Lowville NY Class of '52 reunion

Then, some 53 or 54 years later, Bill got together with the same two students on Labor Day of 2005, and took their picture in the same place and in the same way. They were facing away from the camera and toward the front door of the school. Here is how they appeared in 2005:

Franz Simbeck and Charlotte Lynch Stewart in 2005

Some Class-y Images

Shortly after the 55th reunion I contacted Ida Wahl Bates who had displayed a few items on the bulletin board at the Reunion. I asked her if I might borrow a couple of the items to put here on the website. She got together a few other items and gave them to me to scan. Several of the items she obviously had received from Franz Simbeck. This first one was an image taken from the Journal & Republican, showing a photo of 3 classmates on a grade school trip.

The next one shows classmates Pat Barker and Ida Wahl posing for the camera in 1952.

Franz Simbeck displays the "J&R" in his home country.

The Simbeck picture in the J&R prompted Don Szoke to send them this photo from '52

Now here's a mystery photo. Obviously Mr. Kilpatrick has the "Ag" boys
on a field trip somewhere. Do I see Franz, Homer, Frank, Paul, and Ron?
I'm not sure! Who else might be in this shot?

This one is easy!
Charles Bush, Andy Schantz, Bill Raymond, Franz Simbeck
and Charlotte Lynch!

Apparently some friends got together and threw a farewell party for
Franz in '52. Pictured below are Hank Putz, Fred Tabolt, Franz Simbeck, & John McCue

Still at the party, I think I recognize Hank & Franz. Somebody tell me who else
is there and what in the world they are doing!

A mini-reunion when Franz came state-side a few years ago.
The list of names is below the picture.

Back row: Dave Lyng, Bill Kilburn, Tom Bates, Jessie Schantz, & Paul Jantzi
Middle row: Merritt Reed, Ida Wahl Bates, Joanne Mowers Evans, & Frank Hanno
Front:Lloyd Liscum, Betty Burns Bush, Charlotte Lynch Stewart, Franz Simbeck, Bill Raymond, & Ron Walter

After seeing Ida's and Franz's pictures of classmates, it occurred to me that it would be nice if anyone had a photo of two or more classmates, it would be interesting to see them on this website. So here's my invitation to submit any photos you might have that show 2 or more classmates. I'll start with a couple of photos I have.

Don Boshart, Marie McOmber, Harold McOmber & his brothers Roger & Ralph

September of 1952
Larry Myers, Bill Doney, Gordon Klock, Claude Linck, & Allan Markey

Here's a nice addition to our "Class-y" photos. The 08/24/07 edition of the Lowville Journal and Republican contained an article about classmate Jim Duffy, who lives in Manhattan. Apparently Jim had realized that a lot of Lowville alumni were in the NYC area, and started having mini-reunions at his apartment. Here is one of the pictures from the J&R article:

Jim Duffy, friend Sofia, Lowville alumnus Anthony Johndrow & friend, Elizabeth

In answer to our call for more "class-y" pictures, Dick Doody supplied us with a J&R newspaper clipping of the 1949-1950 Track Team at "LFA."

The "unknown" fellow in the back row is Ralph McOmber.

Thanks, Dick, for a great picture from 1949 with nine of our "class of '52" included.

There was a wonderful picture of our class while in the second grade in 1942. The picture was reproduced in our "50th Reunion Booklet." Bill Kilburn still had a copy of the photograph which he has kindly loaned to me so I could scan it. Here's how our class looked then.

Teacher: Miss Griffith
Back Row: Don Boshart, Carolyn Schermerhorn, Sally Carlston, Mary Reed, Alice Gazin, Margaret Hulbert, Joan Hulbert, Barb Corbine, Lois Lyndaker, Alma Kirch, Grace Roy
Middle Row: Bill Kilburn, Al Loson, James Duffy, Shirley Strader, Richard Ward, Carol Millard, Phyllis Kloster, Diane Giroux, Marion Garnsey, Betty Ide, Delores Schmitt
Front Row: Red McPhilmy, Harold McOmber, Bob Cassie, Dan Greenfield, David Day, Gerald Brown, Barb Hurd, Georgia Smith, Catherine Jones

Bill Kilburn also came up with several photos he has saved over the years. We think they are from a couple of different class reunions, and the last two are likely portraits that were taken during the Junior year.

I see Bill VerSchneider, Jessie Schantz, Barb Corbine, Al Loson, & Franz Simbeck. Others, unknown.

Franz & Al

That masked man is Merritt Reed

Buddies! Betty Ide & Barb Hurd

Pat Barker, Joanne Mowers (sorry we caught you in mid-blink), and Grace Roy

I think that's Charlie O'Brien's wife on the left, then Howard Britton and Charlie

Larry Myers & Howard Britton

Bill & Mary Kilburn, and Jessie & Betty Schantz

Mr & Mrs Andy Schantz

Mr & Mrs Wilbur Moser and Paul Jantzi. We think that's Joyce Lehman & her husband on this side of the table.

Joanne & Dick Doody in the back, and Joan Hulbert & Georgia Smith in the foreground.

David Day, probably his Junior year portrait.

Claude Linck, probably his Junior year portrait

Anyone else have a Junior year portrait they'd like to share with us?
If so, email me!

On August 10, 2002, the "Class of '52" held its 50th reunion at the Steak'N'Brew in Turin, N.Y. It was a wonderful time discovering old friends behind strange faces. Patty Minotti had her youngest son, Greg McCrea, with her. He took quite a few pictures, and Patty was kind enough to share the photos with me electronically. My skills at reproducing the pictures to be on this website, leave something to be desired, but I think you can enjoy the images anyway. Here are some of the pictures: