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!)
