As you know, my thoughts often go back to “the old neighborhood” of Genesee, Washington, Orchard, Clark and James streets. I was recently thinking about James Street School, which I attended from 1949 to 1953. I remember Ms. Fontaine in kindergarten, Ms. Hammond in the first grade, Ms. Moe in the second grade and Ms. Austin was my third grade teacher.

The school, a red brick building, was located at the corner of James and Orchard streets, where the parking lot of the Auburn Post Office now sits. Just west of the school was a play area, where we shot marbles, played various games and built snow forts in the winter.

I remember the old, well worn wooden floors and the bell in the main hall. I came to school late one day with my mother and Ms. Fontaine let me ring the bell when it was time. What a thrill that was! The gym/ recreation room was in the basement, where kickball was our favorite game. I can still remember the smell of finger paints with which we cultivated our artistic talents.

At the corner of Genesee and James streets was an old stone church, which was so well built that it certainly would be in good condition today had it not been torn down. We used to open the huge wooden doors and step inside to get out of the cold on our way to school. The Rev. Ross was pastor, and I met his son, Harold, very early in the 1950s, when he was selling pumpkins from the basket on the front of his bike. I believe I paid him 15 cents for one. I lost track of him later in the decade, but always wondered if he perpetuated his entrepreneurial skills and became a businessman in his adult years.

Vito Charella studied at James Street until 1953, and remembers it as a “very beautiful school.” He told me, “I would raise my hand to go to the boy's room, and would get my coat, from the rack in the hall, and go home. Especially on Thursday mornings when my mother was baking. After I had my fill of hot bread, she would walk me back to school. I was put in the ”opportunity class,“ where kids who got in trouble would have to read aloud, and also write on the blackboard about how they would improve their habits.”

As these times were not too long after World War II, air raid drills were still being practiced. I don't think we really knew what we were training for, but it did seem like an adventure.

These “good old days” may seem a long way back for many of you, but I'm sure some of you remember them well. If you would like to share them with me, please call me at 252-0544 or 567-9989 and we'll go back together. Be good to yourself.

Tom DeFurio is former town supervisor for Sennett.