses in and around Piscataway Road.  My uncle wound up working for the Smithsonian restoring antique airplanes at the Garver Facility in Silver Hill.  Dad delivered mail for the Clinton Post Office for 30 years as a rural carrier and would occasionally catch me hanging out at Millers Field and cutting school.

It was a noisy childhood at the end of the runway.  There was the ever present buzz of airplanes either taking off or landing, depending on which way the wind was blowing that day.  There were antique airplanes made of canvas, biplanes, kit planes, helicopters, and any other flying machine someone could think of to build or buy.  The Goodyear Blimp even came and visited for a few days.  They flew so low to the ground that we could see the pilots in the planes as they flew over our back yard and they would wave.

There used to be a restaurant at the airport that sold beer.  There was one Saturday afternoon when we heard a crash and saw a Piper Cub stuck nose first in the field next to our house.  The pilot had apparently visited the restaurant and fudged his take off.  He strolled over to our house and asked if he could use our phone.  There were other funny stories but also some tragic stories.  Some of the crashes did not have survivors and our house had some near misses.  

Anyway, I just wanted to send one of the stories that came to my mind when I read your shout out for Hyde Field. Thanks for the e-Notices!  I always share the info with my parents who always begin reminiscing about teachers and old classmates.  Sharon M. Keefer"

"Hi Henry:  You asked if Hyde field still exists.  It does and has it's own web site.  http://www.hydefield.com/.  Take care, Don Stapleson (72)"

"Henry:  Hyde Field is indeed still there, but apparently not for much longer as surveyor's sticks are said to be sprouting all over the place.  Websites to check: http://www.hydefield.com/, http://www.airfields-freeman.com/MD/Airfields_MD_PG_S.htm.
 
Dad kept his planes at Hyde and I all but grew up there.  Worst of it: In January 1958, one of his partners crashed and died in their Bonanza, in the woods on the north side of Thrift Road, to the SE of Hyde.  The best of it: lots.  I have comments on the airfields-freeman website."

"Hello Henry and all the Surrattsville Hornets. I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas and a good start on the new year.  This note is in response to the question concerning my second home, namely Hyde Field. My friend, Bobby Padgett, and I would hitchhike to the airport after school and go aviating. Bob had his pilot's license and a friend owned a vintage Aeronca Champion aircraft. The conditions that we arranged were that we could borrow the aircraft but we had to leave it in the same condition as we found it. Our intentions were for me to take flying lessons and get my ticket also. Alas, that never came to pass; too many other diversions in my youth.  Enclosed are two photos of Hyde Field taken in 2005 while attending the Surratts reunion. One photo shows the new name and the other is of the tower.  (If anyone is interested is seeing photos of an Aeronca Champ aircraft check out this web site:  ttp://motors.shop.ebay.com/items/aeronca-champ_W0QQ_newuZ1QQ_sopZ1
The aircraft Bob and I flew was considerably more basic than the one listed on eBay.)  Regards, John Curry (60)"

[Ed Note: John's photos are on the Foundation's web site at www.surrattsville.org.]

"Hi Henry:  Concerning the airport that one person was looking for: the name was changed many times in the late 40s and 50s, but it was mostly known as Croom Airport.

Now concerning Hyde Field Airport: I can give you some information as my dad was the manager of Hyde Field for many years from the late 50s and up until around 1973 or 1974. I grew up on Hyde Field and learned to fly there and took Dave Jeter (67) for his first airplane ride there. He also owned a flying club and rented out the seven airplanes we owned until the gas prices and shortage of the Carter days. At that time he sold out the restaurant and flying club to a contractor who later lost it all to the bank that held the loans on the planes.

The airport itself was owned by Mr. Authur C. Hyde who kind of looked like the guy who played Goldfinger in the James Bond movie. Mr. Hyde had bought the airport as surplus from the Navy after WWII. It had been used as a training field for pilots. Mr. Hyde also owned the Congressional Airport in Rockville until it closed and was turned into Congressional Shopping Center in the early 1960s.  Mr. Hyde also owned many office buildings in Maryland as well as AZ and FL. I remember in the mid 1960s I along with my older brother painted every building on the airport during the summer and after school. I made enough money that I was able to save it and in 1967 I bought a brand new 1967 Chevelle SS 396 four speed that saw many nights doing the 1/4 mile on Route 5 just north of Woodyard Road.

In 1968 I left for a trip to Vietnam and after my return to the airport I was supposed to take over running the airport and flying club, but I had lost interest in flying so I never took over from my dad. We left the airport and really paid no more attention to the airport dealings. I did see on the internet that a doctor now owns it and sorry to say it might as well be gone as he has removed most all the trees and sold off all the gravel.

There is a aerial view of the airport on the internet. I lost the web address, but just put Hyde Field Airport into your browser and it will come up. The view shows that there are maybe 10 airplanes left there and the runways all have a big white X on the ends meaning closed to all traffic. The airport, which used to have two runways, one of 3250 feet in length and the other which we called the "short runway" of 2400 feet in length. The airport closed after 911 since the doctor who owned it refused to invest in better control of the airport and who flew out of it. At the peak of its life the airport had just over 450 airplanes there. It was home to the following WWII airplanes, several of which I got to ride in: a B-17 bomber, a B-25 bomber, a P-51 fighter, a P- 38 fighter and a F-86 jet which was only for display and never flown.

The P-51 fighter was owned by the the nephew of Al Capone and I watched him land that red, white and blue P-51 one day.  The P-38 was donated to a group in Texas that restored warbirds for history. I saw the P-51 a couple years ago as it is now restored and flown out of Kissimmee Airport here in Florida. It is named Crazy Horse and is one of only a couple two seater P-51s still flying. Also, for the sum of $2500.00 you can get to fly it for one hour. The price might be more now due to gas prices. Crazy Horse returns to Maryland each year to do a stint in the U.S Navy at Pax River in Southern Maryland. They teach the jet pilots what it is like to fly a real fighter plane without computers.  Grover Stanley (67)"

"Hi Henry:  I still keep my plane at Hyde Field. A physician bought the field several years ago at a tax sale for $500,000. This guy fell into it. He was allowed to mine gravel netting him about a $20 million profit. He has really upset all of the pilots and associated general aviation businesses on Hyde as he is in the process of subdividing the field and plans on developing it into mixed use. He will net another $125 to $135 million just from the land.  I will be moving my plane to St. Mary's County airfield when he finally closes the airport. Hyde Field was renamed Washington Executive Air Field several years ago. With all of the security problems we acquired due to 911 we as pilots and business owners learned to live with the new security.  Hyde Field has a historical designation and he will be allowed to close it. As for the other airport to my memory a field further south is Maryland Air Park which is currently getting some much needed upgrades. Hyde Field and College Park are two historic general aviation airports which have both been in operation since the Wright Brothers.
Best regards,  Sam Purll (71)"

"Henry: Hyde Field is still where it always has been.  Since 9/11, it had it's problems staying open, doing business, because of its proximity to Washington, D.C.  But, it survived!  Anyway, I lived for awhile near the manager of Hyde Field during its "prime."  A very interesting person, who has long since passed away. Ginger Trapanotto (64)

"Henry:  Hyde field still exists (http://www.hydefield.com).  The grand plans for this facility never materialized (thank goodness - sorry investors) as it was to have been upgraded to a jet port (good grief).  Lying in the valley to the west of this is Potomac Airfield (formerly Rose Valley - after Mr. Shaw's beloved wife).  In Accokeek, the place you are looking for is called Airport Lane (not road): http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=Airport+Lane+Accokeek,+MD&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=title.  I have sent a message to a lady that operates a website "http://www.accokeekmd.com" as she may have access to historical data, that does not come up in a quick google search.  More that you want can be found here too - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accokeek,_Maryland  Regards,  Jeff Thorne (70)

7. ... AND THAT OTHER AIRPORT IN ACCOKEEK.  We also received this great update from Dana Shifflett about the mystery of the lost airport in Accokeek: 

"Hello Henry: Time to update you on my "Lost Airport" search.  Fifty-six of your readers responded to my request for information, some of them more than once, and I've spent a lot of time answering e-mail.  Of these, three nailed the place.
 
>From Ernie Reese (65):  "As I recall that was the Piscataway Airport and as I remember was a grass field."
 
>From Debbie Lucier Sparshott (71):  "I grew up on Schall Road, which is between Airport Lane and Livingston Road.  I, too, had remembered hearing there was an airport there at some point in time.  We moved there around 1955 I think.  I called my father and he called one of our old neighbors there, Bill Labanowski.  Bill moved there before we did, but the airport was already gone when he got there.  He said it was located behind our house (between Schall Road and Airport Lane) and went from Berry Road to Livingston.  He said there used to be a transformer for the airport located at the corner of Airport Lane and Berry Road, but I don't remember it.  My father said a lot of the farm land in that area belonged to the Unkle family, but didn't know if they had any interest in the airport.  I often wondered where our road got its name (Schall).  He suggested trying the land records in Prince George's County.  I'd be curious to learn the history too."

Finally, an e-mail from Sharon Keefer which answers Debbie's question about Schall Road:
"Hi Dana, I just spoke with my father and he remembers a small airfield in the Piscataway area that closed around WWII.  He said the airfield was owned by Doug Schall who was an airplane dealer and sold Luscomb (not sure of the spelling) airplanes.  He said he went there as a teenager and it had one airstrip and was very small.  He said he didnt believe the airfield has a name but was in the Piscataway Estates area.  Hope this helps!  Dad laughed when I told him someone was asking about that old airfield.  He said he didnt think anyone would have even known it existed at one time."
 
Several respondents referred me to Paul Freeman's excellent website www.airfields-freeman.com/index.htm which has extensive coverage of old Maryland airfields.  I forwarded the above info to Paul and got this reply:

"I've been told about that field before.  Certainly the present-day Airport Lane is a dead giveaway.  Yet I've never been able to confirm the presence of an airport there through my most basic means (seeing it depicted on a vintage aeronautical chart).  I have Washington Sectionals from 1939, 40, 44, 45, 47, 51, and 60 - pretty decent coverage - and none of them depict a field there.  And I have a great book called "Maryland Aloft", which seems to describe just about every grass patch in the state, yet it makes no mention of an airfield in Accokeek and Piscataway.  So I'm guessing it must've been overlooked on the charts, as a pretty small field.  I've generally not added a writeup to my site unless I can post some dated historical source document, like an aero chart, "confirming" that there was indeed an airfield at a certain location.  So I wish I could find a depiction of that one."

By the way, Paul's coverage of Hyde and Rose Valley is quite good.  I spent a lot of time with Dad at both.  I'm able to pick out the concrete ramp we built in front of our hanger (#23) in his aerial photos of Hyde.
 
So now I have a name: Doug Schall.  If anyone has any info to offer on this fellow, and anything else on his airport for that matter, I'd like to have it.  If I ever again venture that far east of Kansas I'll set aside time for research in Upper Marlboro.  There are a couple of websites dedicated to Luscombe aircraft, and I may be able to learn more about Schall through one of them.  Anything I've tried to do through the FAA has so far been a complete failure.  I intend to give the Air & Space Museum a shot, as someone suggested.  Another respondent suggested contacting the Accokeek VFD; given that VFDs are in no small way social organizations, that's not a bad idea at all.
 
At this point, my best guess about Schall and his airfield goes like this:  Freeman's inability to find this field on any of his section charts suggests the airfield was not there long.  There was intense interest in general aviation in the years immediately following WWII - some folks thought everyone would own airplanes, just like they owned cars - and Schall intended to cash in on it as a dealer (Luscombe).  Within four or five years, he realized he wasn't going to make it and, with an eye on developments like Fort Washington Forest, Whitehall and Calvert Manor, decided to go that route with his land before his creditors took it all.  Had that happened, I doubt they would've name the streets for him and his airport.

Then again, maybe the Airfield existed before then - Luscombe was in business then - and closed because Schall enlisted, or because there was no fuel or material for general aviation during the war, or because the opening of Hyde in 1940 gave Schall more competition than he could handle.
 
I'm not done.  Dana, dmshifflett@iwichita.com"

And we received this info from Elizabeth Gleisberg (78)

"Dana and Henry: You might want to take a look at http://www.airfields-freeman.com/DC/Airfields_DC.htm.  I also wrote to the person who manages this site for abandoned airports to see what they could find.  I think it may have been called "Piscataway Airfield".  I also found this also: "Aircare One Potomac Airfield:  Category: travel & transportation airlines & airports 4.45 miles Neighborhood: District 5, Piscataway 10300 Glen Way 0 Fort Washington, MD 20744-2574.  It's off Rose Valley and nestled between Allentown, Old Fort and Piscataway Roads in Fort Washington. 

Now I took eight hours of private lessons myself at an airport in that area that I can only identify by the airport designator PGA out of my logbook back in 1983.  I am wondering if it is the same place.  I just remember I could see the Potomac when I flew and had to dodge the big airliners coming into DC flying up the river!  Take a look at http://www.airfields-freeman.com/MD/Airfields_MD_PG_S.htm#potomac, and  http://www.airfields-freeman.com/MD/Airfields_MD_PG_S.htm#hyde.

I will let you know if I find out more because my curiosity it peaked now as well!

Thanks for churning up those old memories of my first days of flying! Elizabeth"

8.  REPORT FROM CLINTON.  We received this great report from our on the ground Clinton correspondent, parent Marge Allen (parent of Pete Allen (71):

"Hello from Clinton:  Re: the "lost" air field, I clicked on Rose Valley Air Field and up came a lot of information about lost air fields in Maryland!  As usual, I enjoyed your SHS updates!   The Ross family [Bob and Catherine, of the PTSA] continues to bring fresh ideas to this school and others in the system.  We are friends of Charlie and Rosemary Sellner who are Clinton "old timers;" they live close to Stephen Decatur.  Charlie attended the old Surrattsville school all 12 years!  He has lots of tales to share.   In North Clinton, bounded by Coventry Lane, Old Branch Avenue and Kirby Road, we pride ourselves in our multigeneration and multicultural togetherness.  We have a stronger community.

Also, I'm in touch with Dana Shifflett!  The field is  NOT Rose Valley, but the owner of the Potomac Air Field mentioned some contacts which will be followed. There is an Airport Road near Burroughs Middle School, a link.  I like to help solve mysteries! Here's wishing you a Happy New Year!    Marge Allen

9.  AERIAL IMAGES OF PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY.  And speaking of views from the air, Jeff Thorne (70) passed along this information that might be very interesting to some of our readers:

"Henry:  If there is anyone amongst us who is a cartographer or a very tolerant individual, another resource for data can be found here - http://www.pgatlas.com.  This web site is being provided for public use by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). The web site contains numerous geographic layers of information as well as aerial imagery of Prince George's County. Users will be able to pan and zoom around the map, display and print attribute information, search and display data by map location, measure distances, query the database, and print maps.   Jeff"

10.  BOOMERANG INFO.  We received this email in response to our question about the origin of the name of the Surratts yearbook:

"Richard:  I was told the yearbook is called the Boomerang because it keeps coming back, year after year.  Cindy Jarvis Hendrick (80)"

11.  HORNET COVERS DISTANCE FOR GREAT CAUSE.  We received this note about a Hornet who will soon be covering some distance for charity:

"Dear Surrattsville Alumni:  I'm writing to tell you about a team I'm a part of, a team of people getting ready to take extraordinary steps (many, many steps!) to help fight breast cancer here at home and throughout the country.

On May 2-3, Julians Style Me PINK (Calvert County) team will be among thousands of people dedicating their weekend to walking as part of the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. We'll walk at least the distance of a marathon (26.2 miles), and as far as a marathon and a half (39.3 miles). Either way, it's a very long walk.

Together, we'll spend the next few months training (that means getting off the couch) argh!!, fundraising (check our site frequently for local fundraising events), and preparing for the event. It's the biggest physical challenge I've ever taken on, but I'm very excited about doing it because I know it will make a real difference to the millions of people affected by breast cancer. Just think about how many people you know that have been affected by this cancer over the years.

EACH team member commits to raising at least $1,800 to participate; our cumulative goal is $ a lot :). Please help to support our efforts and the breast cancer cause by making a generous contribution. You can make your donation online by simply clicking on the link at the bottom of this message (double check that you see my name), which will bring you to our team page where you can learn more about our team members and reasons for walking.

Thank you for your support.  Cindy Shelton Ryan (75)

p.s. You can find out more about the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer by visiting www.avonwalk.org (http://www.avonwalk.org/).

[Ed. Note: Cindy's page is at http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR/Walk2009/WashingtonDC?px=4520647&pg=personal&fr_id=1760&et=pF3Ra6TMzTZvlDiQPHCpjg..&s_tafId=321762.]

12.  THE LOST SWIMMING POOL.  We received this inquiry, about yet another Clinton mystery, from Jeanne Anderson McNamee (81):

"Henry:  I am in search of some information.  I have a bet going with my five sisters and don't know where to begin to get the information I need to win. I had swim lessons as a child in an above ground pool, which I believe was located behind Surrattsville Junior High School. They claim that I am dreaming, and that there was no pool in Clinton where we could get swim lessons. Any chance that any of your alumni remember the pool and/or would have photos?  I am sure that I am correct!

Also, one of the kids who we had swim lessons with used to show up with their mom -- and they had a pet monkey.  Yes, monkey.  My sisters rolled on the floor laughing at this fact.  I'd love to find that family!  Thanks for any help you might offer!

(If you have any information that might help Jeanne, please reach out to her at jeannemcnamee@aol.com.)

[Ed Note: My brothers and I learned to swim at what we called "the Marlboro Pool", with Mr. Zubrod ("Mr. Z" as our great swim teacher.  The pool was next to the Frederick Sasscer school grounds, and its site is now occupied by the Upper Marlboro police station.  Might any of our readers swam at that public facility?]

13.  100 YEARS OF SURRATTS HISTORY (Con't).  Here's the latest installment in our continuing celebration of the 100th birthday of the School.  It's an undated newspaper article from late 1956 by Gerald G. Herndon from an unidentified newspaper, and describes what was perhaps the first Surratts "All Classes Reunion.":

"Clinton Reunion to Revive Many Surratt Legends.  Surrattsville, as a town, doesn't officially exist.  Soon after they hanged Mary Surratt, postal authorities give it the name of Clinton.  But mail a letter to Surrattsville today and it will fly like a homing pigeon to the modern community of Clinton, 13 miles from the District, southward along the old Leonardtown pike route that John Wilkes Booth used in his flight after the assassination of Lincoln.

Nowhere is the old name more proudly displayed than on the Surrattsville Junior and Senior High School which will mark its 50th anniversary with a party Friday.  The principal, John M. Pryde (a yankee, once), and the students are eager to describe their pride in the school and its name.  A member of the senior class there, a pretty 17 year old girl, said: "We feel that the school is a part of our history."  She added: "No student believes that she (Mary Surratt) was guilty."

In the last few years, historical studies, books, articles, even television dramas, have appeared which support the view that Mrs. Surratt was unjustly executed as one of the conspirators in the Lincoln assassination plot.  The inhabitants for Surrattsville have believed in her all along.

At the gala party the high school seniors are sponsoring, guests will recall the old tales and legends -- Booth's gallop south, his stop at Mary Surratt's house, her visit there earlier in the day carrying a pair of binoculars.  The widow Surratts's century-old house on the Old Leonardtown pike, now Route 381, still stands.  An elderly woman, the sister of the owner of a Clinton supermarket, lives there alone.

A combination Christmas party, dance and reunion of the school's 50 graduating classes is planned by the Surrattsville students from 9 p.m. to midnight Friday in the school gymnasium.  There are 84 seniors in the Class of 1957 at Surrattsville.  There was one graduate in the first class of 1907, Miss Blanche T. Hurtt, a Government employee in Washington, who said, with regret that she will be unable to attend the party.

The seniors, however, have located addresses for nearly 900 of the school's 1.013 graduates.  Even before 1907 the schoolhouse existed on the present site.  Prior to the construction of the Surrattsville Elementary School in 1953, the old school was the last one in Prince George's County in which all grades were taught in one building.

Friday night, when the reanimated legends will be talked of by the old timers in the school corridors, there will be an atmosphere of youthful gayety.  The young seniors, proud of the name they are convinced was unjustly treated, have arranged to provide the returning classes with music, dancing and, if their money holds out, a 50-pound, tiered anniversary cake.

14.  DON'T FORGET TO SEARCH ON "GOODSEARCH".   As reported in the last e-Notice, thanks to those of you performing your internet searches on goodsearch.com, the Foundation recently received its first charitable donation from Goodsearch.  (The Foundation receives a donation from Goodsearch equal to 1.3 cents per search, plus 3% of purchases made through Goodsearch's 800+ online retailer partners "from Amazon to Zappos".)

Please consider setting your web browser home page to goodsearch.com's Yahoo-powered search engine.  You'll need to indicate "The Surrattsville High School Foundation, Inc." as your designated charity.

Here are the details.  Go to http://www.goodsearch.com.  In the indicated box, designate The Surrattsville High School Foundation, Inc. as the charity to receive donations from goodsearch's advertisers each time you search the web.  Then use goodsearch.com to do your web searching.  (You designate goodsearch.com as your homepage on your computer by going to http://www.goodsearch.com/MakeHomepage.aspx.)

15.  POSSIBLE 2010 EVENTS.  As previously noted, the Foundation Board is considering whether to hold any form of "All Classes/Faculty/Staff" events in 2010, either similar to those held in 2000 and 2005, or different in scope.  If you would like to volunteer to work on such an event, please send me an email at hsmith@smithdowney.com.

16.  FASHIONABLE ALUMNI BUMPER STICKERS/WINDOW DECALS AVAILABLE.  As previously noted, the Foundation is now making "Surrattsville Alumni" bumper sticker/window decals available.  (A sample is found at http://www.surrattsville.org/photos/index.shtml.    Note that the actual size is 4" x 4" rather than the size shown on the web site, and they have a white background and green lettering.)

These stickers/decals are of the "static peel-off" variety, so they have "repositional adhesive backing," and attach, and detach, easily from bumpers and windows with no muss or fuss.  The suggested donation for the decals is $2.50.  If you'd like to show your Hornet pride by displaying one on your vehicle, please send your donation and your mailing address to Henry Smith at 815 Stoneleigh Road, Baltimore, MD 21212, and we'll mail a decal to you.

17.  CLASS OF 64 PLANS REUNION.  The Class of 64 is planning a 45th reunion in February, in the form of a three night cruise to the Bahamas!  The Class reports that "all are welcome to join us."  For details, contact Jaime Seaman (64) at Steprepp@aol.com or 954-316-7498. 

18.  CLASS OF 59 PLANS REUNION.  The Class of 59 is beginning its planning for its 50 year reunion on June 6 and 7.  Please contact Laura Owens at chubby041@yahoo.com if you have any information on 59 grads or members of their families.

19.  CLASS OF 84 CONSIDERING REUNION.  Class of 84 grads who are interested in working on, and/or attending, a 25 year reunion are asked to contact Gary Stallings at gstallings@yahoo.com.

20.  HORNETS RE-UNITE TO MAKE MUSIC.  We just learned that, on February 28, after a performance by the current St. Mary's College of Maryland Jazz Ensemble, there will be reunion jazz concert at St. Mary's College, featuring Hornets like Surrattstock performers Wayne Tatum (74) and Don Stapleson (72) and Harry Hafer.  Bob Levy is putting the concert together, and information is available from the College's music department.

21.  HORNET EDUCATORS RE-CONNECT.  We received this "small world" email from former faculty member Ron Cunningham:

"Henry:  Thought you would be interested in this information about Tom Dehart, Class of 1969, that you might want to include in an upcoming Surratts News email.  Tom, a retired principal, is now a staff specialist in the Division for Leadership Development with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).  In December, along with a colleague, Tom conducted training on a state-wide initiative for principals and vice-principals in Charles County Public Schools. Tom and his colleague did a great job for staff and everyone enjoyed hearing of our shared Surrattsville history.

In the interest of reminiscing and having some fun, I went home to get my 1969 Surrattsville yearbook and during lunch, Tom and I had an opportunity to flip through the pages. Tom also caught up with his favorite drivers ed teacher, Chuck Wineland, now assistant superintendent for supporting services with the Charles County school system.

Adding another measure of fun to the day, some of my colleagues got the yearbook and during the day scanned our pictures to display on the LCD projector for everyone to enjoy.  The entire group all had a good laugh at the then and now looks of the three of us.  In addition to a good training, we enjoyed the opportunity to reminisce.

Regards,  Ron"

22.  MEMORIES OF BY-GONE AUTO "TECHNOLOGIES" AND OTHER ANACHRONISMS.  We received this nice walk down memory lane from Larry Carter (70):

"Henry: I wanted to send you the email I received below. Youve probably seen it but if not I thought you might get a kick out of it. I had forgotten all about curb feelers. My stepfather had them on his cars. I havent seen nor thought about one in 45 years or so. The things really worked. You could hear and feel them when they starter brushing up against the curb. You never saw a skinned up white wall tire on a car that had them installed!  Larry

I came across this phrase  yesterday: "fender skirts".  A term I haven't heard in a long time, and thinking about "fender skirts" started me thinking about other words  that quietly disappear from our language with hardly a notice like "curb feelers".  And "steering knobs" (also known as "suicide knobs."  Since I'd been thinking of cars, my mind  naturally went that direction first.  Any kids will probably have to find some elderly person over 50 to explain some of these terms to you.  Remember "Continental kits?"   They were rear bumper extenders and spare tire covers that  were supposed to make any car as cool as a Lincoln  Continental.  When did we quit calling them "emergency  brakes?"  At some point "parking brake" became the proper term.   But I miss the hint of drama that went with "emergency  brake."  I'm sad, too, that almost all the old folks are gone who would call the accelerator the "foot feed."  Didn't you ever wait at the street for your  daddy to come home, so you could ride the "running board" up to  the house?  Here's a phrase I heard all the time in my  youth but never anymore - "store-bought."  Of course, just about everything is store-bought these days.  But once it was  bragging material to have a store-bought dress or a store-bought  bag of candy.

"Coast to coast" is a phrase that once held  all sorts of excitement and now means almost nothing. Now we take the term "world wide" for granted. This floors  me.  On a smaller scale, "wall-to-wall" was once a magical term in our homes.  In the 50s, everyone covered his or her hardwood floors with, wow, wall-to-wall carpeting!  Today, everyone replaces their wall-to-wall carpeting with  hardwood floors.  Go figure.
           
When's the last time you heard the quaint phrase "in a family way?"  It's hard to imagine that the word "pregnant"  was once considered a little too graphic, a little too clinical  for use in polite company, so we had all that talk about stork visits and "being in a family way" or simply  "expecting."

I always loved! going to the "picture show," but I considered "movie" an affectation.  Most of these words go back to the 50s, but here's a pure-60s word I came across the other day - "rat fink."  Ooh, what a nasty put-down!   Here's a word I miss - "percolator."  That was just a fun word to say.  And what was it replaced with?  "Coffee maker."  How dull. Mr. Coffee, I blame  you for this.
           
I miss those made-up marketing words that were meant to sound so modern and now sound so retro. Words like "DynaFlow" and "'Electrolux."  Introducing the 1963 Admiral  TV, now with "SpectraVision!"  Food for thought - Was there a telethon that  wiped out lumbago?  Nobody complains of that anymore.   Maybe that's what castor oil cured, because I never hear mothers threatening kids with castor oil anymore.

Some words aren't gone, but are definitely on the endangered list. The one that grieves me most, "supper."  Now everybody says "dinner."  Save a great word. Invite someone to supper. Discuss fender skirts.  Someone  forwarded this to me.  I thought some of us of a "certain age" would remember most of these.  Just for fun, pass it along to others of "a certain age"!


I hope this e-Notice finds your 2009 off to a great start!

All the best, Henry Smith (71), hsmith@smithdowney.com



MANY THANKS TO THESE DONORS TO THE FOUNDATION'S 2008 CAMPAIGN!

Steve Profilet (71)
Chuck Teubner (64)
Pat Becker Oles (71)
Janet Goddard Sullivan (54)
Vivian Bounds Edelen (Former Faculty; 1938-1942)
Linda Dorsey Blum (66)
Vicky Simontacchi Young (57)
Sally Weingarten (77)
Bill Harris (71)
Ellen Talbert-Miller (61 and Former Faculty), In Memory of Harrison (Bo) Waite (70)
Denise Hope (72), In Memory of Robin Danielson (72)
Nancy Miller (67), In Memory of Virginia Mitchel McLaughlin (64)
Bob Marr (71)
Deborah Cox Marr (72)
Donna Rae Sturtevant Smith (70)
Henry Smith (71)
Judy Gordon Mentlik (65), To Celebrate the Marriages of Nancy Oursler Maynard (65) and Larry Schillings (65), and Marion Thompson (65) and John Restifo (65)
Helen Bovbjerg Niedung (54)
Jeanine Carroll Maclary (73), In Memory of James R. Carroll, Jr.
Chris and Merry Chovan Romine (65), To Celebrate the 98th Birthday of Laura Chovan (Former Faculty)
Paul Monaghan (59)
Nancy Oursler Schillings (65), to honor Best Friends in the Class of 65
Tom Travis (72)
Sally Travis (72)
Coach Lew Jenkins (Former Faculty)
Carrie Jessee Loftus (69), In Memory of Robert "Bobby" Jessee (71)
Dave Weber (65)
Millie Biedenkapp (Former Principal)
Joan Penn Revis (61)
Homer Revis (56)
Brenda Karnes (Former Faculty), In Memory of Lillian Holland
Anne Noyes (Former Faculty), In Memory of Lillian Holland
Reynaud Smith (72)
Mike Gifford (84)
Dan Bayne (71)
Frances Mae Harrison Chaney (55)
J. Paul Rickett (69)
Gloria Blandford Rickett (71)
Vicki Forsht Williams (65, and Former Faculty), In Memory of Eugene Colgan, Principal, and in celebration of life long friendships from 1965
Ayla Dickey, for the Jennie Denison Bayne (c. 29) Memorial Scholarship
Beverly Statler Thrift (69)
Dennis Thrift (71)
Anon, In Memory of Col. Francis R. O'Clair
Brenda Karnes (Former Faculty), In Memory of Principal Eugen Colgan and Col. O'Clair,     President of Parent Boosters
Scott McWhirt (71)
Melissa Gilcrest (69), In Memory of Lily Gilcrest, 1921-2008, mother of four Surratts grads
Joe Capone (79)

... AND MANY THANKS TO THIS (EARLY) DONOR TO THE 2009 CAMPAIGN!

Steve Profilet (71)
Bob Marr (71)
Debbie Cox Marr (72)