Staples 55

Here, thanks to the contributions of several classmates—and in particular, thanks to the amazing feat of memory of Don Freeman (whom we used to know as Donnie Ohanian)—we have identified everyone in this photo. Or nearly so. Click the photo on the Bedford Elementary School Milestones page to read the names in the caption. We still don’t know if there was another photo taken of another section of the class of ‘49. If anyone knows, or can supply the missing names in the photo, please comment using comment field, below.

About this photo A mystery or two lingers on, all having to do with the date it was taken:

• I received this same photo from both Tom Saviano (I think) and Mike Hyman (from Shirley Rice’s memorabilia collection). There was a handwritten note on the back of the one from Shirley: “Bedford El - third grade”, or words to that effect. Problem: in third grade we were eight years old. These kids appear older than eight, no…?
• Why was a class photo taken in the third grade? Wasn’t the class photo a graduating class tradition? In any case class photos were reserved for the sixth grade at Greens Farms Elementary.
• Why is Len Eskey missing from this photo? (Playing hookey that day? Out sick? Maybe.)
• Speaking of whom (Len), he maintains that both he and Mason Buddy were taller in the sixth grade than either Bernice Allen or Bonnie MacGregor. This photo clearly doesn’t support that recollection.
• Several classmates have suggested that the size of the class in this photo appears to be smaller than what they recall… Were there other sixth-graders who don’t appear here? Don, Len and Noel (and possibly others) have all mentioned the subdivision of the sixth grade into at least two parts: Ms. Stevenson’s and Ms. Lumpkin’s. Is it possible that this is the photo of just one of these sections…? If so—other than Len—who are the missing members of the 1949 Bedford Elementary graduating class…?
• In sum there appears to be more mystery about this photo than why global temps have been declining for a decade, contrary to Global Warming predictions…!? Why can’t we get reliable data any more…? What the hell is going on here…!?

Here’s what would help: If a Bedford El graduate still had a commencement program for the class, similar to those shown on the Staples and Greens Farms Elementary School pages, and would be willing to dig it out and share it.