Margo Burhans (Lewis)

(Although I did not grow up in Basking Ridge - one of the West Millington few)

• I moved to West Millington, NJ, from Upstate NY just before the 4th grade school year.  The new elementary school in Basking Ridge was being built, I believe, but not finished then.  Our 4th grade class met upstairs in an auxiliary building next to the Baptist Church at the top of King George Road.  There was at least one other grade level there - probably a fifth grade class and maybe others; I don't remember.  We ate cafeteria style in the basement area of the church. The "small school" set-up made for a good transition coming in as a new student and not knowing anyone.  Mrs. Hedden was our teacher.  I liked her a lot, but when her ears started turning red - we knew to watch out! She had the most beautiful long-hand writing. I made so many new friends at that one-room school and it was probably one of the best years of my life.  We had flutophone lessons with Mr. Palmer, who traveled to the school once a week and what seemed like endless outdoor recess times.  Mrs. Hedden read to us every day in the afternoon - wonderful choices.  Some of the best for me were about Howard Carter's discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb in Thebes and then about Beebe's descent in the bathysphere to great depths where strange, electric fish swam past - I was breathlessly enthralled by both. I also remember "The Weekly Reader" with a certain fondness. Anyway - I have some nice B&W snapshots of my new friends in NJ and Mrs. Hedden.

• I had Mr. English for 5th and 6th grade.  He was also a great teacher and opened my horizons to America History, a particular passion even now. He allowed me to do a recitation of the Gettysburg Address at an assembly in a civil war dress of my great-great grandmother's.  I learned A. Lincoln's words under duress when I made the mistake of exclaiming, "I'm bored", to my father one weekend.

• When we moved on up in 7th and 8th grades to Oak Street School in Basking Ridge, there was great freedom to walk about town before or after school to get something to eat at the Corner Cupboard. Looking back it seems idyllic, although it may not have been for everyone - who knows.

• There were a lot of superlative memories for me at Ridge HS, but since music has always been a big part of my life, being in the marching band with brand new uniforms and playing in the concert band were biggies - I think Mr. Birnbaum was a fine musical director.

• I know that both my sister and I felt a bit out of the "social whirl" during our high school years because we lived way out in West Millington instead of in Basking Ridge.  But the late bus group heading to the outer fringes of the Township each day - places like Liberty Corner, Lyons VA area, and West Millington, walked home a long way in all weather and it made for close ties and strong character. And I had to feed and milk my goats every day after I got home too!

• Phil Parker's wonderful comments made me think about Mr. King. Does anyone else remember that he was ambidextrous in rather an unusual way? That is, he would often write geometry "stuff" and formulas with one hand, while simultaneously erasing with the other, then switch and do the same thing with the opposite hands. I don't think this is a figment of my imagination (???) - my sister noticed the same thing. Anybody else?

  [Yes, I remember Mr. King writing with right hand and erasing with left hand. We had to take notes very quickly. I don’t remember him changing hands though, but my memory isn’t what it used to be. -Susan Agoglia (Ivovich)]

  [Yes, Margo. Mr. King worked quickly. You couldn't afford to look away! -Pat Murphy (Steege)]

  [Yes, Mr. King was ambidextrous from what I remember. He would face the board, speaking loudly and erase what he had just written. When he came to the end of the board, he would reverse hands and keep going. Amazing -Ken Ballinger]

  [I also remember Mr. King erasing the board too. I somehow remember him crossing his arms and erasing with his left hand just ahead of writing with his right hand. Others seem to recall him writing with his left hand. It sounds like he did both! I also vividly recall the many eraser fights we had in class, all the while Mr. King just sat there and talked to some of us. It's a wonder we learned anything. However, I must have learned something since that calculus class helped me the first semester at Bucknell. - Jim McSkimin]