IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH COMMUNITY
EAST GERMANTOWN
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
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IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH COMMUNITY EAST GERMANTOWN PHILADELPHIA, PA.
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Friends of Immaculate Parish Reunion October 19, 2008
“ Best Memories”
A compilation of the best memories of our days in that wonderful “old neighborhood”, Germantown and that grand old parish, Immaculate Conception! (as submitted by attendees at the 2008 IC Reunion)
My best memory of Immaculate and Germantown is the trips to Willow Grove Park for the school picnics and the annual May Procession. Lois Corrado Ways IC Class of 1958 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The best memories I have of Immaculate are all of the bus trips to Willow Grove Park and all of the excitement associated with that day. The best memories of Germantown are associated with the Christmas holidays and the way Germantown and Chelten Avenues were decorated and all of the places to buy a Christmas tree for the house. Bill Cupo IC Class of 1965 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Around the age of 8 or 9, my friend, Danny Powers’ Mom treated us to “Imitation of Life”, shown in re-release at the Orpheum Theatre. It is a very poignant and tear-jerking film. But, for whatever reason, Danny and I found Mahalia Jackson’s singing during the funeral scene to be very funny. Not ha-ha funny, but loud, rolling on the floor laughter that clashed with everyone else’s tears. Poor Mrs. Powers was so upset with us! Today, when I see the film, it has the expected emotional impact on me along with an appreciation of Mahalia’s powerful voice. But, I can’t help smile when I remember that day at the Orpheum Theatre when the funeral scene had the opposite-than-expected effect on an out-of control Danny and me! Dennis McGlinchey IC Class of 1970 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My best memory is winning Paperboy of the Year from the Germantown Courier. Joseph J. Whalen IC Class of 1949 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When I was in 6th grade, the school experimented with having boys and girls in the same room. We were the first class to do this. Prior to that time the nuns had to teach one class of two grades. I graduated in 1937. My memories of the Immaculate are great. Kathleen Cassidy Adams IC Class of 1937 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I thank my family, the CM’s, IHM’s, my classmates of 1950, especially: John Blue, Joe Callaghan, Don Cooney, Jim Duffy, Eighth Grade basketball team, Jack Fahey, John Gallagher, Tom Kenney, Bernie McCormick, Jerry McMahon, Ed Morris, George Murphy, Bill O’Neil, Jack Ruhl, Jim Ryan, The Shamrock baseball team, Edmund Ward; also to John Dever, Dave Hutcheon, Bill McCready, Bill Smith. Without your influence and inspiration, I may never have dreamed the impossible dream…reached the unreachable star. THANK YOU ALWAYS! Joe Hill IC Class of 1950 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A few fond memories of attending school at the Immaculate Conception (1949-1957)
These memories are more than likely erroneous. It’s been such a long time ago and memories tend to stray as the years go by. Mike Murray IC Class of 1957 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Mom taking me downtown for a white dress and shoes for the beautiful May Procession every year and the crowning of the Blessed Mother’s statue. Marie M. Welsh-Stiehl ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Our Sisters” from the Golden Jubilee Book
1st Row: Sr. Marie Thomas, Grade 1; Sr. Mary Alban, Grade 7; Sr. Mary Albert, Mother Superior; Sr. Maria Joachim, Grade 8; Sr. Mary Frederick, Grade 5 2nd Row: Sr. Madeline Marie, Grade 7; Sr. Gonzales, Art & Elocution Teacher; Sr. Concepta, High School; Sr. Marina, Grade 2; Sr. Lilian Marie, Grade 6; Sr. Joseph Alphonse, Grade 2; Sr. Charles Mary, Reading; Sr. Marita Patrick, Grade 2 3rd Row: Sr. John Nepomocene, Grade 5; Sr. Miriam Bernadette, Grade 5; Sr. Benedict, Grade 3; Sr. Edwin Mary, Grade 1; Sr. Dona, Grade 4 4th Row: Sr. Catherine Sienna, Grade 4; Sr. Jean Therese, Grade 6; Sr. Patricia Mary, Grade 1; Sr. Gemma, cook in convent; Sr. Donald Marie, Grade 6 5th Row: Sr. Marita John, Grade 7; Sr. Mary La Salette, Grade 6; Sr. Mary Constance, Grade 8; Sr. Rose Estelle, Music; Sr. Antoine, Grade 8; Sr. St. Agnes, Grade 6
Submitted by Sr. Miriam Irene, I.H.M., who taught Grade 1 (1954-1958) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When I was in basic training in the U.S. Air Force our T.I. said, “You can tell the ones who have a Catholic education – they obey.” I’m appreciative of being a part of Immaculate Conception schooling and parish. Barry Butts IC Class of 1958 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wonderful memories of Sister Gonzales’ May Processions and Plays at Immaculate Hall.
Teresa Pillinger Irvin 1937-1940 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Memory of Germantown Avenue Christmas Shopping – 1950’s First stop: Woolworth’s. After checking out the turtles, gold fish and canaries in the back of the store, we’d search the toy section for tiddly winks, Slinky’s and trading cards for our siblings. For Mom, scarves, “scatter pins” or a 25-cent “grab bag” (contents unknown). One year I selected a bottle of perfume for Mom. Dad took one whiff and named it “Night at Broad and Passyunk.” Next, Murphy’s 5 & 10 with its creaky wooden floors. Everything there smelled like hotdogs. My sister, Mary Kay, would say, “You buy a scarf at Murphy’s and a dog follows you home.” For Dad, a tie or cufflinks from the tobacco shop on the corner of Germantown and Chelten. We avoided Rowell’s after being thrown out once for eating our Woolworth’s ice cream sandwiches in their women’s clothing department. We also hoped that shoppers wouldn’t recognize us as the ones who once bought bags of Planter’s Peanuts at the Germantown comic stand and coaxed 150 pigeons along the busy sidewalks from Vernon Park to Germantown Avenue and Armat Street. Maureen Kelly Bowers IC Class of 1958 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the fall of 1953 I arrived as a foster child in Sr. Catherine Sienna’s fourth grade class. I would leave the room to receive my instructions and received all of my Sacraments including Baptism in a whirlwind of graces all in one year. In fifth grade Sr. Sponsa Regis mesmerized me about the Little Sisters of the Poor where I then volunteered and made life-long friends there. Four of my friends are still serving as Little Sisters around the world; two of those are Immaculate graduates, Sr. Marie Mugan and Sr. Judith Dougherty from the Class of 1958. Speaking of the Class of 1958, my fondest memory is of my eighth grade class with Sr. Miriam Anita. On a lighter note, when Sister would leave the room there would be a soft pretzel fight with Barry Butts and Billy Canaday leading the way! Leona Joline IC Class of 1958 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Immaculate had beautiful May Processions and great carnivals.
Peg Kiernan Campbell IC Class of 1959 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is hard to believe that 59 years have passed since I started at Immaculate in September 1949. I still remember walking to school that day with my friend, Kay McMahon. Sr. Marie Thomas was my first grade teacher. I remember art class with Sr. Gonzales, gathering in the school year before the May Processions, my First Holy Communion day and before I knew it, being part of the graduating class of 1957, having met many dear friends along the way. Geraldine Franklin McGinnis IC Class of 1957 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My best memories are of the May Procession. We walked through the streets following the Blessed Mother and the May Queen. The air was warm and fragrant and the hymns just beautiful. We were so proud to be a part of this annual ritual. Christine Reynolds Coll IC Class of 1962 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Memories of the school yard games such as jumping over school bags. Kathleen McMahon Hodgins IC Class of 1958 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Taking piano and cello lessons from Sister Miriam Cecilia, I.H.M. in the beautiful music rooms. Marie Gillespie McLaughlin IC Class of 1937 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am grateful for so many happy memories of the Immaculate and the I.H.M. sisters and all the CM’s. I was one of eight in the family and we all graduated from the Immaculate. Thanks to all. Kathleen Discepola IC Class of 1963 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The May Procession, walking in line to the Walton to see “The Song of Bernadette” and “The Miracle of Marcellino”, The Penny Party, Caroll’s Candy at Chew and Chelten, selling 50-50 tickets. Nancy Cummins Rauscher IC Class of 1960 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Walking to school from the area of Germantown Hospital and meeting your school friends along the way and having a morning chat. Marilyn Clark Maher ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best Memory: Christmas morning for altar boys. Communion – 4 a.m., coffee milk (in wax cups) and donuts for breakfast. First donut used to remove wax from coffee. 5 a.m. – 7 a.m. Mass. 10 a.m. falling asleep at home. William J. Quain IC Class of 1941 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My best memory of Immaculate Conception was the May Procession to honor Mary. We would walk from the school through the street to church. All the neighbors would line up on the sidewalks to watch the procession. We wore gowns and floral wreaths. An 8th grade girl was always chosen as May Queen to crown the statue of the Blessed Mother. The 2nd grade girls were in the court. It was a wonderful yearly tradition. Margaret McMenamin Sague IC Class of 1957
I will always remember my eighth grade dance. It was lots of fun. Also, Sister Donald Marie. Sam Rescigno ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I really enjoyed Cub Scout Pack 118 meetings at the hall and being a safety. Fred Klotz ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My memories are too many to put into 50-75 words, so here is a condensed version. Memories of Immaculate would include a great education; the “good nuns” who instilled my faith; being in 8th grade with BOYS; playing in the school yard; soft pretzels; classmates who are still my life-long friends; May Processions; and the best of all, the school picnic at Willow Grove Park. Germantown would include Awbury Park, Suicide Hill, Waterview, shopping on Germantown Avenue, the library, a candy store on every corner, and most of all growing up in such a great neighborhood. Genevieve Welsh Bottorff IC Class of 1956 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My best memory of Germantown is living on Haines St. and being able to walk out my back door right into Awbury Park where all kinds of adventures awaited, especially sledding on Suicide Hill. James Bottorff IC Class of 1956 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ICS Memories: The annual outing at Willow Grove Park. The sickening smell of wet wool in the “cloak” room on a rainy day. Our annual physical and Miss Harkins, the school nurse. Germantown Memories: Sledding at Awbury Park. The water ice man and soft pretzel wagon. Shopping “out the Avenue” – a strange sounding phrase when you haven’t heard it for a long time. Molly Murphy Sperr IC Class of 1946 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My best memories are of the May Processions – outside processing from school yard down Price St. to the Church. Joan Hansberry Connelly IC Class of 1959 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Penny candy at Ann’s and Ed’s. Peg Rooney Morrow IC Class of 1958 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I remember the dances in the Hall; the penny parties and May Processions. Jane A. Bonner IC Class of 1958
The excitement as classes competed against each other to see which class could buy the most “pagan babies.” Hearing about what we would do when the Communists came to our school.
IC Class of 1961 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Welcome cake for Frank DeSimone’s family: Judith Cherry, Ann Kruzer, John O’D take a welcome cake to Frank’s house on Musgrave St. 7th grade or 8th – not sure. - Boys and girls school yards. - Srs. Marie Thomas, Marina Patrick, Jean Therese, Rose Immaculate, Antonius, Donald Marie, Therese Maureen - Mrs. Bonner - Cleaning leaves off of convent roof in8th grade - Lining up on Sundays for 9 a.m. Children’s Mass - Nurse’s office – Mrs. Harkins - 100+ kids in Sr. Marie Thomas’ first grade - Walking home from school on a warm October afternoon and hearing broadcast of Don Larsen’s perfect World Series game through open windows on the way - Charley Mullane and I going door-to-door selling stationery in 7th grade - Which nun was the DI? - Fist fight behind Pastorius with John Borgy - Going home for lunch - Stopping at Maryanne’s Bakery at Chelten and Boyer on the way home from school (By the way, Maryanne’s Bakery in Sea Isle is run by the same family) - Penny parties and bowling at Parish Hall - Bashing my head in the school yard at recess playing getaway when I ran full speed around a pickup in the driveway. Face first into lumber projecting out the rear - Walking in line by class out Chelten Avenue to the Walton movie to see Bernadette of Lourdes movie - Starr Center Dental Clinic - Trolley rides to school picnic at Willow Grove Park - Nuns with rolls of ride tickets at WG Park school picnic - Awbury Park: cowboy mountain, snake weeds, dragon tree - Waterview - Vistarama at Civic Center in 1957 John O’Donnell IC Class of 1958 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nancy Brett Nelson ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Memories of Immaculate Conception and East Germantown: - 5:00 a.m. Christmas Mass with such great procession of the Altar Boys & Priests and the beautiful singing hailing Christ’s Birth. - St. Patrick’s Day Minstrel – it was a time of the year when anyone who had any talent or liked to sing could participate in this event sharing great pride in their Irish heritage. - East Germantown & Waterview Recreation Centers – These centers provided gym classes tow days a week, tap, ballet and adagio dancing to fill our winter days and evenings and give us a love of these activities to carry through life. Summers were filled with softball teams for us girls (we even won the City Championship under Miss Furlong) and swim lessons, teams and shows under the guidance of Mrs. Leiderbach at Waterview. - What a return our parents received for their taxes in those days. Cass Brogan Tinney ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Living next to the school; Nurse Harkins checking for bugs; the candy store on Sprague Street. I worked for .50 and all the candy I wanted. Mary Pat McCreight Palmer IC Class of 1956 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thomas Ryan IC Class of 1954 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Walking to Germantown Avenue to shop; going to Linton’s Restaurant; the May Procession at Immaculate; dances at Immaculate; being taught by Sister Marita Patrick in 2nd grade; walking over to the Walton Movie Theater with my class to see “The Robe”; my parent’s pizza shop. Linda Palumbo Marzullo IC Class of 1958 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I remember the 5:00 Christmas Mass as an altar boy – with Bob Nolen singing “Oh, Holy Night”; walking from the school to the Walton Movie to see the “Song of Bernadette”; going out of school to watch the little dog, “Daisy” give us lesions in safety crossing the street at Chelten and Sprague Streets; watching the football games and playing as well at Chelten and Anderson when Football was “king” in East Germantown; Monday at the novena of the Miraculous Medal; riding the 52 car to Germantown & Chelten to go shopping. John C. Hynes IC Class of 1945 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
East Germantown Recreation Center when our beloved dance teacher, Miss Foster, taught us tap, ballet and adagio dancing. Miss Foster also played piano, designed and cut out our costumes, our mothers added the finishing touches. Ooh Lah! We were East Germantown’s best on stage! Bill Crozier was superintendent, Marty Cohen and Miss Furlong instructed the kids in Gymnastics. All these wonderful people were professional and the greatest of role models. My best friend was Nancy Shilling. The cost for all of this was…free! Thanks to EG I still love dancing. Catherine (Kitty) McMenamin Bryan IC Class of 1950 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thank you, Sister Mary Constance, our 8th grade nun. She convinced a bunch of us that if we wanted to participate fully in school activities, we should consider the smaller St. John the Baptist (Manayunk), rather than 4,000+ North Catholic. John (Jack) Murphy IC Class of 1949 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Come on … print?? Our penmanship distinguished us. I am a proud 1953 graduate of Immaculate Conception. Played basketball at the CYO Hall on Chelten Avenue and my first job was working the fountain at Woolworth’s on Germantown Avenue. So many memories – C.A. Rowell’s, the trolley, Linton’s, the 52 and 26 buses – I could go on and on. What a blessing to have grown up in Germantown in the ‘50’s! Wouldn’t change it for the world. Suzanne Murphy Smith IC Class of 1953 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Most vivid memories of Immaculate: The smell of Ivory Soap emanating from Sr. Edwin Mary, my first grade teacher; piano lessons in the convent with Sr. Florian; the beautiful wooden stairs at the entrance that we were never permitted to use; the annual field trip to Willow Grove Park, boxes of hard tack candy distributed to everyone as a Christmas gift from the pastor; not only buying Pagan Babies, but actually naming them; scrambling under desks for an air raid; Lenten Boxes, Nurse Harkins checking our head for “cooties” and the Parish Bulletin publishing the amount families gave in their weekly envelope. Peggy Murphy Higgins IC Class of 1961 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Met many good friends, especially Joe Hinton, Jack McCarthy and Pat Melly. John A. Brogan IC Class of 1945 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May Procession; my best friends for life – 1st grade to High School (Little Flower). Graduated 1950 from Immaculate with Kathleen McMenamin, Elaine Ambrose and Imogene Brimmer Connor. All died in the same year 2002. We were always together. I am the only one left. Thank you. Margaret Donaghy Castagno IC Class of 1950 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I remember going by trolley at the end of every school year to spend the day going on rides at Willow Grove Amusement Park. Anna Marie Cosenza Knowles IC Class of 1957 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Playing in the school yard at lunch; being a Keystone Safety Patrol at Chelten and Ardleigh Streets; selling pretzels; and the friends I grew up with in Germantown. I have seen many of them over the years. It is a shame to see the school not there. Edward J. Hammer ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Of Immaculate: Sister Mary St. Agnes’ kindness; Chocolate milk and pretzels at recess; beautiful church. Of Germantown: Recreation Center’s many activities. Margaret McMahon ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I did not know until after I left Immaculate that Catholics do not sing in church. At Immaculate and at the Shrine we SANG – loud and clear. Bill Murphy IC Class of 1948 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My name is Eileen Croke Brown and I graduated from Immaculate on June 9, 1946. My best memory was the school picnic at Willow Grove Park and we got the trolley on Chelten Ave. and it took us all the way to the picnic. Eileen Croke Brown IC Class of 1946 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Memories of Germantown: I lived diagonal to the church on Price St.; the Allen theatre right around the corner; walking to the dentist around the bend; the victory garden in Awbury Park; learning how to ice skate in Awbury Park; air raid drills – sitting on the porch with lights out. Memories of Immaculate: I lived diagonal to the church on Price St.; the street lined with people for the May Procession; elocution and piano lessons by Sr. Gonzaga in the convent; Parish Hall on Chelten Avenue; piano recital; my first communion – going up to the top step of the altar; my mother saying the stations after 8:00 mass; the iron fence separating the girls and boys yard; Father Rooney spending Saturday evening after confession in our living room. Marianne Walsh Ramsay IC Class of 1946 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All of the “Killeen” girls were married at Immaculate. Plus our parents were married in the lower church in 1916.
Sara (Cassidy) & Thomas Killeen Killeen Girls: Catherine, Margaret, Julia, Anne, Veronica, Rita and Mary ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
n Pretzel room n Trips to Willow Grove Park n Lines waiting to go into school n Sister Marie Thomas and a class of first graders n Standing in the principal’s office n Wooden floors and desks nailed to blocks of wood n Fancy iron work of desks n Go outdoors to get to bathrooms/no doors on stalls n May Procession n Fathers Tom Browne & Jim Doer Sister Barbara Pollock, gnsh IC Class of 1958 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was four years old and my sisters used to take me to school for the day, a short trip of about 10 yards on Chelten Avenue; sitting in Sr. Marie Thomas’ First Grade, delivering papers for Mother Mary Edith, and sitting on the heater of the school bus, next to the driver, Jack Boland. Our house was part of the Chelten Avenue Annex. Bob McCreight IC Class of 1967 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I graduated in 1953. I was born and raised in Germantown. It was a great neighborhood. I lived at 2146 Nedro Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19138 at that time. We had block parties, pie eating contests, hay rides, and we had a beautiful ball field which was called Belfield. I remember walking to school with Danny Campbell and getting a nickel for candy and used it to stop in Gallo’s to get my candy that was on Sprague St. “God Bless Immaculate Conception and Germantown.” William Cameron IC Class of 1953 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sr. Gonzales – music, elocution and art teacher Sr. Marie Thomas – 1st grade teacher Sr. Antonius – 4th grade teacher Three of the best women I have ever met. Jo Dina Errichetti ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sister Mary Alban – She had a little party for me in the classroom when I converted at the age of 13. To this day I still wear the medal she gave me of the Blessed Virgin and Sacred Heart of Jesus. Bonnie McDonald IC Class of 1958 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The friend I had at Immaculate I still have today and she still is so special. Joan McManus Geiger IC Class of 1958 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My best memory is all the fun I had being part of the Immaculate’s basketball team and playing at the “Hall”. Even though I was 2nd string, it was a blast! Rosemary McGlynn Boyce IC Class of 1958 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My favorite memory of Immaculate Conception is more of a feeling toward “IC”. The first time I saw “IC” I felt lost. I was amazed of its size and how many kids were lined up in the school yard. You see, I came from a very tiny school in Baltimore, MD, named St. Leo’s. St. Leo’s itself was not much bigger than “IC’s” annex and it had the 4th and 5th grades in the same room at the same time. My next feeling was fear, from the size of the school, to the number of kids but above all, how am I going to learn to spell Immaculate Conception. I wanted to get back into my mother’s car and go home. However, after a very short time I was accepted. Everyone made me feel welcomed and part of the “IC” family. When I think back to those days, my heart and mind are always filled with good things and forever thoughts. Moreover, I did learn to spell my new school’s name, thank you, Immaculate Conception. Robert Tana IC Class of 1958 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The people, family and friends, some of them lifelong friends; the centrality of the church; school and parish culture in growing up; the going to church & school, the playing of sports (the championships we won); the dances at the Hall; the basketball games; many, many memories, but most of all when someone asks “Where are you from?” – Proudly I’d respond “Immaculate in Germantown.” Joe Cafferky IC Class of 1955 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My best memory of the parish is working in the rectory as a senior in C.D. Fr. Flaherty was still “pastor” and friend until his death in 1996. Also, of course, volunteering at the Little Sisters on Church Lane, and walking to the Shrine while the bells were playing. Marie Mugan IC Class of 1958 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mrs. Bonner, 5th grade teacher. James McGee vows to finish the hated daily assignments. He wrote at superhero speed, but came up short. Andrew Bommentre IC Class of 1958 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1) 7th & 8th Grade Spelling Bees. The “girls always beat the boys” with Sister Assumpta Regina and Sister Maureen Thomas as moderators. 2) Penny parties at the Immaculate Hall 3) 8th Grade Graduation and Graduation Dance Beverly Kelly Weigand IC Class of 1961 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My first assignment as an altar boy in 1957 was to preside at a wedding. Now after 51 years, I still send an anniversary card to that couple (Mae & Jim McCook) and sign it “The Altar Boy”. Note—she was my sister!!! My favorite teacher was Sister Michael Miriam, who taught me in both 7th and 8th grades (1957-1959). She was also in charge of the “Safety Crossing Guards”. I was assigned the busy intersection of Chelten and Sprague Streets. This responsibility helped to develop my self-confidence and character at a very early age. Tom McAleer IC Class of 1959 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The May Procession – usually on Mother’s Day. Marching through the brick streets with all the people lined up on the sidewalk. The church was overflowing with people standing everywhere. The beautiful hymns to Our Blessed Mother are never forgotten. The May Queen was every girls’ dream. It was like being crowned Miss America! Florence Dellisanti ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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