Charlie Hoke lived in Westport a while ago.
A long while ago.
He moved away after 3rd grade — at Bedford Elementary School.
For more than 40 years, that’s been Town Hall.
Charlie left Bedford 30 years before that — in 1944.
From the 1920s through the ’70s, Town Hall was Bedford Elementary School.
But he’s alive and well (“tarp as a shack,” he reports). He writes, reads, travels, cooks, bakes, and enjoys life in Arizona.
Now, at 88 years young, he’s looking for local information.
Charlie moved here when his father was transferred from a job in Milwaukee to New York. The family moved first to Murvon Court near Compo Beach, then later to a home on Main Street, a short walk from school.
Charlie Hoke: Easter 1940, at Murvon Court.
His father was involved here with the Saugatuck Toy Company. In 1944, the family moved when he was transferred to Detroit.
Many decades later, Charlie is working on a personal history, and would like to know the names of his 1st grade (1941-42), 2nd grade (1942-43) and 3rd grade (1943-44) teachers.
He has several memories from Westport. One is from December of 1941: listening on a big radio, as President Roosevelt delivered his Pearl Harbor speech.
Charlie also recalls a trip to the fire station (now Bedford Square, across from Pink Sumo), where he pet the firefighters’ Dalmatian, Patches.
Charlie Hoke, at Compo Beach.
Charlie’s uncle, Jimmy DeMaria, was a well-known barber downtown (and was the model once for the cover of the Saturday Evening Post — I’m guessing in an illustration by Westporter Stevan Dohanos),
Charlie recalls 2 Bedford El friends: Mary Bennett, a redhead he adored from a distance, and Bobby Brooks, a “child prodigy drummer.”
Bobby strutted down the street with Charles DeMaria, who was in his Army Air Force uniform, home on leave.
Charlie Hoke’s cousins Bill, Jean and Charlie DeMaria.
How did Charlie come to find “06880,” and request help with the names of his long-ago teachers?
A few months ago, on an Antarctic cruise, he met Westporter Barbara Siemon. They realized both had attended Bedford Elementary School (she more than a decade later than he).
Charlie mentioned his long search for teachers’ names. They’ve been emailing since the cruise, and the other day she mentioned “06880” as a possible help.
So, readers: Go for it.
Charlie Hoke
If you remember the names of Charlie’s Bedford Elementary School teachers — or recall any teachers from that era — click “Comments” below.
If anyone can help, it’s this online community.
And even if you can’t, I’m sure you’ll add some interesting tales from back in Charlie’s — and your — day.
(“06880” is where Westport meets the world — yesterday and today. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Mrs. Weigel was my English teacher in the class of 1960 at Bedford Elementary. The rest of other teachers is a blur.
I imagine that Peter Barlow, who I believe attended Bedford El roughly a half dozen years before Charlie, could provide names of some teachers. In any case, below is a link to an article from Dec 1940 that I found in a quick search which lists a lot of family names involved in the PTA—and perhaps it will help bring back memories of some classmates. Some prominent Westport names are among those here and one of the guest speakers that night was “businessman and editor” John Hersey.
https://books.google.com/books?id=sLc0AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA17&dq=%E2%80%9CBedford+elementary%E2%80%9D%E2%80%9Dteacher%E2%80%9D&article_id=5746,2419523&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjVg8vO0I-HAxXspo4IHSi1CCQ4KBDoAXoECAcQAw#v=onepage&q=%E2%80%9CBedford%2520elementary%E2%80%9D%E2%80%9Dteacher%E2%80%9D&f=false
Around 1959, John Hersey used to come in to bowl with his wife. I was age 11 or 12 and we were on a first name bases. I’d say, “Hi John” and he’d answer, “Hi Jackie.” (I was called Jackie back then.) He had a very odd bowling ball that was white and black. To me, he was just another friend I had who bowled.
Yes, I do remember the teachers at Bedford Elementary when I was there, starting in 1936. 1st grade: Miss Huck,(not sure of that name): 2nd and 3rd grade: Miss Gaetsweiler. I think there was another 2nd grade teacher. (I skipped a grade, going into Miss Gaetsweiler’s 2nd grade class and coming out the 3rd.) 4th grade: Miss Lumpkin (Lumkin?), 5th grade: Miss Wisneski, and 6th grade: Mrs. Strevenson, whose husband taught Math at Bedford Junior High. I have lots of memories of these years.
I had Mrs. Gordon for kindergarten in 1962 and Miss Huck for first grade before we moved to Saugatuck El. They remain 2 of my favorite teachers. Loved Miss Huck especially.
I must have been in the same classroom for two years with BJ Magnes as I had Mrs. Gordon for kindergarten and Miss Huck for first grade during the same years. Like BJ, I also moved for second grade because my parents bought a larger house in the Coleytown School district. At Bedford, I distinctly remember learning how to read and write, and perform arithmetic, too. I also remember being administered the new polio vaccine while standing on line in the lunchroom. So many memories in this post!
However, for many of us here, including me, “06880” has now engendered an Internet security breach. (That’s a concept Miss Huck never taught us.) A number of websites over the years have asked this security question: “What was the name of your first grade teacher?” Now everyone knows the answer insofar as those of us in this thread are concerned! If my security is breached anytime soon, I’ll let you know. In the meantime, if I just unplug the Internet and plug it back in again, will that repair the problem?
“Bedford El Forever!”
Interesting question, Doug. I just saw a post this morning on social media that said, “America, have you tried unplugging yourself and then plugging your country back in again?”
Doug, that would be amazing if we were in the same classes. I particularly loved Miss Huck. I remember we made homemade butter and then we ate it in ritz crackers. Sound familiar? And all those scribble stories.
Thank you Fred for that clip from The Norwalk Hour, circa 1940. The advertisements are priceless….just look at the prices of everything from furniture to produce. Fascinating!
Time sure flies. I remember when some of the Bedford El kids were integrated into my Coleytown 5th grade….and that was 50 years ago! Some of them had “Bedford El Forever” t-shirts.
Huh, in 1959, the town redistricted me from Coleytown Elementary to Bedford Elementary for my final 6th grade. Everybody south of North Avenue and Cross, went to Bedford. Bummer although I knew many from Little League and being close to downtown was, then, a winner.
Hi Charlie, I am sure our paths never crossed. I am just a few years younger than you are. I have a few of my old report cards and also memories of Bedford Elementary. I was privileged to spend all of my school years in Westport. First about Jimmy DeMaria and his son Charlie. Of course, everyone knew Jimmy De Maria. We had a close enough connection that we visited in his home. I believe I remember correctly that his son Charie was “lost” in WWII. I hope my memory serves me that his plane went down. My brother’s birthday was Nov. 3, 1943, and my memory was that Jimmy used to say that the day (or night) his son was lost God sent a replacement, my brother. That is a very rough translation but as best as I can remember the words and thoughts. I loved seeing the picture! I have a picture of my afternoon Kindergarten class and could send those names. I don’t know if it helps but Mrs. Spangenberg was the principal. I had Mrs. Betts for 3rd grade, Miss Sniffen for 4th grade, Mr. Kishel for 5th grade and Mrs. Stevenson for 6th grade. Part way through the year she became the librarian and Mr. Kishel finished out the year. To date this I was in 4th grade in 1949. Keep traveling, stay active and involved and write those memories for the generations to come. P.S. If other names come to mind, I’ll share them later.
My first grade teacher was Mrs. Betts. It’s possible that she had been there since the 30’s. my second grade teacher was Mrs. Santella, but she was too young to have taught back then. We then moved across town.
I bet Mrs. Betts was the mother of Bruce Betts, who taught at Staples and was my age.
And Mr. Betts Sr. was an administrator with Board of Education. Lynn was in my class. Bruce was a coach as well forever at Staples.
My second grade teacher was Mrs. Liffield (sp?) in 1958. The principal then was Miss Sleep. I cannot remember the kindergarten teacher’s name, 1956, but she was great.
Feel free to contact me with any information. Mary is correct. Charlie lost his life in an Air Force training crash near Pueblo CO. (We lost more pilots in training crashes than in combat).
Charlie Hoke
Email: Owlghm@gmail.com
Fred, that article about the PTA mentioned a “Coleman Williams”. I knew someone from Emmanuel Church in Weston in the 1960’s by that name, but I had no idea he was an explorer. Ironically, he used to go by the nickname “Coley” Williams.
Is it possible the Library has old yearbooks or some records of teachers, year by year. Wouldn’t hurt to call. Westport Historical Society might also have something.
Charles was one of my two younger brothers the other was Billy 8 years younger than I. Charles was 4 years younger and we had an older brother, George. I believe Miss Sleep was my fifth grade teacher and Mrs Stevenson my sixth. I remember when playing during recess we had to line up the. It’s going in one door and the girls in another. The De Maria’s were very good to all us kids. Their son William played the piano beautifully as did his dad. Their sister dated my uncle but later married a navy buddy of his and moved to Indiana. I remember many of my classmates: Adele Fraser, Judy Switz, Dianne Dee Bennet, Janet Driscoll Nancy Hillman, Peggy Ingalls, Charlie Hayes Eric Van Schmidt, Steven Dohanos. Also there were two girls sent to the USA for safety during WWII , Gillian…. maybe Jennifer? There are so any memories I have and so many gone. remember the Nancy Drew books upstairs in the public library, the newsstand on the corner where you could buy Big Little Books….and movie magazines, forbidden in my home! Probably very few left from the 6th grade graduating class of 1942.
I did some digging. I have “custody of my brother’s baby book so I looked for some of his teachers. He was three years younger than but I feel certain that many of the teachers were there for years. He has Miss O’Dell. I am fairly certain that eventually she was principal of another Elementary School. He also had a Miss, Huck, Miss Conners and a Mr. Flynn. Mrs. Stevenson! I remember her so well and was really saddened to have her leave the class room and become Librarian. She gave me so much confidence and helped to know that I could succeed. As the Librarian she directed me wonderful books to read. We family arriving later today so I will use the personal e-mail to send along the names of the afternoon kindergarten class. I may have the names of those who graduated and went on to Bedford Jr. High also. This has been wonderful to follow! Oh the memories.
Thanks, Mary. And yes — Lynn O’Dell went on to become principal of Coleytown Elementary School (I believe the first one, when it opened around 1953).
This is a fun thread, thanks for kicking things off Charlie. I too attended Bedford El from kindergarten through 6th grade. While I was there later than some commenters, it’s fun to see some familiar teacher names. I too had Mrs. Gordon for kindergarten in 1964, Miss Huck for first grade and Mrs. Liefeld for second grade. Based on Peter Barlow’s response, Miss Huck had a 30-plus year run at Bedford El. Great memories.
Luisa F.: That was Mrs. Liefield, who lived on Evergreen avenue, a street over from Tamarac. Visited her house once. All I remember of her was imposing and wearing black — and realizing teachers have family! My year in 2nd was IIRC 1955-56. By 1959-60, Mr. Flynn was principal; a daughter of his was in my class. I certainly had Miss/Mrs Lumkin, too, but no other names. Not the decade Charlie is looking for!
I thought there was a Miss or Mrs.
Nichols, or something like that. Does it ring any bells? Or the name Brown? Or Penney? My alleged mind is fuzzy going back that far. However, I can truthfully report that I had a meatloaf sandwich for lunch YESTERDAY.
Miss Huck was my Bedford El 3rd grade teacher in 1945.
I had a crush on her.
Wow, what an amazing collection of memories. I went to Bedford El from 2d grade (1945) through 6th grade (1949). My teachers — I remember them all very clearly — were Mrs. Virginia Betts (2d), Mrs. Ruth Holle (3rd), Miss Ethel Sniffen (4th), Miss Dorothy Sleep (5th), and Miss Iva Lumpkin (6th). They were just amazingly good teachers. Mrs. Nettie Spangenberg was the principal. I trace my ambition to become a university professor, which was realized, to those extraordinary women and their dedication to their profession.
I’ve always wanted to say the following on this site. I’m long gone from Westport, but, particularly when I was teaching at UConn and UMass, I encountered quite a few graduates of the Westport public schools. They were all, to a man and woman, well read, intellectually curious, very rewarding to teach. The Westport public schools are truly an ornament to the town. The fact that its taxpayers are willing to pay the freight, year after year, decade after decade, to support a school system that has consistently, for at least the last 60 years (in my experience), produced graduates of such extraordinarily high quality speaks volumes about Westport’s civic culture.
If Miss Huck had married Coach Jack Finn she’d be Mrs. Huck Finn!!!!