Can you picture an eight-grader toting a .22 cal rifle down Orange Street in Newark today? Or...in 1957-58?
Well, I was a member of the SRL Rifle Club - Yes the SRL Rifle Club that was organized by Father Flusk when I was in eighth grade! We fired at the Roseville Ave. Armory in a second floor indoor range every (Wed?).
I can't recall all the others, but names like John Sause, Joe Bilby ('57)possibly Art Talbot or Martin Egan come to mind. Anybody ...fill in your names.
I later joined a similar club while attending Essex Catholic. I guess the idea was to promote some interest in defending the country given the proximity of that time to World War II, The Korean War, and the general "Duck and Cover" message.
Dan Moore, 'SRL 58
Yup, of course. No problem carrying a rifle from Roseville Avenue over to the Armory in those days. The best shot, bar none, was Louise Merrill, who is in the 1957 graduation picture I sent to John. I was a fair shot -- still am.
I do remember you, of course. I was pretty close with John Sause in those days as we lived in adjacent apartments at 196 Roseville Avenue. He went off to become an Irish Christian Brother but later changed his mind. We lost touch over the years, but I heard he got his Phd. and was teaching in a college in Florida. Last time I saw old 196, it was wreathed in concertina wire and had a sign affixed promising arrest by NPD to anyone who stood outside for more than a minute.
I last saw Brian Bowler back in the mid 1970s. He was still living in the old neighborhood house on 9th Street, teaching in Newark, was involved in local politics, had lost much of his hair and was smoking a big cigar. <G> He was with Ray Rizzi, a good friend of mine in the 1950s who has since passed away. (I remember Ray's older brother Vito shooting at us "little kids" with a BB gun until the old man caught him and broke it over his head.) Last I heard Brian had retired from the Newark Board of Education and was bartending in Maplewood. I heard from his older brother Kevin a few years ago after Kevin bought my book on the Irish Brigade. He is a curator at the New Orleans Zoo.
I also believe Tom Donoghue was in that club. he lives in Wall and I go fishing or hunting with him a few times a year.
Joe,
Are you any relation to Scott Bilby who grew up in Livingston?
When you talk to Tom D. tell him I said hi. I remember him, and his brothers Edward and Patrick. I can't remember his younger sisters name. Tom had some strange pets!!!!
I was in the club for a short time. It is strange to think we walked around with a rifle, in a bag, in Newark.
I went to the reunion, I thought I would see Brian Bowler, but he was sick and did not attend. It would be great to get a bunch of the guys from the late 50' together.
Jerry Krumeich '58
I don't know a Scott Bilby, Jerry, but there is probably some connection, as the name is not common. I will convey your message to Tom the next time I see him. His younger sister is Peggy.
Tom did indeed have some "strange pets" in that cellar on North 11th Street. That reptile collection, including pine snakes, black snakes, a yellow rat snake, various turtles, etc., got its start with Tom's older brother Ed and Kevin Bowler, Brian's older brother, however. Kevin, as I noted, went on to become a herpetologist. Tom and Brian were really into it and I went along on a number of collection trips to the Great Swamp with them. We'd take the train up to Millburn and then walk to the swamp, returning with reptiles in bags -- the commuters, fortunately, never knew.
All that was in the days before endangered species and wild animal captivity laws, and I still have a photograph, somewhere around here, of my 10 year old self standing in Tom's back yard with "Horace" the king snake wrapped around me. I look uneasy. I was more interested in turtles than snakes. Once a black snake got loose in the back yards on 11th street and someone told Tom that the cops had it down at the precinct. He went down to ask them about it and they threw him out. "Whaddayou nuts kid?" <G>
It was in front of Tom's house that Kevin Haran (Harran?), at the age of 12 stole the Good Humor truck when the guy was taking a toasted almond out of the back. But that's another story.
I remember heading over to the armory with Louise and Arlene Salviani. We had great times at St Rose's and later at Good Counsel. Arlene lives down the shore and I heard that Louise had passed away several years ago.
These days no self-respecting 8th grader would be caught dead with a .22, or any other rifle for that matter. The 9mm automatic pistol is what's captured their imagination; makes a better stocking stuffer.
