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Prospect Valley High School REUNION NEWS

This is the Start of Something Big

There wasn‟t a single cloud in that clear, blue, Prospect Valley sky that summer after-

noon as I climbed the old cottonwood tree in our front yard. 1946 was probably the

year although I don‟t remember for sure. I just remember that I was around 8years

old, a pretty accomplished tree climber by then. My goal was to get to the highest

branch in the tree that would support me so I would have an unobstructed view of this

wonderful place where I lived, Prospect Valley. As I chose my perch a soft breeze

made the branch sway ever so slightly, but I was secure with my legs and arms tightly

wrapped around the branch. And there it was, a panorama of a world that seemed so

large to an 8 year old in a cottonwood tree. To the west, across the patchwork fields of

multi-shades of green fields of alfalfa, sugar beets, corn and beans and the yellows and

golds of barley fields, I could see those magnificent snow-capped Rocky Mountains.

They seemed so far away and so different from the canyons and mountain streams we

enjoyed when Dad would take us into those mountains to camp and fish. My brothers

and I always rejoiced when it rained because that usually meant we could get away

from the toils of farm work for a few days because Dad loved to go fishing and camp-

ing in those mountains. We usually piled into the back of the farm truck with food,

camping and fishing gear and any neighbor kids who could join us, and away we went.

Today from my perch I pray for rain so we can travel to those mountains so far away.

To the south my view brought in more fields of green and then the golden

fields of dry land wheat beyond. Far to the south, yes, there it is! Dad said you could see it on a clear day and there it is -

Pikes Peak. I wondered if I would ever get to go to that mysterious place, like on a class trip or something. What a huge

world this is! I remember wondering if I would travel to far-off places when I grew up. Would I live in Prospect Valley

all my life or some other unknown place? Living in Prospect Valley forever was a most pleasant thought to my 8 year old

mind. It was such a peaceful place, secure, comforting and quiet except for the soothing sounds of the farming activities.

What better place in which to grow up?

My eyes wandered off to the east and just beyond the green fields of irrigated crops were the rolling hills of the plains,

blanketed by golden fields of wheat, ready for the harvest. One could see forever looking out to the east. I had been

taught that the world is round, but as I looked out east it seemed to just drop off into nowhere. Could it be flat after all?

A truck rumbled over the bridge next to our house, followed by a trail of dust and I wondered if that road would

ever be anything but a dirt road. Where did that truck come from and where is it going after it stopped at the intersec-

tion in town? Would I be a truck driver some day and travel to far away places? Could I even imagine ever leaving Pros-

pect Valley!?

My favorite view was to the north because there it was, the town of Prospect Valley. Only a half mile from our house, but

that seemed so far back then. I had received a new Schwinn bicycle for my 8th birthday and it was such a wonderful ex-

perience to ride my bike to the town, especially when some of my buddies, Billy, Jimmy and/or Rodney could join me.

The main destination, of course, was the Pelz grocery store. As I sat on my perch that warm summer afternoon I could

hear all the wonderful sounds coming from that busy town, the blacksmith shop, farmers coming and going. A little to

the west and north I could see Prospect Valley School. It seemed like such a large building, and it was to a child at that

time. I loved summer vacations, even though it usually meant doing some kind of work on the farm. But I could hardly

wait for school to start up again so I could see all of my friends. Prospect Valley School, what wonderful memories that name inspires. From riding to school in that green Oliver school

bus to suiting up for a basketball or football game, these are memories to cherish. I can still hear the cheers from the

cheerleaders and crowd as we Prospect Valley Cardinals displayed our basketball skills in that small, intimate gymna-

sium. “Don‟t put too much arch on the ball or you will hit the rafters” came the directions from Coach Turner. And if

the ball went over the north wall, it would end up on the stage and someone would have to retrieve it before the game

could go on. (Continued page 2)

Views of Prospect Valley From An Old Cottonwood Tree

2/1/08

# 5

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Happy New Year Cardinal Fans! It‟s so great to be working on this school re-

union. I graduated in may of „55. I got mar-

ried in August and moved to Longmont, CO

area and helped my husband, Harlan, on the

farm. We have 5 children, 2 girls and 3 boys,

6 grandkids and 2 great grandkids.

I was a rural mail carrier for 17 years at the

Longmont office and retired 2 years ago. We moved to Mil-

liken, CO five years next February. One of my hobbies is

china painting. Below are some samples. I plan on painting a

8x10 tile of a Cardinal Bird for the auction or raffle, or what-

ever.

Verna Warden

Glantz

Class of 1955

Need Staff Information: Coach Smith, Lena & Allen Faulk-

ner, Sharon Congrove, Evelyn Reigle & Leslie Runestad.

Contact the Committee.

That Old Green

Bus!

Recently, we received a

letter from Helen

Baumgartner Huwa. She

provided some comments

regarding the Old Bus. Helen says, “Walter remem-

bers the bus. It was the first one that came out that had

a metal body. It was one of the newer ones, but he re-

members a wooden bus earlier. The brand name was

“Republic” and both buses were green in color. A gen-

tleman by the name of “Mr. House”, drove it as well as

some of the teachers. Mr. Ewell was the mechanic.

Walter started first grade in Prospect in 1927”.

The above picture was submitted by Dorothy Amen Belk

“44.. Dorothy remembers some of the members. Hazel

Abbott, Doris Shaklee, Blanche Ewertz, Leon Greene-

meyer, Shirley Abbott, William Hoff & Herman Huwa.

Dorothy Amen Remembers My husband Jim drove a school bus when the schools

consolidated and Harold Rice was superintendent. I

cooked at the lunch room at the old school after consoli-

dation. I’m one of the Amen kids, #2. the folks moved to

the Valley on thanksgiving Day 1936. I attended Prospect

valley School from 1936 until 1944., when I dropped out

after beginning the school year after beet harvest. I went

to Greeley and completed the rest of that first semester at

West Greeley High School and married in October 1944.

Jim was in the service (Army) at the POW Camp between

Windsor and Greeley. We move to Tennessee in 1979.

Jim was retired and I worked some. My daughters and

their families live down here, as well as my youngest son,

who lives ere with me. Jim passed away November 13,

2006, after 62 years of marriage, four children, six

grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. I’m planning

on attending the reunion if my health continues to hold

up. See you then. Hope you can make sense out of this.

Just remember, I’m a teenage 81 year old senior.

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In Memory

A special donation to the PVHS Reunion

Fund has been made in memory of Don

Scheid, class of '54 and Peggy Scheid Man-

gers, class of '55. This donation was made

by their brother Jim Scheid, class of 65

WC. Thank you for your thoughtful gesture.

An Uncommon Faith A biography by Carol Patterson You from PVHS may remember her as Faith Brown, class of ’61, timid but very funny, sister to Sharon, Barbara and Gayle. Her high school history students in middle America knew her as their favorite teacher. College and University profes-sors and students in the northeast knew her as the founder and executive director of Urban Youth Alliance with chartered clubs still thriving today on dozens of campuses. The national viewing audiences of Barbara Walters and CBS television specials knew her as a woman who championed the cause of minorities for twenty years. New Yorkers knew her as the dynamic voice of hope in the most drug-infested, poverty-stricken ghettos of New York City. Then-Governor Nel-son Rockefeller knew her as a fellow panelist of “drug rehab experts.” Street junkies knew her as their friend. And now, twenty years after her death from breast cancer, you can know her through this engaging biography, An Uncommon Faith. Books as available through Carol Patterson, 6416 Connell Farm Drive, Plano, TX 75024. Cost: $10 (includes postage).

Prospect Valley School Orchestra

1941-42

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(continued from page 1) Those were memories yet to

come for an 8 year old perched atop the old cottonwood tree,

but now they come back, thanks to the Prospect Valley Reun-

ion team and the wonderful newsletters you all so diligently

produce. There have been times when I thought it would be

fun to climb that old cottonwood tree again to see what memo-

ries I could retrieve. But thanks to the PV Reunion newslet-

ters I don‟t have to risk that climb - and it would be a risk at

my age now! I so much appreciate all the input (memories

shared) to the newsletter from so many former PV school

graduates and attendees. You all have probably saved me

from bodily injury had I tried to climb that tree to get those

memories! So keep them coming. I treasure the newsletters

and really, really look forward to meeting all of

you this coming September.

Thanks again to all who are making this possible.

Kenny Vogel, class of 1956

I received the reunion news and thought I'd

share a little info about myself. I served in the

Navy from 1961 to 1965. Worked for the City

of Alhambra, CA, from 1967 to 1995 as a police

officer. After I retired from there, I moved

back to CO and worked for the Ball Corp. as

an internal security advisor. Now that we are

retired, my wife Regina and I enjoy playing

golf and taking trips in our Corvette when we

can. Enjoy the newsletter and the

photos... bring back a lot of memo-

ries of when we played ball at

PVHS. It will be interesting to

share life experiences with former

schoolmates at the reunion.

Glenn Lewton 1936 PVHS graduate recently celebrated his

90th birthday. Glenn also attended school at

Sunny Dale. He married Jean Margaret Mor-

gan on December 30, 1949.

They have three children,

Diane, Curtis and Janice.

Their grandchildren are

Elizabeth, Sara, Taylor and

Justin.

His interests include farm-

ing and collecting old cars.

Thank you so much for finding me. I look for-

ward to hearing about the PVHS Reunion and

reading about those I remember well.

Of course, I did not graduate from Prospect

Valley, because my family had to move away.

Instead, I graduated from West High in Denver

where I never did fit in. High School was not

happy for me.

I remember you and my class at Prospect Val-

ley so well. No matter where I was, and even

now, Prospect Valley was always my home.

Some of my cousins still live out there. Ray-

mond Yeager, Ruth Yeager Trupp and

Donald Beckel.

Thank you very much. I plan to attend.

Memories

Rene JoAnn Zimbelman Kaelber

The first memory is of Loyd Sargent, Mike Ewertz and

Jerry Gallegos in the third grade chased me around the red

brick school house at recess trying to kiss me on the cheek.

Can you imagine!?

I should have remembered how to diagram a sentence, or the

facts I was able to recite in front of the fifth grade class all

forty eight states and their capitals. No offense to Loyd, Mike

(God rest his soul), and Jerry.

(2) Mr. Block opening the door to his classroom and telling

us to tone it down. We were practicing our cheerleading

maneuvers in the hall next to his classroom. Quiz: OK!!

All you PVHS grads—what was Mr. Block‟s room num-

ber?

(3) That precious little brat, Bob Alberts, yelling across the

gym before a basketball game, “There goes Emmy Lou‟s

Little German Girl! - Bobby carried that saying all the

way to UNC where we both attended. I love you, Bobbie!

I have been so incredibly blessed with perfect health: and I

have a perfect marriage. My career summary is as follows:

1. thirteen wonderful years teaching for the Denver Public

Schools.

2. Eighteen rewarding years as a sales representative repre-

senting a couple of companies: the last being a major oil com-

pany.

We enjoy life here on lake Logan-Martin in Central Ala-

bama. It is peaceful and beautiful, indeed

Thank you, for keeping me informed. I enjoy reading the

Newsletters. May God bless you all.

Rene

Paul Scheid

Carolyn Beckel Clayburg

Sandy Erker „61 lived in NYC for sev-

enteen years & worked for Leona

Helmsly (the Queen of Mean

who recently passed away &

left her fortune to her

dog!) at the Helmsly Palace

Hotel, in an administrative

position.

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Who Won The Civil War?

Jim and I have moved so many times in

the last 35 years, I don‟t know if I have

anything to contribute to the upcoming

events. But I do still have my school

annuals…and lots of memo-

ries. Were either of you in Coach

Smith‟s U.S. history class with me when he was

teaching the “facts” of the Civil War? I had just

moved to Colorado from North Carolina, and be-

lieve it or not, in N.C. we were taught that the South

won the war (go figure). So when Coach Smith‟s

facts differed from what I‟d been taught, I argued

with him, ripped that chapter out of my textbook,

threw the book at him and stormed out of the class-

room (what a brat!). He laughed; I got over it. I

loved Mrs. Curie and her chemistry and physics

labs. She commuted back to Denver on weekends to

be with her husband, and I rode with her many

times going to Denver to stay with my big sisters.

Thank you for the information about Veloy Vigil.

Several years ago, perhaps 12 years, I read in the Mon-trose Daily Press that Veloy Vigil was to be judge at an art show in Ouray. The show was taking place the day the paper came out. Since our paper was delivered in the late afternoon, I decided that I was going to Ouray the next day and find him and say Hi, and let him know that I, too, has learned to paint. When I got to Ouray, the judging was over and all the paintings were on exhibit. I asked about Veloy and was told he had left early that morning to go back to Taos. I asked about an address, phone # or some way I might could contact him, and was told, they did not have that info, but I could go across the street and that person had all that and might be helpful. Well she was like talking to a brick wall. She could not give out any in-formation. Not even the name of his studio in Taos. She said, it was named after his wife. I went away very disap-pointed. I just wanted to say Hi and talk a minute. Some time, if I ever get that way again, I plan to go to the studio, if it is still open. I do art painting. I am nowhere near the artist that Veloy was, but I like to paint. I do what a lot of people call tole painting, but I do not classify it in any cate-gory. I just paint anything I want to. I do draw or trace my painting on the project first. Some scenes I can just take off with paint and paint a scene, but I do a lot of still life, animals, birds, windmills, barns, you name it and I will give it a try. I have never tried a few things and have no desire to do so, but that is my privilege. I teach an art class on Monday morning and another one in the evening. I have been teaching for about 10 years. Love, Melba

George Bush -PVHS Grad & School Board Member

We Appreciate Yours Service to Prospect Valley School

Donn Reid I was a student of Prospect Valley Schools from grade one thru the first semester of the eleventh grade. If there are jobs that need to be done, I would be glad to see that they get done. Please add my name to the mailing list. Thank you and am looking forward to hearing from the committee.

Glenn & Mary Ann

Murray We just celebrated our 55th

Wedding Anniversary on

January 8th.

With appreciation. Mary Ann Lott Murray

L to R, Sandy Erker, Jim Ruhl, Sherry, Marilyn, Lousie

Reichert, Don Mallory, Pat Ruhl & Don Elam.

It Looks Like Some PVHS Alumni

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.

U. S. ARMY

PVHS SOLDIERS

Herman Huwa (Now & Then) Loyd Sargent Jim Davis Robin Greenhagan Ken Vogel

Gene Calvert

Let‟s Salute the PVHS Veterans on the 4th of July! We are working on a special 4th of July Edition dedicated to

PVHS Veteran Members. To make this Special Edition possible,

we need a picture of each PVHS Veteran in uniform. Two ways

to send pictures; e-mail your picture, or send copies ( not origi-

nals pictures) by United State Post Office. If you have a picture

of a deceased PVHS veterans, please send it. If you don‟t have a

picture, please send the name and branch of service. There will

be a separate page for each branch of service with the

veteran‟s picture.

Your cooperation is greatly appreciated

Send Us The Story

of Your Family

What set of circumstances

brought your family

Newsletter Mailing

# 5

Hits New Record

290+ Newsletters

Reunion Meeting Planned

For

Class Reps

&

Interested Members

Who Want to be

Involved

March 14th

for more information

Call

A

Committee Member

6

Catherine The Great

In 1762 Sophie Fredericke Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst, a German native of Stettin, displaced her husband Peter III and took the vacant Russian imperial throne, assuming the name of Catherine II . "Catherine the Great" published manifestos in 1762 and 1763 inviting Europeans to immi-grate and farm Russian lands while maintaining their language and culture. Although the first received little response, the second improved the benefits that were offered and was more suc-cessful. In addition to land development, an im-portant consideration for Catherine was the pro-vision of a buffer zone between her Russian subjects and the nomads to the east. Germans responded in particularly large numbers due to poor conditions in their home regions. People in other countries such as France and England were more inclined to migrate to the colonies in the Americas than to the Russian frontier. Other countries, such as Austria, forbade emigration. Those who went to Russia had special rights under the terms of the manifesto. These were later revoked when the need for conscription into the Russian army arose in the latter part of the 19th century. This was especially offensive to the German Mennonite communities, whose doctrine teaches against war and aggression. Some Germans emigrated to the Americas or Germany to avoid the draft, though many did

remain in Russia. Source: Wikipedia.org

CSU Photo Gallery—German families working

in the sugar beet industry– 1920’s.

Historical Corner 1930 US Census for Prospect Valley Jim Vogel

I have been researching my four grandparents

who all came from the Volga region in Russia

in the early 1900s. They were people who are now called

Volga Germans. A large number of the families that lived in

the valley were of either Volga German or Black Sea German

descent. It makes many of us grandchildren of immigrants. I

have access to the 1930 US Census for Prospect Valley, Weld

County, Colorado (Precinct 58, District 90).

Heads of Households

The Long Trek to PV

My parents migrated to Canada from Russia in

1907. They met and married in Rheine, Sas-

katchewan in 1910. In 1915, they decided to move

to the USA. They lived in Montana then on to

Scottsbluff, NE (where I was born) and on to

Wyoming. In 1937, we moved to Prospect Valley

where I started 1st grade with most of my class-

mates that I graduated with in 1948.

My Dad sold the farm in 1947 and moved to

Brighton. I lived with my brother Manuel so I

could graduate from PVHS with my friends and

classmates. My grandson (Rod Thompson)

graduated from Weld Central and my great

granddaughter and great grandson attended the

same school.

We have had several reunions since 1948. The

last one was 2003. This 60th reunion will be the

greatest and largest since then. See everyone in

2008. Darlene Suppes Keller

CSU RESEARCH Colorado State University has done extensive research on the

immigration of Germans and their contribution to Colorado.

The University maintains project papers, interviews, field re-

ports and oral histories as they pertain to the subject. A good

website is http://lib.colostate.edu/ger/index.html.

1930 US Census Alex, Carl and John

Baumgartner

Adam Brandt

Joe Davis

Merl Dunham

Walter Gould

George Hilt

John Hofferber

Fred Huwa

Allen and Ester Keller

Ira Martin

Connie and Henry Trupp

Ford Wagner

Harlan, Rollo and Walter

Shaklee

Nick Weickum

Wes Willmott (teenager

living with grandmother)

George and John

Zimbelman

1920 US Census David Dunham

Robert Martin

Delorne Reed

Ross(?) Shaklee

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Sergeant Sargent I was anxious to start framing with my dad, Irvin J. Sar-

gent, and brother William “Vernon” Sargent. The prob-

lem at the time was the military draft (Korean) was in ef-

fect and if I waited to be drafted: I would have to serve

two years of active duty and continue to serve in the re-

serve for an additional four years, which would mean an

interruption during summer months to attend reserve

training. By enlisting for the three years of active duty, I

was relieved of any reserve obligation.

After enlisting in the Army in Denver, all of the area in-

ductees were transported to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, aboard

one of the last WWII troop trains to receive aptitude test

for assignment. The old coal powered locomotives and

loose fitting sleeping cars assured that ever thing was cov-

ered with soot.

The 47th Infantry Division, made up of the Minnesota

National Guard, was being federalized and moved to

Camp Rucker, Alabama to receive recruits from all over

the United States to fill the ranks of the newly Federalized

National Guard Division.

At the time I received my aptitude interview, I explained

that I had considerable experience operating track pro-

pelled farm tractors which should make driving a tank

reasonably easy to learn. When the results of the aptitude

test were in, I was assigned to Co B of the 747 Ordnance

Maintenance Battalion (armament maintenance and re-

pair), 47th Infantry Division, Camp Rucker, Alabama.

Any inductee who was assigned to an established state

guard unit to receive their military training is painfully

subjected to the ramifications of the original guard unit

personnel, all being related in one way or another or at

least the best of friends. Every time I complained about

cronyism and asked to be transferred to a real military

outfit, I was sent to armament maintenance and repair

school at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland. I was

sent to Aberdeen Proving ground three separate times to

attend #1—tank turret Artillery Repair, #2—Light Artil-

lery Repair, # 3—Small Arms repair. Each time I attended

school at Aberdeen Proving Grounds to teach the course I

had just completed. Each time I submitted my transfer

request, it was denied and I was ordered to return to my

company.

As a result of three years of the aforesaid activities, I was

Honorably discharge from the Army of the United States

from Camp Rucker, Alabama, as Sergeant Sargent with

my military pay adjusted in accordance with the number

of service schools completed.

Camp Rucker, Alabama was constructed for use at the

beginning of World War II. Shortly after my discharge on

the 19th day of February 1954, Camp

Rucker, Alabama became Fort

Rucker, Alabama, a helicopter flight

training school.

Loyd Sargent

Mail Delivery in Prospect Valley

During the time the readers of this

Newsletter were going to Prospect Val-

ley High School, my dad, Lester Beatty,

was the rural mail carrier. In response

to George‟s editorial requesting family

histories, this record is offered. Even

though I did not go to PVHS, George

and I have been life-long friends.

Lester, or Mr. Beatty as most of you probably

referred to him, was born to pioneer parents on a

homestead in Oklahoma Territory in 1895. He lived on

the family farm until he went into the Army for two

years during World War I. He served in France as a

machine gunner where he was wounded in the battle of

St. Mihiel. After the armistice, he was assigned to the

Army of Occupation of Germany before returning to

the states and being discharged. During the early

1920s he filed on a homestead in Montana and survived

one winter, before he threw in the towel and headed

home. On his way home he stopped in Colorado

Springs to visit an uncle who owned a small grocery

store. Lester worked in the store for a while and as a

substitute city mail carrier until he became a full time

city mail carrier. In 1929, about three months before

the stock market crash, he transferred to the rural mail

route in Keenesburg.

His early days delivering mail in the Valley

were during the depression when he had the security of

having a regular federal pay check while many farm

families were going through very hard time. He saw

many good farmers loose their farms during this time.

Dad always had a lot of respect for the Prospect Valley

farmers and how successful they were.

Christmas time was his busiest time

and one of the most important for the families in the

Valley. He worked long days during the holiday rush.

I am sure most of you remember receiving important

Christmas presents and mail during this time. Some of

you may even remember him knocking on your door

and asking to have his car pulled out of a snow bank.

More than one tractor was put to use doing this in the

34 years he delivered the mail. I am sure you would

agree that the most important days of his work were

the days when he delivered the beet checks from the

Great Western Sugar Company.

He had a reputation for being extremely punc-

tual. People knew when he was on vacation because

the mail was late. One neighbor had this to say about

him, “If he was on his route and he stopped to say hello

or chat at your mail box, the next thing

you would realize is that you were

standing by yourself watching him drive

on to the next mail box.”

Have a great reunion and warmest

regards, Phillip Beatty

(Lester Beatty)

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Ted Zimbelman

Jim Davis

Sharon Brown Hervold

Frank Tegtman

Hans Arnusch

Sherry Sargent Stickle

Richard Scheid

Barbara Evers Wagner

Kathy Bumpus Baes

Kenny Pierson

Betty Amen Mitro

Darlene Suppes Keller

Chuck Sargent

Deryl Elmore

Shirley Shaklee Howard

Barbara Brown Mackery

Lona Bauer Uerling

Dorothy Willmott Alberts

Gene Abbott

Toby Patton Schwindt

Dorothy Patton Ley

Shirley Rodriguez Sisneros

William Chandler

Verna Warden Glantz

Jean Mallory Kipp

Diane Mitzel Goble

Jim Ruhl

Gene Calvert

Loyd Sargent

Doris Ann Huwa Schlidt

Nancy Scheid Ikes

John Epple

Rene Zimbelman Kaelber

Scott Erker Mary K Busnardo Baumgartner

Betty Croissant Bennett

Sandy Erker

Don Vogel

Helen Trupp Altergott

Jimmie Baumgartner

Gloris Sargent-Griffin

Polly Scheid Ferguson

Marilyn Sargent Haffner

George Davis

Celeste Martinez Garduno

Herb Weickum

Pat Ruhl Bass

Melba Keller Johnston

Charles Wagner

Dorothy Zimbelman Kern

Marcella Davis

Ruth Yeager Trupp

Herman Huwa

Joy Keller Vitgenos

James Vogel

Jacob Kenny Vogel

Geraldine Weickum Cooper

Bob Alberts

Robert Zimbelman

Robert Mallory

Carolyn Mitzel Stolley

Dorothy Davis Green

Donald Mallory

Louise Reichert Shepherd

Jack Goble

Bill Sargent Jr.

Deryl Dunham

Helen Nelson Amundson

Ernie Reichert

Ken Nelson

Frank Hillenbrand

Dorothy Amen Belk

Donn Reid

Larry Baumgartner

Donald Altergott

Jim Scheid

Charlene Croissant Wood

Thank You

Cardinal

Club

Members,

You

Are

Making

It

Happen!!

Reunion — September 13 & 14th

2008

Space Reserved For You!

9

I look forward to the reunion next year and have marked those dates on our calendar. We will be there!! It

is so much fun reading about people I have often wondered about, but haven't known about until now. The

pictures in the newsletter are wonderful to see! This is evolving into something of real value to those of us

who lived in PV and attended school there. I truly am enjoying the memories that are triggered by reading

articles like the one by Gloris Sargent-Griffin and others. I had forgotten that I was Gloris' boyfriend in the

first grade! And thank you for the feature on our dad, Scout Troop 49, and the Vogel Boys. I look forward

to reading about other brothers, and sisters and families. It would be interesting, for example, to read about Mr.

Tegtman who operated the road maintainer around PV for so many years and the Tegtman family.

I was thinking about a feature on places we used to hang out while growing up in PV. For example, the Ray Pelz gro-

cery store was one of my favorite places. It was the place to go after school to drink soda pop and hang out. I do re-

member, however, that Coach Turner had a rule that during football, basketball and baseball seasons we weren't al-

lowed to put Planters Peanuts in our sodas. Apparently he believed it would hamper our athletic ability. But we all

really enjoyed dumping one of those little bags of peanuts into our bottles of soda. I remember that Ray Pelz was such a

nice, generous person. He always threw in an extra piece or two when you bought a bag of candy. As a kid it was such

a treat to be able to ride our bikes the 1/2 mile from our house up to PV and the Ray Pelz grocery store. It seemed like

such a long ride back then, but it was always worth the effort.

I can remember that even in the summer we would take a break from work in the field to congregate at Ray Pelz gro-

cery store for a soda, ice cream bar (milk nickel) and conversation with whoever else happened to be there.

Some us used to also hang out at Prospect Implement Store with Don Altergott while in high school. He always seemed

to have something interesting going on, like the Model A Coupe he modified and installed a full race Pontiac engine in

it. That was one fast car! It might be fun to hear about other cars, like Billy Amen's Chevy coupe that had dual pipes

and could be heard coming down the road for a mile or more. I remember crashing Charlotte (Tegtman) Shaklee's

slumber party one night in the 1931 Model A Roadster I had. We all piled in it and drove around. Fun times! Stories

and pictures of other cars might be fun to put in a future newsletter.

We weren't supposed to hang out in Wes' Tavern as high schoolers, but loved to hang out at the new home the Wilmotts

built - the nicest house in PV for a long time. On Sunday mornings after Church dad would stop at Wes' Tavern on the

way home to pick up the Sunday newspaper and we could hardly wait to get home to read the funnies. I remember that

the paper always smelled like cigarette smoke from the Tavern.

We also would drop in at Gene Eisenbarth's blacksmith shop to see what he was working on.

I'm sure there must be other hangouts and it would be fun to hear from others where they spent their "leisure time"

when not in school or in the fields.

Each time I read the newsletter, more memories come to mind. I really look forward to meeting old friends and class-

mates next year and catching up on what has happened in their lives these past 50+ years.

Kenny Vogel „56

Helen Trupp Altergott „40 I recently received the PVHS Newsletter and am truly look-

ing forward to attending the reunion. I have many relatives

in the Valley and still think of it as home.

Omega Keller Powers Writes Book

Attacked by an Egg is a collection of true memories in the

life of a woman raised on a farm in eastern Colorado. For

more information click on: Microsoft Reader eBook or email Beda at PowersLady@aol.com

Cardinal Club If you would like to contribute to the PVHS Reun-ion Fund here's how! Make your checks out to the PVHS Reunion Fund. We will list contributors in the class reunion promotional materials and pro-grams in exchange for your donations. Any amount will be accepted and used strictly for the start-up and expenses related to the reunion. You will become a member of the prestigious

"Cardinal Club" with all the honors and

privileges pertaining thereto. WOW!!

Send to: Marilyn Sargent Haffner

Treasurer

http://www.prospectvalleyreunion.com (Over 1300 Visitors to the Website)

Sandra Yeager Grangaard Thank you for taking time to find me and

passing along the school reunion informa-

tion. I am very interested in the 2008 reun-

ion and will do my best to attend.

Fight Song for PVHS?

10

Disturbing Photos of Local Youth Involved

In Watermelon Swiping Uncovered The Sheriff’s Department is getting closer to solving a teenage prank that occurred

nearly fifty years ago on a dark night in Prospect Valley. The photos appear to indicate that the group

was enjoying their success after swiping watermelons at the John Nelson Farm. Reports are surfacing

regarding the vehicle used in the episode. Witnesses say they saw a white convertible in the area that

evening with the top was down and loaded with unruly teenagers. It appears that the fourth photo is a

planning session for the group’s next operation. Sherriff’s Deputy, Barney Fifer, reported that the pho-

tos were turned over to authorities by an elderly woman in her mid sixties from Englewood, CO. She

apparently was not invited to participate in that eventful evening nearly fifty years ago. There will be

more questioning of the informant by Deputy Fifer. It is still unclear who took the photographs or how

the informant obtained them. Deputy Fifer is asking the public for help identifying the youth. He in-

sists that this case will be solved. It does appear that the elderly lady is very emotional about this inci-

dent and she wants these people brought to justice. Deputy Fifer is quoted as saying “this lady just needs

to let go, apparently she has some pent up emotions of peer rejection”.

Deputy Sheriff Barney Fifer

questioning the informant from

Englewood, CO.

Where did you get the pictures? “A friend

gave them to me”. Do you recognize any of the

youth in the photographs? “Yes, some were in

my class at PVHS”. Were you invited to par-

ticipate in this dastardly event? “No No, I’m

so upset!!!!, I didn’t even know they had it

planned, they just left me out of all the fun!!,

didn’t even tell me” “I just wanted to be with

Frankie, he was so cute. This is so emotional

for me, just bring them all to justice!!”.

Exhibit #1

Exhibit # 2

Exhibit # 3

Exhibit # 4

Group Ditch School — Gene Calvert, Class of 58

I can remember ditching school one day and going to Denver. I will not mention any names,

but we were in a 55 Buick Roadmaster. While cruising 16th street we came upon the flip-flop

and were going the wrong way on a one-way street. A taxicab swerved to miss us and hit an-

other car. Nobody was hurt as luck would have it and we were not there? Gosh, I wonder

how we lived through some of those days. I remember on the way back the speedometer was

red, if you know what I mean.

11

Stepping off the plane, we were now foreigners in a strange country for the next 3 years. Arriving on a hot hu-

mid day with the pollution hanging low, an indescribable stench, and all the people speaking a language I could

not understand-nor could I ever fathom that I would be able to understand .The cultural shock set in as we traveled to our

hotel. Life had taken a giant leap backward into history. Open sewers along the streets provided convenient relief stations.

Oxen carts carrying huge loads, pedicabs, bicycles, rattling taxis and buses spewing out black exhaust were the modes of

transportation along with the military vehicles and cars.

My family had just completed our first plane trip, with 2 children ages 5 and 2 on a military prop (June ‟60). . Refueling

stops were made in Hawaii, Wake Island and Guam, Plus, a 2 day layover in Manila and then proceeding onto our destina-

tion, Taipei, Taiwan, The Republic of China.

Life had taken on many „ first‟s‟ for us. Military housing wasn‟t provided, but there were recommendations. We lived

among the locals in a bamboo fenced compound. A canal ran along our housing and it was not uncommon to go outside the

gate and discover a dead body bobbing up and down in the swift moving waters. About ½ mile from our house was the cre-

matorium. The furnace was stoked up once a week for cremating. Our drinking water had to be boiled, produce rinsed in a

bleach solution and peelings were never to be eaten. Typhoons (hurricanes) and earthquakes went with the territory. 7.9 on

the Richter scale was our highest quake.

However, at times we could escape from the bustling over crowded city and take a R & R to the beautiful southern part of

the Island. Our travels off the Island included a trip to Hong Kong with lots of shopping; There was the ride in a rickshaw,

lunch on the Floating Restaurant and we viewed the barbed wire fence where many Chinese were shot and killed trying to

escape from Communist China. Tokyo was an event to be remembered; riding the train that traveled at break neck speed

with passengers packed in tighter than a load of sardines. Then came the exciting trip to Okinawa, where George was sta-

tioned as a Marine.

Towards the end of our tour, President Chiang Kai-Shek and the Madame hosted a tea for the American military who had

worked closely with their military. Now, I needed a special dress for this occasion. Taiwan had no dress shops so I picked

out a royal blue brocade material; cut a picture from a catalog and took these to a dress maker. The process began; measure-

ments, fittings, adjustments and then the final product. ( I still have that dress as a keepsake.) The day of the Tea arrived, we

made our way down the receiving line shaking hands with the President and the Madame, the Vice President and the 2nd

lady, all the staff and the Generals.

A few days before moving and preparing for our return to the states a terrible tragedy occurred in the next compound.

Our neighbor‟s young boys were playing on the flat roof top of a house with long curtain rods. One boy accidentally hit the

electrical wires with his rod, his brother ran to help him, then both were electrocuted. Losing a son, let alone 2 sons, the par-

ents were looked on in shame by their people. As Americans, attending the funeral, our presence helped the parents “save

face” with their people. The father gave us one of his prized possessions as a way of expressing his thanks for attending the

funeral .

It was sad to leave an Island and it‟s people we had come to love and yet so thrilling to know that we were going to see our

loved ones again in our cherished homeland. Eager to begin the new assignment at the Pentagon, we settled in Fairfax, Va.

and that fall Marcella came to visit. Sight seeing was on our agenda, with the White House at the top of the list. We got all

dressed up, high heels and all, we clicked those heels and were off to see the White House. Unaware of Washington‟s proto-

col, and looking for a tour entrance, we saw an open gate at the back of the W.H. Proceeding and rounding the corner we

found ourselves at the headlights of the Presidential Convertible--and who should be in the backseat chatting--none other

than JFK and the King of Afghanistan. It took a moment for the Secret Service to spot us, but when they did --this one guard

yelled at us in his deepest loudest voice “GET OUT OF HERE!!!” We turned and couldn‟t have landed on Pennsylvania Ave

any faster had we been shot out of a cannon. Composing ourselves, we saw a large number of people gathering opposite the

W.H. We decided to blend in with them and in no time here came the Presidential Convertible and entourage with everyone

smiling and waving at the crowd as they drove down Pennsylvania Ave. We now saw the signs saying, “Welcome King of

Afghanistan”. Just a few weeks after this episode, JFK was assassinated.

Marcella and I have continued to share many memorable experiences, for instance; there was the mule riding trip down the

Grand Canyon. In the spring of ‟02, we and family members flew to NYC. Arriving at Ground Zero we watched the work-

men cleaning up the debris and some buildings were still smoldering. This was a very sobering experience. In February ‟05

we traveled to Israel for 10 days. We walked along the Mediterranean Seashore, took a boat ride on the Galilean Sea, and

tried our hand at floating in the Dead Sea. Walking the streets of Jerusalem was breathtaking, along with the many histori-

cal Biblical sites. We transferred to the Boston area in 1968. These were my college years and the launching of my rewarding career in

Sales, Marketing and as Executive Administrator. I retired in ‟05 after almost 30 years of employment with the same corpo-

ration whom had become global. I now volunteer for the Massachusetts Family Institute. This has put me in the State House

for many Constitutional Conventions, lobbying etc. Looking back over the years since PVHS, I can only say, “I have been

abundantly blessed and surprised.”

The Adventures of Dorothy Davis Green

Class of 1952

12

Carol Maul McMillan Shares Memories

I am trying to remember some high school stuff. Of course none of it is academic! I remember when we took our senior

sneak day to Colorado Springs and somehow we didn‟t have any parent or teacher with us. I think we went to the zoo or

Pikes Peak or both, and had a picnic. The part I do remember is that on the way home we started throwing water balloons

at each other‟s cars while driving down the road. When the balloons ran out, we started throwing the left over lunch rem-

nants. Potato salad and deviled eggs come to mind and everything else we had in the way of food. The cars looked pretty

bad by the time we got home. I wasn‟t driving so don‟t remember any consequences.

I remember that Allen Rule took Home Ec and made Sherry a pair of shortie pajamas. But the girls were not allowed to

take woodshop (or FFA).

We made beautiful Biology notebooks in Mr. Turner‟s biology class, using several colors of pens. And remember the

mimeograph machines that we had to type a master and crank out the copies!! (I have to come up with

something academic here)

We dipped the drinking straw covers in mustard and ketchup and blew them up to the ceiling when the cafeteria was near

the gym. They stuck there, lots of them. I remember the boys going out the study hall windows during study

hall. Of course we girls never did that.

The proms and the plays were fun. I can‟t think of details right now but after

all it‟s been 50 years. I do remember who I went with to both the junior

and senior proms, though. Is that good?

I am part of a group who performs at the Santa Cruz Follies. I am sending

a picture of the 2007 follies. I have a banjo.

Carol Maul McMillan Shares Memories

I am trying to remember some high school stuff. Of course none of it is academic! I remember when we took our senior

sneak day to Colorado Springs and somehow we didn‟t have any parent or teacher with us. I think we went to the zoo or

Pikes Peak or both, and had a picnic. The part I do remember is that on the way home we started throwing water bal-

loons at each other‟s cars while driving down the road. When the balloons ran out, we started throwing the left over

lunch remnants. Potato salad and deviled eggs come to mind and everything else we had in the way of food. The cars

looked pretty bad by the time we got home. I wasn‟t driving so don‟t remember any consequences.

I remember that Allen Rule took Home Ec and made Sherry a pair of shortie pajamas. But the girls were not allowed to

take woodshop (or FFA).

We made beautiful Biology notebooks in Mr. Turner‟s biology class, using several colors of pens. And remember the

mimeograph machines that we had to type a master and crank out the copies!! (I have to come up with

something academic here)

We dipped the drinking straw covers in mustard and ketchup and blew them up to the ceiling when the cafeteria was

near the gym. They stuck there, lots of them. I remember the boys going out the

study hall windows during study hall.

Of course we girls never did that.

The proms and the plays were fun. I can‟t think of details right now but after

all it‟s been 50 years. I do remember who I went with to both the junior

and senior proms, though. Is that good?

I am part of a group who performs at the Santa Cruz Follies. I am sending

a picture of the 2007 follies. I have a banjo.

The Class of 1958 was always a bunch that liked to “get together”. After we realized we missed our 10th

reunion, we had a potluck in the Maul home for our 13th reunion. We always were a class who did things differently.

For our 20th reunion we had a nice dinner at the Longhorn in Hudson, which was owned by fellow graduate, Gene

Calvert and wife Vonnie. A picnic in the park followed on Sunday. In 1993, Herb Weickum and I tried to get an-

other reunion going. There were only 6 who attended at the Pepper Pod in Hudson.Mrs. Milan, English teacher,

directed our Junior Class play, Date Bait. Mrs. Tegtman, 4th grade teacher, directed our Senior Play, Hillbilly Court-

ship. The evenings rehearsing were always as much fun as the presentation. From the titles of these plays, it looks

like the class of 1958 was always thinking about dating. Typical teens!

Planning and decorating for the prom was another fun activity. Our mothers always cooked the big banquet and it

was held in the school cafeteria. Of course this meant getting to decorate the lunchroom too. I remember the beau-

tiful mural, Mrs. Tegtman painted for the back wall in the gym. The theme of the prom was Oriental Gardens. Sell-

ing Sloppy Joes at the Turkey Shoots on highway 52 was a great fundraiser. We also had a large auction, with auc-

tioneers out of Greeley. All items were donated and despite the snowstorm, we managed to make a lot of money to

add to our fund. This was used for our Junior Prom and our Senior Trip to Phoenix. What a fun time that was.

Five of our classmates are deceased. Dallas Bell,

shortly after graduation in a tragic farm acci-

dent. Allen Ruhl, Max Warden, Owen Smith

and Rupert Gallegos. All five of these class-

mates held a special place in our “family”, the

class of 1958.

I am inviting any member of the class of 1958 to

send in a favorite memory from your school

years. This invitation is extended to all former

students. Marilyn