Remembering P.S. 215
September 3 , 2009
Marty Nislick,
You requested contributions regarding the "old" Rockaways.
I was in the second graduating class from P. S. 215 - June of 1955.
Up until the time the school was opened in September of 1953, the closest elementary school to the area in which I was living was P. S. 106 on Beach 35th Street in Edgemere. At that time, the "106" school was running schedules including first grade through eighth - and then the students would go into Far Rockaway High School for their 9th year. If I remember correctly, the principal of 106 was named McDonald - and he was replaced in the early 1950s by William Piercy who then took a leave of absence in January of 1953 to move to the new 215 school which was being built to over-see the operation. Mrs. McNamee (a most feared educator) was assigned to "fill in" as a temporary assistant for Mr. Piercy for the remainder of the school year. Mrs. McNamee then moved on to the new school as a 6th grade teacher.
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| August 1953, Photo taken on New Haven and Grassmere Terrace facing south |
Upon my graduation from P. S. 215 in June of 1955, the school offered "leather-bound" autograph books and I bought one. If memory serves, the book cost $1.50. When the books were distributed the final week of classes, the graduating students ran around in the school yard and had their friends write funny messages and witty sayings into their books and then, of course, they would sign them. One of the things that I found most amusing is that the manufacturer of the books also included a cardboard card with the book - suggesting some things that the children could write to one another. One of the messages that I still remember was: "Flowers will early fade away but my wishes will last many a day." - shades of Hallmark?
In any event, although I DID get about twenty of my classmates to sign my book for me (and I also collected about eight current black & white school pictures of them), what I really wanted to do is to get the school staff to sign my book for me.
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| The very first school autograph book (front cover). P.S. 215 opened in September of 1953. |
What I am sending you here is photographs of the original signatures of some of the most popular teachers in the school - the very first staff of P. S. 215. I tried to label each photo indicating the correct spelling of the names and what grade each staff member taught.
It was nearly impossible to approach every teacher and ask for an autograph but I spent a few hours doing just that. Of course I had to fit my request in with my own school hours and the availability of the teacher. I had only been in the school for two years (and so had the entire staff) so it was impossible to know every teacher on the faculty but I got a good number of winners in my collection.
I also include a black and white photo of the school building exactly as it looked immediately after it was completed - the picture is taken facing south I believe while the photographer was standing on New Haven Avenue at Grassmere Terrace. In those days, the "lot" immediately to the front (east side) of the school was 100% wild trees and scrub bushes -today it is large apartment houses.I do hope that you find my materials interesting.
You are welcome to use my first name but please do not include my last name.
Michael
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| William G. Piercy, First Principal of P.S. 215. Mr. Piercy had been principal at P.S. 106 in Edgemere. |