A Student in Center Moriches Years Ago...

Submitted by bbredes on Wed, 12/02/2009 - 09:18

Sixty two years ago, my grandparents were wandering the halls of CenterMorichesHigh School, just as I am today…But, there were a few differences. CenterMorichesHigh School has not miraculously stayed in its tip top shape for sixty two years. A new school was built, and needless to say my grandmother was not attending classes in it. Catherine C. Rooney graduated on June 23rd, 1947, with forty three of her peers among her, one including my grandfather, Richard E. Ringhoff. Before they graduated the class did get to participate in the events, just as our seniors will be doing this year. Meaning, that they got to go on a class trip, and attend a prom. On April 7th, 1947, the graduating class traveled down to Washington, D.C. They stayed at the Roosevelt Hotel, which still exists today. For the Senior Prom, Catherine went with her boyfriend, my grandpa, Richard. She was a runner-up for Prom Queen, but instead, Theresa Bremer won.

 
Some teachers and classes were important and enjoyable for Catherine, while others were not so much. Catherine had Janet Shoemaker as her homeroom teacher one year; Ms. Shoemaker’s first year of teaching. She can describe Ms. Shoemaker as tall, pretty, and blonde. Her favorite class was business law with Ms. Twillager. In this class, she sat between Richard and Teddy Jergawits. These two were always fooling around…Needless to say Ms. Twillager got frustrated one day, and told them that they were both going to fail her class. My grandma had the highest grade in the class. When Chester Osborne, Catherine’s brother-in-law, was told by Miss Twillager, all that he had responded with was “Oh.” The least favorite class of them all was history with Ms. Coblain. Catherine was failed by Ms. Coblain, because when asked a question about the war, Catherine replied that England got them into the war. Ms. Coblain slammed the marker down and yelled at her! Needless to say, Catherine did not like her, especially after the 65%. And, the teacher that was Catherine’s favorite was Ms. Mueller, who taught typing. Also, Mr. Wood was her principal. School was much different back then than it is now. During lunch time, Catherine recalls kids putting 5¢ into the jute box and dancing the jitter bug and the polka. Catherine recalls one boy who was a wonderful dancer. Mazzio, she believes his name is.
 
When asked what her favorite memory of high school was she responded with this story…
 
In band, Catherine played the trumpet, and when the first or lead position was open, Chester, would not give it to her, because it wouldn’t look good having a family member playing the “lead role” in a way. What did you do? She goes “I quit!” Even though this sounds bad, she was very happy and said that this was the best memory from high school.
 
Catherine was quite close with her family, especially her brother, Pat Rooney. He wanted Catherine to attend nursing school once she graduated. And even before that, Ms. Kay, one of her former teachers, came to Catherine’s house one night to ask if she could accompany her up to the hospital some evenings to help on the night shift for the nurses. Catherine was sixteen, and her parents thought it was not an appropriate situation to let a young girl be introduced to because her job would have entailed cleaning bed pans along with other disturbing scenes for a young lady her age to be exposed to. Obviously, many people thought that Catherine would have been a good nurse, and maybe she would have except for one issue…she hated the site of blood. Nursing school was out. Since she did not know what she wanted to do after graduation, Catherine spent the summer after graduation at home helping her mother, and then applied for a position at the phone company. She got the job immediately.
 
Catherine still keeps in touch with some of her old friends from school. Louise Daniels, formerly Louise Strebel, has known Catherine since kindergarten, when they went to St. John’s. They still visit and speak with each other. And funny enough, their friendship must have rubbed off on their kids, because Catherine’s oldest son, and one of Louise’s sons are best friends as well. Catherine and Louise seem to have quite a few things in common, even to this day. Other friends of Catherine from high school included Louise Niser, Miriam Betts, and Judy Steipe.
 
When asked to sum up her high school experience in a few words, she said she had just one…”crappy.” Because it was during a time of war, the schools had no supplies, and didn’t have the efficient material required to enjoy themselves. When a dance was planned, all the materials had to be made themselves. But, even though this is how she would sum up her high school experience, she wouldn’t change a thing, just the war, which she could not control.
 
Experiencing this interview with my grandmother has given me a sense of what the world was like back then for the students of CenterMorichesHigh School. I am so glad I got this opportunity, and I hope there are many more to come.                 ~Amanda Ringhoff ~