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Canton
School Alumni 1878-1889
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1899-1900
BOARD OF EDUCHATION J. E. Fitzwater
PUPILS Jessie Griffin
H. G. Phillips, Publisher, Williamsport, PA
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CANTON HIGH SCHOOL
50 Year Alumnus To be Toastmaster
John Tomkins, a 50 year anniversary alumnus of Canton High School, has
agreed to be the toastmaster for the 97th Alumni Banquet. John lived in Ellenton
during his high school days. After graduation he attended the Pennsylvania State
University where he received both his B.S. and M. S. degrees in Horticulture.
Mr. Tomkins spent four years in the Army Corp of Engineers during World War II
and saw action in the Leyte Campaign in the Philippines and the Okinawa
Campaign. After his discharge, he worked at the Geneva Agricultural Experiment
Station in Geneva. He then received his PhD. from Cornell University in
Pomology, worked three years at Michigan State University as a small fruit
specialist, and 35 years at Cornell University with duties in extension and
teaching. He is the Executive-Secretary of the North American Strawberry Growers
Association. John is married to the former Gladys Taylor of Rome, PA, and they
are the parents of three children, all of whom are living in California. At this
time they are in the process of selling their home and intend to re-locate in
California in the near future.
Note - (97th banquet – May 24, 1986)
Alumni Group Names Officers
Canton – Election of officers highlighted a recent meeting of the Canton
High School Alumni. The meeting followed the annual banquet of the group.
Officers are Fran Herman Jr., president; Mrs. Lloyd Jones, vice president: Mrs.
Harry Jones, secretary-treasurer; Mrs. McKean Williams, corresponding secretary,
and Mrs. Thad Woodward, Jr. and Mrs. Meylert VanDyke, finance committee.
Directors are Mrs. Robert Spencer Jr., Frank Landon, William Swingle and Mrs.
Edward Scholtz. Consultants are Mrs. David Hertel, Meylert VanDyke and the Rev.
Duane Taylor, Members of the file committee are Miss Elizabeth Bunyan, Mrs.
Judson Innes, Mrs. Glenford Vermilya and Mrs. Lewis Bellows. John H. Hyde
Jr., Canton High School principal, was guest speaker. He displayed a booklet
containing a history of the Canton Area School District. He announced that the
high school band won a first place award at the Dairy Princess Pageant in
Towanda recently. Toastmaster was Robert Barrow, a Canton High School alumnus,
who spoke on the chronology of man. Speakers were members of the classes of
1914, 1924, 1944, 1954, 1964 and 1974.
Class of 1936 Alumnus Retired Cornell Professor
Among the members of the Class of 1936, Canton High School, John P. Tomkins
of Dryden, NY, writes that he would welcome visits from class members who might
be passing through Dryden. John is retired from Cornell University where he
taught many years, and has the title of professor emeritus. Present activities
include being executive secretary of the North Ameriaan Strawberry Growerw
Association, a consultant to the grower s of small fruit, writing for the
American Agriculturist and gardening. His wife, the former Gladys Taylor of
Rome, also keeps him busy about the house. Since his servie in the South Pacific
during World War II, he has been at Michigan State University, The Welch Grape
Juice Co., and as noted above, Cornell University.
Note: Clipping dated 1986
Commencement Marks Closing of School Year
69 Receive Diplomas At Exercises June 4
The 85th annual commencement of Canton High School was held in the gymnasium
of the school on Thursday, June 4, with 69 students receiving diplomas from
Charles Husted, president of the Tri-County Board. Thomas Crumm as senior class
representative welcomed all those attending the exercises and expressed the
appreciation of the class for the many advantages provided them during their
school years in the Tri-County Schools. He thanked the parents, teachers
and school board for their thoughtfulness and understanding. John P. Livezey,
high school principal, introduced Ivan Boxell, noted lecturer and newspaperman,
who spoke to the graduates on, Beyond the Skyline. Supervising Principal J. T.
Williammee, Jr., and Mr. Livezey presented the following awards: Alumni
scholarship prize, Tom Crumm, James McNett and Donna Hatherill. Local Cancer
Society essay, Sandra McCoy, Elaine Wrisley. American Legion citizenship prize,
junior high boys, tie, Duane Deitrick and Robert Most. American Legion Auxiliary
citizenship prize, junior high girl, Regina Kauffman. Bausch and Lomb award, Tom
Crumm. Business and Professional Women’s Club, Judy McCoy. Canton Music Club,
competitive music, Jean Merrill; instrumental music, Judy McCoy; voice, tie,
Judy McCoy, Jean and Martha Merrill; piano, Judy McCoy. DAR History prize,
Caroline Trippe, DAR Citizenship prize, Janice Wright, First National Bank of
Canton awards, Joan Stock, Jack Pepper and Albert Metzger. Canton Independent
Sentinel awards, grade ten, Kathleen Woodward; grade 11, tie between Faye Taylor
and Charles Swain; grade 12, Tom Crumm. Literary Club award, Sandra McCoy.
William McInroy memorial prize, tie, Robert Most and Mike Looney. Morgan Farm
Equipment Co. prize, Joyce Rathbun and James McNett. Merton Thomas memorial
prize to David Moody. William R. Most science awards, grade ten, tie, Elaine
Wrisley and Kathleen Woodward; grade 11, Faye Taylor; grade 12, Tom Crumm and
James McNett; grades ten, 11 and 12, Tom Crumm and James McNett. Philip Palmer
memorial prize, Hazel Crain. Rhodes & Palmer prize, David moody, Martin
Varney Rockwell memorial prize, Donna Hatherill. Rotary International prize,
LaRue Fitzwater. William Shoemaker memorial prize, Larry Smith, Tracy
Stone and Edward Swingle, tie.
VFW senior boy award, Thomas Crumm and James McNett. VFW Auxiliary, senior
girl award, Hazel Crain; second year Spanish, Elaine Wrisley. WCTU essay prize,
senior high, Karen Thomas, first and Byron Leonard, second; junior high, Sharon
Arbogast first and Judy Osipovitch second. WCTU county prize, senior high, Karen
Thomas first; junior high, Judy Osipovitch, second. American Agriculturist
Foundation award, Janet Kelley. Junior Civic Club awards; student council,
senior high, Tom Crumm, junior high, tie, Judy Osipovitch and Sandra Herrington.
Most valuable players awards, football, Norman Alexander, basketball, LaRue
Fitzwater ad baseball, Alden Fitzwater. Faculty prize, Jack Machmer. Mr.
Williammee read the names of the graduates and then introduced Charles Husted,
president of the school board, who presented the diplomas to the following:
Academic: Marie Boroch, Thomas Crumm, Leon English, Benjamin Lloyd,
Thomas McConnell, Sandra McCoy, Judith McCoy, James McNett, Jean Merrill, Martha
Merrill, Herbert Morgan, Dale Murray, Donna Robinson, Dorothy Schoonover, Sandra
Williams, Edward Wooster, Janice Wright.
Commercial: William Blanchard, Jr., Gerald Brown, Diane Calkins, Hazel
Crain, George DeLong, Jr. Donna Hatherill, Joeann Kilbourn, Rose Ann Myers, Lois
Ragan, Joyce Rathbun, Elaine Ridall, Bonnie Soper, Louise Sutton.
Vocational Home Economics: Faye Baxter, Constance Hamilton, Janet Kelley,
Norma May, Joyce Moore, Joan Ann Stock, Shirley Ann Teeter.
Vocational Agriculture: Fred Collister, Duane Jennings, John Kerrick, David
Moody, William Neal, Allen Preston, Michael Shoemaker, Larry Smith, Tracy Stone,
Edward Swingle, Robert VanNoy, William Waugh.
General: Francis Alexander, Charles Chaapel, Harry Confer, Robert Cummings,
Eloise Dibble, LaRue Fitzwater, Bonnie Fulmer, Barbara Greene, Edwina Herman,
Marcille Kilmer, John Machmer, Dale Mix, Richard Packard, Mable Porter, Richard
Porter, Frederick Robbins, Clarence Streck, Jr., Sharon Sweeney, Vicki Rae
Williams.
Army Service Diploma: Melvin Campbell
CANTON NEWS
50 Years Ago
Class Night exercises to be held June 1 will take the form of an Indian
Pageant. At a “campfire ceremony” the Senior tribe historian will recall
happenings in which the tribe played a part and a tribe prophet will read the
will and prophecy. Donald Ketchum, Lois Morgan, Marceil Packard, Beatrice
Rockwell, Blanche Warburton, Virginia Spaulding and John Tompkins will take the
state scholarship examination to be given in Towanda tomorrow. Martin L.
Rockwell has been elected by the Lackawanna Presbytery to be one of their
representatives at the general assembly in Syracuse, NY.
(Note – No date on clipping. I think this was written in 1986 – Canton HS
class of 1936.)
Robert H. Barrow, son of Mrs. Gertrude Barrow of Canton received the Master of Education degree with major in Industrial Arts on Saturday, August 12, at Pennsylvania State College. (Note: no year given)
Scott Griswold Writes Of Canton Memories
Scott Griswold, a professional photographer who lives in Petersburg, NJ, is
a member of the Canton High School class of 1970. Scott writes a photography
column for Sandpaper Newspapers, Inc. He attended last May’s Alumni Banquet and
devoted one of his columns to his memories of Canton. We reprint Scott’s column,
which ran in the Ocean City Gazette on July 3, 1996.
Some of Our Best Pictures Belong only to Memory
Last weekend, I went home. Not in five years had I seen the rolling
Appalachian Mountains and lush valleys of northeastern Pennsylvania and it was a
treat. The occasion? My mother’s 60th high school Alumni Banquet. Not since my
old high school days have my sister and I rendezvoused back home as a family
with Mom and Dad. Not much has changed in my little hometown. The flavor of this
rural, agricultural community is still home-cooked. More often than not,
neighbors are lifelong. Many successive generations of families have worked the
same farmland and reside in houses their ancestors built. We, however, lived in
a Cape Cod house on the edge of town where I took hikes, fished and hunted a
thousand yards from our back door. I weekly pursuit of these outdoor hobbies, I
mastered every inch of the nearby rolling terrain. I knew where and how to cross
over a barbed-wire fence without ripping my trousers, and with neighbor kids
configured rock stepping-stones to ford the small creeks when we fished for
trout on Saturdays in the springtime. An intimate relationship with the
countryside brings about the discovery on one’s favorite place. A spot unique,
secluded and appropriate for reflection. A place of your own. Mine was a
rock point at the corner of a large mountain pasture cleared of trees that faced
east and overlooked the valley setting of Canton PA. Most of us protect a
handful of fond, usually vivid childhood experiences which return to soothe us
from time to time. Swayze’s Hill keeps watch over my youth and safeguards the
memories first assembled there. In the early and mid-winter before the deepest
snows limited most hunting, I would head out after the single-shot barrel draped
over my forearm snuggling the exposed chamber and stock against my ribs. It was
November and an inch or so of fresh snow the night before made it easy to spot
rabbit tracks through the thick branches. I must admit, I didn’t like hunting as
much as I enjoyed keeping company with the solace of the quiet woods. I reveled
in following tracks and knowing where creatures lived and what they ate, and
where they were most likely to be holed up. That was the kick. On this
particular day, I snooped around, followed some tracks and headed up to my spot
on Swayze’s Hill before dusk just to look around. It was November and Novembers
are grey. Before a good snowfall the wind stills, just as the air is peaceful
before a severe Jersey thunderstorm. Pennsylvania fork tailed barn swallows
circled high aloft as do our sea gulls who react to sudden drops in air
pressure. The snow bed padded my footfalls through the silence of the trees as I
made my way up the ridge to the corner of Swayze’s Hill. I propped my little
20-gauge against a fence. I saw a few black and white tufts of coarse hair stuck
in a wood post where a milk cow had rubbed against it to scratch herself. I sat
down on my rock, looked over the valley and noticed tractor-trailer taillights
tracing the roadway east. Golden orbs of sodium vapor lamps atop high poles
nestled into the north-facing slope of South Mountain. They sputtered through
the fading light several times before reaching steady illumination, just a
dinner candles flicker then straighten when someone passes the salt. Ever so
slightly and with the finest of flake, the storm began. Two here, four there, a
dozen. Hundreds. Millions. It took 20 minutes for the snowfall to thicken into a
gauzy haze that slowly undulated in the breeze like sheer curtains before an
open window. The farm house disappeared and its tall lamps became blurry. Snow
accumulated on fence posts in low, symmetrical domes. I watched the storm gather
character and thought how wonderful to see the development of a major snow.
Then, dusk took over for twilight and I headed home with all the shotgun shells
I had packed. I recall dozens of wonderful moments on Swayze’s Hill and in an
attempt to recapture a bit of history, I wandered u there last weekend. The view
was as beautiful as I remembered. I found my rock and, sitting on it, took a
picture of the valley and the mountains. The picture failed. Miserably so. It
failed because recollections are more colorful than the reality of a place, as
are all fond experiences with a particular environment. What we see is
profoundly augmented by how we feel. Loved ones are beautiful to family members,
yet few possess the photogenics of Brad Pitt or Demi Moore. Cameras are machines
without memories. Be very aware of the physical attributes of all subjects and
look with a jaundiced eye before snapping away. You know the story of the fellow
who tells a joke, only to deliver the punch line to a dead-panned listener.
“Guess you had to be there.” Our comedian quickly replies, to justify the
telling of his lackluster story. The same expression is often appropriate for
picture taking. Some views are best set aside for the loving hands of memory.
Dr. Robert Cummings Leader in Education
Dr. Robert R. Cummings, Tunkhannock, has accepted a position on the
Graduate School Faculty, in the field of educational Leadership, at the
University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama. Dr. Cummings teaches classes in
educational administration and supervises administrative interns and field study
students. Further, he had been named Director of innovative Teacher Leader
Program at the University. Dr. Cummings received his bachelor’s degree from
Mansfield University, master’s from Temple University and his doctorate from
Penn State. He served as an administrator in four school districts in the
Commonwealth of PA prior to his retirement from public education. As a
superintendent, Dr. Cummings received “The PA School Board’s Association Award
for Outstanding Service to Education.” The United States Department of Education
also honored Dr. Cummings in Washington, DC as principal of one of 2002
secondary schools selected from over 21,000 secondary schools in the United
States for the “Excellence in Education Award”. The schools were selected on the
basis of high academic achievement, order and discipline, community involvement,
teacher efficacy, and administrative leadership. Dr. Cummings was honored to
receive the PA State University College of Education “Excellence in Education
Award”. This is the highest award presented by the College of Education and is
made annually for outstanding ability and exceptional contributions in the field
of education. Following three days of lectures delivered by Dr. Cummings a
reception, dinner, and presentation were held at the Nittany Lion Inn in his
honor. He has served as a consultant and on state review and national advisory
committees for Excellence in Education He is a member of Phi Delta Kappa, a
national honorary educational fraternity. Dr. Cummings is a graduate of
Canton High School, class of 1959 and is the son of Mrs. Margerie Reedy,
Canton.
Local Youth Enlists In United States Navy
Edward Lee Wooster, son of Mr. and Mrs. Morris L. Wooster of 22 Minnequa
Ave., Canton, enlisted in the U. S. Navy recently it was announced by Joseph J.
Hale AO1, area Navy recruiter and is now undergoing recruit training at the
Navy’s east coast training center at Great Lakes, Ill. Edward Wooster is a 1959
graduate of the Tri-County High School and since graduation has been employed by
the Ben Franklin Store in Canton. Anyone interested in any of the many Navy
enlistment programs may contact Mr. Hale in Canton on Tuesdays from 9:00 am to
10:00 noon or call TU 3-4262 at any time.
Thomas Crumm, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clement Crumm, was recently awarded a scholarship to Lehigh University. He is the Valedictorian of this year’s graduating class of Canton High School. (1959)
Tom E. Crumm To Enter Lehigh
Freshman Week to Begin September 9
Thomas E. Crumm, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clement H. Crumm Canton, RD 1, will
enter the College of Engineering at Lehigh University. A graduate of Canton High
School, he was a class officer, on the student council and active in Scouting.
He was captain of the football team and won his letter in that sport. He was
also valedictorian of his class. Crumm is among the 730 freshmen who have been
accepted admission to Lehigh University this fall. Dr. Charles A. Sei??,
director of admission announced. The class of 19563, selected from 2, 956
applicants will come from 25 states, the District of Columbia, Cuba, Italy,
Korea, Columbia, and Venezuela, South American. University officials expect the
distribution by curriculum include 100 men enrolled in College of Arts and
Science, taking a combined arts and Engineering course, 88 in the College of
Business Administration, and 455 in the College of engineering. Freshmen week
activities will begin on the campus Wednesday September 9, giving the new
students, who are graduates of high and preparatory schools a chance to get
oriented before registration for the fall semester opens of Wednesday, September
16.
Lamont E. Butters Earns MS Degree
Lamont E. Butters, son of Mr. and Mrs. Emery Butters, Canton RD 1, received
a MS degree in Civil Engineering last week from Purdue University, Lafayette,
Ind. Mr. Butters, a graduate of Canton High School received his BS from
Pennsylvania State University. He was a member of Purdue’s summer class of 928
students with 674 candidates for master or doctoral degrees. The outstanding
student graduated with a perfect average from Purdue. He is married to the
former Jeanne Sherwood of LeRoy. They have a son Tomas Lamont. Mr. and Mrs.
Butters will reside in New Jersey where Mr. Butters has accepted a position with
Esso in the research department at Florham Park, NJ.
Note: Canton HS – Class of 1959. He died in 2005.
Canton Area Students to Graduate from Colleges
Miss Judith McCoy, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Orlo G. McCoy, 137 Center St.,
and Robert Roy Cummings son of Mrs. Marjorie Reedy are among 159 who will
receive BS degrees in education from Mansfield State College on Sunday, May 26.
Miss McCoy, a music student, is a member of the Opera Workshop and has been
active in all campus musical organizations. Mr. Cummings has specialized in
elementary education. He is a member of the Association for Childhood Education
and a member of Phi Sigma Epsilon fraternity. The commencement address will be
given by Dr. J. L. Zwingle, vice president of Cornell University, during
exercises starting in Straughn Auditorium at 2:00 pm. Degrees will be
awarded by Dr. Lewis W. Rathgeber, MSC president. Baccalaureate speaker at
Mansfield State College on Sunday, May 24 will be Dr. James E. Wagner, vice
president of Ursinus College, Collegeville, Pa. Dr. Lewis W. Rathgeber, MSC
President, has announced. The service will start in Stranghn Auditorium at 10
am. Dr. Wagner was a Harrisburg newspaperman before he entered the ministry in
1921. He was pastor of the North Street Church of God, Harrisburg, 1922-1931 and
of St. Peter’s Evangelical and Reformed Church, Lancaster, 1931-53. From 1953
until 1961, he was president of the Evangelical Church. He was co-president of
the United Church of Christ 1957-61 and was named for him Ursinus post in 1962.
The speaker is a graduate of the Lancaster Theological Seminary. He did post
graduate work at Lebanon Valley College and Union Theological Seminary. He has
taught religion at Lancaster Seminary and at Franklin and Marshall College. MSC
commencement will be held at 2:00 pm the same day.
Miss Hazel Marie Crain, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Crain, 170 South Ave., Canton will receive her B.S. degree in Business Education at Bloomsburg State on May 26, 1963. Miss Crain will be among two hundred sixty seniors, who complete graduation requirements this month. The baccalaureate exercises and the commencement convocation will be held at Bloomsburg State on Sunday, May 26, 1962. With the 61 seniors who received degrees in January, 1963, and the 65 who will be awarded degrees in early August, Bloomsburg State College will have prepared this year 386 teachers who are qualified to teach in the schools of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and other states in the nation. Both baccalaureate and commencement exercises will be held in Centennial Gymnasium in order to accommodate the graduates, their parents, and friends. A capacity audience of nearly 2,000 is expected to attend each of the two events. Miss Crain has accepted a teaching position at Waverly, NY.
Classmates Honor Miss Judy McCoy
Selected As Candidate At Laurel Festival
Judy McCoy daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Orlo G. McCoy of Canton has been
selected by her classmates in the Canton High School to be a candidate for the
Laurel Queen at Wellsboro in June. Judy is one of the outstanding members of the
senior class. She is a member of the National Honor Society, ranking in the
upper fifth of her class. Her achievement record in extra-curricular activities
has made her a valuable citizen. Among these accomplishments are her abilities
in dramatics or by participating in club plays, where she has had leading parts
in the junior plays and the senior play. Judy’s early and continued interest in
music has won for her many signal honors. A member of the highs school band for
six years, the dance band for two years, she has played in County Band three
years and in district band three times. Besides this instrumental talent she is
a fine vocalist having been active in the chorus both locally and in the county
and will this year be one of the school’s representatives to the district
festival. A fine organist, Judy is currently organist of the First Presbyterian
Church of Canton to further her music education she has been accepted at
Mansfield State Teacher’s College for the fall of 1959. Judy received the Betty
Crocker Award for receiving the highest mark on a homemaking test given to the
senior girls. Besides her school activities she has given willingly of her
talents as a member of a fine girl’s trio and accompanist to vocalists.
Judy was recently chosen by the local Business and Professional Club as the girl
of the month for her achievement in scholarship, leadership and citizenship. She
goes to the Laurel Festival as a competent outstanding girl with the best wishes
of her schoolmates, her teachers, and friends.
Miss Bonnie Soper Chosen May Queen
Will be Crowned at May Day Festivities
Miss Bonnie Soper, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Soper of Ralston, has
been chosen 1959 May Queen by her classmates. Bonnie is a senior in the business
department. She has been elected to the National Honor Society and has taken an
active part in school activities throughout her four year course. This year she
was co-editor of the yearbook which will appear next month. She is class
secretary and was Queen of the Senior Ball. She is an office assistant and will
be one of ta team to represent Canton at the Bloomsburg Business Contests on May
2. She was elected a student council representative for three years, was
treasurer in her sophomore year and secretary in her junior year. Her other
extracurricular activities include mixed chorus for three years, girls’ choir
for two years, dramatic club for two years and intramurals for four years. She
was also a member of the case of one of the junior plays last year, was magazine
drive captain, was one of Canton’s representatives to the state student
conference, and a member of the junior prom committee. This popular and
busy senior will be crowned May Queen at the May Day festivities, Monday
evening, May 4, by Miss Carol St. John, 1958 May Queen. Miss Soper will have as
her attendants Rose Ann Meyers and Hazel Crain, seniors; Donna Wilcox and Betty
Pepper, juniors; Cheryl Barrow and Judy Bassent, sophomores; Bonnie Spencer and
Judy Osipovitch, freshman.
Merrill Twins Are Girls of the Month
Miss Anna Dee Watts New BPWC President
Misses Jean and Martha Merrill twin daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Robert
Merrill, have been chosen as Girl of the Month for March and April. The girls
were introduced at the meeting of the Canton Business and Professional Women’s
Club at the home of Miss Catherine Crowe on Monday evening. Niki pins were
presented by Miss Anna Dee Watts and Mrs. Frank Allen. In order to achieve this
award a girl must be in the upper fifth of her class, have high moral integrity,
work well with students and faculty and participate in extracurricular
activities. Mrs. E. A. Boreth read the minutes of the previous meeting and Mrs.
Sterling Swingle read a plea for formation to the Girl Scouts International
Roundup at Colorado in July. It was voted to give a $10 for this purpose. A
request was made for a donation to the Minnequa Springs project and it was
agreed to make a contribution of $10. Announcement was made of the spring
meeting of District Six at Lewisburg, May 16, and Miss Anna Dee Watts, Mrs. O.
W. Greene and Mrs. E. A. Boreth were named delegates with Mrs. Wilson Brann,
Mrs. Daniel Wynne and Miss Margaret Hallinan as alternates. Mrs. Daniel Wynne
was named a delegate to the state convention at Pittsburg, June 25 with Miss
Anna Dee Watts as an alternate. Mrs. Floyd Crist, chairman of the nominating
committee presented the following slate of officers: Miss Anna Dee Watts,
president; Mrs. Wilson Brann, first vice president; Mrs. O. W. Greene, second
vice president; Mrs. F. J. Biddle, corresponding secretary; Mrs. Margaret Wynne,
treasurer. The slate was accepted unanimously. Mrs. Irene Hurley reported on the
woman in government meeting at Harrisburg that she recently attended. Mrs. Wynne
and Miss Esther Stokes told about the Mansfield charter night dinner at
Mansfield. The state president, Mrs. Helen Warwick was guest speaker for the
affair. The May meeting will be held at Canton High School at which time the
Emblem Ceremony will be given. Mrs. Keith Mosier introduced Robert Arbogast who
spoke on his trip to Spain last summer. Refreshments were served by the hostess.
CANTON HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1936
Class of 1936 Alumnus Retired Cornell Professor (1986)
Among the members of the Class of 1936, Canton High School, John P. Tomkins
of Dryden, NY, writes that he would welcome visits from class members who might
be passing through Dryden. John is retired from Cornell University where he
taught many years and has the title of professor emeritus. Present activities
include being executive secretary of the North American Strawberry Growers
Association, a consultant to the growers of small fruit, writing for the
American Agriculturist and gardening. His wife, the former Gladys Taylor of
Rome, also keeps him busy about the house. Since his service in the South
Pacific during World War II, he has been at Michigan State University, The Welch
Grape Juice Co., and as noted above, Cornell University.
50 Year Ago
Class Night exercises to be held June 1` will take the form of an Indian
Pageant, At a “campfire ceremony” the Senior tribe historian will recall
happenings in which the tribe played a part and a tribe prophet will read the
will and prophecy. Donald Ketchum, Lois Morgan Marceil Packard, Beatrice
Rockwell, Blanche Warburton, Virginia Spaulding, and John Tompkins will take the
state scholarship examination to be given in Towanda tomorrow. Martin L.
Rockwell has been elected by the Lackawanna Prebytery to be one of their
representatives at the general assembly in Syracuse, NY.
50 Year Alumnus To be Toastmaster
John Tomkins, a 50 year anniversary alumnus of Canton High School, has agreed
to be the toastmaster for the 97th Alumni Banquet. John lived in Ellenton during
his school days. After graduation he attended the Pennsylvania State University
where he received both his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Horticulture. Mr. Tomkins
spent four years in the Army Corp of Engineers during World War II and saw
action in the Leyte Campaign in the Philippines and the Okinawa Campaign. After
his discharge, he worked at the Geneva Agricultural Experiment Station in
Geneva. He then received his PhD. From Cornell University in Pomology, worked
three years at Michigan State University as a small fruit specialist, and 35
years at Cornell University with duties in extension and teaching. He is the
Executive-Secretary of the North American Strawberry Growers Association. John
is married to the former Gladys Taylor of Rome, Pa, and they are the parents of
three children, all of whom are living in California. At this time they are in
the process of selling their home and intend to re-locate to California in the
near future.
Eleanor McIlwain (Written by Irene McNett)
Canton High School is very proud of one of its youngest seniors of the Class
of 1936, Eleanor McIlwain. Eleanor made two grades in one year and was in the
upper half of her class at the end of the year. She has had seven years of
perfect attendance at school; won a prize for politeness in the eighth grade, of
which she was secretary. She has been a member of the Girl Reserves for three
years, its secretary, now its president. She was Exchange Reporter of the
Amplifier last year and this. Eleanor is a very active member of the church. She
has had nine years of perfect attendance, has acted in Children’s Day programs
and church plays, has taught the primary class, and attended Conference
meetings. She was formerly president and chaplain of the “Organized Young
People’s Class,” as well as a popular hostess for the class suppers. She
has so many hobbies that she is unable to choose her favorite. However I think
she prefers embroidering, knitting, crocheting, swimming, hiking, tennis,
basketball, and soft ball. Eleanor is planning to go to Penn State College to
become a primary teacher I am sure she will be a very good teacher for she is
friendly, patient always sympathetic. Eleanor never has known the meaning of
failure- and her 1936 classmates wish her “Bon voyage” in all her future under
takings.