This month marks the 70th anniversary of the opening of Coleytown Elementary School.
That seems like a long time ago. In the 7 decades since, we’ve seen a host of school changes. From a “new” (then “modernized,” and now “really new” — though already nearly 20 years old) Staples High School, to “new” schools like Burr Farms and Hillspoint that opened, closed and now are just vague memories, to schools like Bedford and Saugatuck that have changed physical locations), tens of thousands of students have passed through Coleytown’s halls.
And — though it’s been expanded a bit — members of that first 1953 class would recognize those halls easily today.
The original Coleytown Elementary School.
However, that opening day 70 years ago is not so far away. Several former students emailed memories of their first year to “06880.”
Happily, one of the first 1st grade teachers — Dorothy Hall — is still alive.
And still in Westport.
She and her husband — retired Staples High School educator Gordon Hall — live here in town.
Jane Nordli Jessep’s 1st grade classroom, with Dorothy Hall. Twelve members of that class went all the way through the Westport schools, graduating with Staples High School’s Class of 1965.
Pat Small’s taught 2nd grade, the next year.
Ann Sheffer was in Coleytown’s first kindergarten class (and was part of the first graduating class to go all the way through the school, 6 years later).
Ann’s first grade teacher was Pat Small. That year she married Paul Lane. Every student in the class was invited to the wedding.
Paul went on to coach Staples football and track teams. Like the Halls, he and Pat lived for many years in Westport.
Ann Sheffer’s 1st grade class, with Pat Small. Ann is at the far right.
Those early years are vivid, in the minds of the initial cohort of students. Jane Nordli Jessep remembers “Coleytown Capers.” the fundraising show drew on the formidable talents of school parents, many of whom were in show business.
Jane’s mother Betty had been a big band singer in the late 1930s and early ’40s. In “Capers” she sang a torch song called “The Girl in the Picture.” The final line was apt: “He works all day in the city, so we can live in the country, and spend all our time apart.”
Of course, plenty of parents found time to stage and perform in “Coleytown Capers.” Among the notable: Hal James. The future Broadway producer of “Man of La Mancha” was the Capers’ producer/director.
This edition of the “Coleytown Capers” ran for 3 nights.
Harriet Wolfson Flehinger has memories too.
Her mother, Hortense Wolfson, taught for 25 years, almost from the start.
After retiring she stayed on as a substitute teacher, until she was 80.
Hortense Wolfson’s 3rd grade class, around 1960.
Harriet’s 1st grade Coleytown El teacher was “Miss Barbara.”
“We learned later that we were asked to call her Miss Barbara because her last name was Worms. It was determined that 6-year-olds could not be trusted to call their teacher Miss Worms,” Harriet recalls.
Miss Barbara, with Harriet Wolfson’s 1st grade class.
Her father, Harry Wolfson, was a stage manager in the Coleytown Capers. One year the cast and crew gave him a small award. He kept it for 30 years.
Harriet also remembers noted artist Stevan Dohanos’ mural.
“I thought it was the biggest horse in the world,” she says. “When I envision it in my mind, I still see it from the perspective of a small child.”
Stevan Dohanos’ mural.
In around 3rd grade, Harriet says, every Coleytown student lined up in the auditorium for polio vaccine shots.
That was also the era of air raid drills. Students lined up inside hallways, and crouched down hands on top of their heads. “In retrospect,” Harriet says, “that was laughable.”
Everyone was proud of the school’s innovation: an outside door for every classroom.
During fire drills, students were told, they cold empty the school in less than 2 minutes.
There was a fort out back, on the primary grade playground. Harriet always wanted to play in it, with the boys.
Finally, they let her make mud balls that they threw at each other. “I thought I was really one of the boys,” she says.
Rear view of Coleytown Elementary School, before expansion.
Harriet recalls her teachers’ names: Miss Barbara, Miss Small, Mrs. Capasse, Mrs. Walker, Mrs. Friedman, Mr Amundsen. “Funny I can remember all of them, but not what I ate for lunch yesterday!” she laughs.
As she got older and returned to the school, Harriet was struck by Coleytown’s architecture.
“It seems to fit the lay of the land so well. I’m not so sure about all the extensions. But the original building was so graceful.”
Coleytown Elementary School today …
… and the view from the air.
(Wherever you went to elementary school, you’re invited to enjoy our flashbacks, every Friday. You’re also welcome to support “06880.” Just click here — and thank you!)
Ann Sheffer’s 5th grade teacher, Mr. Donofrio.
Ann Sheffer heads off to Coleytown Elementary School.
