Peggy Kaempfer (Harjes)

Peggy Kaempfer (Harjes)
  • My family moved from Toronto to Peachtree Rd. in Homestead Village in the summer of 1955. Instant playmates! New experiences included riding bikes, roller skating and taking a school bus. Miss Barber was my third grade teacher at Liberty Corner. She told the class I came from Canada, another country, and I felt rather odd for awhile until the arrival of Kenny Ballinger who then became the new kid. Miss Barber played the piano and we all sang from our songbooks. I distinctly remember Philip Mylod hitting her. Boys-only marble games seemed to dominate recess.
  • The following year all the kids from Homestead Village in fourth and fifth grade got on the bus and went to the West Millington Baptist Church. Mrs. Hedden, our teacher, was also our neighbor! We read great books that year and I loved making those salt and flour maps.
  • With the completion of Cedar Hill School, we became walkers. For fifth grade, Miss McCartney was a wonder with dangly earrings and fun shoes. The "Blue Streak" and learning some Spanish were highlights. There were always reports to write and projects to be done.
  • Mr. Aspinwall was my first male teacher in sixth grade. Linda Sullivan wrote a play that year for the class to perform. It was a mystery. The plot eludes me but we loved practicing for it.
  • In seventh grade and eighth grade we changed classes. My homeroom and science teacher, Mr. Koza, had a green thumb, filling his window sills with plants. I believe it was Mrs. Hull who told us adding -ly to a word was like putting a hat on a horse. I still do think about that today when adding -ly. In the "Talent Show," organized by Mr. Grossman, Penny Pitt, Joan Wagner and I played beatniks. I'm not quite sure what our talent was.
  • The new high school seemed so modern and vast. Freshman year was daunting and those green gym suits were dreadful. Foreign languages, science labs, and lots of homework. I loved history with Mr. Moyers and thought Mr. King was remarkable. I was in Mr. King's class when we heard Kennedy had been shot. Bruce Macchiaverna held my hand.
  • Basking Ridge was a wonderful place to grow up. Our neighbors became life long friends of my parents. We celebrated holidays and went on vacations with the Ballingers and the Stoeckers. The tree lighting and choral sing at Christmas, the Memorial Day Parade and the Kiwanis Fair were not to be missed.
  • Our daughter, Meg, and husband Tom bought a house in Basking Ridge about 5 years ago after looking at a lot of towns. They love the community and my grandson Christian is now a kindergartener at Liberty Corner School. I have only been in the newer section of the school but I will check out Miss Barber's classroom one day and let you know how it looks.
    Thank you for all your work putting this reunion together. Looking forward to seeing everyone.