Friends of Immaculate

Parish Reunion

October 10, 2010

“ 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 2010 IC Reunion)

One of my favorite memories of IC was the Annual Carnival held in the school yard.  Going to the Carnival at night was very exciting, and seeing all the lights at the various booths and the rides made it even more so.  Also, the annual altar boy trips that were led by Fr. Dorr were always fun.  Our trip to Washington D.C. shortly after the death of JFK was very moving.

Bill Cupo

 One of my favorite memories of IC was Fr. Campbell’s Altar Boy Society, especially the early solemn Christmas Mass, with Paul Campi, a student, singing “O Holy Night”.  We had so many great priests and nuns guiding us!

Joseph F. Madden

After attending St. Benedict’s for six years, I transferred to Immaculate Conception School and was very surprised to see the higher level of achievement at IC over St. Benedict’s.  A lot of credit went to Sr. Mary Alban and Sr. Rita Joseph.  I went on to graduate very high in my class at St. Joseph’s University. 

I would like to thank the Immaculate Heart Nuns for the solid education and religious foundation they gave me.  It is the biggest gift of my lifetime, especially in these dark days of watered down Catholic Doctrine

The Class of 1950's Memories from our days at Immaculate Conception

These wonderful memories are from the members of IC Class of 1950, as compiled by Nancy Fiore Boccella and the 1950 Reunion Committee.  Enjoy!

                             Willow Grove Park for the annual school picnic

May Processions

Elocution Lessons with Sr. Gonzaga

Football Coach Bob Wagner

Waterview Recreation Center

Walton Theatre

Altar Boys with Father Campbell

Safeties with Sr. Mary Albert

Minstrel Show

Cheer Leaders

Glee Club

Belfield Playground

8th Grade Prom

Germantown Shamrocks

Gustine Lake

Boys School Yard - Girls School Yard

Children's Mass at 9 AM on Sundays

Aubury Park

Wissahicken Park and Creek

Chelten Theatre

5:00am Mass on Christmas Morning

O Holy Night

Swimming at Waterview:

                                                Girls - Mon., Wed., Fri.; Boys - Tues., Th., Sat.

Novenas on Mondays at Miraculous Medal Shrine

Harkins Candy Store

Marble Champ - Bridget Carey

Catherine Gindhart - 8th Grade May Queen

Roseanne Gilece - Baseball and Basketball Star

Irish Dances Sunday night at the Hall

Practicing Hymns in the Church every Thursday

Rte 52 Trolley along Chelten Ave

Bandbox, Colonial and Orpheum Theatres

Ogontz Theatre

'Around the Bend'

Freddie's Steak Shop

Barber Shops   - Tony's, Blakemore & Chelten

                                                            - Al's, Ardleigh & Stafford

Chew and Chelten

Mary Anne Bakery, Chelten and Boyer Sts.

Knab’s Bakery

Doc Metzler Drug Store

Doc Sarlo, Chelten and Sprague Sts.

Murray's Funeral Home

Carol's Candy

American Store

C.A. Rowell's Department Store

Patti Page Dress Shop

Horn and Hardart's

Vernon Library

Germantown Boys Club

Boy Scouts Troop 118 - Mr. Crapp and Mr. Clump

Girl Scouts Troop 100

Passageway under Church to the Rectory

Cloak Rooms

Sisters' Clicker

Star Center Dentist on Haines Street

Nurse Harkins

Working in the Convent - polishing the brass & scrubbing the floors

Miss Millet, first lay teacher

Grades 1-4 in the Annex (all boys)

Commercial Building

Fire Escape

Aquinas Library on Chelten Avenue

Walking home for Lunch

Window Poles

Palmer method

Ink Wells

Pen and Ink

Cleaning books at the end of the year

- erasing the edges, using shoe polish and sand paper

Waxing the desks

40 Hours Processions

Uniforms:        Girls - blue w/white blouses with grosgrain bow

                                                    Boys - white shirts and navy tie.  Special tie for May Procession

Memories As Told to IC's Reporter...Leona Joline (1958)

Anna Marie Tabone falling off her chair when she was announced as May Queen.  Linda Palumbo (1958)

Chauncy McLafferty, Billy Altomare, Bill Bowler, Bob and Walt Eliason playing hookey from school on the first warm day to take a dip in Carson's Creek in Flourtown. Bill Bowler (1944)

Jerry Boccella and Dave White (1949), Joey Moore and Tommy Carroll played baseball in Pastorius schoolyard and some of the team members were great hitters.  Balls smashed through a few of Doc Sarlo's windows and they went running for their life.  Coming back the next day and Doc Sarlo not calling the cops.  "He was a nice guy" says Jerry.  Jerry Boccella

Mary Sarlo being chosen as the May Queen in 1948.  Says Mary "I was the first May Queen chosen from the "other" side of the Route 52 trolley tracks and it was a very big day".  They said, "Sister, tear down this wall" and she did.  Mary Sarlo (1948)

Charlie Peterson taking Sr. Frannie De Lisle to the Senior Prom; before she entered the convent, of course.  Charlie Peterson (1954)

Sr. Therese Maureen and Sr. Jean Therese rolling up their bell sleeves and playing football in the schoolyard during recess time with the children.  “They were the best kickers”.  Sr. Miriam Irene, Taught First Grade (1954-1958)

Cookie Boccella Lackman remembering the fun she had playing Simon Says.  "Simon says, take one step forward; take one back now!  You're OUT!  I didn't say Simon Says”.  Cookie Lackman (1951)

At Waterview you had to have a dry bathing suit to get in.  Mrs. McCooley would make sure that no one would get an extra turn.  Tips received from the guys I’ve talked to:  throw your wet bathing suits into McMahon Street and let the cars dry them then.  Nancy Fiore Boccella (1950)

Thank you to the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary for the great education given to all who attended Immaculate Conception School!

Favorite Nuns      - Sister Mary Antonius – 4^th Grade

                                - Sister Donald Marie – 6^th Grade

Favorite Priest  - Fr. Harrigan, Director of the Altar Boys, 1952-1955

Favorite Memory

1.  Winning the CYO State Football Championship in 1954.  Immaculate Conception “retired” the State Trophy by winning it 3 times – 1950, 1952 and 1954!

2.  Paulette and I were married in the Upper Church on June 13, 1964

 “Fond Memories of my 8th Grade”

Sr. Michael Miriam was a wonderful teacher

I became a Safety Crossing Guard at Chelten & Sprague St

Classmates Angela was my first real crush and she was beautiful

I was an altar boy trained by Fr. Nicholas

Always anxious to attend the Childrens Mass every Sunday

Participated in most Parish Hall family activities

Looked forward to recess so I could buy a warm soft pretzel

Life was good and only now can I fully appreciate the impact that

Immaculate Conception contributed to my childhood happiness!

Walton Movies on Saturday

Learning to swim at Waterview Recreation Center

Swam for Little Flower High School Swim Team

Marching to “The Hall” to see play

Little box of hard candy everyone received at Christmas

Sweet smells of cooking when you over to the convent

$1.00 piano lessons

Meeting the “love of my life”, a soldier stationed at Awbury Park.  We’ve been married 59 years in October!

Wonderful memories I will have forever of Immaculate and Germantown!

A Germantown Memory…

Back in the day, 3 doors down from me at 940 E. Price Street lived a kindly elderly widow, Mrs Synder.  Whenever it snowed, Mrs. Snyder, needed neighborhood kids to shovel the snow from her steps and sidewalk.  She always paid very well.  So well, that it seemed all of Germantown’s boys converged on her house.  There could be four or five boys shoveling, but she still paid us all well.  One particular snowstorm, IC School closed.  I was about 6.  Needless to say, we headed to Mrs. Snyder’s house.  I forget how many of us were there that day, but I remember my take – a quarter.  A quarter could still buy you 5 candy bars back then.  I headed to Ann & Ed’s (previously Harkin’s) across from IC School to spend some of my earnings.  Ann & Ed were brother / sister owners of the store that had everything.  They were nice, but ran a tight ship in there.  Ann was friendly and patient.  Ed was friendly, but less so in the patience department.  I went in there that day and walked over to the candy counter.  Here I was, a wide-eyed 6yo, with a quarter in hand, and what seemed an endless candy possibility before my eyes.  I’m looking, trying to decide, when Ed comes over.  Knowing Ed, this is not a good thing because I hadn’t yet decided.  When Ed got impatient, his face got red.  I’m trying to decide, and looking up at Ed, seeing his face growing red, I knew this wasn’t going good.  He said, “What’ll you have”.    I say “Ummmm” and kept looking.  Seeing he is getting redder and redder, the decision just wasn’t coming and he finally blurts out, “Well, what do you want!”… All flustered, I said, “a Cherry Water Ice”…..  Ed glared at me, red as ever, swung his arm around to point at the door, and said, “Get the hell out of here!!!!”.  I did as told and went to John’s, at Chelten & Sprague, and got something there…..

Given that it was winter and there had just been a snowstorm, I doubt I went there looking for a cherry water ice that day.  More likely, being completely un-nerved by seeing Ed’s red face, I probably could just as easily have asked for a cup of Chlorox Bleach at that point.  A lesson learned….   Ed was a good guy.  Just know what you want before going up to his candy counter!

Fondly remembering at “recess” when the nuns would blow their whistles for everyone to form a double line and remain silent, but talking all the way to our classroom!

The beautiful polished, shiny hardwood floors in the school!

9:00am Sunday Children’s Mass

In the summer, every day we would play all kinds of games.  HiLo Sheepy, Red Rover, Buck Buck, Kick the Can, Stick Ball, HopScotch, Jacks, and many more games that I don’t remember the names of.  But, I do remember the fun I had with all my friends – Cookie, Joanie, Maisie, Rosie, Lolly, Mary Lou, Nancy and Michael.  It was all good, clean fun that we all enjoyed.  My best memories are of my friends and the things we did together. 

My memories of Immaculate have to include Waterview.  I lived right across the street from it.  Judy Dougherty lived on McMahon, right on the other side.  Roseann Criniti would be friends with us in our childhood days.  We had a good time playing softball on the tennis courts.  I wasn't too good at it!  The tennis court was also used as a dance floor.  The teenagers were dancing there with their thick bobby socks and full skirts and music blasting.   I remember being on the porch and watching the football teams with the bright lights on in the evening, especially in the fall.   . 

Best Memories of IC and the Old Neighborhood

The 65^th Avenue block party;  watching Temple Stadium fireworks from our Price Street roof;;  sledding at Awbury Park;  Heller’s penny candy;  going door-to-door on Halloween;  “Mom’s hoagies at Price & Crittendon;  playing on the lot across from Pletcher’s Ford;  Mr. Ryan, the peddler;  tap dancing at the Hall;  selling Mother’s Day carnations on the Church steps;  banishment to the cubbyhole;  Friday night ice skating at Simon’s Playground;  plaiting Easter palm;  the smell of mimeograph jelly;  ink wells and leaky pens;  wearing cleats on our shoes;  May Procession wreaths;  handkerchiefs and hand lotion as Feast Day gifts;  the school picnic.

I have volunteered at Camilla Hall for the retired IHM Sisters for about 7 years.  I met Sr. Mary Remo (6^th Grade) when I first came.  Then I met Sr. Rita Joseph (8^th Grade boys) and Sr. Clare Regina (8^th Grade girls).  Now all are deceased.  At present, Sr. Mary Ursule (1^st Grade boys) and Sr. Charles Mary (5^th Grade boys & girls) are both well and I see them weekly.  Sr. Charles Mary was my teacher in 1940-1941.  She is still going strong.  We often talk about IC School  ~ ~ ~  good memories!!!  . 

I left Immaculate in the beginning of 7^th Grade when my family moved to St. Athanasius Parish.  My 7^th Grade classmates threw me a surprise going-away party.  It was also my first boy/girl party!  I remember Marie Grispin, Tommy & Bunny Ward, and many more. 

I made some new friends at St. A’s.  Since my Mom didn’t drive…. I didn’t stay in touch with my old friends (no cell phones or Facebook back then!). 

Looking forward to my first Immaculate reunion!