My first school was an old wooden structure downtown, which later became the library. I went there in 2nd grade and almost half of 3rd grade. We moved to the new Valley View school in the fall of 1948, shortly after Truman was elected.

In those days, Valley View was kindergarten through 8th grade. There was a big field in back where we played touch football and softball. I was the Captain of the Safety Patrol. We manned the street crossings near school. Students, not adults handled this. I remember hay rides, and school fairs. I won a raffle for a lamb one year. We played basketball outside. We also played Horse, and handball using the wall of the school . For lunch, mothers would come in and make soup for us. It was simple, but personal. Mr Greco was the principal, Mr Davis, Mr. Wilgen, and Mrs. Danenger were teachers.

We used to wait for an old unheated pre-world War II bus provided by Scalera bus service. Mr Scalera drove it himself. We all remember waiting for the bus in the cold. We also remember how happy we were when it didn’t come, and we got a day off.

I graduated in 1954. My class had less than 30. After graduation I attended North Plainfield High School. Watchung Hills did not exist until my senior year. I was in the first class to graduate at Watchung Hills in 1958. Mr. Peterson was principal. There were less than 100 in our class.