Ecorse High School - 1935 and 1936
Ecorse High School – 1935 and 1936
Bits of Biography- Class of 1935
John Baklarz
John completed the College Course. He was a member of the E-Club and active in athletics and debating, winning three letters in football, three in basketball and one in track. He plans to take up forestry at Michigan State College.
Kenneth Bolthouse
Entered Ecorse High School as a freshman. He has taken a commercial course. He was the sports editor for the Ecorse Echo and plans to enter the field of journalism.
Charles Cresswell
Entered Ecorse High School as a freshman. He was on the football team of ’32,’33,’34. Track of ’32,’33,’34. Secretary of the E-Club, ’34,’35. Also sports editor of the Echo paper. He plans to enter the Central State Teachers College and take up physical education.
1936 Ecorse High People Superintendent: Charles Miller
Principal: John Davis
Teachers:
Glen Hunt English, Dramatics
Miss Helen Conor English
Omar Vogt English
Warren Jackson History, Science
Miss Blanche Elliott History, Civics
Calvin Knox Music, History
Miss Helena Jessman Biology
Miss Margaret Milner Art and Music
Ecorse School Days. . . ’36
By Jo Santoro Cialkowski (written in September, 1960)
September! School Days! School Days!
How was it 24 years ago with the Ecorse High School Class of ’36?
This is the story of those 84 teenagers. Two buddies. World War II. And, our class motto: Not Finished! Just begun!
Ecorse, Michigan. Nestled on the Detroit River-St. Lawrence Seaway. It was the historic route of LaSalle and Jesuit Fr. Hennepin in 1600. Cadillac and the Huron, converted Catholic Wyandot Indians, came in 1763. In 1784 it was called Riviere Aux Echorches, meaning tree-banks stripped for Pottawattomie canoes. It was Grandport, then Ecorse.
Some teachers and classmates were direct descendents of these pioneers-mostly French Canadian families – Campau, Goodell and Labadie, Bondie, LeBlanc, Drouillard and Bourassa. Mrs. V. Simon Rousson was the first teacher. A.M. Salliott was the first president.
Class sponsors were: Helen Connor, English teacher. John Bauer, deceased, a chemistry instructor who had seen action in World War II.
Class officers were: Patrick Trondle, president. He has been Ecorse City Clerk of 11 years. Cynthia Swearingen, vice-president. Bob Roberts, secretary. Verna Engle, treasurer.
Main source of entertainment: The ancient Ecorse Theatre, operated by classmate Dan Bzovi’s father. Adults: 25c; Children: 10c. Baby sitting, 25c a night, often included doing the dishes.
School mornings chimed, with laughter as classmates met to chat about assignments, teachers and clothes. Dresses draped at calf-length. Shoes: Cuban heels. Hair style: Deep lustrous waves. We talked about the gold class ring. The coming plays.
All productions were directed by inspiring literature teacher, Glen Hunt. The Junior Class comedy was, “Where’s Your Wife?” The Senior Class Play, “Nothing But The Truth,” was also presented for a parent’s club in Detroit. The cast:
Cynthia Swearingen, Dolores Hink, Mary Thomas, Pauline Riegel, Rose Duprey, Charles Oltean, and Ecorse police lieutenant for many years, Ray Harling, James Kings and Charles Hunter, Donald Birnbaum, Tony (Jakowenko) Owens, vice-president and controller of the Lincoln Park Security Bank, and Leo Mandersheid, deceased. Also Mildred De Voe, Victor Kendall, Bob Roberts, Margaret Imlach, Francis Grundy and myself.
Once, on stage, that “frantic” moment happened as I spoke on the new type phone. The assembly jeered at the wrong moment! Later, back stage, two boys moved scenery. Tall, sedate Arthur Guertin and his pal, neatly dressed in a blue sweater, teased me about the scene.
“You know, Jo, Jo, the pal grinned. You were speaking through the wrong end of the phone!”
That was the first time I noticed the smiling blue eyes of Clayton Pudvan, who came to be known as “Puddy,” and an “item” in the Ecorse Echo.
The only girl married in our senior year was Madeleine Hill, cited for magnificent penmanship. She teaches home economics.
The most outstanding student was Barbara Kloporic, her name etched on the school bronze honor plaque. Valedictorian Mary Pakaski was first to win a school scholarship. She is a graduate of home economics – Wayne State. Salutatorian was Margaret Imlach.
Dean of the boys was Warren Jackson. Dean of girls: Minerva Hunter. Some classmates majored in the commercial course taught by Carl Peterson. Others excelled in languages. English: Omer Vogt. German: Dora Von Sprecken. Latin, also librarian: Della Metzger. French: Jane Pottes. Art: Margaret Milner.
84 teenagers of mixed races. Yet, no “incident” is recalled. John Davis, kindly Principal, counseled the few stubborn cases.
Football Captain: Pat Trondle won the sports award. Team members: Dib Birnbaum, Walter Cochran, Milton Kennedy, Dee Helbig, Charles Hunter, William Koval, Norbert Labadie, Alvin Meschke, William Rhea, Bob Roberts, Arthur Warburton, George Coman, James Reddick and Leander Allen.
Razzle-dazzle pep-rallies were sparked by algebra teacher and coach, Francis Labadie, deceased. He had served many years as Ecorse Councilman. Once was Mayor Pro tem at the death of Ex Mayor William Voisene.
During an afternoon streaking track season, Art was discussing the model home Puddy was designing for a local contest, as they sat near us girls in the stands.
My brother, Victor (Class of ’34), in the mile race, came stretching into the tape for a second win.
“Ho, ho,”, chided Puddy, “Just look at that Sicilian power!”
I wanted to shout, “You bet, Puddy,” but I was too busy weeping and hugging my triumphant brother.
Who could see ahead a few years? The fate of the two buddies on that detonated Sicilian shore?
Skip Day: Walled Lake.
Senior Hop Night. May. Girls in fluffy gowns. Boys in shiny suits exchanged dances (not many went steady then). How fragrant the gym we had trimmed with pink-and-white apple blossoms.
No drive-ins. Few cars. The “gang” snacked at our home, slicing Mother’s Sicilian oven-long loaves an inch-thick. Sesame-seed sprinkled with cold cuts. Hot cocoa and golden brown crusts melting with butter. Delicious!
The National Honor Society Roll: J. Wilson, L. Stephens, D. Gora, C. Goodell, V. Engle, D. Helbig, M. Imlach, V. Kennedy, H. Domonkos, M. Pakaski and B. Kloporic.
Baccalaureate Services were conducted by Rev. Leonard Duckett of Ecorse Presbyterian Church, built in 1914.
June 18, 1936. In gray cap-and-gown, we proudly marched to “Pomp and Circumstance.” Ex-governor Wilber Brucker spoke on our motto, “Not Finished! Just Begun!”
The glee club, directed by history teacher, Calvin Knox, chanted the sentimental class song, “Classmates Forever!” Singers: Joyce Moore; Frances Schrader, Louise Walker, Jean Robin, Margaret Imlach, Rose Druprey, Kathleen and Shirley Langlois, Irene Klisz and Margarite Larsen, Myrtle Connor and Hazel Fryer. Jonnie Lott, Mary Kerestuary, Arthur Osinski and James Robinson. Vincent Goodman, Roy Bourassa and William Thomas, Sophie Reest and Esther Schwartz.
The diploma was signed by Superintendent Claude J. Miller. Principal John Davis, Board of Education President Fred Vellmure, Secretary Roy W. Seavitt and Treasurer Guy Pooley.
Afterwards in the gym, elated misty-eyed graduates were greeted by relatives. Then Puddy, who had recently won first prize in the model-home contested tipped his tasseled cap “goodbye.”
Arthur Guertin worked in maintenance at Ford Motor Company. He had seen three years of engineering evening classes at U of D. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Guertin, 39 Outer Drive, Art and Clayton were devout parishioners of St. Francis Xavier Church, erected in 1882.
Lt. Arthur Guertin, in the 8th Army Force, served on a B17, “The Georgia Rebels” was shot down over Normandy Beach, April 28, 1943.
Clayton Pudvan was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Pudvan, 30 Goodell Street, the family settled in Ecorse in 1900. Clayton was the timekeeper at Murray Body Corp. During WWII, he trained at Fort Hamilton, N.Y., where he married Helen Arment. Disembarking for Europe and North Africa, there was a joyous chance meeting with school pal, Pat Trondle.
On August 21, 1943, Sgt. Clayton Pudvan was killed on the bombarded shores of Sicily.
Arthur Guertin and Clayton Pudvan were killed only four months apart.
At the ’36 Class Reunion, May 1946, a school reference book was dedicated with the names of Arthur Guertin and Clayton Pudvan gold-scrolled in it.
Classmates who distinguished themselves in the service of our country were Albert Zukonik, 7 years a Marine. A platoon sergeant on the USSS Erie which sank. Zukonik is now Ecorse Police Chief. Alvin Meschke, a Marine sergeant, saw 36 months battle in the Marshall Islands. He is a plant superintendent in Detroit. Frank Black, Erwin Cadaret, Victor Kendal, Harry Klenner, Martin Lilicy, Jonathan Roach, Albert Sholtes, who built a fine sailing craft, Thomas Terrett, James Tweedale, Arthur Warburton, Frank Abramczyk, Daniek Bzovi, Donald Birnbaum, Aaron Childress and Milton Kennedy – both Ecorse mailmen.
Also, Walter Cochran, George Coman, Edward Gugnitz, Francis Grundy, James Happ, Dee Helbig, Tony Owens, Edward Kay and James Kings. Arthur Kish, William Koval, Norbert Labadie and Charles Oltean. William Rhea, Stanley Schartz, Kenneth Sniffin, a Great Lakes Steel supervisor, Pat Tondle and Leo Mandersheid
Other graduates: Ruth LaCross, Valeria Lovasz, Stella Sternal, Madonna Beach and Aldythe Cunningham. Joyce Drouiliard, Dorothy Gora, Evelyn Haury and Margaret Imlach.
Bits of Biography- Class of 1935
John Baklarz
John completed the College Course. He was a member of the E-Club and active in athletics and debating, winning three letters in football, three in basketball and one in track. He plans to take up forestry at Michigan State College.
Kenneth Bolthouse
Entered Ecorse High School as a freshman. He has taken a commercial course. He was the sports editor for the Ecorse Echo and plans to enter the field of journalism.
Charles Cresswell
Entered Ecorse High School as a freshman. He was on the football team of ’32,’33,’34. Track of ’32,’33,’34. Secretary of the E-Club, ’34,’35. Also sports editor of the Echo paper. He plans to enter the Central State Teachers College and take up physical education.
1936 Ecorse High People Superintendent: Charles Miller
Principal: John Davis
Teachers:
Glen Hunt English, Dramatics
Miss Helen Conor English
Omar Vogt English
Warren Jackson History, Science
Miss Blanche Elliott History, Civics
Calvin Knox Music, History
Miss Helena Jessman Biology
Miss Margaret Milner Art and Music
Ecorse School Days. . . ’36
By Jo Santoro Cialkowski (written in September, 1960)
September! School Days! School Days!
How was it 24 years ago with the Ecorse High School Class of ’36?
This is the story of those 84 teenagers. Two buddies. World War II. And, our class motto: Not Finished! Just begun!
Ecorse, Michigan. Nestled on the Detroit River-St. Lawrence Seaway. It was the historic route of LaSalle and Jesuit Fr. Hennepin in 1600. Cadillac and the Huron, converted Catholic Wyandot Indians, came in 1763. In 1784 it was called Riviere Aux Echorches, meaning tree-banks stripped for Pottawattomie canoes. It was Grandport, then Ecorse.
Some teachers and classmates were direct descendents of these pioneers-mostly French Canadian families – Campau, Goodell and Labadie, Bondie, LeBlanc, Drouillard and Bourassa. Mrs. V. Simon Rousson was the first teacher. A.M. Salliott was the first president.
Class sponsors were: Helen Connor, English teacher. John Bauer, deceased, a chemistry instructor who had seen action in World War II.
Class officers were: Patrick Trondle, president. He has been Ecorse City Clerk of 11 years. Cynthia Swearingen, vice-president. Bob Roberts, secretary. Verna Engle, treasurer.
Main source of entertainment: The ancient Ecorse Theatre, operated by classmate Dan Bzovi’s father. Adults: 25c; Children: 10c. Baby sitting, 25c a night, often included doing the dishes.
School mornings chimed, with laughter as classmates met to chat about assignments, teachers and clothes. Dresses draped at calf-length. Shoes: Cuban heels. Hair style: Deep lustrous waves. We talked about the gold class ring. The coming plays.
All productions were directed by inspiring literature teacher, Glen Hunt. The Junior Class comedy was, “Where’s Your Wife?” The Senior Class Play, “Nothing But The Truth,” was also presented for a parent’s club in Detroit. The cast:
Cynthia Swearingen, Dolores Hink, Mary Thomas, Pauline Riegel, Rose Duprey, Charles Oltean, and Ecorse police lieutenant for many years, Ray Harling, James Kings and Charles Hunter, Donald Birnbaum, Tony (Jakowenko) Owens, vice-president and controller of the Lincoln Park Security Bank, and Leo Mandersheid, deceased. Also Mildred De Voe, Victor Kendall, Bob Roberts, Margaret Imlach, Francis Grundy and myself.
Once, on stage, that “frantic” moment happened as I spoke on the new type phone. The assembly jeered at the wrong moment! Later, back stage, two boys moved scenery. Tall, sedate Arthur Guertin and his pal, neatly dressed in a blue sweater, teased me about the scene.
“You know, Jo, Jo, the pal grinned. You were speaking through the wrong end of the phone!”
That was the first time I noticed the smiling blue eyes of Clayton Pudvan, who came to be known as “Puddy,” and an “item” in the Ecorse Echo.
The only girl married in our senior year was Madeleine Hill, cited for magnificent penmanship. She teaches home economics.
The most outstanding student was Barbara Kloporic, her name etched on the school bronze honor plaque. Valedictorian Mary Pakaski was first to win a school scholarship. She is a graduate of home economics – Wayne State. Salutatorian was Margaret Imlach.
Dean of the boys was Warren Jackson. Dean of girls: Minerva Hunter. Some classmates majored in the commercial course taught by Carl Peterson. Others excelled in languages. English: Omer Vogt. German: Dora Von Sprecken. Latin, also librarian: Della Metzger. French: Jane Pottes. Art: Margaret Milner.
84 teenagers of mixed races. Yet, no “incident” is recalled. John Davis, kindly Principal, counseled the few stubborn cases.
Football Captain: Pat Trondle won the sports award. Team members: Dib Birnbaum, Walter Cochran, Milton Kennedy, Dee Helbig, Charles Hunter, William Koval, Norbert Labadie, Alvin Meschke, William Rhea, Bob Roberts, Arthur Warburton, George Coman, James Reddick and Leander Allen.
Razzle-dazzle pep-rallies were sparked by algebra teacher and coach, Francis Labadie, deceased. He had served many years as Ecorse Councilman. Once was Mayor Pro tem at the death of Ex Mayor William Voisene.
During an afternoon streaking track season, Art was discussing the model home Puddy was designing for a local contest, as they sat near us girls in the stands.
My brother, Victor (Class of ’34), in the mile race, came stretching into the tape for a second win.
“Ho, ho,”, chided Puddy, “Just look at that Sicilian power!”
I wanted to shout, “You bet, Puddy,” but I was too busy weeping and hugging my triumphant brother.
Who could see ahead a few years? The fate of the two buddies on that detonated Sicilian shore?
Skip Day: Walled Lake.
Senior Hop Night. May. Girls in fluffy gowns. Boys in shiny suits exchanged dances (not many went steady then). How fragrant the gym we had trimmed with pink-and-white apple blossoms.
No drive-ins. Few cars. The “gang” snacked at our home, slicing Mother’s Sicilian oven-long loaves an inch-thick. Sesame-seed sprinkled with cold cuts. Hot cocoa and golden brown crusts melting with butter. Delicious!
The National Honor Society Roll: J. Wilson, L. Stephens, D. Gora, C. Goodell, V. Engle, D. Helbig, M. Imlach, V. Kennedy, H. Domonkos, M. Pakaski and B. Kloporic.
Baccalaureate Services were conducted by Rev. Leonard Duckett of Ecorse Presbyterian Church, built in 1914.
June 18, 1936. In gray cap-and-gown, we proudly marched to “Pomp and Circumstance.” Ex-governor Wilber Brucker spoke on our motto, “Not Finished! Just Begun!”
The glee club, directed by history teacher, Calvin Knox, chanted the sentimental class song, “Classmates Forever!” Singers: Joyce Moore; Frances Schrader, Louise Walker, Jean Robin, Margaret Imlach, Rose Druprey, Kathleen and Shirley Langlois, Irene Klisz and Margarite Larsen, Myrtle Connor and Hazel Fryer. Jonnie Lott, Mary Kerestuary, Arthur Osinski and James Robinson. Vincent Goodman, Roy Bourassa and William Thomas, Sophie Reest and Esther Schwartz.
The diploma was signed by Superintendent Claude J. Miller. Principal John Davis, Board of Education President Fred Vellmure, Secretary Roy W. Seavitt and Treasurer Guy Pooley.
Afterwards in the gym, elated misty-eyed graduates were greeted by relatives. Then Puddy, who had recently won first prize in the model-home contested tipped his tasseled cap “goodbye.”
Arthur Guertin worked in maintenance at Ford Motor Company. He had seen three years of engineering evening classes at U of D. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Guertin, 39 Outer Drive, Art and Clayton were devout parishioners of St. Francis Xavier Church, erected in 1882.
Lt. Arthur Guertin, in the 8th Army Force, served on a B17, “The Georgia Rebels” was shot down over Normandy Beach, April 28, 1943.
Clayton Pudvan was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Pudvan, 30 Goodell Street, the family settled in Ecorse in 1900. Clayton was the timekeeper at Murray Body Corp. During WWII, he trained at Fort Hamilton, N.Y., where he married Helen Arment. Disembarking for Europe and North Africa, there was a joyous chance meeting with school pal, Pat Trondle.
On August 21, 1943, Sgt. Clayton Pudvan was killed on the bombarded shores of Sicily.
Arthur Guertin and Clayton Pudvan were killed only four months apart.
At the ’36 Class Reunion, May 1946, a school reference book was dedicated with the names of Arthur Guertin and Clayton Pudvan gold-scrolled in it.
Classmates who distinguished themselves in the service of our country were Albert Zukonik, 7 years a Marine. A platoon sergeant on the USSS Erie which sank. Zukonik is now Ecorse Police Chief. Alvin Meschke, a Marine sergeant, saw 36 months battle in the Marshall Islands. He is a plant superintendent in Detroit. Frank Black, Erwin Cadaret, Victor Kendal, Harry Klenner, Martin Lilicy, Jonathan Roach, Albert Sholtes, who built a fine sailing craft, Thomas Terrett, James Tweedale, Arthur Warburton, Frank Abramczyk, Daniek Bzovi, Donald Birnbaum, Aaron Childress and Milton Kennedy – both Ecorse mailmen.
Also, Walter Cochran, George Coman, Edward Gugnitz, Francis Grundy, James Happ, Dee Helbig, Tony Owens, Edward Kay and James Kings. Arthur Kish, William Koval, Norbert Labadie and Charles Oltean. William Rhea, Stanley Schartz, Kenneth Sniffin, a Great Lakes Steel supervisor, Pat Tondle and Leo Mandersheid
Other graduates: Ruth LaCross, Valeria Lovasz, Stella Sternal, Madonna Beach and Aldythe Cunningham. Joyce Drouiliard, Dorothy Gora, Evelyn Haury and Margaret Imlach.