In the latter half of the 1940's, the High School Senior Class Trip
became quite a thing — and grew in its extravagance
for about a decade.
But, in the late '50's — the larger high schools were
finding themselves cutting back on the breadth of these
excursions — with many only doing a day
trip — or at most, a single-overnighter.
But not
Daniel Boone.
We had a full 4-day / 3-night junket — with
the outset snoozery aboard a somewhat sizable boat.
In fact, we weren't the only students colonizing the
craft that
Wednesday evening
— finding
ourselves fairly confluent and intermingled with an 8th grade
class — celebrating their graduation from a
junior high school, in Baltimore.
Yet.
I've already gotten well ahead of myselph, hear:
Let us begin at the startginning.
Most of us were born in
1943
— which set us to embark
upon our senior year of high school in
the September of 1960.
You may recall this as the closing press, in the
political dance, to see who would move into The
White House, as Ike & Mamie moved out.
This was the first time in history, that would include
a televised debate between the Presidential candidates
— actually 4 debates —
with the wrap-up, on Friday, October 21st.
We were less than 3 weeks into our senior studies,
by the Monday evening of the initial face-off.
'Twas September 26th of 1960.
And clearly, Vice President R. Milhous Nixon did not
cameratize sweetly.
70 million U.S. viewers tuned in, to watch
(and listen) — and we pretty widely concluded that ...
It was not only that Mr. Kennedy was
younger,
taller,
tanner,
more smartly dressed,
and in better physical condition —
his delivery was smooth, and confident, and
he oozed charisma.
Yes.
Jack was the lesser known.
And the lesser experienced in politics.
And he
was Catholic — which no former
President had ever been.
But we liked him.
And his attitude — and outlook on things.
We were encouraged by his general demeanor.
He was a John Wayne, and a Jimmy Stewart
kinda guy.
We saw him as someone who could take us
from where we were, to where we wanted
to go — to The New Frontier — to Camelot.
And come the wee hours of the Wednesday morning of
November 9th, it became fairly certain that
Massachusetts Senator John Fitzgerald Kennedy
would be our 35th President.
So. 2½ months hence, as our semester break
swiftly approached — at 12:51 pm on the
Friday afternoon of January 20th, 1961,
we were well
glued to the tube, as our hero delivered his "Ask Not"
inaugural address, on the snowy steps of the
United States Capitol Building, at the intersection
of Maryland and Pennsylvania Avenues, in
Washington D.C.
— a place we would visit, in
less than 5 months — and, in front
of which, we would have our official
Class Trip Photo taken.
This then, is the chronicle of that cherished Class Trip.
PREFACE
In
9th Grade,
our parents got away easy.
As freshmen, the annual accoutrement purchase was merely a hat.
But as sophs — the ticket for the annual garment was hiked a bit.
In
10th Grade,
we got our class jacket.
And then — in
11th Grade,
being juniors — we had reached the juncture for jewelry.
Mom & Dad shelled out for our class rings this year.
So.
What was on the "dole docket" in
12th Grade ?
We had a pretty replete wardrobe.
What needed we else ?
Nothing.
We were all decked out, with know place to go.
Ah-ha!
'Twas time for the Class Trip.
By the end of
May,
we had finished up our classes and finals.
The first weekend in
June
(Saturday,
the 3rd,
and Sunday,
the 4th)
was our breather. Then the Trip Prep set off in earnest.
Monday,
June 5th,
was Laundry Day.
On Tuesday,
the 6th,
we packed — and got
to bed early.
DAY #1
The alarm was set for 5:30 — 5:00 for Amity
students — as
their bus was leaving the High School, in Amityville,
at 7:30 am.
It would then meet the other bus, at the Junior High building, in
Birdsboro,
and the two of them would head south together,
from there, at 8:00
Wednesday morning,
June 7th, 1961.
Our carrier of choice was Bieber Tourways — which was
started by Carl R. Bieber, in Kutztown,
Pennsylvania,
in 1946, and continues to operate
today,
betwixt 18 bus terminals in eastern
Pennsylvania —
and another 3 in
New York City;
Baltimore, Maryland; and
Washington D.C.
Our two drivers are also bookending our
"Capitol" photo,
late in the afternoon of Day #4 — just
before we left for home.
EPILOGUE
So, our Class Trip was concluded — but
far from forgotten.
All you have to do is attend a
class reunion
to be assured of that.
It was re-rhapsodized again at our most recent getogether
in this (the 21st) century.
And next on the agenda was what ?
Baccalaureate
8:00 pm,
Sunday,
June 11, 1961
Daniel Boone Junior
High School Auditorium
Commencement
8:15 pm,
Monday,
June 12, 1961
Roosevelt Auditorium,
3rd & Jefferson, Birdsboro
Swansong Summer
June - August 1961
Annual DBHS Reunion
Friday,
August 25, 1961
Reading Country Club, 7:00 pm
Tertiary Education
September 1961 ad infinitum
at various colleges, universities, and schools
15th Anniversary Reunion
Saturday, June 19, 1976
Elks Home, Pottstown PA
Our Reunion Co-ordinator is:
Joyce
Hamilton Zeiber
118 North Walnut Street
BirdsboroPA19508-2006
484 333-1009 - cell
phone
& voice mail
jefjoyjam@aol.com - email
This DBHS Class of 1961 - We Tripped Page